Buddhism for the spiritually blind

According to the commentarial literature (Vibhanga Atthakatha, 49 f) only a Buddha knows what the self is not (anattâ/anâtman) such as material shape, feeling, perception, habitual tendencies, and consciousness which constitute the Five Aggregates.  

While everyone knows the signs of impermanence and suffering, ordinary beings lack the ability to distinguish what the self is and is not.

Such beings do not even know that what is not their self is impermanent and suffering—and mortal.  Nor do such beings realize that suffering, the first noble truth (arya-satya), is material shape, feeling, perception, habitual tendencies and consciousness.  In addition, they don’t realize that spiritual separation from the just named aggregates is release from impermanence and suffering.

In their self-inflicted blindness, ordinary beings (P., puthujjana) are not adverse to constructing a counterfeit Buddhism led by the most spiritually blind of this deluded flock.  Because of this, they have doomed themselves to endless samsara.  These are some of the tenets of a counterfeit Buddhism which if any Buddhist believes them, they are far from true Buddhism.  

• Nirvana is not transcendent.
• Samsara ends with the death of the psychophysical body.
• Consciousness does not transmigrate.
• Consciousness does not enter the womb.
• With the death of the psychophysical body there is no more self.
• There is only a conventional self that is reified.
• The cause of suffering is our ego.
• Buddhism is just a therapy that helps us deal with our lives.
• Buddhism is about learning to live in the here and now.
• The Buddha never really believed in karma and rebirth.

Comments

[psychics]

The quality of your articles and contents is great.

[dooyen]

If one is a Buddha when having aroused Bodhicitta (as quoted by the Zennist from the Kegonsutra), it becomes clear that samsara and nirvana become one and karma as a binding force is "cut off" (seen as an illusion, too), as taught in zen. Therefore this is not a sign of counterfeit, but of true Buddhism. Samsara ends when nirvana is realized, thus the two (concepts) becoming one reality. That is why samsara "ends" even before death.

[The Zennist]

Dave: A spark of insight is required. In Mahayana, the spark is bodhicittotpada (manifestation of the mind that is bodhi). In the Nikayan tradition it is sotapatti (current-entry). These insights are embryonic whereby the spiritual side, over time, grows and overpowers the material. When Buddhism is read from this 'spark' it makes perfect sense. Lacking it, Buddhism shall ever remain a puzzle.

[Dave]

Hmm, so here is a question or two or five. If you strongly suspect with your intellect that there might be more than ontological reductionism and materialism, but you have no other operative mode of investigation (no spiritual "sense" if you will), how does one go about making use of the teaching and practices of any sacred tradition? Isn't some initial tiny spark of insight or faith crucial to doing more than just a mechanical or superficially emotive participation in whatever ritual or ceremony you may attempt to be a part of?

To take Avent Child's example, what good does it do to try to be open to some set of propositions if they are not relatable to your own experiences and you are unable or unwilling to go on blind trust? It seems as if that is when people might try to reinterpret the teachings and practices in a way that does fit their experiences, as with secular Buddhism.

So are those who are unable to relate just out of luck, or is there something those "on the inside" can do to help those without to make their way to something beyond their entrenched ways of perceiving and reacting to the world? When a religion is the conventional standard of the culture in a society, people of varying capacities can just muddle through. But in a secular and pluralistic society, there needs to be something more results-oriented that can get people to open up and trust the tradition. That's why so many quick-fix spiritual fads are so appealing.

What can Buddhists offer to give even some teeny tiny glimpse of "something more" within a reasonable span of consistent effort (three to six months most likely given today's instant gratification impulse mixed with cynicism toward religion) that ordinary people can do? If the answer is "nothing", and it very well may be, then spiritual forms of Buddhism may become an endangered species in modern industrial nations.

[java junkie]

check out thse bald mindless douchebags making "buddhist videos" about every 2 days, theyre all about 2 steps short of the heavens gate cult level. Its some hillarious filth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b0ZMr_WYQ0&feature=list_other&playnext=1&list=SP7C2712462FFC4AD3