tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9608308.post7915117395519444185..comments2023-02-12T04:40:26.615-05:00Comments on Little Gidding: Not NegativeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837198581605171542noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9608308.post-39652634898911233382008-02-12T16:05:00.000-05:002008-02-12T16:05:00.000-05:00As you well may know, I'm taking a Buddhism class ...As you well may know, I'm taking a Buddhism class right now. Most of the things I've run into during my readings have been less than enthralling. There was, however, one passage that I read recently that gave me something to think about.<BR/><BR/>Under some of the Vedic idologies (elements of which made it into the Buddhist doctrine later), there are what are called the Five Prohibitions. The are negative, much like the Mosaic laws. They concern violence, lying, stealing, intoxication and lust. <BR/><BR/>Sidartha runs into these prohibitions and tries to follow them. Ultimately, he decides that the prohibitions are acceptable, but they don't lend themselves to progress naturally (whatever that means). Essentially, he says that being a person dedicated to righteousness is very different from being a non-offender. For example...in order to honor the law, it is not enough simply not steal. Instead we ought to be generous. Basically, following the law is a proactive thing.<BR/><BR/>Interesting idea I thought. Its one of a very few I've come up against in my reading thus far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9608308.post-4820776788810936362008-02-12T16:04:00.000-05:002008-02-12T16:04:00.000-05:00As you well may know, I'm taking a Buddhism class ...As you well may know, I'm taking a Buddhism class right now. Most of the things I've run into during my readings have been less than enthralling. There was, however, one passage that I read recently that gave me something to think about.<BR/><BR/>Under some of the Vedic idologies (elements of which made it into the Buddhist doctrine later), there are what are called the Five Prohibitions. The are negative, much like the Mosaic laws. They concern violence, lying, stealing, intoxication and lust. <BR/><BR/>Sidartha runs into these prohibitions and tries to follow them. Ultimately, he decides that the prohibitions are acceptable, but they don't lend themselves to progress naturally (whatever that means). Essentially, he says that being a person dedicated to righteousness is very different from being a non-offender. For example...in order to honor the law, it is not enough simply not steal. Instead we ought to be generous. Basically, following the law is a proactive thing.<BR/><BR/>Interesting idea I thought. Its one of a very few I've come up against in my reading thus far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com