Re: Are Goodness and Truth the same? No, truth is not always good

Posted by Vita on August 23, 2000 at 13:35:34:

In Reply to: Re: Dana posted by Doctorate M on August 23, 2000 at 11:29:48:

: : :
: : : While my beloved alter Doc M sleeps it off under the pool
: : : table at Bumppo's, after being unceremoniously being
: : : ejected from the House of HooHa, I'd love to get in
: : : on this thread since I missed it the last time. I am
: : : more drawn to certain concepts of Eastern religious
: : : thought. I am NO expert, having just begun reading
: : : and thinking seriously on the subject. Something I
: : : came across recently fits in perfectly here, I
: : : think. Truth vs Goodness according to Buddhist thought:

: : : 1. Do not take anything as true under any condition

: : : 2. Understand what is good, rather than what is true

: : : 3) Use your own judgement. Scripture is only an aid to
: : : thinking.

: : : 4) Good acts result from a good state of mind, which means
: : : that cultivation of a good state of mind is the way
: : : to the good life.

: : : 5) One who cultivates the mind this way does not have to
: : : worry about the next world, or depend on external
: : : powers.

: : : According to Buddhism, truth and falsehood are concepts
: : : derived from logical thinking. Though what is logical
: : : is considered "true", we tend to decide our beliefs are
: : : true based on something other than logic. Often we take
: : : a statement to be true not because we know it is true,
: : : but because we like it, or our family believes it,
: : : or because it's in a holy book -- not for any "logical"
: : : reasons. We become emotionally attached to our beliefs
: : : first, then use logic to justify them.

: : : When we personalize beliefs this way, the result is
: : : conflict and disharmony. When we cling to a viewpoint
: : : and say "This is my viewpoint, this is truth," we are
: : : in conflict with those who do not believe it, leading
: : : to disharmony and quarreling. This is why the Buddha
: : : advises his followers not to accept anything as "true."
: : : Instead of seeking truth, seek goodness.

: : : Thoughts anyone?

: : : Doctorate Mary

: : Hara hara, hara Mary. Rama rama, rama scary. *donning orange pointy hat and robe and dancing in circle*

: : Not sure I like you in orange more than black, there Doc. I kinda got fond of the black. Wanna buy a daisy?

: : GnomeDome

:
: *sigh.* Excuse me, my alter lent me this large, heavy
: polo mallet...*WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!*

: DM

Yeah, really, WHILE GOODNESS CAN ALWAYS BE TRUE, AND THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD.
hMMM.
aNYONE WANTS TO PASS ME SOME HAIR TONIC TO HELP REGROW THOSE i'VE BEEN LOSING TO SCRATCHING????/
:-(

Follow Ups:

• Re: Are Goodness and Truth the same? No, truth is not always good Doc 14:05:33 8/23/2000 (5)
  • Re: Are Goodness and Truth the same? No, truth is not always good Red-Haired Lass 16:58:25 8/23/2000 (4)
    • Re: Are Goodness and Truth the same? No, truth is not always good Doc M 11:28:02 8/24/2000 (3)
      • Build Me A Pint, will ya Red...my last thought (sorry) Diana S. 12:26:36 8/24/2000 (2)
        • Re: Build Me A Pint, will ya Red...my last thought (sorry) Dana S. 14:24:56 8/24/2000 (1)
          • Re: Build Me A Pint, will ya Red...my last thought (sorry) Red-Haired Lass 16:20:09 8/24/2000 (0)

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Comments:
: : : : 
: : : : While my beloved alter Doc M sleeps it off under the pool
: : : : table at Bumppo's, after being unceremoniously being
: : : : ejected from the House of HooHa, I'd love to get in
: : : : on this thread since I missed it the last time. I am
: : : : more drawn to certain concepts of Eastern religious
: : : : thought. I am NO expert, having just begun reading 
: : : : and thinking seriously on the subject. Something I
: : : : came across recently fits in perfectly here, I
: : : : think. Truth vs Goodness according to Buddhist thought:

: : : : 1. Do not take anything as true under any condition

: : : : 2. Understand what is good, rather than what is true

: : : : 3) Use your own judgement. Scripture is only an aid to
: : : :    thinking.

: : : : 4) Good acts result from a good state of mind, which means
: : : :    that cultivation of a good state of mind is the way
: : : :    to the good life.

: : : : 5) One who cultivates the mind this way does not have to 
: : : :    worry about the next world, or depend on external
: : : :    powers.

: : : : According to Buddhism, truth and falsehood are concepts
: : : : derived from logical thinking. Though what is logical
: : : : is considered "true", we tend to decide our beliefs are
: : : : true based on something other than logic. Often we take
: : : : a statement to be true not because we know it is true,
: : : : but because we like it, or our family believes it, 
: : : : or because it's in a holy book -- not for any "logical"
: : : : reasons. We become emotionally attached to our beliefs
: : : : first, then use logic to justify them. 

: : : : When we personalize beliefs this way, the result is
: : : : conflict and disharmony. When we cling to a viewpoint
: : : : and say "This is my viewpoint, this is truth," we are
: : : : in conflict with those who do not believe it, leading
: : : : to disharmony and quarreling. This is why the Buddha
: : : : advises his followers not to accept anything as "true."
: : : : Instead of seeking truth, seek goodness.

: : : : Thoughts anyone?

: : : : Doctorate Mary

: : : Hara hara, hara Mary.  Rama rama, rama scary.  *donning orange pointy hat and robe and dancing in circle*

: : : Not sure I like you in orange more than black, there Doc.  I kinda got fond of the black.  Wanna buy a daisy?

: : : GnomeDome

: : 
: : *sigh.* Excuse me, my alter lent me this large, heavy
: : polo mallet...*WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!*

: : DM

: Yeah, really, WHILE GOODNESS CAN ALWAYS BE TRUE, AND THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD.
: hMMM.
: aNYONE WANTS TO PASS ME SOME HAIR TONIC TO HELP REGROW THOSE i'VE BEEN LOSING TO SCRATCHING????/
: :-(


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