I just found this on a buddhist site

If you truly care about your welfare, then develop your inner goodness

At Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: “Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness: ‘Who are dear to themselves, and who are not dear to themselves?’ Then it occurred to me: ‘Those who engage in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, & mental misconduct are not dear to themselves. Even though they may say, “We are dear to ourselves,” still they aren’t dear to themselves. Why is that? Of their own accord, they act toward themselves as an enemy would act toward an enemy; thus they aren’t dear to themselves. But those who engage in good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, & good mental conduct are dear to themselves. Even though they may say, “We aren’t dear to ourselves,” still they are dear to themselves. Why is that? Of their own accord, they act toward themselves as a dear one would act toward a dear one; thus they are dear to themselves.’”

“recently i participated in a 10-day meditation workshop which taught the vipassana technique.”

I’ve been their to. I’ve done it 4 times now. I had to dig threw lots of unpleasantness but it sure does clear you out. I get alot less angery now. The things that used to really make me angery now are like what ever why get angery about that (I still get angery. It’s just that their are certain things that I don’t get angery about things that shouldn’t really make me angery).

“Perhaps this is why religion is still useful in a way. It keeps people guessing as to what their punishment will be if they don’t at least try to act toward some altruistic ideas.”

I think that when religions portray a punishment for not being altruistic they are getting off line. I don’t agree with the whole sin concept and godly punishment. I’m more inclined towards the notion that you good actions benifit you (not in the afterlife right now) just not necisarily in a tangible fashion. For example building compassion. It may seem that building compassion doesn’t benifit you but I think that it does spiritualy if not in dollars and cents. On a bit of a tangent I believe that this world is an illusion. So dollars and cents are an illusion. Gaining or losing dollars and cents is an illusion and ultimatly of little consequence. However you are real (not your body a part of you Typicaly called soul) compassion and honesty and intergrity … are all assets to you soul. As intangible as they may seem. As you build these qualities within yourself you are enrichend. So qualities of goodness enrichen you money does not. So the benifit I see from religion is that they encourage you to develop these qualities.

David

David