Buddhism

[therealsuperman64]

Trying to fit eastern square peg religion into western round hole religion is a little silly. Christianity, looked at through many eastern religion contexts would look silly to a person who grew up with that their whole life. Much like how some of think so. That makes it different, not ridiculous.

Okay I see what you mean but the doesnt change the fact the foundation of Buddhism is ridiculous. You don't keep going through cycle of rebirth until you finally "live right" and are released into nirvana. Although they do have very good moral principles but everything else is garbage. Just because you were raised in a whole different religious backround doesn't mean the truth will be changed just for you.

 

[SLW]

I used to be a Buddhist, and there are different sects of it. One is based on simply enlightenment, which is what Buddha (a man) did teach - he never said he was a god - his whole teaching was against believing in any god, even though he stated that "gods do exist" - he believed you had to attain enough "enlightenment" to escape the "god heavens" (he basically saw the "gods" as bad).

The other main form of Buddhism teaches Buddha is a god or even many gods. It is not much different than Hinduism ("Buddha" ends up being for you whatever you need him to be - a warrior, a money maker, a fertility god, ect...).

I used to practice the first form, and I also did a martial arts form with it - not good stuff! I renounced it eventually.

Shawn

 

[sk8rpinoi32]

Please if you have any Buddhist questions please run them through me, I live in a prodimantly Asian neighborhood as well as Buddhist, I have read lots of Buddhist scripts and lots of disertations on the subject.

As for Buddha being a God that is somewhat true. To clarify, Buddhist have a polytheistic view, but do not hold one as a creator God. Even Buddha (denoted sometimes as Lord Buddha) has claimed that that the Hindu God of Creation (Brahma) is subjected to birth and death. And they don't pull this out of the air, it is because even rocks and air have can decay and stale. As for Buddha, Buddha himself was born a man. He walked life as a man and he died as a man, however his mind is not of a man nor his teachings. Lots of people draw a connection between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus (sermon on the mount) and that is because undeniable both has seen the truth. Buddhist call the truth the Dharma, and Christians call it God. Anyways, when the Buddha or any being reaches the state of enlightenment (and to clarify, an infinite amount of people can reach enlightenment) his mind is not his to claim, it's natures. Buddhist honor Buddha for many reasons. He is not sacred, because nothing is sacred, however he is upon the utmost importance. When Buddhist kiss his feet it's because they want to practice humility and it's recognition that they are not at the same level as Buddha. (In case you wonder, Buddha isn't the first of last Buddha, there is a prediction another Buddha will rise. A Buddha and an enlighten person is about the same, except a Buddha has reached all levels of compassion however someone who is enlightened has only reached a level that makes them pure of the mind.) But to reaffirm your speculations, no Buddha is not their God despite their forms of worship. He is held just as Newton and Einstein are held in the hearts and minds of physicist, however there is things to learn from homage and humility in the life of a Buddhist monk, there is very little things to learn if you kiss the feet of a statue of Einstein.

Any more questions please? I can run them through a lot of Buddhist I know.

 

[sk8rpinoi32]

I used to be a Buddhist, and there are different sects of it. One is based on simply enlightenment, which is what Buddha (a man) did teach - he never said he was a god - his whole teaching was against believing in any god, even though he stated that "gods do exist" - he believed you had to attain enough "enlightenment" to escape the "god heavens" (he basically saw the "gods" as bad).

The other main form of Buddhism teaches Buddha is a god or even many gods. It is not much different than Hinduism ("Buddha" ends up being for you whatever you need him to be - a warrior, a money maker, a fertility god, ect...).

I used to practice the first form, and I also did a martial arts form with it - not good stuff! I renounced it eventually.

Shawn

Please inform me each sect is which? In my expierence Theravada and Mahayana don't make these claims, however it's true that Theravada hold Buddha slightly higher than Mahayana because of some nit picking at the rules.

 

[LostSoul]

then all thing i said are a lie? well you're definitely not christian! you just admitted to defending another faith. enjoy hell!

I am sorry Arachetype...but are your words not getting a little out of hand here? For is it not written 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone?'

Perhaps we should let God be the judge here as to one's salvatiom hmmm?

Buddism is something I admit, I myself know little of....but to sit there and be rude to a fellow member here is just not acceptable.

 

[sk8rpinoi32]

then all thing i said are a lie? well you're definitely not christian! you just admitted to defending another faith. enjoy hell!

I am sorry Arachetype...but are your words not getting a little out of hand here? For is it not written 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone?'

Perhaps we should let God be the judge here as to one's salvatiom hmmm?

Buddism is something I admit, I myself know little of....but to sit there and be rude to a fellow member here is just not acceptable.

Lostlamb I commend you for defending against "ignorance." That is the only word I can think of. I have been around Buddhist for a long time now, and I can be sure that if there are two people that will definitely go to Heaven it is Buddhist and the Amish. That is a joke, maybe not a good one. Anyways, I love the religion but it isn't for me, it promotes peace and truth, sometimes even more than the Bible ever does. One thing the Buddha wanted to emphasis was not to follow anything blindfully, especially from someone who is blind. He wanted people to live through the lessons and dwell on them and at anytime you are free to reject the religion. It is probably the only religion I respect other than Christianity.

 

[Free]

I used to be a Buddhist, and there are different sects of it. One is based on simply enlightenment, which is what Buddha (a man) did teach - he never said he was a god - his whole teaching was against believing in any god, even though he stated that "gods do exist" - he believed you had to attain enough "enlightenment" to escape the "god heavens" (he basically saw the "gods" as bad).

The other main form of Buddhism teaches Buddha is a god or even many gods. It is not much different than Hinduism ("Buddha" ends up being for you whatever you need him to be - a warrior, a money maker, a fertility god, ect...).

I used to practice the first form, and I also did a martial arts form with it - not good stuff! I renounced it eventually.

Shawn

Please inform me each sect is which? In my expierence Theravada and Mahayana don't make these claims, however it's true that Theravada hold Buddha slightly higher than Mahayana because of some nit picking at the rules.

Theravada is atheistic while Mahayana is theistic, deifying the Buddha.

 

[sk8rpinoi32]

Trying to fit eastern square peg religion into western round hole religion is a little silly. Christianity, looked at through many eastern religion contexts would look silly to a person who grew up with that their whole life. Much like how some of think so. That makes it different, not ridiculous.

Okay I see what you mean but the doesnt change the fact the foundation of Buddhism is ridiculous. You don't keep going through cycle of rebirth until you finally "live right" and are released into nirvana. Although they do have very good moral principles but everything else is garbage. Just because you were raised in a whole different religious backround doesn't mean the truth will be changed just for you.

I think of it this way, you go through life with the filth of original sin, it's only when you cleanse your self is when you can seek any form of salvation.

I also found this book on comparitive saying between Christ and the Buddha and I showed it to a friend, I asked a question someone has been badgering me about "Did one copy the other?" My friend said, the truth is the same regardless of how you view. Surely if two people look at the Mona Lisa, they both will describe it the same way, it's not as if who ever described it second was copying who ever described it first.

I fail to see the garbage in Buddhism. It's not like Hinduism where there is a strong caste system and easily corruptable belief system. I found out the cow thing didn't come around until Muslims started to take over; the Hindus just refused to eat beef as a way to segregate themselves rather than a misconception that the practice stemed from a long and religious practice. Same with teachings of Muhammad where he saw the Archangel Gabriel, tried to teach it in Mecca, failed and when to Medina, then raised an Army to conquer Mecca in the name of Islam. Those religions do not enhance my understanding and interpretation of any topic in Christianity, only Buddhism has done that.

P.S. you already probably know I'm pro-Buddhist, but again, Buddhism helps me understand concepts in Christianity, it enhances every story as well action I have seen. I used to watch televangelist perform "miracles" like curing the blind. In Buddhism there is an explanation for every miracle, their reasoning deals with will power of the mind as well as compassion of other people.

 

[Free]

Buddhism does have a few good points. However, it falls short in many critical ways. You have to go beyond the mere like and dislike of certain beliefs and evaluate those beliefs according to their truthfulness--are they coherent and do they correspond with reality. I'll post some more when I get a bit more time; I'm just not sure when that will be.

 

[sk8rpinoi32]

Free that would be nice, I can probably use it in my paper, which is do this Friday fyi.