[Buddha-l] Buddhism as a 'Selfish' Religion

[jkirk]

Hi Warner,

to me this is just a confusion of concepts. Selfish means only
caring for your own interest. No selfish person can reach
nirvANa, one has to become unselfish and that is the best way to
help other people. If you accept that Buddhism is (partly,
largely) a virtue ethics, than taking care of yourself is the
best you can do. This is not selfish at all. The Buddhist
practice, like the one of Socrates, Stoics, Epicureans etc. 
consists foremost in perfecting yourself untill you become an
inspiring beacon to others. While doing this you become less and
less selfish and sensitive to the suffering of others. In this
way you become a caring person, helping others without any second
thought.
Why not start helping people right away and not waste time with
meditation? Well, if you do that, you may cure some symptoms of
samsAra, but not the root of suffering. This is what Christians
do because they think that taking care of the causes of suffering
is a job for God.

Erik
===============
Erik wrote:
"If you accept that Buddhism is (partly, largely) a virtue
ethics, than taking care of yourself is the best you can do."

Not having ever had or made a formal study of ethics, is virtue
ethics one of several types of ethics, or what? If so, what are
the other kinds of them? (Really mean this-- not being "funny". )

Cheers, Joanna