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I do not believe in any sort of hell. We are here to grow and evolve, and though that means de-evolving is possible, most of us manage not to do that. Regardless, our destiny is the same. Total enlightenment, though that will require many, many lifetimes to achieve.
isn't the problem with Buddhism that it's too mild, accepting and resigned to fate?
ie: accept your lot in life and don't challenge the status quo.
A great tool for the rich and corrupt to stay in power.
Very similar to Christianity in this respect.
No, that was Hinduism. Hinduism was all about how you should accept your lot in life. Karma. sort of like "its your fault if you're unhappy and you'll be punished if you don't follow your fate correctly"
They do both come from the same original line of regional thought though.
Buddhism is about ending suffering through doing the right things... and if you want more, you can also escape the wheel of reincarnation (Karma) by reaching the "blow-out" (nirvana). Usually Buddhists view this as reaching a higher "state of being" than the foolish gods and deluded Demiurges. So Buddhism is about actively doing things to change your fate. But it also became about acceptance, happiness, and calmness, so then that's why a lot of people see it as a hermit religion.
Buddhism did get used as a tool for the rich to stay in power... or at least it was hammered into a conservative fashion so that the poor would stop whining. Buddhist temples were getting a lot of donations and decorations from the rich so that they would be corrupted and biased and would tell the poor that seeking wealth would only get you to suffer as a ghost once you die and that violence got you to go to hell. Much like our churches do.
"Why should you take from the rich and give to the poor? that's stealing"
Very similar to any religion, if you ask me. However, the poor should get a job or start a small business.
In the end though, Buddhism can be anything you want as long as the Three Jewels (Buddha, Doctrine, and Community) are there. The Doctrine is usually considered to be simply the 4 Noble Truths. I suppose you can embellish them and add to them all you want, as long as the essence remains and the other schools of Buddhism approve of your denomination as legit.
Nah...it did not fail...cause it has not been done right yet.....it is not the religion that fails, it is the believers who have forgotten, or are not following it right.... the seven virtues should also be tied to the ones posted here....Truthfullness is also important to add to the mix...as lies do not bring honourable intent to the table.
SO...that being said...when all those wonderful virtues cometogether in people....and they try to be meek and mild under the laws and commandments of God.....doing Good , and making Good....for the greator Good of all.....Then maybe religion as it was ment to be..will work under the doers or followers of it.
"Those who do the will of the father, shall enter Paradise"....it is a self fulfilling Paradox....tied to Genesis 2:15 and all seeds put back where they belong....sinlessly sown for the Greator Good of all...brings Blessings in the end!
Surely they have witnesses to prove what happens when we do not....and hence the religion still teaches the same old same old truths!...So it has not failed....it just needs to be read right....and practiced!..."those who do"... it says!...those who don't fail!
Buddhism as taught by the Buddah, absent deities and demigods and supernatural elements, is really a sort of proto-psychology self/help system and as such I am kindly disposed toward it. Since early Buddhists came out of Hinduism there is a tendency to superimpose some version of the Hindu pantheon on top of it, but as others have pointed out, it is not central to the essence of Buddhist teaching; Buddhism does not have a deity on offer, only (arguably practical) advice for daily living (or more exactly, how to approach daily living).
There is a tension between theory and practice in Buddhism, as in all thought-systems. To escape suffering / anxiety one sits on a meditation mat but that isn't very compatible with the requirements of modern life; alternate states of mind are exactly that, they don't really work for interacting with your boss or paying the bills. Arguably spending some time on a regular basis in mediation manages to spill over and form one's attitude however. The jury is still out for me on that one, but Buddhism is the closest thing to a religion that, as an atheist, I'm willing to investigate and explore these days.
As to the OP, I believe the Dali Lama gives religion in general way too much credit for benevolence but the fact that he's willing to jump to a more pragmatic paradigm at all is most impressive. Look, he's an old man now, he's run a significant world religious group all his life, and he sees what's worked and what hasn't, and he's trying to evolve his tribe in some meaningful way, to provide a legacy for the future. It may be misguided or futile, but it's noble at least.
As it says...We were made in God's Image...I would reconsider..."God is a man who planted a Garden of life on Earth as is or was in heaven"...and rethink the Fairytale part, and lean more towards Science fiction..or science fact...both have truths in em...As we all know Entertainment and acting are big bizz down here,...especially when it comes to tales of lore, Good against evil, and heroizums.. and such...yep Big bizz...lots of followers....and in some regards some are tied to truths....and who would of spoken such a thing?...a MAN...and he was God...saying so!...so no fairytale..in that...I say....lord of the rings has embodied the idea of the idol...same thing different format........
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