Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
The four solaces in buddhism .. sounds like Pascal's Wager. What do you think?
The Four Solaces:
"'Suppose there is a hereafter and there is a fruit, result, of deeds done well or ill. Then it is possible that at the dissolution of the body after death, I shall arise in the heavenly world, which is possessed of the state of bliss.' This is the first solace found by him.
"'Suppose there is no hereafter and there is no fruit, no result, of deeds done well or ill. Yet in this world, here and now, free from hatred, free from malice, safe and sound, and happy, I keep myself.' This is the second solace found by him.
"'Suppose evil (results) befall an evil-doer. I, however, think of doing evil to no one. Then, how can ill (results) affect me who do no evil deed?' This is the third solace found by him.
"'Suppose evil (results) do not befall an evil-doer. Then I see myself purified in any case.' This is the fourth solace found by him.
Is it just me, or does this sound like Pascal's Wager????
It just seems like a buddhist pascal's wager.. saying that no matter which way you look at it, acting, behaving, or feeling a certain specific way is a win/win situation. Whether it exists or not. By believing you win, even if you don't believe, what do you have to lose? That is my impression of these Four Solaces...
4 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Yep. I hate Pascal's wager, BTW. I hated it even when I was a newly-converted jesus freak. It is so friggin mamby-pamby it makes me want to puuuke!
This four solaces thing sounds like someone trying to reason you into believing in Karma, when all that is necessary to believe that Karma operates is to be honest with yourself. If you are dishonest with yourself, no number of solaces will get you to be a good person.
S
- 1 decade ago
Not really, it is about taking solace in all possibilities. It seems like they are talking about karma. That whether or not karma exists one's purpose/path in life remains the same.
- halloweenieLv 61 decade ago
i guess so. the thing that always gets me with buddhism is the whole desire is bad thing. yes, greed is bad, but i like having a range of feelings, and wouldn't want to actively try to stop. i read a story about a guy who kept beating a drum the same way without change, even though his wife just died. (i don't know if that's exactly the story, but it's the gist). i think it's human to grieve and to be happy and to strive for things we like, and as long as we don't let emotion or greed rule us, we're fine.