MJD’s Comments (group member since Aug 18, 2018)

MJD’s comments from the Secular Sangha: A Secular Buddhist Group group.

Here is a piece put out about Schopenhauer by "The Buddhist Society": https://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/pa...

I think that the approach that this book takes can be helpful in finding meaning in the supernatural claims of Buddhism without literally believing in the supernatural claims.

That is, I think that looking at the non-secular concepts in Buddhism through the lens offered in this book can be helpful in creating secular meaning from them through viewing them as allegories, parables, etc for secular concepts.

Use this thread to discuss The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell.

I found this video"s interpretation of the book interesting:

"EASTERN PHILOSOPHY - Lao Tzu"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFb7H...

I found the following video interesting. It takes a secular view of the concept that the "self" is an illusion. It's title is "Sam Harris: The Self is an Illusion," and it's video description is "Sam Harris describes the properties of consciousness and how mindfulness practices of all stripes can be used to transcend one's ego. Harris is the author of Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fajfk...

Currently reading "The World as Will and Idea" Vol. 1-3 by Arthur Schopenhauer. I am using the kindle book Delphi Collected Works of Arthur Schopenhauer (Illustrated) to read it and I want to credit this kindle version for it's format and features.

I found a funny bit of wit at the beginning of the book about what one can do with a book besides read it (note: advice for what to do with a book if you don't read it is in the second paragraph, and context for the statement is in the first paragraph posted below):

[From "Preface To The First Edition" from [book:The World as Will and Representation, Volume 1|19506] by Arthur Schopenhauer, copy and pasted from the online source https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38427... on page #10.]

____________________________________________________________

"And then, how disagreeably disappointed will many a one be if he finds no mention here of what he believes it is precisely here he ought to look for, because his method of speculation agrees with that of a great living philosopher,1 who has certainly written pathetic books, and who only has the trifling weakness that he takes all he learned and approved before his fifteenth year for inborn ideas of the human mind. Who could stand all this? Therefore my advice is simply to lay down the book.'

"But I fear I shall not escape even thus. The reader who has got
as far as the preface and been stopped by it, has bought the book
for cash, and asks how he is to be indemnified. My last refuge
is now to remind him that he knows how to make use of a book
[xv] in several ways, without exactly reading it. It may fill a gap in
his library as well as many another, where, neatly bound, it will
certainly look well. Or he can lay it on the toilet-table or the
tea-table of some learned lady friend. Or, finally, what certainly
is best of all, and I specially advise it, he can review it."

I found this conversation on Schopenhauer very informative and interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHMD0...

I enjoyed this video on the book and the author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0zmf...

(note: the video closely follows the Schopenhauer content in the group book Great Thinkers: Simple Tools from 60 Great Thinkers to Improve Your Life Today )

Use this thread to discuss Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners: Create Your Own Desired Path With Love and light by Greenleatherr.

While this is technically not a Buddhist book, it arguably was influenced by and influenced Buddhist thought in the West and elsewhere. As such, I think that it can help supplement the study of Buddhist philosophy.

That said, I think that the book stands alone as a good read by itself.

Use this thread to discuss A Short History of Decay by Emil M. Cioran.

Discussion of the Buddha and his teachings begins in chapter 2.

Use this thread to discuss The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson.

While this is technically not a Buddhist book, it arguably was influenced by and influenced Buddhist thought in the West and elsewhere. As such, I think that it can help supplement the study of Buddhist philosophy.

That said, I think that the book stands alone as a good read by itself.

Use this thread to discuss The World as Will and Representation, Volume 1, The World as Will and Representation, Vol 2, and The World as Will and Idea Volume 3 by Arthur Schopenhauer.

Use this thread to discuss Hoist on My Own Petard: Or: How Writing 10% Happier Threw My Own Advice Right Back in My Face by Dan Harris.

While this is technically not a Buddhist book (it is a Hindu book), it arguably influenced Buddhist thought in India and elsewhere. As such, I think that it can help supplement the study of Buddhist philosophy.

That said, I think that the book stands alone as a good read by itself.

Use this thread to discuss THE IMMORTAL UPANISHADS by BHABANI SHANKAR ACHARYA.

While this is technically not a Buddhist book (it is a Taoist book), it arguably influenced Buddhist thought in China and elsewhere (particularly Zen Buddhism). As such, I think that it can help supplement the study of Buddhist philosophy.

That said, I think that the book stands alone as a good read by itself.