Buddhism Is Self-Defeating?

[DeCipher]

From what I know of Buddhism:

-It teaches that one must look within one self in order to find answers, instead of outside (for example: God)

-It also teaches that all is an illusion, that there is no real "self".

So if there's no real self, then what does one "look into" to find the answers? Wouldn't this make Buddhism self-defeating? (no pun intended)

[Jack]

I don't think you've quite grasped the fundamentals. Check out this page for a quick overview of basic Buddhist beliefs. There's much more on the web and in the library.

[Thanatos]

What is the purpose of God? If you are an atheist and want a similar sort of migraine, ponder why the law of conservation of energy exists.

Buddhists are relatively immune because you are completely wrong. The world is real yet transient, which is probably where you got the illusory part from. Our souls on the other hand are as permanent as it gets.

[Jack]

Gods serve no purpose and there's no reason to believe in a soul.

As to Buddhism, yes, they equate transitory with illusory. But it is more involved and convoluted than the OP suggests.

[A7X]

Illusions? I'm a buddhist so I think that it mean something about reincarnation perhaps? Like you die and live again and again which is like an illusion of life cause you live repeatedly and not always be your real slef each time.

[Milton Bradley]

Quote by: A7X Illusions? I'm a buddhist so I think that it mean something about reincarnation perhaps? Like you die and live again and again which is like an illusion of life cause you live repeatedly and not always be your real slef each time.

Beyond that, the whole Universe does the same.


A sort of perpetual motion machine.

[Kuldeep]

Buddhism Is Self-Defeating?
Ans. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! See below how !!

Quote by: DeCipher -It teaches that one must look within one self in order to find answers, instead of outside (for example: God)

That is correct even otherwise as well in the absence of Buddhism !!!

Self, what you call as YOU is well within the contour of your own physical body. To know more about that YOUR SELF, obviously you must look within and not waste time looking outside.

-It also teaches that all is an illusion, that there is no real "self".

It does say that but, the meaning is to be interpretted and understood more realistically. As I understand the meaning is that:

The Self what you call as YOU is not in reality a physical identity. Again that is very true since after your death, your remaining dead body is never considered as YOU by your friends and relatives. So much so even your soul is not considered as YOU, since they pray for your soul be in peace. Your body, your soul means YOU are something different which is not Real (physical)

Secondly, every thing which is physical is illusion with respect to that imaginary self. Elaborating the statement, this physical world though seems to be very very much real and that would REMAIN as long as the imaginary TRUE SELF is not realized. Once that imaginary TRUE SELF is realized by anybody somehow (Attainment of SELF NIRVANA), then to him this physical world would become illusion. Exactly sameway as SELF is illusionary in the present physical world. !!! ???

So if there's no real self, then what does one "look into" to find the answers? Wouldn't this make Buddhism self-defeating? (no pun intended)

Just a persistant curious try to understand the reality behind THE beyond the physical conception one's true SELF.

So conclusively, Buddhism Is NOT Self-Defeating?

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: A7X Illusions? I'm a buddhist so I think that it mean something about reincarnation perhaps? Like you die and live again and again which is like an illusion of life cause you live repeatedly

True, Buddhism talk about reincarnation, but is not saying the death and life are as illusion, the way you understand it. How physical world is in an illusion, I have explained in my previous post. It seems illusion only on true SELF REALIZATION Viz, On NIRVANA attainment !! It is very much real till then as to you, me or, anybody else !!!

and not always be your real slef each time.

Here you are very much wrong.

In every reincarnation your (real self + individual metaphysical mind =Soul) always remains the same. Only physical body changes !!!

[Morality Games]

Accurate knowledge of Buddhism in the West among laymen suffers from the failure of English terminology to effectively represent the nuanced concepts of the religion.

In every reincarnation your (real self + individual metaphysical mind =Soul) always remains the same. Only physical body changes !!!

Nope. Buddha taught there was no 'soul' per se, and that the elements of consciousness which lead to the illusion of 'soul' do not stay the same (at least not in the world of impermenance). It is taught by most schools of Buddhism that Nirvana is freedom from impermenance (change, temporality) by entrance into the static (unchanging, eternal). Once you are in Nirvana, nothing ever changes -- it is a never ending experience of immutable bliss. Motion comes to a stand still.

[Jack]

I'd go even further, MG. Westerners are raised with a mindset foreign to the concepts common in the East. Our values are radically different. It makes it very difficult for a Westerner to fully embrace and properly grasp the concepts of Buddhism.

[Obtuse Word]

Quote by: DeCipher From what I know of Buddhism: -It teaches that one must look within one self in order to find answers, instead of outside (for example: God)

Who says God is outside of the self?

[Morality Games]

Quote by: Jack I'd go even further, MG. Westerners are raised with a mindset foreign to the concepts common in the East. Our values are radically different. It makes it very difficult for a Westerner to fully embrace and properly grasp the concepts of Buddhism.

For example, a trend in Western thought is to elevate the individual being to a god-like status (and eternalize it with the 'soul' of Abrahamic religions), so the thought of an impermenant 'non-self' seems unbelievable. Then there is the heavily essentialist coloring behind our perceptions of reality, as opposed to the world empty of 'essence' so common in the East.

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: Morality Games Accurate knowledge of Buddhism in the West among laymen suffers from the failure of English terminology to effectively represent the nuanced concepts of the religion.

That is very much true with any other religion as well ! Since, what is said by the preacher in his language when translated into other laguages, error creeps in. Even when somebody writes commentary the originality of the view also changes to large extent.

But then, with our rational and unbiased thinking, Absolute Reality could be debated on and on !!

Nope. Buddha taught there was no 'soul' per se, and that the elements of consciousness which lead to the illusion of 'soul' do not stay the same (at least not in the world of impermenance).

What you have tried to explain is true but I am sure you confident what exactly you have understood and want to tell.

Let me tell you the illusion you are talking is the illusion of duality. The absolute Reality is that Only SELF (Universal Consciousness) exists and rest is illusion. Whatever is illusion is the world of impermenance, while the SELF (Absoulte Reality) the world of permenance. You may also term it NIRVANA stage.

The world of impermenance on the hand exists due to SELF attaining meatphysical minds which opt to have a physical bodies and imagine due to illusion as individuals consciiousness like you and me.

It is taught by most schools of Buddhism that Nirvana is freedom from impermenance (change, temporality) by entrance into the static (unchanging, eternal). Once you are in Nirvana, nothing ever changes -- it is a never ending experience of immutable bliss. Motion comes to a stand still.

That is true ! It simply means to remove illusion of duality of separate consciousness than Universal one due to metaphysical mind.