Who believes in Buddishm?
105283
Since you are interested in learning, you are obviously not doing something wrong.  There is a great book called "Buddhism: plain and simple" by Steve Hagen, it costs about 7 bucks on amazon and is a good introduction to Buddhism.\n\nAfter reading this short and easy book, you will realize that buddhism is not really a religion to follow, but simply a way of looking at the world that makes a lot of sense and can easily be applied to your everyday life, if you choose.  Buddhists don't worship the buddha and he is not a God, just a person who lived once and no longer does.  \n\nUnlike most religions, There is no reason for anyone to ever know that you regard buddhist teachings as useful, and you can practice other religions while studying buddhism and engaging and buddhist practices.  Buddhists don't usually come out and say "I'm a Buddhist" except if they are trying to make their parents mad or something, which of course is not exactly part of the teachings.\n\nAlso, buddhism does involve the concept of karma, but it's not like do good things so good things will happen to you, it's more like, try to want good things a little less and fear bad things a little less because being trapped in desire and fear can prevent you from seeing certain truths.
197662
beleive all is possible! The mind is very powerful! It can be good or bad! It's all what u make of it! It is a form of religion(believing in what is seen and felt)they cant be judged,as noone should!\nBut yes i believe they exist,they are spiritual people,they just chose odd ways to do so,that other's dont understand! Most fear it, cause they dont understand it,or they chose not too!\n I practice their beliefs, we are not worshipers of satan(but there are some who do,but we can tell who they are!)\n Live life your way,and how you see fit,cause no matter what you believe in, someday we will all sit at the judgement table together!!
757477
Technically, every Buddhist does not believe in God. There are no "Gods" in Buddhism. (Old Buddhist saying: "If you should ever meet the Buddha on the road -- kill him"). Yet Buddhism is a deeply spiritual path. Hope this answer helps.
706972
i have never trusted the media.... \n\ni'm a religious studies major...\ni make it a point to only study religions from the perspective of the ppl who practice them. what can a hindu or a jew or a christian or a muslim teach me about buddhism that a buddhist who lives this everyday cant\n\n\n***also.... since converting to Islam i have noticed the same things you have. after watching Control Room, i understood why things are the way they are.\n\n*just my opinion\n\nasalamwalaikum
71484
buddah is not really a god as we think of god.  buddah was more of a teacher and there were many buddahs ( about fifteen i think ).  to become a buddah one must achieve enlightnment through daharma.  this is kind of like a process to be one with the universe in all its history and future.  to be part of everything and everything be part of you is a simple way of thinking of it.  look to buddah in wikipedia encyclopedia for a better idea of the buddahs past and future.  pray to yourself, for you are the everything and vice versa including buddah.
325267
my guess is people who study Buddhism
52573
than you are not budhist.  you may believe in some of the philosophies of other religions, but you answered your own question.  try a site called beliefnet.com
829648
Not sure what you mean, but Siddhartha (Buddha) was raised in the Hindu faith. A lot of the concepts of Hinduism have thus found their way into Buddhism.
1121984
I agree.\nIf i said to all my class mates that there was white teapot orbiting the sun, they would think i was a derranged phsycopath, but if when you were born your parents and nearly everybody you knew said there was a white teapot orbiting the sun you would be mad NOT to believe it. Therefore if people would think i was crazy if i said there was such thing as god without any evidence or reason to say so, but if it was passed down you would be inclined to believe it unless you have a strong mind of your own and a brain! \nps: i'm fourteen years old and i probably have a higher i.q than most of you fools answering this question.\nhope i helped you!
1155306
Hello brother (see my icon)!\n\nAgree for the most part.  Except for maybe the Dalai Lama.\n\nLaypeople especially.  The more that they seek the truth and comfort in the teachings (that should be dogma) the further they really are from knowing "god" or the source.\n\nKeep the unfaith brother!
891936
Peace that lies beyond words but not beyond the capacity and understanding of any interested person.\n\nLack of peace comes from anger, attachment, an un-loving attitude & not understanding how things actually exist. These three "delusions" or exagerated minds are the basis for the unpeace that fills our lives. [ Buddha often encouraged people to examine your experience and test it yourself to see if this is correct.]\n\nA little bit at a time, through morality, boundless love, meditation & study concerning how things actually exist (shunyata) a buddhist "practitioner" learns to expand the tiny bit of peace that everyone actually has, slowly increasing it to fill their whole awareness. As the peace becomes stronger, other people start to feel it too. At some point the peace becomes permenant, and nothing can shake it from the mind. At that point, there is no longer any ability to think, feel or act in a harmful or non-loving manner toward anyone or anything, even including an insect! This is the goal - permanent peace. \n\n\nOdd fact #1:\nBuddhism (alone among the great traditions of the world) has never incited a religious war, even when & where it has been persecuted. \n\nOdd fact#2:\nThere are no Buddhist missionaries. This is a way of life, not a set of beliefs. What Buddha taught - the end of suffering -  happens from the inside. It cannot be imposed from outside. It only works with willed intent & rests in the mind of the practitioner. So there is no point in trying to convert anyone - it is not, in most senses of the word, a "religion".\n\n;-)
345554
Probably very few.  I cannot be more specific.\n\nPopulation is 6.3 million.\n\n%of people that follow another religion (includes Bhuddism) 3.2%\n\nSo you can make some calculations from these figures, but it is still a guess.
449952
Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhim, Hinduism
1185403
My Dear Friends, \n\nEverything in the above that you have mentioned is totally valid and I commend you by placing my palms together in a prayer action; this is the way that Buddhists greet each other - it represents the utmost respect and trust to the recipient.  However, if I was a non-Buddhist and read these comments, I would feel very critical and believe that Buddhism is about belittling other religions.  Please permit me to give you some of my humble insight on what makes Buddhism a much favoured religion.  But please keep in mind that the points made below are all made in different points of view; due to the different lineages and traditions, different schools focus on different teachings.  I will present you a mix.\n\nWhen introducing a religion we must speak of both the positive and negatives aspects; as most of you know there are few of the latter in this religion, but nonetheless I am obliged to raise them.  In Buddhism there are no disagreements, but rather I would like to call it a problem with viewpoint.  For example, a student in Grade 1 says "1+1=2, but we cannot have 0-1=?" It is not they are lesser or inferior, but merely they do not have the teaching, and only when we get to Grade 4, we can say "1+1=2, 0-1=-1, but you cannot have letters like 2xy".  Now, in Grade 8 the students will think that those students below are foolish, but once again it is not because they are incapable, but merely they do not have the textbook - in this case sutra.  So the main arguments or disharmony in this religion are usually due to difference in teaching.\n\nWAIT! STOP! HALT! I can hear people calling me "LIAR" and at the same time ask "how can they be different teachings if they are all from the Lord Buddha?  That must mean there are fake Buddhisms out there."  Cleverly spoken, I would reply.  However, remember that the Lord Buddha taught us, "disseminate the Dharma according to the circumstances." Although Buddha's disciples were all of great caliber, I can say after 2550 years (after His birth), that no single person is identical; thus the understanding of the Dharma and the actual Dharma taught would obviously be different.  If I have made this too complex, just look at the above example about Maths in School - see what I mean now?  After the Lord Buddha pir-nirvana, His disciples congregated to write out the Sutras, which would become part of the Tripitaka (three ways that the Lord Buddha's teachings were recorded - if interested in the other two, and then some ASK about it.  I'll answer separately.)  Of course, the followers were of great achievements, but none of the present had actually attained Buddhahood (this is in the perspective of the Theravada); hence some arguments occurred, even the expulsion of the Lord Buddha's closest aide - Ananda.\n\nBUT - this is a big BUT - there is the unanimous opinion that Buddhism, in all, is about the Universe.  Due to this Universal attitude to all things, Buddhism also respects all other religions; even acknowledging the founder of each religion a holy deity.  The Lord Buddha Himself even proclaimed that Buddhist Dharma is about the Universe and not about Him - He is merely a tool used by the Universe to show how one should behave, speak and think when on the path to liberation.  Once again, depending on tradition you can find different methods to walk the Bodhi path; for some reason everyone has the stereotypical theory that all Buddhist live in mountains, away from the populous and only hope to save themselves - this is Theravada (Hinayana).  Just for the interest of you my friends, in Mahayana they mingle with the populous with the aim of saving others before fully attaining Buddhahood themselves; then of course there comes the Tantrayana (Vajrayana).  \n\nTo do justice to the religion, I will not go on any further, because in the end of the day we must have the attitude of a 1:9 ratio.  What would that be?  1 he
367824
I am a Buddhist and believe that there is nothing wrong with your point of view.\n\nI do believe that being Atheist does threaten orginized religion. That is probably why orginized religion attacks people who denounce their faith.\n\nYou end up moving from religions that preach tolerance and peace, toward a religion that preaches blind obedience and resentment toward others.\n\nIt is sad to see that this is such a popular trend amongst the Muslims, Christians, Jews, etc of this world.\n\nBut I mostly blame the mono-theistic religions. Many pagan religions teach tolerance. And Buddhism, of course, has never fought a religious war (so that says a lot).
833554
Core beliefs of Buddhism:\nBuddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided into a number of different traditions. However, most traditions share a common set of fundamental beliefs.\n\nOne fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. In fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and rebirth. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. In rebirth, in a person does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a tree. When the withering leaf falls off, a new leaf will eventually replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical to the original leaf.\n\nAfter many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering. \n\n\n\nThe Three Trainings or Practices:\nThese three consist of:\n\nSila: Virtue, good conduct, morality. This is based on two fundamental principles: The principle of equality: that all living entities are equal. \n The principle of reciprocity: This is the "Golden Rule" in\nChristianity -- to do onto others as you would wish them do \nonto you. It is found in all major religions. \n\nSamadhi: Concentration, meditation, mental development. Developing one's mind is the path to wisdom which in turn leads to personal freedom. Mental development also strengthens and controls our mind; this helps us maintain good conduct. \nPrajna: Discernment, insight, wisdom, enlightenment. This is the real heart of Buddhism. Wisdom will emerge if your mind is pure and calm. \nThe first two paths listed in the Eightfold Path, described below, refer to discernment; the last three belong to concentration; the middle three are related to virtue. \n\n\n\nThe Four Noble Truths:\nThe Buddha's Four Noble Truths explore human suffering. They may be described (somewhat simplistically) as: \n\nDukkha: Suffering exists: (Suffering is real and and almost universal. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, the impermanence of pleasure.) \nSamudaya: There is a cause for suffering. (It is the desire to have and control things. It can take many forms: craving of sensual pleasures; the desire for fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant sensations, like fear, anger or jealousy.) \nNirodha: There is an end to suffering. (Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana (a.k.a. Nibbana). The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. It lets go of any desire or craving.) \nMagga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path. \n\nThe Five Precepts: \nThese are rules to live by. They are somewhat analogous to the second half of the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity -- that part of the Decalogue which describes behaviors to avoid.\n\nDo not kill. This is sometimes translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence. \nDo not steal. This is generally interpreted as including the avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation. \nDo not lie. This is sometimes interpreted as including name calling, gossip, etc. \nDo not misuse sex. For monks and nuns, this means any departure from complete celibacy. For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage. The Buddha did not discuss consensual premarital sex within a committed relationship; Buddhist traditions differ on this. \nDo not consume alcohol or other drugs. The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind. Some have included as a drug other methods of divorcing ourselves from reality -- e.g. movies, television, the Internet. 1 \n\n\nThe Eightfold Path:\nThe Buddha's Eightfold Path consists of:\n\n Panna: Discernment, wisdom: 1) Samma ditthi Righ
719648
Yes i do. He was a thinker who taught that in order for you to achieve happiness and inlightment you had to unattach yourself from things and concentrate. You must follow the 4 noble truths and a 8 way path in order to achieve this inlightment. He started buddhism.