i was on my way to asking a friend if he was a buddhist.
the problem is that the question is immediately unanswerable.
like the question are you a pragmatist?
you cannot ask someone who challenges the entire metaphysical world of “definitions” to define themselves as one thing or another.
it’s like asking if the sentence “this sentence is a lie” is true or false?
the stimulus has no satisfying response class.
why is this a problem for me?
i often find myself disappointed by my friend’s words.
they seem anti-buddhist.
so i want to ask him if he is a buddhist.
because he certainly reminds me of one.
but then, his words disappoint me.
like an orchestra that starts playing schubert in the middle of an all-beethoven concert.
no.
that’s not right.
it’s more like wagner.
schubert would be a pleasant surprise.
i therefore come to a question that demonstrates the inadequacy of words.
are you a buddhist?
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