January 3rd 2009

Yesterday I wrote a little about the complex, difficult essence of Buddhism. Fortunately, overlying this are the pragmatic teachings that instruct us in the ideal way that we can live.
The Buddha is said to have said that each of us is what we think. We are what we think. Now wait a minute. Aren't the Five Aggregates empty? Isn't thought one of the aggregates? Does that make me nothing? Well, yes, in a way. But as long as we are thinking and functioning in our perceived world, if we think with universal compassion and empathy, if we think with kindness and love, we will share a little sweetness. The more we forget ourselves and see our place in the world without greed, the more satisfied we will be. The thing that drove me from religion long ago was the dangling carrot policy that all religions seem to practice. Do this and you'll go to Heaven. Promise? Well didn't I just write something a little like that? Be good and you'll be happy. Looks a bit like bribery. But who's doing the bribing? Better to think that by spreading compassion we are spreading compassion. Leave it there.