Are there any Buddhists here? From all the posts in the Spirituality & Religious Beliefs Section, it looks like Christianity is the main religion represented here. I am an atheist/ secular humanist but I've recently gotten very interested in Buddhist philosophy. I don't know any Buddhists in real life ha ha... so I thought it would be nice to talk to some online. I've got some questions!
I'm not sure if subscribing to the principles of Buddhism, which I do not consider a religion but (as you wrote) a philosophy, would make one a Buddhist as would subscribing to the need to take a vitamin supplement make one a health nut.
Buddhism has many very rational, sane principles that seem compatible with any religion in the world. Therefore, one could subscribe to Buddhist beliefs...to be a Buddhist if you will...and be a Christian, Jew or whatever simultaneously.
I am constantly in search of people who actually live by their beliefs...Christians who quickly forgive, Buddhists who can quickly let go and have no attachments, etc. Living a life of principle is not as easy as it sounds...but it does get much easier if you practice and meditate.
On some days I do believe in God and on other days I don't, it depends on my mood. I guess I worry more that if there is a God does He believe in Me. It doesn't make a lot of difference whether there's a God or not. Everything seems to be working to perfection in the world and the belief in God doesn't change a whole lot.
Meanwhile, I think from a rational standpoint practicing Buddhists may be more Christian than Christians. They are very committed and make it a point to forgive, to love and to let go. They make a lot of sense. Right now, it's important to me to accept all people and send them love since, in the end, it's my greatest belief we'll all end up in the same place.
I'm technically a Catholic (practicing) but I have been doing a lot of reading about Buddhist philosophy lately, and it's really appealing to me. It seems to me that Jesus lived the noble truths and followed the 8-fold path to a T, so I feel no conflict.
One of the things that I have been trying to put into practice is a quieting of my mind/body, through meditation and non-thinking, non-mind driven moments, which leads to a sense of blissful awareness. In those moments (and often long afterwards) I have an acute appreciation for the now, and a feeling of acceptance, for other people, events (good or bad) which is a huge relief.
Getting away from the internal (often negative) chatter of my mind, and seeing everything in the world as part of the same universal "soup" of ingredients and energies, is my current motivation.
I'm technically a Catholic (practicing) but I have been doing a lot of reading about Buddhist philosophy lately, and it's really appealing to me. It seems to me that Jesus lived the noble truths and followed the 8-fold path to a T, so I feel no conflict.
One of the things that I have been trying to put into practice is a quieting of my mind/body, through meditation and non-thinking, non-mind driven moments, which leads to a sense of blissful awareness. In those moments (and often long afterwards) I have an acute appreciation for the now, and a feeling of acceptance, for other people, events (good or bad) which is a huge relief.
Getting away from the internal (often negative) chatter of my mind, and seeing everything in the world as part of the same universal "soup" of ingredients and energies, is my current motivation.
The greatest thing you can ever do in your life is to learn to live in in the moment, letting go of the past and not being so concerned with problems in the future. Of course, it's good to save for retirement, etc., but to wallow in the sorrows of yesterday or dive into concerns of tomorrow are not productive at all.
I love the Dalai Lama. He seems to be extremely happy all the time. Surely he has reached Nirvana long before now. Even amidst the problems between his homeland of Tibet and the communist Chinese who want to take over, he has kept his cool and his sanity.
If you want to get rid of the mind chatter, I suggest you find a good meditation class near you and have the instructor give you a mantra. A mantra will help rid your mind of all meaningful thoughts as you concentrate on your mantra. I guess this form is called transcendental meditation but it's really easy and extremely peaceful. Twenty minutes of meditation can equal four or five hours of sleep. Try it!
I'm not sure if subscribing to the principles of Buddhism, which I do not consider a religion but (as you wrote) a philosophy, would make one a Buddhist as would subscribing to the need to take a vitamin supplement make one a health nut.
Buddhism has many very rational, sane principles that seem compatible with any religion in the world. Therefore, one could subscribe to Buddhist beliefs...to be a Buddhist if you will...and be a Christian, Jew or whatever simultaneously.
I am constantly in search of people who actually live by their beliefs...Christians who quickly forgive, Buddhists who can quickly let go and have no attachments, etc. Living a life of principle is not as easy as it sounds...but it does get much easier if you practice and meditate.
On some days I do believe in God and on other days I don't, it depends on my mood. I guess I worry more that if there is a God does He believe in Me. It doesn't make a lot of difference whether there's a God or not. Everything seems to be working to perfection in the world and the belief in God doesn't change a whole lot.
Meanwhile, I think from a rational standpoint practicing Buddhists may be more Christian than Christians. They are very committed and make it a point to forgive, to love and to let go. They make a lot of sense. Right now, it's important to me to accept all people and send them love since, in the end, it's my greatest belief we'll all end up in the same place.
See, this is where my thoughts have been taking me lately exactly. I was thinking, what is the difference between a practicing Buddhist and someone like me (and you) who has found Buddhist philosophies helpful in our everyday life?
I would say that right now I guess I'm a "dabbling" Buddhist because I find solace and comfort in many of the philosophies but I am not an active practitioner of it. Sometimes I feel hypocritical about that and I think it comes from my super Christian background where you had to believe in every word in the bible and really make it a lifestyle, or you were just as bad as all the other non-believers who were going to Hell. You couldn't just pick and choose what to apply to your life for your own benefit -- that would be seen as the most hypocritical thing ever.
But the cool thing about Buddhism and practicing Buddhists is that it seems to be okay to incorporate Buddhist philosophies into my own way of thinking but not be a complete Buddhist, without being disrespectful to Buddhism or being seen as hypocritical by more full-fledged practicing Buddhists.
So I get everything you're saying about how one can be anything else and also subscribe to Buddhist philosophies. And I also like how practicing Buddhists seem to be good people who follow through on their beliefs and are also tolerant of others and forgiving -- which was just not there in the brand of Christianity I grew up with. It would have condemned buddhism as a "self help" way to serve yourself instead of God; at the same time, it was very self-serving because it was all based on appearances and judgment of those who didn't believe or live the way you thought they should.
I use to know a Buddhist what an awesome guy I also was very interested at the time but he didn't seam to be able to exactly explain the religion.
Don't talk to him any more shame miss him me myself I dunno I'm interested in a few different ones actually all interest me.
But honestly some I cant see myself following mostly the catholic church or any form of it just to preachy and pushy for me.
I'm also interested in wiccan all tho I don't feel I would be able to practice it openly with out every one I know thinking I was a weirdo.
Seams to be a great stigma attached to it shame really its just a very earth/nature based religion which appeals to me..
Best of luck on your search theres some decent books on the subject of Buddhism if I remember right may be worth checking out.
I hear you. I was opposed to any kind of "religion" for so long but now I'm starting to examine different ones and decide what I believe in and which ones have standards that help me decide how to live and behave and be a happy, healthy person etc.
I would like to explore wiccan too, as well as hinduism.
All I know is that I don't believe in anything supernatural. So that cuts out the "reincarnation" parts of buddhism and probably most of wiccan (although I too like how it's earth based). I always just followed the good old "religion" of integrity, which I think is a part of every religion and that "good" people practice no matter what their religion or lack therof. I've found that parts of buddhism are essentially integrity -- like being mindful of your feelings and thinking them through and letting wisdom guide your actions instead of ever-changing emotions. And I think most religions believe in "do unto others"; sometimes I just stop and think if someone would hurt others or myself in the long run, and if I'd want someone else to do it to me. I don't think I need to believe in a religion to do this kind of common sense analysis; in fact, I think it's why most religions embrace it, because it just makes sense to do to be happy.
Buddhists are very open minded and accepting of all religions and criticize none. I, too, was raised in a Christian home and attended a Church that taught hell and damnation. I'm actually embarrassed about that.
I attended Catholic School from grades 7 through 10. I got an A in religion only because I studied it intently...but I just couldn't bring myself to actually believe that God would deny heaven to someone who wasn't baptized, to someone who ate meat on Friday (a sin at the time), to someone who had sexy thoughts and didn't confess them or even someone who attended services at other than a Catholic Church without a dispensation from the Bishop...give me a break! Hell, at the time the services were in Latin and without a missal I couldn't even understand what they were saying. The very teachings that were meant to bring me closer to the Church tore me away.
Oddly, the church today is very different...but I am so sad knowing that those back in the day are burning in hell for things that have since been made acceptable. Too late, I only go to church for weddings and funerals and I don't care what denomination they are.
As an adult, I know God wouldn't just sit up in heaven somewhere with a notepad waiting for his creations to get to the point where they would burn in hell forever. But the thought was frightening. They taught, on the one hand, that God was a loving and forgiving God and on the other that he was send you straight to the lake of eternal fire for serious transgressions. As an adult, I believe...like the Lord's prayer says...that we are forgiven to the extent that we forgive others. I totally and completely forgive everybody and hold no anger towards anybody. It took me a while to get there.
Buddhism is a way of life just as Christianity is. They are very similar is many ways except that Christianity has a deity...and that's fine. If everyone would just live by their beliefs instead of acting crazy and holding up in their mixed up minds, it would be a better world.
Oddly, I have found the very kindest, most loving and forgiving people I know, are agnostic. To be judgmental and angry is not the way of Christians.
All I know is that I don't believe in anything supernatural.
If you are alive, you have to believe in the supernatural. LIFE is supernatural. Now, if you will read The Secret and truly believe what it says (it all comes from ancient teachings INCLUDING the bible) you will learn that you have Godlike powers to make things happen for yourself. (Google "The Secret" to read something about it. You can scan through it at your local bookstore.)
Every single moment of life is magic in so many ways if we open our eyes to see and appreciate the wonder. If you just stop and think how I am communicating with you right now...through the screen of a computer....I don't even know you....but I am still connect to you in a very special way....YOU HAVE SIMPLY GOT TO BELIEVE IN THE SUPERNATURAL!
Tony T, have my mantra (sut naam, which you probably already know roughly translates into "true name", although when I use it I try to just concentrate on the words and not think about their "meaning").
And may I also recommend the highly popular, Oprah endorsed (don't let that put you off! It almost did me!) books by Eckhart Tolle (New World: Finding Your Life's Purpose changed my life). Completely accessible, he walks you through the stages of letting go of ego/mind-driven thinking and action, and moving into the timelessness that is the present moment. It will remain on my bedside table for a long time, to be read, and then read again.
Sometimes I feel hypocritical about that and I think it comes from my super Christian background where you had to believe in every word in the bible and really make it a lifestyle, or you were just as bad as all the other non-believers who were going to Hell. You couldn't just pick and choose what to apply to your life for your own benefit -- that would be seen as the most hypocritical thing ever.
But the cool thing about Buddhism and practicing Buddhists is that it seems to be okay to incorporate Buddhist philosophies into my own way of thinking but not be a complete Buddhist, without being disrespectful to Buddhism or being seen as hypocritical by more full-fledged practicing Buddhists.
That's the beauty of Buddhism (and Eastern religions in general). From what I have read, they tend to be more lenient and not so black and white compared to Western religions such as Christianity. The philosophies are general rules.
I'm similar to you, I'm agnostic (raised Presbyterian and ironically went to Catholic school). I always doubted religion every since I could remember. It's not easy being non-religious in the Bible Belt, as there are many fundamentalists here. They tend to have very strong beliefs and are not very open to alternative beliefs and ways of life.
I've been reading quite a bit about eastern religions (Buddhism, Taoism, etc.). The two most important things I've learned from Buddhist philosophies are:
1) The idea of finding a balance between hedonism and ascetism (the middle road, so to speak)
2) Lowering my expectations.
I have put these into practice and it has made me a better person. You can't really eliminate all expectations and desires (for example, sex and food), but reducing your expectations about many things and not expecting anything in return has made a major difference in my life. I'm just a more pleasant person to be around in general. I've always tended to be a more middle of the road type of person, I that is why I was drawn to Eastern religions. I find Western religions to be very polarizing, many having an all or nothing view. People with very strong personalities seem to gravitate toward the "all or nothing" philosophy I see in Christianity.
I think it is extremely difficult to lower your expectations in the predominantly Christian, capitalistic, American society we live in today, where people expect things immediately and a certain way. We have more artifical needs than ever before (i.e., big screen TVs, fancy cars, etc.). I think in general we have become spoiled and expect many things that were not always givens in life.
Buddhism seems to subscribe to a simpler way of life. I don't think it can ever take over in a capitalistic society, as this idea of reduced expectations would never work in such a society. Capitalism is all about increasing expectations and desires. Without increasing expectations and desires from society capitalism would collapse.
Buddhists are very open minded and accepting of all religions and criticize none. I, too, was raised in a Christian home and attended a Church that taught hell and damnation. I'm actually embarrassed about that.
I attended Catholic School from grades 7 through 10. I got an A in religion only because I studied it intently...but I just couldn't bring myself to actually believe that God would deny heaven to someone who wasn't baptized, to someone who ate meat on Friday (a sin at the time), to someone who had sexy thoughts and didn't confess them or even someone who attended services at other than a Catholic Church without a dispensation from the Bishop...give me a break! Hell, at the time the services were in Latin and without a missal I couldn't even understand what they were saying. The very teachings that were meant to bring me closer to the Church tore me away.
Oddly, the church today is very different...but I am so sad knowing that those back in the day are burning in hell for things that have since been made acceptable. Too late, I only go to church for weddings and funerals and I don't care what denomination they are.
As an adult, I know God wouldn't just sit up in heaven somewhere with a notepad waiting for his creations to get to the point where they would burn in hell forever. But the thought was frightening. They taught, on the one hand, that God was a loving and forgiving God and on the other that he was send you straight to the lake of eternal fire for serious transgressions. As an adult, I believe...like the Lord's prayer says...that we are forgiven to the extent that we forgive others. I totally and completely forgive everybody and hold no anger towards anybody. It took me a while to get there.
Buddhism is a way of life just as Christianity is. They are very similar is many ways except that Christianity has a deity...and that's fine. If everyone would just live by their beliefs instead of acting crazy and holding up in their mixed up minds, it would be a better world.
Oddly, I have found the very kindest, most loving and forgiving people I know, are agnostic. To be judgmental and angry is not the way of Christians.
Our similarities are striking!
I was a model Christian "student" at school and on missions trips etc. I didn't really believe it but I tried and tried.
Then I met people who were atheists and agnostics and who were a lot more "moral" and nice and happy than the Christians I grew up with.
I decided I didn't have to be a Christian just because everyone in my family/ town was and they told me I had to be or go to Hell. I didn't even believe in Hell! I believe that our life here on earth is what we make it, which can be Heaven or Hell.
That's the beauty of Buddhism (and Eastern religions in general). From what I have read, they tend to be more lenient and not so black and white compared to Western religions such as Christianity. The philosophies are general rules.
I'm similar to you, I'm agnostic (raised Presbyterian and ironically went to Catholic school). I always doubted religion every since I could remember. It's not easy being non-religious in the Bible Belt, as there are many fundamentalists here. They tend to have very strong beliefs and are not very open to alternative beliefs and ways of life.
I've been reading quite a bit about eastern religions (Buddhism, Taoism, etc.). The two most important things I've learned from Buddhist philosophies are:
1) The idea of finding a balance between hedonism and ascetism (the middle road, so to speak)
2) Lowering my expectations.
I have put these into practice and it has made me a better person. You can't really eliminate all expectations and desires (for example, sex and food), but reducing your expectations about many things and not expecting anything in return has made a major difference in my life. I'm just a more pleasant person to be around in general. I've always tended to be a more middle of the road type of person, I that is why I was drawn to Eastern religions. I find Western religions to be very polarizing, many having an all or nothing view. People with very strong personalities seem to gravitate toward the "all or nothing" philosophy I see in Christianity.
I think it is extremely difficult to lower your expectations in the predominantly Christian, capitalistic, American society we live in today, where people expect things immediately and a certain way. We have more artifical needs than ever before (i.e., big screen TVs, fancy cars, etc.). I think in general we have become spoiled and expect many things that were not always givens in life.
Buddhism seems to subscribe to a simpler way of life. I don't think it can ever take over in a capitalistic society, as this idea of reduced expectations would never work in such a society. Capitalism is all about increasing expectations and desires. Without increasing expectations and desires from society capitalism would collapse.
I totally hear ya! I have been working on being satisfied with what I have isntead of craving something else-- especially working on valuing things that are steady and reliable over things that are glistening and temporary.
I am one of those people that was never happy with what I had, because I was always wanting more or thinking "what else is there?" I have an adventurous side of me that I really like but I've learned to balance that with a stable side or I would never be happy. For instance I was really afraid to get married because, well for one thing, my super Christian parents have a horrible marriage!!!, and for another thing, I was worried I would feel I was "settling" and bored and perhaps I would want to change my mind and do something else, like travel all around the world all alone or "fall in love" with a different kind of person etc.
Well it just hit me, that I have all I am looking for in a relationship and my life/ my future marriage will be what I make of it. I can choose to be miserable like my parents (yet "clinging" to a religion/ belief of a perfect Christian family that isn't reality to try to make me happy) or I can embrace everything great about my relationship, work on any issues because every relationship has issues, and find ways to keep my love life exciting and passionate, because I have something with my fiance that I have never had with anyone and I don't want to throw that away just because there might be something "else" out there that is right now unattainable because I am in a committed relationship.
I don't know if any of this is making sense except in my own little world. But in my personal life I've gleaned from the buddhist concepts of finding happiness within myself, not depending on a relationship or anyone else to make me happy, and not "clinging" to external sources but instead being satisfied with my choices in this very moment and what I have in this very moment.
And thank you to both Tony and annieo for the book recommendations, I'll check them out!
Well it just hit me, that I have all I am looking for in a relationship and my life/ my future marriage will be what I make of it. I can choose to be miserable like my parents (yet "clinging" to a religion/ belief of a perfect Christian family that isn't reality to try to make me happy) or I can embrace everything great about my relationship, work on any issues because every relationship has issues, and find ways to keep my love life exciting and passionate, because I have something with my fiance that I have never had with anyone and I don't want to throw that away just because there might be something "else" out there that is right now unattainable because I am in a committed relationship.
You are right, there is always more. I've thought about that myself. I realized one day that even if I was married to the most attractive woman in the world, and we had the greatest sex imaginable, I would probably get tired of her. I would always be looking for more, something new or better. If I was 6' tall, I'd probably want to be 6'1". I think humans just have an insatiable nature for everything in life. You always want more, but most mature people learn to accept good enough.
You response here made me think of a book I read a few years ago, called "Man's Search for Meaning" by Victor Frankl (I'd definetly recommend it). The author survived the holocaust camps in Germany (I believe he was in Auschwitz).
The greatest insight I think I've ever received was when he was talking about how little he and the other holocaust prisoners had, and how little freedom they had. They had almost no control over their situation. But he realized the one thing they did have control of was how they reacted to each situation.
I realized that you can't always control how you feel, but almost everyone (barring some mental or physical disorder) can control how they react to a situation. I may be tempted by junk food like any other person, but I choose not eat it often because I know if I eat enough of it I will get fat. I choose not to yell at someone even though they've ticked me off, because I know screaming will not make the situation better. I choose not to cheat on my girlfriend even though I have more attractive women who are willing and available because I know in the grand scheme of things she is overall better for me. Examples are endless.
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