2011.04.02 - Siddhartha Buddha

[Tenet Nosce]

I am just about to now finish reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. A pretty small read but laden with wisdom for those on the path.

Yes, that is a great book. Highly recommended! I also really like A Wrinkle in Time. Also some great suggestions here in Q'uo on Online Gaming .

---

Yeah I've kind of stopped reading when I see arguments going round in circles. It misses the entire point and becomes no different from the arguments of "religion" - where people think their way is the right way and other thoughts are wrong. There is no wrong, everyone has a different understanding and a different course of action that works for them.

I know. Isn't this self-evident by now?

---

"Desire is the cause of suffering"? Desire is a motivator!

You have done a great job of summing up the paradox there. Very Zen Buddhist.

---

Wow I just had a look, thank you for posting. I never really looked into anything about Buddha before. What they say about him has made me realise that is the direction I've been taking, and that its perfectly ok. Before that I questioned myself because the way of Jesus, of loving and accepting those who would destroy us, is not my way. I've always chosen to retreat from the world instead and I wondered if that was selfish. Now I realise it isn't. So that was another light bulb moment

Anyhow, there are certain ideas that I am directing my study around. Such as: vegetarianism, salvation, and metempsychosis (transmigration of souls). Very interesting stuff!

It is extremely curious to me how certain elements of these teachings appear to directly contradict one another. I wonder if there is a way to harmonize them.

Only problem is that attempts at religious syncretism have been attempted in the past, and seem to result in a backlash of fundamentalism and zealotry. Quite the paradox. :idea: