AlbertEinstein“Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future
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Don't see... many... Buddhists? Don't live in China, do you? Estimates vary, but even low estimates are around 300 million worldwide. That's a little more than the population of the entire united states, for comparison.
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Religion (from dictionary.com): \n   1.\n         a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.\n         b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.\n   2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.\n   3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.\n   4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.\n\n\nBuddhism follows all of the above: \n1a. They have reverence in a supernatural in that they have a very spritual view of the world, they may not have a god, however they do believe in Nirvana (somewhat like heaven, a release from the karmic cycle), and tend to meditate on these thoughts. \n1b. This is an institution based on belief, however they do not worship anything particularly. I would say that Buddhism fits a bit looser into the first definition than the others. \n\n2. This seems to be talking about something more like a monk rather than the actual religion, however still applicable. \n\n3. Obviously thye do follow the teachings of a religious leader: Siddhartha who reached enlightenment and was the first to become a Buddha. They do base their practices on his teachings: the 8 fold path etc. etc. \n\n4. Obviously the followers of this religion do feel a lot of devotion to it, and I have met many people who feel such "zeal" in this practice. \n\nSee: \nhttp://www.buddhanet.net/\n\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/index.shtml\n\nhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm\nFor more information.
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I do not practice Kabbalah, but I found this for you:\n\nAccording to kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), G-d created the world with seven divine attributes. They are: Kindness, Severity, Harmony, Perseverance, Splendor, Attachment and Royalty. Accordingly, the entire creation is a reflection of these seven attributes.\n\nThe seven attributes (Midot) are:\n\nChesed (Kindness) is the quality which causes one to give to those who are undeserving. We all are beneficiaries of G-d's Chesed every day.\n\nGevurah (Severity). G-d's attribute of discipline and justice. \n\nTiferet (Harmony) is the ability to synthesize differing, and often opposing, ideas and emotions.\n\nNetzach (Perseverance) is a person's drive to succeed. The power that motivates a person to complete a project which he/she has begun despite opposition from within and/or others.\n\nHod (Humility) -- the name speaks for itself.\n\nYesod (Foundation) is the attribute which allows you to establish a relationship with one who is lower than yourself (intellectually or otherwise) and give of yourself to that person.\n\nMalchut (Royalty) is the exact opposite; it is the attribute which allows you to establish a relationship with one who is greater than yourself (intellectually or otherwise) and receive from that person.
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You have to understand that Buddhism blends wherever it goes. Although the core teachings remain intact, but the outer bark--the "form" that the religion/philosophy expresses--adapts to the receiving culture. Therefore, iconic representations of ideas or teachings differ from area to area. Tibetan Buddhism has a unique flavor, and so do Japanese Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Thai Buddhism, Sri Lankan Buddhism, and so on. \n\nYou can think of Buddhist teachings as a vehicle, a car. You'd have all sorts of models, parts, designs, etc., but a car is still a car despite all its variable forms to choose from. \n\nTo get back to your question, the Fat Buddha ("Laughing Buddha") has been an image exclusive to Chinese Buddhism. It has come to represent good luck and wealth, which reconciles amicably with the Chinese merchantship. As for the actual, historical Fat Buddha.. we don't know if he did exist. He's as far back as a legend. I could be wrong though, about the legend part; I'm not an expert in Chinese Buddhism. You have to go dig history. \n\nThe Buddha--Siddhartha Gautama--has taught, and lived, a life of moderation so it is insensible for people from any culture to portray him as having a fat, gluttonous belly.
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sounds like a good religion to me.
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Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of life. Buddhist practices such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path - a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood.Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator God, some people do not see it as a religion in the normal, Western sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible.\nthe 'devotion' used in Buddhism is not one based on emotion, but one based on reason.\nA Buddha is not omnipotent or all-powerful; otherwise the Buddha would have ended all suffering in the universe....\nHe did not claim that he was a god, the child of a god or even the messenger from a god.\nWhen we bow, we express our gratitude to the Buddha for what his teachings have given us. This is the nature of Buddhist worship.\nWhen someone worships a god, they praise him or her, making offerings and ask for favours, believing that the god will hear their praise, receive their offerings and answer their prayers. Real Buddhists do not indulge in this kind of worship.\n\nhence, the benefits of heart sutra is to understand our realities, not to 'pray' or 'worship' the words in the sutra.
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You are both right.  It all depends on whether or not the practitioner is a believer or an atheist.\n\n If the practitioner believes in the Buddhist deities, then Buddhism is his/her religion. But if the practitioner is an atheist, then Buddhism is his/her philosophy.\n\n Its the same with Judaism. It all depends on whether or not the person is a believer or an atheist there too. If the person believes in God, then Judaism is his/her religion. But, if the person is an atheist, then Judaism is his/her culture.
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Well, I think theology is the wrong word since Buddhism is none=theistic. Still, here is a brief description of Buddhist beliefs. \n\nBuddhist beliefs revolve around a few basic principals. The first being the Four Nobel Truths:\n\n1) All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering.\n2) There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire rooted in ignorance\n3) There is an end of suffering, called Nirvana.\n4) There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path.\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path (listed below) is an intellectual understanding of the truth. The 'KNOWLEDGE' of Buddhism is liked to a finger pointing the way to the mood. The truth of Buddhism would be the moon. With knowledge, we point to the truth, just as with a finger we point to the moon. IF you focus on the finger, you will miss the moon but without the finger you will not know where the moon is. The same is true of the Knowledge and truth of Buddhism.\n\nThe Noble Eightfold Path: (Divided into three categories)\n>Wisdom\n1) Right Understanding - Looking at the world without attachment and desire, without ego.\n2) Right Thought - Keeping the mind on what is at hand and being resolved on renunciation, freedom from ill will, and on harmlessness.\n\n>Ethical Conduct\n3) Right Speech - Abstaining from lying, divisive, abusive and idle chatter.\n4) Right Action - Abstaining from taking life, stealing and improper sexual activities\n5) Right Livelihood - Doing what is right with ones life.\n\n>Concentration or Mental Development\n6) Right Effort - A persistent desire and an matching endeavor to participate in proper activates the are good and just.\n7) Right Mindfulness - Remaining focused on ones actions, speech, thoughts and lively hood.\n8) Right Concentration - by abandoning all selfishness and adopting a heart of compassion, keeping ones mind on what needs to be do including the helping of others.\n\nTo aid in the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, the Five Precepts or the moral tenants of Buddhism are:\n\n1. To refrain from harming living creatures (ahimsa).\n2. To refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).\n3. To refrain from sexual misconduct. (causing Physical, emotional or mental harm to yourself or others.)\n4. To refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit-chat).\n5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.\n\nThe practice of Buddhism is found in studding the Sutras and more importantly for Ch'an (Zen) meditating to free the 'Unborn Buddha-mind' that is within all of us. \n\nI have included a couple of links that should help you learn more is you are interested.\n\nI hope this helps.
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Yes, I believe that afterlife and religion both are relative to what a person believes, so in a sense we create how things will be for us based on what we believe.
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Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.\nbuddha is not a god. he is a teacher.\nTo many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:\n\n(1) to lead a moral life,\n(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and\n(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.\n\nBuddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life that leads to true happiness.\nBuddhism is becoming popular in western countries for a number of reasons, The first good reason is Buddhism has answers to many of the problems in modern materialistic societies. It also includes (for those who are interested) a deep understanding of the human mind (and natural therapies) which prominent psychologists around the world are now discovering to be both very advanced and effective.\nScience is knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws. The core of Buddhism fit into this definition, because the Four Noble truths can be tested and proven by anyone in fact the Buddha himself asked his followers to test the teaching rather than accept his word as true. Buddhism depends more on understanding than faith.
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The Triple Gem\n\n1. The Buddha — The self awakened one. The original nature of the Heart;\n2. The Dhamma — The Teaching. The nature of reality;\n3. The Sangha — a. The Awakened Community. b. Any harmonious assembly. c. All Beings.\n\nThe Four Noble Truths\n\n1. The Noble Truth of Dukkha - stress, unsatisfactoriness, suffering;\n2. The Noble Truth of the causal arising of Dukkha, which is grasping, clinging and wanting;\n3. The Noble Truth of Nirvana, The ending of Dukkha. Awakening, Enlightenment. "Mind like fire unbound";\n4. The Noble Truth of the Path leading to Nirvana or Awakening. \n\nAll Buddhist teachings flow from the Four Noble Truths. Particularly emphasised in the Theravada.\n\nThe Four Bodhisattva Vows\n\n1. I vow to rescue the boundless living beings from suffering; (Link to 1st Truth)\n2. I vow to put an end to the infinite afflictions of living beings; (Link to 2nd Truth)\n3. I vow to learn the measureless Dharma-doors; (Link to 4th Truth)\n4. I vow to realise the unsurpassed path of the Buddha. (Link to 3th Truth) \n\nFoundation of the Mahayana Path, these vows say. 'Whatever the highest perfection of the human heart-mind may I realise it for the benefit of all that lives!'\n\nThe Eight Fold-Path\n\nRight, Integral, Complete, Perfected.\n\n1. Right View, Understanding;\n2. Right Attitude, Thought or Emotion;\n3. Right Speech;\n4. Right Action;\n5. Right livelihood;\n6. Right Effort, Energy, and Vitality;\n7. Right Mindfulness or Awareness;\n8. Right Samadhi "concentration", one-pointedness. Integration of, or establishment in, various levels of consciousness.\n\nAlternate meanings are given as the original Pali has shades of meaning not available in one English word.\n\nThe Five Precepts\n\nI undertake to:\n\n1. Abstain from killing living beings;\n2. Abstain from taking that which not given;\n3. Abstain from sexual misconduct;\n4. Abstain from false speech;\n5. Abstain from distilled substances that confuse the mind. (Alcohol and Drugs)\n\nThe underlying principle is non-exploitation of yourself or others. The precepts are the foundation of all Buddhist training. With a developed ethical base, much of the emotional conflict and stress that we experience is resolved, allowing commitment and more conscious choice. Free choice and intention is important. It is "I undertake" not 'Thou Shalt". Choice, not command.\n\nThe Five Precepts in positive terms\n\nI undertake the training precept to:\n\n1. Act with Loving-kindness;\n2. Be open hearted and generous;\n3. Practice stillness, simplicity and contentment;\n4. Speak with truth, clarity and peace;\n5. Live with mindfulness.\n\nThe Ten Paramita\n\nParamita means gone to the other shore, it is the highest development of each of these qualities.\n\n1. Giving or Generosity; *\n2. Virtue, Ethics, Morality; *\n3. Renunciation, letting go, not grasping;\n4. Panna or Prajna "Wisdom" insight into the nature of reality; *\n5. Energy, vigour, vitality, diligence; *\n6. Patience or forbearance; *\n7. Truthfulness;\n8. Resolution, determination, intention;\n9. Kindness, love, friendliness;\n10. Equanimity.\n\n* In Mahayana Buddhism, 6 are emphasised, they are, numbers l., 2., 4., 5., 6., Samadhi (see Path) & 4.\n\nThe Four Sublime or Uplifted States\n\n1. Metta — Friendliness, Loving-kindness;\n2. Karuna — Compassion;\n3. Mudita — Joy, Gladness. Appreciation of good qualities in people;\n4. Upekkha — Equanimity, the peaceful unshaken mind.\n\nFull development of these four states develops all of the Ten Paramita.\n\nThe Five Powers or Spiritual Faculties \n\n1.Faith, Confidence;\n2. Energy, Effort;\n3. Mindfulness;\n4. Samadhi;\n5. Wisdom.\n\nThe Five Hindrances\n\n1. Sense craving;\n2. Ill-will;\n3. Sloth and Torpor;\n4, Restlessness and Worry;\n5. Toxic doubt and the ruthless inner critic.\n\nThe Four bases or Frames of Reference of Mindfulness\n\n1. Mindfulness of the Body — breath, postures, parts;\n
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Raised Catholic, became an Evangelical, ran away from radicalism and the hypocrisy explored Native American, Celtic, Hindu, Shamanism, learned the true history of all religions, rejected the B.S. Read Suzuki, studied Zen, practiced bohemian Buddhism up to present. Buddhism does not require the belief in a supreme being, or personal god, allows me to grow spiritually without putting my brain on hold, teaches that it all is just a moment and is really impermanent.
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That already exists, It's called Buddhism
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Its a bit long...but here it is.\n\n\n1) Right View\n\nRight view is the beginning and the end of the path, it simply means to see and to understand things as they really are and to realise the Four Noble Truths. As such, right view is the cognitive aspect of wisdom. It means to see things through, to grasp the impermanent and imperfect nature of worldly objects and ideas, and to understand the law of karma and karmic conditioning. Right view is not necessarily an intellectual capacity, just as wisdom is not just a matter of intelligence. Instead, right view is attained, sustained, and enhanced through all capacities of mind. It begins with the intuitive insight that all beings are subject to suffering and it ends with complete understanding of the true nature of all things. Since our view of the world forms our thoughts and our actions, right view yields right thoughts and right actions. \n\n2. Right Intention\n\nWhile right view refers to the cognitive aspect of wisdom, right intention refers to the volitional aspect, i.e. the kind of mental energy that controls our actions. Right intention can be described best as commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement. Buddha distinguishes three types of right intentions: 1. the intention of renunciation, which means resistance to the pull of desire, 2. the intention of good will, meaning resistance to feelings of anger and aversion, and 3. the intention of harmlessness, meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and to develop compassion. \n\n3. Right Speech\n\nRight speech is the first principle of ethical conduct in the eightfold path. Ethical conduct is viewed as a guideline to moral discipline, which supports the other principles of the path. This aspect is not self-sufficient, however, essential, because mental purification can only be achieved through the cultivation of ethical conduct. The importance of speech in the context of Buddhist ethics is obvious: words can break or save lives, make enemies or friends, start war or create peace. Buddha explained right speech as follows: 1. to abstain from false speech, especially not to tell deliberate lies and not to speak deceitfully, 2. to abstain from slanderous speech and not to use words maliciously against others, 3. to abstain from harsh words that offend or hurt others, and 4. to abstain from idle chatter that lacks purpose or depth. Positively phrased, this means to tell the truth, to speak friendly, warm, and gently and to talk only when necessary.\n4. Right Action\n\nThe second ethical principle, right action, involves the body as natural means of expression, as it refers to deeds that involve bodily actions. Unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. Again, the principle is explained in terms of abstinence: right action means 1. to abstain from harming sentient beings, especially to abstain from taking life (including suicide) and doing harm intentionally or delinquently, 2. to abstain from taking what is not given, which includes stealing, robbery, fraud, deceitfulness, and dishonesty, and 3. to abstain from sexual misconduct. Positively formulated, right action means to act kindly and compassionately, to be honest, to respect the belongings of others, and to keep sexual relationships harmless to others. Further details regarding the concrete meaning of right action can be found in the Precepts. \n\n5. Right Livelihood\n\nRight livelihood means that one should earn one's living in a righteous way and that wealth should be gained legally and peacefully. The Buddha mentions four specific activities that harm other beings and that one should avoid for this reason: 1. dealing in weapons, 2. dealing in living beings (including raising animals for slaughter as well as slave trade and prostitution), 3. working in meat production and butchery, and 4. selling intoxicants and poisons, such as alcohol and drugs. Furthermore any other occup
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I much prefer the Buddhist concept of nirvana and enlightenment. Inner peace would be like heaven to me given that I've never experienced it in this life.
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1) The universe contains many atoms.\n2) Absolute power curupts, absolutely!\n3) God has a sense of humor.
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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