I Am The Most Selfish Person In The World.

I just realized that I am the most selfish person in the world. I think Buddhism can help me.

"By obtaining knowledge, a person will gain the wisdom to see that their own desires are not the most primary important thing in the world. A person then must gain the right mindset by realizing that being compassionate to other human beings is more important than fulfilling one's own desires."

This are two sentences out of a book I'm writing from the chapter on Buddhism.

I even go to the extent of starting a non-profit organization, but in all honestly, my intent is to pay myself as an executive.

Technically, I am helping people. But I am also helping myself.

That being said, I live a humble life. I do not buy anything extravagant. The only reason I want money in the first place is because I need it.

 

Careful not to troll this section.

 

Every person I've ever met is selfish. If they weren't, I don't think anyone would need Buddhist philosophy.

 

So how do I become less selfish? Do I just follow the Noble Eightfold path? I truthfully do not believe in reincarnation, though.

 

Well, as a previous poster mentioned, you aren't Buddhist. So why try and become less selfish? What is wrong with being selfish? It's a pretty basic instinct, I think.

 

True that a person needs to survive. Maybe I would consider becoming Buddhist, though.

Being OVERLY selfish is bad. And I guess I am not OVERLY selfish.

Do you believe in reincarnation?

 

I don't know. I would like to believe in reincarnation, because it's interesting and makes some sense to me. Then again, I don't think that liking a religious philosophy makes it any more true than any other idea. I don't think liking the idea of something is a good reason to believe it.

 

But I thought Buddhists aspired NOT be reincarnated in this world that they consider to be so miserable.

And another question, why do Buddhists think the world is so miserable? Why is that the basic assumption of their thought?

 

How are you writing a book with a chapter on Buddhism if you don't know the answer to those questions?

Buddhist thought is vast and complex and the literature exploring the minutiae of every single Buddhist doctrine is gigantic. Unless you have done substantial reading in this canon (one of the great philosophical products of humankind), don't be writing on Buddhism.

 

So why do they think that all existence is misery? Where did that come from?

 

You my have a negative worth, to be sure, but the most selfish person ever? You're giving yourself way too much credit.

 

And if I defend myself, I get kicked off the forum? What are YOU worth?

Why do Buddhists think that all existence is misery? Where did that come from?

 

The fact is.... all existence isn't misery. I know that without having to get into his reasonings.

When a baby is born, is that misery?

Am I miserable right now? I don't think so.

 

As sideshow bob explained it to me, the first two noble truths of the Buddha are that existence is suffering, and that the cause of suffering is desire.

Desire is inextricably linked to our existence - Buddhism turns that around, and says that when you stop desiring you stop existing. I would doubt that many Buddhists take that very literally.

Buddhism won't save you from desire, the whole point is to abandon desire - you have to do it on your own, Buddhist or otherwise. If you know what is wrong, you can move on from there (though as far as religions go, Buddhism is generally rather benign).


It may be too subtle for you to understand.

 

Existence is not misery. What makes existence a misery is desires and cravings.

What could have been a great joy turns into a misery thus.

 

Buddhists aren't allowed to think?

 

Illusion of self is a misnomer, as such, a conception of self. This suggestion of a dichotomy between what is real and what is not is maddening. What is not real does not exist.

 

What sponsors desires and cravings?

 

No, I understand it perfectly. I just don't know why they assume that all existence is misery. I don't desire anything more than what I need to survive. If someone have me $1,000,000, I would definitely take it, but I don't think I could buy happiness with it.

Maybe I could buy a trip to some exotic travel destination, would could "buy happiness" to some extent.

I think Buddha's emphasis on desiring little is a reaction to his luxurious upbringing.

I just don't agree that "all existence is misery."