Why do people think that Buddhism is about believing in anything?

Question

Buddhism engourages the opposite way of thinking rather than believing in any religion, holy man, or holy book. That includes not believing in Buddhism. The whole point in Buddhism is they want you to find what is true for "you" and it doesn't have to agree with anyone else, not even the Buddha. Buddhism discourages from thinking outside of the "real world." They want you to see the "real world" as it really is without opinions or judgments. I consider Buddhism to be more scientific in its philosophy rather than religious. They even encourage people to go into meditation and write their own verses rather than following someone elses. Again, why is Buddhism about believing? Buddhism doesn't even address the issue of God. Buddhism is only concerned with the "real world" and its suffering.

Answer 1

Most people look at other religions by comparing it to their own. When monotheists compare their religion to buddhism they compare their faith in one supremem being, which is focussed absoluteley because anything else would result in eternal damnation, to something where each person has to make up their own mind. This leads them to an all or nothing mindset, if you don't believe in one thing you must beleive anything.

Answer 2

I agree totally with what your saying.

For me, Buddhism is just a way to discipline the mind so that the practitioner can be his ordinary self. It doesn't matter what that self is. This is done mostly through practicing zazen (sitting meditation). It's totally personal.

I think that (most) people believe that Buddhism is about believing in anything because the habit (karma) of a typical mind is to think and therefore place value and beliefs on what ever enters the senses.

The mind values Buddhism and runs with it, mostly for its own entertainment and for the sake of expressing it to others. This is done because the typical mind has ego, and the ego needs confirmation from others to give it power.

If a person has a disciplined mind, they know that what they learn for themselves is impossible to discuss. Also, they know that nobody can tell them what they know (in a direct way).

I'm glad to hear your statement and question.

Answer 3

Social Scientists frequently refer to religion as a world view because people tend to see the world through their religion (like a lens). If their religion addresses a god-construct or the origins of existence, then yours must too. These same people have a difficult time understanding the difference between belief and truth as well. These people also tend to yell the loudest. The rest of the world tends to recognize and understand that Buddhism is different than that and have a deep respect for it and all religions/philosophies. As a rule, I try to ignore anyone yelling to be heard, they have little to say.
I understand and respect Buddhism, fortunately there are many like me. Hope that you meet more of us than of the other sort.

Answer 4

There is no God in Buddhism. In the matter of believing in God, Buddhism is somewhat different from other religions. Those who believe in Buddhism respect and try to know the law of the universe. The law is like all things are connected and all things are empty itself. It is not like study knowledge intellectually. It considers spiritual experiences, practice as the way of knowing the law. It claims that we have to know the nature by feeling the inner peaceful spirit.

Answer 5

Fact is, Buddhism isn't a faith-based or a so-called religion based on belief. This is why Non-Buddhists tend to misunderstand Buddhism. As a matter of fact, Buddhism isn't a religion based on thinking itself. It encourages insight, or deep investigation on all psycho and physical phenomena 'as-it-is'. This, is in a shorter answer to your question, though it may off-shoot to the exact answer you are looking for. Buddhists don't just 'believe' in anything or 'everything'. As I have mentioned earlier, Buddhist understanding is based on understanding and realising the truth.

Upon realising and understanding, one does not change views on faith or belief, since faith and belief changes according to the mind's perception on what a person 'THINKS', whereas realisation and understanding does not arise from mere thoughts.

Answer 6

THE SOTAPAN, OR "STREAM-ENTERER"

The learned and noble disciple, however, who has regard for holy
men, knows the teaching of holy men, is well trained in the noble
doctrine, he understands what is worthy of consideration, and what
is unworthy. And knowing this, he considers the worthy, and not the
unworthy. What suffering is, he wisely considers. What the origin of
suffering is, he wisely considers; what the extinction of suffering
is, he wisely considers; what the path is that leads to the extinction
of suffering, he wisely considers.
And by thus considering, three fetters vanish, namely:
Self-illusion, Skepticism, and Attachment to mere Rule and Ritual.
But those disciples in whom these three fetters have vanished have
"entered the Stream," have forever escaped the states of woe, and
are assured of final enlightenment.

More than any earthly power,
More than all the joys of heaven,
More than rule o'er all the world,
Is the Entrance to the Stream.

Answer 7

Buddhism is about finding the truth
gain ultimate happiness
live you life according to good actions
not being materialistic or any of those other bad things
because they choose to be ignorant of the truth
the world is mostly christians/catholics or w/e because they're all afraid of the truth
afraid of dying
they choose not be an intelligent being and simply read about it
put it on tv and they might just absorb information

Answer 8

Probably because most people don't know alot about it. I don't know much so I don't make any assumptions about the religion. The most some people know about Buddhism is that Lisa from the Simpsons is a Buddhist along with Richard Gere.

Answer 9

Because most people do not actually bother to read and learn about a religion different from their own...they misunderstand or believe what others may have told them. It would help if people would just pick up a book or do a google search to find out correct info.

Answer 10

I think that people view all "religions" as encouraging belief in supernatural things. I mean, Buddhism is not exactly the average religion, is it?