Just in case anyone was in any doubt, the religion Iโm referring to is Christianity.
I'm visiting a friend in Japan for 2 weeks, going to be in Tokyo and Kyoto. I'm relatively new to Buddhism, it's mostly been a private thing I've been reading up on, but I want to explore it more by visiting some temples, maybe talking to a monk (I don't even know if that's a thing that people do?). So if anyone has recommendations for a temple I can visit, maybe one where people speak a little English (I will have my Japanese friend with me though) that would be of much help. Also, I welcome any tips for enhancing my deeper dive into Buddhism. Thanks
Since Buddhism, as the Oriental religion that is most often fawned over by people in the West who have lost their connection to Christ, receives a fair bit of attention in modern times, I present here two short summaries of the analysis St. Nicholas of Japan did of this pagan belief system.
In understanding it properly, seeing its merits and also its inevitable shortcomings, hopefully better dialogue over one's own Orthodoxy may be achieved, answering questions from Buddhist (at least those that are sincere and not just following a fad) people may be done more effectively, and overall more gratitude may be perhaps had at the fact we have received the full Revelation of Truth.
Part 1: http://orthochristian.com/72973.html Part 2: https://pravoslavie.ru/72988.html
Hindu countries like India are full of bigotry, in so many different levels. Hell they even have bigotry based on caste, within the people of the same faith. Similarly, very rarely in the west you see anyone criticizing Buddhist countries like Myanmar for all atrocities it does on the minorities. In fact, platforms like Reddit seem to applaud up whenever Hindus and Buddhists commit atrocities on Muslim minorities in those countries (see India and Myanmar), saying things like, "Yeah, Muslims totally deserve it", not unlike what was said about Jews 100 years ago in Germany.
I think it's because Islam is like a younger brother to Christianity, who got too big and started to compete for the same things over a millennia. No matter how atheistic platforms like Reddit become, the ill feeling and the venom towards Islam, practiced over a thousand years in the west, remain the same.
I'm not saying Islam is perfect, but there is really no balance in the criticism it faces in comparison to other religions.
After some quick math, if I died tomorrow, my expected life would be over 600 years old.
"The big bad wolf!" a goat shouted. "Is meditating!"
"So? Isn't that a good thing? questioned the bear.
"Noooo!" the goat bleated. "It's become aware wolf!"
I've been reading lately about buddhism, but you know, the change of culture and such make them kinda hard for me to understand.
1-Taking the precepts: what does it means? is it like some sort of ceremony and after taking them do you attain new responsibilities? I've heard people say something about them not being like the commandments, but more like guidelines, but then I read about the utmost importance of obeying them, so what is the correct approach? When I was a christian this lead me to a lot of stress and worrying, not the religion's fault but my own, I admit, but can't really stop feeling the same now learning about Buddhism.
2.- Talking about them, I don't think I can go with one, the not to kill one. Just a few moths ago where I live there was an epidemic of dengue fever. you could see the hospitals full of people, people were dying and all that, and now with the coronavirus, if they overlap, people will die by the thousands. the epidemic was controlled after trucks began to spray the city, thus killing the mosquitoes. So this makes me wonder, what is so wrong about taking the lifes of such beings? even if we could force them to extinction and replace them with another specie, wouldn't that be a meritorious act? to destroy the ones who bring so much suffering to pretty much all living beings? I know I am misunderstanding something, so what is it?
3.- How do you choose which branch of buddhism to follow? or you just go for whatever you have closer?
Thanks for any help you may give.
Hello, I want to get into Buddhism. But I do not know where to start. I do currently meditate from time to time. But I would like to learn more about, and see if I can apply itโs concepts into my life. If I can get an online article, or a book to read that can help me start learning it that would be very helpful.
Hi all,
I voluntarily became a Christian at the age of about 23. I always sensed a 'force' surrounding me and felt some sort of 'presence. one day I started talking to my christian friend about God. He got me involved in the Church, learning about Jesus etc. I truly felt that I found some answer. I felt 'in love' and high. 'Drunk on the lord' as people owuld call it.
Over time, I kept finding more and more contradictions in it's teachings. "Relinquish everything to God", "Give it to God", "have faith in god". Most of it was telling me not to think for myself and when things are so bad, you give it to God.
Bother of which I had a severe problem with. Suffering is a driving force with LOADS of information. It's what undeniable begs you to "LOOK AT ME". I found Christianity promoted ignorance. I think the final straw for me was when my group of friends said that being Gay is a sin and god frowns upon it. I'm not gay, but this logic is ridiculous.
Why would an all knowing supreme being give two SHITS about someones sexual orientation?
After that I became atheist for a good while. I even 'graduated' a stem above that and became ignostic (not agnostic). But this sent me into nihilism which is not a fun place to be.
Then I discovered Buddhism after reading"What the buddha taught" by Walpola Rahula and there is not a single thing that didn't click with me. It all made sense. This was it, or as close as it can be.
But what do I miss? The community of the church was amazing. For all it's short coming, there was a tight bond and love. And waking up every Sunday morning to all share a common belief was nice.
Through my journies through atheism, ignosticism and now Buddhism, I have felt alone. Despite being surrounded by friends and having a rich life, I feel lacking in Community. I've attended a fwe buddhist temples but people are not as social. It's more meditation focused than community.
So my question is. Is this normal? Do I need to keep exploring? Is there a rich connecting community within Buddhism that has the same energy as a church?
I'm new to this and want to hear others thoughts and experiences. Cheers!
Buddhism has been around for thousands of years. In all this time why haven't more practitioners emulated Buddha's experience of enlightenment?
My professor posed this question to me, but even as a Jew, I could not come up with an answer. What do you think it is? Thanks!
I can't seem to find any info of him mentioning this topic and so I thought it best to ask the forum, in case I overlooked something. I really did search, but came-up empty so any help is great. The gist of it is that before the Buddha and Mahavira started espousing their interpretations of Dharma, the people before them were avowedly atheist and dominated Northern India's philosophical debates approximately around 600 BCE. The dates are a bit uncertain due to being second-hand from Buddhist and Jain sources on the Materialist traditions of ancient India. They were major influences in Dharmic religious traditions that allowed for what is now called Hindu Atheism, Buddhism being neutral to the question of whether a God exists or not, and Jainism taking an atheistic stance despite believing in other supernatural views. Has Sam spoken about them at all?
I have some paragraphs that I copied from my Kindle onto imgur, if anyone is curious. These are from US Historian Will Durant's work "Our Oriental Heritage" from his personal research into ancient India when he visited the country:
The specific Atheist philosophers by name and a short explanation of their views.
The history and impact of ancient India's atheistic movement: Part 1 and Part 2 (citations in Part 2)
I often read things like "in past lives you've been rich, poor, beautiful, ugly, famous, bad reputation...etc, yet here you are"
My question is: Whats the purpose and benefits of contemplating on this?
Many thanks.
It was an original post by a person who quoted a scripture (not sure if it is) or a Buddhist text/commentary.
The gist of it was, if you find Buddhism (The faith, practice, philosophy, sangha, dharma) in this lifetime, it is such a precious gem, you are so fortunate and you should never take it lightly. You should treasure it.
Please help me find it if you're familiar with it or came across it.
Most people know that swastika used to be regarded as a symbol of harmony and good fortune in eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Is this still the case after the events of World War II?
and if it isnโt related, why not?
I posted here a while ago asking for how to start to learn and practice Tibetan Buddhism. The advice you guys gave me was great and Iโm very grateful.
There is a Kagyรผ temple in town and Iโm going to go. But in the meanwhile, before I will have a chance to go, I wanted to ask about meditation.
The long story short is I already meditate according to the zen tradition. It is a long story, but, I had a therapist who practiced Zen Buddhism, and thatโs who taught me and introduced me to zen. I do t want to get off topic talking about him and why Iโm disheartened by zen, but I just bring it up to say meditation is already a part of my life.
Given that I want to take my interest seriously, I was wondering if there is a traditional way to meditate as there is in zen. Do you sit in a particular pose? Do you make a particular mudra with your hands? And also, do you meditate on a particular thing? Or just practice a form of mindfulness of sorts? Having read a bit of Gampopa my sense is, well, sort of but you arrive at mindfulness after reflecting on the four noble truths. Am I right to follow the layout in String of Pearls?
Thank you so much
This (ex-wife) wants to be a hospice chaplain and part of her progress requires her asking other people about other religions. She asked me "what the Buddhist view about death, dying and the afterlife, and what in your spiritual text support that".
My perspective is that unlike Christianity, there isn't one view we all have to have in common. Some believe in literal rebirth and many levels of heaven and hell based on karma; some suggest that since we have no evidence of an afterlife, it is unskillful to assume we have something waiting after death.
My guess is that (your) view is based on both the tradition you follow as well as the culture your path is in.
If you have a mind to answer, what is your view about death, dying and the afterlife, and what in your spiritual text supports that? And what tradition are you?
As a beginner to Buddhism, I notice only a couple of subscribers ever cite the suttas. Are they just not that crucial to Buddhism in general?
For example, whenever a question regarding drug use/meditation comes up, very few people ever cite the actual sutta where I believe Buddha says to avoid intoxicants. Or questions with regards to questions about entertainment, only one or at most two subscribers will ever mention the Talaputa Sutta. Instead there are a lot of personal anecdotes, and IMHO "homespun" wisdom.
Are the suttas fairly unimportant when following the Buddhist path?
i'm just wondering if there was ever a period in your life where you became disenchanted with buddhism and what made you reconcile with it. i feel like initially discovering the buddha's teachings was like a honeymoon period for me, but now that i've started reading the suttas i've become increasingly cynical and flippant towards them. it's like i'm settled into the marriage and the magic has worn off.
"The big bad wolf!" a goat shouted. "Is meditating!"
"So? Isn't that a good thing? questioned the bear.
"Noooo!" the goat bleated. "It's become aware wolf!"
