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Re:
Thank you for giving a very difficult comment. My reply comes out late as the post today. It is good to have you reading and commenting on the blog.
posted by
WSChan
on August 5, 2008 at 1:07 AM
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Re:
In the Mahayanna Prajnaparamita ideas, the Middle Path, which is absolute emptiness, is the key is the truth. In the Heart Sutra, it says "There is no suffering, ..., or the cessation of suffering." The Prajnaparamita Sutras usually confirms that every Buddhist truth can be empty and ultimately it will also assert that the Prajnaparamita concepts are empty also. This is an expository method of describing emptiness, which is often said to be indescribable in concrete terms, but only to be realized personally through practice and meditation. In a likely way, we can also say, "There is no Noble Eightfold Path; Neither is there the emptying of the Noble Eightfold Path."
Non-dogmatism originates from the emptiness nature of the world, with events coming out of the interactions of the relevant causes and conditions. Ultimately analyzed, there is no formal moral statement that can be applied to all places at all times at all conditions. This is emptiness. In other words, being able to dwell in absolute emptiness will allow you to be in tune with the ultimate truth, with absolute good, moral, kind and beauty. And non-attachment is the psychological content required to be in tune with emptiness. With more non-attachment, you will find yourself more on the "Right" path in moral situations, but not necessarily the right path as habitually established by common social or religious norms. This is what it is as "There is no Noble Eightfold Path".
However, it is also not right that all situations are absolutely unaccertainable. There are common circumstances that the right can be distinguished from the wrong. For example, unreasonable infliction of harm or loss on other persons for mere selfish self-gratification is morally wrong, not because of the need to abide by certain moral principles, but because it is in conflict with our capacity for compassion and the equality nature among people. Meditation, basic behavioral guidelines and key Buddhist philosophies are meant to guide us along the path toward in tuning with absolute emptiness. This is what it is as "Neither is there the emptying of the Noble Eightfold Path".
When you are fully enlightened with no discursive thoughts or inner vexations, when you are rid of the most significant life attachments; you are in tune with absolute emptiness. You find your path to knowing and free in acting right or wrong in any circumstances, unhindered by conditionings, or dogmatic social or religious rules. The Noble Eightfold Path will not be that useful either. It is as said by the Buddha that the shore has been reached, there is no need of the raft any more.
posted by
WSChan
on August 5, 2008 at 1:02 AM
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In my humble opinion, from my limited view, the Body of Truth can manifest anytime, anywhere, depending on the mindset of the practitioner. To my understanding the "Right" in the right effort, right concentration etc of the Noble Eightfold Path is not a finite dogmatic right and wrong but depends on the content of the moment and the task at hand.
posted by
AardigeAfrikaner
on July 20, 2008 at 2:30 AM
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