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Is Buddhism just ancient psychology?
I don't mean "just" in a derogatory sense. I was wondering if perhaps Buddhism is a very acurate but old philosophy of self understanding, or psychology, which might be the reason it is expressed and taught in riddles and seemingly vague explanations.
Is it perhaps an ancient format for teaching philosophy and psychology? I mean, Buddhism clearly points to philosophy of mind, psychological continuity, memory sciences and dimensions; However, they are discussed in a roundabout way that may reflect the neccessities for learning about "self" in a pred-modern era.
Is a modern western scientific diagram explaining how memory works not just a different route to understanding the same thing? Is there a reason that Buddhism today still leans on seemingly cryptic riddles and stories? Or is it just a traditional thing? In which case Buddhism might be a name for a way, or tradition, of teaching the same things that others teach?
Is it perhaps an ancient format for teaching philosophy and psychology? I mean, Buddhism clearly points to philosophy of mind, psychological continuity, memory sciences and dimensions; However, they are discussed in a roundabout way that may reflect the neccessities for learning about "self" in a pred-modern era.
Is a modern western scientific diagram explaining how memory works not just a different route to understanding the same thing? Is there a reason that Buddhism today still leans on seemingly cryptic riddles and stories? Or is it just a traditional thing? In which case Buddhism might be a name for a way, or tradition, of teaching the same things that others teach?
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Comments
The cryptic teachings of Buddhism, although compelling, seem to prolong the route to awakening, whereas I don't understand why a simple, revised and modern explanation of ego and the self could not cut straight to the point? Sort of like revised copies of the bible.
I guess.. I mean that the wisdom of Buddhism seems to be very hidden and hard to tap into. Why should this be the case? The concept is pretty simple... even if it is hard to swallow. It's very hard to aproach from the mind of a skeptical western youth.
Maybe I'm missing the point. Maybe a gradual understanding is vital.... but I also think that people spend far too long getting confused and lost in thoughts because it's not spelled out in plain English.
The only thing I disagree with is the ascription that it's "ancient." I don't think people were different back then. Assuming no language barrier, I bet if you could grab one of those people who lived 2500 years ago and bring them into today, they'd need only a week to be fully briefed, almost-fully adjusted _and_ be functional with a Blackberry.
like telling a worm that lived underground for all of his life that not only there is such a thing as and outdoor world, but that he lives on a round planet that goes round and round a sun which provide energy for the world, and that our sun is only one in a billion in our galazy etc...
First you need to show the worm that there is such a thing as the outdoor world.
And not only tell him, as if the worm only try to understand mentally the concept of the outside world, he will probably get it wrong (since he has no idea what it is) and all of this stuff will remain empty and pointless theory to him.
If we read that book with our current vision. Maybe it will make a little crack in us. So that we can keep practicing and the living water will start to come out of that crack. We don't have to fabricate the living water but we do have to make a lot of effort and read a lot of teachings to start that little crack.
And we practice each day. Some days nothing is happening or so it seems.
Just on the intellectual level of comprehension the book won't even make a crack. We are certain to not comprehend all the levels of the teaching in the book. And we will be stuck in the certainty that we 'know' about buddhism. And that it doesn't work. Or maybe we think we 'got it'. What next?
For many people they aren't even aware of which type of philosophy this is. This is metaphysics... but to use metaphorical analogies and the like can confuse people. I've reached the concepts of Buddhism through existential philosophy. Introspection.. and understanding of self. Feelings of solipsism. etc. etc.
By cryptic.. I just mean that it doesn't seem to use terms which would quickly and easily explain the truth to someone, but as another poster seemed to imply... this is intended.
then I'd tell them that, unlike the Matrix, you can't escape the body until death and the "real world" is probably not anything like the matrix world... with regards to individuals and phsyical forms.
Ok, i'm messing around... but you get the jist.
Maybe buddhism is the best way. I do agree that it takes a lot of time to understand the true implications.. depending on your philosophical leanings.
If you go back in time to prehistoric man, and begin to speak of the planet earth being round, of the ability to fly into space etc... You will sound cryptic to them.
Actually this is an important paradigme shift to have.
Basically Buddhism is a set of instructions, do these techniques, and that will happen.
When that has happen, do this technique and a third thing will happen.
as simple as that.
A lot of things can be said simply.
Four Noble Truths = Craving (and Clinging/Attachment) leads to Suffering, freedom (Nirvana) is found by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path
(Three Characteristics of Existence)
Anicca = Impermanence. Everything changes. Comes and goes.
Anatta = Not-Self. There's no core or self-essence, all things are simply conditioned and interrelated phenomena that arise and fall based on conditions.
Dukkha = Not understanding these truths (and the Four Noble Truths) leads the mind to think in ways that bring suffering, unsatisfactoriness, pain and the like.
Are these cryptic? No. But just understanding them isn't enough. The mind has to think this way in all things, seeing this reality not just conceptualizing/thinking it.
Everything else, from eightfold path to reincarnation, comes with quite acceptable degrees of clarity assuming you study, do your homework and have a teacher.
Define them as you may
(NAH!!!!!! JUST KIDDING!!! JOKINGLY SEXIST - TRYING TO BE FUNNY!!!!)
Is Buddhism ancient psychology? In a word, yes.
(egging dakini on?)
My belief is that there are unbroken lineages of Enlightened Beings that reach back to the Historical Buddha. This has insured the purity of the Teachings. As these Teachings are set in place to allow for an understanding of the True nature of Reality, I think that encompass many areas of study.
The west prospered in external technological sciences, the east in internal science.
The Western attempts at "internal science" have never compared.