Rather than focus on what Buddhism is not which includes a multitude of misconceptions derived from a variety of sources including pop culture, it’s better to focus on what Buddhism is.
Buddhism allows you to explore deeply within yourself to see yourself as you really are and see the world around you as it really is and it allows you to discover your innate capacity for compassion and wisdom so as to reduce ignorance from your view of the world. Ignorance as used here is not a lack of intelligence or formal education. Ignorance is the inability to see the world and everything in it as it truly is and without false projections and fantasies.
In fact, you only have to observe the daily news to see how some of the brightest minds in the world are exposed to personal suffering as the result of ignorance. And what is worse, they expose others to suffering as a result of their ignorance. Ignorance is the source of a multitude of delusions including greed, hatred, cravings, attachments and your own false sense of self and how you see others.
Hopefully, by reading “Buddhist Notes” you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of what Buddhism is and what it is not. I have composed these notes from a collection of writings of people far more knowing than myself on the subject in an attempt to offer a wide variety of views on the subject of Buddhism.
I only refer to myself as a “Buddhist” if that word is closely defined so as not to be comingled with certain concepts that I do not hold true. As an example, I personally do not believe in physical reincarnation as proposed by some Buddhist sects. I view “rebirth” as an “awakening” in the here and now, much like a “Born Again” Christian is not physically reborn but rather currently “awakened” to his or her beliefs here and now. I prefer to think of myself as a student of all wisdom including the teachings of Siddhārtha Gautama who was the historical Buddha. And, as he taught, I keep those things I know to be true and helpful and discard those things I know to be false and harmful and do not focus on those things unknowable.
You only have to refer to the "The Kalama Sutta" - Pali Cannon that I used as an introduction to "Buddhist Notes" to gain some insight into what Buddhism is and what it is not.
James "Devil Dog" Doyle
In fact, you only have to observe the daily news to see how some of the brightest minds in the world are exposed to personal suffering as the result of ignorance. And what is worse, they expose others to suffering as a result of their ignorance. Ignorance is the source of a multitude of delusions including greed, hatred, cravings, attachments and your own false sense of self and how you see others.
Hopefully, by reading “Buddhist Notes” you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of what Buddhism is and what it is not. I have composed these notes from a collection of writings of people far more knowing than myself on the subject in an attempt to offer a wide variety of views on the subject of Buddhism.
I only refer to myself as a “Buddhist” if that word is closely defined so as not to be comingled with certain concepts that I do not hold true. As an example, I personally do not believe in physical reincarnation as proposed by some Buddhist sects. I view “rebirth” as an “awakening” in the here and now, much like a “Born Again” Christian is not physically reborn but rather currently “awakened” to his or her beliefs here and now. I prefer to think of myself as a student of all wisdom including the teachings of Siddhārtha Gautama who was the historical Buddha. And, as he taught, I keep those things I know to be true and helpful and discard those things I know to be false and harmful and do not focus on those things unknowable.
You only have to refer to the "The Kalama Sutta" - Pali Cannon that I used as an introduction to "Buddhist Notes" to gain some insight into what Buddhism is and what it is not.
James "Devil Dog" Doyle
