Lal:
I asked you to re-post only because when it happened last, Inflib (Donna) somehow caused it to show on my page and she said so. I do not know how she did it. So excuse me for asking. Terribly sorry taking your time on this.
As to my reference to Siebe’s question, it seems we are agreed. Regarding philosophers, they ask more and more questions but provide no answers, only more and more questions arise because they do NOT KNOW. That is why I am on here.
Now as to “…Who said that “doing good is in the long run a hindrance and must be abandoned“? Did I say that or did the Buddha say that? I cannot imagine ANYONE sane saying something like that.” This was my main point; Siebe came in only as an afterthought, yet most of your ‘answer’ deals with this.
My position is this (I hope to be understood at last): More than one participant has pointed out that the attainment of Nibbana is of necessity a selfish endeavour, for one must put aside all attachment. Now then, love for your children, for instance, is a personal attachment. From the human through to higher realms there will be personal attachment, but at the Arahant stage that ceases. What??..to love is wrong?? because it impedes one’s way to the ultimate goal? So I am not mad after all. To love is not wrong. Only IMPERSONAL love survives there, Metta for all, but that is not attachment (this much I see).
If now at the Summit personalized affection is a no-no ..that State
would lack ‘humaneness’, warmth, all the feelings that make us feel alive. And here is where the Mahāyāna references to that State as absorption, evaporation, emptiness, sunnyata etc come in. Just because of this. I am not agreeing to Nibbana being that by any means, I am just providing a frame of reference.
I do not want to argue the point any further. I cannot see a way of accepting that there can be no personal love at ANY Stage on the Path.It would be that I am not at that stage.
Grateful as ever
y not