Engaging theism & engaging Creationism — OZONE Asylum, home of the Mad Scientists

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Engaging theism & engaging Creationism

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Your Text: Insert Slimies » Insert UBB Code » Close Last Tag \| All Tags UBB Help	[quote] [b]WebShaman said:[/b] Yes, but who exactly is deciding what constitutes being a better person? [/quote] You do. Buddhism is bringing forth what is inside you already to the forefront. And yes, there are always, [b]always[/b] an opposite. Without one, there can not be the other. Me personally, I was not a real happy person. Why was this? Because I had no self-confidence and had low self esteem. However, this may not be the reason that others are "unhappy" or practice Buddhism (or any other religion). There is nothing wrong with someone that does not practice Buddhism though. It is not for everyone. Who it is right for, is the person that "gives it a shot" and likes it. Which is what I did. No one came to my house or up to me and said "Hey, have you ever heard of Buddhism?" or told me "If you don't practice this form of Buddhism, then you are destined to an eternity of pain and suffering". I sought it out. I found people that I could talk to about it. [quote] [b]WebShaman said:[/b] And if someone is not a "better" person, then what are they? [/quote] Well, I think we all can agree on what that person is. Whether they practice Buddhism or any other religion. It doesn't matter. A "good" person is a "good" person. The method that someone finds "happiness" is up to them. I work with a lot of Christians and they are pretty happy people. I'm good friends with a lot of them. Do I think they are practicing wrong or destined to fail in life? Nope. My view on religion is that one should seek to be a solid good person while we are alive. There's no evidence on an "afterlife" so we can't really say for sure what happens to us when we die. What we can be sure of while we [b]are[/b] alive, is how we live. [quote] [b]WebShaman said:[/b] So who decides what leads to Higher Consciousness, Enlightenment, etc, and the opposite path (total damnation, oblivion, etc)? [/quote] Again, I would have to say yourself. I don't really get the "Higher Consciousness" but when we talk about "Enlightenment", Nichiren and Shakyamuni referred to it as "seeing the world for what it was and ridding yourself of the sufferings that control our lives". This is not say that being a Buddha that you will not have bad days or problems. But you should gain the wisdom to see your problems for what they are and not dwell on them. As Ikeda wrote [quote] True happiness lies in building a self that stands dignified and indomitable. [/quote] Later, C:\ Loading...
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