hi all, I am new to this tribe and thought it sounded like a really good forum to voice an idea I have been kicking around in the mental attic...
I began thinking the other month (or whenever), was Jesus real? Was the Buddha real? (I am mostly concerned with these two figures because they're predominant in all of the cultural myths I am personally surrounded by, but feel free to include your own dieties or enlightened human beings)
I have been wondering if these were truly humans who accomplised a level of enlightenment they are claimed to have, or if they are simply an allegory, an end to the hero's journey tale we have all been living throughout time...
Do you feel it is possible to become the next Buddha or Christ figure or whatever, or is this more a guide to what we should aspire to?
Obviously in the current Christian mythos we are not allowed to become Christ, only the divinely sent son of whoever gets to be that, so avoid looking at your buddy's wife and refrain from killing your neighbor for his flock until Jesus comes back... I also see this attitude among some Buddhists; I work with a woman who (get this) prays to Buddha to win the lotto! hahahah! Irony hasn't died yet...
anyway, this question was bugging me for a minute, but I feel a little more "over it" now, just wanted to get others' take on it...
(Of course this whole train ends at the stop "Does it really matter"?)
I began thinking the other month (or whenever), was Jesus real? Was the Buddha real? (I am mostly concerned with these two figures because they're predominant in all of the cultural myths I am personally surrounded by, but feel free to include your own dieties or enlightened human beings)
I have been wondering if these were truly humans who accomplised a level of enlightenment they are claimed to have, or if they are simply an allegory, an end to the hero's journey tale we have all been living throughout time...
Do you feel it is possible to become the next Buddha or Christ figure or whatever, or is this more a guide to what we should aspire to?
Obviously in the current Christian mythos we are not allowed to become Christ, only the divinely sent son of whoever gets to be that, so avoid looking at your buddy's wife and refrain from killing your neighbor for his flock until Jesus comes back... I also see this attitude among some Buddhists; I work with a woman who (get this) prays to Buddha to win the lotto! hahahah! Irony hasn't died yet...
anyway, this question was bugging me for a minute, but I feel a little more "over it" now, just wanted to get others' take on it...
(Of course this whole train ends at the stop "Does it really matter"?)
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Los Angeles
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Re: postulation
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 2:01 PMAside from the gospels and the apocrypha there are several reports from administrators of the Roman empire regarding the crucifixion of Jesus. As far as ancient times go, this is pretty hard evidence for the existence of a man named Jesus who was crucified by Pontius Pilate. This record doesnt speak to the supposed miracles performed by him, though. -
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Re: postulation
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 2:11 PM>> Do you feel it is possible to become the next Buddha or Christ figure...
I suppose it depends upon what you are really asking. Buddhists believe that enlightenment brings the one face to face with the Buddha, while gnostic Christians believe that gnosis brings one face to face with Christ:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelations 3:20
In this regard, the one who experiences enlightenment does in fact "become" Buddha or Christ. However, the enlightenment that most people experience is momentary and transient, while it is the rare individual who can sustain this spiritual state for entended periods of time (Buddha, Christ, Maharshi, etc). Of course, this doesnt necessarily mean one will accomplish miracles, either. -
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Re: postulation
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 2:13 PMc'mon, I'm looking for guarantees here... ;) -
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Re: postulation
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 2:18 PMAlright, I'll offer you this correspondence course in enlightenment. All you have to do is send me $1000 for the training manuals and I will personally guarantee you will attain enlightenment, salvation, and a miraculous, endless supply of hot babes for as long as you live. -
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Re: postulation
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 2:26 PMI don't have a $1000 handy... would you take my reincarnated soul's service for the next 9 million years?
oh damn, that's already used up in my Scientology contract... -
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Re: postulation
Fri, August 5, 2005 - 2:05 AMcovering all your bases, eh?
reminds me of a joke:
There Were Three Men who wanted to prove that their god was real.So they had to test their god by jumping off a cliff. There was an arabian who believed in ALLAH, a chinese who believed in BUDDAH, and an american who believed in JESUS. First the arabian jumps callin his gods name out loud ALLAH, ALLAH, ALLAH...... SLAP! the arabian dies. Then the chinese man jumps, BUDDAH, BUDDAH,BUDDAH... and floats back up into air proving his god was real. Then now it was the americans turn. He jumps, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS,.... Just before hittin he yells BUDDAH, BUDAH, BUDDAH and floats back up...surprised, he yells JESUS CHRIST! and instantly SLAP! hits the ground and dies.
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Unsu...
Re: postulation
Fri, October 21, 2005 - 9:45 PMwhy does the train end at a point where millions have died because of faith? Why not extend the tracks a little further and talk about alien gods.... your an alien, I'm an alien, jesus was an alien, dontchya want to be an alien too?....just a little pepper -
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Re: postulation
Fri, October 21, 2005 - 10:27 PMis this even worth it?
I may be an alien, but you're a troll... -
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Unsu...
Re: postulation
Fri, October 21, 2005 - 10:45 PMI'm a troll? You've only just begun to learn about my darkside. worth it? depends on perspective. I'm an angel of darkness that has a superb filtration system for my ego. I telepathically communicate with our alien friends everyday........to me its worth all of it.
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