..so basically, you don't
care how or why we are here?
How we came to be here is
very relevant, as far as I'm concerned.
If we are conscious of being here in this universe right now,
what's to say that we won't be conscious of something
again, after our death?
Is there a cosmic force / consciousness that is responsible for everything?
I personally think that the answer is yes.
I also observe people behaving in an evil way as well as good.
Our perspectives differ, depending on our lives and what we follow/ believe..
Who is being duped, and who is not? I believe in universal / cosmic truth.
As our opinions all differ, then we can't all be right .. not that anybody can be right about everything
I am obliged to admit that for the very first time in my short time on this forum that I experienced a sense of frustration, even, alas, anger, when reading your post above. I assume you have indeed read the entire Sutta I posted, and with
interest.
Leaving your own questions and perspectives behind for now, I will seek to expound on my own perspective on the Sutta
The key is in asking if we wish to live the "holy life", and elsewhere we have (In the Simile of the Heartwood):-
"So this holy life, bhikkhus, does not have gain, honour, and renown for its benefit, or the attainment of virtue for its benefit, or the attainment of concentration for its benefit, or knowledge and vision for its benefit. But it is this unshakeable deliverance of mind that is the goal of this holy life, its heartwood, and its end.”
And so "gain" etc is not excluded as such, "renown" is not excluded, "virtue" is not excluded, nor "concentration", "knowledge" or "vision"
but, as the zens say, Buddhism enriches
no-one. The goal is "unshakeable deliverance of mind."
Myself, I might well
believe that a giant mind is a reasonable description of our Cosmos, that such mind can also be deemed
radical freedom, that in reaching the goal of the "Holy Life" I shall share such radical freedom. But such is speculation and from a Buddhist perspective, counter-productive. I might well believe that "I" will continue on in some capacity beyond this current life. Again, from the Buddhist perspective, counter-productive.
The Sutta speaks of that which
is "productive" and it is not to believe a particular text has been definitively revealed by a "wholly other" who nevertheless - and He doesn't have to for He has no actual need of us - seeks our welfare and does not want us to remain in darkness which we would be if He never actually spoke in such a way. If such is your way, so be it. Walk it. I shall "walk" mine.
But please, do not suggest or ask again whether or not I
care.