Blue Rising wrote:Is it possible that the Buddhist teachings are the path that call to you, but not necessarily any more effective in getting a person to the point you seek?
I am not sure I understand the question.
Is the buddhist path, a path that calls to me?
Yes at this point in time it does...
Could it be that this path is not necessarily a path that is effective for anyone? (Is that what you are asking?)
Possibly, although I am getting more and more convinced that the path as it is outlined in the Pali Canon will bring the results it promises to anyone that follows it. Which is a state of being called Nibbana that lies beyond suffering.
Effective in getting a person to a point I seek?
Here is where I am possibly misunderstanding your question. The Path is not effective to get people to the same point I am trying to reach.
I think everyone that is beginning to wake up will have some notion of what freedom is all about. These notions are highly personal and will differ as much from person to person. Near the end though I think that most differences will fall away. That is in terms of the planes of freedom we can see as separate mindstates that exist. As the options of freedom planes seems endless, My idea of freedom will probably be different than the plane you will choose.
I am pondering the idea though that until such a difference exists we will both be wrong. Until we find a unifying plane where we both will experience the same freedom and call it exactly that.
Blue Rising wrote:
And perhaps that is why your theory is that it is the best path to get "there".
Just a thought.
Much Love,
Possibly yes.
I do see differences in the theravadan or more precisely the that forest tradition (which isn't even that old either) and other new age and old religion enlightenment ideas.
Maybe I haven't come across other such examples, but until I started researching that path in earnest. I had put it on the same shelf as most religions and path's to enlightenment. Research though has revealed to me that each step on the path is described in very fine detail. So one can verify for him or her self that the steps taken yield the results promised.
That alone is very precious in my book these days where many " new" religions or "old" religions in new forms emerge promising the highest high, but fail to deliver if you talk to followers of that path.
I realise I am sounding as an advocate for buddhism and it is possible my wish for all I have written above to be true to cloud my views. But there it is.
With Love
Eelco