Have you ever wondered how different Buddhism might have been if Siddhartha Gautama had been 65 rather than 29 when he began his spiritual quest ? What if he had decided to wait until he was retired before wandering off into the forest ? And what if he decided to seek the truth not because of any particular encounter with old age, sickness and death - but simply because he was pissed off with his life and was looking for a new challenge ?
Any thoughts ?
Dennis
Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996)
Craving Certainty
Richard Dawkins
We are the lucky ones
About Me
- Dennis Sibley
- I am a former hospice nurse who now cares for people with advanced dementia. I have been involved with Buddhism for almost 40 years and in 1986 co-founded "The Buddhist Hospice Trust" with my friend, the late Ray Wills. For me, humour is essential in our lives and invaluable in the face of old age, illness and death.
Useful Stuff
- Zimmer Zen
- Unfettered Mind
- Counterknowledge
- Richard Dawkins
- Support for people with long term illnesses and their carers in France
- The Buddhist Society
- Phiroz Mehta Trust
- Buddhist books
- Allen Klein
- Meditation & Buddhist resources for those with chronic illness
- Humour and Health
- Hospice Information
- Alan Watts
- Network of Buddhist Organisations (UK)
- Golden Buddha Centre
- The Buddhist Hospice Trust
Oscar Wilde
On Being Older
Doris Lessing
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The Great Secret
Folded Palms
The Senility Prayer
Ken Jones
Celebrating old age
Alan Watts
Laughter
2 comments:
It's an interesting thought, a pension-age Siddhsrtha, but what intrigues me is that these realised types hit the transcendental jackpot so early in life. This suggests that it's not just accumulated wisdom that counts, so those of us silver sangha types might just as well stop digging - no matter how far down we mine we ain't going to find that seam of spiritual gold. Might as well lean on our spades, chew straw, and dream up dirty jokes.
An interesting comment Peter, although perhaps a little ageist maybe.
After all, who's to say there ain't spiritual gold to be found in the ordinary experiences of leaning on a spade, chewing straw or dreaming up dirty jokes ? Are you totally sure the next Buddha-to-be is not the person behind you in the Post Office queue ?
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