Why seek "God"?

[ananda]

my hopes are entirely good - i don't hope for anything bad with any human or other (be)souled being or soul, and why?, because the One Who is really the true Lord God gives me such a hope

I also hope for good, for myself and others. I identify the source of my hope as myself.

yes, unfortunately you have been a buddhist, not a worshiper of the true One - how could you in such circumstances experience what St Paul had experienced as a man practicing the faith right?! how do you know how to find a good job and remain there as long as possible?, had you been taught to cope with this before your first job interview?, how did you know how to behave and what to say when you were interviewed for your first job so that they might choose you?, and how had you known how to meet the requirements of your boss/employer so that you might not be fired or demoted, even if you had to learn many new things?, so is the situation in the (true) faith, in the beginning we (the followers/worshipers of the true One) usually don't know how, what, when, where, etc., but learn to practice the faith right starting form the beginning of the process, yet being very careful not to disappoint Him...

Blessings

I was such a worshiper for 3 decades. I never experienced "the true One".

 

[toLiJC]

human condition I suppose

have a good day!

are you saying you are not good, but bad?!, btw, i am not surprised if you are such in case from all good things you take only bliss and peace (as @ananda said), but there is also patience, good treatment, love for the neighbor/townsman/cohabitant, etc.

Revelation 13:10 "He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."

Blessings

 

[TheOldWays]

are you saying you are not good, but bad?!, btw, i am not surprised if you are such in case from all good things you take only bliss and peace (as @ananda said), but there is also patience, good treatment, love for the neighbor/townsman/cohabitant, etc.

indeed. definitely not as good as you Christian folk, but that's why I got Amida Buddha and the Nembutsu to see me through to the Pureland.

 

[toLiJC]

I also hope for good, for myself and others.

which is (a kind of) willingness after all, so this is how you the buddhists believe in an inconsistency, you say you remove willingness and unwillingness from yourselves, but here is how there is still willingness in you

I identify the source of my hope as myself.

why?!, what's the use of identifying the source of your hope as yourself?! - it is as if to claim you are God Himself?!?!

I was such a worshiper for 3 decades. I never experienced "the true One".

according to a human religious doctrine or according to the Word coming directly from the true One?, because i has had no problems with the true One since i began to seek Him, yes, it is a process of seeking, not just a traditional imitation/adherence, because He is the last god that comes in the world, i.e. usually, many other(false) gods/lords(christs) may unfortunately precede Him, and in fact there have already been many since the day of the Fall, which is why it is better to invoke the true One very earnestly/diligently and be faithful to Him regardless of what the world of human spirituality/religiosity opposes with - even if it turns out to be a great trial

Blessings

 

[toLiJC]

indeed. definitely not as good as you Christian folk, but that's why I got Amida Buddha and the Nembutsu to see me through to the Pureland.

how can there be a pure land full of impure attitude/treatment, or a good land full of bad attitude/treatment?!

Blessings

 

[ananda]

which is (a kind of) willingness after all, so this is how you the buddhists believe in an inconsistency, you say you remove willingness and unwillingness from yourselves, but here is how there is still willingness in you

I haven't achieved the ultimate state yet. Until then, there still exists volition in me.

why?!, what's the use of identifying the source of your hope as yourself?! - it is as if to claim you are God Himself?!?!

Because that's where I directly see it for myself, as originating from myself.

according to a human religious doctrine or according to the Word coming directly from the true One?, because i has had no problems with the true One since i began to seek Him, yes, it is a process of seeking, not just a traditional imitation/adherence, because He is the last god that comes in the world, i.e. usually, many other(false) gods/lords(christs) may unfortunately precede Him, and in fact there have already been many since the day of the Fall, which is why it is better to invoke the true One very earnestly/diligently and be faithful to Him regardless of what the world of human spirituality/religiosity opposes with - even if it turns out to be a great trial

How do you "invoke the true One"?

 

[zippy2006]

Why do people seek "God"?

Buddhism explains our search in terms of dukkha (aka suffering, discontentment, displeasure, etc.). That is, because of dukkha, we seek out god(s), saviors, prophets, psychics, doctors, politicians, love, food, money, sex, sleep, entertainment, etc.

Why not address dukkha itself, as the Lord Buddha taught, instead of seeking to treat its symptoms? Dig out the roots (of dukkha), instead of endlessly snipping its offshoots.

According to Christianity the only way to deal with the root is to deal with death and sin, which can only be truly addressed through Jesus Christ.

Suppose you have a broken hand. Christianity's solution is to heal the hand. The Buddhist's solution is to cut off the arm at the elbow and call it good.

According to Christianity desire and aversion are not simply aberrations that need to be rooted out, but rather are pointers to redemption and beatitude. Joys and pleasure need to be refined and followed to their source, not destroyed "at the root." Sorrow and pain are pointers in the other direction, ushering us away from what is harmful. To be fully human is thus to love and take joy in what is good and to hate and take sorrow in what is evil. It is the opposite of an unfeeling, detached state of being. It is being fully alive.

 

[ananda]

According to Christianity the only way to deal with the root is to deal with death and sin, which can only be truly addressed through Jesus Christ.

Suppose you have a broken hand. Christianity's solution is to heal the hand. The Buddhist's solution is to cut off the arm at the elbow and call it good.

I don't see why you believe Buddhism teaches that at all. Buddhism teaches responsible living, with verifiable causes and effects in mind.

According to Christianity desire and aversion are not simply aberrations that need to be rooted out, but rather are pointers to redemption and beatitude. Joys and pleasure need to be refined and followed to their source, not destroyed "at the root." Sorrow and pain are pointers in the other direction, ushering us away from what is harmful. To be fully human is thus to love and take joy in what is good and to hate and take sorrow in what is evil. It is the opposite of an unfeeling, detached state of being. It is being fully alive.

How do know that your interpretations are true? E.g. How do you know that desire and aversion points to redemption and beatitude, besides what your scripture tells you?

 

[TheOldWays]

how can there be a pure land full of impure attitude/treatment, or a good land full of bad attitude/treatment?!

Blessings

I'm not sure.

Regards. Sorry if I offended.

 

[toLiJC]

I haven't achieved the ultimate state yet. Until then, there still exists volition in me.

only a certain kind of dead man could have no volition

Because that's where I directly see it for myself, as originating from myself.

what/who is created?!

How do you "invoke the true One"?

how do you call certain people?!, in principle and as usual we have to call people/things by their real names: good is good, evil is evil, irresponsibility is irresponsibility, the bad consequence is a bad consequence, the necessity is a necessity, what is inevitable is inevitable, what is contingent is contingent, etc.

Blessings

 

[zippy2006]

I don't see why you believe Buddhism teaches that at all. Buddhism teaches responsible living, with verifiable causes and effects in mind.

It teaches amputation, not of arms but of desire and aversion, joy and pain.

How do know that your interpretations are true? E.g. How do you know that desire and aversion points to redemption and beatitude, besides what your scripture tells you?

I think anyone who lives life fully knows that Plato and Aristotle understood human nature much better than Siddhartha. "Nature does nothing in vain. Therefore, it is imperative for persons to act in accordance with their nature and develop their latent talents, in order to be content and complete." Pleasure and pain are signposts that help us navigate life and discern what is truly meaningful, they are not superfluous causes of suffering. The common man has much too much common sense to go in for Buddhism.

 

[ananda]

only a certain kind of dead man could have no volition

Why do you say that?

what/who is created?!

Hope.

how do you call certain people?!, in principle and as usual we have to call people/things by their real names: good is good, evil is evil, irresponsibility is irresponsibility, the bad consequence is a bad consequence, the necessity is a necessity, what is inevitable is inevitable, what is contingent is contingent, etc.

Blessings

What's "the true One's" real name, and how do you know it?

 

[TheOldWays]

It teaches amputation, not of arms but of desire and aversion, joy and pain.

i love when other religions teach me so much about my religion.

 

[ananda]

It teaches amputation, not of arms but of desire and aversion, joy and pain.

How is mental detachment the same as "amputation"?

I think anyone who lives life fully knows that Plato and Aristotle understood human nature much better than Siddhartha. "Nature does nothing in vain. Therefore, it is imperative for persons to act in accordance with their nature and develop their latent talents, in order to be content and complete." Pleasure and pain are signposts that help us navigate life and discern what is truly meaningful, they are not superfluous causes of suffering. The common man has much too much common sense to go in for Buddhism.

Nothing in your quote disagrees with what the Buddha taught. Full development of the virtues in man is a necessary step to reach nibbana, the highest bliss.

 

[habibii zahra]

You assume I did not... But I understand.. you must answer that way..

I have met him through my heart....he is my well beloved god
all prophets were kind and merciful as how god is ,...you can seek ALLAH through them

 

[habibii zahra]

being in the now completely could get you killed though I am sure some would not mind that at all. trying to always be in the now could be a great act of faith or it could trap you with the causes and effects of not planning for the future. the poor don't do that as it is and it is one reason why they remain poor. i'm not impressed with the monks who get free food.

imo you would know God if you knew bliss as someone else related that it is in the being. sadly our western religions tend to shade God with the vices of their culture, i.e. that God is an authoritarian and a king. that does not have to be bad because he uses whatever to draw us to him as much as we desire it so I can't find fault with buddhist (or whoever) unless they really do have fault... but that would just be their dukka or whatever you call it

if you don't think that Gods eyes are important then you would not even know why bliss exist in the first place.

there is no god but one and he is so lovable and soo kind..you can reach him through your heart
all prophets were kind and merciful as how god is ,...you can seek ALLAH through them

 

[habibii zahra]

How do you know that you met him through your heart?

I found his love in my heart and I saw how much he is merciful and kind...thus I loved him

all prophets were kind and merciful as how god is ,...you can seek ALLAH through them

 

[habibii zahra]

It wasn't until I met Allah with in the hearts of other Human Beings that I was able to Love Him. That's when He started to become alive and an actual reality for me. That's just me though.

why not this is some of the ways you can reach ALLAH or god the important is to seek him and to reach him...firstly with your heart
all prophets were kind and merciful as how god is ,...you can seek ALLAH through them

 

[Khalliqa]

I have met him through my heart....he is my well beloved god
all prophets were kind and merciful as how god is ,...you can seek ALLAH through them

Thank you for sharing what works for you. My point was you are not in a position to evaluate my spiritual journey knowing only that we did not arrive at the same conclusion. I was hoping you'd reflect on that point.. instead you have just re-iterated what works for you.. Okay.. happy for you..

Doesn't change my experience or the results..

 

[TheOldWays]

Doesn't change my experience or the results..

It's a frustrating reality with people that if something is really important to them and works for them their ego becomes so intertwined with that belief that if someone has a different point of view it can't be tolerated. you see that multiple times throughout this thread. i always say one of the first signs up spiritual maturity is to understand that everyone is capable of experiencing and seeing things differently and to be able to accept that.