Single Idea 21832

[catalogued under 29. Religion / C. Spiritual Disciplines / 3. Buddhism]

Full Idea

Buddhism rejected the idea of a creator God, and the unchanging self [atman]. They accept the appearance-reality distinction, reward for virtue [karma], suffering defining our predicament, and that liberation [nirvana] is possible through wisdom.

Gist of Idea

Buddhists reject God and the self, and accept suffering as key, and liberation through wisdom

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Really Hard Problem [2007], 3 'Buddhism')

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Really Hard Problem' [MIT 2007], p.68


A Reaction

[Compressed] Flanagan is an analytic philosopher and a practising Buddhist. Looking at a happiness map today which shows Europeans largely happy, and Africans largely miserable, I can see why they thought suffering was basic.