Oddbean

Buddhism doesn’t actually believe in gods; that concept aligns more closely with Hinduism. However, as I’ve mentioned, I believe Jesus represents a physical and material embodiment of the ‘Self’ image. Christ is the Western interpretation of what the East refers to as the Self, the Atman, the Purusha, or the Buddha. In symbolic terms, Buddha represents the Self. Christian doctrine asserts that Christ was God who became man. In psychological terms, this signifies that the Self approached human consciousness in a distinct form, manifesting autonomously from outside rather than being a product of human realisation. If you examine the differences between the West and the East closely, you can see this representation of the Self more clearly. Eastern cultures tend to be less preoccupied with and entangled in materialism, focusing more on the concept of the mind. As a result, their understanding of the Self is often more refined than that of their Western counterparts. For Western man, the meaninglessness of a static universe is intolerable; he feels compelled to assume that it holds meaning. Conversely, the Eastern individual does not require this assumption; instead, he embodies meaning. While the Westerner seeks to complete the meaning of the world externally, the Easterner strives for the fulfillment of meaning within himself, detaching the world and existence from his own sense of being. The central symbol of Christianity is the cross, a representation rooted in physical materialism, whereas Buddhism symbolizes the Self. Western culture tends to exhibit a predominantly extraverted worldview, projecting meaning onto external objects and assuming that meaning exists outside oneself. In contrast, Eastern culture often leans toward introversion, perceiving meaning within. However, meaning exists both internally and externally. This tension between internal and external meaning can be observed in various aspects of modern life. In my view, religions serve as symbolic systems that help individuals connect with their unconscious minds, achieve psychological balance, and find meaning in life. The God-image can be understood as an archetype representing the highest aspects of human experience, often projected onto religious symbols and deities. Here’s a video that might help clarify what I’m discussing: https://youtu.be/Y1lYekAU5Tc?si=mabmLL5hMU62RPP-