Common Misunderstandings.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky123

Misconceptions that the Five Precepts are rules rather than guidelines.


To live is to act, and our actions can have either harmful or beneficial consequences for oneself and others. Buddhist ethics is concerned with the principles and practices that help one to act in ways that help rather than harm. The core ethical code of Buddhism is known as the five precepts, and these are the distillation of its ethical principles. The precepts are not rules or commandments, but ‘principles of training’, which are undertaken freely and need to be put into practice with intelligence and sensitivity.

Basically, such things as taking refuge and the vows have to explained in full so that people have a clear understanding of what they are doing, enabling them to act with informed consent and self-determination.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky123

“Don’t blindly believe what I say. Don’t believe me because others convince you of my words. Don’t believe anything you see, read, or hear from others, whether of authority, religious teachers or texts. Don’t rely on logic alone, nor speculation. Don’t infer or be deceived by appearances. Do not give up your authority and follow blindly the will of others. This way will lead to only delusion. Find out for yourself what is truth, what is real.”

What Buddha was saying is that his teaching (or any spiritual teaching for that matter) is not a matter of faith or authority. It is not something to just believe or disbelieve but rather is something to be tried, tested and discovered directly for each person.

It seems the above quote references the power of authority and docile obedience (or blind faith), as did other quotes you posted in the thread. It seems strange how you pooh poohed these things (which I sometimes talk about) in your OP, and then promoted these same things by referencing someone of authority - including Buddha himself, no less.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

It seems the above quote references the power of authority and docile obedience (or blind faith), as did other quotes you posted in the thread. It seems strange how you pooh poohed these things (which I sometimes talk about) in your OP, and then promoted these same things by referencing someone of authority - including Buddha himself, no less.

There is no ' Authority ' in Buddhism ', not even the Buddha.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

Basically, such things as taking refuge and the vows have to explained in full so that people have a clear understanding of what they are doing, enabling them to act with informed consent and self-determination.

People who takes Vows would obviously have had them explained and they themselves should understand what they entail before they CHOOSE to take them. Nobody in Power or Authority forces them...

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

The usual definition of 'ego' in spiritual contexts is the 'false self'.

In Buddhism the usual definition of ' ego ' refers to the illusion of the ' self ' , as there is ' not self ' what is false.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky123

People who takes Vows would obviously have had them explained and they themselves should understand what they entail before they CHOOSE to take them.

Er, that's what I just said.

Nobody in Power or Authority forces them...

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky123

In Buddhism the usual definition of ' ego ' refers to the illusion of the ' self ' , as there is ' not self ' what is false.

I don't recall any references to 'ego' in any Buddhist teachings I'm familiar with, but the doctrine of not me, my, I, mine is repeated in several places.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

Er, that's what I just said.

Yes I agree that,
People who take Vows would obviously have had them explained and they themselves should understand what they entail before they CHOOSE to take them. Nobody in Power or Authority forces them...

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

I don't recall any references to 'ego' in any Buddhist teachings I'm familiar with, but the doctrine of not me, my, I, mine is repeated in several places.

You wont find the word ' Ego ' in Pali or Sanskrit but the exact concept does exist in
Buddism referred to as Anatta.the idea refers to the illusion of the "self".

A false self is inappropriate as in Buddhism ' Anatta ' means ' Not Self '
You could say a false notion of self, not a false self....

[Rain95]

Originally Posted by sky123

There is no ' Authority ' in Buddhism ', not even the Buddha.

Yes we are free to follow our experience. No authority anywhere. Like my Buddha teaching of living now non-verbally, with nothing to defend or assert. Live now with no ideas, beliefs, or opinions. Now the body can talk and think, but I won't have anything to do with all of that. I am free of it as I am non-verbal. There is no meaning in words unless we make them within the box of the conceptual.