Where is the self? How can dualism stand if it's just a fiction?

That applies to most things us humans perceive.

No need to, Buddy
(that's the term we use; os sometimes "chum" or "pard")


I feel acquitted

Good for you Spade

Ah I see; no need to apologize to me but maybe the Buddhists hereabout

Nah don't leave

Well put Matt, in agreement with the general principle that nothing…….

.... that nothing can be derived without some basic assumptions.
All knowledge requires basic axioms to build up from.

Your take Matt is probably better than mine,

…..is entirely anything while while everything is partly something else,

…...which I omitted 'cause felt too repetitious

I am not sure if you saw this Matt...I did edit it in later...

Would you say your atheism is of a Buddhist or Taoist view? Or another Chinese cultural religion? Or not really either because you tend to stay away from beliefs all together? And try to find your own path? It seems that you do take interest in the self-revelations that Buddhism teaches, no?

There's one simple solution to happiness; be good and kind to everybody and everything.

It takes an effort at action more than meditation.

I agree mate!

My views are primarily based around a desire to understand.
My basic assumptions are always (I hope) subject to revision.
As they stand now I can derive "rationally" an importance for ethical behavior.
So in a way I have placed an a-prior value on understanding and feel as though I can derive from that a value in ethics.
[by value you might also say importance, I mean value in the way it is used in the discussion of ethical philosphy]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiology

So I don't really know how to answer in the specifics regarding each of the religions you mentioned. Many of those religions have practitioners within them who do not share my views. (we've spoken before as to how Buddhism runs the gambit between atheism/pantheism/theism)

On a practical level I am vegan. I attempt not to take the life of another 'self' unless there are very strong extenuating circumstances (like my own or some other's survival).
I see the dangers of treating religion cynically (as we discussed regarding Satanism and Scientology).
Religions serve a purpose, but often those purposes can be corrupted.

I don't know about "better".
The existentialists or fresco could mount a very persuasive argument in regards to what you are getting at about semantic interpretations of reality.

Thanks mate...I think that gave me a very clear understanding of how you view yourself...

Yes almost surely it does. At least that is my perception.

I think often veganism is either perceived of or practiced in a "non-humanizing" way.
Let me give you an example of how it isn't (or shouldn't) be.

Last week I drove home from visiting my aunt/uncle/cousins.
I drove past a possum standing in the median. After about 30 seconds of thought, I turned around. Hoping to shew the possum off the road. As I got closer I saw blood pouring out of one of its eyes. From my understanding of medicine I realized this possum has very little chance of survival. The rest of its life will be spent suffering. Even if it could survive this would require massive interventions and efforts that could be better spent on human animals. This is no human's beloved pet. Any possum family it has will be separated from it whether it dies or is "rescued" in some veterinary ICU.
I crushed it's scull.
That was (from my view) the right thing to do. I don't carry a gun. The time it would take to get one would prolong the suffering greatly. I don't even think it is legal for me to discharge a firearm in such a place.
Veganism is not some appeal to ooey gooey feelings about animal sentimentality. If you are vegan sometimes you still have to kill animals, as difficult as that "felt" for me.

I can totally empathize with your positions, since you are a vegan...And I can also empathize how hard that actually was for you to do mate....I am truly sorry that you had to make that choice... But I truly do understand why you had done what you did...And I totally understand your reasons why...

Now, that is dukkha.

A major component of Buddhism is compassion. A major tenant. Meditation leads to a clear mind and right thought that will lead to compassionate actions. If meditation does not change your outlook and resulting actions you are doing it wrong.

Thanks Spade.
It was hard, and I hope right.

I had to put a chipmunk out of its misery year before last for the same kind of reason. It had apparently run out in from of a golf cart...and got very badly mauled. It was obvious it could not even move...other than writhe in pain.

I dispatched it by crushing its head. I may have done it as an act of mercy...but I felt like **** for days afterwards.

Ahh...now I see whatcha mean.

Thanks for doing that Frank.
Sorry it made you feel bad for days, obviously I think you were right to do it.