I want to find more people like me.

[wordy]

My problem is that I don't know who I really am. So I fail to know how to find others like me.

I know what I am not like. I don't believe in woo woo stuff like paranormal and post modernism and "spirituality" like doing "mindfulness" meditation and Chi or Qi or other such Eastern practices or similar New Age stuff.

I am very interested in Jodo Shinshu but from a non-traditional way. I see it as symbolic talk for something else that is genuine and authentic human which would be supportable if one had a scientific description for it.

I find it likely it has to do with oxytocin and similar substances in the brain that deal with basic human trust and bonding and care and compassion like from parent to child and between a couple that love each other.

But it is expressed in Buddhist terms and thus not possible for me to support cause it make claims that I see as woo woo. Karma and rebirth and such.

So where do I find others like me?

[Pope John Pol Pot II]

Well, I'm tempted to say "Japan", where I am. But then the problem becomes that while educated peope feel like you do, they think it is so obvious that they don't talk about it! Also most people here want to avoid confrontation about something so "unimportant" as religion, that they would rather not thrash out the fine details.

So sadly, an atheistic interest in Buddhism, Eastern aesthetics, etc really doesn't help at all socially in Japan either...

PJPPII (nee Styrofoamdeity)

[Danhalen]

I'm pretty much like that. But I don't think karma is a woo concept. Typical Western understanding of karma is woo. Simply put, karma is the consequence of your adherence to your duty.

[David B]

Everyone is unique, Wordy, even identical twins are unique.

You won't find anyone exactly like you.

You will find, here, lots of people who try to make the best sense they can of life, the universe, and everything. Me, for one:)

And you are one of us, though in your own individual way.

David

[rlogan]

The first sentence presents the paradox, does it not?

Don't know who you are, but find others like you (without the specious "find others who don't know themselves" snark)

Seems like you need more research on who you are first.

[wordy]

Thanks, yes I want to know who I am first. :D

I don't think karma is a woo concept. Typical Western understanding of karma is woo. Simply put, karma is the consequence of your adherence to your duty.

i think we derail the thread too much if I respond to that and then you and then I and then you and then .. so start a new thread if you really has to sort it out.

You can trust that I look for others that also see karma and rebirth as woo woo in both western and eastern perspective. That much I know about who I am.

What I share very much with "Eastern Buddhism" is the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism of Shinran Shonin and his interpretation of buddhism. But I have a modernistic symbolic interpretation of it but translated from ethology or evolutionary psychology maybe.

Like this researcher does it.

Helen Fisher www.helenfisher.com/ or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Fisher_(anthropologist)

Dr. Fisher is a leading expert on the biology of love and attraction.[4] She's currently the most referenced scholar in the love research community.
...
Intense energy, elation, mood swings, emotional dependence, separation anxiety, possessiveness, physical reactions including a pounding heart and shortness of breath, and craving, Fisher reports, are all central to this feeling. But most important is obsessive thinking. As Fisher says "Someone is camping in your head."

Fisher distinguishes between four personality types each of which she associates with a body chemical.[8] The corresponding Platonic term - as Fisher identified the types herself - and the resulting corresponding Keirsey temperament (according to the speculation of some readers, not Fisher herself) can be seen in parentheses. However, Fisher's system allows for 12 combinations, not 16 types like Keirsey, meaning that there cannot be a perfect correspondence between them:

* explorer (artistic, Artisan temperament, orange) - dopamine
* negotiator (intuitive, Idealist temperament, blue) - estrogen
* director (reasoning, Rational temperament, green) - testosterone
* builder (sensible, Guardian temperament, gold) - serotonin.



I don't agree to everything she says but I very much think that transmittor substances in the brain play their roles. People certainly are very different and they would be more flexible if it was up to their reason to decide on how to act. They act within the restraint that their chemical balance allow them.

That is why I am so skeptical to "atheist" cause maybe "atheist" is set up to only work for one of the four types. Those who do systematic reasoning and who love word games like "Atheist is someone who lack belief in gods" type of string of words.

to the other three types totally other string of words would make better sense.

[wordy]

What I share very much with "Eastern Buddhism" is the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism of Shinran Shonin and his interpretation of buddhism. But I have a modernistic symbolic interpretation of it but translated from ethology or evolutionary psychology maybe.

They have a term shinjin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjin

Shinjin was originally the Japanese word for the Buddhist concept of citta-prasāda (clear or clarified heart-mind), but now carries a more popular related meaning of faith or entrusting.

Whilst a general Japanese Buddhist term it is particularly associated with the Jodo Shinshu teaching of Shinran. In that context it refers to the awakening and settlement of the mind that is aware of the working of Amida Buddha's Primal Vow, and the assurance of birth in the Pure Land at death

So to me it is symbolic and thus more like what Helen Fisher talks about. Being in love.

One feel trust and commitment and love and engagement and compassion and being grasped and held and embraced and involved and taking cared of and part of and so on.

It is an emotional relation and not so much about a belief that something is true.

When atheist respond to philosophical questions like "Do you belief that God exists"

that is not what shinjin is all about as I get it.

One would need to rephrase the question to like. "Do you entrust yourselves to the vow of Amida to work for you here and now, do you feel grasped by Amida's compassion and trust he has worked on your karma to help you to be enlighen after this life end?"

So it is not so much about belief that something exists as much as trust in that one are in a relation to a person who had compassion for every sentient being and him made a vow to include even me in this cosmic work to free all beings from delusion kind of.

But as an anti-woowoo person I have to translate this to anti-woowoo terms like basic human trust in other humans.

Am I an Anti-woowoo then? Do they have forums too? I think they see me as too confusing to even allow me to become friend to them. I failed to make friend with any of them when I tried for several years so I doubt that is a good way to see myself as.

I like to see me as a relational person. Not a relativistic but relational as in emotional relations. The downside is that I am a needy person and I know that we can be very demanding which is our downside. There is no forums for needy persons.

[wordy]

I present myself as "Entrusting Togetherness" person but that needs to be put in more ordinary words cause none react to them, most likely they are too academic or formal.

I am not good at words could someone help me find ordinary words for Entrusting Togetherness?