I checked one of the books containing a few of the Dalai Lama's speeches and messages out today while I was incredibly bored at work. I've always been curious about Buddhism, but after reading the introduction to the belief system, I find that I'm only left with more questions about it.

The fleeting pleasures of life (things like sex, food, et cetera) are included in the suffering that is supposed to define life outside of Nirvana. If, then, those are not only temporary pleasures, but pain in disguise, then it is our very nature to cause pain to ourselves. I find it hard to imagine transcending food, but honestly, this is perhaps the easiest thing for me to understand. After all, Buddhism is about transcending the state we live in now, and becoming aware of all things.

However, I find it hard to understand how one can be aware of all things with the total emphasis on the positive that I read about. Negative thoughts and 'corrupted thoughts' (always a warning sign in any belief for me) can damage karma and bring negative energy out into the world. This severely contradicts what I believe, and is probably what will keep me from being Buddhist. I don't think that negativity in the world can be solved by ignoring it. Understanding can only be achieved through experience, and experience must be contemplated in order to understand. It cannot be possible to think only positively about any situation. I believe that thinking that way can influence events and situations, but I do not think that refusing to see the other side of the coin will solve the problems of the world as a whole.

Reality is an impermanent construct. This is fairly true, if you ask me. The physical, however, is not. It is incredibly selfish of humans to assume that we are the fulcrum upon which the world turns. It is the other way around. Were we not here to perceive reality, it would not exist as what we call reality. However, the earth would still exist, and all of the creatures and forces on the earth would still exist. And, if reality is ever supposed to be impermanent, it would require the destruction of the human race. As long as there are humans, the construct will continue to thrive and grow. It is as permanent as we are, and since permanence hinges on our existence, the construct is permanent.

But Thomas, you say, is your critique of Buddhist thought not as asinine as all religious thought you choose to criticize? You are the dreaded H word, you say! Well, no. I am not saying that Buddhism is wrong. I do not believe that there is a wrong, when it comes to the search for divinity that humans all participate in, save those who willingly deny its existence. We all seek the same thing, be it Nirvana, Heaven, et cetera. In this, I do agree with Buddhist thought. We all seek a release from the constraints of human existence in some way. Some appreciate the human existence, and do not want to leave it. Should they ever achieve this, they would be achieving their personal divinity. However, this book, though I will likely read it, has cemented my opinion that the Buddhist path is not my own, though some of the concepts I do find interesting/true.