DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - In Which Alexander Berzin Calls the Buddha's Liberative Teachings "Dharma Lite"

**courlerwele** · 06-21-2010, 06:21 AM

I posted in the other topic, but I'm gonna move it in here now if I can. Editing this post in 5... 4.... 3... 2...

Edit: I'm still learning how I feel and what works for me in various Buddhist traditions, so watching the discussion on this in both threads has been really helpful. I've also picked up some new names to look into (Batchelor, for one, once I'm done with Shantideva), and I appreciate having these new directions pointed out to me. Thanks to everybody involved for giving me an idea of where to go and what to read next.

I will say that I'm finding stuka's points really compelling. If the whole point of letting go is to even let go of things like a notion of one's self (the idea that there is no "essential me" that ought to be the center of my universe), then I find the idea of rebirth and karma really confusing. If there's no essential me, then what is karma sticking to? If there's no essential me, then what passes on into another body to experience the consequences of my actions now?

stuka would probably say, "No, of course that makes no sense, because those things are contradicting doctrines. They can't both be so," and right now that's my initial feeling as well. However, for the people on the board who see no contradiction, can you explain it to me?

06-21-2010, 06:21 AM	#4
courlerwele Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 393 Senior Member	I posted in the other topic, but I'm gonna move it in here now if I can. Editing this post in 5... 4.... 3... 2... Edit: I'm still learning how I feel and what works for me in various Buddhist traditions, so watching the discussion on this in both threads has been really helpful. I've also picked up some new names to look into (Batchelor, for one, once I'm done with Shantideva), and I appreciate having these new directions pointed out to me. Thanks to everybody involved for giving me an idea of where to go and what to read next. I will say that I'm finding stuka's points really compelling. If the whole point of letting go is to even let go of things like a notion of one's self (the idea that there is no "essential me" that ought to be the center of my universe), then I find the idea of rebirth and karma really confusing. If there's no essential me, then what is karma sticking to? If there's no essential me, then what passes on into another body to experience the consequences of my actions now? stuka would probably say, "No, of course that makes no sense, because those things are contradicting doctrines. They can't both be so," and right now that's my initial feeling as well. However, for the people on the board who see no contradiction, can you explain it to me?
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