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

Posted by Doc on August 23, 2000 at 14:05:33:

In Reply to: Re: Are Goodness and Truth the same? No, truth is not always good posted by Vita on August 23, 2000 at 13:35:34:

: : : :
: : : : 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????/
: :-(

Hey, Red! A tay-keel-a with a Rogaine chaser for my
bud Vita!! Use the tequila bottle WITHOUT the little
gnome floating in it!

Doc M

Follow Ups:

• 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????/
: : :-(

: Hey, Red! A tay-keel-a with a Rogaine chaser for my
: bud Vita!! Use the tequila bottle WITHOUT the little
: gnome floating in it!

: Doc M


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