Thank you, Doug. Old age and sickness (disability): I'm already there. My Buddhist practice sustains me. This, a note, to all your younger followers. December 2019
Thanks so much for your comment Sid, it is great to hear that these dharma reflections continue to have power for you as you age and confront the vicissitudes of life. I would imagine that they become ever more meaningful. For the rest of us: if you practice while young, you’ll have a great head-start!
The 5 Reflections help a lot to accept reality because the world is not going to tell you that, like its a dark shameful secret. The correct teaching from the Buddha is everything, true freedom. The 8 Worldly Dhammas also help here I find, source of the Kilesas. Thank you Doug 🙏
I am going to utilize the five reflections to foster more gratitude in my life. The five reflections speak truth to that they happen. Instead of fighting that they will happen; be grateful for the current moment you are in. But, being too attached to this gratitude is dangerous. It makes suffering more intense when the five reflections come into play. I guess, it helps me be more mindful and aware. Being aware of the present moment. As someone with anxiety, I always worry about these things. I think it's skillful that I accept they will happen, and knowing through practice that how much I suffer depends on my awareness and attachment; to express loving-kindness to myself and others.
I am so interested in these 5 reflections. I’ve only recently begun learning about Buddhism and find just learning about it is giving me peace. I have found this year to be very stressful and fear has consumed me. I’m looking forward to learning more about this practice. Thanks for your videos!
There was a short period of time where I feel "depressed" contemplating these reflections, that I think they sound somewhat negative... But when I hear more Dhamma, I feel these reflections actually liberate us than stressing us, it arouse samvegga, the spiritual urgency. One who really understand these reflections speak and act kindly, less attached to body, feelings and perception about anything, and no longer indulge in pleasure, worldly gain and respect from others, they use time wisely and carry their life in wholesome way. To be able to align ourselves with Dhamma make the journey of this life truly meaningful and worthwhile. and I think at the dead bed will not have any fear and regrets.
Exactly so Sam, they provide us a sense of urgency in our practice. But if you find them depressing then leave them aside for a time. You can always come back to them later.
Doug I often find myself in a place of confusion with my teachings and lessons, or things to guide me. In Buddhism it can be so complicated and hard to find what to do and how to act in a lay life. I don't watch every video, but when I do I 'm delighted to have sat down and listened. You run a very easy going style youtube channel and your content is consistent and well made. Maybe someday in the future, I can thank you in person
And this is Life. These thoughts give you an opportunity to choose how you want to live your Life. Life is about choices...with as few regrets as possible.
Hello Doug ! Thanks for your channel. I am 35 and I think that Buddhism(s) is one of the very best things that internet have brought me to ( your channel included).
Very interesting video, I think they might help with my procrastination issues. Even if thinking about my parents leaving me is going to be real painful. Buy, hey, maybe that will make me act in a nicer way to them!
Hi Doug! I am new to your channel and Buddhism. I'm so glad to have found your channel. I am watching this in 2020 so these reflections on illness and death are very important to consider. Anyway, great work on making these concepts very accessible and digestible 🙏
I pretty much think about this daily without even realizing it. A lot of Buddhist principles like this and loving kindness I practice on a daily basis without making a conscious effort to. As for whether or not this is a positive thing or a negative thing, I'm not sure. On one hand it seems pretty depressing to me, but on the other hand it makes me more prepared for difficult situations.
Thanks Afanasi. I don't think you have to believe in effective karma to reflect on the fifth one. You only have to believe that good and bad actions are beneficial or harmful to the world -- even in small ways -- after we are gone. At least that's how I understand it.
@@DougsDharma I do lovingkindness daily. As I listened I considered adding these 5 reflections. I do not find them depressing. Rather I find them comforting.
Doug, do you think that these reflections can also serve a tool for gratitude ? For instance- everything dear to me will eventually be separated from me, so I should mindfully and presently appreciate the things I have now
Oh for sure Chris, these reflections can also be a source of gratitude. I think for gratitude to be most skillful however it should get away from an appreciation that shades into clinging. That is, we can appreciate something by wanting it to remain with us forever. That's totally normal. But it isn't very skillful. 🙂
I’ve established a point of view on the reasons behind meditating next to corpses at varying degrees of decomposition as, I believe was/is practiced by some monks / initiates. My point of view is that it very effectively removes the delusion of permanence (and in my view the societally necessary delusion of immortality) from the mind of the monk allowing that monk to more easily establish right thinking. I will start to practice these reflections as a surrogate for such activity.
Thinking more so what happens to us is not just Karma but luck. If you ever been on the edge of a typhoon and felt its intensity it makes one realize that we are but minuscule entities in an uncontrollable Universe .
Thank you so much for your videos! Regarding kamma being deterministic, the Buddha said that past kamma alone cannot account for present experience. SN36.21
I'd like to chip in a comment and perspective regarding the traditional view of the fifth recollection. I consider myself a traditional Buddhist. I believe in rebirth because it has personally helped me to take the path more seriously (ie, I try to act as if rebirth were true to avoid unskillful actions whenever I can). I also find it plausible that the physical appearance, power, wealth, etc. of human beings could have something to do with karma. That being said, I find a little bit of issue with Bhikkhu Bodhi's comment regarding karma. The issue is that karma should be seen as descriptive rather than prescriptive. Just because someone was born ugly due to their karma from past lives does not mean they *should've* been born ugly. There is no way to justify excessive stratification of society using what's basically a natural law. I would also argue that rebirth and karma are not a form of perfect justice; the system of rebirth has no sense of justice at all. Justice implies prescription, a sort of "should-ness". Thank you for sharing this practice which I think I will try to do every morning and evening.
Perhaps the way to look at Karma is on two levels. A fortunate group or segment of a society may be there because of the unjust actions of their forbears, hence the tide of karma (history) will eventually consume this group. On a Personal level, karma will play its role, fast or slow, within that life, within that layer of society.
Thanks James, that is one way to consider it. At least on the early Buddhist conception of karma, it is not collectively held by groups but only held by individuals due to their intentional acts. That said, every group is made up of such individuals, all of whom should eventually come to terms with what they do in their lives.
If people produce bad karma because of ignorance, and poor people are poor because of bad karma, then the thing to do is to promote wisdom and create the kind of conditions where the poor can make significant spiritual progress. Also, if wealthy people want to stay wealthy, then they ought to help people out so that they continue to produce good karma. No point in letting your good karma run out because you were unheedful.
I disagree with Epicurean view on death. It’s not as simple as that. We fear death because we don’t want to suffer annihilation. Death is still justified to ‘feared’, despite the epicurean view to the contrary. Leading up to the moment of death there is frequently a lot of pain, suffering and anguish. All of that matters. Just because after we die, there technically is no ‘we’ to experience death is really not a comforting view. The older I have got, the more and more I think the antinatalist actually have a good point! FYI love your videos...they really help me dealing with the sudden death of my parents.
I'm so happy to hear that bi0lizard1. As to your point about Epicureanism, I think what you say is perfectly natural. The Epicurean's point will be that the pain and suffering while you are alive are real, but that the annihilation isn't, since there is nothing to experience it. I agree though that often this doesn't seem very convincing at the emotional level. We crave existence.
Hi Doug, I would love to hear your thoughts on a secular approach to concepts of reincarnation, and how a reasoned based view of reincarnation might relate to Buddhist teaching. The reason I ask is that I personally came to being open to the content of Buddhism in the first place after being swayed as to the high likelihood of reincarnation, and the continuation of consciousness after physical death, in large part by scientific studies. A great example is the research of Dr Ian Stevenson, something you might find quite interesting. I notice you lean towards considering reincarnation as being outside a secular view of Buddhism, which I understand given we don’t yet have as much empirical evidence for it as other naturalistic phenomena. However I am very interested in a secular exploration of reincarnation, and given you have so many interesting perspectives in that vein I’d be curious to hear how you would view Buddhist teaching if coming from a position of reincarnation being a scientifically supported aspect of nature.
Hi Kezz and thanks for the question. If you're interested in my take on rebirth, I wrote a long piece for the SBA awhile back. It's probably not something I'll revisit here, because it doesn't really matter to our practice, and tends only to harden opinions. But anyhow here it is: secularbuddhism.org/2013/05/29/a-secular-evaluation-of-rebirth/
Hi Doug. I recently have been researching Proto Buddhism, and from everything I can see it looks like a very secular, sound origin of the teachings of the Buddha. What are your thoughts on this? I would love to see if you had a video at all discussing Yogi Buddhism or Proto Buddhism
I might add that the existence of inequality is a stickler in every religion. Jesus said the poor will always be with us. That too can be interpreted as a reason to change nothing and can be used to justify your position. In the US there is a plague of justifying wealth through Scripture. (The more things change the more they remain the same). I wonder if that is a Buddhist thought?
The Buddha had nothing against "righteous wealth righteously gained" by laypeople. Indeed the sangha depended upon donations in order to continue as an institution. That said there is a fine line between gaining legitimate wealth and greed, one we always have to practice with. I have an earlier video comparing the Buddha and Jesus's views on wealth if it interests you: czcams.com/video/wXYAY-zmNGs/video.html
At about 12: 45 you say that secular Buddhist don't believe in a future life. Did I misunderstand that? If you don't believe that you will have future lives, why would Buddhism with its teaching on karma attract you? Thanks.
Because karma is important in this very life as well. Some secular Buddhists don't believe in future lives, others aren't sure. The main point of practice is this life.
@@DougsDharma Very interesting. I did not know this. So, if a Buddhist does not believe in reincarnation, would he care to be a vegetarian or not see any reason to be one? Thanks.
Very good point on traditional Karma and it's manipulation as a form of social control...much like Christian heaven and hell was used during the Middle Ages.
@@DougsDharma Yes, and it would be nice if our current Liberal/Conservative conflict could be seen for the illusion that it is...maybe people (not Identities) could work for their own (and others) common good without buying into what's sold by BOTH sides....After all, there's not Red Truth-Blue Truth---only Truth.
You are making a number of wrong claims about traditional Buddhist views, and also about "Secular" Buddhism. Firstly, "Secular Buddhism" is by 'dictionary' definition an oxymoron. You can either be secular, or you can be buddhist. I read how your website defines it's version of "secular buddhism", and honestly speaking it is not really secular. Not only that, it is unfortunate that you are not being truthful to your own principles for secular buddhism. Most notably: your guiding principles state that: "Secular Buddhism is naturalistic, in that it references natural causes and effects, demonstrable in the known world." But in your video you say that the "belief that there is only one life" is a secular view. This is contradictory to your guiding principles because THERE IS NO DEMONSTRABLE PROOF IN THE KNOWN WORLD THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE LIFE, because you do not know what happens immediately after death, or before birth. So a truly secular view point has to be willing to accept both the possibilities: YOLO, and Rebirth. By accepting YOLO and rejecting Rebirth, you are deviating from your principles. This subtle preference for one possibility over another (without any proof) makes a huge difference in the outcome. It will be very beneficial (for you and for others) if you make an effort to overcome this bias instead of propagating it. Secondly, you are mis-representing "traditional views". In particular, you made the claim that if someone believes in Karma then it can be used to justify those born with power or in destitution as worthy of it. But this is not the traditional view. If you go to any Asian country where Karma is accepted and understood culturally, this is not how they behave. In fact, Karma helps to break this very injustice that plagues the western society. Let me explain: Let's say someone is rich/powerful/fortunate in this lifetime. 1) If they believe in Karma, they will know that this fortune is not permanent. Because the effect of Karma is for a finite period. 2) They will also know that in order to continue to the fortunate life, they should do good Karma NOW. Which includes being kind and compassionate towards those who are less fortunate. Because it is exactly such past karma which made them fortunate in this life. e.g. being rich in this life is a consequence of being generous in a past life, then someone who believes in Karma will be more inclined to be generous in this life. Similarly, if someone is less fortunate, then the theory of Karma gives them hope and makes them a better person. If something bad happens, they will be more inclined to take responsibility for their past actions instead of blaming external circumstances. They will also understand that the effect of past bad Karma is temporary and there is a way out. It will propel them to do good actions NOW, so that they can reap good reward in the future. Whereas in the west, people try to take credit for their good fortunes and blame others for their bad fortunes. That explains why America is such a litigious country. If people truly believed in Karma, you would not see this. So your rejection of the "traditional Buddhist view of karma" is not only wrong, it is the very CAUSE for the injustice and harm that prevails in the western society that you have set out to correct.
Hi Nikhil, I don't have a website. I assume you're looking at the SBA website, which was not written by me. As for the question of rebirth, if you want to hold it, great! Nobody is trying to stop you. I've done a number of recent videos on karma that might interest you, such as this: czcams.com/video/xDsPCn5nxnM/video.html , and this: czcams.com/video/O3D-NosYAP8/video.html . Oh and as to secular Buddhism being an oxymoron, that's an old one I did a video on quite awhile back: czcams.com/video/DWZAPjKlASM/video.html
Thank you, Doug. Old age and sickness (disability): I'm already there. My Buddhist practice sustains me. This, a note, to all your younger followers. December 2019
Thanks so much for your comment Sid, it is great to hear that these dharma reflections continue to have power for you as you age and confront the vicissitudes of life. I would imagine that they become ever more meaningful. For the rest of us: if you practice while young, you’ll have a great head-start!
Thank you, Sid.
The 5 Reflections help a lot to accept reality because the world is not going to tell you that, like its a dark shameful secret. The correct teaching from the Buddha is everything, true freedom. The 8 Worldly Dhammas also help here I find, source of the Kilesas. Thank you Doug 🙏
🙏😊
Thank you for starting my journey in understanding 🙏
Happy to help!
Thank you 😊 Doug, 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
My pleasure Andre! 🙏😊
I am going to utilize the five reflections to foster more gratitude in my life. The five reflections speak truth to that they happen. Instead of fighting that they will happen; be grateful for the current moment you are in. But, being too attached to this gratitude is dangerous. It makes suffering more intense when the five reflections come into play. I guess, it helps me be more mindful and aware. Being aware of the present moment. As someone with anxiety, I always worry about these things. I think it's skillful that I accept they will happen, and knowing through practice that how much I suffer depends on my awareness and attachment; to express loving-kindness to myself and others.
Yes, great to hear Jeremiah. I think those of us who are more anxious-minded will also tend to second-guess ourselves a lot more than is necessary. 🙂
I've made a habit to repeat these after I am finished meditating along with the 5 precepts and the 3 refuges.
Yes, it's a good practice to keep them in mind. Thanks osumarko.
I am so interested in these 5 reflections. I’ve only recently begun learning about Buddhism and find just learning about it is giving me peace. I have found this year to be very stressful and fear has consumed me. I’m looking forward to learning more about this practice. Thanks for your videos!
You're very welcome Kara, yes this is a practice that can help.
There was a short period of time where I feel "depressed" contemplating these reflections, that I think they sound somewhat negative... But when I hear more Dhamma, I feel these reflections actually liberate us than stressing us, it arouse samvegga, the spiritual urgency. One who really understand these reflections speak and act kindly, less attached to body, feelings and perception about anything, and no longer indulge in pleasure, worldly gain and respect from others, they use time wisely and carry their life in wholesome way. To be able to align ourselves with Dhamma make the journey of this life truly meaningful and worthwhile. and I think at the dead bed will not have any fear and regrets.
Exactly so Sam, they provide us a sense of urgency in our practice. But if you find them depressing then leave them aside for a time. You can always come back to them later.
Doug I often find myself in a place of confusion with my teachings and lessons, or things to guide me. In Buddhism it can be so complicated and hard to find what to do and how to act in a lay life.
I don't watch every video, but when I do I 'm delighted to have sat down and listened. You run a very easy going style youtube channel and your content is consistent and well made.
Maybe someday in the future, I can thank you in person
Thanks Beck, that's very kind of you. I'm happy you find the videos worthwhile. 🙏
Thank you🙏
My pleasure!
This video is one of Doug's best and that's a very high standard
Oh, thanks Michael!
And this is Life. These thoughts give you an opportunity to choose how you want to live your Life. Life is about choices...with as few regrets as possible.
That's right Uli, well said.
Hello Doug !
Thanks for your channel.
I am 35 and I think that Buddhism(s) is one of the very best things that internet have brought me to ( your channel included).
Wonderful! 🙏😊
Very interesting video, I think they might help with my procrastination issues. Even if thinking about my parents leaving me is going to be real painful. Buy, hey, maybe that will make me act in a nicer way to them!
😄Well if they help you to be nicer to your parents that's a great thing!
Hi Doug! I am new to your channel and Buddhism. I'm so glad to have found your channel. I am watching this in 2020 so these reflections on illness and death are very important to consider.
Anyway, great work on making these concepts very accessible and digestible 🙏
Thanks for your message Tyler, I'm glad you found the channel too! 😀
Thank you Doug.
You're very welcome Jean-Michel!
Thank you 🔥🕉️🙏🏻
You're welcome 😊🙏
Great video doug keep up the good work
Thanks a lot Tcw 77! I'll do my best! 😀
I pretty much think about this daily without even realizing it. A lot of Buddhist principles like this and loving kindness I practice on a daily basis without making a conscious effort to. As for whether or not this is a positive thing or a negative thing, I'm not sure. On one hand it seems pretty depressing to me, but on the other hand it makes me more prepared for difficult situations.
I have to admit that I don't reflect on the 5th one since I don't believe in karma.
Thanks for the comment Afanasi. I think if you find it depressing, consider adding a lovingkindness practice to it. That can help. 🙂
Thanks Afanasi. I don't think you have to believe in effective karma to reflect on the fifth one. You only have to believe that good and bad actions are beneficial or harmful to the world -- even in small ways -- after we are gone. At least that's how I understand it.
@@DougsDharma I do lovingkindness daily. As I listened I considered adding these 5 reflections. I do not find them depressing. Rather I find them comforting.
I love you
Thank you 🙏
Doug, do you think that these reflections can also serve a tool for gratitude ? For instance- everything dear to me will eventually be separated from me, so I should mindfully and presently appreciate the things I have now
Oh for sure Chris, these reflections can also be a source of gratitude. I think for gratitude to be most skillful however it should get away from an appreciation that shades into clinging. That is, we can appreciate something by wanting it to remain with us forever. That's totally normal. But it isn't very skillful. 🙂
I’ve established a point of view on the reasons behind meditating next to corpses at varying degrees of decomposition as, I believe was/is practiced by some monks / initiates. My point of view is that it very effectively removes the delusion of permanence (and in my view the societally necessary delusion of immortality) from the mind of the monk allowing that monk to more easily establish right thinking. I will start to practice these reflections as a surrogate for such activity.
Yes exactly Rob. It's a good practice I think if done carefully.
Thinking more so what happens to us is not just Karma but luck. If you ever been on the edge of a typhoon and felt its intensity it makes one realize that we are but minuscule entities in an uncontrollable Universe .
Too true!
Thank you so much for your videos! Regarding kamma being deterministic, the Buddha said that past kamma alone cannot account for present experience. SN36.21
Exactly so! Thanks for pointing it out here Maro. I mentioned that sutta in a prior video on Karma: czcams.com/video/oN5292K60yc/video.htmlm35s
I'm a more 'traditionalist' Buddhist, but I love your videos! Thank you!
Thanks Marco! I have learned a great deal from traditionalist teachers, and hold several of them in very high regard. 🙂
I'd like to chip in a comment and perspective regarding the traditional view of the fifth recollection.
I consider myself a traditional Buddhist. I believe in rebirth because it has personally helped me to take the path more seriously (ie, I try to act as if rebirth were true to avoid unskillful actions whenever I can). I also find it plausible that the physical appearance, power, wealth, etc. of human beings could have something to do with karma. That being said, I find a little bit of issue with Bhikkhu Bodhi's comment regarding karma.
The issue is that karma should be seen as descriptive rather than prescriptive. Just because someone was born ugly due to their karma from past lives does not mean they *should've* been born ugly. There is no way to justify excessive stratification of society using what's basically a natural law.
I would also argue that rebirth and karma are not a form of perfect justice; the system of rebirth has no sense of justice at all. Justice implies prescription, a sort of "should-ness".
Thank you for sharing this practice which I think I will try to do every morning and evening.
Thanks for your input Swastik!
Perhaps the way to look at Karma is on two levels. A fortunate group or segment of a society may be there because of the unjust actions of their forbears, hence the tide of karma (history) will eventually consume this group. On a Personal level, karma will play its role, fast or slow, within that life, within that layer of society.
Thanks James, that is one way to consider it. At least on the early Buddhist conception of karma, it is not collectively held by groups but only held by individuals due to their intentional acts. That said, every group is made up of such individuals, all of whom should eventually come to terms with what they do in their lives.
By neglecting to think upon these 5 reflections, I would say that we choose to lead a deluded life for ourselves
Yes I think so too, though they are difficult for many.
If people produce bad karma because of ignorance, and poor people are poor because of bad karma, then the thing to do is to promote wisdom and create the kind of conditions where the poor can make significant spiritual progress.
Also, if wealthy people want to stay wealthy, then they ought to help people out so that they continue to produce good karma. No point in letting your good karma run out because you were unheedful.
Some of the poorest are the most spiritually rich.
I do not disagree with that. I am just saying that if you believe otherwise, karma implies you should help poor people rather than oppress them.
Thanks for your thoughts Rufus. That is certainly the right thing to do.
I disagree with Epicurean view on death. It’s not as simple as that. We fear death because we don’t want to suffer annihilation. Death is still justified to ‘feared’, despite the epicurean view to the contrary. Leading up to the moment of death there is frequently a lot of pain, suffering and anguish. All of that matters. Just because after we die, there technically is no ‘we’ to experience death is really not a comforting view. The older I have got, the more and more I think the antinatalist actually have a good point!
FYI love your videos...they really help me dealing with the sudden death of my parents.
I'm so happy to hear that bi0lizard1. As to your point about Epicureanism, I think what you say is perfectly natural. The Epicurean's point will be that the pain and suffering while you are alive are real, but that the annihilation isn't, since there is nothing to experience it. I agree though that often this doesn't seem very convincing at the emotional level. We crave existence.
Great video. Is there a specific text or discourse where the Buddha discusses these reflections so that I can study more? Thank you
Thanks localnugget! The texts I refer to are linked in the description box below the video. 🙂
Hi Doug,
I would love to hear your thoughts on a secular approach to concepts of reincarnation, and how a reasoned based view of reincarnation might relate to Buddhist teaching.
The reason I ask is that I personally came to being open to the content of Buddhism in the first place after being swayed as to the high likelihood of reincarnation, and the continuation of consciousness after physical death, in large part by scientific studies. A great example is the research of Dr Ian Stevenson, something you might find quite interesting.
I notice you lean towards considering reincarnation as being outside a secular view of Buddhism, which I understand given we don’t yet have as much empirical evidence for it as other naturalistic phenomena.
However I am very interested in a secular exploration of reincarnation, and given you have so many interesting perspectives in that vein I’d be curious to hear how you would view Buddhist teaching if coming from a position of reincarnation being a scientifically supported aspect of nature.
Hi Kezz and thanks for the question. If you're interested in my take on rebirth, I wrote a long piece for the SBA awhile back. It's probably not something I'll revisit here, because it doesn't really matter to our practice, and tends only to harden opinions. But anyhow here it is: secularbuddhism.org/2013/05/29/a-secular-evaluation-of-rebirth/
Hi Doug. I recently have been researching Proto Buddhism, and from everything I can see it looks like a very secular, sound origin of the teachings of the Buddha. What are your thoughts on this? I would love to see if you had a video at all discussing Yogi Buddhism or Proto Buddhism
Hi Austin, I don't know these forms of Buddhism so I can't comment unfortunately!
I might add that the existence of inequality is a stickler in every religion. Jesus said the poor will always be with us. That too can be interpreted as a reason to change nothing and can be used to justify your position. In the US there is a plague of justifying wealth through Scripture. (The more things change the more they remain the same). I wonder if that is a Buddhist thought?
The Buddha had nothing against "righteous wealth righteously gained" by laypeople. Indeed the sangha depended upon donations in order to continue as an institution. That said there is a fine line between gaining legitimate wealth and greed, one we always have to practice with. I have an earlier video comparing the Buddha and Jesus's views on wealth if it interests you: czcams.com/video/wXYAY-zmNGs/video.html
At about 12: 45 you say that secular Buddhist don't believe in a future life. Did I misunderstand that? If you don't believe that you will have future lives, why would Buddhism with its teaching on karma attract you? Thanks.
Because karma is important in this very life as well. Some secular Buddhists don't believe in future lives, others aren't sure. The main point of practice is this life.
@@DougsDharma Very interesting. I did not know this. So, if a Buddhist does not believe in reincarnation, would he care to be a vegetarian or not see any reason to be one? Thanks.
Very good point on traditional Karma and it's manipulation as a form of social control...much like Christian heaven and hell was used during the Middle Ages.
Yes that's right Wade. We have to be careful to push back on that kind of thinking.
@@DougsDharma Yes, and it would be nice if our current Liberal/Conservative conflict could be seen for the illusion that it is...maybe people (not Identities) could work for their own (and others) common good without buying into what's sold by BOTH sides....After all, there's not Red Truth-Blue Truth---only Truth.
What do you mean by secular?
I discuss it in this video: czcams.com/video/yTxKgz8MeWg/video.html
You are making a number of wrong claims about traditional Buddhist views, and also about "Secular" Buddhism.
Firstly, "Secular Buddhism" is by 'dictionary' definition an oxymoron. You can either be secular, or you can be buddhist. I read how your website defines it's version of "secular buddhism", and honestly speaking it is not really secular.
Not only that, it is unfortunate that you are not being truthful to your own principles for secular buddhism.
Most notably: your guiding principles state that: "Secular Buddhism is naturalistic, in that it references natural causes and effects, demonstrable in the known world."
But in your video you say that the "belief that there is only one life" is a secular view. This is contradictory to your guiding principles because THERE IS NO DEMONSTRABLE PROOF IN THE KNOWN WORLD THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE LIFE, because you do not know what happens immediately after death, or before birth. So a truly secular view point has to be willing to accept both the possibilities: YOLO, and Rebirth. By accepting YOLO and rejecting Rebirth, you are deviating from your principles. This subtle preference for one possibility over another (without any proof) makes a huge difference in the outcome. It will be very beneficial (for you and for others) if you make an effort to overcome this bias instead of propagating it.
Secondly, you are mis-representing "traditional views". In particular, you made the claim that if someone believes in Karma then it can be used to justify those born with power or in destitution as worthy of it. But this is not the traditional view. If you go to any Asian country where Karma is accepted and understood culturally, this is not how they behave. In fact, Karma helps to break this very injustice that plagues the western society. Let me explain:
Let's say someone is rich/powerful/fortunate in this lifetime. 1) If they believe in Karma, they will know that this fortune is not permanent. Because the effect of Karma is for a finite period. 2) They will also know that in order to continue to the fortunate life, they should do good Karma NOW. Which includes being kind and compassionate towards those who are less fortunate. Because it is exactly such past karma which made them fortunate in this life. e.g. being rich in this life is a consequence of being generous in a past life, then someone who believes in Karma will be more inclined to be generous in this life.
Similarly, if someone is less fortunate, then the theory of Karma gives them hope and makes them a better person. If something bad happens, they will be more inclined to take responsibility for their past actions instead of blaming external circumstances. They will also understand that the effect of past bad Karma is temporary and there is a way out. It will propel them to do good actions NOW, so that they can reap good reward in the future.
Whereas in the west, people try to take credit for their good fortunes and blame others for their bad fortunes. That explains why America is such a litigious country. If people truly believed in Karma, you would not see this.
So your rejection of the "traditional Buddhist view of karma" is not only wrong, it is the very CAUSE for the injustice and harm that prevails in the western society that you have set out to correct.
Hi Nikhil, I don't have a website. I assume you're looking at the SBA website, which was not written by me. As for the question of rebirth, if you want to hold it, great! Nobody is trying to stop you.
I've done a number of recent videos on karma that might interest you, such as this: czcams.com/video/xDsPCn5nxnM/video.html , and this: czcams.com/video/O3D-NosYAP8/video.html . Oh and as to secular Buddhism being an oxymoron, that's an old one I did a video on quite awhile back: czcams.com/video/DWZAPjKlASM/video.html
Thank you 🙏
My pleasure! 🙏
Thank you 🙏
🙏😊
Thank you!