Wisdom and courage.

[mia]

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it. Buddha

[rug]

1. Is this the time to ask if there's any evidence Buddha ever lived?

[mia]

2. I've never considered this, but thank you for your question.

http://orias.berkeley.edu/visuals/buddha/Life.html

[rug]

4. I'm not going to quibble over this but I suspect other readers in this Group may.

"Now the Bodhisattva enters his mother's womb in the form of a white elephant, but here we encounter a little problem in that we are not informed at what moment he exchanges his animal form for a human one."

[mia]

6. Perhaps white elephants (rather than angels) represent spirits...

and perhaps the idea of a Buddha was created over time through a longing for tranquility, or something like that.

Nevertheless, I liked this saying attributed to Buddha. I'm glad to have come across it, and feel encouraged to find good things about many religions.

[rug]

8. I like the quote too.

If I may ask, are you Buddhist?

[mia]

10. I don't know,

but I'm drawn to learn more about it.

If I may ask, are you Buddhist?

[rug]

11. Good luck on your search.

I'm Catholic. I've had to answer the same questions about Jesus.

[mr blur]

18. "I've had to answer the same questions about Jesus."?

What a shame you concentrate on not answering any of them.

[rug]

19. Let me see . . . how did that go . . . .

oh yes, "the seeds of snark and disrespect." Have a talk with trotsky.

[trotsky]

28. You got exactly what you wanted.

Try behaving better next time.

[rug]

30. See # 29.

[trotsky]

32. Yep, exactly what you wanted. Glad you don't dispute it.

You will see change when YOU act like you really want it. Until then, since you're going to continue feeding the nastiness, the ugliness, and the pettiness, you have absolutely no moral authority to lecture others about their behavior. But of course you reserve the right to complain about it.

Good day to you, rug. Glad you put on this show for all to see.

[rug]

34. "you have absolutely no moral authority to lecture others about their behavior"

Ditto.

[trotsky]

35. Thanks for the third grade playground lesson, rug.

But when you start it (as you did on this thread), you shouldn't be surprised at what you get.

Be the change you want.

[rug]

38. Second grade is all that is needed.

I can handle whatever it is you think I "get". I take an interest in the behavior of swarms.

[trotsky]

39. What a noble Christian you are indeed, rug.

Admitting you bait and stir the pot means you don't get to complain about the behavior of others. Rounds are over and you lose again. I await your snappy insulting last word.

[rug]

40. Observation is not baiting.

Now, do you want to explicate what you meant by "you shouldn't be surprised at what you get"?

And I again commend you for the noble tone your title has brought to this subthread.

[mmonk]

21. There have been many Buddhas and Buddhism is different depending upon the culture it enters.

Buddha means one who is awake.

[2ndAmForComputers]

5. Thanks a lot. Another perfectly good irony-o-meter, blown to smithereens.

And I had ordered an extra wide range one this time. Bummer.

[rug]

7. I just thought I'd save you time.

Your shtick is quite easy.

[trotsky]

9. Not as transparent as yours, though.

You were the one who changed the tone in this thread, rug. No non-believer chimed in before you - YOU planted the seeds of snark and disrespect.

It's all you. Enjoy the filth.

[rug]

12. Another perfectly good irony-o-meter, blown to smithereens.

[trotsky]

13. Last I checked, 1 and 4 come before 5 on the number line.

Be the change you claim you want. Don't bait others. Knock off the fucking bullshit.

Start right here. Own up to your words. Be a decent person.

Or throw some more snappy snark and pile the filth deeper. Your choice.

[rug]

14. I'll follow your example.

[trotsky]

15. I see you've chosen option B.

Fine. Every time I extend an olive branch, you stomp and shit on it.

One last chance, rug. Own up to your baiting and shit-stirring that YOU started on this thread. You were looking for exactly the reaction you got. Don't blame me, YOU are the one with shit in his hands, caught in the process of flinging it. Take responsibility for your own goddamn actions, and quit blaming others.

Or respond with more pithy, snappy snark. Again, your choice.

[rug]

16. Rather than try to lecture me, clean up your own act.

We'll be fine.

[trotsky]

27. How did I misbehave, rug?

Was I baiting on this thread? Or was that you?

Whatever. Your behavior is no surprise to regular readers of this group. Again, you are responsible for your own actions and no one else's. Everything is on full display right in this thread. Enjoy being exposed again.

[rug]

29. "Your behavior is no surprise to regular readers of this group."

Your posting record is quite well-known.

And your last sentence continues it.

Don't be a hypocrite.

[trotsky]

31. I'm sorry you were so offended by having YOUR hypocrisy pointed out.

I understand why you have to lash out at others.

[rug]

33. My, what a nice tone you've brought to this discussion.

I guess you just can't help it.

[trotsky]

36. Not when you act the way you do.

Try behaving better next time and see what you get.

[rug]

37. I see.

I must have caused your ehavior here long before I began posting here.

Must be quantum.

[2ndAmForComputers]

25. I have a shtick?

Please describe it.

[Greatest I am]

24. Are the words wise.

Are the words wise should be the focus, not whether they came from a living entity or not.

Even children will say wise things.

Regards
DL

[rug]

26. Welcome to DU;

[Greatest I am]

41. Thanks.

Thanks.

Regards
DL

[cbayer]

3. This reminds me of the message I got as a child -

Don't believe what others tell you just because they said so, but do believe in something.

[skepticscott]

17. Horseshit

Just a lame way to make unsupported religiousy "faith" seem like a good and noble idea. Don't "believe" in anything...be convinced of things. Don't take anything purely on faith if you don't have to. Ever. Doing so is not a virtue..never has been and never will be. It's just a crutch.

[mmonk]

20. LOL. I started reading and thought to myself this sounds like Buddha before I began to realize

it was (kicking myself).

[mia]

22. It sounds like you and R.F.K., too.

"Fear not the Path of Truth for the lack of people walking on it"

[mmonk]

23. .