Re: We are about to kill ourselves
Originally posted by Deano
by failing to recognize its connection to everything else. by dividing humanity into competing segments all trumpeting their own ignorance, it has conquered itself with its own fear.you have forgotten who you are 🙁
...? The opposite to a divided humanity would be a united humanity - but I thought that you didn't like that idea either, as a united humanity would be a "NWO" (even though once again I say that a united humanity would be good).
And besides, religion is nothing new, as long as there have been people there has been religion and sometimes religious devision.
yes...and I'm not the authority on Buddhism, but would you consider yourself a representative buddhist?
Actually Buddhism is in a boom time at the moment - Buddhism, Hinduism and new age religion are going strong - as it seems these religions offer what people need (or maybe want) in this day and age. Statistically the religious demography is changing with more people turning to atheism or eastern religions.
Christianity is experiencing a decline, though Islam is benefiting from large scale population growth in Islamic states.
This reminds me of the "End of the World" thread.
It is something of an eye-opener to talk to senior citizens, specifically those who were alive during WWII. They will tell you that the "end of the world" seemed pretty clear then, too. And all during the Cold War, as the US and USSR built up insane stockpiles of nuclear weapons: it appeared fairly obvious we were gonna blow ourselves to smithereens then, also.
Coupla points, though, I would tend to agree with:
1. All mystical schools of thought say that "we have forgotten who/what we are;" that we are that sleeping aspect of "God" which has the potential for awakening to our true nature (I will leave the definition of "God" open for the moment; suffice to say, it is Not the BBWGITS (Big Bearded White Guy In The Sky).
Regardless, grand proclamations ain't gonna be the alarm bell which wakes everybody up. Self-discovery is a personal choice, and whether or not you believe in "God," one excellent starting point is by taking responsibility for one's actions, right here, right now, in how we treat one another, treat our environment, and yes, how we treat ourselves.
2. If we don't start taking responsibility for the above, then I feel at some point we may very well do serious damage to ourselves as a species. The 20th century marked Man's emergence as a globe-affecting power; this power will only grow stronger in the 21st century. Does that mean we Will kill ourselves? Not likely; we love our reality TV shows too much. However, we Will end up changing the world in a manner that will make life harder, if not for ourselves then our children and grandchildren.
Man, sometimes I ramble...
There is no such thing as a representative Buddhist, or even something as a 'Buddhist'. But there are people in the world who follow the advice of a person who was called Buddha about 3000 years ago.
Buddhism is only a label to refer to the collective teachings attributed to Buddha, and Buddhists are people who follow, in subjective consequence, the teachings of Buddha. That's all.
I see this from a different persepctive...
Globalization has increased world contact. The curiosity obout other lands has existed forever, but now people can easily travel (commercial airliners) an even surf the web. The internet is a huge dawingin in the public access to knowledge...bottom line is...ideas are spreading transglobally way faster than anyone thought possible.
The bottom line is nations have yet to adapt to a bigger world. It always takes a generation or two to push the old fogies out. I would love to be rid of US Cold War policy (which imo was reinstated after 9-11), buts not going to happen until my generation, or smarter aspects of later generations instate a good policiy of transnational rationalism.
This isnt going to work if we are so wrapped up in our relgisous beliefs...this new globalism, combined with education, is shifting relgious views. Atheism/agnosticism has skyrocketed, The Christian/Islamic bowerhouses are in decline. Hinduism is growing, but mainly only becuase India is exploding in population, and smaller religions are gaining a platform. Hence the panic by organised religion. Dogmatic relgious conservatism and globalization don't work together.
Originally posted by Wonderer
There is no such thing as a representative Buddhist, or even something as a 'Buddhist'. But there are people in the world who follow the advice of a person who was called Buddha about 3000 years ago.Buddhism is only a label to refer to the collective teachings attributed to Buddha, and Buddhists are people who follow, in subjective consequence, the teachings of Buddha. That's all.
What you stated was the core of buddhism, the defining part.
For example: representative beliefswould be: spiritual discovery thoguh meditation, investigation into the nature of reality, pursuit of the bodhi, belief in the middle way.
I only have one friend whose; buddhist, and we never talk aobut religion...so I only know skidbits.