Why I am not a Buddhist

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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pilgrim
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Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by 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/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like to hear your comments..
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BubbaBuddhist
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by BubbaBuddhist »

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

BB
Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?
daverupa
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by daverupa »

The article didn't really talk about the Dhamma, did it? Just metaphysics and Malaysian pedagogical habits.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
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DAWN
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by 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.
Sabbe dhamma anatta
We are not concurents...
I'am sorry for my english
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BubbaBuddhist
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by BubbaBuddhist »

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

BB
Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?
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LonesomeYogurt
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by LonesomeYogurt »

BubbaBuddhist wrote:That's kind of like resigning from the human race because people suck.
I tried that myself but housecats are surprisingly opposed to conversion.
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.

His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta

Stuff I write about things.
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Kim OHara
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by Kim OHara »

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.

:namaste:
Kim
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ground
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by ground »

pilgrim wrote: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/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like to hear your comments..
"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be. :sage:
Digity
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by Digity »

I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.
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James the Giant
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by James the Giant »

Digity wrote: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.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
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Ben
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by Ben »

ground wrote:
pilgrim wrote: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/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like to hear your comments..
"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be. :sage:
How can you possibly know that?
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
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tiltbillings
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by tiltbillings »

Ben wrote:
ground wrote:
pilgrim wrote: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/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like to hear your comments..
"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be. :sage:
How can you possibly know that?
It is perfectly clear.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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m0rl0ck
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by 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.
“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig
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Ben
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by Ben »

Religion isn't always the bad guy.
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
Digity
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist

Post by Digity »

James the Giant wrote:
Digity wrote: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.
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