Augustus wrote:hello just me! Enlightenment isn't about being special, it's about dissolving the ego. Jesus and Buddha weren't about maleness but about love and enlightenment, which is much different than machoness and exclusivity. God bless!
My experience as a woman is different from a man's. The problem with all these religious movements you are talking about is that they are all from a male perspective. They have all struggled with sexism and misogyny.
I have found that people who talk about enlightenment generally believe they are of a group who has it right and knows or understands special knowledge.
Also, I don't believe in desolving the ego in that way. I don't believe there is a part of me I should make an enemy to be destroyed.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
I agree the ego is not an enemy to be destroyed. It's more like a naïve pet that thinks it needs to struggle to survive. It's not the real you. Enlightenment is about awakening to what you really are, and you're not a body or an ego, they are only things that you have and don't actually need.
Augustus wrote:I agree the ego is not an enemy to be destroyed. It's more like a naïve pet that thinks it needs to struggle to survive. It's not the real you. Enlightenment is about awakening to what you really are, and you're not a body or an ego, they are only things that you have and don't actually need.
They actually are needed for survival.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
Augustus wrote:Only for physical survival, that's the only reason for an ego. The spirit has no need for physical survival.
The body and spirit are one. They are not seperate entities.
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
I believe in eternal life. The body is temporary, the soul forever. All cultures have believed in an energy body independent of the brain. Even the Babylonians who were so intent on trying to live forever in this world believed in an immortal soul.
Augustus wrote: The Buddha attained Enlightenment and therefore had heaven on earth. He found heaven. It couldn't be done without God's grace, God was definitely involved in Buddha's Enlightenment... it wasn't Gautama's ego at all. Gautama Buddha wasn't attached to his ego... he dissolved his ego and was therefore not attached to works. It was the grace of God that cleared away all the illusions of works and the ego.
Hi Augustus! Welcome to the board.
I don't think the Buddha felt God was involved in his enlightenment. When Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha was his job title) was asked about God, he said he didn't know anything about God. An excellent answer. Who does?
This, or any other post that I have made or will make in the future, is strictly my own opinion and consequently of little or no value.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true" Twain.
Augustus wrote: The Buddha attained Enlightenment and therefore had heaven on earth. He found heaven. It couldn't be done without God's grace, God was definitely involved in Buddha's Enlightenment... it wasn't Gautama's ego at all. Gautama Buddha wasn't attached to his ego... he dissolved his ego and was therefore not attached to works. It was the grace of God that cleared away all the illusions of works and the ego.
Hi Augustus! Welcome to the board.
I don't think the Buddha felt God was involved in his enlightenment. When Siddhārtha Gautama (Buddha was his job title) was asked about God, he said he didn't know anything about God. An excellent answer. Who does?
Yes, but we all know that Buddha was merely an avatar of Vishnu and perhaps one of his other incarnations did know.
"You lack vision, but I see a place where people get on and off the freeway. On and off, off and on all day, all night.... Tire salons, automobile dealerships and wonderful, wonderful billboards reaching as far as the eye can see. My God, it'll be beautiful." -- Judge Doom
Augustus wrote:I believe in eternal life. The body is temporary, the soul forever. All cultures have believed in an energy body independent of the brain. Even the Babylonians who were so intent on trying to live forever in this world believed in an immortal soul.
All cultures? Are you prepared to show the evidence for that?
~Those who benefit from the status quo always attribute inequities to the choices of the underdog.~Ann Crittenden ~The Goddess is not separate from the world-She is the world and all things in it.~
It's been about 2500 years and I don't know what specific word was used for God if the Buddha was asked about God. My understanding, 2500 years later, is that the Buddha taught the way to enlightenment so that people could end their suffering, suffering that is caused by illusions and desires.