Even atheists can practice buddhism to reach a state on which sofference cease to exhist as ones state of mind is able to overcome it
it is not at all a matter of religion.....
one should trust in personal potentiality rather than external deity, only the teacher is very important at the beginning, than it is only up to the person to proceed on the path to freedom
2007-06-07 05:25:54 · 9 answers · asked by dreaming 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
its so confusing.....i tried to read the book...and i was lost within the first four pages....and im not a dummy.....i need help understanding it...but from what i heard its alright...sounds nice!
2007-06-07 05:30:42 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What makes Buddhism a religion is the belief in reincarnation. This is a supernatural belief in a life after death. The concept of a living universal energy also is very close to Taoism, Stoicism, and Deism (natural Religion).
So yes it is a religion in that sense. The fact that it lacks a personal God does mean that it is not theism. Some of the Buddhist sects are much more theistic than others and include supernatural beings and places, Tibetan Buddhism comes to mind.
This does not mean that we can not take the methods and some of the philosophy and apply it. Or that we need to adopt strange supernatural beliefs in reincarnation or Buddhist miracles.
Remember that the journey is just as important as the destination, right.
I am not a Buddhist. I am an atheist.
But I do meditate.
2007-06-07 20:42:35 · answer #2 · answered by U-98 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism may be considered a religion and / or a philosophy. As a Buddhist I consider it to be both a religion in and of itself as well as compatible with other religions and even non-religions. Of course there are subtle differences that a Christian for example would practice as compared with atheist. Of course, a major difference for atheists would be the belief in nihilism which is contrary to Buddhist practice, but of course this would not prevent an atheist from practicing a moral or ethical life based on Buddhism. At some point I suppose it breaks down. Same for a Christian, Muslim, Jew, etc. but with some different subtleties.
It is also my understanding that eastern Buddhists more often consider it a religion, whereas western practitioners are more likely to take on the 'philosophy' view, perhaps because more western practitioners include ideas from their Judeo-Christian roots...
With kindness and compassion to all,
Your friendly neighborhood Buddhist.
2007-06-08 06:56:18 · answer #3 · answered by MarkS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you a buddhist? To me, buddhism is a religion, it's my religion. Are you talking about reaching enlightment? There is more to buddhism than that.
2007-06-07 05:32:19 · answer #4 · answered by colorfulsunrise514 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's neither a religion nor a science ... it is a philosophically based spiritual path since it's telos is to achieve a transcendental unity.
2007-06-07 05:30:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I agree.
I have been saying that Zen Buddhism is all about doing zazen, and zazen is about returning to ordinary mind.
Beliefs are irrelevant.
2007-06-08 13:40:23 · answer #6 · answered by Teaim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism is more of a philosophy
2007-06-07 05:29:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yawn....
2007-06-07 05:29:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
okay, but it still does not interest me much, one way or another. But thanks for sharing.
2007-06-07 05:30:06 · answer #9 · answered by GEEGEE 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋