Can I delete my account and posts?

Sagat

I've spent about a year studying Buddhism. It's been an eye opener, but I don't think it's for me and I'm way too skeptical about anything that's supernatural for it to really sink in. Maybe I'm being close minded, I don't know. I'll be meditating and realize that my head is going places and I think this may be something to do with Buddhism, but then I'll just tell myself it's all chemical and blah, blah..

I've saved up some money and I'm off to go do some travelling and thinking on my own. I guess it could be classed as some kind of a pilgrimage or something.

This forum and your help has really helped me though. Before I just wanted to go find a monastery in the middle of nowhere and just do a Rambo 3 and just live in peace away from concrete and computers. But I'm not depressed any more. I'm certainly not suicidal.

I'm trying to make myself a ghost on the internet. I hate technology and computers. I don't see why I'd want my information scattered all over it.

I'm asking politely. I hope you'll do it.

compassionate_warrior

Congrats, Sagat, on the good news. Funny you should mention that Buddhism isn't for you because of supernatural aspects. Debates have raged here in the past on those supernatural aspects. A lot of people practicing Buddhism don't buy into rebirth, nor all the mythology (the Buddha supposedly being the product of a virgin birth, etc.). You can take the parts that work for you and practice those.

When your head goes places when you meditate, you just bring the attention back to the breath.

Oh well. Bon voyage. Lincoln's the one who'll decide whether to honor your request. Be well.

Mountains

I wasn't aware that belief in the supernatural was required in Buddhism. But if it's not for you, then it's not for you.

Have fun on your travels. Remember - thinking is a construct of your mind, and it usually clouds things more than clarifying them. Try meditating instead (not Buddhist meditation, of course, just the plain garden variety).

Sagat

If I was going to believe in Buddha at all I'd see him as a metaphor.

I don't know if Buddha actually existed. I think there's more proof to Buddha existing than Jesus (Although I've never been a Christian, nor will I ever be) yet if he did exist, I think the stories could be exaggerated. Although I'm not qualified to say. If he did exist then I think he was the same mortal human we all are.

I honestly don't know. I don't disregard things like Qui energy and things like that because it seems conceivable to me. But I grew up as an atheist in a Catholic neighborhood and things like virgin births and after lives bounce straight off my head.

I love meditating though. If there's one thing that Buddhism has brought me its meditation which I enjoy.

Thank you compassionate_warrior.

Sagat

I wasn't aware that belief in the supernatural was required in Buddhism. But if it's not for you, then it's not for you.

Have fun on your travels. Remember - thinking is a construct of your mind, and it usually clouds things more than clarifying them. Try meditating instead (not Buddhist meditation, of course, just the plain garden variety).

I don't think it's fair for me to say that I'll never be a Buddhist, I just don't know what to believe right now. I've read plenty of books about this and tried to practice it, but I always come across some supernatural fact that I find I can't believe in.

Thank you.

compassionate_warrior

A lot of mythology got created around the Buddha after his death. Those are not things that he taught. So you don't have to believe them to be a Buddhist. You only have to believe what he taught, like: there is a way out of experiencing life as stressful, the way out is his Eightfold Path, meditation calms the mind and brings insight, mindfulness helps us become aware of our bad habits so we can change them, practicing compassion makes us kinder and helps foster a better world. (Now if we could only convince the corporate greed-heads of this!)

Bag the mythology. It's just extra baggage. The Buddha was about getting rid of your baggage.

Drop us a card from time to time, OK? Oh. But you want your account deleted. Well ... whatever. :wave:

Jeffrey

Some of buddhas students believed in mystical things. Thus buddha gave them teachings also.

And that is why there are many sorts of teachings. Personally I believe buddha gave those teachings. Because buddha taught each being in a way that was skillful for that being. If buddha taught each being the same it would be like planting a plant that needs basic soil in acidic. It wouldn't work. For me the teaching is to be simple and let things settle. Be peaceful and treat others well. Thus my mind is pacified. I have also overcome addictions via mindfulness and compassion. This dharma is profound!

Dakini

Hey, it's Sagat! I was just thinking about you recently! Wondering how you were doing. You told us once you'd give us regular fixes of your uniquely droll humor, then you disappeared.

But it sounds like you got a job that was good enough until you could plot your escape. A pilgrimage--good for you! Just take health precautions, don't drink the water (= no ice in your drinks, either) and have a great time.

"Supernatural"? It sounds like you may've been reading the wrong books. I have one to recommend for you, if you're not totally burnt out on Buddhism. "Confession of a Buddhist Atheist", by Stephen Batchelor, one of your countrymen. In fact, I just met him last week. Anyway, he was a Buddhist monk for years, first in one tradition, then in another, and decided he couldn't swallow some of what they wanted him to believe. So he quit, set about learning Pali, so he could read the scriptures to find out what the Buddha really taught, and he's been lecturing on a sort of "bare bones Buddhism", or Secular Buddhism, as he calls it, ever since. You might need some reading material on your travels, you might like this one.

or ... not. Thanks for dropping in. So glad you're getting on much better. How did the martial arts thing work out? You were going to try competing.

OK, on with your life. :ninja: Leave us back in the dust if you must. But my impression is they never delete accounts. They might delete your posts, but ... well, it depends on if Lincoln's in an accomodating mood.

All the best,

D

MindGate

The life of the Buddha is not what matters. If the Buddha never existed at all, it doesn't matter.

It is the teachings that matter, and none of which require any supernatural based beliefs. Trust me, I'm a major skeptic with everything (even with Santa at a very early age) and I still consider myself a "Buddhist."

---

Also, I believe that NewBuddhist has a no deletion policy. I don't think the admins delete accounts, even when asked.

compassionate_warrior

Oh. i remember now. Sagat, especially in his earlier incarnation: IdontlikemylIfe, posted some very sensitive material. Possibly, in view of that, the admins might consider an exception to the rule. I can understand why he wouldn't want that hanging around in cyberspace for posterity, where someone could accidentally stumble upon it via Google. Unless it was all under "Members Only".

MindGate

I remember the whole ghost ordeal.

compassionate_warrior

That was funny! That was one of Sagat's finest hours, if you ask me. :rockon: :rocker:

SattvaPaul

Some of buddhas students believed in mystical things. Thus buddha gave them teachings also.

And that is why there are many sorts of teachings. Personally I believe buddha gave those teachings. Because buddha taught each being in a way that was skillful for that being. If buddha taught each being the same it would be like planting a plant that needs basic soil in acidic. It wouldn't work. For me the teaching is to be simple and let things settle. Be peaceful and treat others well. Thus my mind is pacified. I have also overcome addictions via mindfulness and compassion. This dharma is profound!

:bowdown:

genkaku

@Sagat -- When you stop trying to escape the Internet, you will have escaped.

zidangus

Yes I agree @genkaku, you should not try to escape your past, or in this case your past postings. First of all I don't know why anyone would want to search about what someone has written on the internet in the first place, and even then, if they do read these posts, so what, what is the worst that can happen, they find out how you felt back then, is that so bad ? does it have anything to do with how you feel now, in the present ? I don't think it will, if anything maybe @Sagat can look back at this dark time and find strength from it, not try to hide it; strength in the fact that you overcame it, came through it, and are most likely a wiser, better person for the experience. I know that when I look back on hard times in my life, I try to take the positives from the experience, not try and hide away from it, and brush the experience under the carpet, as if it did not exist.

Anyway regardless of if your posts are deleted or not, I wish you happiness and good health.

With Metta

compassionate_warrior

Besides, no one will know who in real life those posts are connected to. But I support your right to at least make your request.

Anyway regardless of if your posts are deleted or not, I wish you happiness and good health.

I second this.

federica

In answer to the technical questions,

No

and

No.

Dakini

Too bad, Sagat. It was worth a shot. Let us know how your trip went.

Sagat

In answer to the technical questions,

No

and

No.

Could you at least remove the suicide one?

MindGate

PM Lincoln, Sagat.

Sagat

Sorry about replying late. But I just wanted to say thanks for everybody's answers.

Coming from somebody who's significantly less nihilistic than he was last year, I'm still trying to get my head around properly practising Buddhism and I'm pretty sure I keep getting really bad and contradicting information from other sources when I bring up anything I think I know here and everything is corrected, which I'm thankful you do by the way.

I'll send a PM to Lincoln and ask if he'll get rid of my least favourite thread at least or if not, move it to a private section.

Hey, it's Sagat! I was just thinking about you recently! Wondering how you were doing. You told us once you'd give us regular fixes of your uniquely droll humor, then you disappeared.

Nah, I don't think I'll ever leave this place.

I'll keep coming back with my strange, droll meanderings.

"Supernatural"? It sounds like you may've been reading the wrong books. I have one to recommend for you, if you're not totally burnt out on Buddhism. "Confession of a Buddhist Atheist", by Stephen Batchelor, one of your countrymen. In fact, I just met him last week. Anyway, he was a Buddhist monk for years, first in one tradition, then in another, and decided he couldn't swallow some of what they wanted him to believe. So he quit, set about learning Pali, so he could read the scriptures to find out what the Buddha really taught, and he's been lecturing on a sort of "bare bones Buddhism", or Secular Buddhism, as he calls it, ever since. You might need some reading material on your travels, you might like this one.

Sounds fantastic. Just been looking at his books in borders today (too skint to buy one.) He certainly presents the kind of thought I like. I'll get the book you mentioned and start from there with his works. Kinda the same way I did with Alan Watts.

It's the best kind of book I can think of reading when travelling.

or ... not. Thanks for dropping in. So glad you're getting on much better. How did the martial arts thing work out? You were going to try competing.

Thanks.

Not too good. I had 5 fights and lost 2. Tried out for a TV show and lost the second qualifier.

Floating_Abu

I find Lincoln extremely fair and level headed. So we are lucky to have him as Admin. See what he says anyway.

And welcome back.

Dakini

Nah, I don't think I'll ever leave this place.
I'll keep coming back with my strange, droll meanderings.

Glad to hear it!

Sounds fantastic. Just been looking at his books in borders today (too skint to buy one.) He certainly presents the kind of thought I like. I'll get the book you mentioned and start from there with his works.

It's funny about Batchelor. I discovered a lot of people REALLY don't like him, because he gets down to brass tacks on what the Buddha really taught, and what filtered in later. (His view of brass tacks, anyway.) But for some people, like you, he's just the ticket. I hope that book helps.

I had 5 fights and lost 2. Tried out for a TV show and lost the second qualifier.

Oh, I remember the TV show/reality show idea! Well, that's great that you tried that, now you know what it's like to try out for a TV show. I'd have thought you'd be a natural, but who knows what they're looking for? And 3 out of 5 fights isn't too bad, for starters, is it? But you know what happened to Muhammad Ali, who made his living boxing. It seriously rattled his brain. Brain damage.

Well, welcome back anyway, and thanks for the updates.

Jeffrey

I find that batchelor makes generalizations and often his information about other traditions is not true. At least that was my experience in reading the book we went over in the bookclub here at newbuddhist.

I do enjoy how he presents buddhadharma in practical terms. His segment on the 12 interdependent links is quite good. All in all I think he should use his talent to teach his dharma and support students. Rather than grind axes and chips on shoulder.

Dakini

Generalizations? I don't remember that, I'll have to look up that thread. And yeah, he's really good at explaining the more complicated concepts in Buddhism in a form everyone can understand. I agree, he should teach. Someone asked him when he was in my town recently, giving Dharma talks, if he was aware that there was a Secular Buddhism movement springing up in England and elsewhere, in relation to his books, and he said he hoped not, because he didn't fancy himself a guru. I was surprised at that answer, because he's such a natural as a teacher. Maybe the guru scene turns him off.

Floating_Abu

I think the "problem" with Batchelor is that he seems to have understood a certain stage/level of practice but then extrapolates his understanding to the extent of Buddhist teachings. i.e. he limits the Buddhist teachings to his own limits and argues this is all the Buddha really meant etc.

For example, a space cadet claiming that NASA never intended, or could, reach the moon because his own space ship floated only to the upper spheres - but could not reach the target. This cadet then goes on to instruct and teach other cadets the original objective had been misunderstood and the moon is just a fantasy and not within the scope of cadets (as a rough analogy ) That is what I don't like about his approach and writings, personally.

Namaste.

Dakini

Interesting point. I think it's informative anytime someone analyses the scriptures and comments on what they think is the Buddha talking (and why they thing so), and when it's an outside influence. And I've noticed that there's disagreement among scholars as to which passages go in which of those two categories. But I learn by reading everyone's analysis. For where I'm at with Buddhism right now, Batchelor is helpful, even if I don't agree with everything he believes. And I've noticed that his books help some newbies who might otherwise decide Buddhism isn't for them. So for that alone, his contribution is valuable.

Jeffrey

An example of something Batchelor says erroneously and generalizing is that institutional buddhists say that meditation is a mystical experience. Almost universally buddhists teachers say not to attach to special experiences. Pema Chodron in a CD I listen to points out two things: meditation is not done to feel good and also that meditation is not transendental. Her teaching is that meditation is: being steadfast, seeing what is there, sitting with difficult states, being present, and 'no big deal'. In zen special experiences are called 'makyo' and are viewed as obstacles if they cause the student to cling to them like turning a penny over and over in the hand. (special experiences used correctly can be energizing)