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Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:18 pm
by Ceisiwr
Just wanted to see what peoples take is on the Buddhas Dhamma. Do you consider it a religion, philosophy or something else?

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:25 pm
by Ngawang Drolma.
I think it's a religion.

:buddha2:

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:27 pm
by Cittasanto
well if you look at Ancient Greek Philosophy it is very very similar, and philosophers have been Killed for creating new gods, it is also very similar to religion in a lot of ways.
I think it is a way of life which can be seen or viewed as anything people think it is

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:31 pm
by piper
Philosophy operates within the realm of discernment or wisdom, and religion involves transcendence. The NEFP contains both aspects.

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:35 pm
by Cittasanto
Hi Piper
piper wrote:Philosophy operates within the realm of discernment or wisdom, and religion involves transcendence. The NEFP contains both aspects.
What is NEFP?

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:37 pm
by retrofuturist
Greetings,

I think both words "religion" and "philosophy" carry with them a lot of baggage that is inappropriate to Buddhism.

The Dhamma is a path of self-liberation.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:53 pm
by Ceisiwr
retrofuturist wrote:Greetings,

I think both words "religion" and "philosophy" carry with them a lot of baggage that is inappropriate to Buddhism.

The Dhamma is a path of self-liberation.

Metta,
Retro. :)

I agree, to me the words religion and philosophy fall short of describing what the Dhamma is.

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:55 pm
by Fede
Manapa wrote:Hi Piper
piper wrote:Philosophy operates within the realm of discernment or wisdom, and religion involves transcendence. The NEFP contains both aspects.
What is NEFP?
Noble
Eight
Fold
Path. :smile:

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:56 pm
by piper
Manapa wrote:Hi Piper
piper wrote:Philosophy operates within the realm of discernment or wisdom, and religion involves transcendence. The NEFP contains both aspects.
What is NEFP?
Oops... I meant the Noble Eightfold Path. :embarassed:

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:01 pm
by Element
For me, whilst having elements of both, Buddhism is 'dharma' and 'dharma' is sustenance & skilful means.

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:31 pm
by Aloka
I agree with Retro and also with Element's comment on Dharma.

However, if someone says to me "What is your religion?" - then I'll answer "Buddhism" !

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 12:03 am
by Cittasanto
Thanks Fede & Piper
not seen that Abrev before

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:53 am
by pererin
The wisdom which liberates?
"I am an All-transcender, an All-knower,
Unsullied by all things, renouncing all,
By craving's ceasing freed. And this I owe
To my own wisdom ..."

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:49 am
by pink_trike
Perhaps similar to what Element and Retro said...I think it is simply a "way of life" - neither science, or philosophy, or psychology, or religion...although containing elements of all of these...and more importantly, likely not specifically conceived as any of these.

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:06 am
by Ben
According to my teacher, an 'art of living'.