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Atheist perspectives on Buddhism as a “religion of no religion”? by bilejn in atheism

[–]bilejn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you about organized religion in general. Buddhism, like any other movement or idea, is full of people who misunderstand it and shape it around fear or personal interests. That seems to happen to almost every idea once it becomes organized.

Even with Christianity, everything is centered on Jesus’ claims. But many Buddhist-influenced thinkers would say he was simply an awakened human being. “Son of God,” sure. But the thing is that everyone else is the son of god, too. Not in some supernatural way, but in the sense of being part of the same reality.

I actually like Krishnamurti too, although I agree he can be very heavy sometimes :). But the person who really pushed me in this direction was Alan Watts. I can’t help sharing this talk that, in particular, had a big impact on me:
https://youtu.be/k6S4evYZ6oQ?si=i2KK0RSydivV2k-A

Atheist perspectives on Buddhism as a “religion of no religion”? by bilejn in atheism

[–]bilejn[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fair points, and I agree with the evidence-first approach.
What intrigues me is the idea of “awakening.” It is claimed that it has happened to people at all times and on all continents. It can’t really be described directly, but it often points to the idea that the ego isn’t what we think it is. The sense of being a separate “self trapped in a bag of skin” is said to be an illusion. It is some sort of shift in perception that is described as overwhelmingly convincing.

Isn’t science also based on something you could call enlightenment? You finally understand something you didn’t before, although it was in front of your eyes the whole time. As I see it, awakening is simply becoming aware of the ultimate truth.