I am a Buddhist and if anyone wants to question my beliefs then they are welcome to do so...

You asked us to question your "beliefs"...which is what I am doing.

Saying "the Buddha may know how to end suffering" is the same as saying "the Buddha may not know how to end suffering."

If I was giving you directions to somewhere and I said that I may not know how to get there is that the same as saying to you that I may know how to get there?

OK so you're a Buddhist and I do question your beliefs. There are many billions that believe in superstitious nonsense, what's one more?

Chumly wrote:

OK so you're a Buddhist and I do question your beliefs. There are many billions that believe in superstitious nonsense, what's one more?

or maybe it is those who believe in the superiority of their
ego who are the ones who believe in superstitious nonsense?

what is better, good sex or a union with God? as a Zennist for almost 30 years my belief is that they are equal thus they are the same.

what say u?

OK so you're a Buddhist and I do question your beliefs. There are many billions that believe in superstitious nonsense, what's one more?

Frank Apisa wrote:

You asked us to question your "beliefs"...which is what I am doing.

Saying "the Buddha may know how to end suffering" is the same as saying "the Buddha may not know how to end suffering."

They are not the same. One makes one try to see if the Buddha was correct and one makes the attempt seem futile.

If I was giving you directions to somewhere and I said that I may not know how to get there is that the same as saying to you that I may know how to get there? I'd say that me saying that I may know how to get there will give you more confidence to try than if I said I may not know how to get there.

Do you see my point? One gives confidence and one does not.

If you back up that with logical reasons why and say that certain things will appear on the way then your confidence builds. You then make the journey and if what was said is correct then you have arrived at your journey's end.

To say that it may not be the case just makes one give up before trying.

Chumly wrote:

OK so you're a Buddhist and I do question your beliefs. There are many billions that believe in superstitious nonsense, what's one more?

You seem sure of your statement, please put your case and I'll consider it. If not I can't agree.

I suspected before we started this conversation that you (igm) were approaching Buddhism the way Catholics approach Catholicism and Islamists approach Islam. Now I am almost certain that is the case.

You are insisting that your guesses about the REALITY are correct...no matter what.

In your case, if the Buddha taught it...is unquestionbly is the truth...no matter the many pretend attachments you make.

There appears to be absolutely no doubt in your mind that the Buddha attained something special (enlightenment)...and by "standing on his shoulders"...you will one day attain "enlightenment" also.

The words "blessed trinity", "transubstantiation", salvation by dint of good works, salvation by dint of "belief"...all come to mind.

At least in your case, Buddhism is a religion based on "belief" (guesswork)...and "faith" (insistence that the guesses cannot be wrong.)

OK so you're a Buddhist and I do question your beliefs. There are many billions that believe in superstitious nonsense, what's one more?

Frank Apisa wrote:

I suspected before we started this conversation that you (igm) were approaching Buddhism the way Catholics approach Catholicism and Islamists approach Islam. Now I am almost certain that is the case.

You are insisting that your guesses about the REALITY are correct...no matter what.

In your case, if the Buddha taught it...is unquestionbly is the truth...no matter the many pretend attachments you make.

There appears to be absolutely no doubt in your mind that the Buddha attained something special (enlightenment)...and by "standing on his shoulders"...you will one day attain "enlightenment" also.

The words "blessed trinity", "transubstantiation", salvation by dint of good works, salvation by dint of "belief"...all come to mind.

At least in your case, Buddhism is a religion based on "belief" (guesswork)...and "faith" (insistence that the guesses cannot be wrong.)

You have said a lot but I haven't said anything in this thread that would enable you to draw any of these conclusions. I will say that none of them are correct.

I don't see a question in your post so I can't answer a question.

I see a lot of assumptions but no evidence?

Put your case and I'll consider it but without any arguments it hasn't much value to anyone else but you. You are appealing to me, to just take your word for it... why? I for one need evidence... but I'm willing to consider any you might have.

Everything we accomplish because someone else told us how they did it... no matter how trivial... requires attempting to do what they tell us... then we either succeed or fail...we either continue until we have succeeded or we give up, they either gave us good advice or they didn't. We won't know unless we try. That's true for everything in life... there is nothing special about it... it is just normal everyday behavior... no matter how ordinary that advice is.

The advice the Buddha give is to examine the true nature of reality… that’s the path. Examination is not blindly following a path… it is critical enquiry undertaken by each and every Buddhist by themselves using their own common sense and critical reasoning.

Chumly wrote:

OK so you're a Buddhist and I do question your beliefs. There are many billions that believe in superstitious nonsense, what's one more?

To simplify matters perhaps the following would help:

If this was a joke... that fine by me... but if you meant what you seem to be saying then...

Did you imply without evidence that I as a Buddhist believe in superstitious nonsense? If so what evidence do you have? If not, then it could be inferred from your initial post and that is why I asked for evidence as there wasn't any.

No need to supply evidence but I do of course disagree with you and evidence would help me to consider whether I need to change my mind.

I don't know how you've come to some of your conclusions but you haven't asked any questions about Buddhism. If you have any please ask... if not then good evening.