tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post687480456086568226..comments2024-03-27T02:13:58.088-07:00Comments on Integral Options Cafe: Stephen Batchelor - Rebirth: A Case for Buddhist Agnosticismwilliam harrymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06981478282688361274noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-56431422911132556242009-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:002009-04-20T10:48:00.000-07:00That's kind of sad if you think that it's a small ...That's kind of sad if you think that it's a small minority of people who can safely infer or know the earth is round; it's really trivially observable.<br /><br />And regarding random phenomena, this is not a mutually exclusive alternative to karma.Mumon Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116967568502451788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617569.post-9277146474201707812009-04-20T09:10:00.000-07:002009-04-20T09:10:00.000-07:00First I have always found Batchelor's reduction of...First I have always found Batchelor's reduction of Shakyamuni Buddha to this guy who may have been ahead of his time but still bound by his cultural conditioning to be very sad. Especially when he comes to this view by looking at the teachings through his own cultural conditioning. <br /><br />He brings up the 'flat earth' anolgy (everyone favorite used to be believed but isnt now) But unless you are an astronaut, you take that the earth is round on faith. If you are pilot or ship captain who has done enough different trips you can safely infer it. If you are a scientist you can follow the math/logic and observe the phenomena that suggest that the model is true. HOwever how many people who "know" the earth is round fall into any of the above category. <br /><br />If you study the teachings on karma deeply enough you find they have profound logic to them that explains otherwise unexplainable phenomena and like any good scientific model it is functional and leads to a methodology that allows for an empowered response. For one thing it give an explanation as to the vast difference in the kind of life experience we all have. The only other explanations currently offered are the whims of a creator god or blind chance.<br /><br />Further more the logic hold up in the context of meditative experience which when taken deep enough leads to an expereince of the continuity of mind as beginingless and endless rather than an artifact of biology. <br />Batchelor repeatedly shows in his writing he has no understanding of the Principle of the two truths or and thus how relative truth functions. (For a list of post on the two truths http://tinyurl.com/twotruths - They are in reverse order to which they are best read) He also demonstrates a lack of direct experience of the true nature of mind which show it to be continuous.Tamo Willsathttp://ga-spirituallifecoaching.comnoreply@blogger.com