Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.
“Motivate yourself by yourself; examine yourself by yourself. Thus self-controlled and fully conscious, you will live happily. Because the self is the master of the self; the self is the resort of the self. So control yourself, as a trader does a good horse.”
The above is a translation by Thomas Cleary in his book, ‘DHAMMAPADA - The Sayings of Buddha’. Cleary comments, “Gautama Buddha did not bind people to himself in dependency relationships.”
Unsmoked: “Motivate yourself by yourself; examine yourself by yourself
What if “yourself” lacks objectivity and perspicacity? I personally believe we need an “ideal” to emulate, recognizing, of course, that it is a symbol, not a reality. I think the Christian belief that Jesus was “perfect” and the Buddhist belief that Buddha was “enlightened” leads to all sorts of mischief, esp. guilt and self-loathing.
Sometimes I believe that people who reach high levels of spiritual maturity can actually help devotees by some sort of supernatural means, but, that’s not intellectually defensible, so I’m not going to even try to do it. Except to “myself” by “myself”
“Motivate yourself by yourself; examine yourself by yourself. Thus self-controlled and fully conscious, you will live happily. Because the self is the master of the self; the self is the resort of the self. So control yourself, as a trader does a good horse.”
Christianity also teaches self-control. How is this a fundamental difference between the two religions?
The fundamental difference between the two is that Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Every other difference is a subset of that one.
“Motivate yourself by yourself; examine yourself by yourself. Thus self-controlled and fully conscious, you will live happily. Because the self is the master of the self; the self is the resort of the self. So control yourself, as a trader does a good horse.”
Christianity also teaches self-control. How is this a fundamental difference between the two religions?
The fundamental difference between the two is that Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Every other difference is a subset of that one.
Okay. The fundamental difference between Buddhism and Christianity is that Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Another major difference is that Gautama didn’t bind himself to people in dependency relationships. He encouraged people to be independent.
A Christian song says, “We are weak but you are strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong.” In Buddhism you find remarks like, “The treasure house within you contains everything, and you are free to use it. You don’t need to seek outside.”
In Zen Buddhism you find comments like, “What is the affliction of people today? Their affliction is in their lack of self-confidence.”
If there was a historical Jesus, I think he was self-confident. His biographers should have made this clear, and made it clear that he wanted others to be self-confident. How pitiful is a rabbit that needs another rabbit’s brain to succeed? For a human being, it’s even more pitiful. Imagine conditioning a child to believe that he can’t stand on his own two feet!
“Motivate yourself by yourself; examine yourself by yourself. Thus self-controlled and fully conscious, you will live happily. Because the self is the master of the self; the self is the resort of the self. So control yourself, as a trader does a good horse.”
Christianity also teaches self-control. How is this a fundamental difference between the two religions?
The fundamental difference between the two is that Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Every other difference is a subset of that one.
Okay. The fundamental difference between Buddhism and Christianity is that Jesus claims to be the Son of God. Another major difference is that Gautama didn’t bind himself to people in dependency relationships. He encouraged people to be independent.
A Christian song says, “We are weak but you are strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong.” In Buddhism you find remarks like, “The treasure house within you contains everything, and you are free to use it. You don’t need to seek outside.”
In Zen Buddhism you find comments like, “What is the affliction of people today? Their affliction is in their lack of self-confidence.”
If there was a historical Jesus, I think he was self-confident. His biographers should have made this clear, and made it clear that he wanted others to be self-confident. How pitiful is a rabbit that needs another rabbit’s brain to succeed? For a human being, it’s even more pitiful. Imagine conditioning a child to believe that he can’t stand on his own two feet!
Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within you. He said that if you continue in his word you would be free indeed. The Buddha is an example for his disciples, Jesus for his. The Buddha’s words guide his disciples (you quote them all the time), Jesus’ words guide his. I’m not sure of the difference you are trying to establish. The main difference is just what I said: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
Ecurb: The main difference is just what I said: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
Buddha claimed he was enlightened. That didn’t leave much room for disagreement among his disciples. I wonder if any of his disciples were skeptics? “Where’s the evidence, Gautama?”
Ecurb: The main difference is just what I said: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
Buddha claimed he was enlightened. That didn’t leave much room for disagreement among his disciples. I wonder if any of his disciples were skeptics? “Where’s the evidence, Gautama?”
Yeah, in fact, what’s the evidence that he even existed? Since folks around here doubt Jesus’ existence, what about a guy who supposedly lived a few hundred years before in a backwater called India. I think all the Buddha writings were actually written by a hippie on acid.
Ecurb: The main difference is just what I said: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
Buddha claimed he was enlightened. That didn’t leave much room for disagreement among his disciples. I wonder if any of his disciples were skeptics? “Where’s the evidence, Gautama?”
Yeah, in fact, what’s the evidence that he even existed? Since folks around here doubt Jesus’ existence, what about a guy who supposedly lived a few hundred years before in a backwater called India.
A valid question. And it’s at least equally valid when applied to Jesus.
Ecurb: The main difference is just what I said: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
Buddha claimed he was enlightened. That didn’t leave much room for disagreement among his disciples. I wonder if any of his disciples were skeptics? “Where’s the evidence, Gautama?”
Yeah, in fact, what’s the evidence that he even existed? Since folks around here doubt Jesus’ existence, what about a guy who supposedly lived a few hundred years before in a backwater called India.
A valid question. And it’s at least equally valid when applied to Jesus.
Oh, the question is always valid. Not all the answers are, however.
Ecurb: The main difference is just what I said: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
Buddha claimed he was enlightened. That didn’t leave much room for disagreement among his disciples. I wonder if any of his disciples were skeptics? “Where’s the evidence, Gautama?”
Yeah, in fact, what’s the evidence that he even existed? Since folks around here doubt Jesus’ existence, what about a guy who supposedly lived a few hundred years before in a backwater called India.
A valid question. And it’s at least equally valid when applied to Jesus.
Oh, the question is always valid. Not all the answers are, however.
Ecurb: No, I meant hippy. All the statues I’ve seen of Bud show him to be quite fat.
OK, I screwed up. I’ve edited it now to remove my shame.
God is punishing you because, in previous postings, you have been such a prig about grammar and English usage.
In terms of physiques, Jesus wins. Buddha is usually portrayed as chubby or emaciated, while Jesus has a very attractive “swimmer’s bod”. This is especially nice because it matches his blonde hair and blue eyes.
I wonder what Mohammed looked like? Oh dear….even imagining this might be against Islamic law. I certainly don’t want a fatwa directed against me!
I do hope Mohammed didn’t look like Yasir Arafat. What a disappointment that would be. However, Omar Sharif is a different story. Him….maybe I could worship.
