i dont really know how else to state this question so if this doesn't make sense just try to know what i mean.
2007-03-05 12:08:57 · 7 answers · asked by Jewish Girl891 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am sorry, I don't understand what you mean. I am a Zen Buddhist and we strive to help all sentient beings by practicing loving kindness and compassion to all. Maybe I can give you an answer if you can help me understand what you mean.
EDIT: Okay I was reading other answers and I understand, I agree with what they say. If one can become enlightened, you can teach the pure Dharma to others and help them to attain it. Even if you aren't enlightened others benefit from the compassion, tolerance and kindness that is developed with meditation and following the Noble 8 fold path. I still am not sure we center around the individual, that would be more in Theravadan Buddhism, but I understand how it may seem that way.
2007-03-05 12:15:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think because the only being you can work on with any hope of successful change is yourself. By letting go of the illusions of desire, you can find your mind is at peace. Once an individual is at peace, and found his/her Buddha Nature, that feeling becomes an atmosphere from which all can benefit.
In a way, not really that different from what Jesus said to his followers when he talked about worrying about the beam in your own eye before bothering another about the mote in his.
2007-03-05 20:16:40 · answer #2 · answered by KCBA 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You mean buddism does not preach the Creator ? Buddism is not about love that is the main characeristics of the Creator. Buddism is all about personal spiritual well being without the help/salvation from the Creator. It is a different approach to spirituality. All religions are wonderful spiritual assets passed on to men by the early ancestors of the mankind. Their hugn differences make them appealing to different people.
2007-03-05 20:16:09 · answer #3 · answered by Gone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the inidividual is the only one who can enact change.
You are living in a fool's paradise if you think that happiness or fulfillment can be found outside of yourself. This is one of the central teachings. You cannot enact global change until you change yourself. You cannot remove hate from the world until you love. You cannot remove fear from the world unless you are fearless.
Meditation and discovering yourself - the narrow or Hinayana way - is the way that you will discover who you REALLY are.
FP
2007-03-05 20:12:56 · answer #4 · answered by F. Perdurabo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because that is all you can change:yourself. Now, by bettering yourself, you will better the world, because the Buddhist definition of "good" is mainly compassion. As you become more compassionate you help all those surounding you, and enlightenment is when you merge with all realities of existence. So you can do ultimate good and merge with universal conscience.
2007-03-05 20:13:52 · answer #5 · answered by Jedi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just how their religion is. They choose to believe that. It's not a bad thing because they don't do it in a selfish way. They believe in not wanting and in karma. Sounds like a pretty good religion actually.
2007-03-05 20:12:37 · answer #6 · answered by Æ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's where the action is.
2007-03-05 20:15:30 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋