Why I am not a Buddhist

[pilgrim]

This very much describes why youths and the educated are leaving Buddhism in many parts of Asia, and partly why Theravada is increasingly appreciated.
http://warforscience.wordpress.com/2010 ... -buddhist/

Like to hear your comments..

[BubbaBuddhist]

How kamma is described seems more in line with the vedas than with the suttas. Interesting.

BB

[daverupa]

The article didn't really talk about the Dhamma, did it? Just metaphysics and Malaysian pedagogical habits.

[DAWN]

He left buddhism because he was to much attached to buddhism. Buddhism, not Dhamma. His practice was to much conditioned by some fantasy about an ideal buddhist. So when condition is broken, the practice is gone.

It's a good example of denger in attachement.

[BubbaBuddhist]

Yes, he quit because of Buddhists, not because of Buddhism. That's kind of like resigning from the human race because people suck.

BB

[LonesomeYogurt]

That's kind of like resigning from the human race because people suck.

I tried that myself but housecats are surprisingly opposed to conversion.

[Kim O'Hara]

Getting back to the topic ...
I sympathise with the blogger. If the only Buddhism I knew was the kind he describes, I would probably leave too, and for similar reasons.
And I don't think he exaggerates the problems, or not much. I don't know about Malaysia but I have seen and read about similar lay practices in SE Asia and China (look at the Kuan Yin thread here, for instance).
His decision parallels the way Westerners have drifted away from Christianity as science has undermined more and more of its doctrine.
Sincere, thoughtful Christians have been trying to work out a way for science and Christianity to co-exist ever since The Origin of Species was published. Buddhists are now working on the same issues.


Kim

[ground]

This very much describes why youths and the educated are leaving Buddhism in many parts of Asia, and partly why Theravada is increasingly appreciated.
http://warforscience.wordpress.com/2010 ... -buddhist/

Like to hear your comments..

"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.

[Digity]

I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.

[James the Giant]

I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.

I have lots of Theravada friends from Thailand and Malaysia, and they pretty much believe the same things in the same way as that guy rebelled against. It's not just the Mahayana.

[Ben]

This very much describes why youths and the educated are leaving Buddhism in many parts of Asia, and partly why Theravada is increasingly appreciated.
http://warforscience.wordpress.com/2010 ... -buddhist/

Like to hear your comments..

"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.

How can you possibly know that?

[tiltbillings]

This very much describes why youths and the educated are leaving Buddhism in many parts of Asia, and partly why Theravada is increasingly appreciated.
http://warforscience.wordpress.com/2010 ... -buddhist/

Like to hear your comments..

"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.

How can you possibly know that?

It is perfectly clear.

[m0rl0ck]

All you have to do to ruin a good idea is add a little religion.
I can see how it might be tough to separate the baby from the bathwater. Westerners, i think have it easier in that respect because its often taught to us first more as philosophy than religion.

[Ben]

Religion isn't always the bad guy.

[Digity]

I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.

I have lots of Theravada friends from Thailand and Malaysia, and they pretty much believe the same things in the same way as that guy rebelled against. It's not just the Mahayana.

Fair enough. It just seems like it's more prevalent in Mahayana Buddhism. The first few Buddhist center I went to were Mahayana and I remember one of them talking about how we needed to pray more, because enlightenment was too hard...or something like that. I remember just thinking it was a silly comment and starting to sound too "religiousy". The Theravada teachings are way more in line with the Buddha's original teachings. I guess everyone needs to choose the path that suits them the most. I can't really say much else.

[santa100]

pray/not pray, believe/not believe, Mahayana/Theravada, etc. at the end of the day, if one's practice helps them upholding the silas of not killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and indulgence, or if it helps one progressing further on the 8NP, then that's good practice. One word of advice I'd like to offer to that young fellow in the blog is to have some patience and a more thorough observation beyond the superficial rituals and forms of practice. If the praying/ritual part does make one become a filial son, a faithful husband, a responsible father, or a loyal friend, then isn't it a bit hasty (maybe even unfortunate) for those youths and educated to abandon Buddhism, be it Theravada or Mahayana?

[beeblebrox]

It just seems like it's more prevalent in Mahayana Buddhism. The first few Buddhist center I went to were Mahayana and I remember one of them talking about how we needed to pray more, because enlightenment was too hard...or something like that. I remember just thinking it was a silly comment and starting to sound too "religiousy". The Theravada teachings are way more in line with the Buddha's original teachings. I guess everyone needs to choose the path that suits them the most.

I think that's good you haven't encountered this in Theravada... but even then I hope that you'll still continue your practice. It's really the only thing that matters in the end.

[DAWN]

This very much describes why youths and the educated are leaving Buddhism in many parts of Asia, and partly why Theravada is increasingly appreciated.
http://warforscience.wordpress.com/2010 ... -buddhist/

Like to hear your comments..

"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.

If this "I" is conditioned by "a buddhist", it is.
If this "I" is conditioned by "The Dhamma", there is no "I".

[DAWN]

pray/not pray, believe/not believe, Mahayana/Theravada, etc.

Anyway we all practice the same meditation, we work with same fenomena, and we have all liberation like knowledge.

Form change, nature still.
About division of teachings

[beeblebrox]

This very much describes why youths and the educated are leaving Buddhism in many parts of Asia, and partly why Theravada is increasingly appreciated.
http://warforscience.wordpress.com/2010 ... -buddhist/

Like to hear your comments..

"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.

If this "I" is conditioned by "a buddhist", it is.
If this "I" is conditioned by "The Dhamma", there is no "I".

I think you're both right.