Why do so many "practice" Buddhism without a true understanding of it history or variety of forms.?

Question

More and more these days I hear Americans tell me they have "become" Buddhist. However, if I question them further about their beliefs they seem to lack any real understanding of the forms and history of Buddhism.

One example being, many converts claim they prefer Buddhism as it is inherently more peaceful. Most seem shocked when you mention war, violence, and abuse of power that took place in the name of Buddhism throughout history.

Other "Buddhists" seem shocked when you mention there are different sects than "meditating a lot".

I don't have a problem with most Buddhist sects, but I can't understand why people claim to convert to a religion without any understanding of the religion.

Answer 1

Like yourself for example?
If you can list the four noble truths of the Dharma, I might believe that you are a buddhist. Or that you can use google...

Answer 2

Me too .. indeed , as a Buddhist , i am very ashamed with this senario ..

However , when i think more of this , and reflect on this matter for a some time , i think i have found out an answer .

First , i asked myself , in what religion does it do not have followers who without any understanding of the religion embrace the religion ? This question posted by you is just so ... subjective''

You can also have people who without any understanding of Christianity , Islam or any other faith embracing these religion dont they ? :-)

And when you mentioned that most seem shocked when you mention war, violence, and abuse of power that took place in the name of Buddhism throughout history , then i would like to ask you back a question ..

Where did you or where does your source came from which mention about war and violance throughout the history of Buddhism ?I am just curious because from what i know , there is not a war , done on the name of spreading Buddhism in any part of the world

Answer 3

Well , IMHO, Buddhism fulfill a need in their lives. That's probably why people become ' Buddhist ' in the first place.

That is a good entry point , as I see it.

But , I agree with you , one should go deeper and understand the
beliefs, history and forms of Buddhism , but , if only the person wishes to do it.

It is true that there are war , violence and abuse of power that took place in the name of Buddhism throughout history.

But , it is not the fault of Buddha. The Buddha himself would never allow all these to happen in his name or in Buddhism's name.

All this happened because of uncultivated flawed minds , who act with flawed understanding of the teachings .

The first precept of the Buddha's Five Precepts , that every Buddhist observe,
is NO KILLING.

This means no killing of all beings, including animals, insects, reptiles......etc.

So, for a very faithful Buddhist, he would not even go fishing, as it would harm and kill the fish and many faithful Buddhists became vegetarians , because of the First Precept .

For a true Buddhist, he would NOT take the life of an animal , so, how can he take the life of a human being ?

Those misdeeds that were committed in Buddhism's name are really done by flawed individuals or groups of people.

Answer 4

You said : "Most seem shocked when you mention war, violence, and abuse of power that took place in the name of Buddhism throughout history."

While Buddhists have certainly been drawn into wars, there is absolutely NO CONCEPT of a 'Holy War' within Buddhism, such as there is within Judeaism, Christianity and Islam. There has never been a war started in the name of Buddha or Buddhism.

About the blackest mark that can be ascribed to Buddhism is the high regard with which martial prowess was ascribed within certain sects of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Although this was not a factor in the causes of WWII, it was certainly a factor in the way Japanese soldiers fought it.

Anyway... I find it much more curious that Atheists, in general, seem to know much more about Christianity, biblical scripture and the actual history of Christianity (and religion in general) than most Christians know. What do you have to say about that?

Answer 5

You can agree with a philosophy without having to know all about it's history and all the different sects and all that.
I've never seen a christian chuch turn away a new convert because they failed a quiz on church history . . .

I've been doing some reading on Buddhism myself and I've been on the verge of considering myself Buddhist a few times. But I haven't, partly because of the stuff you mentioned and partly cause I'm trying to practice nonattatchment to labels :)

Answer 6

I think its due to ppl wanting to fit in or be different or maybe they see a movie think a person's cool and imitate without even getting to know what theyre converting to. I see this as well with not just Buuddhism but in all religions. Ppl convert to vegetarian too but still eat chicken & fish...
Your always going to run into ingnorant ppl who only do things because its the "in" thing to do and will never fully understand what it is that they're doing.

Answer 7

maximum anybody isn't knowledgeable about Asian heritage now to not teach the heritage of Asian religions. you also ignore the Buddhist monk militias of Korea in the 1590s who helped defeat a eastern invasion rigidity despatched there by using the warlord Hideyoshi. also, those who're interested in Buddhism do not frequently study too deeply into its many colleges, practices, and heritage. they have a tendency to have an really romanticized view of what they wish is a rational atheistic do although you want bypass with the bypass philosophy that endorses psychedelic drugs and tantric sex. they are very flawed about this and opt to do more beneficial than merely study Osho or D.T. Suzuki or Alan Watts whose artwork is through a techniques outstripped by using Thich Nhat Hanh and the various translations of the Shobogenzo and the revised translations of the Pali Canon and the astounding anthologies placed forth by using the likes of Bhikkhu Bodhi, Bhikkhu Nanamoli, and translator/commentators like Taigen Dan Leighton and Glenn Wallis (actual Prof. Wallis is in the rational atheist camp yet I forgive him lol). besides, even as there has been violence in Buddhism that is often an aberration on a miles smaller scale than that seen between the Abrahamic religions. that is in part because the Buddha's teachings about non-violence are a lot extra unequivocal yet to boot partly because Buddhism has hardly ever been made the state faith of an expansive empire or nationalistic state or perhaps as it did take position it changed into for decrease than short sessions of time. frequently in East Asia, Buddhism has been extra of a non secular counter-way of existence and both performed 2d mess round in worldly words to Neo-Confucianism (as in China and Japan) or perhaps outright oppressed by using the Neo-Confucians (as in Korea from the thirteenth till the early twentieth century). it really is demanding to be a violent crusading colonialist inquisitor once you're merely attempting to save your head low in a totalitarian state. Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, Ryuei

Answer 8

Because people are lazy, follow the trends of the here and now, and don't want to do the reserch themselfs, but they want all of the benifits of practicing a religion...

Alot of people tend to do this with the occult, witchcraft, and other sorts... they dabble because "they are a practicer of the arts"... they think they are powerful, but can't name the simplest features...

Answer 9

Is this statement not true of all who blindly follw any faith, not jsut buddhism. Many religions have killed in the name or that religion

Answer 10

Couldn't you ask the same about Christians who know nothing about their religion?