How can Buddhists be so sure of themselves?

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
undefineable
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Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:34 am

Re: How can Buddhists be so sure of themselves?

Post by undefineable »

Seishin wrote:Buddhism is a transformative religion and it starts on the inside, so no-one can give you proof, only you can find out for yourself. The only difference between Buddhism and Christianity is that Buddhism believes transformation comes from within, and Christianity believes it comes from God. If you believe in yourself then you have the ability to change.
Or to put it another way, the only way to prove the existence of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas is to become one yourself. The differences between them and other beings will then become clear, as will any pure landsand past-life memories. If you believe in eternal before-birth/after-death nonexistence, then you can see the sense in which you have nothing to lose by a) entertaining the possibility that the foundations of your own being are amenable to such positive change, and b) by putting the methods normally used to bring about such change into practice. Further, I understand the beings and mental powers involved are not just such-and-such by 'belief'.

Don't forget Buddhism is arguably just as nihilistic as neuroscience when it comes to 'ultimate substances' like God or Self. To boot, the number of realms and 'siddhis' in Buddhism are irrelevant to its goal of enlightenment.
you wore out your welcome with random precision {Pink Floyd}
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