Please ask me , I will learn from it
 

Why must debate be the only path?

No , debate is perhaps just one of trillions way , but we are here in internet and debate seems to me is one of the best option . Debate pushes me into areas that I never been , challenge my current condition , explore without limits ........

Why all the 'lists' in Buddhism (4 noble truths, 8-fold path, 4 immeasurables, etc)? Isn't the spiritual path unique to each person? Is there some basis to suggest that this one size fits all formula based system is actually effective? Siddhartha didn't follow these to his enlightenment.

Always ask questions CSEe, and don't except anything just because someone else told you so, your inquisitive mind will serve you well, I do like the way you think.

Talking with others about stuff is a good way to help you understand the subject mentally CSEe. Well it's been fruitful for me anyway. Well for a couple years I mean.

It's great.

To me , each and every living like human , animal , plant , micro-organsm or non-living like pen , table , rock , water , dead leaf ......is all in own process travelling naturally into the original condition of nothingness , this process is known to me currently as Buddhism ........so each have own journey but destination is same ......into emptiness back into nothingness-The Buddha.

To me , in Buddhism all source regardless the nature whether from a "master" like Dalai Lama , or Osama Bin Laden , or the pen on the table even the dirt under my shoes is all a great source to discover own self ...so I do not create emotion to reject or accept rather progress into it ...in Buddhism as what I currently understand , as we awaken to this process , we are changing every moment in time , not by our choice and as we progress into this path , our emotion , our love / greed / desire / fear etc will be reduced / decreased .......this is Buddhism .
Buddhism is a process leading to freedom of emotion not increase of emotion ...so just awake and live the moment -

Perhaps I do not "feel" or have desire to creates understanding ...to me currently , in Buddhism "understanding" is not the same as in human culture .
In human culture , we wish to understand so that that understanding will be part of our knowledge and we live in that knowledge ......eventually we became the knowledge itself .

In my current view on Buddhism , "understanding" is tiny part of a process of realization ...........and understanding will lead into freedom of whatever we realized not for keep but rather freedom of it .

So in short , in Buddhism understanding leading to freedom of emotion ...but in human culture , understanding leading to creation of emotion , leading to attachment of such emotion and this is the cause of suffering or joy .....

Is this to say that its impossible to 'practice' Buddhism as everything is already actually living it?

The Buddhist 'religion' as found in USA does not present this individual process at least to beginners for several years. Every talk I have been to, each temple I have visited, books I have read, videos I have watched, discussion with practicing Buddhists have all been about the 'lists' and meditation. While the meditations are obviously personal, the process and format for them is from formula. I will note another thread about yoga where people are arguing that without the physical positions, one can not practice yoga. While yoga is not Buddhism, it illustrates the mentality I have encountered and associate with Buddhists.

Follow up question: If its all just a personal process, what role does 'Buddhism' play?