DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Karma From His Own Lips: by Ajahn Buddhadāsa

**AccusaJalsBub** · 07-02-2011, 09:05 AM

Of course it can ultimately be seen as illusory, but in terms of conventional reality it is a meaningful and even necessary illusion; indeed, mental health may depend on it. That's why, for example, we have such things as the recovery cycle after loss and trauma.

Again, this idea of "ultimate vs. conventional reality" is not a shared assumption.

Without psychological continuity it is difficult to see how the Buddha could be truthful in saying:

or

and not to mention:

It's hard to see how kamma-vipaka would make any sense at all, actually. Head-tripping on "kamma-vipaka", and trying to "make sense" out of it, is only a problem for folks who feel a need to indulge in, and tie it to, the superstitions they cling to. Part of the "liberation" of the Buddha's teaching is precisely liberation from the chains of superstitious views. And the burden of trying to "make sense" of things within the shackles of those views. Life is so much better without such burdens....

Not sure there is any point in arguing against a notion of "psychological continuity" of some kind. Seems like rather a straw man, anyway...

But in your case it is a set-up for a multi-lifetime homunculus, which would not follow anyway. It's just a "god-of-the-gaps" strategy, but with an Atman-that-is-not-an-atman in the god's place.

07-02-2011, 09:05 AM	#35
AccusaJalsBub Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 550 Senior Member	Of course it can ultimately be seen as illusory, but in terms of conventional reality it is a meaningful and even necessary illusion; indeed, mental health may depend on it. That's why, for example, we have such things as the recovery cycle after loss and trauma. Again, this idea of "ultimate vs. conventional reality" is not a shared assumption. Without psychological continuity it is difficult to see how the Buddha could be truthful in saying: or and not to mention: It's hard to see how kamma-vipaka would make any sense at all, actually. Head-tripping on "kamma-vipaka", and trying to "make sense" out of it, is only a problem for folks who feel a need to indulge in, and tie it to, the superstitions they cling to. Part of the "liberation" of the Buddha's teaching is precisely liberation from the chains of superstitious views. And the burden of trying to "make sense" of things within the shackles of those views. Life is so much better without such burdens.... Not sure there is any point in arguing against a notion of "psychological continuity" of some kind. Seems like rather a straw man, anyway... But in your case it is a set-up for a multi-lifetime homunculus, which would not follow anyway. It's just a "god-of-the-gaps" strategy, but with an Atman-that-is-not-an-atman in the god's place.
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