God found lacking

lobster

Does god arise without the arising of the nature of God? What is the independent nature of that arising? Does it arise from nothing? Have non existence? It is expressed or attributed with qualities transcending existence and non existence. As it has no qualities until recognized, we might say:

Get behind me 'god'. Still
nothing to worry about . . .

:clap:

how

And here I thought god was just us explaining the unexplainable.

David

Without succumbing to the Biblical idea of god I'd say it's nature itself becoming aware.

Nothing to worry about as you say but it's fun to explore.

person

Since we can't measure or observe directly any god(s) its important philosophically to define what we mean when we say God. If someone wanted me to believe in their God then even though I couldn't see it directly I would need to at least be able to say it stands up to logic and reason as a first step.

Silouan

It appears to me that @lobster isn't really speaking about God specifically and has interchanged the name God for that of the essential nature and functioning of mind as presented in Buddhist thought.

Mind is empty in essence, but everything constantly arises in it, and the actual experience of the essential nature of mind is beyond the realm of terms. The mind seems to exist because it has the capacity for action, but if we search for it we cannot find it anywhere, so in that sense it does not seem to exist at all.

If the essential nature of the mind is beyond the realm of terms how is it known? I would say ultimately it is beyond reason and logic where words and concepts can only provide hints, so the contemplation of true knowledge is experienced in silence, and that too is how one also comes to know God.

riverflow

person said:

...its important philosophically to define what we mean when we say God.

Any discussion of God needs to begin here. Different (provisionsal) theological models for God can be found even within one religious tradition. The God of Gregory of Nyssa bears only superficial resemblance to the God of Fred Phelps, for example.

vinlyn

It occurred to me how odd it is that some Buddhists are so dismissive of God because it can't be proved, but are so sure about rebirth, which can't be proved. There are people here in our group who continually exhort others to be open-minded...and then aren't.

Theswingisyellow

God is like consciousness itself, impossible to pin down or define.

fixingjulian

Lobster are you giving us Koans to meditiate upon? If not, I would appreciate if you would

how

vinlyn said:

It occurred to me how odd it is that some Buddhists are so dismissive of God because it can't be proved, but are so sure about rebirth, which can't be proved. There are people here in our group who continually exhort others to be open-minded...and then aren't.

@vinlyn
Some Buddhist's explain the theory & workings of rebirth according to traditional teachings and their own experience. Others hearing such explanations rightfully think they might be hearing of unprovable or wish fulfilling speculations. The solution then is to prove to ourselves if such teachings are truthful, false or leave them alone as workings unlikely to be dependent on either our belief or disbelief.
I think discussions of god are no different.
Open mindedness is the willingness to look at all possibilities, not just the ones we favour.

Perhaps..just labelling possibilities that we don't think others are open enough to, as dismissive, is the main dismissiveness of this thread?.

TheEccentric

vinlyn said:

It occurred to me how odd it is that some Buddhists are so dismissive of God because it can't be proved, but are so sure about rebirth, which can't be proved. There are people here in our group who continually exhort others to be open-minded...and then aren't.

I used to be like that but now I realise I am not going to be a hypocrite. If it is hard to believe that there is a man in the sky controling everything then it is hard to believe that when you die your mind is born again.

If there is no evidence for something imho there is no reason to belive it.

searching_samsara

The observer is the observed.
God? A perception. A construct.
In the 'religious' sense.
God? Another manifestation of the Absolute.
Neti Neti.

Gui

We make God in our minds.
We are all God's dream.