Gautama Siddhartha

this sums up the buddha's views pretty well:

6. "Māluṅkyāputta, if there is the view 'the world is eternal,' the holy life cannot be lived; and if there is the view 'the world is not eternal,' the holy life cannot be lived. Buddha

direct experience and peace, otherwise don't entertain it. abandon it. to me the "holy life" buddha is describing is the same exact one jesus described. to be here now with no "speculative views" to put it into buddha's words.

no mental interpretive views. easier said than done! no subjective meanings, or more important, no one there that could or would entertain or be involved with such things.

[sky]

Originally Posted by sentient

But the “Two Truths” doctrine "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form." is addressing that paradoxical undeclared situation.

Or Zen riddles: “To know is - not to know”.

I don’t see it as a ‘forbitten fruit’ situation.

I think seeking answers to unanswerable questions is something we do from an early age based on curiosity but as we mature most realize that some questions cannot be answered and it's a waste of energy to keep looking.

There's a time and place for everything under the sun

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 220 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by sentient

Or Zen riddles: “To know is - not to know”.

This is a good one. I love it!

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 220 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by sky123

There's a time and place for everything under the sun

That parallels one of my favorite Biblical quotes:

"For every thing there is a season and a time under the Heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

[sky]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

This is a good one. I love it!

But if you know what you know and know what you do not know, what then....

[sky]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

That parallels one of my favorite Biblical quotes:

"For every thing there is a season and a time under the Heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I like all the different interpretations of the Verse....

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by sky123

But if you know what you know and know what you do not know, what then....

I don't know!

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by AbodhiSky

to me the "holy life" buddha is describing is the same exact one jesus described. to be here now with no "speculative views" to put it into buddha's words.

Nice point !

I have often quoted Jesus' statement (Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God) and have added that Buddha provides one (not the only one) methodology directing one towards purity-of-heart.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

I don't know!

Well now we have a dilemma because I don't know either, so it's like the blind leading the blind

[BigJohn]

A question about Gautama Siddhartha: "Did he ever experience Siddhis?

Especially when he became aware of all of his re-births and his involvement with previous Buddhas?