Contradictions of this world.

Case Study #1 : Siddhartha Gautama
Story : A Prince who lived in luxury, but was depressed with what he saw in the outside of the palace. He sought to overcome old age, illness, and death by living the life of an ascetic.

( Asceticism describes a life characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures. Those who practice ascetic lifestyles often perceive their practices as virtuous and pursue them to achieve greater spirituality. Many ascetics believe the action of purifying the body helps to purify the soul, and thus obtain a greater connection with the Divine or find inner peace. This may take the form of self-mortification, rituals or renunciations of pleasure. However, ascetics maintain that self-imposed constraints bring them greater freedom in various areas of their lives, such as increased clarity of thought and the ability to resist potentially destructive temptations.)

He abandoned a HUGE inheritance. Surpassed his teachers. However, he found no answer to his questions regarding freedom from sufferings. Leaving behind his caring teachers, he and a small group of close companions set out to take their austerities even further. Gautama tried to find enlightenment through complete deprivation of worldly goods, including food, and became a complete ascetic. Later attained Nirvana.

The Four Noble Truths: that suffering is an inherent part of existence; that the origin of suffering is ignorance and the main symptoms of that ignorance are attachment and craving; that attachment and craving can be ceased; and that following the Noble Eightfold Path will lead to the cessation of attachment and craving and therefore suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

MY QUESTION : Does Buddhism Look more like a WAY OF LIVING, or a religion? Did this man who attained Nirvana say this : " i am the one true God, worship me and nobody else " . Or did this man who was called Siddhartha Gautama say this : " i am the way, the truth and the life." Ask YOURSELF.

OR

Did his teachings mean something else altogether? Isn't it just a guideline? Isn't it just a report on how he attained " immortality " or what he calls " Nirvana ". He teaches you to follow the paths and truths. But did he call onto you to worship him? Did he call onto you to make idols of him and bow down, offering joss sticks Instead, didn't he just call you to follow the way he has set?
Case Study #2 :

The Four Noble Truths: that suffering is an inherent part of existence; that the origin of suffering is ignorance and the main symptoms of that ignorance are attachment and craving; that attachment and craving can be ceased; and that following the Noble Eightfold Path will lead to the cessation of attachment and craving and therefore suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

So, the basis for his way of life is to rid oneself of attachment and cravings. To avoid suffering, one must follow the 8 Noble Paths. And LOOK, we all have eyes dont we? otherwise you wouldn't be looking at this post.

But lets assess what MODERN MONKS are doing :
- smoking ?
- driving around in BMW's ?
- talking about business ?
- running charity shows ?
- trying to steal the NDP limelight ?
- getting publicity to get more donations ?
- carrying a hanphone ?
- using a laptop ?

so, this greatly contradicts to my understanding of what buddhism is. WOW. they're richer than me nowadays ! maybe doing charity shows aint to bad at all, benevolence. BUT, driving around in BMWs ? oh so methods changed? we've gotta be MORE INVOLVED in worldly activities? we've gotta keep the world going round? and so much for : " cessation of attachment and craving " . so Gautama's key to success was to rid himself of worldly desires? rid of cravings? and meditate? so why aren't the monks striving to do that, instead, make money? charity shows? isn't all this a distraction?

mmm, Buddhism is so confusing. no wonder, u dont see the headlines going like this : " Son of XXX millionaire abandons family fortune to seek nirvana " or " Son of XXX president runs away from home to find THE WAY " or " Man who almost starved to death gains IMMORTALITY ".

we dont see that dont we? what we see is : " Reverend XXX does SUPER dangerous stunt to raise funds " or " XXX Buddhist Association raises $1,000,000 for the disabled ". Looking familiar?

THE FACTS ARE HERE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. YOU DECIDE.
sources : www.wikipedia.com

Buddha said : " I am not the way, i am only someone who has found the way " .
Jesus said : " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the father except through me "

Salvation is here before you, whether you want it or not. Its your decision.
Wanna know more about Christ, ask.
Contact : K3nRiC@hotmail.com

*-kenric :D . 2:08am . 16 December 2006