2007-03-19 23:37:43 · 15 answers · asked by darestobelieve 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I practice zen buddhism but I've been slacking as of late and am feeling the consequences
2007-03-19 23:40:57 · answer #1 · answered by hot carl sagan: ninja for hire 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a Buddhist of the Theravada tradition. There are 3 main "sorts". The 3 main traditions are Theravada or Southern Buddhism, Mahayana or Eastern Buddhism and Tibetan or Northern Buddhism.
All practise the Teachings of the Dharma.
In my case I meditate to examine and therefore find ways to eliminate the negative influences of my conscious mind, finding the causes of why I cling to certain selfish attitudes and try to find ways to eliminate the selfish and to find ways to develop the selfless ones.
The purpose is to allow me to think outwards from myself instead of inwards towards myself. This changes the way I think and therefore dramatically changes the way I act. With practise I will always think of the effect my actions have on others and act in a way which is beneficial to others instead of being beneficial to me.
This is basically what I and all other Buddhists do.
I need to do a lot of practise...
Peace from a Buddhist....
2007-03-20 06:59:39 · answer #2 · answered by Gaz 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I mostly like the Theravadan stuff, but pilfer a bit from Mahayana.
I meditate mostly every day.
I make an effort to read literature.
I abstain from meat, drugs, and alcohol.
I have a small statue in my room and I bow to it and light incense. At first I felt a bit strange doing this, but it grew on me and now I feel a kind of reward from.
I try to remember to apply mindfullness (concentration, being in the moment and being peaceful) during my life.
I talk Dhamma with my friends
Sometimes I go on Yahoo!Answers and answer questions christians ask meaning to get advice from other christians in a buddhist way. Pretty childish, really.
2007-03-20 10:17:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists have bald heads
SOme wear orange robes similar to the Roman robes
and smoke ganja in their huts deep in the mountains
They pray and meditate in peace near glistening waterfalls
They fast often
They are very atheletic mentally and physically
On TV there was a kid who was like really good with martial arts
Some are so well balanced that they are able to do unnatural things like tarnsfer heat and stand on one finger etc.
They also drink water and they are ONE with nature
2007-03-28 00:10:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Buddhist but I took one of them religion finder quiz and it said that my beliefs are 96% Theravada Buddhism. hmm... maybe I should check out what this Buddhist stuff is all about, as long as I don't have to believe in reincarnation I may like this religion.
2007-03-20 06:46:41 · answer #5 · answered by Speak freely 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No I'm not a Buddhist
2007-03-27 08:47:49 · answer #6 · answered by seamer100 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not. I like the Tibetan people and have many Tibetan friends. It would be nice to share their religion but for me, it basically comes down to this:
Dr. Radhakrishnan has said in his ‘Indian Philosophy’ :
"In the whole history of thought, no one has painted the misery of human existence in blacker colour and with more feeling than Buddha. The melancholy, foreshadowed in the upanishads, occupies the central place here…". Radhakrishnan says again at another place: "There is a tendency in Buddhism to blacken what is dark and darken what is grey. The outlook is restricted to all that is bleak, bitter and painful in life…"
2007-03-20 07:28:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Being a Buddhist is about not being a Buddhist. Labels do just that--label and limit. I am a human being who sees the value in Buddha's teachings, Jesus' teachings and many other masters' teachings. Incorporating those lessons into my life helps me be a more loving human being who understand suffering's causes and it's elimination.
2007-03-20 06:42:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Being a buddhist is about having an excuse to put yourself ahead of any sense of community and live life in a very selfish manner. The buddhists I've met are amongst the nastiest people I know, but they say that it's good to be so self centred because they've been enlightened, so are therefore superior beings to every other mere mortal.
2007-03-20 06:51:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 6⤋
Yes. I'm an Australian who subscribes to Shinto Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. It is called Shinnyo-En.
I pray, commune, meditate, chant, light candles and I offer gifts to my ancestors.
2007-03-20 06:49:27 · answer #10 · answered by Ashley 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋