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!

Coffee:

YAY! Sean, that's excellent news.

That hand of time pendant is gorgeous, Pix.

And it was totally inexpensive, too! I couldn't resist.

I may not have tried too hard.

You people talk too much. I had to skip twice. Here's what I remember from the time I thought I can catch up with the thread:

Nora, I don't know how the story with your boss ended, but I hope it involved something painful for him. I'd leave the rest for your imagination.

As far as "Christmas is an American thing and that's why all TRUE and REAL Americans should celebrate it": sure. That's why it's not being celebrated anywhere else on this world. Nope. Not at all. Europe never heard of Christmas.

And that's about it. I've been meaning to re enter the conversation when I noticed you're in the middle of something and didn't want just to post and run away.

Sean, once again, I reclaiming my right to hug in good news as well as bad: {{Sean}} I'm so happy for you, sweetheart.

In 30 minutes I'll go to a demonstration that I know wouldn't change a thing, but I hope that at least it would change some minds. With some luck, these mind will understand that human rights are for all, not for a selected oligarchy. [link] I'll be there with my dad and at least one friend.