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What About Buddhism Then?

  • 28-03-2013 12:12AM
    #1
    Wattle
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Wattle


    I've been noting the daily threads with people arguing for and against religion. Catholicism and Christianity get a particularly good kicking but nobody ever mentions Buddhism on here. It seems to have a pretty good rep in Ireland. Lots of people report that meditation has been good for them and it seems to lack the self hatred aspect of other religions. So is Buddhism as full of sh*t as other religions? What do you think?


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Comments

  • #2
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,702 ✭✭✭squod


    Buddhism is not a religion


  • #3
    3rdDegree
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,266 ✭✭✭3rdDegree


    squod wrote: »
    Buddhism is not a religion


    Yes it is. Why would you say it isn't? Next you'll be having a go at Scientology!


  • #4
    Chucken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,459 ✭✭✭Chucken


    squod wrote: »
    Buddhism is not a religion

    Yes it is.

    Buddhism is a religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the Buddha...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism


    Buddhism is also a belief system which is tolerant of all other beliefs or religions. Buddhism agrees with the moral teachings of other religions but Buddhism goes further by providing a long term purpose within our existence, through wisdom and true understanding. Real Buddhism is very tolerant and not concerned with labels like 'Christian', 'Moslem', 'Hindu' or 'Buddhist'; that is why there have never been any wars fought in the name of Buddhism. That is why Buddhists do not preach and try to convert, only explain if an explanation is sought.

    Could do with a bit of that around here!


  • #5
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,816 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    I'm a Buddist Catholic.
    Given all the guilt as a kid but i learned to rise above it.


  • #6
    Grayson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,442 ✭✭✭✭Grayson


    I once reached nirvana. Took fecking ages. But was worth it. Second best seed shop in Amsterdam. Moral, don't smoke before you start looking for somewhere in a strange city.


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  • #7
    kraggy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,414 ✭✭✭kraggy


    Many people in Korea practice Christianity and Buddhism. They go to church and to the temple. They don't see anything strange in that.

    That said, Buddhism is a religion. However, there is no higher being or entity claiming to be higher or anything like other religions. Buddha was human, not a god or mixture of both.

    It's a beautiful thing.


  • #8
    lkionm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,407 ✭✭✭lkionm


    Thinly veiled what do I have to do to drink on Friday thread


  • #9
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,702 ✭✭✭squod


    Chucken wrote: »
    Yes it is.

    Jaysus, there's always one.


    http://www.buddhanet.net/nutshell03.htm


  • #10
    Pherekydes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 16,339 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Grayson wrote: »
    I once reached nirvana.

    The number 69 bus goes to Nirvana, doesn't it?


  • #11
    Thrill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,485 ✭✭✭Thrill


    squod wrote: »
    Jaysus, there's always one.


    http://www.buddhanet.net/nutshell03.htm

    You say it isn't, Buddha say it is.

    /grabs coat and runs.


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  • #12
    Dwork
    Closed Accounts Posts: 797 ✭✭✭Dwork


    My next door neighbour is a Buddhist. Least I think he is. He's short, fat, has an earring and is always smiling. Or he could just be a hippie glutton. Never sure which is which.


  • #13
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 25,909 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Wattle wrote: »
    I've been noting the daily threads with people arguing for and against religion. Catholicism and Christianity get a particularly good kicking but nobody ever mentions Buddhism on here. It seems to have a pretty good rep in Ireland. Lots of people report that meditation has been good for them and it seems to lack the self hatred aspect of other religions. So is Buddhism as full of sh*t as other religions? What do you think?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21873978


  • #14
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    squod wrote: »
    Jaysus, there's always one.


    http://www.buddhanet.net/nutshell03.htm
    Oh sure compared to the Abrahamic religions maybe not, but it also has quite a bit of magical thinking going on in the majority of it's teachings. The reincarnation bit for a start. Plus many Buddhist societies embrace all sorts of magical thinking stuff.

    Many worry about Artificial Intelligence. I worry far more about Organic Idiocy.



  • #15
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    Wattle wrote: »
    I've been noting the daily threads with people arguing for and against religion. Catholicism and Christianity get a particularly good kicking but nobody ever mentions Buddhism on here. It seems to have a pretty good rep in Ireland. Lots of people report that meditation has been good for them and it seems to lack the self hatred aspect of other religions. So is Buddhism as full of sh*t as other religions? What do you think?


    It's as full of shit (or shit heads) as other religions, yes. 'No one is innocent' as they say.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=83833614&postcount=3229


  • #16
    TheUsual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭TheUsual


    3rdDegree wrote: »
    Yes it is. Why would you say it isn't? Next you'll be having a go at Scientology!

    ^^^^^^
    The Thetan's are strong with this one.
    Probably a psychiatrist or something.


  • #17
    Lando Griffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,952 ✭✭✭Lando Griffin


    Wibbs wrote: »
    Oh sure compared to the Abrahamic religions maybe not, but it also has quite a bit of magical thinking going on in the majority of it's teachings. The reincarnation bit for a start. Plus many Buddhist societies embrace all sorts of magical thinking stuff.
    You will like this; not a lot but you will like it.


  • #18
    shinkansen
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 228 ✭✭shinkansen


    Wattle wrote: »
    I've been noting the daily threads with people arguing for and against religion. Catholicism and Christianity get a particularly good kicking but nobody ever mentions Buddhism on here. It seems to have a pretty good rep in Ireland. Lots of people report that meditation has been good for them and it seems to lack the self hatred aspect of other religions. So is Buddhism as full of sh*t as other religions? What do you think?

    compared to Islam and the like Buddhism is a breath of fresh air.


  • #19
    TheUsual
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,288 ✭✭✭TheUsual


    Here are some typical Buddhists, obviously demon worshippers of some kind !

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjQQhH6Jbok


  • #20
    StewartGriffin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,284 ✭✭✭StewartGriffin


    Basically:

    Man (Siddharta Gautamma) has mid life crisis.

    Tries to find God through deprivation, living in a hairy vest ant infested wet cold cave (and still paid 150 euro property tax on it)

    Says "**** this for a bag of calf-nuts"

    Goes and sulks under a tree for a few nights.

    Has a revelation:
    1) - Life will ALWAYS involve some suffering
    2) - This suffering is caused by craving for life to be different than it is
    3) - When we let go of the craving for life to be better, like a tight fist releasing a slithering snake, that craving is released, and the suffering ceases.
    4) - If we cultivate this path to ending suffering, keep working at releasing the craving until we are fluent at it, then we can access always.

    These he called the 4 noble truths.

    So people thought this was great and made a religion out of it. Complete with Dogma, Prayers, statues and all manner of utter bull**** nonsense.

    Nowt as queer as folk.


  • #21
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 7,344 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Wattle wrote: »
    Lots of people report that meditation has been good for them and it seems to lack the self hatred aspect of other religions.

    It is worth noting that Buddism <> Meditation in much the same way as Catholicism <> Eating crackers.

    While in both cases the former has incorporated the latter into it's practices and/or fantasies - clearly they are seperate things entirely.

    I for example practice Vipassana Mindfullness meditation a lot - and I teach a free class in it weekly to local people and students of the local colleges including - but not limited to - a priest in training in Maynooth and one actual full priest from the local area(s).

    I have personally found much benefit in it. As have some of my students. The college students tell me it increases their attention span and relaxation for study. The trainee priest tells me it aids him in reflection on his learnings and faith. Some addicts (mostly alcohol) and some people with anger management issues have also reported to me great utility in meditation in dealing with their issues. The most common report I get from people in general is a great reduction in stress caused by every day life.

    I have also noticed great increases in myself and them in common human empathy and self esteem.

    Alas there are people who will build religions around such things. You will hear people telling you that meditation leads to higher forms of consciousness or access to the consciousness of god and such crap. You will hear phrases like "Biofeedback" designed to sound sciency while saying percisely nothing and how through meditation you learn that not just humans - but the universe itself is conscious and this consciousness is god - yadda yadda blah blah.

    I heartily recommend meditation to all and sundry - and it is a path one can follow without subscribing to even a small part of this woo woo flim flam nonsense that all too often goes with it.


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  • #22
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,386 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    shinkansen wrote: »
    compared to Islam and the like Buddhism is a breath of fresh air.
    Depends on the type of Buddhism. Depends on the type of Islam too. EG some Islamic schools are monastic and philosophical in nature. Ditto for Christianity. But yeas it's certainly perfectly possible to practice Buddhism and be agnostic or atheist though. An option not found in other religions east or west.

    Many worry about Artificial Intelligence. I worry far more about Organic Idiocy.



  • #23
    Legs.Eleven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,987 ✭✭✭Legs.Eleven


    What's not to like?


  • #24
    conorhal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,096 ✭✭✭conorhal


    Pherekydes wrote: »
    The number 69 bus goes to Nirvana, doesn't it?

    No, it goes to 'effin Saggart.....

    Via Clondalkin, which is about as far from Nirvana as you can get.


  • #25
    Snake Pliisken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 237 ✭✭Snake Pliisken


    Buddhism as it's reached the west is way more esoteric than what you'd find out East in general. There it's definitely a religion, based on the tenants of Buddhism, with a belief structure and hegemony of power with the general public basically using it as a social and cultural tool(or crutch).

    Buddhism as you'll find it here gets down into the nitty-gritty mystery of it all, taught by intellectuals who'd been influenced by the greatest ideals of western civilization; they wanted democracy in the kingdom of Heaven, as someone once put it.

    Here's my favourite Buddhist talking about the real stuff:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3hVc2hWYxg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3x02dQTBjE


  • #26
    gobnaitolunacy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    shinkansen wrote: »
    compared to Islam and the like Buddhism is a breath of fresh air.

    Oh yes? Buddhists are kicking the sh*t out of Muslim minorities in Burma.

    It's not all peacefully sitting on yer ars* doing yoga.


  • #27
    BizzyC
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭BizzyC


    Out of all the religions, it's the only one I don't have a problem with.

    They teach Karma. Everything you do in life comes full circle, so the best way to enjoy good fortune and a happy life is to exude good feelings and perform acts of kindness.

    Any "Buddhist" taking to violent action is actually as non-Buddhist as they come.


  • #28
    Shenshen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,453 ✭✭✭Shenshen


    shinkansen wrote: »
    compared to Islam and the like Buddhism is a breath of fresh air.

    Well, it's breathing fire currently in Burma :

    http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8bbca270-9526-11e2-a151-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2OpWlUjME


  • #29
    tony007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭tony007


    gobnaitolunacy wrote: »
    Oh yes? Buddhists are kicking the sh*t out of Muslim minorities in Burma.

    It's not all peacefully sitting on yer ars* doing yoga.

    People who call themselves Buddhists are different to people who are Buddhists.


  • #30
    tony007
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭tony007


    Shenshen wrote: »
    Well, it's breathing fire currently in Burma :

    No it's not. People who call themselves Buddhists are different from the Buddhist belief.


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  • #31
    gobnaitolunacy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    Ok, so religion is fine, just some people who practice it are a**holes.


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