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Has There Been Anyone Like Buddha
How would we ever know if the Dhamma that Buddha taught was even on the correct course or path. Doesn't this also present a paradox that how is anyone supposed to know if someone is enlightened? Anyone who has been claimed to reach Nirvana can show that they preach it, but it is impossible to know if someone can feel it. So the doctrine could literally make it impossible for anyone to know if the truth was really there, the "philosophy" could simply be continued be people who have claimed to reach Nirvana.
Sorry, this question might not make sense I just cant understand.
Sorry, this question might not make sense I just cant understand.
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What is it you are looking for when you seek Nirvana? May be just that you are impressed with Bhuddha's teaching and invest your faith and trust in it and believe that what he is talking about may eventually make sense to you when you reach the end of the rainbow.
As for me,I am looking for some down to earth things.
1) SN Goenka's story of relief from migraine seems to be a credible stuff and it can be replicated in other areas of life.
2) scientific experiments conducted on meditators seem to lend further validity to this.
3) People who have done vipassana course give favourable feed back. All the internet research I did in the past two months brought only 3 cases adverse remarks but in my evaluation they do not earn much merit.
4) The futility of material pursuits and their limited capacity to meet my needs is very obvious for me.
I extrapolate all this to find a credibility for Bhuddha' teachings.
I think I will be able to feel it when ALL my anxieties and ALL my disappointments and ALL my expectations are dropped-permanently- that 'ALL' includes nirvana itself.
The Kalama Sutta answers this question, I think conclusively. Simply, try to doubt what the Buddha taught.
namaste
It is a matter of persistence.
Slowly we wear out the habit of clinging. One teacher in the Thai forest Tradition called this "turning the tanker". We have this way of being that has a certain mass and momentum, and as we practice this habit slowy begins to turn, but that turning is firm. Yet, throughout practice, in each moment of letting go, in the moment of Dukkha ceasing, we know the cessation of suffering like the Buddha.
Of course there is a paradox. Is that a problem?
Enlightenment is not a destination.
doubt arises from doubtful situations
im simply using it as a metaphor to simplify my question
i suppose that does that process makes sense, but from what I read a lot of the texts say that just simply following the path or process will not make you get rid of clinging. Is this simply just because he understands its a matter of willing not just trying? Or is it just because some are simply not capable in their lifetime?
If you want real answers to your questions, read fewer texts, and put the teaching into practice yourself.
Now on a less philosophical level....I think the historical Buddha has been widely idealized. Even Pali suttas include some miracles that personally I doubt very much actually happened.
For myself, I don't recall any records that moments after I was born, that I took seven steps, lotus flowers blossoming under my feet with each step, and proclaiming that "I alone am the World honoured one" in remarkably well developed language skills for a newborn!
So can we become like some idealized imaginary person? Probably not.
Can we apply his teachings? Yes, at least to the best of our ability.
Will we become perfect and infallible? Nope.
I'll close with a "Zen-ism" :
"Thirty years ago, before I began the study of Zen, I said, 'Mountains are mountains, waters are waters.'
After I got insight into the truth of Zen through the instructions of a good master, I said, 'Mountains are not mountains, waters are not waters.'
But now, having attained the abode of final rest, (that is, Enlightenment) I say, 'Mountains are really mountains, waters are really waters."
There are waters in the mountains, and there are mountains in the water.
Could you explain the last part? I'm not sure I understand it.
Well yes I do see results, but you could say the same about a number of faiths.
Precisely, Randomguy. This is why we need to learn from other faiths and oppose those who reduce liberation to a single path. It must be a real pain for theists that there are happy atheists or for atheists that there are happy theists.
To me, my teacher isnt like the Buddha. He IS the Buddha.