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What are your views on Buddhism?
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As an Atheist i find it a little difficult to accept Buddhism, whilst they accept a God, their "God" is an actual person, and not seen as a God as we would normally associate it in the western world. Buddha was more of a philosopher not an invisible man in the sky.
How do you view Buddhism?
I like the whole idea but Im generally not well informed on the subject at this moment in time but I have dipped my toe in the water.
How do you view Buddhism?
I like the whole idea but Im generally not well informed on the subject at this moment in time but I have dipped my toe in the water.
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I thought that Buddhism taught that it is desire, for possessions, or love, or high position and status, which brings pain.
You might have all the material possessions that you wanted and still be unhappy. And you might have no more than a bowl of gruel a day to live on, a place to sleep, and a well-thumbed copy of the bible, and be happier than a lottery jackpot winner.
You might have all the material possessions that you wanted and still be unhappy. And you might have no more than a bowl of gruel a day to live on, a place to sleep, and a well-thumbed copy of the bible, and be happier than a lottery jackpot winner.
I have done some research on Buddha, not knowing anything about him apart from his name and this is what I have found out.
Siddhārtha Gautama, the founder of this religion, lived in northern India in the sixth century B.C.E.
Buddhist tradition holds that soon after the death of Gautama, a council of 500 monks was convened to decide what was the authentic teaching of the Master. Whether such a council actually did take place is a subject of much debate among Buddhist scholars and historians. The important point is that even Buddhist texts acknowledge that the authentic teaching decided upon was not committed to writing but memorized by the disciples. Actual writing of the sacred texts had to wait for a considerable time.
So how did the ‘Enlightenment’ happen?
It was when, for the first time in his life, he saw a sick man, an old man, and a dead man. This experience caused him to agonize over the meaning of life—Why were men born, only to suffer, grow old, and die? Then, it was said that he saw a holy man, one who had renounced the world in pursuit of truth. This impelled Gautama to give up his family, his possessions, and his princely name and spend the next six years seeking the answer from Hindu teachers and gurus, but without success. The accounts tell us that he pursued a course of meditation, fasting, Yoga, and extreme self-denial, yet he found no spiritual peace or enlightenment.
Although it is customary to speak of Buddhism as one religion, in reality it is divided into several schools of thought. Based on different interpretations of the nature of the Buddha and his teachings, each has its own doctrines, practices, and scriptures. These schools are further divided into numerous groups and sects, many of which are heavily influenced by local cultures and traditions.
There is much more that I discovered about this particular religion and at the end of the day, all I can say is that it is not unlike Christendom with its thousands of confusing sects and subdivisions, the Buddha, figuratively speaking, wears many faces.
Siddhārtha Gautama, the founder of this religion, lived in northern India in the sixth century B.C.E.
Buddhist tradition holds that soon after the death of Gautama, a council of 500 monks was convened to decide what was the authentic teaching of the Master. Whether such a council actually did take place is a subject of much debate among Buddhist scholars and historians. The important point is that even Buddhist texts acknowledge that the authentic teaching decided upon was not committed to writing but memorized by the disciples. Actual writing of the sacred texts had to wait for a considerable time.
So how did the ‘Enlightenment’ happen?
It was when, for the first time in his life, he saw a sick man, an old man, and a dead man. This experience caused him to agonize over the meaning of life—Why were men born, only to suffer, grow old, and die? Then, it was said that he saw a holy man, one who had renounced the world in pursuit of truth. This impelled Gautama to give up his family, his possessions, and his princely name and spend the next six years seeking the answer from Hindu teachers and gurus, but without success. The accounts tell us that he pursued a course of meditation, fasting, Yoga, and extreme self-denial, yet he found no spiritual peace or enlightenment.
Although it is customary to speak of Buddhism as one religion, in reality it is divided into several schools of thought. Based on different interpretations of the nature of the Buddha and his teachings, each has its own doctrines, practices, and scriptures. These schools are further divided into numerous groups and sects, many of which are heavily influenced by local cultures and traditions.
There is much more that I discovered about this particular religion and at the end of the day, all I can say is that it is not unlike Christendom with its thousands of confusing sects and subdivisions, the Buddha, figuratively speaking, wears many faces.
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