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I guess I'm just too simple compared to most of you, but somehow I've never had a problem understanding the meaning of being responsible and/or the meaning of the word blame. Yes of course there is a difference. Really?
This may be slightly off topic, but this post made me think of my days as a principal. A teacher might screw up, and ultimately I was held responsible to some degree.
This may be slightly off topic, but this post made me think of my days as a principal. A teacher might screw up, and ultimately I was held responsible to some degree.
I think we may be off-topic but thank you for sharing.
Are the ass-whoopings of life all trying to convey a more important message from the powers that be or is suffering just a random part of life?
Suffering is just a random part of life. We see that there is absolutely no order or preferences in who suffers compared to any other religion or group. Proportionately, just as many Christians suffer as atheists as Buddhists as Hindus and on and on. Suffering is dependent on many factors--chronic disease conditions spread evenly among all people, more suffering in poorer countries compared to rich ones despite poorer countries having a greater number of Christians than rich ones, genetics being responsible for greater numbers of people suffering than groups where genetic predisposition to diseases is not present. In other words, suffering could not be more evenly distributed among all people without any regard to religion. Prayer does absolutely nothing to alleviate or mitigate suffering among Christians--it has absolutely no effect on improving a person's condition or circumstances despite Christians swearing on a stack of Bibles it does. The polls do not lie; they have shown time after time that prayer is completely ineffectual with regard to suffering.
"Prayers offered by strangers had NO EFFECT on the recovery of people who were undergoing heart surgery, a large and long-awaited study has found."
I think all religions try to explain/justify/rationalize suffering. Probably why many religions even came to be.
To me, none of them can accomplish that. I think suffering is beyond our ability to understand because it is coming from someplace else we cannot access.
IME, it certainly does not make anyone "stronger", lol. One might come out a different person, altered permanently, but I wouldn't call it "stronger". More cynical, probably. Just my opinion, of course.
I think all religions try to explain/justify/rationalize suffering. Probably why many religions even came to be.
To me, none of them can accomplish that. I think suffering is beyond our ability to understand because it is coming from someplace else we cannot access.
IME, it certainly does not make anyone "stronger", lol. One might come out a different person, altered permanently, but I wouldn't call it "stronger". More cynical, probably. Just my opinion, of course.
"That which does not kill me makes me angry and weak" -- Dilbert
Seriously though, there is in my view some value to the Buddhist concept of escaping suffering by having a different, less judgmental relationship with pain and disappointment.
"That which does not kill me makes me angry and weak" -- Dilbert
Seriously though, there is in my view some value to the Buddhist concept of escaping suffering by having a different, less judgmental relationship with pain and disappointment.
In a way, your approach divesting yourself of all contemplation or judgment about whatever happens is HOW suffering is eliminated. Suffering IS the contemplation and judging of the "rightness, fairness, justness, benevolence, decency, etc." of whatever happens, as exemplified by Thrillobyte's angst and diatribes. Accepting that it "just happens" can be an effective strategy.
"That which does not kill me makes me angry and weak" -- Dilbert
Seriously though, there is in my view some value to the Buddhist concept of escaping suffering by having a different, less judgmental relationship with pain and disappointment.
Maybe a less judgemental relationship with the cause of pain and suffering? The cause can be unknowable as opposed to knowable causes.
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Well, maybe we'll save it for another thread because we might be off topic.
