I know buddhists arent suposed to want things but i do so is itok?

Question

buddhists arent suposed to care for matereeal possesions, but i really love my cell phone, and many other items, so am i like a reject buddhist? i really want to be buddhist, and no other religion sounds right to me exept buddhism, so is it ok?

because i've heard that if everything you have(as a buddhist) was taken away(exept food) they would still be happy...is this true/
so am i a bad buddhist? i really want to be in this religion and i totally agree with everything..exept that. i mean i think its sorta true, but i still care for material stuff.

Answer 1

Theoretically, if you could COMPLETELY empty yourself of your worldly desires, you'd be levitating by now. Buddhists STRIVE to do this, they aren't REQUIRED to to be considered one. Try readin the Dalai Lama's "Ethics for a New Millennium." And nice choice of religion there buddy =)

Answer 2

first of all i think you really need to research it before you make it a part of your life style. secondly i think it would be very difficult for any american to be a true buddhist because we are such a materialistic culture. i have studied buddhism and i feel that it matches a lot of my spiritual values also. What you should understand that buddhism is more a philosophy than a religion. Yes buddha is worshiped and yes it can be practiced like a religion. But true buddhism as buddha intended is a philosophy of how to live a whole and complete life. No you should not cling to your possessions, you should let go of desires, you should practice meditation, you should release the negativity within and try to achieve balance with the universe.
If this sounds like a bit much than remember that buddhism is also about loving others, respect, openess, not harming others(called ahimsa), and finding a sense of balance and harmony in your life. If nothing else practice those values find joy in what you do, be kind to others, be honest. Find a sense of spiritual oneness and make peace with your desire for possesions and your desire to be buddhist. Oh i also reccomend reading the tao te ching, no taoism isn't buddhism but it is also a very peaceful philosophy that helps you focus on inner peace and finding your place in this world until you are ready to make the leap into the next and transcend your body. Hope that helped.

Answer 3

No one is perfect, and just about every faith teaches you to strive to do better. Yes, Buddhists are not supposed to care for material things but sometimes, especially in this age, it is hard to do without certain material possessions. This is why you should strive to "live simple" instead. If you really need a cell phone, then the Buddhist thing to do would be to get a simple cell phone plan and a simple cell phone (pay as you go, no text messaging, no camera phone, etc). Strive to keep the material things in your life simplified and not in excess. You won't be a "reject Buddhist" for doing this.

Answer 4

I believe most religions teach us to be kind, compassionate, not do harm upon ourselves and others.

Any religion when taken to extreme is not good for the person and others around him/her. I remember in my Buddhism study about taking the Middle Path. Do not do anything in extremes.

As lay followers (as in not renouncing the world), we are not encouraged to deprive ourselves the necessity to live our "normal" lives, and at the same time, we should not crave for things that are beyond our reach, and when we lose something we love, we should not cling on to it. Craving, Clinging, Ignorance are few of the causes of Suffering. Buddhism provides a guide and teaches us how we can end our suffering.

Taking your example on your cell phone, it is a tool for us to communicate with our family, friends, whoever we need to talk to over a distance. I don't remember studying in Buddhism about not allowed to have cell phones. But if you crave for the latest models all the time, and you cheat or steal to get one, then it is not right. Further example, if you lost your cell phone, you should not grieve and (to exaggerate a bit) dwell in the lost and lose your appetite. You can get another cell phone and life goes on.

Buddhism teaches many things. There are many sources of information on Buddhism on the internet. A buddhist is just a term to tell others the religion you chose as a guide to live your life. A person who has no religion but has a compassionate heart and a good person who does many good deeds will enjoy good Karma even if he/she is not a Buddhist.

When you say you want to be a Buddhist, I take it that you intend to follow, as much as you can, of the Buddha's teaching and put into practise what you have learnt from the religion, with the aim of being a "better" person.

Answer 5

I'm no authority on Buddhism, but here's what I think...

The most important things about Buddhism is non attachment. This doesn't mean that you can't have things. It means that your not overly attached to things (or ideas, emotions, etc...).

Why bother wondering if what you are fits the definition of Buddhism? This is showing attachment to Buddhism itself. Just be who you are, including the things you like. If your a Buddhist, then your a Buddhist. If your not, your not. It's no big deal.

Most importantly, practice zazen.

PS-There's monks and lay practitioners (civilians) the guidelines regarding material possessions vary, not that it really matters.

Answer 6

You are right. I am an American, a Buddhist and live in China and what you say is true that we should not care for material possessions. But in truth, most Buddhists (except for monks and nuns) do not follow all of the small rules....good Buddhists don't eat meat...but I cheat and eat meat. Lord Buddha was a teacher, and he set examples for us to follow but if we don't do everything he tried to teach, his love and kindness will forget our tiny mistakes...your heart is pure. I often ask Kwan Yin (Chinese name for the Goddess of Mercy) to overlook my mistakes, not because they are so terrible, but because I want her to know I can't always be as pure as I should be. I am glad that you find Buddhism like I do, the right thing for you and me. I was born a Christian but I feared the church (Catholic) and until I lived in Hong Kong and saw the beauty and the peace of Buddhism, I was scared of the church. Now I find peace in Buddhism and you will too be at peace. Don't worry, your mistakes are nothing to Lord Buddha. In China, we give a blessing to others by saying 'Buddha Bless'.

Answer 7

i'm not buddhist and i'm not going to try and ush my beliefs on you but honestly i see nothing wrong with it as long as you dont make it your God so to speak

Answer 8

Are you human????? Then it's okay then.........As long as we realize that we are not perfect, it's fine to like the little extra things that make us more secure and comfortable.........Take care, dear.............

Answer 9

Yes, it's ok, but you're that much further from Nirvana.

Answer 10

Would you still care if you knew that you can never be pefect?