Volconvo Debate Forums - View Single Post

Impenitent · Apr 18, 2004, 10:22 am

<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (shunyadragon,)
<blockquote>Quote:<hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Impenitent,)
Siddartha taught a very specific path...

"Why do you think that all authentic Buddhists believe in reincarnation??"

why would the eightfold path lead to enlightenment which is the end of rebirth, the end of reincarnation, if they didn't believe in reincarnation?

It is an either/or situation... Buddhists believe as Buddhists believe, Hindus believe as Hindus believe... they may overlap a bit as all religions do, but they are not the same thing...<hr size="1" /></blockquote>

Siddartha did not teach a very specific path. He did say not to follow him but to seek the middle way. The end of suffereing and the eight-fold path are not as specific in concept as the ten commandments. Reincarnation is not clear in Buddhist teachings as in Hindu traditions. I do not think there is such a thing as authentic Buddhism from our point of view any more than an authentic Christianity. Too much time, culture and language problems intervene.<hr size="1" /></blockquote>

the middle way IS his path... yes the eight fold path is very specific... unless you want to say that the first step on the eightfold path is to kill everyone... do you see my point? the eight fold path is very specific... authentic in the sense that if one is following the religion of Thor one is not christian, authentic or otherwise... if one is not following the teachings of the buddah, one is not buddhist...

Apr 18, 2004, 10:22 am	#116 (permalink) (top)
Impenitent Hot Lava Posts: 1,859	</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (shunyadragon,) </span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (Impenitent,) Siddartha taught a very specific path... "Why do you think that all authentic Buddhists believe in reincarnation??" why would the eightfold path lead to enlightenment which is the end of rebirth, the end of reincarnation, if they didn't believe in reincarnation? It is an either/or situation... Buddhists believe as Buddhists believe, Hindus believe as Hindus believe... they may overlap a bit as all religions do, but they are not the same thing...<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> Siddartha did not teach a very specific path. He did say not to follow him but to seek the middle way. The end of suffereing and the eight-fold path are not as specific in concept as the ten commandments. Reincarnation is not clear in Buddhist teachings as in Hindu traditions. I do not think there is such a thing as authentic Buddhism from our point of view any more than an authentic Christianity. Too much time, culture and language problems intervene.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'> the middle way IS his path... yes the eight fold path is very specific... unless you want to say that the first step on the eightfold path is to kill everyone... do you see my point? the eight fold path is very specific... authentic in the sense that if one is following the religion of Thor one is not christian, authentic or otherwise... if one is not following the teachings of the buddah, one is not buddhist... "I really like this jacket, but the sleeves are much too long..." insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results...