Buddhism is great...
 

Really, the entire world should convert to Buddhism. Would be a much more peaceful place to live. Had a nap in the early evening, so come 6am, I'm still awake. Sure enough, like clockwork, I see the monks walk by in a single-file line, looking for their food, soap, whatever... I'm basically never up at this hour, so I quickly scramble to put together a package for them, for their return journey back to the temple.

You know how we have social security in the West? Out here, they have Buddhist temples. They're everywhere, they'll take anyone and everyone in, and provide them with food & shelter. Homeless drug addicts, guys just looking to party for the weekend but don't have money for a hotel, orphans, whatever...

No government bullshit programs involved... they just do it because that's the world they live in. It's quite nice, because that demeanor rubs off on the rest of society (in a way). :)

This has been the battle cry for all of the misery and death so far.


(but I agree, the monks got a kickin' little program going. Not sure if it's for me, but I'm cool with it.)

http://punditkitchen.files.wordpress...-crouching.jpg

Disciple: "Master, why did Bodhidharma come from the West?"
Master: "Ask that post over there."
Disciple: "I don't understand"
Master: "Neither do I."


Q: What did a Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?
A: Make me one with everything.


Q: How many Zen buddhists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None, they are the light bulb.


Q: Why don't Buddhists vacuum in the corners?
A: Because they have no attachments.


Q: How many wives does Buddhism allow?
A: You may have as many as your tolerance for misery can bear.


Q: What happens when a Buddhist becomes totally absorbed with the computer he is working with?
A: He enters Nerdvana.


ADG

i've been practising zen-buddhism since 1995, always looked for some kind of "enlightenment" and when i thought i found it - i lost it.. but you, RDFrame, in your first post, mentioned the three majic words describing (zen)buddhism the best!

..the force is strong with you. (no shit, i'm not kiddin' ..can you find them three words?)

I'm sure many, in this age of Convenience, would cringe at the self-renunciation required by most strands of Buddhism.

You don't necessarily have to label yourself Buddhist to adopt some of the same philosophies. They definitely make sense.

Buddhists are fantastic my main problem with their philosophy though is the idea that to want nothing is to have everything... I understand the concept but I feel it's a complete waste of life. In all likelihood we only get one shot on this planet and if that's the case I want to experience all life has to offer. Not shut myself off from wanting more so that I can then feel "fulfilled".

I'd gladly eat the hundred bad grapes to taste the thousand good ones.

I agree on all fronts. :)

I love the teachings of the "original" Buddha, I sort of despise the people that turn to buddhism as a "cop-out" from this world...

Buddhism is one of the few religions where it's okay to be an atheist. Buddhism doesn't find worship of and belief in "gods" as useful vehicles for its main objective--liberation from samsara (the meaningless and endless cycle of birth and rebirth)

Source: http://buddhism.about.com/od/basicbu...dhaatheism.htm

That said, traditional Buddhism as practiced by MOST of its adherents (not New Age westerners) doesn't look or feel any different from most other religions and superstitions. A shame really since classical Buddhism was one of the earliest psychology-centered explorations into human nature and self-therapy. In order for most religions to spread, it by necessity has to incorporate many local pre-existing beliefs and paradigms. Another example: Taoism as taught by Lao Tzu and how it is practiced now. Many would argue the same about Christianity and they would be right if the focus is on Catholicism. However, if the Bible is used as a basis for philosophical purity, limiting interpretation within its pages offers some limits to the theological "crawl" I mentioned above.

That's why you feel the way you do and reached your conclusion. Your premise of ONE SHOT in life. It's a Western concept. Buddhists, real buddhists, believe in a billion, trillion, actually endless shots at life. That's why the Buddha viewed it all as a big waste--being born, getting sick, dying, then being born again. He advocated a method to get off the wheel.

I'd be happy to get 10 sales in 1 kalpa.. no wait, actually i'd be happy to BE 1 sale. Or a stone.

i'm a Buddhist

I'm not a Buddhist but I do incorporate some of their philosophies and beliefs into my life. I agree that the world would be alot better off if they did the same.


Additionally, while I'm not a christian in any way, if you've ever read the new testiment the world would be a much better place if people actually followed the teachings of jesus christ as laid out there well :2 cents:

thanks for the jokes

To a Buddhist (like me) religion is blind faith.

I'm a realist. Imagination time i save for nighty night sleepy time.

People like to communicate indirectly.
And sometimes they like to flee.
A foreign woman does not shed layers like a Russian doll
She prefers to share no secrets at all

Im seeing a huge zen conflict with the shit you are speaking and your scraper script

Buddhism also teaches moderation and the enlightened middle path between extremes. If you want total and complete enlightenment, then perhaps you will have to shun all desires. But getting rid of the petty wants and desires of modern life and only focusing on those things that are true to your heart, you can come a long way in finding happiness.

:2 cents:

Oh, one superstition or the next.

Sally.

I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to notice that... :thumbsup

ADG

most buddhists have no idea about the philosophy, they are paganists, still it works well, they prefer to scam rather then rob which is a good thing

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh hehe nice joke

You kinda "fatfoo'ed" me with that reply :1orglaugh. I stand for the occidental legacy...

True enough. Various forms of Buddhism have transformed themselves into basically the same as other religions. A good way to control the masses, and get lots of money out of them.

Buddhism at its core it pretty good though. When was the last time you heard about a Buddhist suicide bomber, or a Buddhist going on some mission to Afghanistan to kill Osama because Buddha commanded him to?

For some reason catholic church consider Zen Buddhism as satanic religion :)

If you are always contented with what you've got where is the urge to progress?

Goddammit! Now i have to clean off my keyboard because viewing your post made my adult beverage come out of my nose! This is the funniest thing I have seen in weeks! Thanks for perking me up as today has been Hell! Hell, I tell you!

Sally Rand awards this post SIX out of five stars!

GFY!

Sally.

Buddhists aren't necessarily peaceful. They are only peaceful in theory. The Japanese were mostly Buddhist in WWII, and all the crap that's happening in Thailand right now, a Buddhist country.


Spanx!
Jack

No, the official religion of Japan during WWII was Shinto.

Had you been awake in history class you would have known this.

http://japanese-history.suite101.com...n_1868_to_1945

From the citation:

"After the fall of the Tokugawa government in Japan around 1867, and with the rise of the following Meiji Restoration, Buddhism in Japan was reformed and disestablished in favor of Shinto. This period, beginning in 1868 and carrying on until roughly 1945 (the end of World War II), was a period of prominent nationalism across the country of Japan and was dominated in large part by the religious traditions of Shrine Shinto and Confucian principles of loyalty to the Japanese state and the emperor.

Read more at Suite101: Japanese Religion: 1868 to 1945: Religious Currents in Japan to the End of World War II:

http://japanese-history.suite101.com/article.cfm"/japanese_religion_1868_to_1945#ixzz0uZEX5vFv

Sally.