You are viewing a single comment's thread.

view the rest of the comments →

0
0

[–] Reddiggoat ago 

So how do you guys feel about the concept?

It's one of many tricks religions use to hook people for life. The victim is kept reaching for an unattainable plateau, pressured with stories of saints and other mythical figures who've supposedly attained it.

Along with the process comes compassion, forgiveness, lasting happiness, gratitude for all life, and really every positive emotion without any of the negatives.

IMO that just reads like a very poor sales pitch for a fix-all placebo. If people are willing to believe this, it's no wonder theistic religions still exist.

0
1

[–] middle_path [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

What about Buddhism. It's inherently atheistic and sees what the Buddha taught as practical life advice for happiness.

Nothing is being sold there.

0
0

[–] Reddiggoat ago 

I think there is a major difference in trying to change ones self for the better and trying to emulate changes you've perceived others to make. I also think there is a big difference in bettering ones self and trying to reach a plateau or marker of bestness (or enlightenment). Maybe buddhism doesn't sell their version, but many other religions make a ton of profit off this idea.

I also believe negative emotions can be very beneficial to helping build life the way you want it. Kind of like a "without evil there can be no good" kind of thing, "bad" emotions will contrast the "good" and you're able to make personal decisions of likes and dislikes of the actions of others around you. It keeps you from being taken advantage of and helps you to succeed. In real life, people without these "bad" emotions are called sociopaths.

Will meditation and self-betterment lead to one being a sociopath? I doubt it, but ultimately that's what will happen if you actually end up eliminating all negative emotions.

TL/DR - I think "enlightenment" is a sham, but I don't think moving that directions for your own personal reasons is bad.