Monthly Archives: October 2012

“The Buddha didn’t talk about Buddhism. He was concerned, simply, with the truth, the truth of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering; —and that, I’d submit, is a good thing for anybody to learn.” – Peter Doobinin, “Tough Lovingkindness” Couldn’t we very easily switch the name Buddha to Jesus and Buddhism to Christianity.  Therefore, another  opportunity to accept that all religions are pure at their pre-organizational conceptions. \

To further elaborate on the “Translation and Time” post – is SILENCE a better way to communicate than verbally? No, I was not intending this to be a Koan.

Metaphorically, is this what reincarnation (both Buddha’s major Karma paradigm and the Hindu Sacred Cow) comes down to? Treat all living conscious life as if it were a rebirth of another.  It could be you someday.

We’ve mentioned before about Buddhism’s focus on “truth” as opposed to “metaphor.”  Not that metaphors can’t be the truth, they’re just up for interpretation. Of course, there is the whole reincarnation aspect, but I’m not ready to call that a metaphor just yet. However, both metaphors and truth face the same challenges in the confines of “standard” religions: Translation & Time. Misinterpreting or “taking what you want” from scripture/history/truth crosses all religions.  Those were originally written in a different time, in different languages (many times), and a different set of social-political and even moral values. Therefore, misinterpretation becomes misleading. It doesn’t mean we can’t still find value from these words.  … Continue reading →