Community > General Religion Chat

Topic: The Way of Inquiry (Buddhism)
Belushi Joined Sat 04/07/07 Posts: 2995	Thu 08/21/08 08:42 PM
You have as much chance of getting a sensible reply to this, as finding pork at a jewish wedding! mmmmmmmmmmm.....bacon.... ..attachment leads to suffering.... wish I had some bacon....gee, Im sad.... D'oh! Hey! You think you have problems ... Im in a muslim country! I could crawl over broken glass on my hands and knees for a decent bacon sandwich!

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Thu 08/21/08 11:00 PM
just tell me the title of the book and i'll read IT. thanks no title at all. Various information from different websites. Very interesting to research on Buddhism. Try it one day and you will see.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Thu 08/21/08 11:01 PM
You have as much chance of getting a sensible reply to this, as finding pork at a jewish wedding! mmmmmmmmmmm.....bacon.... ..attachment leads to suffering.... wish I had some bacon....gee, Im sad.... D'oh! Hey! You think you have problems ... Im in a muslim country! I could crawl over broken glass on my hands and knees for a decent bacon sandwich! There is always turkey bacon!

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Fri 08/22/08 06:59 AM
No Creator God The Buddha pointed out that no God or priest nor any other kind of being has the power to interfere in the working out of someone else's Kamma. Buddhism, therefore, teaches the individual to take full responsibility for themselves. For example, if you want to be wealthy then be trustworthy, diligent and frugal, or if you want to live in a heaven realm then always be kind to others. There is no God to ask favours from, or to put it another way there is no corruption possible in the workings of Kamma. Do Buddhists believe that a Supreme Being created the universe? Buddhists would first ask which universe do you mean? This present universe, from the moment of the 'big bang' up to now, is but one among countless millions in Buddhist cosmology. The Buddha gave an estimate of the age of a single universe-cycle of around 37,000 million years, which is quite plausible when compared to modern astrophysics. After one universe- cycle ends another begins, again and again, according to impersonal law. A Creator God is redundant in this scheme. No being is a Supreme Saviour, according to the Buddha, because whether God, human, animal or whatever, all are subject to the Law of Kamma. Even the Buddha had no power to save. He could only point out the Truth so that the wise could see it for themselves. Everyone must take responsibility for their own future well-being, and it is dangerous to give that responsibility to another.

ddn122 Joined Mon 11/05/07 Posts: 12855	Fri 08/22/08 07:01 AM
ok, have...will continue....prefer the... I ching just tell me the title of the book and i'll read IT. thanks no title at all. Various information from different websites. Very interesting to research on Buddhism. Try it one day and you will see.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Fri 08/22/08 01:51 PM
The Illusion of Soul The Buddha taught that there is no soul, no essential and permanent core to a living being. Instead, that which we call a 'living being', human or other, can be seen to be but a temporary coming together of many activities and parts - when complete it is called a 'living being', but after the parts separate and the activities cease it is not called a 'living being' anymore. Like an advanced computer assembled of many parts and activities, only when it is complete and performs coherent tasks is it called a 'computer', but after the parts are disconnected and the activities cease it is no longer called a 'computer'. No essential permanent core can be found which we can truly call 'the computer', just so, no essential permanent core can be found which we can call 'the soul'. Yet Rebirth still occurs without a soul. Consider this simile: on a Buddhist shrine one candle, burnt low, is about to expire. A monk takes a new candle and lights it from the old. The old candle dies, the new candle burns bright. What went across from the old candle to the new? There was a causal link but no thing went across! In the same way, there was a causal link between your previous life and your present life, but no soul has gone across. Indeed, the illusion of a soul is said by the Buddha to be the root cause of all human suffering. The illusion of 'soul' manifests as the 'Ego'. The natural unstoppable function of the Ego is to control. Big Egos want to control the world, average Egos try to control their immediate surroundings of home, family and workplace, and almost all Egos strive to control what they take to be their own body and mind. Such control manifests as desire and aversion, it results in a lack of both inner peace and outer harmony. It is this Ego that seeks to acquire possessions, manipulate others and exploit the environment. Its aim is its own happiness but it invariably produces suffering. It craves for satisfaction but it experiences discontent. Such deep- rooted suffering cannot come to an end until one sees, through deep and powerful meditation, that the idea 'me and mine' is no more than a mirage. These seven topics are a sample of what the Buddha taught. Now, to complete this brief sketch of Buddhism, let's look at how these Teachings are practised today.

Jess642 Joined Sat 03/31/07 Posts: 22732	Fri 08/22/08 02:21 PM
This is one way to inquire religious faiths by first showing tolerance and understand that everyone has a different perspective of how to reach enlightenment. Would you agree? If so show me your perspective of reaching your enlightenment. I am far from enlightened, or attaining enlightenment. I love the elusiveness of so called enlightenment. Just when you think you have the big picture, and peek around the corner, BOOM! (it was a blind corner), and you collide head-on with yourself, and the ILLUSION you created of what you thought enlightenment was. The precepts attached to the Journey to attaining enlightment sit well within me, however, total adherance to anything, total absorption in anything, can create a narrow view. Right thought, right speeech can lead to right actions. Right for whom? One's Self.

Bushidobillyclub Joined Fri 05/11/07 Posts: 5689	Fri 08/22/08 02:44 PM Edited by Bushidobillyclub on Fri 08/22/08 03:10 PM
The issue with religion is it has layers that build toward revelation. Buddhism seeks to strip away these layers. The way to reach enlightenment is to understand things at the simplest of levels. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vipassana http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.22.0.than.html The monk remains focused on the body in and of itself — ardent, alert, and mindful — putting aside greed and distress with reference to the world. One remains focused on the phenomenon of origination with regard to the body, on the phenomenon of passing away with regard to the body, or on the phenomenon of origination & passing away with regard to the body. The "phenomena of origination and passing away" covers events either directly or indirectly related to one's chosen frame of reference. "Directly" means changes in the frame of reference itself. For instance, when focused on the body, one may notice the arising and passing away of breath sensations within it. "Indirectly," here, means events in any of the other three frames of reference as they relate to the body. For example, one might notice the arising and passing away of feelings of pleasure or mental states of irritation in connection to events in the body. Or one might notice lapses of mindfulness in one's focus on the body. The idea is to first understand your own body, and through it the states of mind associated with bodily functions. This can be done at any time during any occasion. First step is noticing when your mind has been disturbed. Its interesting I often find myself irritated at someone in traffic, or what not, and I wont be in a hurry at all. So I analyze the reason for my less then peaceful state, and find impatience without a rational reason, due to habit. This is the type of self analysis that you can control and understand easily. You don't even really have to call it Buddhism if you don't want to . . . it is just a practice of self realization that starts at a very simple level. Enlightenment is not a place, it is an understanding and training your mind and body to reach this understanding. You must first understand how your mind/existance creates suffering. Then you learn how to recognize origination. Then you learn how to return your mind and body to a peaceful state. Then you learn to keep your mind/body from ever leaving that state of peace. Also remember before enlightenment chop wood carry water . . . after enlightenment chop wood carry water.

Bushidobillyclub Joined Fri 05/11/07 Posts: 5689	Sat 08/23/08 09:54 AM Edited by Bushidobillyclub on Sat 08/23/08 09:59 AM
"And how does a monk remain focused on feelings in & of themselves? There is the case where a monk, when feeling a painful feeling, discerns that he is feeling a painful feeling. When feeling a pleasant feeling, he discerns that he is feeling a pleasant feeling. When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, he discerns that he is feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. "When feeling a painful feeling of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a painful feeling of the flesh. When feeling a painful feeling not of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a painful feeling not of the flesh. When feeling a pleasant feeling of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a pleasant feeling of the flesh. When feeling a pleasant feeling not of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a pleasant feeling not of the flesh. When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling of the flesh. When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling not of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling not of the flesh. "In this way he remains focused internally on feelings in & of themselves, or externally on feelings in & of themselves, or both internally & externally on feelings in & of themselves. Or he remains focused on the phenomenon of origination with regard to feelings, on the phenomenon of passing away with regard to feelings, or on the phenomenon of origination & passing away with regard to feelings. Or his mindfulness that 'There are feelings' is maintained to the extent of knowledge & remembrance. And he remains independent, unsustained by (not clinging to) anything in the world. This is how a monk remains focused on feelings in & of themselves. If you read though this, the first thing that jumps out at me, is being aware of the feeling, the type of feeling, the origin of the feeling . . . . The first step to attaining any kind of wisdom is awareness. No judgment needed, just understanding through awareness. As soon as you can stop long enough to gain awareness of the type, origin, and effect of a given feeling you then gain control over your reactions, this is not about controlling anything external, nor internal . . . but is a side effect of the process. Only when you understand your feelings/ emotions can you choose the path of your reactions to those emotions. Otherwise you are allowing your programing to take control, your subconscious to rule, your attachment to the things around you to dictate your state of mind.

MirrorMirror Joined Fri 10/26/07 Posts: 89680	Sat 08/23/08 11:55 AM
How do you make a cat go moo? Ask it "Does a dog have the Buddha-nature?"

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Sat 08/23/08 07:40 PM
"And how does a monk remain focused on feelings in & of themselves? There is the case where a monk, when feeling a painful feeling, discerns that he is feeling a painful feeling. When feeling a pleasant feeling, he discerns that he is feeling a pleasant feeling. When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, he discerns that he is feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. "When feeling a painful feeling of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a painful feeling of the flesh. When feeling a painful feeling not of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a painful feeling not of the flesh. When feeling a pleasant feeling of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a pleasant feeling of the flesh. When feeling a pleasant feeling not of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a pleasant feeling not of the flesh. When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling of the flesh. When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling not of the flesh, he discerns that he is feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling not of the flesh. "In this way he remains focused internally on feelings in & of themselves, or externally on feelings in & of themselves, or both internally & externally on feelings in & of themselves. Or he remains focused on the phenomenon of origination with regard to feelings, on the phenomenon of passing away with regard to feelings, or on the phenomenon of origination & passing away with regard to feelings. Or his mindfulness that 'There are feelings' is maintained to the extent of knowledge & remembrance. And he remains independent, unsustained by (not clinging to) anything in the world. This is how a monk remains focused on feelings in & of themselves. If you read though this, the first thing that jumps out at me, is being aware of the feeling, the type of feeling, the origin of the feeling . . . . The first step to attaining any kind of wisdom is awareness. No judgment needed, just understanding through awareness. As soon as you can stop long enough to gain awareness of the type, origin, and effect of a given feeling you then gain control over your reactions, this is not about controlling anything external, nor internal . . . but is a side effect of the process. Only when you understand your feelings/ emotions can you choose the path of your reactions to those emotions. Otherwise you are allowing your programing to take control, your subconscious to rule, your attachment to the things around you to dictate your state of mind. Thank you for your insight as it gives me more clarity in the studies of Buddhism.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Sat 08/23/08 10:04 PM Edited by smiless on Sat 08/23/08 10:20 PM
I thought this would be interesting to share on what a scientist once said about Buddhism. Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future. It transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology. It covers both the natural and spiritual and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience that all things natural and spiritua has a meaningful unity. - Albert Einstein If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs ti would be Buddhism. - Albert Einstein

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Sat 08/23/08 10:04 PM Edited by smiless on Sat 08/23/08 10:17 PM
Patience To take upon the suffering of others - that is the practice of compassion. To give others your own joy and happiness - that is the practice of love.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Sat 08/23/08 10:09 PM Edited by smiless on Sat 08/23/08 10:18 PM
Generosity When we give to our enemies, we should do it with love. When we give to your friends, we should do it without attachment. When we give to a neutral person, we should not ignore them. When giving to those with good qualities, we should not be envious. When giving to those with faults, we should not look down upon them. In this way, we practice according to the recipient.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Sat 08/23/08 10:24 PM
Joyful Exertion In spiritual matters, we should not allow ourselves to be too easily content, because truly there is no limit to our spiritual potential. Since there is no limit to our spiritual potential and there is a limit to the span of our life, we must make every effort to utilize what little time we have as well as we possibly can.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Mon 08/25/08 05:34 AM
Patience Regard hostile people with gratitude. When a hostile person harms us and makes us angry, that is our opportunity to practice patience. This opportunity is not provided by the Buddha or by our spiritual guide or by our near and dear ones. Only our enemies provide such rare and valuable opportunities.

Bushidobillyclub Joined Fri 05/11/07 Posts: 5689	Mon 08/25/08 06:54 AM
Patience Regard hostile people with gratitude. When a hostile person harms us and makes us angry, that is our opportunity to practice patience. This opportunity is not provided by the Buddha or by our spiritual guide or by our near and dear ones. Only our enemies provide such rare and valuable opportunities. What a great and challenging way to look at it. I hope to add this perspective to my paradigm.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Mon 08/25/08 07:14 AM
Patience Regard hostile people with gratitude. When a hostile person harms us and makes us angry, that is our opportunity to practice patience. This opportunity is not provided by the Buddha or by our spiritual guide or by our near and dear ones. Only our enemies provide such rare and valuable opportunities. What a great and challenging way to look at it. I hope to add this perspective to my paradigm. I am new to Buddhism, but I am really enjoying it everyday. It is really answering many of the questions I had. I feel obligated to share my experiences and hope to meet more Buddhist along the way. It is a pleasure to meet you sir.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Mon 08/25/08 07:15 AM
Some babble on about Zen, Loquaciously showing off their ability to speak; Pointing to the sky, they talk of voidness, Making a useless fuss. Raising a fist, holding up a finger, The do not know the source; Bringing up sayings and contemplative methods, They quip and jabber. They deal with students by picking up a gavel, Or by holding up a whisk; Winking the eyes and raising the eyebrows They consider awakening. They consider studying stories To be pure concentration. A genuine highly developed Buddhist Is never like those Who consider rationalization wisdom, Who will never clarify the mind Or see its essence.

smiless Joined Wed 09/26/07 Posts: 13765	Mon 08/25/08 07:18 AM
Well Being Refining the self, and setting up the foundation are not a matter of forced control, forced effort, or austere practices. What the work requires is first to recognize the natural, innocent true mind, and then to use this true mind to refine the self. Then a point of celestial energy emerges within the darkness - this is called true consciousness.