What does it mean to you to be a Buddhist?

Answer 1

It gives me a way to lead my life (with compassion).
It also gives me mode to go about my experience (be a lamp unto yourself- Kalama Sutra).
Finally, it helps prepare me for the experiences I encounter (there is suffering in life).
One of my guiding philosophies is the 5 Remembrances:
1. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
2. I am of the nature to get sick. There is no way to escape getting sick.
3. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to avoid death.
4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
5. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand

Answer 2

To me being a buddhist means I live everyday in the best possible way, making a positive impact on the world and on my life; from the realization that the self is illusory, and having in considetation longing, desire and all other derivations of ignorance are the source of all suffering; therefore only constant change and education can keep me on the path of nibbana

to sum it up, being a buddhist for me means

1 I am responsible for everything i do

2 I can be enlightened by approaching objective reality

Answer 3

Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma, meaning approximately Law of the Awakened One) is a religion, a practical philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama), who lived in ancient India most likely from the mid-6th to the early 5th century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into three traditions: Theravāda (Sanskrit: Sthaviravāda), Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Buddhism continues to attract followers worldwide, and, with about 708 million adherents, it is considered a major world religion. Buddhism is the fourth-largest religion in the world.

When used in a generic sense, a Buddha is generally considered to be a person who discovers the true nature of reality through years of spiritual cultivation, investigation of the various religious practices of his time, and meditation. This transformational discovery is called bodhi - literally, "Awakening" (more commonly called "Enlightenment"). Any person who has become awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" by directly realizing the true nature of reality is called a Buddha. Śākyamuni is said to have been only the latest of many of these; there were other Buddhas before him and there will be others in the future. According to the Buddha, any person can follow his example and become enlightened through the study of his words "Dharma" and putting them into practice, by leading a virtuous, moral life, and purifying his mind. Concisely put the aim of Buddhist practice is to put an end to this mass of suffering we call existence. "I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering" (The Buddha). To achieve this state, adherents train and purify the mind by following the Noble Eightfold Path, and the Middle Way, eventually arriving at an understanding of the true nature of all things, thus ending (nirodha) all ignorance and unhappiness and attaining liberation: nirvāṇa (Pāli nibbāna).

Answer 4

Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma, meaning approximately Law of the Awakened One) is a religion, a practical philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama), who lived in ancient India most likely from the mid-6th to the early 5th century BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the Indian subcontinent in the five centuries following the Buddha's passing, and propagated into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. Today, Buddhism is divided primarily into three traditions: Theravāda (Sanskrit: Sthaviravāda), Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. Buddhism continues to attract followers worldwide, and, with about 708 million adherents, it is considered a major world religion. Buddhism is the fourth-largest religion in the world.

When used in a generic sense, a Buddha is generally considered to be a person who discovers the true nature of reality through years of spiritual cultivation, investigation of the various religious practices of his time, and meditation. This transformational discovery is called bodhi - literally, "Awakening" (more commonly called "Enlightenment"). Any person who has become awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" by directly realizing the true nature of reality is called a Buddha. Śākyamuni is said to have been only the latest of many of these; there were other Buddhas before him and there will be others in the future. According to the Buddha, any person can follow his example and become enlightened through the study of his words "Dharma" and putting them into practice, by leading a virtuous, moral life, and purifying his mind. Concisely put the aim of Buddhist practice is to put an end to this mass of suffering we call existence. "I teach one thing and one thing only: suffering and the end of suffering" (The Buddha). To achieve this state, adherents train and purify the mind by following the Noble Eightfold Path, and the Middle Way, eventually arriving at an understanding of the true nature of all things, thus ending (nirodha) all ignorance and unhappiness and attaining liberation: nirvāṇa (Pāli nibbāna).

Answer 5

Buddhism, (this is my interpretation) is the peace of all peace. Its reaching personal enlightment only through yourself and respecitng the things in life. Its learning every thing has a place as well as we do. Everything has its own energy its own beauty.

And to to the poster posting about POONANIE im sorry your not spiritually or mentally advanced enough to give a some what smart answer to this question.

Go put your face against your dogs Bottom : im sure his answer is a lot better than yours as well.!

Answer 6

I'm not - but I think being Buddhist is being balanced and calm. When I think of Buddhism I think of monks and I also think of very organized people who are completely comfortable with their environment.

Answer 7

i really don't know what it means to me. i was a baptized catholic, cuz my mom's parents wanted me to be. i don't see them a lot, so my grandma (on my dad's side) raised me as buddhist. but i think japanese buddhism (the Mahāyāna form) is a bit different from the buddhism form in south/southeast asia.

Answer 8

It means I don't have to go to church on Sunday anymore and miss the big game. Come on, you can't have a religious society while the biggest sporting events of the week are taking place.

Answer 9

To be free from attachment to desire and repulsion,
To be free from attachment to suffering and freedom from suffering,
and To be free from attachment to all thingness and qualities of thingness.
To perceive the true nature of all things, impermanent and without self.
And to act with compassion and kindness towards all beings who suffer in this world.

Answer 10

To believe in the beauty of extinguishing one's self.