It seems like there are a lot of flavors of Christianity, there are several fashions of Buddhist practices. \n\nWhich ones is best for our times?
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http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/snapshot02.htm  <<< differences on Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.\n\nBuddhism is the same: there is Theravada Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism but it is all Buddhism and it all has the same taste - the taste of freedom. Buddhism has evolved into different forms so that it can be relevant to the different cultures in which it exists. It has been reinterpreted over the centuries so that it can remain relevant to each new generation. Outwardly, the types of Buddhism may seem very different but at the centre of all of them is the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. All major religions, Buddhism included, have split into schools and sects. But the different sects of Buddhism have never gone to war with each other and to this day, they go to each other's temples and worship together. Such tolerance and understanding is certainly rare. \n\nThe Buddha — the "Awakened One" — called the religion he founded Dhamma-vinaya — "the doctrine and discipline". To provide a social structure supportive of the practice of Dhamma-vinaya (or Dhamma for short [Sanskrit: Dharma]), and to preserve these teachings for posterity, the Buddha established the order of bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns)— the Sangha — which continues to this day to pass his teachings on to subsequent generations of laypeople and monastics, alike. \nAs the Dhamma continued its spread across India after the Buddha's passing, differing interpretations of the original teachings arose, which led to schisms within the Sangha and the emergence of as many as eighteen distinct sects of Buddhism.One of these schools eventually gave rise to a reform movement that called itself Mahayana (the "Greater Vehicle") and that referred to the other schools disparagingly as Hinayana (the "Lesser Vehicle"). What we call Theravada today is the sole survivor of those early non-Mahayana schools. To avoid the pejorative tone implied by the terms Hinayana and Mahayana, it is common today to use more neutral language to distinguish between these two main branches of Buddhism. Because Theravada historically dominated southern Asia, it is sometimes called "Southern" Buddhism, while Mahayana, which migrated northwards from India into China, Tibet, Japan, and Korea, is known as "Northern" Buddhism.\n\nThe main branches:\n1. Theravada / Hinayana (The great tradition or the way of the elders)\n\n2. Mahayana or "Greater Vehicle" : Variants of Mahayana Buddhism:\n-Tibetan Buddhism\n-Zen Buddhism\n-Pure Land Buddhism\n-Nichiren Buddhism\n\nhttp://www.buddhanet.net/worlddir.htm  <<< world buddhist directory (you may want to go to a temple or monastry near you & make enquiries). \nIf for whatever reason Buddhism appeals to you, obviously a bit of reading cannot do any harm. You could try a few introductory books from any tradition to get a closer idea of what Buddhism can mean for you.\n- Try not to get confused with the various traditions: just go for what feels right and ideally do a course. Amazingly, it seems to me that at least 90% of the people stick to the tradition they started in - somehow karma seems to be at work there... Anyway, the biggest differences between the Buddhist traditions are usually more on the surface than in the ideas behind the appearances. Although for example in Zen you will find very little ritual etc., and in Tibetan Buddhism you may be overwhelmed by it, at the core of the practice are the same ideas, just different methods.\n- Once you decide to get involved with a specific tradition, make sure you are not dealing with a controversial/dubious teacher or school; although someone may wear Buddhist robes or calls him/herself a lama, guru or even Acharya, that does not make him or her a saint.... There are unfortunately a fair amount of questionable 'Buddhist' teachers and c
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I am Buddhist but I understand that christianity believes the Bible to be the word of God. In Buddhism we have  writtings which are said to be the word\nof the Buddha - these are called the Sutras. This literature\nis vast - you couldnt fit it in your pocket. For example one of the largest Sutras which was the basis of many of the Chinese and Japanese Buddhist schools is called the Flower Ornament Sutra - this Sutra alone is bigger than the Bible.\n\nBuddhism also has many later texts which are commentaries on these Sutras, there are also the Tantras and other inspired texts written by other teachers.\n\nSo why is there so much written in Buddhism? Well Buddhism\nis a very complete science of the mind and how to awaken for\nevery different type of being with all their differences and their complexities.\n\nSo what should we carry around with us? Well the first thing\nin Buddhism is really to learn meditation - so going to\na qualified meditation teacher and learning meditation is the first step. You then have that with you at all times.\n\nGood luck\nBodhicitta
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hi there, mehereintheeast.  I'm not sure exactly where you can take Chinese classes.  I took some Chinese a few years ago and the way I found a teacher was by going to the campus of a university and asking people who looked Chinese. (Amazingly, every person who I thought was Chinese was actually from China.)\n\nYou answered my question about Guru Rinpoche, and I have a few more questions about it.  Your answer implied that Buddhas are not monks.  Most forms of Buddhism consider Shakyamuni Buddha to have been a monk, and in the Pali texts, he refers to himself that way, as do his disciples.  Is there a different view in the Nyingma school?  In the present case, I am not calling only lamas monks, but all five levels of ordained practitioners as defined by Tibetan Buddhism. Also, is there any record of Padmasambhava having been ordained?  He trained at monasteries in India, but I don't think he was actually ordained.  And finally, have you had any contact with Tibetans, Nyingmapa or otherwise, who feel that his choice to have various female consorts prevents him from maintaining the status of being a monk?  I understand that some people there feel that way.\n\nThanks.
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reincarnation is not a buddhist idea...its a hindu idea. buddhist believes in rebirth.\n*****************\n(superstitions,) taoism, confucianism & buddhism will always be in every chinese's psyche. communism will never be able to erase it. \n-ask any 2nd generation ABC (american born chinese/ australian born chinese), we all agree that fillial piety comes 1st. (evidently, fillial piety is a confucian's virtue).\n-folk culture are also running high on every chinese. during chinese new year, the youngs will receive red packet, & pray to gods, with lion/ dragon dance...etc\n(that is evidently taoism & folk culture)\n- folk religion, like praying to ancestors, burning papers,etc are so closely connected to every chinese family.\n- shaolin temples (buddhist)/ wutang (taoist) may see a decline in  monks & disciples, but their temples are always full of visitors for prayers.\n- death is a BIG issue for every chinese...which funeral you see in chinese are simply buried? it has to go thru' taoist/ buddhist rites 1st. \nso, for all the sino- chinese in the mainland, with the relaxation of the religious rules, they may have lost touch with religions, it is never lost. it's gaining momentum...but still, money comes 1st, they are seeking out opportunites to earn money 1st before religions.\nnevertheless, like i mentioned, these 3 doctrines are deeply embedded in every chinese, mainland or overseas.\n***********\nislam came through to china from the silk road, hence you can see that the communities around the silk road routes are converted to muslims (example xinjiang). it has been in china for over 1500years, but its effects are still limited. the famous muslim in china is still: zheng he.\n**********\nchristianity/ catholic faith is slowly gaining in popularity. but presently, it is still having its setbacks. i believe the communist country is wary of it, with its association of its revolutionary past.\nshanghai was once a populous christian/ catholic city, before the 2nd world war. after that, most christians revoutionaries (pro- democracy) lost & retreated to taiwan.
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It's not Buddhism because there are Buddhist warriors. Look it up. I would have to say the most peaceful religion is the one that no one practices.
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Well i seriously  would have to argue the whole hinduism buddhism thing. But none the less... Christains spread there relegeon not only because  they feel the need to share the truth with people. but also scripture teachs that if you love Christ you will feed his sheep which is to say share his word with those who do not know him.I pray someday you too will come to know Jesus. May God bless you
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this question has brought out the degree of dogmatic pig headedness that if have come to expect here!!!!\n\nto answer your question, i once new a catholic priest who left the church to marry a buddhist lady. although he remained catholic, they respected each other and were secure enough in their beliefs to accept the differences. I don't thinkk that many who answeed this question are mature enough to manage this.
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from what you are describing I would recommend Buddhism but I could be wrong \n\ntry out this web site and see what your religion should be\n\nhttp://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html
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Every buddhist shold be avoid doing sins(bad things) and practice doing merits,(good things)\n\n\nhttp://www.metta.lk/
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*Muttering for some of my better answers this last week got caught in those deletions*\nI myself am a rather strange mixture of eastern (mostly Buddhist), druidic and shamanistic beliefs. As to information sources, this one seems pretty good for a one stop comparison of most major religions including wicca. http://www.religionfacts.com
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Dunno but it sounds good.\n\nIts being probably being deleted because the bot looks for words like "Sex" in questions.\n\nfound this.\n\nTantra is that Asian body of beliefs and practices which, working from the principle that the universe we experience is nothing other than the concrete manifestation of the divine energy of the godhead that creates and maintains that universe, seeks to ritually appropriate and channel that energy, within the human microcosm, in creative and emancipatory ways.\n\nAccording to Tantra one can go beyond the sexual plane of existence only by accepting it fully, utilising it and spiritualising ones innate sexual tendencies towards greater awareness. Several approaches are recognised as a way of conditioning aspirants prior to sexual meditation.
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Being pagan I have a LOT of religious objects. Symbols of my religion, statues, and clothing are good examples. I try to live my life for the gods and so my home reflects that. I know you weren't interested in religious texts, but I have a library of archeological books that tell of my religion. These are useful at times when I need to tell others about my religion. I also have an extensive library of christian literature for use when I need to explain christian religion to people who are part of that religion.
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FOLKS, LISTEN UP!!!!\n\nThere are 10,000 religions practiced on Earth today!!!  TEN THOUSAND!!!  You would "die" for your beliefs in just ONE of them?  Have you even studied any of the others?  What if you got it WRONG?  What if you're dying for the WRONG belief system.  Can you really say, TRULY, that you've studied all of the belief systems and that yours is THE ONE?\n\nMy goodness, there are almost 34,000 DENOMINATIONS OF CHRISTIANITY!!!  Have you studied ALL OF THEM?  It would be a shame to lose your life over one belief system out of TENS OF THOUSANDS...when you've only studied one.  It's like saying, "Carrots are the one true vegetable!", when there are thousands of vegetables, and you've only eaten one.  I would invite you to go back to the "religious salad bar" and eat from more than one tray.  Then, you get to pick from experience, not from blind acceptance.\n\nI wish you Peace.
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Why not? Even if yoga originated from other cultures it doesn't mean that Christianity puts a ban on all things that make you feel good.
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I don't know \nfind a temple or a another Buddhist. check the web to see what they do.\nwhy do you want to turn Chinese? I mean their culture is cool but that's for them. you don't need to be in a certain religion to be spiritual just live your life in a good way and gather the knowledge of  life.  you can meditate at yoga( its really nice if the teachers good)\nBut what ever floats your boat!
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<chuckle>\n\nWith as much politics as there already is on YA!, I'd hesitate to form a church here too.\n\nSo far, it's been either Christian of Muslim bashing.  Some one's been trying to stir it up for the Hindus. Atheist have been attacking Christianity, but I don't think they are Atheists.  These ones only attack Christianity.  Which leads me to believe that they are anti-christian.  And, of course, you have Christianity and Islam ramming verse down every one's throat.  Mean while, Wicca, Buddha, Scientology are looking at us like brawling children.  \n\nI'm sure there's a ton of other faiths out there I didn't mention.  I meant no disrespect, I'm just ignorant.\n\nNo, I don't think humanity is ready for an E-faith.  Maybe if we called it the " Force " or something non-descript like that, it might work.  But imagine the hell we'd go through just establishing the doctrine :)\n\nBest wishes.
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I think that many of us are interested in learning about other cultures and religions, but few of us have time or passion enough for classes.  I think that is why this venue is so popular.  By talking to people from different faiths and cultures you can see different sides of the same issue.\n\nIt is true, that we know very little of Islam here (USA) - and while I am interested, I get the most out of the conversational answers than the 'teachy preachy" ones.  I am very happy in my own Faith and am not looking to convert, but I am always happy to discuss ideas and learn a dfferent point of view.\n\nThank you so much for taking the time to state (and I imagine, restate) your point of view and for trying to help us all to learn more about your faith.  I am sure that it is as beautiful and beneficial as a faith can be, and I am looking forward to learning more about it.\n\nPeace!