HP and the Eightfold Path

[four4furies]

No: HPFGUIDX 31086

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Edith Chen" wrote:
> 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. 

It is highly debatable that HP turns on Humanist notions of "to thine 
own self be true".  Tom Riddle has done a very nice job of being true 
to himself, having achieved several of his life long goals, but I 
don't think any of us confuse his success with merit.


> 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). 

Here we begin to recognize the problem with trying to express in 
language the inexpressable concepts of divinity, eternity, the 
ultimates of Good and Evil, etc.  Is there really any difference 
between the "forms" of Plato, the "ideals" of the Humanist, 
the "Salvation" of the Judeo/Christian or the Nirvana of the 
Buddhist?  I submit to you that there is no difference.  Either there 
is a truth or there is not.  If there is, it cannot be expressed.  If 
there is not, why do we waste our time seeking it?

> 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. :-)

I agree it may take him longer than his seven years at Hogwarts for 
Harry to achieve nirvana, but JKR has shown Harry and us what a 
Bhoddisatva looks, like in the person of Albus Dumbledore, and she 
showed him off in the very first pages.

4FR (regaining his sense of and joy in the infinite, after looking 
into the abyss)