Thoughts on Buddhism

[The Grand Nudger]

Actually no, I don't think the histories of these two religions have many parallels, but maybe by chance they have a few.

Looks like a bunch of people believing in superstition going about the daily business of acting like human beings to me, wars and all.

I don't feel that these buddhsts went so terribly awry. It is very relative and circumstantial evidence, not to mention sparse and kind of ambiguous. We don't know the true motives and real reasons why these "buddhist wars" even took place.

Should wars have taken place at all? I thought your contention a few posts up was that they were wayward buddhists, now maybe they weren't? Motives?

Perhaps for some it did, but they go undocumented and forgotten in history. Plus, what things are they supposed to be shielded from?

Perhaps for some christianity also shielded them from the worst parts of their nature, nonetheless, it didn't shield enough of them, in either christianity's case, or buddhism's. Shield them from taking the life of other human beings in an act of violence with political (or other) motivations known as war. Or any number of other lesser evils that happen day in and day out, everywhere.

I don't see Buddhists behaving exactly in the same manner as Christians in hardly any sense. I think you are grossly exaggerrating the "evil darkness" you see in buddhism. This would be callled false perception or distortion of facts. I understand that buddhism is not perfect, but who or what is???? No religion, no company, no business, no government, no university, no science, nothing is perfect.

I see you behaving exactly like a christian in these very posts, same apologetics. Who said anything about perfect? You seem to think buddhism is somehow better than christianity but can't come up with any metrics to justify this conclusion beyond your own preferences.

I don't really understand what you mean by His Holiness's "fuedal theocracy". This just sounds like some mumbo-jumbo to be honest. Exactly what crimes or inhumane treatment are you accusing him of? If many Tibetan people believe he is a god, diety or reincarnation of Buddha, then so be it. He is living in exile in Dharamsala anyway so what kind of "evil" can H.H. Dalai Lama really be up to?
To say he is oppressing people or power hungry in any sense truly sounds like some kind of unfounded conspiracy or undeserved mudslinging.

What is it that you don't understand, what a feudal theocracy is or entails? I'm not accusing him of anything, I could link you some pictures of his serfs and the enforced mutilation that they suffered if you like, it's not an accusation but a statement of fact. Of course, I don't believe for one minute that he's actually a reincarated anything, just another con man. However, if that's his con then I'm going to go ahead and allow him to shoulder the brunt for what he did in his many lives. Beyond that magical bullshit he's actually engaged in a very material sort of douchebaggery in this life as well. The evil of continuing to peddle garbage to gullible people by way of religious faith, which is nothing short of proof of concept for the next bastard that comes along with his own ideas as to what he might be able to get the sheep to do.

Lastly, Rhythym you mention that Buddhism doesn't offer wisdom, comfort or guidance to millions of people? I think that is false. Personally, I have gained great knowledge from it's philosophy, and moderate comfort and guidance thus far. I would only call myself a Buddhist two years ago. So I am still a novice, esp. at meditation. Christianity and Buddhism are not good comparisons IMHO, although some buddhists would disagree. From my own experience with both, they are much more different than alike. But good questions!

Sounds like misattribution to me. Whatever wisdom you've found you found yourself, and most likely would have found it from within whatever religious framework you chose, just like everyone else. Again, I'm sure that your buddhism is a positive force in your life (until it isn't), that doesn't mean that theres anything inherently good or worthwhile about buddhism. I'd call you good and worthwhile, and give you the credit for the wisdom or peace you've worked hard at.