Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

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Ceisiwr
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Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post by Ceisiwr »

Just wanted to see what peoples take is on the Buddhas Dhamma. Do you consider it a religion, philosophy or something else?
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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Ngawang Drolma.
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post by Ngawang Drolma. »

I think it's a religion.

:buddha2:
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Cittasanto
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
piper
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post by piper »

Philosophy operates within the realm of discernment or wisdom, and religion involves transcendence. The NEFP contains both aspects.
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Cittasanto
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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?
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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retrofuturist
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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Ceisiwr
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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.
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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Fede
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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:
"Samsara: The human condition's heartbreaking inability to sustain contentment." Elizabeth Gilbert, 'Eat, Pray, Love'.

Simplify: 17 into 1 WILL go: Mindfulness!

Quieta movere magna merces videbatur. (Sallust, c.86-c.35 BC)
Translation: Just to stir things up seemed a good reward in itself. ;)

I am sooooo happy - How on earth could I be otherwise?! :D


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piper
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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:
Element

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post by Element »

For me, whilst having elements of both, Buddhism is 'dharma' and 'dharma' is sustenance & skilful means.
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Aloka
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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" !
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Cittasanto
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post by Cittasanto »

Thanks Fede & Piper
not seen that Abrev before
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
pererin

Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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 ..."
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pink_trike
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post 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.
Vision is Mind
Mind is Empty
Emptiness is Clear Light
Clear Light is Union
Union is Great Bliss

- Dawa Gyaltsen

---

Disclaimer: I'm a non-religious practitioner of Theravada, Mahayana/Vajrayana, and Tibetan Bon Dzogchen mind-training.
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Ben
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Re: Buddhism - Religion or Philosophy

Post by Ben »

According to my teacher, an 'art of living'.
“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

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