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Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:25 pm
by Animamia
pung S wrote:saving our planet: I have a friend who speaks a lot about sustainability and even works for a not-for-profit devoted to this idea. I was tempted to say, "Sustainability? You mean Buddhadhamma right?" :)

Still, I am wondering if this person you encountered on the other board may have heard and misinterpreted something that I also heard once. This is that Buddhists are not supposed to "advertise" stuff that happens to them during meditation. Deeper states or higher states of being are not supposed to be a source of pride and therefore confusion. I do not know if my source is reliable since I cannot seem to recall exactly what I heard or where I heard it (best to let it go then). Still, maybe there was a misunderstanding that this kind of thing applied to the entire experience of being a follower of the Buddha.

with metta,
pung
Yes this sounds exactly what the lady was accusing me of. She must have misunderstood as you say. Either way I'll not argue, she can have her views and I shall have mine and we need not discuss them :)

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:34 pm
by Animamia
Kim O'Hara wrote:
Animamia wrote:I read somewhere that Buddhism is the way we can save our planet from the damage we have done and are still doing. As a biology undergraduate I fully agree with this. Of course I would never preach to anyone, but I will definitely encourage and help friends that are looking for it. If only I could get to grips with the meditation now! :)

Regards, Jo x
Hi, Jo,
This is off-topic (sorry) but worth telling you about: Eco-Buddhism http://www.ecobuddhism.org/
:focus:

:namaste:
Kim
Oh thank you thank you! I am just going to bed now and have had to tear myself away from that website, it's fascinating. I may even be able to use this for my ecology class assessment, I will have a proper look through tomorrow. Once again, thank you! x

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:14 am
by Kim OHara
Animamia wrote:
Kim O'Hara wrote:Hi, Jo,
This is off-topic (sorry) but worth telling you about: Eco-Buddhism http://www.ecobuddhism.org/
:focus:

:namaste:
Kim
Oh thank you thank you! I am just going to bed now and have had to tear myself away from that website, it's fascinating. I may even be able to use this for my ecology class assessment, I will have a proper look through tomorrow. Once again, thank you! x
:namaste:

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:18 pm
by beeblebrox
Kim, Fede, et al, what will happen if you started to wear white robes in Australia, or UK? (In public places?) I think that by looking at it in this way will bring up the actual issue to surface.

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:36 pm
by Fede
How do I post a picture from my album....?
I wear Indian style clothes all the time.
In fact, I was married in an Indian chemise and authentic pajama trousers....



mostly, I receive compliments, if anyone says anything...
Never had a raised eyebrow....
The thing is, the UK is such an ethnically-diverse country, Moslems and Hindus wear their traditional clothing all the time, so most people are used to seeing them....

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 5:42 pm
by beeblebrox
OK, I'll believe you. :spy:

:anjali:

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:16 pm
by Fede
[img][IMG=http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8983 ... 57u.th.jpg][/img]

Sorry if this is incorrect, but it's the best I could do.....

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:54 pm
by Ytrog
I've told a number of colleagues on different that I stayed in a monastery for a week (5 days) last year and they all responded positive, some curious some even enthusiastic ("I wish i could!"). So from my experience there is no need to stay in the closet about being a Buddhist.

I hope this helps the OP and any other who has doubts about telling others who they are. Just remember: don't be too eager to tell people. Don't force it down their throats. :anjali:

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:12 pm
by Cittasanto
beeblebrox wrote:Kim, Fede, et al, what will happen if you started to wear white robes in Australia, or UK? (In public places?) I think that by looking at it in this way will bring up the actual issue to surface.
I used to!
some people looked at me funny, but no problem!
mainly it was curiosity!
you can see me in my Anagarika wrap here http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 679&type=3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://manapa.multiply.com/profile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

there are other photoes of how I used to dress on Uposatha or group nights a few years ago before my Anagarika days

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:23 pm
by Goofaholix
Cittasanto wrote:I used to!
some people looked at me funny, but no problem!
mainly it was curiosity!
Until they notice you've got no eyebrows ;), then they'll think you're an escaped mental patient who has recently had a labotomy.

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:32 pm
by Cittasanto
Goofaholix wrote:
Cittasanto wrote:I used to!
some people looked at me funny, but no problem!
mainly it was curiosity!
Until they notice you've got no eyebrows ;), then they'll think you're an escaped mental patient who has recently had a labotomy.

I essentially wore a bed sheet around me, and the answer is still the same, no, they would ask, if they were curious.

I didn't just wear white, and have a completely bald head.

and so everyone is aware the shaving of eyebrows is a Thai Sangha practice not a universal Theravadin Practice.

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:26 pm
by Tyler
I might be wrong but it seems to me that dhamma is oftentimes best conveyed without mentioning Buddhism or using any overwhelming terminology that may turn people off regardless of where we are in the world. Everyone is experiencing dhamma on some level. Buddha had followers that we call Buddhists now but at the end of the day he was just offering a path to helping others realize the truth in their experience. As Theravada Buddhists we want to give our homages to the Buddha and show our membership in the group but we can't forget that our fundamental tenants (The Four Noble Truths & The Eightfold Path) speak dhamma without even mentioning Buddhism. I don't think the Buddha or the Sangha would be upset by us skillfully introducing others to the practice without their initial mention. I've met some really wise people that seemed like Buddhists that had never directly been exposed to the teachings of the Buddha at all. Samyaksambuddha,Pratyekabuddha, & those on their way to those states are out there and they are going to feel us regardless of our affiliations.

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:44 pm
by SDC
Tyler wrote:I might be wrong but it seems to me that dhamma is oftentimes best conveyed without mentioning Buddhism or using any overwhelming terminology that may turn people off regardless of where we are in the world. Everyone is experiencing dhamma on some level. Buddha had followers that we call Buddhists now but at the end of the day he was just offering a path to helping others realize the truth in their experience. As Theravada Buddhists we want to give our homages to the Buddha and show our membership in the group but we can't forget that our fundamental tenants (The Four Noble Truths & The Eightfold Path) speak dhamma without even mentioning Buddhism. I don't think the Buddha or the Sangha would be upset by us skillfully introducing others to the practice without their initial mention. I've met some really wise people that seemed like Buddhists that had never directly been exposed to the teachings of the Buddha at all. Samyaksambuddha,Pratyekabuddha, & those on their way to those states are out there and they are going to feel us regardless of our affiliations.
:goodpost:

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:09 am
by Ferox
I agree with Tyler, very few people "know" I'm a Buddhist, but many see me sitting on a bench at work during break with my eyes closed, some have thought I was sleeping haha, most don't really know what meditation is or Buddhism, I am the only Buddhist I know in my daily life but people notice my practice and they do ask questions, when they do I do my best to answer them.

the best way to spread the dhamma is to LIVE the dhamma.. to become dhamma(to steal one of Ajahn Chah's books :P)

Re: Mentioning Buddhism in public

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:29 am
by Monkey Mind
I often reframe discussions in terms of developing ethics and striving to be an ethical person, sharpening my concentration, and developing a better understanding of how the world really works; all with the purpose of being a more content person. I can usually explain my lifestyle choices as a function of these three categories, rather than "I do that because I am Buddhist." If play the Buddhist card, I am often faced with stereotypes that are hard to explain. "You're Buddhist? Whose your rimpache?" "Do you practice martial arts?" "Oh, can you explain this koan to me?" On gift-giving occasions I would receive the latest book from the Dalai Lama, or incense, or a laughing Buddha figurine. I also find that the moment I frame something in religious terms, people assume I'm trying to convert them or that I am being preachy.

Besides, I am not at all very skilled at explaining Buddhism to non-practitioners, I am more likely to confuse people than offer a useful/favorable explanation. :tongue: