Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Whispers · 05-16-2003, 05:21 AM

Ladies & gents,

Are there any other practicing Buddhists here? Which tradition etc? Thanks

Darth Dane · 05-16-2003, 05:50 AM

Which tradition etc?

Oh there are traditions, I don't think Buddha said that there should be more than one tradition to his teachings, his teachings are One, but seen in many colors(traditions).

Do not believe anything because it is said by an authority, or if it is said to come from angels, or from Gods, or from an inspired source. Believe it only if you have explored it in your own heart and mind and body and found it to be true. Work out your own path, through diligence.
Guatama Buddha

This also means don't follow Buddha because he said some stuff, work out your way through the labyrinth. Your own path, denotes that a group cannot find Truth together but only on their own.

DD - Love Spliff

Whispers · 05-16-2003, 05:55 AM

The main splits in Buddhism seem to be around the idea of an enlightened being. Theravadans practice for and believe in the idea of an Arahant(an individual that has achieved full enlightenment), and the Mahayanists teach that a truely adept spiritual follower would refrain from attaining Nirvana, untill all sentient beings are also set free from samsara (a bodhissatva).

Same meal but with different flavourings

Darth Dane · 05-16-2003, 06:08 AM

And some say that Samasara is Nirvana and Nirvana is samsara.

So the difference is null.

We are in full enligtenment, and there is no-one to be "saved."

What do you think of this?

DD - Love Spliff

Whispers · 05-16-2003, 06:13 AM

That could very well be the case. As it has been said,...one enlightened thought and you are enlightened in that moment and one thought based on ignorance and you are back to Samsara.

The present moment is the place to be enlightened. Not in the future.

Bree · 05-16-2003, 08:10 AM

i am currently studying buddhism (theravada, i think is how you spell it) although i would not call myself a 'practitioner' by any sense of the word. very fascinating stuff.

Whispers · 05-16-2003, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bree
i am currently studying buddhism (theravada, i think is how you spell it) although i would not call myself a 'practitioner' by any sense of the word. very fascinating stuff.

let me know if I can be of any help

meritocrat · 05-16-2003, 08:41 AM

I'm not a Buddhist (I'm an agnostic actually) but I've also briefly studied Theravada Buddhism.

What is the principle difference between this and other forms of Buddhism?

Jet Grind · 05-16-2003, 08:46 AM

I have been studying Zen Buddhism, which is basically a cross between the Buddhist and Taoist doctrines. So far it seems pretty reasonable, but I'm not practitioner yet. Ifd I were to ever get into a religion, I would probably be a Pantheist of the Spinoza variety (If I'm going to be religious, better to look at the universe as the ultimate reality).

Whispers · 05-16-2003, 08:47 AM

Theravadan is seen as one of the earliest surviving schools of Buddhism. It is based around the Pali canon and is less religious in appearance in some ways than Mahayana schools.

It literally means "way of the elders", and the monks usually have a yellow/orange robe as opposed to the more maroon type colour of the Mahayana.

To me, it is more like a philosophy of practice and investigation into the the nature of things and with specific focus on awareness and mindfullness in the present moment.

05-16-2003, 05:21 AM	#1
Whispers Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Drawing Closer to God inch by inch... Posts: 179	Any other Buddhists? Ladies & gents, Are there any other practicing Buddhists here? Which tradition etc? Thanks

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05-16-2003, 05:50 AM	#2
Darth Dane Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Required Posts: 2,349	Which tradition etc? Oh there are traditions, I don't think Buddha said that there should be more than one tradition to his teachings, his teachings are One, but seen in many colors(traditions). Do not believe anything because it is said by an authority, or if it is said to come from angels, or from Gods, or from an inspired source. Believe it only if you have explored it in your own heart and mind and body and found it to be true. Work out your own path, through diligence. Guatama Buddha This also means don't follow Buddha because he said some stuff, work out your way through the labyrinth. Your own path, denotes that a group cannot find Truth together but only on their own. DD - Love Spliff

05-16-2003, 05:55 AM	#3
Whispers Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Drawing Closer to God inch by inch... Posts: 179	The main splits in Buddhism seem to be around the idea of an enlightened being. Theravadans practice for and believe in the idea of an Arahant(an individual that has achieved full enlightenment), and the Mahayanists teach that a truely adept spiritual follower would refrain from attaining Nirvana, untill all sentient beings are also set free from samsara (a bodhissatva). Same meal but with different flavourings

05-16-2003, 06:08 AM	#4
Darth Dane Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Required Posts: 2,349	And some say that Samasara is Nirvana and Nirvana is samsara. So the difference is null. We are in full enligtenment, and there is no-one to be "saved." What do you think of this? DD - Love Spliff

05-16-2003, 06:13 AM	#5
Whispers Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Drawing Closer to God inch by inch... Posts: 179	That could very well be the case. As it has been said,...one enlightened thought and you are enlightened in that moment and one thought based on ignorance and you are back to Samsara. The present moment is the place to be enlightened. Not in the future.

05-16-2003, 08:10 AM	#6
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	i am currently studying buddhism (theravada, i think is how you spell it) although i would not call myself a 'practitioner' by any sense of the word. very fascinating stuff.

05-16-2003, 08:41 AM	#8
meritocrat Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: England Posts: 2,608	I'm not a Buddhist (I'm an agnostic actually) but I've also briefly studied Theravada Buddhism. What is the principle difference between this and other forms of Buddhism?

05-16-2003, 08:46 AM	#9
Jet Grind Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Southern Maine, USA Posts: 220	I have been studying Zen Buddhism, which is basically a cross between the Buddhist and Taoist doctrines. So far it seems pretty reasonable, but I'm not practitioner yet. Ifd I were to ever get into a religion, I would probably be a Pantheist of the Spinoza variety (If I'm going to be religious, better to look at the universe as the ultimate reality).

05-16-2003, 08:47 AM	#10
Whispers Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Drawing Closer to God inch by inch... Posts: 179	Theravadan is seen as one of the earliest surviving schools of Buddhism. It is based around the Pali canon and is less religious in appearance in some ways than Mahayana schools. It literally means "way of the elders", and the monks usually have a yellow/orange robe as opposed to the more maroon type colour of the Mahayana. To me, it is more like a philosophy of practice and investigation into the the nature of things and with specific focus on awareness and mindfullness in the present moment.

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