I was struggling to formulate a criticism of Buddhism yesterday, and ended up botching it a bit. Now I know:
The fundamental truth of suffering is a core tenet, towards which I'm a bit leery. I'm leery not of the idea itself - I agree that it's sound - but of how it's handled.
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The backdrop for my own practice is so eclectic, it hardly bears scrutiny. I've never practiced anything *properly*, preferring instead to steal.
I use Finno-Ugric myth, Hindu philosophy and Buddhist technique for my own purposes, plus whatever else comes along.
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Resultantly, I'm never quite sure how to interface with people. My personal system is such a messy cobweb of associations, it could only work for me.
I'm not planning to be any sort of guru, so at most I will only pass along technique and individual ideas when I want to.
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Anyway, for Buddhism specifically:
I agree that suffering is a fundamental part of experience. Totally. Unequivocally.
I don't agree that it's always a useful lens through which to *interpret* experience.
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There are a lot of tremendously useful Buddhist techniques. Many parts of Buddhism are essentially improvements on (at the time) antiquated Hindu sutras.
But that doesn't mean the metaphysics are very useful to people.
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If we reference Finno-Ugric myth, we do find suffering as an ever-present concept.
What else would you expect? These peopled lived in extremely harsh environs. Maybe 2% of us today would survive in the North of antiquity. It's a harsh place to live even today.
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Don't worry, despite the technological advances, we Finns still know how to wallow in misery. :)
Difficult to say though how the Finns of old related to these things. A lot of the history is simply lost and a matter of, at best, educated interpretation.
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By the way, what makes you interested in something like Fenno-Ugric mythology? Very uncommon for someone who does not live in the area - appart from an occasional heavy metal fanboy/-girl.
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I'm half Sami. I don't have much contact with the contenmporary culture since my family went full Norwegian, culturally, in the last generation.
Ditto for the language since the schools don't meet their legal obligations.
What I do have, though, is a lot of mythology.
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