this person feels that I should accept him as he is. In buddhism we feel that a person should be enlightened as he/her is ,sounds like he's confused.
199259
get him some coucilling, it should help
520057
If you are confused by religion, you are really paying attention and trying to understand honestly - spiritual teachings contradict themselves because they can't all apply all the time, they are guidelines that only apply in the right place, time and person.\n\nMaybe you are on the right path. Realizing you don't know what you don't know is the beginning of wisdom, some would say.
26568
Your question make sense to me: A tolerant person must accept the intolerant and intolerance. Doubt is the basis for any tolerance. But from there to accept that they suppress other persons and do wrong to them because of intolerance, is a big step.
547131
Have you spent much time looking into Buddhism? Since it is a Way or Path, and not a religion, it does not (according to many Buddhists) conflict with religious beliefs you may have. It's more about a way of living in order to achieve a goal (enlightenment). It stresses things like compassion and denial of the flesh (as opposed  to the spirit or true self), which I believe it has in common with Christianity, Judaism, and probably Islam (which I know little about).  It teaches many of the same core values from a perspective many of us brought up in western cultures are not familiar with.  Try reading The Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama or Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das. \n\nMany Christians and Jews will argue that the differences between their faiths and Buddhism are crucial and irreconcilable. I'm not attempting to argue with that, and I'm sure they have excellent points, I'm just working off your statement that you are coming from a liberal ideology.\n\np.s., the notion, mentioned by another poster, that only one is correct is by no means universally held. In fact, it's largely due to the big three Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam).
548564
No, Buddhism is not right for everyone...\n\n“One country, one ideology, one system is not sufficient. It is helpful to have a variety of different approaches. We can then make a joint effort to solve the problems of the whole of humankind”\n- The Dalai Lama -\n\n- Atmadeepo Bhava -
271362
resolve within yourself the need to be possessed - easier said than done...but possible. Can you accept that someone can love you for who you are. remember the world is something of a mirror of our own beliefs. (not completely) but be thankful this person is in your life - you picked them at some level...consciously or unconsciously. remember true freedom does not depend on how someone else behaves. If you make the change within youself the outer world will 'adjust'. guaranteed. This person will either adapt or the sitation will change to reflect your next lesson:-)
474298
She should have the choice to stop being an upisha if she wants. Hello?? If it's forever then Buddhists are...-no offense- kinda ...lets say not thinking b/c if you make a choice you can't back out of it??!!
552632
you are being silly - it's fat\n\neveryone likes fat buddha.  person who said "no buddha", you are wrong.  it's fat buddha.  i know he is supposed to have "attained enlightenment" and all, but even the enlightened buddha must still accrue wisdom over time, at some rate, however small.  And it is the older buddha who is fat.  (He didn't let himself go, it's just that he decided that everything should be in moderation. He thus became moderately fat)  (the "superfat" buddha is a creation of Americanized Chinese restaurants.)
85333
Honey, I often wondered the same thing...but then I realized that while we all live in our own realties, we are linked by our own human existance.  Things don't dissappear into dark nothingness simply because you have left that area.  How do I know this?  Because I am sitting here in Cleveland right now smoking a cigarette (not gange like you are), living in my own little reality.  Also, I think it is important to realize for yourself that you are just a small fragment of a whole.  You need to get over yourself, and I don't mean that in a snotty way, I mean that you are dealing with your id, which is a common human experience, and one needs to give of their selves in order to conquer his or her feelings of isolation.
555043
In the past, there was a Ch'an master who had three disciples. One day, two of them got into a heated argument. One of them went to the Master, stated his case and asked if he was right or not. The Master replied: "Yes, you are right." The monk then went back outside and told the other two monks. The other monk who had participated in the argument didn't believe him and went to see the Master himself. After stating his argument, the Master told him that he was correct. Upon hearing this the third monk was confused, thinking it's impossible that both monks are right. Thereupon, he also went to see the Master and asked: "Isn't one right and the other wrong." The Master replied: "Yes, you are right." The three monks then went to see the master to ask how it was possible for all three of them to be right. Had he made a mistake? No, all of them had been right.\nThis story illustrates that it is meaningless to get into any kind of argument. In this world, there is no absolute truth. From the Buddhist point of view everything in the world is impermanent and conditioned and therefore can only be considered from a comparative or relative point of view. When we judge one thing to be better than another we always do so from a relative or comparative standpoint. The Enlightened mind, which sees things as they really are, does not attach to any particular thing as being the absolute truth nor does it reject any particular thing as not being the absolute truth.
57107
Odd that you should use the phrase "enlighten me."\nMost Buddhists believe that the path to enlightenment is by following the way of faith and devotion to Divinity.  It depends upon one's interaction with the rest of humanity.\nZen is the path to enlightenment through intuition, meditation and self-contemplation.  It depends only upon the direct relationship one has with Divinity.  This bond is clearest when the mind is thought-free.
586821
Same question again ??\n\nI hv replied to it...ok let me write about Buddha now.  Buddha was a prince of a state...was married and had a son.  He had no problems and was enjoying his life.\n\nOne day he saw an ill person, an old man and a dead body.  He asked his chauffeur...will I also be ill, old and dead one day ?\n\nYes.\n\nHe immediately left his family his kingdom and went out in search of a way to overcome our pains sufferings and death.\n\nHe did deep meditation for long ...and finally one day he got the Light and he saw the Truth.  He then went out to spread his msg of Nirvana all over India.\n\nnow repeat abt buddhism\nBuddhism is an off-shoot of hinduism....but is entierly different from its mother-religion.\n\nBuddhism has two branches Hinayana and Mahayana.\n\nBuddhism does not believe in the concept of God\n\nBuddhism believes it is the Karma (good/bad deeds) which are continually working and we identify ourselves with this flow of karma\n\nBuddism believe that we should try to remove the cause of grief and pain...instead of discussing over the reasons or philosophies of pain or religion or god\n\nBuddhism believes that highest attainment for us is Nirvana....which is big VOID without time, space, god,soul or hell & heaven.\n\nBuddhism believe in Non-violence...hence they are against hatered, wars or spread of religions.\n\nTibetan branch of buddhism is more inclined towards getting psychic powers through mysterious yoga exercise.  There are said to be many tibetan buddhists who can perform miracles...  Their main Goddess is Tara, besides Buddha\n\nsufficient ??  :)
432056
A Zen master now would ask: what is the purpose of this question?  Who is the thing that thinks it's asking?  And why does this thing ask?  Also, reincarnation is not a buddhist concept (rebirth is which is VERY different) but, of course, whatever concept helps you is the important thing (given that all of these concepts are tools and not ends).
604927
According to spiritual standard not only are those crazy who act crazy but anyone who thinks I am this body. So, if one knows this truth and has compassion he will enlighten others. Most of the people are in illusion thinking "I am this body" so they cannot have spiritual compassion nor the proper knowledge to enlighten others. Thus, they don't do anything to others. Maybe it is better - they would just speak nonsense - nothing enlightening. \n\nHare Krishna
99188
Alan Watts wrote that to define oneself by a particular religion is to commit spiritual suicide.  Getting locked into a faith as defined by others who say you must believe such and such does very little to expand one's spirit.\n\nI believe that reading and exploring and gaining an understanding of what others believe is beneficial in beginning to find our own spiritual center.  You are doing a good job of questioning.  Don't ever stop.  I am 56 and I am still sorting through my beliefs and have come to the conclusion that I will probably do so until the day I die.  Spirituality is a very personal journey.\n\nIf I was pushed to identify myself by religion/belief I would have to say Taoist however, I feel that once I label myself that I limit my growth.  Once one uses that label Christian, then one limits one's spiritual exploration to christian texts, the same with muslim, buddhist or the striped sock gang.  By remaining open to all ideas I think we have a greater chance of working together on this planet and possibly resolving our differences once and for all
92968
That's an interesting thought.  All actions cause a reaction.  Karma doesn't quite work that way but I see what you're getting at.  Actually, karma is just energy - and opportunity to use it for benefit or not.  Going with your theme, if a person was cruel to homosexuals in a previous incarnation, then he may choose to undergo what he put those people through - or not.  For those of us born with a karmic debt to pay (I am one) it is obvious to ourselves and sometimes others that something is not quite right with the way the world treats us.  We must admit that we feel as though we've done something wrong before, and that we know we must not do it again - even preach against it.  When we pass the tests on this earth, I suppose we will choose some other classroom to further our spiritual education.
153240
I think each religion is a way for people to make sense out of their lives. It's a way to find purpose or meaning for the things they do each day. I don't believe there is any one correct religion. And I doubt that God (howeer God is defined) looks upon earth and decides that he likes some of us better than others simply because of the way he is worshipped. (I'm using "he" only as a convenient word.) In fact, I believe that God does not particularly appreciate it when people use hatred against each other simply because of a difference in religious practice. As Buddha said, "There are many paths to the top of the mountain."