Comment

Comment by Laars Zwarte on January 6, 2013 at 8:45am

Philip said:"I find it sad that people can't see the difference between Buddhism and the teaching of Buddha. Buddhism is a cult, team, social group, religion, whatever, it takes more than one person to belong. Not even close to what his message is.The message is not out there. It is inside you. You just have to find it. So sad."

I respectfully disagree. Buddha's teaching is out there, however it is less practiced than preached by many Westerners.

I cannot necessarily say "rightfully so" that Eastern practitioners look down on Western "Buddhists" (which is incidentally a fairly recent term (1801 compared to its inception for the practice/teachings) however there is that stigma of it being a "cool" religion like Scientology is among celebs.

It was the Dalai Lama himself that made me feel terrible about my own practice, having seem him speak in DC. Until I realized that it is  highly unlikely to get Buddhist "immersion" in the states without a decent income or savings because few monasteries are self supported, and the demand is higher.

So yes, "Buddhism" as we know it according to the native peoples who live it as opposed to practice it could be construed as a cult, or a social formation, however I do not not think it belies those that may have altruistic intent there. They are viewed with a jaundiced eye for not being born into it.It's a form of snobbery.

Also, what else would you call someone who chooses to adopt the the teaching/discoveries of the Buddha? I would be interested to know.

The quest for enlightenment - which to me is self enlightenment, not a deified one, is not sad, and to me THE most important part would be the 4 Noble Truths about acknowledging that my pain is your pain, we are a collective individual in that regard...etc.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 6, 2013 at 12:19am

Laars Zwarte, I like meditation as well; time for quiet, thoughtful reflection of events and their consequences as well as looking at possible options for remedies. I know it is possible to make matters worse and therefore I like thinking through to their logical, anticipated end.
I don't like trying to figure out what God or Zeus or Thor or Ra would have me do.

I believe all I need is the clarity to see a problem, the vision to imagine a  preferred goal, the energy to explore for options, the courage to try the one that holds the highest probability of success and then set to work. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 6, 2013 at 12:12am

Phillip, I understand you feel sad about ... I am not sure. What is it about Buddhism that makes you feel not sad? Am I missing something that I could learn from you?

Comment by Laars Zwarte on January 5, 2013 at 6:28pm

Hi everyone,

Just going to dive on in...

Buddhism's truths should be the human tenets, just as Christianity preaches love thy neighbor (conditionally, of course) but practices it far less than Buddhists do. I do not care for the mysticism in any religion, but there are redeeming qualities.

I would like to pick it up again, since meditation is also very useful to rewire and rest our brain.

Atheism is more practical in that it does not require me to find the rationale behind an allegedly all-seeing/all-knowing invisible entity.

Some consider us base or less intelligent because we do not ascribe to their beliefs, however I am inclined to agree we may be more prone to introspection that "tossing it up to g-d's will". Being accountable. That's about it.

Comment by Philip Jackson Armstrong on January 5, 2013 at 6:24pm

 I find it sad that people can't see the difference between Buddhism and the teaching of Buddha. Buddhism is a cult, team, social group, religion, whatever, it takes more than one person to belong. Not even close to what his message is.The message is not out there. It is inside you. You just have to find it. So sad.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 5, 2013 at 4:53pm

I enjoyed Buddhism as a way of seeing the world and creating new frames. I didn't like the mysticism, as I didn't like the mysticism of so many traditions. Atheism has no such barrier for me. If anything, it forces me to look within for decision making. I couldn't find any guru that had instand answers that worked. 
James, I am so glad to learn that Buddhism helped you overcome drinking. I like your statement, "I just thanked Buddhism for showing me the way."

Comment by James M. Martin on January 5, 2013 at 4:30pm

Welcome, Laars.  I think that even though I was not approaching it from an atheist point of view, Buddhism really turned my life around: it helped me to stop drinking.  I did not thank any God for that, I just thanked Buddhism for showing me the way.  The Dhammapada is what did the trick. 

Comment by Laars Zwarte on January 5, 2013 at 10:13am

Good day all,

New guy here, I go by Laars.

I am/was a sometime Buddhist - lapsed in the moment, but Atheism has been more on my radar lately. Especially during and after the US election where it was crammed down our throats.

I was not raised with religion, and I "chose" Buddhism...it made the most sense to me as to what I might ascribe to were I to "practice".  However I have had my share of difficulties with it, too. Some judgmental types who would tell me how I should practice.

Anyway, here I am, and I look forwards to some lively discussions. Thanks.

Comment by Philip Jackson Armstrong on May 5, 2012 at 6:45pm

Selina I was never really indoctrinated. Around 1961 I was 6 years old. My stepgrand mother suggested that my parents introduce us to religion. Anyway, we went to the sermon and then the children went to Sunday school. I had no idea who jesus was, I had heard about baby jesus.  Anyway to make a long story short, the teenager doing the Sunday school class showed me a picture of a hairy guy in one of my grand mothers dresses and said HE LOVES YOU. I freaked spewed lots of bad words and was kicked out of Sunday school. That was the moment that I new there was something wrong.

Comment by James M. Martin on May 5, 2012 at 3:44pm

Selina, that story is 69 years in the making.  I started out protestant Episcopal, went agnostic, embraced Hinduism, dabbled in paganism and the occult, went Buddhist, then went anti-theist.  To quote the Dead, what a long, strange trip it's been.

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