how do contemporary buddhist practices reflect the foundation of the religion.?
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http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bogoda/bl139.html  <<< hope this helps
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Just come back from a Buddhist temple 1 hour ago!Had a visiting monk from California giving a sermon on morality!\nSo what goes on in the temple?When there is no function devotees might come and do meditation.Not much decoration,but we have a big Buddha image with neon light behind the head!You are welcome to visit any of the Buddhist temple!
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okay, i'm by no means an expert, but i wanna try anyway.\n\nbuddhism's got somethin' called The Four Noble Truths, which basically outline the nature of suffering, and The Eightfold Path, which tells ye how to deal with and hopefully eliminate suffering.  maybe i got that backwards, but i don't think so.\n\npart of ending suffering is right thinking (compassion is another).  since some pornography is exploitive (not all), then i think that the support of such would be frowned upon by buddhists.\n\non the other hand, you have different levels of involvement.  y'got y'lay buddhists--your everyday people.  and y'got y'monks--those who devote the entirety of their lives to buddhism.  for the latter, i'm pretty sure they must remain celibate (and dry--that means no booze), so either that one thang (ach, censorship!) or pornography i'm guessing would not be allowed.  even with lay-buddhists in general, i think drinking is still frowned upon somewhat...\n\nokay, not all monks can't drink and such...  so i've heard, the shaolin monks are exempt from the drinking rule (don't know about taking a wife) because long, long ago, they saved the emperor.  in thanks, he allowed them some leniency in their practices...  it's not like they can just go to a bar and drink whene'er they want though!!  their life is still quite involved with the temple, and that's putting it mildly!\n\ni hope that helps.  if not, i'm sure you can find some good resources on e-sangha.  it's a free buddhist newsgroup.\nhttp://www.lioncity.net/buddhism
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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
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my guess is people who study Buddhism
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If you are referring to the Eightfold Path in Buddhism, you simply respect the eight rules. This includes:\n\nRight Livelihood (you should not earn your money as a soldier, weapons-dealer, sex trade worker, drug dealer or butcher)\n\nRight Meditation\n\nRight Thought (keeping the mind clear of negative/hateful/intolerant thoughts)\n\nRight Speech (words that are honest, kind, worthy and nurturing)\n\nRight Conduct (do no harm to others)\n\nRight Mindfulness (i.e. awareness)\n\nRight Effort (effort to putting the other parts of the path into action)\n\nRight Concentration
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In my opinion, Buddhism is amazing. First off, it is a religion based on a philosophy of peace and compassion for all beings. Not just those that believe as we do. It doesn’t matter if a person is a Buddhist, a Christian, a Muslim, a Wiccan or an atheist. All beings are treated with respect. \n\nBuddhism focuses on the hear and now. The idea is put an end to suffering. We are not overly concerned with life after death or with the history of the universe. Focusing on what was and what may be detracts from the now and anxiety about what will be or pondering the truth behind what has been, can cause suffering. So why worry about that which you can not change? Besides, nothing science proves or disproves changes anything about Buddhism. Buddhism is not concerned with evolution or creationism, we are here, that's all that matters. It would be nice to know, but it does not impact our beliefs in any way. \n\nBuddhism is very open when it comes to the world at large. Buddhism stresses that others should never be harmed, directly or indirectly. So anything that does not hurt others or ourselves is acceptable in Buddhism. Where other religions have restrictive rules that state that certain things are immoral or wrong, Buddhism has the Noble Eightfold Path. The rules of most other religions dictate what must be done or what must not be done. The eightfold path is a guide for living properly and maintaining good karma. It is not a book of absolute roles. The idea is to try your best to live by the path and each day strive to do better. Buddhism teaches that by following the Noble Eightfold Path, you can end suffering. If you do not follow the path, then your suffering will not end. It is not punishment, it is causality. For instance, if you are given a remedy for an ailment and you do not take the remedy, you will remain sick, if you take the remedy, you get well. There is no punishment for not taking the remedy other then the consequences of not taking the remedy. Likewise, the only consequences of not following the Noble Eightfold Path is not ending suffering. The Noble Eightfold Path can be summarized into three categories: wisdom, virtue, and concentration and are as follows:\n\n<Wisdom>\nRight Understanding or Right Perspective: This is the understanding or knowledge of suffering and what causes it.\n\nRight Thought: This is the refraining from thinking ill thoughts about yourself or others. \n\n<Virtue>\nRight Speech: Abstaining from lying, abusive speech, idle chatter and divisive speech.\n\nRight Action: Abstaining from taking life, stealing, improper sexual activity, harming others or yourself.\n\nRight Livelihood: abandoning any livelihood that conflicts with the Noble Eightfold Path. For instance, doing any job that intentionally causes harm to others would be an improper lively hood.\n\n<Concentration>\nRight Effort: The endeavor to abandon all things that conflict with the Noble Eightfold Path. In other words, endeavoring to maintain Right Action or Right Speech. \n\nRight Mindfulness: Keeping in mind what is at hand. A person should at all times be aware of his/her body, feelings, thoughts  and actions. Avery action should be fully experienced and deliberately performed. \n\nRight Concentration: Keeping the thoughts on the here and now. Knowing what you are doing and doing that thing to the best of your ability.  In other words, not daydreaming about doing something else while performing the tasks at hand. \n\nThese eight guidelines for the ending of suffering all revolved around the two core ideals of Buddhism, Compassion and Mindfulness. This shows the fundamental wisdom of Buddhism. One can not start a war and claim that it is in the name of Buddha, since war is NOT compassionate, it can not be done for the sake of Buddhism. You can not lie, cheat or steel in the name of Buddhism, because these actions cause harm and thus can not be done for the sake of Buddhism. A person can not go out and put dow
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They both sound really good; HOWEVER, my obsessive-compulsive disorder is making me have to punctuate them for you and make a few minor changes!\n\n"At first glance, one could not possibly understand the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity.  Although both religions differ in their views on man's ultimate destiny, they are both driven by the proclamation that the ultimate responsibility to one's destiny lies solely upon himself.  Unlike Hinduism, both Buddhism and Christianity are known as "world religions" that attribute followers, not merely in one country, but all over the world."\n\nOkay, I started to fix the second paragraph, but then I noticed that in one breath you're saying that both religions "differ from their views on man's ultimate destiny" and in the next breath, you're saying that "they are both driven by the proclaim that the ultimate responsibility to one's destiny lies upon themselves"  which is completely contradictory!  So I couldn't go any further.  You should use the first paragraph...it sounds great!
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http://www.ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html <<< koans\nhttp://www.hsuyun.org/Dharma/zbohy/Literature/essays/sangha-essays/reflections.html\n\nDeveloped from CH’an a school of Chinese Buddhism formed in the Seventh century from a blend of Taoism (Chinese philosophy outlined in the TaoTeChing). It aims is to achieve harmony with all that is by pursuing inaction and effortless) and Mahayana teachings. The school stressed experience rather than learning. One of the heroes of Zen is the fierce – looking Indian monk Boddhidharma who brought Buddhism to China.\n\nAbsolute faith is placed in a person’s own inner being. Zen came to Japan in the 13th century five centuries after the orthodox forms of Buddhism. It appealed because of its emphasis on the uselessness of words and the insistence of action without thought.\n\nZen teaches the possibility of enlightenment in the here and now, unlike the tendency that have developed in other strands of Buddhism as far off goals. It teaches that enlightenment is a spontaneous event, totally independent of concepts, techniques or rituals. Zen Monks are based on doing things, learning through experience.\n\nEsoterically regarded, Zen is not a religion but rather an indefinable, incommunicable (fukasetsu) root, free from all names, descriptions, and concepts, that can only be experienced by each individual for him- or herself. From expressed forms of this, all religions have sprung. In this sense Zen is not bound to any religion, including Buddhism. It is the primordial perfection of everything existing, designated by the most various names, experienced by all great sages, saints, and founders of religions of all cultures and times. Buddhism has referred to it as the "identity of samsara and nirvana." From this point of view zazen is not a "method" that brings people living in ignorance (avidya) to the "goal" of liberation; rather it is the immediate expression and actualization of the perfection present in every person at every moment.
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There is a reasonable amount of eastern philosophy in London. I know of Buddhist monasaries around London (I used to go to the monastary in Wimbledon when I could) and judging by the number of people from the subcontinent, I would guess that hinduism is fairly common. You could be correct though, about some of the lesser known teligions.
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So Buddhism and Christianity by definition are different religions, and one should be careful when trying to "mix" them. For example, Buddhism does not believe in a "creator-God" who controls the world and similarly, Christianity does not believe in karma or rebirth. \nOn the other hand, it may not be a bad idea to look at what we can learn from each other: the beautiful Christian practice of helping others in need is just as useful to Buddhists, as Buddhist meditation techniques can help Christians.\n\nmeditation (there's nothing 'spiritual' or 'buddhism' about it):\nThe practice of meditation basically complements the inherent nature of your mind. The negative patterns that we talked about--aggression and anger--are not inherent characteristics of the mind. So when you practice meditation and begin to relate to the inherent state of the mind, these enlightened qualities can surface, and the intensity and frequency of the habitual patterns are subdued. Then you can discover such potential qualities as compassion and loving-kindness.\n\nprayer in buddhism:\nBuddhists don’t pray to a Creator God, but they do have devotional meditation practices which could be compared to praying. Radiating loving-kindness to all living beings is a practice which is believed to benefit those beings.\n\nin buddhism: chanting mantra (prayer) & meditation compliment each other.\n\nin christianity: prayer is a communication with god. meditation is a stress relieving method (like yoga). they don't compliment each other by most christian denominations.\n\nin buddhism:\nUnlike other religions, it does not even attempt to answer questions like 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' . Buddhism regards such questions as at best unanswerable and probably intrinsically meaningless. The only purpose of life is what we personally give to our own lives. Buddha suggested that the most meaningful use of life was to seek liberation from ignorance, suffering and the cycle of samsaric rebirth, both for one's self and others. But this 'meaning' does not reside 'in the sky' or in any way outside of the individual, and it cannot be imposed, but must be freely chosen.\nMost other religions go further than Buddhism, and if asked 'What is the purpose of life, the universe and everything?' will usually come up with an answer along the lines of 'To fulfil the will of God.' \nThis invites the further question of 'What is the will of God', which usually brings forth an answer to the effect that 'God's will is to create life, the universe and everything'.
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You can start going to a local buddhist group.  Most communities have them.  Look in the phone book or on the internet.  Sangha or Dharma are good words to use.  Asian temples are often buddhist, so you can start there if nothing else.  Start reading buddhist books and practicing meditation.  If you do it you will become it.  And stop going to christian church if you don't want to be christian anymore.
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Buddhism generally explain the cause of our existence , and how to end the rebirth cycle . The main core teaching of The Lord Buddha is the Four Noble Truth and the Noble Eight Fold Path . These teachings or Dharma preach by The Buddha teaches us on how to end our suffering by practicing Morality ( Sila ) , Samadhi ( Concentration ) and Panna ( Wisdom )\n\nFrom the Dharma that The Lord Buddha have preached to us , the cause of Suffering ( our existence ) is due to Tanha ( attachment ).  Literally , Tanha means thirst which covers all the senses of greed , lust , desire, cravings , and likes .\n\nWhen there is Tanha , there will be suffering . For example , people who are very greedy and love their money so much that they do not want to be apart . This is the attachment and when they loss their money , they feel very sad which is clearly a suffering to them . Or when one loss a love one , this is also a suffering because they are very attached to the decease .\n\nAs summary : Suffering is the cause of Attachment . Attachment is the cause of Wrong View . Wrong view is the cause of Ignorant . So , By learning and practicing the Dharma , one is expected to eliminate Ignorant ( Moha / Avijja in Pali Language ) which eventually , eliminates sufferings in the end . \n\nIt may be very hard to understand Budhhism here because you may not understand what i say here . However , what i have written here is only a very general idea on what Buddhism is since there are those who have already told you who the Buddha is .\n\nIf you are interested in knowing more about Buddhism , you can always attend to the nearest Buddhist temple or other Buddhist website. There is no regulation such as if you enter a Buddhist Temple , you must be a Buddhist . Every people ( from other religion or all walks of life )is allowed to come , investigate , question and study the Dharma ( teachings of the Buddha ) without the need to convert to Buddhism if he / she has no intention to do so .\n\nHowever , for those who wish to create havoc by questioning every thing about the teaching of the Buddha in which his / her objective is not towards the understanding of the religion but more to condemning the religion , i urge them all to be more understanding and stop their action as many people will be irritated or hurt by their words.\n\nSadhu , May all be well and happy ..
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In the United States the dominant form of Buddhism is Mahayana Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism is confined to a few viharas. \nBuddhism in the West is a relatively recent development made possible by the breakdown in the State protection accorded to Christianity in Europe. When Buddhism became first known in the West it evoked great interest, especially as it came at a time when Darwinism and other areas of scientific discovery had considerably eroded the basis of Christianity. However this initial spurt of enthusiasm has not been kept up, and since then the Dhamma has been in regression in most of the West, at least amongst the native populations. \n\nTwo dangers confront the spread of Buddhism in the West in the present period. One is the spread of ethnic Buddhism which in some instances has transformed the universal message of the Buddha into a parochial cult. The other is the attempt to transform Buddhism into a minor meditation therapy by certain "teachers" who have not understood the role that "meditation" plays in the Buddha's scheme of liberation, as most of these "teachers" of Buddhism have learnt their "meditation" from Eastern gurus.\nBuddhism in Western countries have taken up two main routes. One is the formation of Buddhist Societies mainly amongst lay-persons centered on the study of texts, and lectures by experts or exponents of Buddhism. The other route was to establish Viharas which have been the usual units around which Buddhists have congregated in Theravaada countries. In most Asian countries the institutional mode is almost exclusively the Vihara model, but in the West it was normal for secular Societies to be established. However both modes can and indeed should exist in the West, but the Viharas established in the West should be in the mainstream of Buddhism, not replicas of ethnic temples imported from the East. We shall consider both these modes of institutional Buddhism in the West, but with the greater emphasis on the Vihara mode.
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Why not just go to your local sensei and seek advice from him directly? Doesn't he know more about asian religion than a PhD figure who is proabbly a Christian? Check out this website (I am familliar with Buddhism only sorry) They will answer your questions if you ask them.
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these people online might not give you accurate information. You may want to search "Buddhism" online.
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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