Buddhism, thoughts?

[Ricardo]

(04-28-2012 04:52 PM)DaisyDeadhead Wrote:  I assume a lot. I also find myself wondering how many Christian converts from nonChristian cultures have these same translation-problems too.

My point exactly. (Hint: we are not missing anything.)

Especially the most purist Buddhist would agree that to understand the essence of Buddhism, all you need to do is BREATHE.

The same as most Christians, at some level or another, also believe that we do not have to do anything... God has already done everything. Jesus kept harping on it: Children 'get it.' We have to become as children.

THEN, both groups -and me happily with them- proceed to complicate things with principles, noble truths, lists of steps, lists of doctrines and what have you.

Each culture, each language has Wisdom we can learn from. Wisdom that I believe is God given. As soon as you insist on using foreign words to explain concepts that are innately human, we begin with the power trip.

Rom 1:19-20 doesn't say anything about having to learn a specific language or another.

[beensetfree]

Please let me apologize for not responding to this thread in the time frame I'd said. Life did get in the way but it's not an excuse. There are a few more things I want to add but it probably won't happen soon.

[Wythy]

"A cult cannot appeal to outside authority, as this would disrupt the self-generated logic and legitimacy of the group."

A fascinating, familiar tale of a charismatic leader perverting original intention and causing harm for the sake of power.

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/05/p...n-arizona/

I know it's not about real Buddhism, but the article shows the cult is more about personality than anything else.

[DaisyDeadhead]

For those who think I am just terribly flip (a few of you, my email says) in this face of personal errors, I just need to tell you: my religious practice regards regret as negative and something to avoid and/or renounce. Thus, I have no regrets. (Luckily, this goes with the "12 promises" of the 12 steps, my first genuine faith.) Unresolved regret leads to guilt, which is regarded as a mental poison; it is simply the same anger we have exhibited towards others, now turned against ourselves. (The goal is to eradicate the poisonous emotions in the first place, not move them around.)

So be aware, I am working on these things.

Renunciation is not getting rid of the things of this world, but accepting that they pass away--Aitken Roshi

[DaisyDeadhead]

Inspired by recent events!

http://daisysdeadair.blogspot.com/2012/0...-cats.html

[Cephas]

(04-24-2012 08:47 AM)beensetfree Wrote:  My father-in-law is vaguely New Age. He's always giving my husband Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra materials. So I decided to watch some of Deepak's "The Happiness Prescription". In a nutshell, it's Buddhism. He retells the story of Siddartha Gautama's path to enlightenment and tries to guide all the middle class white followers into his methods.

It's been awhile since I brushed up on the actual tenets of Buddhism but I think it's Enlightenment ideally achieved through meditation techniques. Of course then they have Brahmas, multiple deities, karma, Samsara and many other complex elements. At this moment I'm going to focus on what Deepak espouses since he seems to be a modern Buddhist adherent.

Deepak loves to talk about the universe like a grand energy force.
A Christian worldview understands that while God is everywhere the universe stands separate from Him as a created thing. The universe does not possess God like qualities and powers.

He identified sin by its effects but it is devoid of objective truth like how did humans get this way? The effects of negativity, anger, selfishness, etc. are subjectively dealt with based on the problems they cause you. Because we all just want to be good people, right? According to Deepak our actions and their consequences are certainly not attributed to sin but instead that we don't know who we truly are and let our ego control us. These things are a result of "bad seeds" in our minds not because we are sinners. By the way that's a great way to sear your conscience by ignoring conviction. Buddhism's standard of goodness and enlightenment ironically uses the standard of justice and morality that God wrote on all our hearts.

The bible can tell us why and how we are this way, why suffering exists and that it's offensive to God and how Jesus conquered the cause FOR us. Sin is the true cause of suffering and He conquered it. But Buddhists don't believe this and seek another path to overcome existential suffering and become "good".

Romans 8 has helped me understand that Christians will suffer too but we already know that Jesus has conquered the cause of it and redeemed us from it. We have forgiveness for our sins and there will be no suffering in the New Heavens and Earth. But even though our Savior suffered we may be called to endure it ourselves in this yet sinful world. We are also caused to confess our sins in light of this truth.

Buddhism is basically a self righteous moral ladder to false peace. I don't care how peaceful a temple feels or how kind the people are to you that's not how we should assess things like other religions and world views. Just because we are all sinners doesn't mean that we can't be kind to each other. But "without faith (in Jesus) it's impossible to please God" no kindness is meritorious; it doesn't affect our Coram Deo or standing before God. Jesus died for kind, humble acting people too. But in Buddhism you are dealing with karma not Jesus so none of that really matters. Unless the truth of the Gospel breaks in you can meditate yourself all the way to perdition and feel just fine.

Proverbs says there is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is death. It also says that the devil comes as an angel of light; he shines very brightly in Buddhism.

I know you weren't asking for a compare and contrast per se. I'd have to watch more of this video to delve deeper, can't do it right now.

Amen Beensetfree!

[JimMoriarty]

Basically Buddhism is a way of living and not a religion. It was derived from a religion named “samana”.

[dthatcher]

Richard Beck over at the Experimental Theology blog has said that Buddhism is a phase for people moving out of Theism. I think it provides a religion-istic substitute for what is being left behind.