HP and the Eightfold Path

[lenmachine]

No: HPFGUIDX 31079

> Heck, I'd like to do an analysis 
> from the Eightfold Path (a Buddhist text), but I don't have time 
for that, 
> either.

As someone with devout Buddhist parents and who has sat in on a 
number of teachings and practices over the last ten years, I would 
tend to balk at drawing parallels between the tenets of the Eightfold 
Path and the lessons in HP simply because they have different aims. 
As you and David acknowledged, the book is infused with the 
philosophies of secular humanism: "To thine own self be true" and 
that sort of thing. 

However, Buddhism advocates the entirely opposite message. The 
Eightfold Path is merely a simplified description of the path to the 
realization of the true nature of reality. That reality is that there 
is no concept of self. Indeed, there is no self to which one needs to 
be true !

I would say that Buddhism and humanism do have a number of similar 
ideas, particularly in the concept of one's choices having great 
effects on one's life and the lives of others (i.e. karma). However, 
in the end, Buddhism is not just about teaching virtue and 
compassion -- one also needs to have faith that one's good deeds 
generate good karma for the future fate of all beings and that in the 
end, all beings will ultimately come to realize our Buddha-nature, 
i.e. that the world, our existence as separate beings, is merely an 
illusion.

(My apologies for my rather awkward explanation.)

While JKR is doubtlessly working to show how our choices and actions 
affect our future, and that good results come from good thoughts and 
good actions, I don't think the ultimate message is that the main aim 
in life is to shatter the concept of self-duality. I mean, I doubt 
Harry will attain nirvana by Book 7. :-)

Anyway, I think that approaching HP through the Eightfold Path, 
especially without an eye towards what the Eightfold Path really 
intends to lead you, would be no more than superficial, and wouldn't 
really get to the heart of what Buddhism is really about. That's just 
my feeling, however. Do what you will with it, of course. That's just 
my two Knuts, and I'm sure there are more devout Buddhists out there 
who would disagree with me.


Sincerely,

Emily A. Chen