Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
Can you say orthographic reform? i am dysphonetic, phonics doesn't werk fer me.
I can spell just fine in Spanish and Italian, why? Because they have phonetic spelling.
Uh, huh. I don't recall define Xian by that defintion, but by all means show that you can overgeneralize.
Nor does anything and buddhism. there are traditions of buddhism that are dogmatic, but not very many.
How does being a buddhist cause contradictions with Xianity?
I know methodists who follow the eight fold path?
So, lets see, i discussed neutraly what comprises the different things called the teachings of the buddha. I personaly , for various reasons, believe that the Pali canon is about as close as we can get.(Although it could be all fiction.) But because I don't act like a canon thumping buddhist version of a fundamrental Xian, you say I don't know what i have studied. Perhaps you don't know squat about history.
maybe you are just a fool, i hope to find out otherwise.
As stated there are no direct letters from the buddha (alleged historical figure) to his followers, not were there video cameras. I have stated the possible sources im a general way.
So what if your question?
You are the fool for talking of absolute truth. Of which there is none. we human can only approximate and predict the behavior of the universe. we can not know it directly. No duh.
Um, you can be a Xian and follow the eight fold path.
Those "folooowers" of Jesus, eh?[/QUOTE]
Just continue to point out that you have no ability to think criticaly or make a substantial argument, Doesn't bother me.
Act the fool, impress the kids at school.
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No, i was trying to sum up how simple buddhist teachings could be to avoid the masses and masses of bs buddhist spout out.
If i were a buddhist i wouldnt be wasting time with frivolous arguments on the internet and be meditating my way to the end of existence.
If i were a buddhist i wouldnt be wasting time with frivolous arguments on the internet and be meditating my way to the end of existence.
I guess I'm one of those Buddhists who rather enjoy existance and love wasting my time, then. You see, time is all I have
The buddha said that a person is twice the fool if they know the dhamma and dont practice it than a mere fool who doesnt know dhamma.
Now i can understand people clinging to labels but if you are going to preach it and insist on being labeled a buddhist atleast friggin practice it.
Chapter 2 of the dhammapada - heedfulness
Heedfulness is the way to the Deathless;
Heedlessness is the way to death.
The heedful do not die;
The heedless are like unto the dead.
T I T L E (2) :
Realzing this distinction,
The wise rejoice in heedfulness,
Which is the way of the Noble.
T I T L E (3) :
These wise, constantly meditative,
Ever earnestly persevering,
Attain the bond-free, supreme Nibbana.
T I T L E (4) :
Of him who is energetic, mindeful,
Pure in deed, considerate, self -restrained,
Who lives the Dhamma and who is heedful,
Reputation steadily increases.
T I T L E (5) :
By diligence, vigilance,
Restraint and self-mastery,
Let the wise make for himself an island
That no flood can overwhelm.
T I T L E (6) :
The ignorant, foolish folk
Induge in heedlessness,
But the wise preserve heedfulness
As their greatest treasure.
T I T L E (7) :
Devote not yourselves to negligence;
Have no intimacy with sensuous delights.
The vigilant, meditative person
Attains sublime bliss.
T I T L E (8) :
When banishing carelessness by carefulness,
The sorrowless, wise one ascends the terrace of wisdom
And surveys the ignorant, sorrowing folk
As one standing on a mountain the groundlings.
T I T L E (9) :
Heedful among the heedless,
Wide-awake among those asleep,
The wise man advances
As a swift horse leaving a weak nag behind.
T I T L E (10) :
By vigilance it was that
Indra attained the lordship of the gods.
Earnestness is ever praised,
Carelessness is ever despised.
T I T L E (11) :
The bhikkhu who delights in earnesstness
And discerns dangers in negligence,
Advances, consuming all fetters,
Like fire burning fuel, both small and great.
T I T L E (12) :
The bhikkhu who delights in earnestness,
And discerns dangers in negligence,
Is not lisble to fall away;
He is certainly in the presence of Nibbana.
Ever heard of venerable empty scripture in the pig pen? Have you even read the pali canon? Down with buddhism.
Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
So? as you sated repeatedly and most foolishly?
iI that an argument, does that demonstrate what? that you can think for yourself?
Or when asked to confirm that Xians fought over the issue of jesus and the possesion of a purse, you ask to be spoon fed. Or when someone asks how you would determine what might be the look of an original source from seperate sources two thousand years later and you ask to be spoon fed, that demonstartes what?
That you can't think for yourself? that you are lazy? that you have no ability to frame a coherent argument other than one of doubt?
[poor attempt at humor]
I am King Dustin! I say that you must use words the way that i say they must be used. Otherwise I shall smite thee with the Sword of Unmeaningful and I shall defend myself with the Shield of Circular Logic. Ishall not create my own coherent arguments nor shall I defend my statements with evidence, nor shall I respond to direct questions.
I give unto you the word of my followers and it is BAA, you must be sheep and you must conform to all that I say. I need not explain myself , nor shall I defend my arguments. Thou shalt obey King Dustin because I am King and I have told you BAA.
[/poor attempt at humor]
Some words have more than one meaning dude, language is a fluid set of self referencing symbols. You need to ponder more deeply upon the nature of words and social interaction.
Xians and Muslims are dogmatic, not all 'religions' are. Some are rather disorganised in fact.
You are small minded because you insist that that people conform to your preconcieved notions. I am not sure why you are bigot. maybe you are, maybe you aren't.
When you can answer a direct question then I will believe you.
especialy when you are so clueless as to respond So? to a statement of fact.
What is the eightfold path?
If I state a historical fact of history it will contradict itself.
Show where I contradicted myself, show me my errors and I shall learn.
Point out the flaws that i may learn, show me where it is incoherent. Or is it your false expectation that people will fall into a neat little box at your convinience? I stated what the different views are on the teachings of the buddha, get over it.
Right back at ya, with a big
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Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
this argument lacks substance.
Let us see, i wrote about the history of the 'buddha's teachings' to which you replied most foolishly So?
If you really are more than a troll pretending you want to be a sceptic, you could go back and replace your childish 'So?s' with questions about what you don't understand in each sentence.
But because I feel you are a total charlatan I doubt that you will do so, I think you are capable but that would show that you really can't make a substantial argument to get out of a wet paper bag.
What is it that you don't understand? Show that you can really think for yourself and point out what you don't understand. Which of the sentences is incoherent?
Where did i contradict myself Dustin? Let me learn from my mistakes.
Or is it that the facts don't agree with you? Hmm?
Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
Those actualy are typing errors, they are not spelling errors, those I need to watch out for.
I can not spell because of the goofy archaic nature of the english language. It doesn't help because I have dysphonia and have to memorise all the words. i usualy mispell Thier and Friend.
thanks for the support!
You are much more patient than I.
I'll be the first to admit I'm a fool, and couldn't care less what the Buddha would think of me.
So in your interpretation of Buddhism, the only Buddhists you would accept are the ones meditating themselves mindless in a temple, practicing the Buddha dhamma to extremity?
There is no room for us simple souls who find the Four Noble Truths helpful in everyday life?
- Snipped quotes from the Dhammapada -
What can I say, I'm not a bhikku. If I ever choose to become one, I'll take those words to heart.
It's hard to say through written text, but do I sense some hostility? I haven't read all of the Pali canon, no. It's a rather large library of texts, and not all of them have been translated into my language.
By the way, I don't know if I said it, but I rather liked your site.
Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
Sounds good to me! Did you read the threads I linked to? They give a good idea of what sceptical buddhists have to say.
i was hanging around on E-sangha, but i got depressed by it.
Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
Does a dog have a buddha nature?
gosh I hope not!
As frequently discussed here, any clinging impedes the path to freedom of action.
So down with buddhism, up the eightfold path!
So your a buddhist that likes my site and doesnt practice buddhism or read much of the pali canon. Why call yourself a buddhist? Just a fashion statement?
Not yet, they are on my reading list and will come in very handy.
Why waste time arguing semantics and protecting your ego? Let go
Damn, i'm more buddhist than buddhists.
andyandy
anthropomorphic ape
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 8,377
this is a true scotsman fallacy. Sam harris also makes it in order to set up his strawman. What is a true Buddhist? A true Christian? These are not absolute values.
I liked your site because it made a serious attempt at criticizing Buddhism, something other anti-Buddhist sites do not. In my mind, nothing is beyond criticism. Your Dalai Lama article made me literally laugh out loud.
Who said I didn't practice the dhamma? Just because I haven't gone to a monastery to become a bhikku and long to meditate myself into non-existance? I can't be a Buddhist because, in general, I rather like existance?
I have to have read the entire Pali canon to be a Buddhist? That must mean that there are very few Buddhists in the world.
Why call myself a Buddhist? Well, that's a good question. I find the label helpful when trying to find like-minded people to discuss the dhamma (I also rather enjoy the labels atheist and sceptic, for the same reason - to find like-minded people to discuss atheism and scepticism). Other than that, the label is useless. It doesn't even help with picking up girls.
That's daft!
I don't see how it can't make sense, though. Even though you said, several post back that you didn't care to discuss Buddhism further, could you elaborate on this? I'm actually quite interested to know.
Its like being a gay homophobe. The first noble truth is that life is unsatisfactory but you like existence so you havent even grasped the basics. The cycle of rebirth is not seen as a good thing by buddhists and the whole idea of being buddhist is to follow the eightfold path out of the cycle.
Fair enough..