I am not actually Buddhist but I love Buddhism and try to apply it to my life when the thought comes to me. I find that a lot of Buddhist philosophies help me to become calmer and look at things as they are more accurately and maturely. I also think In Utero is one of the greatest albums of all time.
I am not actually Buddhist but I love Buddhism and try to apply it to my life when the thought comes to me. I find that a lot of Buddhist philosophies help me to become calmer and look at things as they are more accurately and maturely. I also think In Utero is one of the greatest albums of all time.quiglythegreat
[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]I am not actually Buddhist but I love Buddhism and try to apply it to my life when the thought comes to me. I find that a lot of Buddhist philosophies help me to become calmer and look at things as they are more accurately and maturely. I also think In Utero is one of the greatest albums of all time.Cerussite
If you love Buddhism why don't you convert? I don't really know how and I don't really think I could. it could very easily be a totally impulsive thing. I've been vaguely familiar with what general Buddhist thought is for a little over a year. If five years down the road I'm still interested, we'll see. But mostly, it's because thusfar the practice of Buddhism in my life has not been effective enough to get me to a level where I am even acceptable to my friends, let alone the serenity of a Buddhist monastery.
Nope. Striving for nirvana is a delusion that prevents you from realizing it. Technically, I've already achieved it and so has everyone else... they just don't realize it.
I don't really know how and I don't really think I could. it could very easily be a totally impulsive thing. I've been vaguely familiar with what general Buddhist thought is for a little over a year. If five years down the road I'm still interested, we'll see. But mostly, it's because thusfar the practice of Buddhism in my life has not been effective enough to get me to a level where I am even acceptable to my friends, let alone the serenity of a Buddhist monastery. quiglythegreat
Buddhism in its purest sense doesn't involve any rules or rituals. It just involves a realization and acceptance of emptiness.
Nope. Striving for nirvana is a delusion that prevents you from realizing it. Technically, I've already achieved it and so has everyone else... they just don't realize it.foxhound_fox
I don't think that trying to live one's life in a way so that you are ultimately content and free from desire is delusional. I see no delusions in it myself anyway.
I don't think that trying to live one's life in a way so that you are ultimately content and free from desire is delusional. I see no delusions in it myself anyway.quiglythegreat
Well, the thing is, Buddhism is so multi-faceted when it comes to a definition of nirvana.
Nirvana to the Theravadins is the release from suffering and the wheel of samsara. Nirvana to the Mahayanists is attainment of Buddhahood (through millions of lifetimes of bodhisattvahood). Nirvana to the Vajrayanists is extremely similar to the Mahayanists but with a lot of added ritual and meditation practices (as well as practices that can bring Buddhahood in a single lifetime).
Nirvana to the basic Ch'an/Zen Buddhists (Lin-chi/Rinzai) is a sudden attainment of pure understanding caused by unorthodox or irrational experience (being struck by a teacher, falling in some mud, breaking a leg, etc). Nirvana to the Sōtō Zen Buddhists is already present in all beings (all beings are already Buddhas) and the realization of there being no inherent difference or separate existence between samsara and nirvana (Śūnyatā, emptiness) (Theravada Buddhism defines them as two different things) is the basis for it becoming "unclouded."
[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]I don't think that trying to live one's life in a way so that you are ultimately content and free from desire is delusional. I see no delusions in it myself anyway.foxhound_fox
Well, the thing is, Buddhism is so multi-faceted when it comes to a definition of nirvana.
Nirvana to the Theravadins is the release from suffering and the wheel of samsara. Nirvana to the Mahayanists is attainment of Buddhahood (through millions of lifetimes of bodhisattvahood). Nirvana to the Vajrayanists is extremely similar to the Mahayanists but with a lot of added ritual and meditation practices (as well as practices that can bring Buddhahood in a single lifetime).
Nirvana to the basic Ch'an/Zen Buddhists (Lin-chi/Rinzai) is a sudden attainment of pure understanding caused by unorthodox or irrational experience (being struck by a teacher, falling in some mud, breaking a leg, etc). Nirvana to the Sōtō Zen Buddhists is already present in all beings (all beings are already Buddhas) and the realization of there being no inherent difference or separate existence between samsara and nirvana (Śūnyatā, emptiness) (Theravada Buddhism defines them as two different things) is the basis for it becoming "unclouded."
I could go on... >_>I more or less subscribe to nirvana as being an escape from cyclic existence. I guess you're of the Rinzai mindset on this question? For all I claim to like Buddhism, I know very little about its internal structure.
I more or less subscribe to nirvana as being an escape from cyclic existence. I guess you're of the Rinzai mindset on this question? For all I claim to like Buddhism, I know very little about its internal structure. quiglythegreat
From all that I've learned I've subscribed most to Dōgen's Sōtō Zen. The realization that everything is okay (based upon emptiness and suffering being the delusion of permanence) and that we should just enjoy life as it happens in the moment. I've never really liked any of the supernatural, karma/rebirth stuff. It just goes against the true essence of what I feel Buddhism is.
What is the point in worrying what comes in the next life when it is unknowable now? Why not just live this life for what it is and be content in that alone? :)
As I've offered in the past, if you ever have any questions about Buddhism, I'd be more than willing to answer them... because all this knowledge is useless if I don't actually get to use it... >_>
[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]I more or less subscribe to nirvana as being an escape from cyclic existence. I guess you're of the Rinzai mindset on this question? For all I claim to like Buddhism, I know very little about its internal structure. foxhound_fox
From all that I've learned I've subscribed most to Dōgen's Sōtō Zen. The realization that everything is okay (based upon emptiness and suffering being the delusion of permanence) and that we should just enjoy life as it happens in the moment. I've never really liked any of the supernatural, karma/rebirth stuff. It just goes against the true essence of what I feel Buddhism is.
What is the point in worrying what comes in the next life when it is unknowable now? Why not just live this life for what it is and be content in that alone? :)
As I've offered in the past, if you ever have any questions about Buddhism, I'd be more than willing to answer them... because all this knowledge is useless if I don't actually get to use it... >_> I absolutely agree with all that, however I do not think it's wrong to consider what will come in the future. That's not to say you have control over it (because then one grows too preoccupied). I think that the concept of reincarnation is taken a little too literally, but I think that some kind of reincarnation is inevitable when you consider how similar all sentient beings are.
[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]I am not actually Buddhist but I love Buddhism and try to apply it to my life when the thought comes to me. I find that a lot of Buddhist philosophies help me to become calmer and look at things as they are more accurately and maturely. I also think In Utero is one of the greatest albums of all time.Cerussite
I absolutely agree with all that, however I do not think it's wrong to consider what will come in the future. That's not to say you have control over it (because then one grows too preoccupied). I think that the concept of reincarnation is taken a little too literally, but I think that some kind of reincarnation is inevitable when you consider how similar all sentient beings are.quiglythegreat
Most Zen practitioners/followers acknowledge the teachings behind samsara/karma/reincarnation but do not really put any emphasis on it. Like with all Buddhism, nothing from previous sect's teachings is thrown out, just adapted or de-emphasized. I see them as a possiblity... just not something I focus myself on.
The one thing I have against the Theravadin belief in karma is the emphasis put on its material existence and corporeality. It is like currency used to buy your way into a better life. Instead of following the teachings of the Buddha and emphasis he put on compassion towards others and practice of the Middle Way, a lot of Buddhists focus on gaining as much good karma as they can instead of actually contemplating/meditating on the things that the Buddha himself thought about and realized. That and the denial of the possibility of arhatship (enlightenment) within Theravada sects just makes no sense.
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