Buddism

[plankton]

I have been reading a lot about it lately. I think it is a good philosophy. Any thoughts?

[trish]

My acquaintance with Buddism is unstudied, and mostly what I’ve absorbed from the common culture. That said, it strikes me more of a religion than a philosophy. I don’t see myself ever buying into reincarnation or the notion of transcendental powers (though I do have a pair of Tibetan chimes hanging in my bedroom window. The popular image of Buddism maintain it to be non-violent and self-effacing __ characteristics I can admire. So tell us, Plankton, what about Buddism attracts your interest?

[hippifried]

Buddhism is steeped in various religious & spiritual beliefs, but it's not really a stand-alone religion in & of itself. As it attaches to a culture, it takes on & blends with the local religious beliefs of that culture. Therefore every branch is different. It's yogic in nature, but it doesn't require a specific religious dogma or deification of the Buddha. Gautama was high caste Brahman, basically Hindu, & likely schooled in the Upanishads & the rest of the Vedas. But Buddhism is not Hinduism. Rebirth is a major tenet of Hinduism, but the Buddhist awakening breaks that cycle. While I'm neither a Buddhist scholar nor an adherent, I don't believe the Zen branch (east Asia) even places any major emphasis on rebirth except as an abstract in the discussion of Karma. I'm thinking "philosophy" is the more accurate term.

Buddhism is about self awareness & enlightenment. As Gautama wandered in search of his own enlightenment, he sat under the bodai tree to meditate. As he focused his mind inward, he kept his eyes open & focused on the physical realm at the same time. When he navigated the tunnel of distractions & reached the godhead, he was able to see the physical, spiritual,& internal realms as a single entity. Thus the great awakening from the numbing sleep of ignorance. The self effacement comes from the realization of one's personal place in whole.

Buddhism could easily lend itself to Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Gnosticism, & even atheist life philosophies. It might have influenced the prophets of the Levant, including Jesus & Muhammad, & the Gnostics who managed to upset the reactionaries in the "Church" to the point of military crusades. It certainly lends itself to Confucianism or vise versa, & I'm not sure who came first. I wonder if Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni would recognize Buddhism today.

[Jericho]

I wonder if Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni would recognize Buddhism today.

Somehow, i doubt it.

[russtafa]

the people that follow it dont blow up planes or massacre people so it seems great to me

[hippifried]

Buddhism is not pacifism. Buddhists & Shinto amalgamated into a combined religion in Japan somewhere around the 6th century, & ws the guiding spiritual belief throughout the era of the Shogunate into the late 19th century. Don't kid yourself. There's been bloodletting in the name of Buddah. It just happened before the era of the bombthrower.

[Schimmel]

When he navigated the tunnel of distractions & reached the godhead, he was able to see the physical, spiritual,& internal realms as a single entity. Thus the great awakening from the numbing sleep of ignorance.
That was really the breakthrough moment, and what makes it so fascinating to me. Just thinking of it gives me goose bumps. I've had similar experiences as a child, you make these realizations of the connectedness and it becomes too deep to ponder. I believe it was, for him, a feast day where a celebration of seed planting was taking place, and as all the seeds were being planted while the earth was being sowed, he wondered about all the insects and the grass itself, questioning why they must die in order for the seeds to be planted.



My acquaintance with Buddism is unstudied, and mostly what I’ve absorbed from the common culture. That said, it strikes me more of a religion than a philosophy. I don’t see myself ever buying into reincarnation or the notion of transcendental powers (though I do have a pair of Tibetan chimes hanging in my bedroom window. The popular image of Buddism maintain it to be non-violent and self-effacing __ characteristics I can admire. So tell us, Plankton, what about Buddism attracts your interest?
Definitely for me it's more of a philosophy/way of life than a religion (even though I know it's religion). It's the same as referring to the Bible or Quran as steps to follow, recommending to incorporate those teachings into your Way of Life as opposed to "following a religion." Anyway, the reincarnation and transcendence aspects are almost inconsequential to me. What you pointed out--the non-violence and self-effacing aspects are what it's about for me. Live and let live, etc...

Although, you look at today's society (western society mostly) and there is rarely ever complete silence. Back when a lot of these teachings formed, silence was easily achieved, and therefore transcendence and reincarnation (mostly transcendence) were concepts easier to comprehend. When you are steeped in complete silence (no neighbours, no fridge buzzing, no street sounds, no stereo or computer or tv, etc...) and your body is light (without food weighing it down) you would be amazed at what you can achieve in meditation.

[hippifried]

The point of meditation is to tune out the distractions.