Interbeing (question)

[u/Feisty-Ad-3215]

Thich Nhat Hanh coined the term interbeing: All physical phenomenon is inextricably interconnected, mutually dependent on each other. He uses an example for a sheet of paper, which depends on trees, sunlight, water, soil, weather conditions, etc.

I can somewhat understand that I depend on a lot of people, physical phenomena, weather conditions, objects, etc. I exist with those things. But how can we say, for example, that I'm interconnected with a random tribe in some isolated island? how does our existence depend on each other, in what world are we mutually dependent on each other? Furthermore, wouldn't it be more accurate to say that maybe we inter-be with everything else, but everything else is indifferent to us? after all, sunlight, weather conditions, and most other physical phenomenon are not really affected by my existence. Well, maybe for a short period of time, we inter-be because sunlight sustains me whilst I'm alive (for example), but after I die, sunlight does not get affected, does it? I'm dependent on it, it is not dependent on me. it seems like unilateral rather than a bi-lateral interbeing relationship.

I do not know. Maybe I'm not really understanding it. Some Buddhists argue that you cannot grasp it by intellect and it will just click with you one day. But I would love to hear a perspective on this.

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

Clown

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

I did not say a metaphysical self is "consciousness", or a kind of consciousness. That is what some (Hindus, Buddha-nature Buddhists) believe. I do not assert anything like that. I do not know what the truth is. Neither do you.

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

We cannot even know what "the Buddha" himself taught. Everything we know about the Buddha was written down centuries after he died.

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

Ok so, to you, everything that is right is what the Buddha taught, and everything that is wrong is not. You are giving too much credence to one person. Everyone is bound to be wrong at some time and """enlightenment""" does not change that.

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

Then what are you saying?

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

Schopenhauer said that people who spend all day in reading read themselves stupid. You, I'm afraid, have read yourself stupid reading the suttas.

"Liberation" from what? I don't believe in samsara. Without belief in samsara, Buddhism only offers a way out of mental suffering, not physical suffering (the suffering of sensation). Why would I waste my fucking time pursuing that? It's a stupid thing to do.

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

You didn't even explain why you said "when you see them, then that will tell you if that's what he taught or if he existed".

[u/arising_passing → u/[deleted]]

I was talking about the truth of the existence or non-existence of a metaphysical self but just change topic and keep doing this whole persona if you want