re: What Do You Know About Buddhism?

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I actually went to India for a month this summer and studied Buddhism and visited some monasteries...Buddhism promotes the seeking of enlightenment through the removal of ones ego and ignorance. Ignorance is viewed as the cause all suffering from a Buddhist point of view

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I would like to do something like that one day. I have a lot of respect for that path and do want to know more.

The ideas of ignorance and the world as illusion have their parallels in Western thought... I mentioned being influenced by Platonic thought myself in an earlier post. Inherently, that means viewing the world and the daily issues we encounter as impermanent or transient (analogous to illusion). Greater, unchanging Truth is found in Platonic forms, leading towards Unity and God.

While I knew Buddha did not acknowledge a proper God-- at least as a being (which is why it appeals to some atheists)-- I thought there was some basis for a soul. I wonder if that idea is consistent throughout the various strains of Buddhism.

(no message)

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I had a friend in college who was a Zen Buddhist. He'd go on the roof and meditate every day. He was annoyingly happy all the time. Just loved everyone and everything, just never-ending positivity all the time. Goddamn, frick that guy

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I officially proclaim this to be the greatest post of all time.

I am a Buddhist is this is my take on the "religion." I am a somewhat practicing Buddhist, in that I do not meditate or attend services on a regular basis.

It is more of a philosophy than it is a religion. I was raised Buddhist and Catholic in that I attended Catholic school from 4th grade till high school graduation. All of the essential teachings of religion are the same in my opinion. To me, all religions follow the Ten Commandments. Point being, follow those and you are doing well. They make sense to me, don't kill, don't steal, don't cheat...

I do not personally worship a God, but believe there is one. Buddha is someone, whom I choose to follow his teachings.

In Buddhism it is about bettering yourself, while helping others and the overall good. I am a firm believer in karma, which to my beliefs and understanding is the core of Buddhism. There is no hell, but there is Nirvana. Nirvana is the same as Christians' Heaven.

Nirvana is where you are working to get to. You earn "points" towards getting there, and when you get those "points" you live in eternity in peace. "Points" are earned by good deeds, meditation, etc. They are deducted by sins. Your soul has a running tally of points earned. If you don't reach the required amount of "points" you become reincarnated and keep trying.

As someone said earlier, some Buddhist do not even kill insects. I will catch a roach or fly and let them outside, because killing anything is one of the greatest sins. It is hypocritical, because I have no problems with enjoying a steak. As long as I did not do the killing, I do not feel affected. As with any beliefs, it is all in how you perceive and want to carry out those beliefs.

I am not the most strict Buddhist there is, but this is some of my take on it. I am willing to add more to the conversation if there are questions.

I really meant Taoism is very similar, not a form of Buddhism. They have strongly influenced each other. The Tao Te Ching is what I would consider a Taoist manual. And, to Mike, read some of the Gnostic gospels. They are unadulterated teachings of Jesus before the formal Roman church and government corrupted and created a religion around them. They are very close in meaning because all religious systems sprang from a fundamental spiritual truth.

My life philosophy/ religion is an awesome combination of Buddhism/Star Wars/Quantum Physics. It's always evolving and interesting.

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It is more of a philosophy than it is a religion.

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I'm going to play off what he said. Buddhism is not a religion but a spirituality. This workd is full of Christian Buddhist, Islamic Buddhist, Jewish Buddist, and Hindu Buddist. Buddha isn't a god. He was a simple man looking to improve his life and mental state on a quest for enlightenment. What we all perceive as enlightening is different, but Buddha believed we all had our own Nirvana. Which as stated... Is like a heaven for us.

I know several people who was a catholic Buddhist. They used the Buddhist ways to help bring them closer to Jesus. They think if Buddha as no different than a Priest guiding them into the right pathway (nb4alterboyjokes) . The will power and personal level of completeness Buddhist has is beyond imaginable by many. Some of them won't say a word for years. Some meditate for hours at a time.

Efrad, that sounds very familiar to me. Good luck to you. If you want a good book on mindfulness, The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle is a good read.

I don't practice anything currently but Buddhism makes the most sense to me. And they are decent people.

Epbart, get or download a book called The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot. It is pretty mind-bending stuff as well.