buddha did not want his followers making images of him, he refused offers of statues and icons, he said that he is just a man and there are no gods. yet buddhists create many such idols. they follow buddha but not his instruction. i like buddha, i like the way he rejected everything he knew, his wealth, his status, his privilege. he was a man who had it all. a prince. he lived within the walls of his family palace. then he journeyed out from that which he knew and saw, suffering, dedicating his life to meditation and understanding why such suffering was the human condition. he came to see that it was all attachment and the only way to escape is to understand non attachment. and compassion for others.
thats pretty impressive to sit under a tree and come ip with a simple idea that could change the world.
yeah its a meme, but its a fucking great one.
another great meme is 'love thy enemy'
what an amazing principle. i have a theory about jesus. he was a man who hung out with great thinkers, the philosophers and mystics, so his mind was shaped by curiosity and question. he comes up with this idea and wanders around turning people on. he generates a following. the authorities need to keep control so they crucify him. up on that cross he knows he will return to the great spirit, he works through his fear, he works through it hard because fear of death is the ultimate fear and up there he feels on;y love, a consuming love that radiates outwards. and he knows that he will live forever.
these were good memes.
non attachment, love thy enemy, compassion anyone can achieve this. anyone.