SB002 Why Skeptical Buddhism?

Some good reasons skeptics and agnostics would want to consider exploring Skeptical Buddhism. [Closed captioned.]

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• reason
• reasons
• skeptical
• skeptic
• buddhism
• buddhist
• agnotistic
• atheis
• doubt

[pklama1]

You say coincidence, I say Karma. You say no re-birth. I say possible. You say Buddha says to skeptical, I say Buddha said understand within. You say NO-Self. I say NO-Self only if you understand the Atma. Without Atma, your understanding may not have ground. You say SB. I say vows. After all there is nothing new under the sun. Nothing new to discover or rediscover. You say no Karma. I say Karma is an idea to be on the path to understand deeper atma. Nothing is perfect, therefore it is Samsara.

[justalittledust]

When did I say "coincidence?" When did I say "no rebirth"? Is "being skeptical" the opposite of "understanding within"? I am an agnostic, not a believer in one way or another. I accept what there is good evidence for, on every other point, I keep an open mind.

Karma as "cause and effect" is fine, I have evidence for that, and it has value toward morality.

But surely you are not saying the Buddha believed in Atma -- you represent the Hindu view?

[pklama1]

Then you believe in re-birth. Then also you believe in not just coincidence that this discourse is even taking place. It is our Karma that lead to this point. AGain it is my view you would say. If your 5-6 senses cannot feel, see or touch it then it is not true for you. I may agree but not entirely. Nothing is real therefore everything is real for this samsara. Believe and you will know. Why just Buddhism? It could apply to any other philosophy as well. I am learning from you. Thank you. Namas

[justalittledust]

I do not "believe" in rebirth, I do not believe it's a coincidence we're having this conversation, I believe you were drawn to a subject that I posted a video about; that's nothing to do with karma or coincidence, that's cause and effect.

I read widely, not just Buddhism, but Buddhism takes enough of my effort as a practice! : ) Namasté, pklama, may the light always be there to lead you.

[pklama1]

Thank you for your wonderful suggestions. Its futile to search for the truth when the truth is in each potential enlightened beings. Thank you for provable skepticism. I just think, I am skeptical about your views because you base everything has to be proven. Can you prove love or enlightenment for that matter? Well, its all good and may the light find your way as well. I see dukha everywhere because one is always trying to prove. My Karma is proven to me. I don't have to prove to none. ;) Love!

[pklama1]

So, in other words, SB is perfect, without any defect. No I didn't say, I am doing good because I want re-birth? I am doing good as a human because I can. Compassion is always present in human nature as well as negativity. Buddha's path was simple follow 4 noble truths and 8 fold paths. It is one's way of looking the coin this or that side, doesn't mean you are looking at complete different coin. It still the same coin. Buddha-nature? U say concept, I view a path to disciplining our action. OM

[justalittledust]

I really need to figure out how to get youtube to keep my comments in order. : )

Finally, in response to the question of my intention: ultimately it is to reduce suffering; in this case by demonstrating that what the Buddha taught is consistent and helpful and did not include nor does it need belief in karma and rebirth.

[justalittledust]

(B) The origin of compassion in Buddhism is that once we correctly perceive the lack of self, and how we suffer from incorrect views of ourselves and the world, we then can very easily see that all of us suffer under the same confused views. We understand why people "do bad things" -- they are confused; we understand that intolerance (the lack of compassion) is not helpful to us or to them.

[justalittledust]

(A) compassion is "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering"

[justalittledust]

(1) The Buddha did not say there was an atman. That is a Vedic/Brahminical/Hindu concept. The Buddha's teaching was about ANatmant -- not-self.

(2) Karma and rebirth are likewise V/B/H concepts. The Buddha taught that we should NOT cling to concepts.

(3) Many Christians believe that without the threat of "damnation" people would not be moral. It sounds like you believe without rebirth people would not be moral.