even though i wanted to be a Catholic and i still do, i can't deny the fact that Buddhism is really very appealing to me. i guess it's the peaceful approach of Buddhism that's make it really appealing, or is it the detachment from the world?
have you met any Buddhist?
2007-01-14 17:30:39 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Simply speaking, this is to avoid harming others and to help them as much as possible. Another way of expressing this is, Abandon negative action; create perfect virtue; subdue your own mind. This is the teaching of the Buddha. By abandoning negative actions (killing, etc.) and destructive motivations (anger, attachment, close-mindedness, etc.), we stop harming ourselves and others. By creating perfect virtue, we develop beneficial attitudes, like impartial love and compassion, and do actions motivated by these thoughts. By subduing our mind, we cut away all false projections, thus making ourselves calm and peaceful by understanding reality.
The essence of Buddha’s teachings is also contained in the three principles of the path: definite emergence, the dedicated heart and wisdom realizing emptiness. Initially, we seek definitely to emerge from the confusion of our problems and their causes. Then, we see that other people also have problems, and with love and compassion, we dedicate our heart to becoming a Buddha so that we are capable of helping others extensively. In order to do this, we develop the wisdom understanding the real nature of ourselves and other phenomena.
2007-01-14 18:18:27 · answer #1 · answered by sista! 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what the Buddhist approach in the us is like, but I became Buddhist several years ago when I found that the philosophy that I had developed matched Buddhism very well.
Buddhism is not dogmatic. For example, if modern science disproves a Buddhist belief, then the belief will be changed to reflect the new knowledge rather than deny it.
It is very pragmatic. There are no rules for the sake of having rules. Any rules have definite, explained reasons for their existence.
It may not suit everyone but it suits me.
2007-01-14 17:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by Nemesis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've known a few Buddhists. I think the healthful lifestyle Buddhism encourages -- meditation, peacefulness, contemplativeness, detachment, etc.
But I think Buddhism is sugar coated for American consumption.
2007-01-14 17:34:40 · answer #3 · answered by STFU Dude 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The promise of enlightenment.---I am part Buddhist, I think Buddhism is as misunderstood as Christianity.
2007-01-14 17:36:41 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋