Most American Christians fail a very simple quiz on Religion.

[Francis Earl]

True. However, the question specifies nirvana as the state of being free from suffering, which is different from the Gita's Brahma-nirvana, and neither Jainism nor Sikhism are listed as options, so that leaves Buddhism.

Even in Buddhism, it doesn't mean that.

What Buddha has asserted about Nirvana is exactly what the Vedas describe it as...

Cessation of personal story, essentially...

Of course, without a personal self, it is difficult to suffer...

 

[seattlegal]

Even in Buddhism, it doesn't mean that.

What Buddha has asserted about Nirvana is exactly what the Vedas describe it as...

Cessation of personal story, essentially...

Of course, without a personal self, it is difficult to suffer...

Do you have any references to the use of the word nirvana in any of the Vedas? If so, I'd love to see them!

 

[Francis Earl]

Do you have any references to the use of the word nirvana in any of the Vedas? If so, I'd love to see them!

http://www.vedarahasya.net/nirvana.htm Seems like a good start...

 

[seattlegal]

http://www.vedarahasya.net/nirvana.htm Seems like a good start...

Thanks. Reading this text, I can see that it is quite different from Nirvana in Buddhism.

 

[seattlegal]

Even in Buddhism, it doesn't mean that.

What Buddha has asserted about Nirvana is exactly what the Vedas describe it as...

Cessation of personal story, essentially...

Of course, without a personal self, it is difficult to suffer...

With Buddhism, it isn't necessarily the cessation of the personal Self. Rather, the basis for consciousness is untraceable. (See the Water Snake Simile for more, if you are interested.)

 

[Francis Earl]

Thanks. Reading this text, I can see that it is quite different from Nirvana in Buddhism.

Care to elaborate?

I cannot even call Buddhism different from Vedanta.

Of course, this is at least in part because my interest is in bringing traditions closer in my understanding.

I see no usefulness in pretending they are discussing different truths...

Truth cannot be two when you encounter it.

Only expressions can differ.

 

[Francis Earl]

With Buddhism, it isn't necessarily the cessation of the personal Self. Rather, the basis for consciousness is untraceable. (See the Water Snake Simile for more, if you are interested.)

This is certainly a strange assertion...

One of the foundations of Buddha's teaching is anatta - exactly the cessation of personal self...

Certainly, Brahman is prior to consciousness - which is a particular shakti and thus ultimately maya.

 

[Francis Earl]

Although a fun question for the Buddha might be "who sees there is no self?"

Which the Advaitin would suggest is the true Self...

Debates are fun.

 

[seattlegal]

This is certainly a strange assertion...

One of the foundations of Buddha's teaching is anatta - exactly the cessation of personal self...

Certainly, Brahman is prior to consciousness - which is a particular shakti and thus ultimately maya.

I started a new thread for this tangent here:
http://www.interfaith.org/community/threads/18116/

 

[seattlegal]

Although a fun question for the Buddha might be "who sees there is no self?"

Which the Advaitin would suggest is the true Self...

Debates are fun.

I addressed this in the new tangent thread, as well.