Being Buddha

Once you taste and experience the feeling of nearness to God.Once he bestows you with insight and light all this folding of legs and your practices will appear to you childish and stupid.You will not believe because you are immune and ignorant.Do you have connection with your children have you ever got a lover..He is there hte selfubsisting and the eternal.

Interesting how a person who laments the torture and abuse of Christians would be so quick to strike out at someone with a different faith.

May you live a long and happy life.
A deep bow to you.
So Daiho

Major Maths,

You call what you do not understand childish and stupid. Thus exposing your own ignorance.

Dear Major Maths,
Once you taste and experience the feeling of nearness to God.Once he bestows you with insight and light all this indignant attacking of other people's religions will appear to you childish and stupid.
(But I believe that, deep down, you already know this. Peace)

(...to be fair, what Major Maths did isn't much different than the "Religion? What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!" blog by this blogger. If I had to guess, MM's post was more in retaliation from a "scarecrow".)

Actually I like this new fashion of trying "to be fair" to both sides and I hope that it catches on.

I don't take offence to what Sodaiho says because I think that I understand what s/he means (but I could be wrong). Which seems to be about not mistaking the outward trappings, or the intellectual theological concepts for the heart of religious experience - which is a common idea found in the mystical traditions of most religions. Buddhists talk about being mindfully present here and now, Catholics talk about the 'Sacrament of the Present Moment'. I'm sure there are other labels in other traditions...

However, to also be fair () to MM and Baker, a few people have taken offence at the way that this has been expressed, which could be an example of 'unskillful means' on Sodaiho's part (some people claim that they feel a condescension in other things s/he has said).

In the end I suppose you invite misunderstanding the very moment you open your mouth (or tap your keyboard), but I suppose we wouldn't bother unless we thought that some good could come from the exercise.

When we consider Buddhism's appearance, its scriptures, general beliefs, style of worship we begin to see that its basic philosophy is founded on very deviant doctrines. Indeed, its worship contains strange practices leading its devotees to worship idols of stone and clay. As a belief, Buddhism is contrary to logic and intelligence. Countries where it has been adopted have mixed it with their own idolatrous ideas, traditions and local customs, joining it with myths and deviant ideas until it has evolved into a totally godless philosophy.

Those who make propaganda on behalf of Buddhism often present it as a means of salvation. Those who long to escape from a materialist society's hard, disputatious culture- along with its worries, anxieties, quarrels, pitiless rivalry, selfishness and falsehoods-resort to Buddhism as the way to achieve peace of mind, security, tolerance and a fulfilling life. But Buddhism is not, as it is generally thought to be, a belief that brings contentment. On the contrary, those who are taken into Buddhism are often drawn into a deep pessimism it has always been my experience. Even people with a considerable level of education and modern worldview will become individuals who see nothing wrong with begging with their bowls in hand, who believe that in their next lives, human beings may be reborn as mice or cattle, and who expect help from idols carved from stone or cast in bronze. For these people, Buddhism's deviant beliefs inflict serious psychological damage. In countries where Buddhism is widespread, or in regions inhabited by many Buddhist priests, pessimism and gloominess are clearly prominent.
If we dont tell htem now one day they will catch our neck.It is our duty to tell them the truth.They should pray to their creator to be their guide instead they boot him and keep sinking in darkness.
all this mysticalexp they speak about is a state of mental parlysis ,illusions mirages.
those who practise buddhist meditations get a peculiar kind of ugliness on their faces.

With palms together,
Hello All. Sometimes a smack on the shoulders by a priest's stick is just the thing. The trappings of religion are, in my opinion, useless hindrances to seeing the truth of one's own nature. Fingers pointing to the moon are only fingers, not the moon. If I offended anyone, my humble apologies. I am pleased however that the title caught a few eyes.

To answer a question or two. I am a male. I am a Zen Buddhist monk, an abbot of a small monastery and founding teacher of a Zen Center in the southwest.

As to strange practices, idol worship, and pessimism, I find that view odd indeed. We have no gods, so what idols? A statue of the Buddha? Nothing other than an image of a hero like a picture of JFK. We honor this man who served humanity by great practice and wonderfully compassionate teaching. Worship? Don't think so. We have a saying among Zen Buddhists, 'if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!' By this we mean that we must discover our own truth by ourselves through our own practice. To look to another as a holder of the truth is a great mistake.

I have found that most Christians I have met have little to no knowledge about much of anything outside of their own faith. Sad. There is so much to learn! So many wonderful people, so many wonderful faith traditions! God was indeed wise to create such diversity. I took a class at college on the life and teaching of Jesus, the Old Testament, The Prophets, a class on comparative religions, one on Islam. I have attended Catholic services, Jewish services Baptist services, Hindu services, and a number of other sorts of services in my lifetime. I have never spoken ill of their ways. Yet, on countless occasions I have been addressed by Christians in what feels like a small minded and quite bigoted manner. It is no wonder such people aren't trusted and are often thought of as hypocrites.

Oh well. I will post from time to time. I do have a blog at blogger.com And host a group called Zen Living at Yahoogroups for those interested. Be well.

http://www.daihoji.org

You never discover anything you grope in darkness for ever!
All this talk of discovery is fantastic indeed.Too much superstiton like occult and spells. Some time you see satan some time you hallucinate and some people think its happening speciously.How can you ignore God!if your path does not lead to God it leads to satan and it trappings and finally to hell.

This part I like !

"I have found that most Christians I have met have little to no knowledge about much of anything outside of their own faith. Sad. "

eh... well, nm. Good luck with this tactic of insulting people and then pretending you didn't mean to. It's like someone swinging around a hammer in a restaurant and then pretending it is an accident when they hit someone.

I won't bothe saying so again after this, but your problem is the patently non-zenlike need to exalt your own beliefs over other people's. I'm thinking there is a fundamental tenet here that you just haven't gotten yet. You have displayed a small minded and bigoted manner very often.

...and just so you know, I don't consider myself to have a horse in this race. I go to no church, and wouldn't be accepted as a true believer of any of the groups you mention. If anyone is a hypocrite, it is someone who claims to adopt Buddhist teachings, and then exalts their own practices and condemns those of other people, even insulting their intelligence at the same time.

am a Zen Buddhist monk, an abbot of a small monastery and founding teacher of a Zen Center in the southwest.

Well then there is hope for you still. Paul was a Religious Pharisee of the Highest Order studing under Gameliel. He finally saw the light.

Worship? Don't think so.

Man was made to worship. If you're not worshipping God, you're worshipping something else. What do you worship?

have found that most Christians I have met have little to no knowledge about much of anything outside of their own faith

You might be right, but once you find Christ. It's like walking in a lit room. Why go back into darkness? But I on the other hand know alot about other faiths because I've been in them. They are all basically alike with just a bit of a twist added to turn their heads.

I have never spoken ill of their ways. Yet, on countless occasions I have been addressed by Christians in what feels like a small minded and quite bigoted manner. It is no wonder such people aren't trusted and are often thought of as hypocrites.

Really, never spoken ill? Well this paragraph seems like you are contradicting yourself. You just called me (a Christian) small minded, bigoted, not trusted and a hypocrite? Thanks

Feel the love.

If anyone is a hypocrite, it is someone who claims to adopt Buddhist teachings, and then exalts their own practices and condemns those of other people, even insulting their intelligence at the same time.

Way to go Baker.....!!

Indeed, its worship contains strange practices leading its devotees to worship idols of stone and clay. As a belief, Buddhism is contrary to logic and intelligence

I don't worship an idol of stone and clay, and I also don't find Buddhism contrary to logic and intelligence. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Perhaps you should try sticking to your own religion and leaving other people's alone - at least until you're better informed about them, that is. I wonder why you feel the need to so blatantly attack Buddhsim? Is it because you feel threatened by it? Because you're not satisifed in your own faith?

"Perhaps you should try sticking to your own religion and leaving other people's alone."

I think both parties could take some of that advice.

. Indeed, its worship contains strange practices leading its devotees to worship idols of stone and clay. As a belief, Buddhism is contrary to logic and intelligence. Countries where it has been adopted have mixed it with their own idolatrous ideas, traditions and local customs, joining it with myths and deviant ideas until it has evolved into a totally godless philosophy.

KFC, you talk about belittling writing, and how it hurts you, but then never look at your "brother" MM, who continues to spout hate speech towards this man. I wouldn't want my religion to be called "deviant", and all that's happening here is what has been happening for thousands of years. Do you think you're doing the Christian faith a favor by proclaiming that Buddhism and other non-western religions are unimportant?

those who practise buddhist meditations get a peculiar kind of ugliness on their faces.

KFC, MM, Christianity preaches love and understanding. Yet you take it upon yourselves to tell this man how wrong he is in his faith, how much of a waste it will seem when he converts to Christianity. Then, MM, you go on to insult him with this childish remark! You can not love with hate, and if you preach in this way, you preach only intollerance.

In this manner, what right do you have, or does he have, or do I have, to say that this man's faith is wrong, devious, or a "waste"? Each has their own right to respond to the mysteries of life in their own way. Do you attack the Jewish or those who practice Islam for their lack of faith in our Jesus?

Feel the love.

What love? Did he ever claim to have love for you? And what about you, and your "love" for this man? Jesus says, "Love thy neighbor." and you attack him for his faith?

If anyone is a hypocrite, it is someone who claims to adopt Buddhist teachings, and then exalts their own practices and condemns those of other people, even insulting their intelligence at the same time.

Look at those posts around you, Baker, and then put the shoe on the other foot. At it's very best, KFC, MM and Sodaiho are all hypocrites by your defintion, and I a hypocrite for condemning them when I too have done the same things they have done.


And here's a final question...

What if the very argument that some Christians react to other religions

in what feels like a small minded and quite bigoted manner

is not a fallacy or harsh judgement, but rather a statement that contains some small bit of truth?

Ahh... intolerant christians. How delightful to see you out in force alienating potential converts again. Well then - carry on.

Oh yeah... keep up the good work Death By Beebles

"What if the very argument that some Christians react to other religions in what feels like a small minded and quite bigoted manner is not a fallacy or harsh judgement, but rather a statement that contains some small bit of truth?

So long as the author also agrees that his estimation of other religions is also the same, I have no problem with it at all.

As far as what is in character, I think anyone who reads the new testament and Buddhist literature will find that judgement and condemnation is far less hypocritical coming from someone who claims to espouse Christianity than Buddhism. Christianity accepts strong judgements of values and calls on its followers to promote them and condemn the rest.

Why a Buddhist would be interested in such, I'm not sure, especially when in the process the buddhist is defying the very ideals he is promoting. I would assume people often migrate to buddhism for the very reason they lack the conflicting, judgemental bone that other religions base their actions on.

Beebles,

You have taken what I said and lumped together with MM. Why? Why not just respond to what I said and give me credit or fault me just for WHAT I SAID? I don't even know MM. I'm just responding to the blogger at hand here.

How have I shown a lack of love here? My comments above (please read again) were only in response to what he said. Why is it ok for him to call the Christians names and that's ok? Where did I respond likewise?

Why do you call me a hypocrite? What have I done to deserve that title?

Hello Baker Street,

Lets see. I insulted people? Where? Please reread the original post. I suggested that religion, that is a belief system that (in my view) distorts perception, as all "belief systems" must, is a hindrance and not much value. I suggested that the persons who defile me by calling me an idol worshiper is somewhat narrow. The fact is not many fundamentalist Christians look outside of themselves, yet hold their POV as a measure of other's salvation, and possible value. Even so, I do not judge them as lacking. All beings are Buddha, some just do not realize it and live in delusion. No matter, eventually all beings will come to such an awakening, I have great faith in this. Of course it may take some time...

Be well.