Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4324 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 8:48 am Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
MrBean wrote:
vision-master wrote:
MrBean wrote:
Here's one Buddhist perspective by Fukuoka, a natural farmer:
"FUKUOKA: Well, like many young people, I was having very large, ponderous thoughts about life... and my musings led to a lot of skepticism about the human condition. To add to my doubts, I became so ill during that period that there was, for a while, a question whether or not I would pull through.
Following my eventual recovery, I spent many sleepless nights wandering the streets. The morning after one such episode - when it seemed as though everything were about to explode in my brain � a flash of insight came to me. I suddenly felt that all human existence is meaningless and of no intrinsic value. Humanity knows nothing of real worth at all, I decided, and every action we take is just a futile, empty effort. I also saw that nature is ideally arranged and abundant just as it is... therefore, 1 was sure that we should work in cooperation with the natural processes, rather than try to "improve" on them by conquest."
http://fukuokafarmingol.info/faplow.html
So, is this the fundamental difference between Eastern and Western thought?
Or between "civilized" and "primitive" thought?
So, is life like a rock. You either sit with it and do nothing or push it uphill?
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 12469 Location: zombie horde wonderland
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
Don't expect to take everything Fukuoka says literally. He would often exaggerate for effect. When he says "do nothing" he doesn't mean that literally. _________________ No original ideas are contained in this post.
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
About deities: Buddhism basically inherits Hinduist deities and many metaphysical concepts like karma. There's also a rich cosmology. But the point of deities in Buddhism, which are called devas, is that they don't help humans understand Nirvana... they're immortal and samsaric just like most other beings.
vision-master wrote:
MrBean wrote:
vision-master wrote:
So, is life like a rock. You either sit with it and do nothing or push it uphill?
Who is asking? Sisyphos?
I am asking.
I don't get the point of your metaphor. _________________ anagami.net
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4324 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
zensui wrote:
About deities: Buddhism basically inherits Hinduist deities and many metaphysical concepts like karma. There's also a rich cosmology. But the point of deities in Buddhism, which are called devas, is that they don't help humans understand Nirvana... they're immortal and samsaric just like most other beings.
vision-master wrote:
MrBean wrote:
vision-master wrote:
So, is life like a rock. You either sit with it and do nothing or push it uphill?
Joined: Mar 04, 2007 Posts: 504 Location: Hong Kong
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
MrBean wrote:
vision-master wrote:
So, is life like a rock. You either sit with it and do nothing or push it uphill?
Who is asking? Sisyphos?
Camus imagined Sisyphus being happy after he pushed the rock uphill and it rolled back down again. _________________ "We shall live in interesting times, and we shall die in them too." - Heineken
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
Ludi wrote:
Don't expect to take everything Fukuoka says literally. He would often exaggerate for effect. When he says "do nothing" he doesn't mean that literally.
The "do nothing" philosophy is Taoist... the closest Buddhist philosophy that I can remember is the "immovable spot" as an explanation of Nirvana. _________________ anagami.net
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
A better translation for the Taoist stance is "not acting."
This plays on the word "act" in the sense that one doesn't put on an act when doing things in the world. Sincerity and simpleness is the thing with Taoism (to the extent that I understand it).
One of the main reasons I was first attracted to Buddhism was because I was impressed by the simple and minimal-impact lifestyle of monks (Zen monks were the ones I was reading about). But in my interaction with American Buddhists, I don't see much emphasis on minimizing their impact. Buddhists of means seem to do about as much flying (for instance) as Christians, atheists, and others.
This is great disappointment to me, since I like to think that meditation can help people see their connection to the world. Having said that, I am raising my daughter Buddhist.
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
dohboi wrote:
A better translation for the Taoist stance is "not acting."
This plays on the word "act" in the sense that one doesn't put on an act when doing things in the world. Sincerity and simpleness is the thing with Taoism (to the extent that I understand it).
It's difficult to translate, currently I'm thinking more of "doing silently"...but I haven't studied much about Taoism... if I have more years of life (ie: after a die-off) I will gladly study it.
dohboi wrote:
One of the main reasons I was first attracted to Buddhism was because I was impressed by the simple and minimal-impact lifestyle of monks (Zen monks were the ones I was reading about). But in my interaction with American Buddhists, I don't see much emphasis on minimizing their impact. Buddhists of means seem to do about as much flying (for instance) as Christians, atheists, and others.
This is great disappointment to me, since I like to think that meditation can help people see their connection to the world. Having said that, I am raising my daughter Buddhist.
Must probably those Buddhists don't meditate or don't know how to meditate correctly. Did your daughter chose Buddhism? If I have offspring I will not force any religions or philosophies; I will explain what has worked for me and let them make their choices. _________________ anagami.net
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
Yeah, she pretty much drags me to the meditation center these days.
I'm not talking about some Buddhists. Most Buddhists I know still drive, fly, even eat meat about as much as other Americans. I'd be very happy to be shown that I am way off.
I think meditation is great, but I don't think it is completely sufficient in itself to raise awareness of the state we are in and the paths we need to tread to approach even the pathetic goal of "sustainability."
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:27 am Post subject: Re: Peak Oil from a Buddhist perspective
dohboi wrote:
(...)
I think meditation is great, but I don't think it is completely sufficient in itself to raise awareness of the state we are in and the paths we need to tread to approach even the pathetic goal of "sustainability."
Buddhism isn't only about meditation. Buddhists follow the Noble Path; which includes Wisdom, Ethical Conduct and Samadhi (Meditation). _________________ anagami.net
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When he says "do nothing" he doesn't mean that literally.
