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Re: Types of Atheists | Psychology of Atheism Part 1
I've been consuming, not so much Athiest content, but skeptical and scientific content for quite a few years now. In that time I've never really had a direct encounter with a simplistic (for lack of a better term) believer... Up until this past week.
I was working for someone and saw some signs that they were a religious Christian. She also had a modest, but nicely upkept home with happy family and professional pictures about. I equated some of what I saw as a happy, successful life probably being helped along by her faith. At some point I noticed a few things with Jehovah's Witness in them and began wondering what level of "belief" this person had.
Anyway, at some point I was working near where she was hanging out for the day and we started talking. It pretty quickly turned to her being Jehovah's Witness and she began asking me the questions. She was reasonably polite and curious, but I had answers to everything and she could see there was "no reaching me".
I went back 2 days later to finish up and even though she maintained a decent amount of professional politeness it was fairly obvious that her attitude towards me had soured. Having a couple days to think about my answers and, I imagine, talk to members of her faith, I was probably now one of the lost and maybe a bit dangerous to be around (I might corrupt her with all the devil ideas I had).
Anyway, it was interesting. But I have a bit of a new found appreciation at the reaction non believers who have to deal with this sort of person on the regular have. It would get tiring and exasperating.
person
Re: Types of Atheists | Psychology of Atheism Part 1
I don’t believe in God. I am aware of Him.
Silouan
Re: How Many Holes Does A Drinking Straw Have?
As we all know when we have straws for brains, no thought, question or answer is possible …
lobster
Re: How to Teach?
@Jeroen said:
I find that when I look for no-self I go quiet, words desert me as does the compassion which motivates me to teach. Perhaps it means there are layers of my being where the dharma has not yet come.
For me, the most effective route to teaching is compassion and enthusiasm, when those are present in equal measure I am more receptive to other people’s states and questions.
One view of this is....
When our ego/identity or the selfish self is continually presenting a storyline of its own distinctive specialness & separateness from all others, anything that challenges that storyline will bring up whatever self-serving defensive response is most likely to nullify that challenge.
Quietism may be what presently defends your storyline, but lining up right behind it is an endless array of backup weaponry if that line of defense falters.
Meditation is simply a means of objectively observing both the storyline and our ego's response to our illumination of it. No need to look for no-self here when equanimity can just reflect what is.
But
since this thread is about teaching....
To the degree, that compassion & enthusiasm remains a reflection of one's underlying storyline, although it might feel like the most effective route,
what might one also be unintentionally teaching as well?
how
Re: What happens to the world when everybody attains Buddhahood?
@SattvaPaul said:
From Mahayana perspective? If the world/samsara is the product of beings' karma, and all beings have attained Buddhahood, does that mean that the world ceases to exist? And everybody dwells in supreme bliss/pure land?
I could see it all starting again but not repeating exactly. Shambhala comes to mind until impermanence shows how nirvana can become samsara when mindfulness practice wanes.
Re: What happens to the world when everybody attains Buddhahood?
Then it would be a Golden Land or a Jeweled Land.
Yet, if one buddha accidentally stepped on another buddha's foot, it would still hurt.
The farmers would still farm, the merchants still sell, the birds would still migrate...
Peace to all
Lionduck
Re: How Many Holes Does A Drinking Straw Have?
How many holes does a garden hose have? Or, on the atomic level, how many holes? Matter is nearly all holes. The very concept of a hole breaks down, leaving the entire issue in confusion.
Fosdick
Re: How to Teach?
Perhaps the degree to which we can manifest selflessness any time
is the same degree that the "How's" of teaching and service can equally manifest.
how