The claim that Buddhists believe "nothing exists" is a misunderstanding of Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism does not hold that nothing exists; rather, it suggests a more nuanced view. Buddhists argue that everything is interdependent and that things do not exist independently or absolutely. In this framework, both the self and the world depend on a cognizing principle for their existence. Thus, while things do exist from a relative perspective, they neither exist nor don't exist from an absolute perspective. Absolute reality transcends logical and conceptual definitions. Buddhist philosophy teaches us that we create our world through our perceptions and actions and that we are responsible for our own suffering. At our core, we are pure and limitless. By realizing our true nature, we can free ourselves and our world. Prayers to Buddha are ultimately prayers to our own enlightened nature, as Buddha (meaning "awake") represents our own potential for awakening. It seems this biographer, while possibly a good writer, may miss some philosophical elements to support his claim! ---
Buddhism doesn’t posit that the external world is an illusion. What is this guy talking about? We cling to the external world world with an ignorant heart that sees things as permanent. We know intellectually things are impermanent but we crave things with a heart that denies this truth. The world as illusion is a complete misunderstanding of the teaching
If you are a Christian, then of course Buddhism seems wrong to you. As a Buddhist, all I can say is that nothing has ever made more sense to me than the teachings of Lord Buddha. It changed my life. To say that Buddhism is "wrong" is very ignorant.
I don't think he said it was totally wrong. I think his main argument was that pure monism doesn't make sense, that there is a self and a world, and that isn't an illusion. He thinks on that count, Buddhism is deeply mistaken. But he had a lot of respectful things to say about the Dalai Lama and clearly he isn't ignorant about the tradition.
Not to disparage your tradition. Buddhism has a ton of wisdom and it has helped me at times, too. But Christ is completely irresistible to me at the end of the day.
Buddhists is a philosophy of life, taught by a human prince after attaining enlightenment. His advice works to this day about law of impermanence and living right, solve matters as it comes... It's not a mystical dogma of believing in power of God creating our livelihood and style, and assuming he has mighty power. Look at nature, and warring nations, God seems to lose his power, good is God, bad is devil... Christianity & Islam worship the one same God... They never stopped the hating syndrome
Can tell he received his philosophical training from the Dominicans.. the basic misunderstanding of Buddhism that he makes in his initial premise is also the typical caricature presented by those who teach Catholic philosophy/theology
This guy says he's followed Buddhism for many years but still has not fully grasped the teachings. Of course we live in a world but the world that is presented to us is not how the true world operates. We have been taken over by a non benevolent force (which it clearly states in the Bible) ... this is the illusion. This non benevolent force has shaped our world in a negative way through manipulating us to the point that the human race has forgotten who we really are. Letting go of things that no longer serve us is one of the most natural things on the planet ... trees do it every year when they let go of their leaves. Humans have a very bad habit of clinging onto negativity which warps the sense of self. What Buddhism is trying to teach is us is to let go of the burdens that have shaped our reality and formed our personality and character. It is then that we discover who we really are.For this guy to have this attitude only tells me that he has not immersed himself into the teachings deep enough otherwise he would get it!!!! Experience is the key to learning Buddhism
This guy completely misunderstood everything. In Buddhism everything is an illusion for the mind, because the mind is dependent on thoughts, it cuts reality into little pieces, therefore distorting it. Of course there is a body, and a reality and a self, but your perception of it is tainted by how you look at it. That is the whole point. Thought is the ultimate abstraction. Of course the Dalai Lama is going to say this to you because you are bound to be attached to your own thoughts, this is why he says it like this. He can't say it like "Just imagine!", you can't ! The whole of the imagination is thought based. Of course there are problems with Buddhism and the main one is that they didn't understood Buddha, that's why they follow him. There is no system nor method to anything. Even this post will be confusing for most people, these things must be felt and lived... concepts A SIDE !!!
As I know about Buddhism... There is no idea something as task of every single being. There just saying life is suffering... Continuously we all experience unsatisfaction in our lives. So Buddhist are taking the path of Buddha to understand the reality of world to face to the world as well as stop the unsatisfaction through understand Shunyata ( Emptiness) .
Alexander Norman attempts to argue that Buddhists are mistaken (Wrong) by comparing a few select Buddhist concepts to Christian ones. However, throughout his conversation with the interviewer, it becomes evident that he lacks a deeper understanding of Buddhism. Therefore, I conclude that he is not competent to make a fair judgment from the perspective of Christian philosophy.
Experience is the only true guide. If one has not experienced Buddhism through practice one is in no position to say anything about it. If one has experienced Buddhism through practice one will probably say very little about it.
Experience is best, but not in every case, it has lots of limits too. Here is an abstract one: There is also the shooter paradox: if you live on a small piece of paper with targets printed on it, and you explore it and determine that there is hole in the fabric of the universe every 10 cm and declare that the rule of the universe... While there's a much bigger being just doing target practice for unrelated and random reasons. Experience means nothing in this case; it does not have big enough resolution to ever be of true guidance. It's more about how you command your energy and time; through passion or detachment, what rules do you live by, how much freedom you give yourself and how much do you work with or against other people.
@@zit1999 Interesting analogy, but I sit and take the slugs day in day out. I'm not examining anything, I'm experiencing it. Nothing to do with rules, all to do with practice. There is no being doing target practice for its own reasons but me.
@@sugarfree1894 For me, often music is good for decorating the passage of time. For you it is staying with practice... How does that change you ? Is being lighter and easier than before? more comfortable, numb? Or More sensitive and joyful? Most of all... did it change how you feel about experiencing the future? Thanks in advance if you reply. I did a couple of years of shadow work but meditating has a cleaner quality to it, I'm curious about it but it is challanging to even build a habit of focusing on breath.
Buddhism is much better faith than christianism, it teaches compassion for all living creatures, does not instill toxic irrational guilt and encourages people to self-improve rather that leaving it to a supposed savior who could also put you into boiling pot for eternity if you don't blindly follow him.
Fire the host. As she interrupts the guest a bit too abruptly. Not that I am that much interested in what he had to say as he completely missunderstood in what sense the "world" is an illusion. The illusion is related to our mind. The debate is not whether the world exists or is concrete but it is about whether what we perceive is real /imagined or it is a delusion. The guest will never understand these things as he does not practice meditation contemplation and reflection as it is taught in the tradition. Some of these things need to be investigated and analysed for a very long time and have a direct personal meditative experience of what it means to say that everything is illusory.
It's interesting how the author retained his traditional Catholic worldview, but possibly at the expense of misunderstanding Buddhism. For example, the author's presentation of dualism and monism is not coherent. It makes no sense to say that there is only one substance, and that that substance is an illusion. (As compared to what?) And in fact Buddhism, much less the Dalai Lama, does not hold that view. The world is said to be _like_ an illusion, it has qualities that are reminiscent of one, but it is not an illusion. Nor is it _real_ in the way we think. This is the point, to discern the truth beyond our leaden concepts. One thing that exists in Buddhism that does not exist in Christianity is the doctrine that the author rejects, which is no self. But this is an experiential truth that so many have experienced, that I don't think one can ascribe it to being a mere dogma. And philosophically, the metaphysics of interdependence is essentially irrefutable. So it's not that Buddhism is "wrong" about anything, it's just about how to live with these facts. And to my mind, Christianity presents a stunningly beautiful way of living with these facts. But the integration between the two religions is at a very deep level, not at surface dogmas. On the surface, they are very different, and perhaps should ever remain so. I think there can be an integration between these two paths, but it operates at a very deep level beyond logic.
One would not recommend anyone to read what he has written on the Dalai Lama as he would surely be superimposing his self-centred views and Christian ideals which is alien to the dharma of noble beings. God Only dogma is attachment and devotion to a being that does not exist which has been imputed with the highest of human qualities, whereas Mind Only dharma of noble beings is the free enquiry and right understanding of the nature of reality of non-true existence of dependent origination. One is dogmatic sense, the other is common sense to find out what is the true reality of what has been labelled as existence, taking awareness, the mind and consciousness beyond the boundaries of space and time.
Confusing the Absolute with the relative is a common mistake fir the non-practitioner or those without an in-depth knowledge of Buddhism and other eastern tradition. I would also say that nany, including Christian pastors, leave Christianity because the don't have a depth of understanding. This is where all religions fail: those teaching have not experienced what the Master was teaching so it runs off the rails.
There is aZen koan. If a large tree falls in a forest and there is no human to hear it, does it make a sound when it falls? The answer is no. Sound is a sense perception. The world in Hindu/Buddhist tradition is the samsara and the external self is the ego which is again false.
This guy named Alexendar Norman turned out to be a big Parasite. This guy made a name and money through Dalia Lama and now he is saying that Dalia Lama's concept of self is incorrect. Hahaa.
Great subject, looked forward to hearing the Dalai Lama's biographer explaining why Buddism is wrong....and the interviewer spoiled it by insisting on talking all the way through. Gave up at 10 mins.
Sad ! Norman still has a gross misunderstanding of the basics of Buddhism that contradicts and undermines his important, extensively researched book despite the number of inaccuracies in it
A really interesting talk but I am non the wiser. I am at an age where after exploring budhism I find I am drawn back to aspects of christianity which are very similar, though when I hear talk of spreading the 'good news' hackles are immediately raised. A pivotal part of the conversation was the point when the colonizing nature of christianity was raised but then gently put to one side. Talk of spreading 'the good news' just as easily translates as spreading 'the bad news' for all those who dont accept or dont get the chance to recieve it and are then perhaps damned for eternity. Christianity often seems more like spiritual blackmail by keeping subjects like being saved and or eternal damnation deliberately vague .🙉
We all have hearts and minds and we all experience the same things as you do. Don't chase another spiritual high if it makes you fight with your neighbor's religion. That's abuse, not enlightenment.
not only buddhism also some new scientific researches tells us that we possibly live in some kind of matrix (or Maya illusion) ..what about researches of multidimensional universe ?Never heard about or what? Nikola Tesla' ? I think buddhism is much deeper then it is understand here because it was approached with close "mind" (spirit , heart whatever)
"The Kingdom of God is within you." These are the words of Christ and are not dualistic. Eastern Christianity, in the writings of the hesychast fathers speaks of descending from the head to the heart, for there we find God.
The external world as illusion is incorrect. We perceive the world with ignorance of its innately impermanent nature. Buddhism doesn’t say the world is illusion
This guy doesn't understand the idea of the unity of the two truths according the madhyamaka philosophy. Buddhism is not negating existence as that would be a nihilist position which is fully rejected by Buddhism. The relative truth is to be recognized otherwise cause any effect is also void and Dalai Lama would not be advocating for us to be ethical and compassionate. Just because someone wears a suit doesn't mean he has actually taken the time to develop the correct view as presented by the tradition.
I think this man has no idea about what the four noble truths. Buddhist approach and Christian approaches are completely different..if he is a biographer of Dalai Lama is also a big question! But definately he has no profound idea of Buddhism..
lol. very interesting. There is a difference between That or this does not "exist", and that or this does not exist the way we perceived. it is very "common sense". Buddhist did not says things doesn't exist.
I think its sad to name your spot what is wrong with Buddhism. This is prejudiced and very arrogant. Unless you are a practicing Buddhist you will not know what is right or wrong with it. When you make titles like that you risk turning peoples mind s away from something which may suit them well. People need all the help they can get. I can tell from this mans words that he does not understand Buddhist practice and philosophy at all.
Again, I am sure you are good man of god. but your narrative on how the monks encounter communist Chinese is so tainted. any way good luck with your thing.
The claim that Buddhists believe "nothing exists" is a misunderstanding of Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism does not hold that nothing exists; rather, it suggests a more nuanced view. Buddhists argue that everything is interdependent and that things do not exist independently or absolutely. In this framework, both the self and the world depend on a cognizing principle for their existence. Thus, while things do exist from a relative perspective, they neither exist nor don't exist from an absolute perspective. Absolute reality transcends logical and conceptual definitions.
Buddhist philosophy teaches us that we create our world through our perceptions and actions and that we are responsible for our own suffering. At our core, we are pure and limitless. By realizing our true nature, we can free ourselves and our world. Prayers to Buddha are ultimately prayers to our own enlightened nature, as Buddha (meaning "awake") represents our own potential for awakening.
It seems this biographer, while possibly a good writer, may miss some philosophical elements to support his claim!
---
Buddhism doesn’t posit that the external world is an illusion. What is this guy talking about? We cling to the external world world with an ignorant heart that sees things as permanent. We know intellectually things are impermanent but we crave things with a heart that denies this truth. The world as illusion is a complete misunderstanding of the teaching
If you are a Christian, then of course Buddhism seems wrong to you. As a Buddhist, all I can say is that nothing has ever made more sense to me than the teachings of Lord Buddha. It changed my life. To say that Buddhism is "wrong" is very ignorant.
I don't think he said it was totally wrong. I think his main argument was that pure monism doesn't make sense, that there is a self and a world, and that isn't an illusion. He thinks on that count, Buddhism is deeply mistaken. But he had a lot of respectful things to say about the Dalai Lama and clearly he isn't ignorant about the tradition.
Not to disparage your tradition. Buddhism has a ton of wisdom and it has helped me at times, too. But Christ is completely irresistible to me at the end of the day.
Buddhists is a philosophy of life, taught by a human prince after attaining enlightenment. His advice works to this day about law of impermanence and living right, solve matters as it comes...
It's not a mystical dogma of believing in power of God creating our livelihood and style, and assuming he has mighty power.
Look at nature, and warring nations, God seems to lose his power, good is God, bad is devil...
Christianity & Islam worship the one same God... They never stopped the hating syndrome
Can tell he received his philosophical training from the Dominicans.. the basic misunderstanding of Buddhism that he makes in his initial premise is also the typical caricature presented by those who teach Catholic philosophy/theology
The great Albert Eienstein once said, "If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.”
This guy says he's followed Buddhism for many years but still has not fully grasped the teachings. Of course we live in a world but the world that is presented to us is not how the true world operates. We have been taken over by a non benevolent force (which it clearly states in the Bible) ... this is the illusion. This non benevolent force has shaped our world in a negative way through manipulating us to the point that the human race has forgotten who we really are. Letting go of things that no longer serve us is one of the most natural things on the planet ... trees do it every year when they let go of their leaves. Humans have a very bad habit of clinging onto negativity which warps the sense of self. What Buddhism is trying to teach is us is to let go of the burdens that have shaped our reality and formed our personality and character. It is then that we discover who we really are.For this guy to have this attitude only tells me that he has not immersed himself into the teachings deep enough otherwise he would get it!!!! Experience is the key to learning Buddhism
This guy completely misunderstood everything. In Buddhism everything is an illusion for the mind, because the mind is dependent on thoughts, it cuts reality into little pieces, therefore distorting it.
Of course there is a body, and a reality and a self, but your perception of it is tainted by how you look at it. That is the whole point. Thought is the ultimate abstraction.
Of course the Dalai Lama is going to say this to you because you are bound to be attached to your own thoughts, this is why he says it like this. He can't say it like "Just imagine!", you can't ! The whole of the imagination is thought based.
Of course there are problems with Buddhism and the main one is that they didn't understood Buddha, that's why they follow him. There is no system nor method to anything.
Even this post will be confusing for most people, these things must be felt and lived... concepts A SIDE !!!
As I know about Buddhism... There is no idea something as task of every single being. There just saying life is suffering... Continuously we all experience unsatisfaction in our lives. So Buddhist are taking the path of Buddha to understand the reality of world to face to the world as well as stop the unsatisfaction through understand Shunyata ( Emptiness) .
Alexander Norman attempts to argue that Buddhists are mistaken (Wrong) by comparing a few select Buddhist concepts to Christian ones. However, throughout his conversation with the interviewer, it becomes evident that he lacks a deeper understanding of Buddhism. Therefore, I conclude that he is not competent to make a fair judgment from the perspective of Christian philosophy.
Experience is the only true guide. If one has not experienced Buddhism through practice one is in no position to say anything about it. If one has experienced Buddhism through practice one will probably say very little about it.
Experience is best, but not in every case, it has lots of limits too. Here is an abstract one:
There is also the shooter paradox: if you live on a small piece of paper with targets printed on it, and you explore it and determine that there is hole in the fabric of the universe every 10 cm and declare that the rule of the universe... While there's a much bigger being just doing target practice for unrelated and random reasons.
Experience means nothing in this case; it does not have big enough resolution to ever be of true guidance. It's more about how you command your energy and time; through passion or detachment, what rules do you live by, how much freedom you give yourself and how much do you work with or against other people.
@@zit1999 Interesting analogy, but I sit and take the slugs day in day out. I'm not examining anything, I'm experiencing it. Nothing to do with rules, all to do with practice. There is no being doing target practice for its own reasons but me.
@@sugarfree1894 For me, often music is good for decorating the passage of time.
For you it is staying with practice...
How does that change you ?
Is being lighter and easier than before? more comfortable, numb?
Or More sensitive and joyful?
Most of all... did it change how you feel about experiencing the future?
Thanks in advance if you reply. I did a couple of years of shadow work but meditating has a cleaner quality to it, I'm curious about it but it is challanging to even build a habit of focusing on breath.
@@zit1999 Hi, yes building a practice habit is challenging. For me it has led to great happiness, which I wish for you too :)
Buddhism is much better faith than christianism, it teaches compassion for all living creatures, does not instill toxic irrational guilt and encourages people to self-improve rather that leaving it to a supposed savior who could also put you into boiling pot for eternity if you don't blindly follow him.
Fire the host. As she interrupts the guest a bit too abruptly. Not that I am that much interested in what he had to say as he completely missunderstood in what sense the "world" is an illusion. The illusion is related to our mind. The debate is not whether the world exists or is concrete but it is about whether what we perceive is real /imagined or it is a delusion. The guest will never understand these things as he does not practice meditation contemplation and reflection as it is taught in the tradition. Some of these things need to be investigated and analysed for a very long time and have a direct personal meditative experience of what it means to say that everything is illusory.
It's interesting how the author retained his traditional Catholic worldview, but possibly at the expense of misunderstanding Buddhism. For example, the author's presentation of dualism and monism is not coherent. It makes no sense to say that there is only one substance, and that that substance is an illusion. (As compared to what?)
And in fact Buddhism, much less the Dalai Lama, does not hold that view. The world is said to be _like_ an illusion, it has qualities that are reminiscent of one, but it is not an illusion. Nor is it _real_ in the way we think. This is the point, to discern the truth beyond our leaden concepts.
One thing that exists in Buddhism that does not exist in Christianity is the doctrine that the author rejects, which is no self. But this is an experiential truth that so many have experienced, that I don't think one can ascribe it to being a mere dogma. And philosophically, the metaphysics of interdependence is essentially irrefutable. So it's not that Buddhism is "wrong" about anything, it's just about how to live with these facts. And to my mind, Christianity presents a stunningly beautiful way of living with these facts. But the integration between the two religions is at a very deep level, not at surface dogmas. On the surface, they are very different, and perhaps should ever remain so.
I think there can be an integration between these two paths, but it operates at a very deep level beyond logic.
One would not recommend anyone to read what he has written on the Dalai Lama as he would surely be superimposing his self-centred views and Christian ideals which is alien to the dharma of noble beings.
God Only dogma is attachment and devotion to a being that does not exist which has been imputed with the highest of human qualities, whereas Mind Only dharma of noble beings is the free enquiry and right understanding of the nature of reality of non-true existence of dependent origination.
One is dogmatic sense, the other is common sense to find out what is the true reality of what has been labelled as existence, taking awareness, the mind and consciousness beyond the boundaries of space and time.
Buddhist perspective
Suffering- embrace it
Causes- let go
Path- cultivate it
Confusing the Absolute with the relative is a common mistake fir the non-practitioner or those without an in-depth knowledge of Buddhism and other eastern tradition. I would also say that nany, including Christian pastors, leave Christianity because the don't have a depth of understanding. This is where all religions fail: those teaching have not experienced what the Master was teaching so it runs off the rails.
There is aZen koan. If a large tree falls in a forest and there is no human to hear it, does it make a sound when it falls?
The answer is no. Sound is a sense perception. The world in Hindu/Buddhist tradition is the samsara and the external self is the ego which is again false.
This guy named Alexendar Norman turned out to be a big Parasite. This guy made a name and money through Dalia Lama and now he is saying that Dalia Lama's concept of self is incorrect. Hahaa.
Great subject, looked forward to hearing the Dalai Lama's biographer explaining why Buddism is wrong....and the interviewer spoiled it by insisting on talking all the way through. Gave up at 10 mins.
Sad ! Norman still has a gross misunderstanding of the basics of Buddhism that contradicts and undermines his important, extensively researched book despite the number of inaccuracies in it
A really interesting talk but I am non the wiser. I am at an age where after exploring budhism I find I am drawn back to aspects of christianity which are very similar, though when I hear talk of spreading the 'good news' hackles are immediately raised.
A pivotal part of the conversation was the point when the colonizing nature of christianity was raised but then gently put to one side. Talk of spreading 'the good news' just as easily translates as spreading 'the bad news' for all those who dont accept or dont get the chance to recieve it and are then perhaps damned for eternity. Christianity often seems more like spiritual blackmail by keeping subjects like being saved and or eternal damnation deliberately vague .🙉
Initial premise is false
We all have hearts and minds and we all experience the same things as you do.
Don't chase another spiritual high if it makes you fight with your neighbor's religion.
That's abuse, not enlightenment.
not only buddhism also some new scientific researches tells us that we possibly live in some kind of matrix (or Maya illusion) ..what about researches of multidimensional universe ?Never heard about or what? Nikola Tesla' ? I think buddhism is much deeper then it is understand here because it was approached with close "mind" (spirit , heart whatever)
That was also the idea of Plato.
"The Kingdom of God is within you." These are the words of Christ and are not dualistic. Eastern Christianity, in the writings of the hesychast fathers speaks of descending from the head to the heart, for there we find God.
there is nothing wrong with buddishm
Apart from the supernatural nonsense
The external world as illusion is incorrect. We perceive the world with ignorance of its innately impermanent nature. Buddhism doesn’t say the world is illusion
This guy doesn't understand the idea of the unity of the two truths according the madhyamaka philosophy. Buddhism is not negating existence as that would be a nihilist position which is fully rejected by Buddhism. The relative truth is to be recognized otherwise cause any effect is also void and Dalai Lama would not be advocating for us to be ethical and compassionate. Just because someone wears a suit doesn't mean he has actually taken the time to develop the correct view as presented by the tradition.
An invisible god is a comforting delusion.
He still don’t know what actually meaning of selflessness in Buddhism 😂😂😂
Interesting interview, thank you.
Well dissing buddhism and praising Christianity? Why dont you start talking from turning water into wine lie?
You’ve got it all wrong Norman!
I think this man has no idea about what the four noble truths. Buddhist approach and Christian approaches are completely different..if he is a biographer of Dalai Lama is also a big question! But definately he has no profound idea of Buddhism..
The world is an illusion....
Consciousness studies and high energy physics are proving the would is an illusion. However people believe what they want.
What is he wearing
lol. very interesting. There is a difference between That or this does not "exist", and that or this does not exist the way we perceived. it is very "common sense". Buddhist did not says things doesn't exist.
Nothing exists has so many meanings. This guy is just a poor writer, how does he know about Buddhism?
I think its sad to name your spot what is wrong with Buddhism. This is prejudiced and very arrogant. Unless you are a practicing Buddhist you will not know what is right or wrong with it. When you make titles like that you risk turning peoples mind s away from something which may suit them well. People need all the help they can get. I can tell from this mans words that he does not understand Buddhist practice and philosophy at all.
Its a pity this wonderful talk does not have a wider audience.. It is really relevant to 2024
Again, I am sure you are good man of god. but your narrative on how the monks encounter communist Chinese is so tainted.
any way good luck with your thing.