BUDDHISM:interesting?

Question

I am interested in Buddhism as a philosophy, but i am interested in buddhists and non-buddhists alike and their interests in buddhism and why they find it interesting.

Answer 1

The most alluring aspects of Buddhism to me were as follows:

1) Buddha said not to blindly follow him but to reflect, research and learn the truth for yourself. He is but a guide pointing to the truth, he is not the truth.

2) Buddhism makes you take responsibility for yourself, for the good and the ill. If something bad happens, then face the problem. If something good happens, then face the good. There is concept of "The Devil made me do it," or "god made it all possible." We are responsible our ourselves. (and based on a deeper understanding of Buddhism, all other sentient beings as well.) There is no grand list of names that can or can not attain enlightenment, there are no predestined hell dwellers. You are responsible for everything.

3) The underlying morality of Buddhism can be summed up quite nicely: "Do not hurt others or your self.) This extends to all aspects of life. So if others do things you do not agree with, don’t do what they do, but if you persecute these people, you may be causing them pain and suffering, so don’t do it.

4) Buddhism teaches that we should teach by example. We should not go out door to door and "convert the world" to Buddhism. We should behave in accordance to the Buddha's teaching showing the world what Buddhism is all about and if asked about the teachings, THEN we may explain the way to others.

There are other reasons, but these are the primary teachings that led me to learn more abut Buddhism.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I personally interested in Buddhism because it helps me in my life and I can find the answers of my questions here. You don't have to be a Buddhist to learn or apply Buddhism in your life, because there are some people I know apply Buddhism in their life without being a Buddhist. You can treat Buddhism as a philosophy or way of life.
May peace be with you =)

Answer 3

I think Buddhism is interesting because:

- of the parallels between it and Christianity. Their founders, their emergence from an older tradition during the so-called Axial Age, their themes of compassion, their tendency toward a more spiritualized/inward form of religion, etc.

- of the contrasts between it and Christianity. Non-theistic Buddhism, the relative duality of Buddhism vs. the extreme dualism of Christianity, Buddhism's relative tolerance of mixing with other religions like Shinto, Taoism, and Confucianism vs. Christianity's rigid monotheistic exclusivity, etc.

- of it's myths. The myth of the Buddha's trials as he was about to reach enlightenment is one that I find very interesting. (Heard it from a Joseph Campbell lecture. It contains an interesting parallel to the Christian gospels. In the gospels, Jesus is baptised and God the Father witnesses from heaven that Jesus is his son. In the Buddha myth, the demon Mara challenges the Buddha's right to enlightenment. The Buddha touches the earth, and the Mother goddess of the earth testifies for him.)

- of mudras. A mudras is a symbolic hand gestures in Buddhist art that conveys ideas through a gesture.

I'm not a Buddhist, and am actually more interested in Hinduism, but seeing as Buddhism is such an old and diverse world phenomenon, studying it is essential to anyone interested in Eastern culture and history or in comparative religion and philosophy in general.

Answer 4

I've always been really interested in Buddhism as well. I'm not really a believer, but, if ever I had to pick a religion to be, it would be Buddhism. It seems like such peaceful, accepting religion. I've never had a Buddhist come up and tell me I'm wrong for not being like them. It seems so live-and-let-live.

Answer 5

one thing you can say about Buddhists is that they aren't causing wars/violence/hatred because people don't choose their religion....
these are the main principals of Buddhism just to get you started
The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances

Answer 6

I studied religion in college, but never got to a course in Buddhism since they didn't have one at the time. I had great admiration for Buddha, and I've read some of the Buddhist writings. He was a very wise man.

I particularly liked the story of the man who came up and hit him, and he said something along the lines of: "If I reject a present, who does it belong to." The person who hit him replied, "to the person who gave it to you." Buddha then said, "Fine. I reject your present." The man became a follower.

Thank you for asking that question, it makes me want to go back and re-read some of those books.

Answer 7

I am not Buddist however a few years ago when I removed myself from my Christian upbringing and background, I sought out those faiths that might present solace, peace and a rational state of being. I was drawn to Buddism, Zen, Taos, North American Indian and Chinese cultural beliefs.

To be quite honest, the mix of these ... taking from each that which drew me in, I fashioned a belief system that is most likely one all my own... a mixture of parts and pieces of each culture and belief mixed together with who I am and what I stand for...and today the inner and outer peace that I feel and that surrounds me is something I was never able to achieve as a Christian.

I've not completely let go of my root faith but I no longer see it with the same eyes. So again, only bits and pieces of it are part of my life now and to be honest, those are growing ever smaller as I view the world around me and watch as organized religion suffers through it's difficulties.

Life today is ... well, incredible! It's almost as tho I've finally found the level of bliss that I fought to achieve before. The number of trials and tribulations since my reinvention have been so few and so slight as to be almost non existent whereas before I was battered at every turn with something coming at me and usually with something that turned my life to chaos or rubble with only short spans of time in between each chaotic event that allowed me to try and catch my breath. It seemed that everytime I placed my entire faith in God, a trial came along to test me. Life was to say the least uncomfortable and I finally felt that there was something wrong in my life...something missing and if I was already within God's bad graces then it wouldn't hurt to remove myself for awhile to test the waters with other belief systems.

Now, if I were to die tomorrow...unlike when I was part of the Christian teachings and truly feared whether or not I would burn or rise to the Heavens, I have an absolute serenity...death no longer bothers me and although I really can't explain it...it certainly is a very welcome state of mind.

Good luck with your studies...and indeed they are interesting...and even if you only adopt a few of their teachings as your own I think you will find that your life is enriched beyond anything you ever could have achieved alone. There has to be something about these ways that holds truth simply because of the depth of soul that can be achieved by doing something as simple as reading about them. There is no word twisting, no mind bending, confounding "hidden" or decipherable messages. They are simply common sense, sometimes parable based teachings that permeat nothing more and nothing less than gentleness, kindness and understanding and peace that reaches into the soul.

Take care

Answer 8

It's probably among the better religions out there. But I think it's sugar coated for western and American audiences. When you actually visit buddhists countries, you find that things like TV and alcohol are prohibited by religious law. Children who are born with birth defects are assumed to have done something evil in a previous life to be punished in this one.

I'm not saying there isn't lots of truth in Buddhists philosophy, and that it's not a beautiful religion, but it is still a bronze age religion just like the monotheistic ones. And I prefer to avoid any and all dogmas, even the better ones.

Answer 9

Best advice for searching for Truth, EVER:

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.
Buddha

Answer 10

SADHU SADHU SADHU to @ubreY and thewolfskoll for answering the question beautifully!
The KALAMA SUTTA mentioned by thewolfskoll illustrated the Buddha's open mindedness!