The Buddha

A complex but so simple understanding of life is explained. The reason why this religion attracts me so much is because of nonchalant attitudes towards life. It says in the italicism, "In all those years, and in all the hundreds of thousands of teaching words that he uttered, his message was simply this: 'You are all Buddhas. There is nothing you need to achieve. Just open your eyes" (10). I love this quote becaue it explains what i said earlier about being complex but simple. You may wonder what it means to just open your eyes. I look at it as being simple, that you have to read between the lines. Everything is stamped into your own mind and its up to you to figure it out.

I can almost bet that when some of you read the first paragraph you were kind of set back by it. The Buddha says, "It is proper to doubt. Do not be led by holy scriptures, or by mere logic or interference, or by appearances, or by the authority of religious teachers" (10). Basically, saying that you must be led by your own mind to achieve what your looking for in life and religion. The Buddha is saying that you got to use your common sense. If something is bad, avoid it;and if something is good, do it.

When The Buddha is talking about the metaphor of the river it attracted to me. He basically is saying to build the raft to get across the river but leave it for it is no longer needed.(10-11) Basically, saying that there is a copious amount of knowledge and insights you will learn in life. That once you achieve what you want, leave the past behind. Reminds me of the great belief of not dwelling. A great concept in my view. "Be a lamp to yourself. Be your own confidence. Hold to the truth within yourself, as to the only truth" (11).