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It seems you are referring to Tibetan dogmas, which I do not practice.
Early Buddhism teaches rebirth, not reincarnation. I know rebirth for myself, and can observe it in action, in the here-and-now.
There are major differences, in my opinion.That's semantics.
BTW, Tibetan Buddhism is based off early Buddhism and contains the same foundational doctrines, including about rebirth. I've studied Buddhism many years ago and I even practiced it.
See post #83.How can you observe rebirth in action? Do you know what your past lives were, or something? Or is this just a clever way to get past the fact that real Buddhists believe in something that is not entirely logically coherent?
There are major differences, in my opinion.
Reincarnation implies transmigration of an eternal soul between bodies. This I cannot observe nor verify.
Rebirth, as I understand it, is the idea that we are constantly changing, and this is immediately observable. Our 30-year-old physical selves are neither different nor the same as our 7-year-old physical selves, but they are instead connected through a chain of ongoing rebirth.
The difference being, IMO rebirth and samsara can be known in the here-and-now by the ordinary person, but not so with the heavens and hells.
What do you find bleak about the Buddhist outlook? I find it realistic, grounded in reality that can be known in the here-and-now, without speculations involved.
To my understanding, early Buddhists neither speculates on the existence of soul/self, nor its non-existence. E.g.:Well, Tibetans do not believe in that. Williams goes over what they do believe in his book, and it's identical to what Theravadan Buddhists believe. There is no soul, only karma. Which means nothing really goes between lives. So why talk about rebirth at all then, if nothing is really reborn?
Rebirth is that process of continuity.But there is a physical continuity going on that is demonstrable. There is no such connection with the doctrine of rebirth. It's based on pure faith in what gurus say.
Aha! Ultimately, you are seeking peace, no? And you believe that peace comes from God?
You're welcome
There are major differences, in my opinion.
Reincarnation implies transmigration of an eternal soul between bodies. This I cannot observe nor verify.
Rebirth, as I understand it, is the idea that we are constantly changing, and this is immediately observable. Our 30-year-old physical selves are neither different nor the same as our 7-year-old physical selves, but they are instead connected through a chain of ongoing rebirth.
The same form of change and rebirth is happening in our emotional and mental spheres/"bodies".
I find it liberating and blissful, in my experienceRebirth in the sense you're talking about shows up in Christianity too, so it's hardly just a Buddhist thing.
I find the focus on detachment ultimately dehumanizing.
Rebirth is that process of continuity.
I find it liberating and blissful, in my experience
It is neither different nor the same as what it was in the past.If I put a cake mix in an oven, and take it out 30 min later,
Is it a cake mix reborn, or is it a cake?
Ultimately, it is irrelevant whether it ends at the grave or not; that would be speculation. What matters is knowledge and experience of dukkha in the here and now.No, it's a continuity that ends at the grave. Heroin addicts say the same things, you know.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you are seeking peace, through your search for God. Why would anyone search for God (or really, anything else), if he or she is already completely at peace?No, ultimately I am seeking God. Peace comes, along with many other things, as a side benefit.
If I were seeking peace, that to my mind would be a selfish goal? (I'm not saying anyone is being selfish - peace is a good thing.)
It is rather personal to me, but I have had an awareness of Him, though I didn't know who or what exactly I was aware of, since I was a small child. So I really was drawn by that relationship.
But peace comes as a result.
It is neither different nor the same as what it was in the past.
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you are seeking peace, through your search for God. Why would anyone search for God, if he or she is already completely at peace?
I can only speak for myself, but I do it because I'm currently
of the belief that He is the most beautiful, loving, wise
entity with Whom I would ever hope to have a relationship.
Why do people search for truth? Is it not to bring peace through knowledge?Maybe they cared for truth more than peace.
Maybe they cared for truth more than peace.
Ah, this is where the quote comes from.Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that you are seeking peace, through your search for God. Why would anyone search for God (or really, anything else), if he or she is already completely at peace?
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