Rusting Car Bumper

The answer is definately Yes.

However, the scope of buddhism is diverse. If one could measure the qualitative differences in the types of Buddhism and compare them to the qualitative differences in, say, Christianity, then differences would be more far ranging in Buddhism. Thus, its very easy to be a Buddhist and subscribe to all sorts of superstitious and odd beliefs and practices which are incompatible with atheism.

However, flavors of Buddhism akin to Zen Buddhism are free of most of this depending on how it is practiced. I've met many a Buddhist who says they don't believe in god.

I think the state of being a Buddhist and atheist is, without a doubt, attainable.

DC

[ December 09, 2002: Message edited by: DigitalChicken ]</p>

Living Dead Chipmunk

dostf

-Thanks for
-Proving my
-Point

JusticeMachine

Is your real question: Can I believe in the moral teachings of a given religion and still not believe in the metaphyical part?

Wyz_sub10

I'll let him answer as to what his "real" question was, but I for one do not see a problem with accepting moral teachings while not accepting the metaphysical portion.

Deistic Heretic

Lugotorix, you are very wise and knowledgable when it comes to Buddhism. Are you a Buddhist yourself?

lugotorix

No, I just don't have much of a social life, so I read quite a bit.
Yes, I'm a Chan (Chinese Zen) Buddhist. I occasionally travel to NYC for services at a Chan center, but for the most part I practice by myself.

lugotorix

Sarpedon

As an atheistic buddhist, I believe the answer is yes.

Now there are many kinds of buddhism. Some are strongly or weakly atheistic, some are theistic. The tantric buddhism as practiced by the tibetans and mongolians is very theistic, and I sometimes hesitate to call it buddhism. The Theravada tradition is weakly atheistic, and Zen is strongly atheistic. In general, the buddhism preached to peasants and uneducated, philosophically unsophisticated people tends to be theistic. i.e. the buddha was God, there are many saints, Nirvana is like a heaven, there are hells etc. Within that tradition are those who disagree. A famous zen teacher (Ryoshen was it? I dunno) once said (in the 16th century!) that there was no reason to think that there was any world beyond this one.

Because the buddha was a man and not a god, it is possible that he and the stories written about him are wrong. That means that we can analyse them and discard the ones that seem to be untrue, without risking hellfire. There is even a lively discussion among buddhists as to whether the Buddha (Gotoma) actually existed or not. Imagine christians having such a debate about Jesus! You can practice buddhism as an atheist, or as a theist. Buddhism is true because its methods (eg meditiation, renunciation, etc) work, and do what they claim to (unlike the prayer of religion) We don't promise as much as the religions, but we deliver what we promise. buddhism can be seen therefore as a method, not a religion.

fcuk

yes, thank you. that is my 'real' question, although i was not sure how to accurately phrase it. i have noticed that around here, how you identify yourself (as an atheist) has a lot to to with how people treat you. i have never before had to label my religious non-belief, and am having trouble doing so in a way other people would understand.

does anyone have any recommendations for reading on buddhism? i just bought myself a book on insight meditation, which might prove interesting.

Deistic Heretic

I don't know a lot, but I have learnt a bit from the teachings of the Dalai Lama 14th of Tibet on <a href="http://www.dalailama.com" target="_blank">www.dalailama.com</a>

Paul2

What the Buddha taught, by Walpola Sri Rahula.

i bought a copy on half.com for $2.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802130313/qid=1039535298/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-8619306-8223942" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802130313/qid=1039535298/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-8619306-8223942</a>