| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 3:25:12 PM | Would anyone care to enlighten me?
I'm looking into various religious and spiritual beliefs. I'm of the mind frame that God exists but do not believe in the Bible or the Catholic church. I am now questioning my beliefs and am interested in learning more about Buddhism and how it has affected other peoples lives. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 3:45:40 PM | | Not too many buddhists around in these parts...if you have the telephone code for China, you probably fare a whole lot better...heheheheh... | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 3:48:33 PM | | You'd be surprised at how many people practice Buddhism | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 3:55:26 PM | | I am sure you are correct but I am not sure there are a lot on here..... | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 4:05:38 PM | suddenly,
Buddhism is conceptually different than western (middle-eastern) religions such as Christianity, Judiasm, Islam.
Comparing Buddhism to them changes even the notion of "religion" to many. A lot of non-religious folks who know about Buddhism, have a lot of respect for it. It's a naturalistic way of looking at things. I'm no expert, but essentially, it's open-ended in how one looks at it. There are Buddhists who are atheistic (no 'God' per se), and some who are also Christian (Phil Jackson, coach of the LA Lakers).
It's more of a way of a spiritual way of life and looking at things, and it's not dogmatic at all. I think the beliefs that Buddhists have, globally, can vary substantially overall. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 4:27:03 PM | | ^^agreed; my limited knowledge concurs that Buddhism is a lifestyle moreso than specific religion. Wonderful lifestyle I might add. Compares a bit to Mennonite, which encapsules Christianity. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 4:41:08 PM | what are some of the beliefs?
I think my beliefs conflict with the defenition of christian or catholic religions and I am at times confused | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 4:44:02 PM | | I know a few little things about it, not going to say them incase I am wrong, but it's a lifestyle that is excepting all other beliefs (they don't believe in them, but are tolerant of them). Now I'm not catholic but a protestant, but if I may ask, what is it that you don't believe exactly. That is, just don't buy it or is there an issue you have with it? | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 7:27:38 PM | For my basic understanding buddhism does not believe in a god. Buddha was a man named ??? that was the first to reach enlightenment. A state that leads to ending suffering. Four noble truths of buddha's teaching are 1, all life is suffering. 2 the cause of suffering is craving (wants). 3 the end of suffering is getting rid of cravings. 4 the method to use in overcoming suffering. the goal is to reach nirvana which is a state of nothingness. Those that don't reach nirvana will be reborn to try and learn more untill they reach it. You might want to try a library to see if they have a book on it or about world religions that can go into more details.
I will also say that depending on what your belief's conflict with you might try a different road of christianity. Some have what I would call a more open/librial view then catholic. I grew up united but was married to a catholic so I have a view of both sides. Although I admite to not believing in ether. You can email me if you want to talk to someone about your thoughts off line. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 7:43:53 PM | I know a little about Buddhism and Taoism, but am not an expert. I have read many books on these religions, and the best I've read on Buddhism is "The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings" by Thich Nhat Hahn.
The key practice is mindfulness - being aware of your perceptions of the world moment to moment.
Buddhism is very peaceful, compassionate, and inclusive. Anyway, if you have questions, I'll try to answer or find out, but suggest you do a little reading too.
For an overview, wikipedia is a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/5/2006 8:34:06 PM | Highly recommend reading Alan Watts. There's A Lot of books and authors that you can read to find out what Buddhism is all about, but Watts makes Buddhism much more understandable for us westerners. Then if you're still into it you can dive into all the heavier Buddhism stuff. His book "The Book" is a good place to start (you can find it in most good book stores) and finding out what he realized after many years of study, practice and contemplation as told in his autobiography "In My Own Way" is a good way to end your exploration of Buddhism.
Keep searching,
G | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/6/2006 10:29:23 AM | Just like one must understand some basic elements of Judaism before grasping Christianity, you must do the same for Buddhism, by learning the basic of Sanathan Dharam (or Hinduism).
The book "World Religions: Eastern Traditions" by William G. Oxtoby is a good introduction to Sanathan Dharam, which will ease you into Buddhism. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/18/2006 12:58:12 AM | Don't cling to anything and don't reject anything. Let come what comes, and accommodate yourself to that, whatever it is. If good mental images arise, that is fine. If bad mental images arise, that is fine, too. Look on all of it as equal, and make yourself comfortable with whatever happens. Don't fight with what you experience, just observe it all mindfully.
-Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"
What is the purpose of doing this? Aren't we hear to indulge in diversity, not simply notice it mindfully with no reaction inside. Or is it saying we should react inside but not outside.
Whatever the question is why should we simply observe, what does this accomplish in our lives, to go through life simply mindfully observing things and actions? I just don't understand this one. Can anyone help?
I also found this one a bit confussing also.
Compassion is the willingness to play in the field of dreams even though you are awake.
-Matthew Flickstein, "Swallowing the River Ganges" | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/18/2006 1:51:09 PM |
Whatever the question is why should we simply observe, what does this accomplish in our lives, to go through life simply mindfully observing things and actions? I just don't understand this one.
Tim, the idea isn't just to observe things and actions - it is primarily to observe our INTERNAL response to both external stimuli and internal thoughts and feelings as they arise in the moment, so that we may understand the underlying basis for our reactions (good, bad, fear, anger, love, hurt, etc.) and respond appropriately, in full mindfulness, with love and compassion. We try to see into the pain and suffering of others and act to alleviate that pain. It is all about achieving deep and clear understanding so that our actions and words are beneficial and not harmful to others and the world.
Sometimes people mistakenly think the Buddhist approach to life is detachment. This is completely wrong. It is about total engagement with life! The term "detachment" only means to engage with life without becoming attached to particular outcomes (our desires). | |
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Hezron
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Joined: 12/15/2005
Msg: 15 | |
| Buddhism
Posted: 4/18/2006 3:51:08 PM | Hezron's quick guide
So Prince Siddartha was born to wealth and priviledge. One day was travelling outside the caste and he saw a sick old beggar. He had never seen somebody suffering before. He had always been sheltered. So he asks why is the man suffering..ect and does not get any answers as to why there is suffering in the world. So he begins his quest for answers...he moves accross the land and becmes a master of all the philosophical and aesthetic arts and yet..still does not beleive he has the answer. One day he reaches a grove of dates and makes up his mind that he will sit and meditate until the answers come. So the legend goes he sat and sat and sat and slowly began to starve...finally..the answer comes to him. There is no answer and why the heck is he starving himself under this lush tree full of dates. So he gets up and pigs out on the fruit and gets big fat and happy. He then goes on the basically create a philosophy which is based on the cessation of suffering brought about by the cleansing of want./ All of our suffering is the result of want. And he goes from there. In its strict sense it is not a theology but a practical philosophy and as such most people can find some value within. Peace | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/18/2006 5:03:14 PM | Wow, it's so nice to ask for and receive such articulate responses to my Buddhism questions.
Thank You, Zentral & Hezron | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/20/2006 1:58:10 AM | Hi Tim, I like the quote you posted:
"Compassion is the willingness to play in the field of dreams even though you are awake
(Matthew Flickstein, Swallowing the River Ganges)."
If you consider the "field of dreams" to be what passes for ordinary, self-delusionary reality, then being "awake" means being aware of (enlightened about) what's going on, in a very wholistic way (physical, spiritual, mental, emotional), without judgement. I think "compassion" refers here, to Bodhisatva-like beings, those enlightened (awake, aware) beings who choose to stay and assist those who've not experienced enlightenment. Having broken the suffering-inducing life-death-rebirth cycle for themselves, these beings choose to return, for the benefit of others. Now there's compassion! | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/20/2006 10:27:54 PM | Im an atheist and I don't beleive in the reincarnation thing but, the philosophy I think is much better than Christianitys. Granted their almost simalir but I think Buddhism gives a better resolution to the human condition. That said it takes a lot of work and I don't think I would want to be cleansed of all my faults. Though I myself have taken an interest in it. Ive noticed how we lose ourselves in the things we are attached to and to our emotions. I find this religion as having the means to help me free me from myself. I encourage people to learn what they can about this religion even if they feel it's not for them. The philosophy and values correlate with a lot of the ones ive had all my life but haven't had the self control to follow as good as I could be.
So once I have the chance im getting into the meditation to master my emotions and defeat the enemy within. Which is pretty much what Buddhism is about really. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/20/2006 11:11:58 PM | Although wishing to be rid of misery,
They run toward misery itself.
Although wishing to have happiness,
Like an enemy they ignorantly destroy it.
-Santideva, "Bodhicaryavatara"
How about this one? Anyone care to expand?
Thanks for the expounding, Priestess | |
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rahowa
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Joined: 4/20/2006
Msg: 20 | |
| Buddhism
Posted: 4/21/2006 12:00:16 AM | | so buddhists aspire to a state of nothingness: joy! nonexistence. how great is that? | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/21/2006 7:34:25 AM | Have you ever got that one wrong, rahowa! You've bought into the uninformed cliches on this topic, I'm afraid.
I believe I said in an earlier post that Buddhists aspire to FULLY engage with reality. Emptiness is one of many meditation techniques, but not the goal. And JOY is a natural outcome of following the principles. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/22/2006 12:18:50 AM |
And JOY is a natural outcome of following the principles.
Is that anything like passion, Zentral? | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/22/2006 5:35:19 AM | This is a philosphy that I borrow from often. The Dalai Lama's books are enlightening, and enrich my life daily.
Scarlett | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/22/2006 6:36:27 AM | | tim, joy is formless. Passion has an object of attention. Joy can be intense, but without focus. Passion requires a focus of intensity. | |
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| Buddhism
Posted: 4/22/2006 8:47:52 AM | I agree with reading Alan Watts, as he is one Westerner that came to understand what the Eastern mind has come to conclusions on. I'd also suggest " Zen and the Art of Archery" if you want another facet of Buddhist thought.
http://www.kyudo.org.uk/zen_art_archery.pdf
Zen is quite different that the better known Tibetan Buddhism of people like the Dalai Lama.
People can spend their entire lives studying Buddhism, and probably the best place to start is with the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths
1. Life means suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
4. The path to the cessation of suffering.
1. Life means suffering.
To live means to suffer, because the human nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lifetime, we inevitably have to endure physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. Although there are different degrees of suffering and there are also positive experiences in life that we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as ease, comfort and happiness, life in its totality is imperfect and incomplete, because our world is subject to impermanence. This means we are never able to keep permanently what we strive for, and just as happy moments pass by, we ourselves and our loved ones will pass away one day, too.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment.
The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereof. Transient things do not only include the physical objects that surround us, but also ideas, and -in a greater sense- all objects of our perception. Ignorance is the lack of understanding of how our mind is attached to impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, ardour, pursue of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or in short: craving and clinging. Because the objects of our attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow. Objects of attachment also include the idea of a "self" which is a delusion, because there is no abiding self. What we call "self" is just an imagined entity, and we are merely a part of the ceaseless becoming of the universe.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
The cessation of suffering can be attained through nirodha. Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual attachment. The third noble truth expresses the idea that suffering can be ended by attaining dispassion. Nirodha extinguishes all forms of clinging and attachment. This means that suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. Nirvana means freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for those who have not attained it.
4. The path to the cessation of suffering.
There is a path to the end of suffering - a gradual path of self-improvement, which is described more detailed in the Eightfold Path. It is the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism); and it leads to the end of the cycle of rebirth. The latter quality discerns it from other paths which are merely "wandering on the wheel of becoming", because these do not have a final object. The path to the end of suffering can extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is subject to karmic conditioning. Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its effects will disappear gradually, as progress is made on the path.
That's the foundation of Buddhist thought.
That foundation leads to these following ideas of conduct towards a more satisfying life.
The Noble Eightfold Path
Wisdom
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
Ethical Conduct
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
Mental Development
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/index.html
That's a fairly good site for a basic introduction on Buddhism.
I came to reading about Buddhism through a path from Bob Dylan to Jack Kerouac ( The Dharma Bums). Those influences lead me to Alan Watts, and finally to Zen.
It's quite a fascinating belief structure, and you will never see Buddhists trying to impose their religion on people. That's one of it's greatest strengths.
I remember Watts talking about a wise old Zen monk, who was read some of the quotes of Jesus - which he had not been exposed to. After he had listened, and heard all of them he thought for a second, and said..." Those are the words of a very enlightened person."
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