A question for Buddhists?

Question

Buddhists and Atheists get along pretty well here so understand this is a sincere though perhaps pointed question.

"Nietzsche criticized Buddhism for many of the same faults he attributed to Christianity, though he showed more respect for the former as being more realistic and opposed to revenge (he believed Christianity was a manifestation of latent resentment). He praised Buddhism for setting out to treat 'suffering'as opposed to 'sin', but believed the treatment itself represented a surrender of life, and ultimately a weaker response to the human condition than his own. "

Do you think that Buddhism is too focused on suffering and detachment rather than struggle and overcoming?

Answer 1

Buddhism is about an answer to suffering which we believe is the CORE issue in humanity. Every living, sentient being's most basic needs are about happiness are they not? (Reference: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) "Struggle" is not happiness, it is an action that is born of aversion to anything that challenges your sense of happiness and therefore it's suffering itself DUE to the FACT that there's no such thing as absolute happiness... something will always come along to bring you down off of your "happiness" throne, so why struggle against the inevitable?

All paint jobs get scratched and fall off eventually, all engines will die, all parts will rust, all skin and body parts will sag and or fail at some point... impermanence. To struggle against such a thing is futile, thereby causes suffering.

Buddhism goes to the CORE of the issue. Buddha gives the cure, Nietzsche slaps a band-aid on the problem... which, is impermanent and WILL fall off... or get yanked by that really nasty nurse... or the doc in the ED...

_()_

Answer 2

I struggle because I desire something which the Buddha will tell me yields ultimately to suffering. I believe that, but I'm perfectly willing to struggle, still, to satisfy the desire and take the suffering with equanimity when it comes (and not spend too much time just now pondering what form it might take).

Edit: nah, that's not it at all. I don't focus on suffering or struggle. Possibly I'm not a "good" Buddhist. I do get off on death, though. Well, not get off on it but, you know, just occassionally think "will this moment even be mentioned in my eulogy?" - it's quite liberating.

Answer 3

I think he meant that when one surrenders one's attachments ego (i.e., giving up suffering), he views them as weaker. It makes sense - one living a Buddhist life is considered weak by many. But ironically, Buddhists don't care! As to your question, I think Buddhists focus on detachment because it's often the most difficult challenge. Focusing on struggle and overcoming is taking your eye off the prize. It's not a "we shall overcome" mindset at all....but rather a "we will detach".

Answer 4

Detaching yourself is a struggle. Buddhism is a very ruthless religion, in the end we cut all ties to the material, love and hate dissolve and make way for inner peace. Our ego clings to anything it can, because it realizes that once we separate ourself from worldly things it will no longer be needed. The battle for dominance over our ego, the fight for control, is not an easy one...

Answer 5

One cannot overcome that which he does not acknowledge and understand.

Before you can get to the struggle and overcoming, you must lay the foundation of what the struggle is even about.

Answer 6

People have been "struggling" for a long time & and are still struggling. The truth can not be gotten from outside, "drop" everything and here it is.

Answer 7

Focused, not "too" focused. If you get away from losing attachment and favor action to overcome, you no longer have buudhism. It's limited by its nature.

Answer 8

I even have been a practising Buddhist for some years and that i ought to declare that i know the quantity of attempt which you place into this, as nicely using fact the smart solutions you have placed right here. generally whilst my faith is criticized, it fairly is by employing uneducated people who only opt to attack for the objective of attacking so I delight on your techniques-set. as nicely to that, i'm able to declare that I trust a number of of your factors - whether, this would not rattle my faith in any respect. i ought to write for hours on how I trust your factors and upload my own faith into that yet i will attempt to maintain it common for the objective of this posting. whether, i would not in any respect disagree to a destiny communique approximately this in case you have an activity. Buddha stated: "have self assurance no longer something, no count number in case you pay attention it from Me or absolutely everyone else till you know it to be real." My concept of this assertion is what keeps my faith inspite of each and all the problems and human blunders that have encircled the religion. i comprehend that a number of of issues contradict one yet another and the reason being obtrusive - in case you're taking a faith and unfold it around to distinctive cultures that's going to grow to be some thing that heavily resembles the form of life that has taken it. Even i'm accountable of this yet i think that it fairly is critical for my user-friendly know-how. you won't be able to alter what we are and what we are is human. Human's look to have an innate choose for a "god" determine and whether it fairly is against the Buddha's ideals, he has grow to be a "god" in a feeling. nevertheless, I refute this theory as an knowledgeable guy or woman does the only right they are able to to do what's right and that's the user-friendly critical of religion frequently. If we chop up straws on what human beings have performed, the stable in Buddha's words would on no account motivate human beings. concept is the biggest yet nevertheless human blunders has warped a number of of issues. it is real in each and every faith, Judaism, Taoism, Hindu, Christianity and Islam. i think of the super Messiah's, income, and "gods" are extra drawn to creating our hearts organic and being stable yet I comprehend the problems of blind faith and methods of Nihilism. So, i will end my debate with a quote from the Dali Lama, he stated that the religion is powerful whether that's not for each guy or woman. you need to be real to you and if which skill being different than Buddhism, please do this using fact the factor is to stumble on your happiness.

Answer 9

No. Look how the Japanese rebuilt Hiroshima and Nagasaki and their whole economic systems after they were destroyed in WWII.