RELIGION....(part 2)

[d_guy1024]

---

d_guy...salamat sa imo post...interesting sad....usahay man gud lain2 ta ug prinsipyo mao radical kaayo ang mga reactions....

bro...try to read The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle ...one of the best books i came across.....same thread of thought sa imo gi post...and by the way ...ka ila ka Ramana Maharshi...another sage nga bilib sad ko....

you're welcome. Sori i'm not familiar with what you've mentioned, but i'll try to look them up here...

[d_guy1024]

Introduction to Buddhism

BUDDHISM is the name given to the teachings of the Buddha. In other words, Buddhism refers to all the sutras, which Shakyamuni Buddha expounded. Unlike other religious philosophies or systems of religious thought, Buddhism makes no clear distinction between divinity and humanity. Its teachings enable people to attain enlightenment, to become Buddhas themselves. But specifically, the Lotus Sutra alone makes Buddhahood accessible to all people. The Buddha can in no way be defined as a transcendental or supreme being. "Buddha" means the Enlightened One; a Buddha is a person who perceives within his own life the essence, or reality of life. This ultimate reality supports and nourishes humanity and all other living beings. Those who have perceived this ultimate reality inherent in their own lives truly know themselves; they are Buddhas.

Socrates' words, "Know thyself," have posed a problem which philosophy, down through history, has attempted to answer. Buddhism expounded about one hundred years before the age of Socrates, provided a concrete answer, but it was long obscured by the esoteric tendencies among early Buddhist scholars. The Buddhist philosophy is actually the revelation of a very practical way to bring out the true self, as opposed to the phenomenal self, as one moves toward perfection. It is not metaphysical speculation. Buddhism is basically a practical system of teachings providing a means to realize the ideal state of Buddhahood, which is self-perfection.

Buddhists perceive the ultimate reality of life equally within all human beings, and accordingly respect the dignity of all people. As one begins to recognize this, one understands that one must awaken others to the dignity of their own lives. One's belief urges one to teach and help others awaken to the ultimate reality existing within so that they can create truly happy lives. In that way one is helping others attain Buddhahood. Those who truly strive for the sake of others are called "bodhisattvas." The power, which infuses them with the desire to help others, is the impartial and infinite compassion of the Buddha called jihi.

The two goals of Buddhism, then, are the attainment of Buddhahood and the fulfillment of the requirements of the bodhisattva. Interestingly, they are restated in Immanuel Kant's idea that self-perfection and other people's happiness are at once the purposes and obligations of human beings, unconsciously echoing principles expounded at least 2,300 years before Kant's time. This shows that a universal teaching can and will reappear in entirely different cultural mediums.

No clear definition of Buddhism can be readily given. There are many explanations about what Buddhism is, presented from many different angles. Therefore, an attempt to formulate an explanation, which is understandable and satisfactory to everyone, is a virtual impossibility.

All the teachings of Shakyamuni, the historical founder of Buddhism, were recorded giving rise to a vast array of sutras or scriptures. Because they contain teachings which are at times contradictory, a large number of schools developed, basing their teachings on one or another of the sutras. As a result, endless controversies arose among the different sects, each asserting the superiority of its own tenets.

Notwithstanding these conflicts, however, all the Buddhist sects commonly acknowledge the account concerning Shakyamuni's motives for renouncing the secular world. It is as follows: In his youth, when he was a prince and called Gautama Siddhartha, Shakyamuni became aware of and profoundly troubled by the problem of human suffering. He gave up his princely status and pursued the life of a religious mendicant in search of a solution to the four inescapable sufferings which confront all human beings: birth, old age, sickness and death. According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha renounced secular life at the age of nineteen and attained enlightenment at thirty. Modern scholars generally place these ages at twenty-nine and thirty-five, respectively. After eleven years (six years according to the latter view) of ascetic practices and deep meditation, he finally realized the truth which would emancipate human beings from suffering, and he became a Buddha. An understanding of what Buddhism actually is can be gained from knowledge of the motive that prompted him to seek enlightenment. In the final analysis, all of Shakyamuni's teachings were expounded for the sole purpose of solving the universal sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death, as well as to seek a way to transcend them.

However, this does not mean that Buddhism works to free its believers from the phenomena of aging, sickness and death. Shakyamuni Buddha himself grew old and passed away. He was in no way entirely free of sickness, as is indicated by the statement in the Lotus Sutra, "[The Thus Come One is well and happy,] with few ills and few worries." Then what does it mean to say that Shakyamuni overcame the four sufferings? The answer to this question will clarify the truth to which the Buddha was enlightened, comprising the essence of the Buddha's teachings.

Buddhism has its origin in the desire to solve the most fundamental problem of human suffering. The teachings of Buddhism effectively deal with the question of a human being's very existence and pursue the surest way toward establishing a secure basis for living. There has been a tendency to regard Buddhism as a religion which is nihilistic, negating the value of human life. On the other hand, there are a number of people who think that Buddhism is a means by which to satisfy their material desires. It is true that, among the Buddhist teachings, some speak out against attachment to mundane pursuits and urge people to seek the eternal truth beyond the impermanence of all phenomena, while other teachings assure one of the fulfillment of secular and material desires. However, it is a grave error to think that such teachings constitute the core of Buddhism. The reason for such conflicting views is found in the process by which Shakyamuni's teachings were recorded and transmitted, during which time the essence which integrates all of these partial truths of the Buddha's enlightenment was lost sight of. The purpose and significance of Buddhism lies in overcoming the four basic sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death, as well as in enabling each individual to establish his own identity.

As stated earlier, the solution to these four sufferings does not mean the denial of the impermanence of life. It is an awakening to the reality of the eternal and essential life, which underlies and governs the constant universal cycle of birth, aging, sickness and death. As long as one clings only to the affairs of one's daily existence in this world one cannot grasp that reality. For this reason, the Buddha taught people to transcend their daily lives, which are uncertain and fleeting, in order to overcome these sufferings. However, to realize the essential life which continues eternally, transcending both birth and death, means to establish the solid foundation of human existence within the harsh realities of this world. One's awakening to the reality of this truth must be reflected in one's daily living. In other words, it manifests itself in such phenomena as the fulfillment of material desires and physical well being. In this sense, a promise of worldly happiness is also a part of the Buddhist teachings.

taken from: http://sgi-usa.org/buddhism/introtobuddhism2.html

[mannyamador]

In the Bible there are no popes or priests to rule over the church.

That's not in the Bible. Jesus clearly appointed Peter as the earthly head and had primacy among the Apostles, as shown in my older post. The evidence is quite clear, but your PERSONAL INTERPRETATION of the verses has no evidence to support it.

The Catholic church teaches that Peter was the first Pope and the earthly head of the church, but the Bible never says this once.

The Bible doesn't use the word "Trinity" either, but that doctrine is clearly taught in the Bible. Same with the Papacy.

The Bible never speaks of Peter being in Rome

Yes it does. Rome is referred to as "babylon". The real Babylon HAD NO CHRISTIANS, so what would Peter be doing there? Below is part of my older post:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01641a.htm

• About 150 the Roman presbyter Caius offers to show to the heretic Procius the trophies of the Apostles: "If you will got the Vatican, and to the Via Ostiensis, you will find the monuments of those who have founded this Church." Can Caius and the Romans for whom he speaks have been in error on a point so vital to their Church?
• Next we come to Papias (c. 138-150). From him we only get a faint indication that he places Peter's preaching in Rome, for he states that Mark wrote down what Peter preached, and he makes him write in Rome. Weizsaecker himself holds that this inference from Papias has some weight in the cumulative argument we are constructing.
• Earlier than Papias is Ignatius Martyr (before 117), who, on his way to martyrdom, writes to the Romans: "I do not command you as did Peter and Paul; they were Apostles, I am a disciple", words which according to Lightfoot have no sense if Ignatius did not believe Peter and Paul to have been preaching in Rome.
• Earlier still is Clement of Rome writing to the Corinthians, probably in 96, certainly before the end of the first century. He cites Peter's and Paul's martyrdom as an example of the sad fruits of fanaticism and envy. They have suffered "amongst us" he says, and Weizsaecker rightly sees here another proof for our thesis.
• The Gospel of St. John, written about the same time as the letter Clement to the Corinthians, also contains a clear allusion to the martyrdom by crucifixion of St. Peter, without, however, locating it (John 21:18, 19).
• The very oldest evidence comes from St. Peter himself, if he be the author of the First Epistle of Peter, of if not, from a writer nearly of his own time: "The Church that is in Babylon saluteth you, and so doth my son Mark" (1 Peter 5:13). That Babylon stands for Rome, as usual amongst pious Jews, and not for the real Babylon, then without Christians, is admitted by common consent (cf. F.J.A. Hort, "Judaistic Christianity", London, 1895, 155).

Next time, try doing some research so you won't look so ignorant.

[shoeless_rebel]

d_guy1024: i appreciate the fact that u posted something about buddhism. nevermind the contra-post of some people here. i was a christian but i experimented with buddhism way back in college for 4 years while i was goin out with a buddhist girl though after that period i realized that i am "more of an" agnostic.

anyway, u posted some very informative stuff. keep posting... of all religions that i tried experimenting with, i find buddhism as the most kind and realistic... and it is almost devoid of hypocrisy unlike the religion of my parents. thanks dude!

[Gwynhuever]

@d_guy and shoeless....kon kalugar mo bro...read about Ramana Maharshi....i recommend it....sige na aron mag start ta thread for the open minded he he he

bitaw try gud mo tan-aw sad ug Seven Years In Tibet.....diba ma uwaw mo sa atong attachment to everything material while proclaiming our righteousness kunohay....

PS
d_guy why don't you start another thread more about buddhism kay mangadto dayon mi ni shoeless to share sad our personal experiences.....morag volatile man kaayo ni nga thread ....di kaayo ko ganahan mo share kay i feel the negative vibes....

[shoeless_rebel]

Gwynhuever:

OT: i agree with you about the negative vibes... ionno whats wrong but some peeps here proclaiming to know the bible by heart, claiming to be a good christian but they're throwing insults at one another like apple pies in a food fight. hahay... thank "God" i'm no longer a catholic/christian.

[Gwynhuever]

@shoeless....nalimot sila bro...sa kadugay binasa sa bibliya na limtan ang "when somebody slaps your right cheek...turn the other way and offer the left"....mao na nga dali kaayo mo rise sa mga "insults" and "slights" kay ang gi tuhuan tingali katong obsolete na kaayo nga bible quote "an eye for an eye"....

anyway ako proud gihapon ko nga catholic ko bro...apil gihapon ko sa mga rituals like observing Good Friday etc...di lang ko devout catholic....once a month ra ko simba....and i respect imo decision ngano ni buhi ka sa imo relihiyon....pero liberal kaayo ko pag ka catholic...i am more Jesus centered than anything else...plus i read and practice buddhist way of life...unya Zazen sad ....ang tan-aw siguro nila nako balimbing no...pero sagi lang happy man ko....God is in my heart....

[dead_soul]

@shoeless....nalimot sila bro...sa kadugay binasa sa bibliya na limtan ang "when somebody slaps your right cheek...turn the other way and offer the left"....mao na nga dali kaayo mo rise sa mga "insults" and "slights" kay ang gi tuhuan tingali katong obsolete na kaayo nga bible quote "an eye for an eye"....

anyway ako proud gihapon ko nga catholic ko bro...apil gihapon ko sa mga rituals like observing Good Friday etc...di lang ko devout catholic....once a month ra ko simba....and i respect imo decision ngano ni buhi ka sa imo relihiyon....pero liberal kaayo ko pag ka catholic...i am more Jesus centered than anything else...plus i read and practice buddhist way of life...unya Zazen sad ....ang tan-aw siguro nila nako balimbing no...pero sagi lang happy man ko....God is in my heart....

A Lukewarm Christian...

Jesus said:
"You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of My mouth..."

[d_guy1024]

@d_guy and shoeless....kon kalugar mo bro...read about Ramana Maharshi....i recommend it....sige na aron mag start ta thread for the open minded he he he

bitaw try gud mo tan-aw sad ugÂ* Seven Years In Tibet.....diba ma uwaw mo sa atong attachment to everything material while proclaiming our righteousness kunohay....

PS
d_guy why don't you start another thread more about buddhism kay mangadto dayon mi ni shoeless to share sad our personal experiences.....morag volatile man kaayo ni nga thread ....di kaayo ko ganahan mo share kay i feel the negative vibes....

No problem...just find this thread entitled "Buddhist network
that actively promotes peace, culture and education
through personal change and social contribution"

[Gwynhuever]

A Lukewarm Christian...

Jesus said:
"You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of My mouth..."

Am i to take your comment as a conclusive judgment of me? If yes, please also remember what Jesus said about judging others: " Judge not that ye be not judged".....