I’m not really very educated on the greater buddhisms out there, or their theology. That being said a Zen Buddhist teacher that I’ve followed for a while described nothingness as it relates to the self as this: you are obviously something, but you exist as nothing in and of yourself, you exist in relationship to all of creation. You are son to your mother, father to your children, brother to your sister, transformer of air to the atmosphere, etc. I’ve always taken this as very complimentary to my Druid practice in that no one being or thing exists outside the relationship it has with all of creation. Of course that’s my own understanding and I could be missing his point… but even if I am I find that helpful.
As for upper crust American Buddhists, ya I’ve experienced much the same. New Atheist Sam Harris comes to mind as an example of the sort. He’s not a Buddhist but draws on the tradition as a sort of philosophy devoid of anything transcendent. His book “Waking Up” is a great example of this.
no subject
As for upper crust American Buddhists, ya I’ve experienced much the same. New Atheist Sam Harris comes to mind as an example of the sort. He’s not a Buddhist but draws on the tradition as a sort of philosophy devoid of anything transcendent. His book “Waking Up” is a great example of this.