My culture and traditions have always been in fundemental Christianity but my heart doesn't agree with it. My heart is strongly alligned with Buddhism. I have never met a Buddhist monk or ever stepped in a Buddhist temple but I feel that Buddhist teachings (dharma) affect me even though it comes from thousands of miles away. I don't want to except a "hand me down" religion. Everytime I speak with other Christians, I feel that they are not on the same philosophical level. Should I leave my home or should I keep to myself and stay put? What would you do?
2006-11-17 13:40:10 · 16 answers · asked by Ramond 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Be yourself and believe what feels right to you, thats what i do and ignore the others.
2006-11-17 13:41:44 · answer #1 · answered by daisy322_98 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There is actually such a thing as a Buddhist Christian, because strictly speaking, Buddhism is a philosphy rather than a theistic religion. Many atheists are also Buddhists.
I say explore Buddhism if that is what you wish to do. This person's blog is quite enjoyable, and you may be able to even get some advice from him...
http://360.yahoo.com/profile-8UCds6EzbqKTTvGuFj8lDV.O
You can decide on your Christianity and theism separately from Buddhism.
2006-11-17 13:58:02 · answer #2 · answered by Snark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This almost exactly happened to me. My parents are Christian/ Atheist, but about half a year ago I realized I am a Vaishnava. I don't know how old you are, but I am still at the age where I am financially dependant on my parents for income; I'm just under 17 years aged. So I decided that in order to persue my spiritual goals I would need to lie to them seeing as all they bother to know about my religion is that we are the "Hare Krishnas". So for a while that worked, but I got really tired of the lie and decided to ask their permission to visit the temple. I gotta say, I was better off lying even though it's wrong. All I can do for you is give you advice my friend Jaya Jagganath Das gave me:
It's better to tell the truth,but if by doing so you are causing harm to others or potentially putting your spiritual life on pause or even stop, the truth is not beneficial. For example, there was this one prabhu who vowed to always tell the truth, no matter what. Sounds good and pious right? Well one day this family was being chased by a phyco-murderer, and they hid in the prabhu's home. The phyco-murderer asked the prabhu if he had seen the family, and the prabhu replied 'yes they are right over there', thus leading to the family's killing. Although this prabhu was trying to be honest in life, his action in this circumstance caused him to be forced into several more lives and deaths for being responsable for this family's deaths.
I know it's not hard to keep your spirituality to yourself. I always find myself chanting or singing the glories of the Holy Names around the house, esp. when cooking, without even realizing I am doing so. I guess it depends on your circumstance. If you are old enough to be financially dependant and if you have a job, place to live, etc., then go ahead and persue your search, however if you are like me and depend on your family then it would be better to stay perhaps. However, you are lucky because Buddhism is so much more main-stream than Vaishnavism. My entire family thinks I am in a cult. Anyway, I hope this helped in some way, and if you want to message me, I feel like we are at more or less the same point. Peace and good luck!
Dahni
2006-11-17 13:55:45 · answer #3 · answered by Dahni C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are describing me five years ago. I left and choose Buddhism, and my life took on a whole new meaning. Why follow something that you do not believe in?
“Man is free at the moment he wishes to be”
- Voltaire –
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it"
- Siddhartha Gautama -
Chucky: You do not understand Buddhism at all. The Buddha ceased to exist when he severed himself from the Samsara, there is nothing to worship. And BTW, Siddhartha Gautama wasn't fat. It is interested that only one Christian gave you a kind answer that did not involve a threat. I commend you, metazone...
2006-11-17 13:47:13 · answer #4 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Religion is an idea, not a geography. If you feel more comfortable being a Buddhist, then by all means, be a Buddhist. you don't have to pack up and move to China to do that. Thank God for the Internet :)
2006-11-17 13:45:00 · answer #5 · answered by Odindmar 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I have heard some Christian scholars talk about there is evidence that during the missing years of Christ's youth--he went East and learned of Buddism. (Mysteries of the Bible, Biography Channel) I can't remember the geographic Buddist location that also claims he visited.
Perhaps you just need to explore other Christian ideas as well . . . no one says only Fundalmentalist believe in Christ. Try to learn some on Buddism and perhaps someday you can point out the overlaps to me since I think one who truly desires to know anything is more open to learning.
2006-11-17 14:09:26 · answer #6 · answered by whozethere 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to be true and authentic in who you are. If Buddhism is calling to you, find out why. It doesn't have to be a threat to anything or anyone. It will all be conveyed in your attitude about it, so be careful what you set in motion. Be kind and understand that those close to you may not see it the same way as you do. They have their own paths to follow, allow each other the freedom to follow the heart.
2006-11-17 13:46:29 · answer #7 · answered by Oshalla 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Id do some research you may be surprised when you read what relgious philosophers have had to say,
St Thomas Aquinas
St. Augustine
these are just two of many other greats.
2006-11-17 14:01:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read stuff from Thomas Merton (Christian monk who was interested in buddhism). I would also read '3 Pillars of Zen' to avoid a secularized perspective of Zen. I found that 'A Course in Miracles' was very good for me because it used Christian language and symbols but with completely different meaning (in fact, it became my 'Rosetta Stone' for understanding Zen). Check out http://www.zcoc.org/chstzen.htm for resources (and put the following in to google: christian buddhist). For a good zen lineage, check out www.mro.org (and if you're near NY, check out their "intro to zen" weekend).
2006-11-17 13:50:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My heart is in Christianity, but you should do what your heart tells you to do. You should never stay put in a religion that you can not truly put your whole self into.
2006-11-17 14:33:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
follow your heart. btw you dont need to go to a buddisht temple to be a buddhist and fulfil your dharma
2006-11-17 13:47:20 · answer #11 · answered by Red Eye 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋