Problems in Buddhism?

Rich,

What you have "learned" seems to be steeped in translation problems. The technical terms often rendered in English as desire and suffering are not, in Buddhism, to be interpreted however one wishes - instead, these technical terms have well defined meanings.

Understanding the terminology will help eliminate a great deal of the confusion.

Also, the Eightfold Path is not so much things to be done but the way to do things.

My advice is to pick up Robert Thurman's brilliant introduction to Buddhism called Inner Revolution. He covers the history, philosophy and teachings of Buddhism.

Good luck,
Thomas

I always have a problem with "the way to do things", as if the opposite way is somehow incorrect. For me there is no "way to do things", so I support all endeavors.

Also, when one provides some method to achieve something, there is an intrinsic call to desire - which I personally think always exists in a human existence. So, if one is meditating just to meditate, then there is no desire. But I think it gets boring very fast, so some desire to achieve something seems to seep in.

Would you support endeavors to execute newborn babies? Probably not, right?

The Eightfold Path has three aspects: wisdom, ethical conduct and concentration. Wisdom is concerned with right view and right intention; that is understanding reality as it truly is and the aim of eliminating harmful and immoral personal qualities so that our goals are morally upright.

The Ethics is concerned with right speech, right action and right livelihood.
The Pali Canon says, "And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, and from idle chatter: This is called right speech."
"And what is right action? Abstaining from taking life, from stealing, and from illicit sex [or sexual misconduct]. This is called right action."
Right livelihood is when the practitioner has given up dishonest living and abstains from making a living in ways that harm others, specifically by doing business in weapons, human beings, meat industry, intoxicants and toxic products designed to cause harm.

I doubt you really think that the opposite of abstaining from selling human beings is appropriate; I doubt you would condone slavery. Buddhism does not demand that everyone act the same, instead Buddhism takes note of ways of doing things that are harmful and suggests that you not do things that are harmful.



And, according to Buddhism, desire is not necessarily a bad thing.

Ta?h? - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tanha is a technical term in Buddhism with a very precise and well defined meaning. It is not simply "desire" or "craving" in English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TanhaAs I listen the Thurman's lectures on video, he seems to be drenched in objectives. But this is just my perspective.

drenched in objectives

boy that must be a sight.
"Dripping wet with purposes" - would this be another way of putting it?

But there's nothing to stop you inventing a new method. All that matters is whether it works.

There is an other problem in the Buddhism, which is the so-called experience of the nirvana which I consider is a sort of trick.

There is an other problem in the Buddhism, which is the so-called experience of the nirvana which I consider is a sort of trick.

This is not a problem in Buddhism, my friend.

Buddhism says very little about Nirvana except that you should find out for yourself. Unless you have had the experience for yourself, it seems impossible to comment upon the experience - and especially impossible to belittle the experience as a trick.

Besides, reducing the experience to a trick requires a very cynical view of the people suggesting Buddhism: to call enlightenment a trick is to suggest that the Buddhists are all out trying to swindle you in some way. I see no reason to make such a leap.

Some sects of Buddhism place a lot of emphasis on Nirvana,

and they are as assured that they are practicing Buddhism as any other practitioner in any other sect.