Thoughts on Buddhism

[Bgood]

This strikes me as being not very buddhist at all, so yes, what Rhythm suggested. It is a generalization, but in my experience, non Asiatic self-professed buddhists tend to be-at least ostensibly-white dudes of a certain cut who play dim sum with buddhism in an even less honest way than the average xtian plays at xtianity.

How would you know anything about what is buddhist and what is not? Is this not clearly a prejudice??? Don't judge something and call it superstition when you don't really understand what you are looking at. Until you PRACTICE buddhism, open up to the teachings and let go of your false self, don't slander and defile it. I am not a monk, I am relatively new to the practice and still don't "represent" it perfectly. Gimme a break, it is not an easy undertaking when one starts to take it more seriously. Conquering One's Self is the greatest challenge of mankind!

As far as materialism goes, in the arena of sciences, it is essential. Yet in terms of morality and the humanities, it is a greedy obstacle that lulls its victims into sheep-like mentality and dependence. Do you find materialistic, gold digging women attractive and respectable? I don't, I find them to be "spiritually" shallow, for lack of a better term. That is what I mean by materialism, like the Western world being a disposable, throw away, polluting society high on consumer products and objects of entertainment.

[The Grand Nudger]

Next you'll tell us that we can't call arsenic poison until we drink it. Materialism and gold digging women have exactly what to do with each other? Hold your ass shut and words might escape your mouth.

[Bgood]

Just because you have wisely joined the Atheists who have solved the riddle of "God"'s non-existance, doesn't mean anything but just that. You are not a nobel winning scientist or some great author/speaker such as Hitchens or Dawkins...God's non-existance is EASY to disprove! So then what's next? Let's cut down every aspect of humanity that aspires for evolutionary transendence? People left to their own devices without teaching, quality education, and some depth in ethical treatment and morality is doomed to devolve into a cesspool of decadence and violence, (or pretty much what America is becoming today.)

I ideally envision Christianity being replaced with Eastern religions such as Buddhism to fill in the gap where Christianity let us down. Whereas the Bible's promises are complete fallacies used for propaganda purposes, the core teachings and "promises" of Buddhism actually do add up with proper encouragement and dedication. Yes, I forsee your arguments to this assertion already so don't bother with the whole reincarnation thing! My main point is that to have Buddhism as a "national" religion in the U.S. would be SO much better than the dysfunctional churches we got now! Of course this will probably never happen in my lifetime but hey maybe in 2312, when I come back again as another species of man. lol

As a comparison, would you not admit that Buddhism and Eastern practices such as meditation, yoga and Tai Chi at least make a little more sense and psychological benefit than any form of Christianity, Islam or Judeism?

---

Next you'll tell us that we can't call arsenic poison until we drink it. Materialism and gold digging women have exactly what to do with each other? Hold your ass shut and words might escape your mouth.

Uhh..gold digging women like material things such as money...I thought that was obvious. When all you believe in is materialism, guess what?! You become materialistic! Pretty logical deduction. Perhaps I should not assume too much and explain everthing to you.

Like I said, in the realm of science, and construction, and many things, "materialism" is necessary and essential. But philosophically, it is just a means, not an end in itself.

[The Grand Nudger]

Look at you, advance guard of the holy buddhist wave you hope to see overtake America. I hope not, we have enough superstition here already.

Haven't I made this completely clear by now? Buddhism, christianity, islam, and judaism are all equal in value to me as faiths. None has any advantage on the other, whatever advantage one finds is likely the product of whatever they smuggled in themselves.

[Epimethean]

By your own analysis, bgood, you should give up on discussing anything. You have attained argumentative nirvana.

[Abracadabra]

I decided to stop affiliating myself with Buddhism, and I feel a whole lot better for it. I think there is a lot of good stuff I can get out of Buddhism - being a decent person for instance, and also meditation can be good to reduce stress etc. I just feel of late like the illusion of Buddhism being different to other religions has worn off and I'm starting to see the parallels. What are your thoughts on the matter? I'm hoping my criticisms of Buddhism won't be met with the same 'you're deluded' response as it did on Buddhist forums.

I feel like a weight has been taken off my shoulders being relieved of the burden of calling myself a Buddhist.

All the best
Laurens

You absolutely did the right thing. No question about it.

If you feel that Buddhism was a burden for you in any way and you feel better without being associated with it, then by all mean, you made the correct choice in leaving it.

It's absolutely foolish, IMHO, to be burdened by any religion.

Buddhism comes out of a culture that naturally believes in 'rebirth' or reincarnation. That's like an automatic assumption that people in those culture didn't even question. Not because it was taboo to question it, but simply because they were brought up in a culture where everyone believes it and takes it for granted.

I recently watched a college course on video by a professor who studied Buddhism and spent much time in India, China, Japan, and other places interviewing Buddhist monks. He said that in every case, he would take them aside in private and ask them directly, "Do you really believe in this reincarnation?"

And in ever case, they be totally baffled that he would even question such an 'obvious' thing. These people take reincarnation as a 'self-evident' truth for some reason.

I think I can understand why. Like you say, they look around and what do they see? They the universe around them bringing forth life that lives for a short while, decays and dies. It appears to be a never-ending process.

Obviously we are a 'part' of this process. Therefore, to their eyes, this is a self-evident truth. That's what's going on. You can see it. It's happening all around you all the time.

That is their fundamental vantage point. So they simply can't understand how anyone could question such a self-evident obvious thing.

That's where they're coming from.

~~~~

However, it seems to me that a person could forget about the reincarnation aspect of the religion and just focus on getting the best they can out of this life.

What is it exactly about Buddhism that would be a 'burden'?

I realize that some forms of it, especially for people who are attempting to become extreme Buddhist monks, it would require total 'non-involvement' with things of this physical world.

But that's an extreme form of the religion. Kind of like becoming a nun is an extreme form of Christianity.

If you were trying to become the "Perfect Buddhist" I could definitely see it becoming a burden.

But on a lighter note. Just absorbing the wisdom and trying to live the best lift you can't without going to extremes doesn't seem to me that it should be such a burden. I guess that could depend on what you want to do with your life and how you feel those plans may be 'objectionable' to the core values of Buddhism.

For me personally, I didn't find any 'burdens' in Buddhism. But at the same time I just wasn't inspired by it in a creative positive way. This is why I moved to Wicca. For me Wicca offers far more excitement, romance and creativity. In fact, it brings those things into my life in a way that I could not achieve without it.

But of course, that's just me. I'm in no way suggesting that you should look into Wicca.

There's nothing wrong with just living your life as a secular atheist. If you enjoy that, then that's what you should do.

I firmly support that people should do what feels right for them providing they aren't harming others in the process.

So if secular atheism works for you, go for it!

[The Grand Nudger]

Uhh..gold digging women like material things such as money...I thought that was obvious. When all you believe in is materialism, guess what?! You become materialistic! Pretty logical deduction. Perhaps I should not assume too much and explain everthing to you.

Like I said, in the realm of science, and construction, and many things, "materialism" is necessary and essential. But philosophically, it is just a means, not an end in itself.

Perhaps you should not assume too much. So, in the realm of things which can be shown to exist, materialism is necessary, but in the ill defined realm of whatever philosophy one might find on a fortune cookie...not so much. Look at that, we agree for a change.

[Bgood]

Look at you, advance guard of the holy buddhist wave you hope to see overtake America. I hope not, we have enough superstition here already.

Haven't I made this completely clear by now? Buddhism, christianity, islam, and judaism are all equal in value to me as faiths. None has any advantage on the other, whatever advantage one finds is likely the product of whatever they smuggled in themselves.

What about Native American's beliefs in worshipping nature? Is that as superstitious, evil and corrupt as Christianity and Buddhism? What about belief in New Age self help psychology? Is that as superstitious, evil and corrupt as Christianity and Buddhism? Corporate media? What if I want to worship the Devil? Is that equal in value to Buddhism? Hey, why not? They are all religions or just like religions.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yes, Bgood, it was......invoking the myth of the noble savage? Yes. Yes, yes, yes. See the pattern? LOL, corporate media? Depends on the corporation doesn't it. Got a specific one in mind?

[KichigaiNeko]

Uhh..gold digging women like material things such as money

Unlike gold digging men??

Yeah right B