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I have some silly questions about the nature of Buddha!
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So in this context we only assume conditioning is a bad thing that generates feelings of upset and conjures suffering?
This is an interesting (and confusing) subject for me because I have always "reacted" to most things abnormally peacefully. When emergency situations arise, or intense fighting is going on around me, I don't get all riled up. My parents always thought I was detached or apathetic somehow, but I see it as taking time to think logically about things instead of flaring up and going nuts, which causes more problems.
So does this mean I was conditioned at a young age somehow to "not react" or is that a non-conditioned natural thing? If it is something you have done for years and years, how can you tell if it's conditioned or mindful or what?
Some conditioning will allow you to live a fairly suffering free life, just as some conditioning will allow you to practice and meditate with more enthusiasm than other people...
Thing is, when we know what we are doing, instead of relying on luck, it is much easier to see why something work and how to figure out problems... (like dealing with kids or friends in need etc...)
By being awake to the reality of the moment. It is not that "we only assume conditioning is a bad thing that generates feelings of upset and conjures suffering? " .... it is that all conditioning stands between you and reality.
Warmly,
Matthew
You appear stuck on a word here, namely, conditioning.
The non-reactiveness you have always had could simply be a genetic thing.
Mental disposition can be something equally genetic as say athletic ability.
It is doubtful a definitive quality your mind possessed from youth is conditioned.
It would be genetic (or if you believe so, a quality developed in a past life).
:smilec:
How does it actually relate to what the poster was saying?
Often esoteric religion becomes like a superstition; just reciting words in blind faith.
A little like having faith in no faith, believing one has no faith and is void of belief.
In Buddhism, Westerners often take words out context.
Generally, when the Buddha used the word 'conditioning', he was referring to the mind being conditioned by greed, hatred & ignorance.
But, if sticking to the English word, enlightenment is also a kind 'conditioning'.
The mind sees the true nature of phenomena so clearly, that its view of reality changes completely.
Or, in your case, the mind can have an innate sensitively towards the suffering of reactivity that it does not react in agitated ways that cause suffering to itself.
These kinds of enlightenment decondition or remove greed, hatred & ignorance from the mind, but it is still a kind of conditioning because the mind develops the fullness of qualities such as wisdom & compassion that it never had before.
All I am saying is I agree with your point.
When the Buddha said a practitioner "accumulates" and "develops" wisdom & insight, this is a kind of "conditioning".
The positive kinds of 'conditioning' the Buddha called bhavana or developing.
:smilec:
I agree with you here. But the Buddha did not use the word "further conditioning".
He used the word bhavana or developing, cultivating.
So yes...we are "relearning" or "re-conditioning the mind" as you are saying.
Where did the Buddha describe awakening or Nirvana or Nibbana as "Beyond conditioned existence"? Please quote?
The Buddha described Nirvana as the ending of greed, hatred & delusion.
The Buddha described Nibbana as that which is "not conditioned" or "not stirred up" by craving.
I must disagree here. The enlightened state according to the Buddha is that which is replete with wisdom. The mind has accumulated so much wisdom. The Buddha said of himself:
Matthew
Your appear to be confusing Buddhism with Hindu Advaita.
Buddhism is about cultivating wisdom & compassion.
Sorry. But you sound quite lost is esoteric philosophy.
The Buddha said one stuck in the mud cannot pull another out of the mud.
I suggest we learn from Irris.
Irris has made many good points to be clarified (rather than be white washed with esoteric superstition).
Practise is about deconditioning certain qualities of mind and developing other qualities of mind.
An enlightened being is not a blank slate but, to the contrary, replete with paramis or perfections.
In Buddhism, there is a bright delusion called 'white darkness'. Please be careful with this.
As stated earlier, Shakyamuni Buddha was a man. But Buddha is the nature of the whole universe. Buddha-nature is waking up to how things truly are. When you have been practicing for a while you realize that this buddha-nature is everywhere. You are the buddha and so is this computer screen. Everything is buddha. But also, nothing is buddha. Why? Because all things are inherently empty. This emptiness is synonymous with truth and buddha-nature.
And here wuz I thinking buddha nature is just the human capacity for good/metta/compassion...
Your take sounds a bit like Tao?
Tao is a name. We need names to communicate but Tao does not mean anything.
Fortunately, Buddha-nature is NOT the capacity for good/metta/compassion. That is because Buddha nature is what you already are. And you are already those things (good/metta/compassion). It is not something you need to cultivate or work towards. There is really no goal in Buddhism. It is not about attaining anything (Heart Sutra: No Attainment with Nothing to Attain). It is about letting go of all our delusions so our true nature can shine brightly. It is about putting down everything you think you understand and just doing it. Doing what exactly? When you eat, just eat. When you sleep, just sleep. When someone who is thirsty appears in front of you, give them water. Very simple. Too simple! That is why no one gets it. They can't believe enlightenment is THAT simple.
News flash: It IS that simple.
A a point of progress, we should be clear,
Those are your views,
Not everyone here.