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Here's a little more guidance (and a challenge?) from my friend-of-the-month, William James. His proposal below (imagined as an invitatation from God to humanity) sounds parallel to what I think we are (trying to?) set up in this group.  Particularly curious and troubling to me (and perhaps something we could discuss further, given esp. Bharath's background in Hinduism and Hank's specialization in Japanese religious culture) is James's characterization of Hindus and Buddhists not as being more aware (than Christians?) of the uncertainty of life circumstances, but rather as fearful withdrawings from the challenge offered by a pragmantist engagement in the world:

"Suppose that the world's author put the case to you before creation, saying: "I am going to make a world not certain to be saved, a world the perfection of which shall be conditional merely, the condition being that each several agent does its own 'level best.' I offer you the chance of taking part in such a  world. Its safety, you see, is unwarranted. It is a real adventure, with real danger, yet it may win through. It is a social scheme of co-operative work genuinely to be done. Will you join the procession? Will you trust yourself and trust the other agents enough to face the risk?

"Should you in all seriousness, if participation in such a world were proposed to you, feel bound to reject it as not safe enough?...It would be just like the world we practically live in....Most of us, I say, would therefore welcome the proposition and add our fiat to the fiat of the creator. Yet perhaps some would not….to them the prospect of a universe with only a fighting chance of safety would probably make no appeal….We mistrust the chances of things….the peace and rest, the security desiderated....is security against the bewildering accidents of so much finite experience. Nirvana means safety from this everlasting round of adventures….The hindoo and the buddhist for this is essentially their attitude, are simply afraid, afraid of more experience, afraid of life" (127-128).