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;
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Why I am not a Buddhist
- BubbaBuddhist
- Posts: 640
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- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
How kamma is described seems more in line with the vedas than with the suttas. Interesting.
BB
BB
Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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]
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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.
It's a good example of denger in attachement.
Sabbe dhamma anatta
We are not concurents...
I'am sorry for my english
We are not concurents...
I'am sorry for my english
- BubbaBuddhist
- Posts: 640
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:55 am
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
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Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
Yes, he quit because of Buddhists, not because of Buddhism. That's kind of like resigning from the human race because people suck.
BB
BB
Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?
- LonesomeYogurt
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:24 pm
- Location: America
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
I tried that myself but housecats are surprisingly opposed to conversion.BubbaBuddhist wrote:That's kind of like resigning from the human race because people suck.
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.
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.
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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
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
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.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..
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.
- James the Giant
- Posts: 791
- Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:41 am
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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.Digity wrote:I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.
Then,
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
saturated with joy,
you will put an end to suffering and stress.
SN 9.11
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
How can you possibly know that?ground wrote:"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.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..
“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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- tiltbillings
- Posts: 23046
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:25 am
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
It is perfectly clear.Ben wrote:How can you possibly know that?ground wrote:"I" is not "a buddhist", never has been and never will be.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..
>> 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
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
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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.
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
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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 Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: Why I am not a Buddhist
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.James the Giant wrote: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.Digity wrote:I'm not a fan of Mahayana Buddism.