The human condition is suffering and this is due to the inherent need to survive, baseline boredom, and contrived goals to escape from the baseline boredom that we must face as humans. All of these categories are negative (bad) and comprise the inherent suffering of the human condition. As a result of our condition, we cannot "just be". We must continually strive for physiological survival and escape from the baseline boredom of existence. This may sound very Buddhist. Buddhism has great insight into the fact of life being suffering . It is only the mystical elements (taken from its predecessor religions Jainism and Hindu philosophy) that I have contention with. Concepts such as reincarnation, karma, and nirvana are unnecessary and do not provide a real solution to the suffering. The only way to truly end the suffering that is inherent in the human condition is to not procreate. Procreation perpetuates the suffering to a future generation. For more information on this subject go to www.anti-procreationmovement.blogspot.com Please leave your thoughts and opinions on this matter.
buddhism doesnt promote no children, doesnt promote the end of the human race through lack of procreation/children, youre just being silly
Yeah, this thread is silly. I personally DO believe that people are having too many children, very often for the wrong reasons or without thinking it through, and most certainly dont consider their impacts on this planet. BUT, by contrast, im not an idiot about it. I realise what a miracle and blessing having a raising children for the RIGHT reasons can be. And im grateful to my mother for bringing me here Adoption of unwated babies SHOULD MOST DEFINITELY be considered but sometimes, like it or not, a woman is here to bring other life into this world among her other missions. I certainly feel like i was meant to be here, and my mum says she only ever wanted to have children
Oh and dont worry about me, i wont be breeding. Even if i could i wouldnt, the thought of having another human being inside my body freaks me out, and also id rather adopt anyway. But im just not Earthy in nature, im even surprised i have a human body sometimes. Many women dont feel like me though, and i respect pregnant women or mothers doing good work
Some of the biggest BS I've ever read as well. Some people have babies and are shitty parents, no doubt. But when I had a baby, it was not even planned. I've taken the oppuritunity to show my son the wonder and magic in life. This has nothing to do with the need to procreate as a human desire of attachment. This is sharing the beauty of life with another human being. And Buddhism does claim that life is suffering. In a way so does Krsna in the Bhagavad Gita, the philosophy that I live by. But it also says that the devotee has no difference to suffering and pleasure, hot or cold, house or no house, life or no life. You take what you get and are thus satisfied eternally. This doesnt mean that you have the right to non-action. I think the OP needs to reevaluate their understanding of Buddhas teaching lol :tongue:
For those who criticized my understanding of Buddhism (such as Allonym and RELAYER): I did not say that Buddhist philosophy states that we should not procreate. I said that the idea of life being suffering is similar to Buddhism. This was only mentioned to point to another existing philosophy that this anti-procreation philosophy might resemble to the casual reader. You are right, Buddhism does not advocate "anti-procreation". but this brand of Philosophical Pessimism DOES advocate not procreating to prevent future suffering. One can even argue that Utilitarian-wise living to spread the word to not procreate is a creating the greatest good. In that way it can be a form of "annihilationist Utlitarianism". But don't get caught up in these labels I am creating for the philosophy, just pay attention to the reasoning behind the idea which is that life is inherently suffering (and I propose this is objectively true whether an individual knows this or not at a particular moment). Also, for people such as verseau_miracle, it is good to know that you are not procreating (although your reasoning is not the same the outcome is the same). However, verseau and hippychickmommy you state one of women's purposes is to bring children into the world. That is not necessarily true. Evolutionarily humans are designed to survive and reproduction is a part of survival, however we have a mind that can make choices. Therefore, we are one of the only species that can choose to do or not to do certain actions. Procreation is an action we can choose not to do. If one sees insights into the suffering of existence, we can choose not to procreate and perpetuate this suffering for another potential individual.
Schopen, we have the mind to choose because of years upon years of evolution, which last time I checked, involves procreation :tongue: Your point is so rediculous, it is nearly mind numbing to even consider this atrocity of a philosophy. Not everyone sees life in the light you do, suffering is what you make of it. Same with pleasure obviously. If you cant handle life, then leave. But dont tell us that we should do the same. There is a difference between preventing suffering from future children by making a change in the world, and cutting that option of giving life out completely.
No, i said i believe it is SOME womens purpose. Like my mother for example, who dreamed of children since the age of about 6, who asked herself, looked into her heart (shes a very spiritual and feeling person) and found that her mission was indeed to bring life here. Which resulted in me. And i feel i have much to contribute, and im meant to be here Im the opposite. Ive rarely had fantasies about having babies (well, only adopted ones) Ive looked into MY heart and asked, and carrying a child just isnt part of what i feel im here for. But that is NOT true of all women As i said, i agree women are having too many now, without thinking, soul searching, or any of that stuff. Theyre beginning very often age 16 and continuing until they have 6-8 kids they cant look after properly let alone teach about Earths positive joy and how to be Earth friendly. This however does NOT mean we should go around slagging off mothers who are raising children well, as this is a positive contribution
