Hello from Japan!

[Watson]

Oh yeah, this should be interesting to talk with you about. I really like that interpretation of Buddha; a man who simply found a practical and amazing way of living, and lived it and taught it. Perfect way to look at it.

[Eilonnwy]

I wanna go to Japan *claws at screen* T.T




Oh yes, and Welcome!!!

[Jun]

Thank you for the further welcomes!

Religion is a crippling of the mind, a placebo to hide away from our ills and suffering.

How very odd... I could swear 'religion' is usually defined otherwise.

This one wonders why it took 20 years of being a Zen monk to come to the conclusion that it was false... perhaps Jun will tell her. I admit interest

Regardless of my passive queries: welcome, I hope you enjoy your time here

It didn't take 20 years to realise, since leaving Christianity I have always been an Atheist.

The fact is, the Buddha himself was an Atheist and was trying to rid the world of religion (Brahmanism at the time had a hold on society). I began my Zen practice in Australia, where Buddhism is removed from the superstitions of Asia. Living in Japan however, and being in the monastic community, is impossible unless you believe what they tell you to believe. Buddhism is a fixed religion in which you must believe what you are told or you are ostracised and considered an outcast. Do not question the teachers I was told (against what the Buddha himself said).

In Japan Buddhism is nothing more than a money-making business, a funeral business. Monks get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to chant for dead people and then provide a space in the temple grounds for a grave.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

G'day Jun,from sunny South Australia

Konnichi wa. Irasshaimase.

No,I don;t speak Japanese, I used my English/Japanese dictionary to look up 'welcome'.

Hope you like it here.

[KichigaiNeko]

"Before Zen...it's chop wood carry water.....After Zen ...it's chop wood carry water"

Greetings Jun. Welcome to the forum.

Yes it is a sad thing to see how commercialised religion has become. The original authors would turn in their graves if they knew.

[Jun]

Thanks for the welcomes!

G'day Jun,from sunny South Australia

Konnichi wa. Irasshaimase.

No,I don;t speak Japanese, I used my English/Japanese dictionary to look up 'welcome'.

Hope you like it here.

Crikey! Another Aussie, glad to hear there are some free minded Aussies about! G'day mate! I'm from Sydney myself.

Kichigaineko - an interesting name. From an anime?

Yes it is a sad thing to see how commercialised religion has become. The original authors would turn in their graves if they knew

The Buddha himself on his death bed insisted that no one person was to lead his followers and that they were to just carry on without organising anything. Funny how man has an inability to remain free and feels the need to complicate things.

The various religious trappings of Buddhism today, particularly in Mahayana Buddhism, were all added by the opposing Brahmin class after the Buddha's death. They wanted to bring Buddhism back into line with the teachings of one god (Brahma).

Anyhow, I wanna talk about Atheism!

[KichigaiNeko]

Thanks for the welcomes!

G'day Jun,from sunny South Australia

Konnichi wa. Irasshaimase.

No,I don;t speak Japanese, I used my English/Japanese dictionary to look up 'welcome'.

Hope you like it here.

Crikey! Another Aussie, glad to hear there are some free minded Aussies about! G'day mate! I'm from Sydney myself.

Sad isn't it!! Same here...born and raised in the place. Yeah I know it's smelly and should be towed out to sea to make an artifical reef but I love the place.

Kichigaineko - an interesting name. From an anime?

No ...as far as I understand it...it is a compound of Crazy (as in mad) Cat (as in felline animal) but I do enjoy Ghibli >_<

Yes it is a sad thing to see how commercialised religion has become. The original authors would turn in their graves if they knew

The Buddha himself on his death bed insisted that no one person was to lead his followers and that they were to just carry on without organising anything. Funny how man has an inability to remain free and feels the need to complicate things.

The various religious trappings of Buddhism today, particularly in Mahayana Buddhism, were all added by the opposing Brahmin class after the Buddha's death. They wanted to bring Buddhism back into line with the teachings of one god (Brahma).

Anyhow, I wanna talk about Atheism!

As always ...talking about atheism one has to go through theism to get there.....

As for scientific discoveries one has a plethora of sites one can access.

And YES....there are a great many Aussies on this site....and a few poms as well.

[Elles]

:o Hello Japan

[downbeatplumb]

:o Hello Japan

Elles why do have a mountain of jaffa cakes.

Oh and Hi jun

[Elles]

Elles why do have a mountain of jaffa cakes.

To last a long time.