[kaysions]

Do you practice with an offline group Joshu ?

How long have you been studying what the Buddha said ? I don't think you've ever told us - and it would be nice to know a little more about you.


with kind wishes

Aloka

Hi Aloka,

I became interested in Buddhism about thirty odd years ago and read various random books. As a mature student I read a degree in World Religions in which I concentrated on Buddhism (Zen in particular) and Hinduism (Upanisads, Sankara{labelled a crypto-Buddhist}. Buddhism is fantastic. The Buddhist approach was a revelation to me on the back of an epiphany, but I have never been a Buddhist. As I have alluded to, everything instructive about Buddhism was telling me not to be one.

[Liaiskelile]

from Buddha; from Buddhism; from Greco-Buddhism

Although many Hindus argue that it's from Hinduism.

[PaulRyansew]

Hi Aloka,

I became interested in Buddhism about thirty odd years ago and read various random books. As a mature student I read a degree in World Religions in which I concentrated on Buddhism (Zen in particular) and Hinduism (Upanisads, Sankara{labelled a crypto-Buddhist}. Buddhism is fantastic. The Buddhist approach was a revelation to me on the back of an epiphany, but I have never been a Buddhist. As I have alluded to, everything instructive about Buddhism was telling me not to be one.

Thanks very much for sharing the info Joshu, I had a feeling that you weren't a Buddhist !

[Gmvkgkmn]

Hello Joshu!

Love is when I am not. When I am, love isn't. We tend to exist from the inside out, starting with me, or I. Love cannot be when the me is at the centre. The me is always there of course, but it doesn't have to be at the centre. Less me, more room for everything else, most importantly love. That's why it is refered to as impersonal. Actually, love is only a word. A word which is not easily understood. Like beauty, and intelligence. Maybe these are different words that we use to understandthe same thing? maybe these different words reflect our understanding of something that is very difficult to understand? Love, beauty, intelligence - what is the difference when ther is no me?

To my surprise, I find myself understanding exactly what you are saying. After thinking about this topic some more, maybe love can be categorized still differently, but more simply. I believe we exist as a soul, mind/ego, and body. Maybe each one has it's own form of love?

The body's love must exist as lust. The soul's love must be the true, unconditional love you wise people are mentioning. The ego's mind is probably the one you are speaking of; where the self-centered "I" comes first. Unconditional love, of course, is the most important and most desirable, but the ego is always trying to trick us and make "I" come first. I'm thinking that sometimes it disguises itself as true love sometimes, even though it is not. Like becoming infatuated with someone before you even know them. Someone might think they are "falling in love" with someone just because they are attracted to them.

I hate to admit this, but I think with my first posting of this topic I was a bit confused. I believe I was mixing up unconditional love with ego love and giving examples of both. Ego love might inspire people to become entertainers or become rich and famous doing something that brings attention to them, but unconditional love is something better entirely.

By the way, Joshu, I think I admire your attitude after reading your history. Personally, I'm here on this website because I believe have a lot to learn from Buddhism, but by no means would I call myself "religious". I am really an individual trying not to get sidetracked. For example, I am not out to memorize a bunch of quotes, but instead I pay more attention to the concepts.

[TheBest-Host]

I believe we exist as a soul, mind/ego, and body......

.....The soul's love must be......

Hello PreviousViking,

I just thought I'd mention that Buddhists don't believe in a ''soul " - that's a Christian idea.


"What in general is suggested by Soul, Self, Ego, or to use the Sanskrit expression Ātman, is that in man there is a permanent, everlasting and absolute entity, which is the unchanging substance behind the changing phenomenal world. According to some religions, each individual has such a separate soul which is created by God, and which, finally after death, lives eternally either in hell or heaven, its destiny depending on the judgment ofits creator.
According to others, it goes through many lives till it is completely purified and becomes finally united with God or Brahman, Universal Soul or Ātman, from which it originally emanated. This soul or self in man is the thinker of thoughts, feeler of sensations, and receiver of rewards and punishments for all its actions good and bad. Such a conception is called the idea of self.

Buddhism stands unique in the history of human thought in denying the existence of such a Soul, Self, or Ātman.

http://sites.google.com/site/rahulaw...ine-of-no-soul


with kind wishes

Aloka

[boiffrona]

Hi Aloka,

I became interested in Buddhism about thirty odd years ago and read various random books. As a mature student I read a degree in World Religions in which I concentrated on Buddhism (Zen in particular) and Hinduism (Upanisads, Sankara{labelled a crypto-Buddhist}. Buddhism is fantastic. The Buddhist approach was a revelation to me on the back of an epiphany, but I have never been a Buddhist. As I have alluded to, everything instructive about Buddhism was telling me not to be one.

Thanks very much for sharing the info Joshu, I had a feeling that you weren't a Buddhist !

Gassho

I am not sure you are talking about the same thing. The obvious jump is that Joshu is not Buddhist - however, that might not be the correct jump.

I do not necessarily identify myself as a "Buddhist". I do not like to speak of Buddhism. If non-Buddhists want to talk of Buddhism I refrain, except in the context of discussing world religions.

[VoriEremiagem]

I do not necessarily identify myself as a "Buddhist". I do not like to speak of Buddhism. If non-Buddhists want to talk of Buddhism I refrain, except in the context of discussing world religions

Hi Zw,

I'm not sure what your point is. My comment was in relation to a communication with Joshu, not to you.

I also don't go around telling non-Buddhists I'm a Buddhist myself, unless I'm asked....but that's irrelevant.

[Abanijo]

Hello Aloka,

I just thought I'd mention that Buddhists don't believe in a ''soul " - that's a Christian idea.

So far the wisest Buddhist concept I have read is the Zen idea of avoiding assumption. Is there a soul? I don't know. Is there a god? It often doesn't seem like it, but I wouldn't declare there is or isn't. I try to avoid speculating such big ideas. I'm simply more interested in trying to understand the things right in front of me in the "here and now".

Come to think about it, maybe I've crossed that line by speculating about what love is!

[QwOpHGyZ]

Hello Aloka,

So far the wisest Buddhist concept I have read is the Zen idea of avoiding assumption. Is there a soul? I don't know. Is there a god? It often doesn't seem like it, but I wouldn't declare there is or isn't. I try to avoid speculating such big ideas. I'm simply more interested in trying to understand the things right in front of me in the "here and now".

Hi PV,

OK.

I was simply responding to a previous statement you made in #24 of this discussion, which was:

I believe we exist as a soul, mind/ego, and body.

[Timoxari]

I know, I'm not offended or anything. Your responses will always be welcome with me, Aloka!