Your Thoughts?

One of the better religions.

Am I enlightened yet?

A religion where it doesn't matter if you believe in God, where teachings are based upon experience, where logic, investigation, and debate are encouraged. Sounds good to me.

quote:Originally posted by Seriously:

A religion where it doesn't matter if you believe in God, where teachings are based upon experience, where logic, investigation, and debate are encouraged. Sounds good to me.

I second that motion. Is there a third?

Yeah, i think it's a good religion, no god, just being mindful of stuff

Then it is official.

Buddhism . . . approved.

Buddhism = the best

Indeed

If you want to be a Buddhist, you have to believe in reincarnation. That's not all, though; the farther you look into it, the more absurdities you are told to accept. Like any other religion, study it more deeply and it will begin to make less sense.

Not to say it doesn't have its good points... it's just not the miracle perfect religion-that's-hardly-even-a-religion most people who haven't looked into it seem to think.

Like any religion it is irrational however I do find the "Karmic" aspects of it cool. If I had to choose a version I would go with Zen...

quote:Originally posted by Twisted_Ferret:

If you want to be a Buddhist, you have to believe in reincarnation. That's not all, though; the farther you look into it, the more absurdities you are told to accept. Like any other religion, study it more deeply and it will begin to make less sense.

Not to say it doesn't have its good points... it's just not the miracle perfect religion-that's-hardly-even-a-religion most people who haven't looked into it seem to think.

You are not forced to accept absurdaties. Buddhism rejects the idea of inflexible acceptance of doctrine. To quote Buddha, "Do not accept anything by mere tradition. Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures. Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your pre-conceived notions."

quote:Originally posted by Twisted_Ferret:

If you want to be a Buddhist, you have to believe in reincarnation. That's not all, though; the farther you look into it, the more absurdities you are told to accept. Like any other religion, study it more deeply and it will begin to make less sense.

Not to say it doesn't have its good points... it's just not the miracle perfect religion-that's-hardly-even-a-religion most people who haven't looked into it seem to think.

As the person above me points out, you don't have to believe in anything in buddhism. It even says in the teachings if you find something unsound to question it, so long as you do it logically without attachments or bias i.e. if you're naturally athiestic or skeptical to let go of that and just look at what is but don't accept it automatically if you go the other way just because you believe in the supernatural. Myself I think the reincarnation aspects are metaphorical.

^What those two said. And I have looked "deeply" into Buddhism.

buddhism is the greatest, and i particularly love it for the reason that the above have said... you can believe in what you think is right, you dont have to believe in all of it or none of it... just the parts that you think make sense

Buddhism, christianity, hindusim, gnosticism, nihilism, all the same if you've got the right eye

'tis all the same

excerpt from the Kalama Sutra

"Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching. Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the

spirit of the words. Rely not on theory, but on experience.Do not believe in anything simply because you

have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Do

not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything because it is

written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and

elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is

conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it."

- the Buddha

quote:Originally posted by Rizzo in a box:

Buddhism, christianity, hindusim, gnosticism, nihilism, all the same if you've got the right eye

'tis all the same

then again they're all so different. How many eyes do you have exactly?

If a person really needs a set of teaching to help him/her through life i would suggest buddhism or sikhism. Far better then the alternatives.

[This message has been edited by boozehound420 (edited 02-25-2007).]

quote:Originally posted by kenshiro_kid:

then again they're all so different. How many eyes do you have exactly?

It all depends on who's agenda you're working for.

All religions deep down have the same mission, to better and further mankind. It just depends where and when its being praticed and by whom.

I like this thread.eberyone agrees alot,even when questioning.

when asking my qui gong instrustor,who was also a buddhist,abut teachers,he said"don;t pick one who you think tells you what is right,you will know which one is right in your heart,and go with that'

basically mirroring the words of Buddha,but yeah.

thetavetan buddhism,personally.

on a side note,not wanting to incur further off-topic arguements about this,my personal belief is that a race that has only had so many thousand of years to "think"or eninghten itself ,cannot be anywhere near ther truth of how things really are.i'm sure buddhism scratches the surface,but i'm also sure were far far from knowing how things really are.

these things take a long time.and i apogise for my shitty grammar,drunk/wobbly kewboard.

Buddhism is fucking stupid. It's the original dehuminizing cult. All existence is suffering and suffering comes from attachment etc. etc. Way to break down individuality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPu7TI-XXXY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F2MOiP94GE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDFf2jSMbT8

I've always wondered why rich Westerners, dismissive about religion in general, find solace in Buddhism. Well, let's talk a look at the story of Prince Siddhartha, or Buddha as he became known. Basically, it's the story of a rich kid that decided to slum it. No joke - this guy Buddha was living at home in his palace, leeching off his dad until he was 30. Then like some spoiled trust-fund baby, he decides to leave the palace and finds all this romance in self-inflicted deprivation, all the while knowing that he could ring up his dad to top off his Visa card the minute anything went wrong. Hey, Buddha, here's a spiritual insight - all these poor people you were trying to emulate would've exchanged their noble life under the bodiatry for the opulence of your dad's palace in a snap! Which brings me back to my original point - I wonder why all these rich Westerners can relate so well to Buddha? Well, maybe it's because Buddha is the prototypical spoiled rich kid acting all dirty and poor. Let's face it, if Buddha were alive today, he'd be playing bass guitar in the Strokes.

-John Safran

quote:Originally posted by Ocular Gyric Crisis:

Buddhism is fucking stupid.....

Obviously you dont know much about Buddhism. That story just explains how Buddhism came to be, but it is most likely not entirely true, and was later on adapted to fit Buddhist teachings.

Buddhism isnt so much a religion as it is a psychology or way of life.

Buddha is not a god or a single person. When someone

reaches enlightenment they become a Buddha.

Most times people are just referring to the 1st Buddha.

There is no god in Buddhism.

Buddhism's teachings arise from thousands of years of analysis of the world we live in. These teachings still hold true today.



If you are interested in Buddhism I highly suggest you check it out. Since I started studying it, it has definitely made me a better person.

I think the best Buddhist concept is that of interdependece. If you are not going to look into anything else, at least check out this.



[This message has been edited by Quageschi (edited 03-14-2007).]

quote:Originally posted by Ocular Gyric Crisis:



ht tp://www.y outube.com /watch?v=H Pu7TI-XXXY (http: //www.yout ube.com/wa tch?v=HPu7 TI-XXXY)

ht tp://www.y outube.com /watch?v=2 F2MOiP94GE (http: //www.yout ube.com/wa tch?v=2F2M OiP94GE)

ht tp://www.y outube.com /watch?v=N DFf2jSMbT8 (http: //www.yout ube.com/wa tch?v=NDFf 2jSMbT8)



Are you seriously gonna cite this guy as your argument against buddhism?

Thats sad

I approve of Buddhism.

Only half related to the topic, but it made me laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok18oIuB-hI

quote:Originally posted by Quageschi:

Obviously you dont know much about Buddhism. That story just explains how Buddhism came to be, but it is most likely not entirely true, and was later on adapted to fit Buddhist teachings.

Buddhism isnt so much a religion as it is a psychology or way of life.

Buddha is not a god or a single person. When someone

reaches enlightenment they become a Buddha.

Most times people are just referring to the 1st Buddha.

There is no god in Buddhism.

Did I say Buddhism was a religion? No. I just said it was stupid. And just because it has no god doesn't mean it's less airy-fairy bullshit. Karma and metempsychosis are sooo logical...

quote:Originally posted by Quageschi:

Buddhism's teachings arise from thousands of years of analysis of the world we live in. These teachings still hold true today.

So do Noahide religions. Big deal.

quote:Originally posted by Quageschi:

If you are interested in Buddhism I highly suggest you check it out. Since I started studying it, it has definitely made me a better person.

I think the best Buddhist concept is that of interdependece. If you are not going to look into anything else, at least check out this.

No. I think I'll avoid this stupid cult. I've got better things to do than chant bullshit with my legs crossed.

quote:Originally posted by Quageschi:

Are you seriously gonna cite this guy as your argument against buddhism?

Thats sad

If you looked at all the videos you'd see there was more than one guy shitting on Buddhism. And I don't see what's wrong with what they're saying. Can you disprove what they're saying?

quote: then again they're all so different. How many eyes do you have exactly?



Three.

quote:Buddhism is fucking stupid



Heh, you've obviously got a personal agenda against it.

quote: It's the original dehuminizing cult.



Nothing original about Buddhism at all.

quote: All existence is suffering and suffering comes from attachment etc. etc.



What? Not at all! Nowhere in the Teachings of Buddha does it say existence is suffering. No, pain is inevitable, but suffering is not. Suffering comes from desire.

quote:Way to break down individuality.



What exactly is individuality, where does it come from, and how can you prove it exists?

quote:

I've always wondered why rich Westerners, dismissive about religion in general, find solace in Buddhism. Well, let's talk a look at the story of Prince Siddhartha, or Buddha as he became known. Basically, it's the story of a rich kid that decided to slum it. No joke - this guy Buddha was living at home in his palace, leeching off his dad until he was 30. Then like some spoiled trust-fund baby, he decides to leave the palace and finds all this romance in self-inflicted deprivation, all the while knowing that he could ring up his dad to top off his Visa card the minute anything went wrong. Hey, Buddha, here's a spiritual insight - all these poor people you were trying to emulate would've exchanged their noble life under the bodiatry for the opulence of your dad's palace in a snap! Which brings me back to my original point - I wonder why all these rich Westerners can relate so well to Buddha? Well, maybe it's because Buddha is the prototypical spoiled rich kid acting all dirty and poor. Let's face it, if Buddha were alive today, he'd be playing bass guitar in the Strokes.



The whole point is that he could have had anything in the world, but he was never truly happy until he devoid himself of all desire.

If all you can do is say "buddha was spoiled and rich", then you're just making ad hominem attacks because you've got something personal against it.

quote:Did I say Buddhism was a religion? No. I just said it was stupid. And just because it has no god doesn't mean it's less airy-fairy bullshit. Karma and metempsychosis are sooo logical...



Karma is basic cause and effect.

quote: I've got better things to do than chant bullshit with my legs crossed.



Wow...

-John Safran

That's an interesting perspective on Buddhism in America. It's completely twisted, but interesting.

For example, "Buddha was living at home in his palace, leeching off his dad until he was 30."

The story says, Prince Siddhartha was kept isolated from the public by his father the King. The Prince was moved from palace to palace and never allowed to see the cities his father ruled. When the Prince finally convinced his father to let him venture into a city, his father ordered the city to be prepared for his sons visit. He did not want the Prince to know anything of poverty, suffering, sickness, old age, or death, this was the reason for his isolation.

Anyways . . . twisted.

[This message has been edited by Seriously (edited 03-14-2007).]

quote:Karma is basic cause and effect.

For someone so nihilistic, I'm surprised you believe in cause and effect, when there's very good reasons not to. Then again, you did mention that as well as not believing in anything, you believe in everything, so I don't know why you're arguing with this guy when you would agree with him and hold his beliefs... unless it's just for fun, but then, I could think of better things to be doing.

quote:Originally posted by Hare_Geist:

For someone so nihilistic, I'm surprised you believe in cause and effect, when there's very good reasons not to. Then again, you did mention that as well as not believing in anything, you believe in everything, so I don't know why you're arguing with this guy when you would agree with him and hold his beliefs... unless it's just for fun, but then, I could think of better things to be doing.

Whaaaaaaat?

Nihilism is all about cause and effect...or at least the "nihilism" that I "believe" in (of the counterorder.com type).

But anyway man, it's quantum conciousness. I believe in everything, nothing, one thing, and its "opposite".

I mean, I know he's right and that I'm right and that we're both wrong and it's all meaningless, but he doesn't know that.

meh why do you even respond to my posts?

not that I have anything against you at all man, but it just seems too frustrating for both of us.

[This message has been edited by Rizzo in a box (edited 03-14-2007).]

Buddhism is the most logical "religion" and i would most readily go for this as it seems to make sense to me and my way of thinking.

I think a lot of people believe that karma is some sort of spiritual aura that floats around the universe, watching what you do, and keeping your karma score.

That is not what it is. A perfect example of karma would be this:

Two people move into a town at the same time. One of them is very kind and friendly.

The other is very mean, greedy and cold hearted.

Now who do you think the town is going to like more after a few weeks.

Obviously the nice friendly person, and obviously that person will be happier then the ignored and hated scrooge.

What goes around comes around.

As far as religions go Buddhism is definitely one of the better ones. I don't understand why people are pointing out it's anti-individualistic nature as proof of it's inferiority.

Frankly I think we over value individualism here in the west. Or more accurately we over-value playing lip-service to individualism. If we truly value individualism so much why is it that our proudest institutions and the things we enjoy doing most are the things that strip our individualism from us?

Pride in individualism is in my opinion nothing to be proud of.

If you're going to criticize Buddhism do it for it's illogical mumbo-jumbo, not for the fact that it taps into our innate urge to commune with each other. However criticizing it for the mumbo-jumbo is kind of pointless though because religion is by definition based upon mumbo-jumbo.

So saying that Buddhism is a stupid religion because it's based on mumbo-jumbo is kind of retarded. It's the equivalent of saying that a Mustang is a stupid car because it has wheels. Buddhism is a religion what exactly do you expect?

Which brings me back to my main point that as far as religions go Buddhism is one of the better ones.

Hinduism and Buddhism (and their variants) are the only true religions ... the rest is a bunch of desert Arab/Levantine bullcrap...

Indian/Chinese philosophy as embodied in the above great religions are both valid and true ... wheteher u are a beleiver or an atheist.