[Buddha-l] buddha-l Digest, Vol 61, Issue 15

[David Living]

>Eric says:




Atheism and buddhism always were good companions and there are many records of criticism of Buddhist monks against the Hindu idea of an 'Isvara' (sorry for the Amida fanclub, I think they 're not real Buddhists and should start their own religion).

Since when was the Buddha an atheist? Didn't he talk to Brahma after he got enlightened? And didn't the Jeta Grove often get lit up by gods in the middle watch of the night with devas coming over to give the buddha a koan or two? - probably planning the introduction of his teachings to the Japanese. Surely you don't think this was all made up later by imaginative monks its all far too weird to be anything other than original teaching. 

Its the Theravadins who are Atheists - The Buddha was far too sensible to go to that extreme. Atheism leads to Nihilism and before you know it you're waging war on the Tamils.

As for Karma - is it that difficult to see that actions have consequences - not just for other people but for yourself too? Karma is a mess in Buddhism as well as Hinduism but it need not be.

Rebirth is not something you can prove or disprove. I admit its silly to accept it just because some stupid people do but you just cannot categorically deny it... you might regret it later. It may offend western tastes but what about the law in science that says energy never disappears it just changes?? I have energy therefore I don't disappear! OK I can't base my life around that idea but it doesn't have to be a dogmatic belief. Conversely it is too too dogmatic to say that rebirth and karma cannot exist because they do not fit in with our western atheistic philosophy.
 		 	   		  
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