I don't think many Western atheists think that one can become a Bodhisatva, though, which is why I think that the description of Buddhists as atheists is fraught. If atheism is not believing in a god, perhaps. But can one achieve nirvana without some sort of science-unexplainable power thing happening? What is enlightenment? Also, can you hear my one hand clapping?

Aaand more pearls and ruby crystals: [link]

If atheism is not believing in a god, perhaps.

Yeah, I think that was the specific definition of atheism we were talking about in that class. But Buddhism can be a very rational religion in which enlightenment is just knowing the truth, nothing supernatural about it, you can get there with deductive reasoning. And the non-existence of the soul is an important doctrine, very rationally presented, that I think is common to all the major branches though I am not sure about that. There are ways of being Buddhist that are more faith-based and mystical and may involve magical thinking, definitely.

and that masturbation causes arthritis in the hands

carpal tunnel, maybe, but not arthritis.

This is why you need to change things up a bit. To avoid repetitive motion injuries. And boredom.

I'm not sure if all branches of Buddhism disbelieve in the soul, but there are certainly ones that also believe in gods. It's just nothing Buddha brought up. If you thought the trinity was a big diversion...

And then there's reincarnation. I'm not sure about the mechanism of that without a soul, but although Zen and Tantra might not, other branches do think you persist through death.

Ack, Pix, i had the perfect ruby pendant that i sold a few years ago. Oh well, it had been a gift from an ex which might have brough bad juju. Best to start a new life together with out baggage in the jewelry.

Ha! You guys are awesome. I posted, thought, "I should do this in LJ," deleted, and wandered over there. Then I came back, and linky goodness had ensued!

And I kind of accidentally bought this on esty while I was browsing around because it is SO COOL. Damn you, esty!

I'm not sure if all branches of Buddhism disbelieve in the soul, but there are certainly ones that also believe in gods.

Oh, absolutely. Lots of hells, lots of heavens, lots of gods, and sometimes those gods can help or hinder you in achieving nirvana, as can bodhisattvas and saints. There is certainly room for not being an atheist in Buddhism.

I probably overstate the importance of the doctrine of the non-existence of the soul - it was taught to me as important to early Buddhism but as something that modern Buddhists believe, I don't know if it is important at all. It comes out of thinking about the mechanics of reincarnation and transmigration, what is it that persists through death, and what is it that makes me me in this life. It's a specific definition of soul - that which persists and does not change - that doesn't necessarily apply to how people think about souls in general.

It ties in to modern theories about how the brain works and where consciousness as an emergent phenomenon in my head. That may be me mixing things up in ways that are not entirely appropriate.

Jilli, I love the dragonfly, but I think it would be too big for me. I have a tiny face. Alas! I'm not as interested in pearls. Meara, I looked at that circular one, but I think it's too delicate. I'm so difficult to please!