Buddists

[steeltoe]

Any Buddhists out there? The more I read about it the more I like about it.

[Gimpdiggity]

I'm not a person that follows any belief system, however, if I were, I would probably be a buddhist.

Buddhism has alot of qualities that I like, and a few that I don't. But, it, by far has the highest ratio of "good:bad" qualities of any other belief system that I've encountered.

[Zippysport]

I'm leaning that way myself. But as a belief system, not as an organized 'religion'. One cool thing about it, it that it fosters tolerance for other religions. It is allowing me to get past some of the idol worship and doctrine based rules that make so many religions look foolish to any outsider. It's giving me more of a feeling that we are all really in this whole thing together, instead of us vs. them.

Live in the now.

[bombshell]

Personally, I have always favored buddhism. As these people have said, it probably coincides most directly with my own belief, however I do have some qualms with it, mostly in its specificities, so I don't follow it wholly. Tibetan buddhism is by far the most interesting to me, and I suggest it to anyone interested. It is where our very popular Dali Lama extends his education and worship from. I've been to some shrines and met some very wonderful people. The sense of peace that exudes some of those places is amazing, and the incense lighting, the way food is eaten, the group meditations led by the VIP monks (haha) will calm anyone I think. Buddhism is an all-encompassing religion...as in most of its sects believe in allowing the freedom of others' religions, and it can be understood and incorporated into other ways of life, because it essentially is not a deity worship...it is based on personal and universal enlightenment. The point is to be like the buddha, not to worship him. I think that was the point most religions try to make, but it gets lost in translation.

[Maichena]

Buddhism is a way of life. I don't consider it a religion at all. Too much arrogance disguised as teachings in religion nowadays. Buddhism is good. Humility is good. Karma is a blessing and a bitch.

[Gimpdiggity]

Originally Posted by Maichena

Buddhism is a way of life. I don't consider it a religion at all.

That is absoulutely correct.

Buddhism is not a religion at all, but in fact a "way of living" if you will. It doesn't teach you to worship, but instead to try and better yourself.

[bugeyed]

I had a gf in college who was buddhist who actually started a buddhist club on campus, the college was smack in the middle of bible belt and I can tell you all kinds of stories about the endless bullshit she had to put up with from intolerant bigots. I managed to piss off a whole army of them when I was an RA at my dorm, we had to have activities for the residents every semester, one of my activities was to invite a buddhist monk to the dorm and give a talk about buddhism after which we took a 100 mile bus trip to a temple. The activity was a smashing success, I would say at least 50 to 60 people in the dorm participated. I had no idea the buddhist ideas and approach were so immensely popular I thought the whole thing was going to be a dud.

Anyway, I do encourage people to learn more about it, it really is a nice tolerant and calming belief system, and a very compassionate one at that.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by Zippysport

I'm leaning that way myself. But as a belief system, not as an organized 'religion'. One cool thing about it, it that it fosters tolerance for other religions. It is allowing me to get past some of the idol worship and doctrine based rules that make so many religions look foolish to any outsider. It's giving me more of a feeling that we are all really in this whole thing together, instead of us vs. them.

Live in the now.

actually in some areas buddhist have been very repressive.

[Maichena]

It's all about relationship. No matter how good something is, it's how one relates to it that makes the difference. Water is good, water is healthy. Drink too much and you'll get hyponatremia (water intoxication).

The same way with a belief system. I call it "My belief is better than your belief" or "My God can kick your God's ass" syndrome. Where is the love.

[bzbatl]

Horseshit. My dad's a Buddhist (by way of my step mother). They worship every single day with this "gongyo" chanting crap.

They try to convert everyone they come across. They think their religion is the most superior because it isn't God.

They go to "meetings" every Sunday. They're all rather weird and just as sheep-ish and diluted as any Christians I know.

[bombshell]

Originally Posted by bzbatl

Horseshit. My dad's a Buddhist (by way of my step mother). They worship every single day with this "gongyo" chanting crap.

They try to convert everyone they come across. They think their religion is the most superior because it isn't God.

They go to "meetings" every Sunday. They're all rather weird and just as sheep-ish and diluted as any Christians I know.

Buddhism, in its essence, as most "religions", at least the old ones, in their essences, teach a guide to life. Like this is how to live your life in a better way. The problem comes when in the religion, and then in those that practice it, the guidance and lessons become less important than all the intricacies that have been developed around the beliefs and passed on through generations, and some in cases where westerners have adopted some eastern ideas and totally discombobulated them. Christianity is the same way...it was essentially meant to be a guide, lessons, parables, but not only did the disciples take it too far, all the people who have interpreted in whatever way they saw fit and passed it down through the generations have obscured the whole meaning behind it. Every religion/belief has its pros and cons...things that are universally beneficial and things that are so labeled they have become pointless. Buddhism has a lot of overall teachings that are very beneficial, but in its practice, and in its worst circumstances, it has flaws as well. Why are all religions/beliefs like this? Because they are created, recorded, interpreted, and passed on by humans...who are also flawed. There is a balance to everything...for every pro, a con. This is the natural way of life. There is no all-encompassing, omnipotent, straightforward way. This is what it means to be human...we just try to do our best with whatever we choose in life, no matter how you look at it. As long as you are happy with what you have chosen to be or do, that is all that really matters. And happiness can only come through love. That's one of those underlying principles I think.

[ped]

please go back and put the damn 'H' in the title, it drives me nuts.




*uh oh thats not very zen of me

[Maichena]

I think we've made a mistake. It's Bud-dists. It's about people who likes to be friends or buddies. Very similiar to artists, purist, fascist. We've been discussing about the wrong topic!

Let's embrace the philosophy of being buddies. Let's all be Buddists.

[EEfz6]

buddist - one who prefers the "king of beers" over all other brands.

[ped]