Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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DNS
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by DNS »

sentinel wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2019 3:13 pm Isn't Buddhism core teachings teaches a pessimistic way of life ?! It can't be the top choice for most people . If one is serious for liberation , let go attachment , money , enjoyment , family , ...........what more ?
Buddhism allows one to live a lay life. Most noble ones in the Buddha's lifetime were monks and nuns, but there were some noble lay people with attainments from stream-entry through non-returner.
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by sentinel »

DNS wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2019 5:41 pm
Keith wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2019 5:28 pm
SarathW wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2019 10:14 amWorld religion tree.
https://000024.org/religions_tree/religions_tree_8.html
Interesting that they put the origin of Mahayana earlier than the origin of Theravada.
I guess the authors of that map are saying the Mahāsāṃghika is a precursor to Mahayana. Mahāsāṃghika is from about 285 BCE whereas the Theravada term is from about 250 BCE. But it could be argued the Theravada had precursors in Vibhajavada and Sthaviravada (300 BCE - 285 BCE).
To be precise , Sangha split into sthavira and mahasamghika .
Sthavira - vibhajavada - theravada .
Theravada is the third generation in this respect .
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by DooDoot »

DNS wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2019 3:03 pmI knew it! Shalom, chaver (sadiq)
I actually watched the movie "The Chosen" at a Hare Krishna house in Asia about 25 years ago. It was pretty good & obviously memorable. I once watched a documentary about traditional Jewish marriages, which impressed me (but I cannot locate it). The Hasidic video below is revealing:



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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by SarathW »

Isn't Buddhism core teachings teaches a pessimistic way of life ?
It appears like that.
But when you progress in the path you may start to feel that Buddhism is the most optimist religion.
Many people take the wrong way. Especially the people in Sri Lanka.
Perhaps it may due to the lowest gravity spot on the earth. :tongue:
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by salayatananirodha »

buddhism, because all others either lead you to buddhism or to decay-death.
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by sentinel »

SarathW wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2019 8:50 pm
Isn't Buddhism core teachings teaches a pessimistic way of life ?
It appears like that.
But when you progress in the path you may start to feel that Buddhism is the most optimist religion.
Many people take the wrong way. Especially the people in Sri Lanka.
Perhaps it may due to the lowest gravity spot on the earth. :tongue:
:toilet:

Are you not interested in having a good life ? More money , better house , good cars , what more , pretty wife , intelligent childrens , I am at lost . Buddhism on the other hand teaches No Greed , No Attachment , No More , No This No That etc etc .

If you no money then you are not free to learn dhamma , no time to learn bcuz you have to work like hell .

:rofl:
You always gain by giving
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by SarathW »

More money , better house , good cars , what more , pretty wife , intelligent childrens
Lay people can have all.
Look at me. :tongue:
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by confusedsoso »

Buddhism: for me its the best complete dharma system of all religions

Christianity: it gives me faith

hero worship: is this even a religion??? anyway I like legends and myths

Islam: they have jesus christ, muhammad, archangel michael, what more can you ask for??

Jedism: yep, you heard it right, our favorite hero Luke Skywalker has his own religion complete with lightsabers and the Force LOL HAHAHAHAHA :jedi:
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta »

I don't think Buddha's Dhamma is a religion, nor any -ism.

That said here are my top 5 among religions & religion-ish teachings.
  1. Classical Theravada - (btw, the terms 'Classical Theravada' & 'Theravada' are identical for me) - Encompassing the whole essence of Buddha's teachings; Staying closest to the Buddha's teachings, and Surprisingly contemporary to any epoch thanks to Theravada Abhidhamma, imo.
  2. Soto Zen - Quite similar meditation practice in some perspectives, compared to Theravada.
  3. A few sects of "Early Buddhism" not manipulatively relying on "so-called-Early-Buddhist-Texts", if such sects ever exist. And, I think these sects exist.
  4. May be some sects of Mahayana - Even though Lotus Sutra seems ridiculously funny, Heart Sutra is awesome & exquisite.
  5. Christianity - Because Jesus Christ literally & effectively saved many Christians from vengeful God.
𝓑𝓾𝓭𝓭𝓱𝓪 𝓗𝓪𝓭 𝓤𝓷𝓮𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓿𝓸𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓓𝓮𝓬𝓵𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽
  • Iᴅᴇᴀ ᴏꜰ Sᴏᴜʟ ɪs Oᴜᴛᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴ Uᴛᴛᴇʀʟʏ Fᴏᴏʟɪsʜ Vɪᴇᴡ
    V. Nanananda

𝓐𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓽ā 𝓜𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓘𝓼
  • Nᴏ sᴜᴄʜ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀs ᴀ Sᴇʟғ, Sᴏᴜʟ, Eɢᴏ, Sᴘɪʀɪᴛ, ᴏʀ Āᴛᴍᴀɴ
    V. Buddhādasa
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by Eko Care »

Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta wrote: Mon Oct 03, 2022 5:19 pm That said here are my top 5 among religions & religion-ish teachings.
  1. Classical Theravada - (btw, the terms 'Classical Theravada' & 'Theravada' are identical for me) - Encompassing the whole essence of Buddha's teachings; Staying closest to the Buddha's teachings, and Surprisingly contemporary to any epoch thanks to Theravada Abhidhamma, imo.
    ....
Rare in this world who at least recognize the Dhamma, let alone practicing it.
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by asahi »

1. Buddhism (original teachings of Buddha)
2. Part of Mahayana & Vajrayana
3. Non dual teachings
4. Original Taiost
5. Mysticism
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by DNS »

It looks like some of the recent posts are including other traditions of Buddhism in their lists. If we adapt this thread in that way, then my choices are:

1. EBT Buddhism
2. Classical Theravada
3. Chan Buddhism
4. Zen Buddhism
5. Pudgalavada Buddhism (as Ananda taught, you need some sense of self and conceit to progress and then on the other shore, it can be discarded)
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by Spiny Norman »

Though I was brought up in a Christian tradition, I've always been drawn to the Dharmic traditions.
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by SarathW »

SarathW wrote: Wed Oct 16, 2019 8:37 pm :focus:
Sorry to sidetrack the discussion.
My top choice as very obvious is Theravada.
My second choice is any religion that promotes harmony, peace and generosity. (but not with a gun hiding inside the robe)
I am still Theravada (Accept all Tipitaka which include Abhidhamma)
If anything I have become stronger Theravada.
I basically think all other religions are the same except EBT I suppose.
So any religion that teaches wholesome is my second choice,
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: Your top five religions (with a short reason)?

Post by Sabbe_Dhamma_Anatta »

DNS wrote: Tue Oct 04, 2022 7:02 pm ... my choices are:

1. ... Buddhism
2. ... Theravada
3. ... Buddhism
4. ... Buddhism
5. ... Buddhism
...
I see you're a hardcore Buddhist :twothumbsup: ! ... imo.
𝓑𝓾𝓭𝓭𝓱𝓪 𝓗𝓪𝓭 𝓤𝓷𝓮𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓿𝓸𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓓𝓮𝓬𝓵𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽
  • Iᴅᴇᴀ ᴏꜰ Sᴏᴜʟ ɪs Oᴜᴛᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴ Uᴛᴛᴇʀʟʏ Fᴏᴏʟɪsʜ Vɪᴇᴡ
    V. Nanananda

𝓐𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓽ā 𝓜𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓘𝓼
  • Nᴏ sᴜᴄʜ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀs ᴀ Sᴇʟғ, Sᴏᴜʟ, Eɢᴏ, Sᴘɪʀɪᴛ, ᴏʀ Āᴛᴍᴀɴ
    V. Buddhādasa
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