Friday, July 08, 2005
A thought occurred to me last night about Buddhism. I'm not really sure where it came from. It was actually a dream. I was thinking about golems before bed and how they relate to our robot stories of today. I was watching I, Robot
again. Every time I watch that movie I wonder how many of our beloved sci-fi stories are just golem stories retold. Eventually, I'll try to get around to reading some golem stories, but for now, I'll just wander around on the web. What was this post about again?
Buddhism has Four Noble Truths. (Noble is not an opinion on my part. That's just what they are called. Although I'll admit they're pretty decent.)
Now the eightfold path is of course the next great step in Buddhism. Much like any other great self help book, the answer is not easy. No you have to buy into the next step. Once you are done with the right understanding, thought, speech, et cetera, you find out that the eighth step leads to another set of rules. It seems that the ultimate tenet of Buddhism is to give up attaining the role of Buddha itself. Sure, it hurts a little to give up on your life goal, but isn't that what life is all about?
The thought that occurred to me is this. Nothing is more anti-Buddhist than the Trix Rabbit. He suffers the desire of Trix Cereal. He tries to take what is not offered. His whole life is about his inability to obtain the cereal. It leads to much suffering and amusement. We as kids laughed at the rabbit and violated a rule as well. We aren't supposed to harm others.
Cereal commercials are good about this. Lucky the leprechaun fights to keep his cereal. Cookie Crisp is stolen all the time. That Froot Loops toucan is always trying to keep his nephews away. The only redeeming person seems to be Tony The Tiger. He just tells us "They're great!" Relatively speaking, they are pretty healthy.
I'm not really sure why this was such a mind altering thought. It was a dream that I had, and it stuck in my head well enough that I can write about it several hours later. It seems that Buddhism seems to make a lot more sense now. Thanks to Wikipedia and early Saturday morning cartoons.
again. Every time I watch that movie I wonder how many of our beloved sci-fi stories are just golem stories retold. Eventually, I'll try to get around to reading some golem stories, but for now, I'll just wander around on the web. What was this post about again?Buddhism has Four Noble Truths. (Noble is not an opinion on my part. That's just what they are called. Although I'll admit they're pretty decent.)
- Dukkha: Life is suffering. Birth, death, breathing, diseases. Everything leads to suffering.
- Samudaya: The cause of suffering is attachment or desire. The more you want and have, the more you will hurt.
- Nirodha: The way to relieve suffering is to detach yourself from worldly things. Sell your DVD collection.
- Marga: There is a way to escape the pain. It is the Noble Eightfold Path.
Now the eightfold path is of course the next great step in Buddhism. Much like any other great self help book, the answer is not easy. No you have to buy into the next step. Once you are done with the right understanding, thought, speech, et cetera, you find out that the eighth step leads to another set of rules. It seems that the ultimate tenet of Buddhism is to give up attaining the role of Buddha itself. Sure, it hurts a little to give up on your life goal, but isn't that what life is all about?
The thought that occurred to me is this. Nothing is more anti-Buddhist than the Trix Rabbit. He suffers the desire of Trix Cereal. He tries to take what is not offered. His whole life is about his inability to obtain the cereal. It leads to much suffering and amusement. We as kids laughed at the rabbit and violated a rule as well. We aren't supposed to harm others.
Cereal commercials are good about this. Lucky the leprechaun fights to keep his cereal. Cookie Crisp is stolen all the time. That Froot Loops toucan is always trying to keep his nephews away. The only redeeming person seems to be Tony The Tiger. He just tells us "They're great!" Relatively speaking, they are pretty healthy.
I'm not really sure why this was such a mind altering thought. It was a dream that I had, and it stuck in my head well enough that I can write about it several hours later. It seems that Buddhism seems to make a lot more sense now. Thanks to Wikipedia and early Saturday morning cartoons.
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