On 9/8/2012 2:36 PM, mike brown wrote:
Belief has nothing to do with it. Whether Jesus or Buddha was a
historical person,or not, makes no difference - the Buddhist teachings
speak to me because they correspond to my experiences time after time.
Christianity doesn't. Neither does Wicca or Scientology. That doesn't
bother me. Does it bother you?
Nope.
Biblical lingo does not ring to many contemporary ears (particulary
thise who think it does and "believe"), as we are not raised with oral
traditions and metaphors the refer to yet older metaphors. I certain
wasn't - but wasn't raised Neo-Christian fundamentalist either. Pretty
atheist environment, very minimal church exposure - handful of visits in
a lifetime, most weddings/funerals, only a few services with friends,
and that was mixed denominations.
I other words, I get where you coming from, and probably has less
history with such shit. No dog in that fight, I can simply now see the
same core is there, just a very different expression. I'm still working
on Islam - Sufis help - but I suspect they were around before Islam and
just changed the sign on the door (many Muslims also suspect this and
persecute them accordingly).
Buddhism IMWO / TMSE (in my worthless opinion/to my simple ears) has
done a better job of adjusting it's voice - a tradition of Upaya along
with a reformation/back to basics split every few centuries or so helps
- but contemporary particularly Western ears still read the teaching too
scientifically/literally.
But as you say, so what? Buddha had no interest in Buddhism.
KG
