I'm Buddhist only because EVERYBODY in my family (aunts uncles parents ancestors). There are a lot of principles I believe in and follow, but I'm not very strict about things like eating vegetables only, killing living things (I hate bugs and spiders, period), but I don't know a lot about buddhism, only the stuff I've heard from my family members. :U
hmm.. as in find an association to seek guidance? What kinda school will that be? Or you mean monastery?
chinese buddhism is a bit different to buddhisms from other places. buddhism in china is composed of confisious (dont know how to spell it), taoism and buddhism.
With the popularity of holistic health and organic food tend, it has become fashionable to be a vegetarian in recent years. The buddhist rationale for this is as follows, to be a vegetarian develops your compassion for all livining beings. This is particulary emphasized in chinese buddhism. While Tibetan practice is much less strict.
It's difficult to give any generic advice on meditative pracitce, because it is so very subjective. This must be indivisulaized according to your past experience, knowledge, where you are and accessibility to a teacher with great capabilities... I really don't know how to begin with you... I would only say that, given a choice, i would choose a high tibetan lama with clearly defined lineage.
I am kinda budhist. Well when I'm over in Hong Kong and pray at temples and ancestors and stuff. Kinda inluenced my family really, but I like the religion.
The truth comes in many forms but as long as you realize that life is suffering an the cause of this suffering, you will find this enlightment.
i'm a buddhist =) and glad to be one. but i dont go the vegetarian way though. still i love buddhist teachings.. simple, logical and peaceful.
My family is Chinese buddhist. I know most of it and follow certain ideals, such as the middle path, as a way of life, but I'm definitely very loose with the entire thing.
well i´m not on the run for enlightenment, though i am a buddhist, but the philosophy behind it, is not to try too hard, but as best as u can in the give circumstances,... i´m not rdy yet but maybe a few lives after =) i´m too addicted to food and other stuff ^^
Frequently people refer to Buddhism as a religion. Actually, it would be far more coorect to say it is a Way of Life, a code of living, a manner of passing our time upon this Earth, so that we shall hurt none and advance our own spiritual progress in the quickest time with the least effort. Here are various things which are in my belief: 1) There is suffering and there is a cause for that suffering. Suffering can be overcome, and there there is a way of peace. The Buddhists also refer to this as the Four Noble Truths. 2) Nirvana. aka state of Enlightenment. Mind and matter are in a state of constant change. The mind causes the spirit to bog down as if stuck in clay. Withdraw the mind, and then one attains to Nirvana, and so becomes free from suffering and the cycle of continual rebirth, living, dying and being reborn. 3) The Eightfold Path, which means- correct views correct aspirations correct speech correct conduct correct methods of livelihood correct effort correct thoughts correct contemplation As in most religions, or ways of life, there are different branches. Buddhist school branch into two, Hinayana (Narrow Way) and the Mahayana (Great Way). I believe these are taught in our History subject (well at least in mine lol) The former is rather austere, it has a narrow outlook, it relates to the achievement of personal sanctity through seclusion and aesthetism. This is indeed a rigorous living, which many of us do not follow in the modern times. The latter, Mahayana, refers to follow the percepts of Gautama Buddha as a divine incarnation. One might say that one of these calls upon a person to progress by his own efforts (Hinayana), while the other says that you can only work and progress by following the precise and undeviating example of another. (Mahayana). Contrary to what many people may mistakenly believe; BUDDHA is NOT a God. This is a person who has successfully completed the lives of a cycle of existence, and byhis success in overcoming Karma is now ready to move on to another plane of existence. A Buddha is a person who is free from the bonds of flesh. The one who is frequently referred to as "the Buddha" was actually Siddhartha Gautama. He was a Prince who lived some 2,500 yrs ago India; he renounced all material possessions in order to find enlightenment. He found Nirvana, which does NOT mean, as it usually translated, everything full of NOTHINGNESS. Buddhahood is a state of being. One can attain Buddhahood no matter what one's station in life. The Prince or the garbage collector can each be pure and holy. We are like actors on a stage, and we take the status which will be of most assistance to us in learning that which we have to learn. The Thousand Buddhas, as is often mentioned; is merely an indication that one can attain to Buddhahood in a thousand or so different ways. The thousand, is merely a figure of speech. There could be millions of ways. Buddha is a symbol, not the graven image of a God. The Buddha figures are just reminders of what we can be if we want to be, and if we work to be. Most importantly, "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you".
i am a buddhist and well i dont follow the whole way i guess im more of a atheist i guess i believe in living your life to fullest and be happy is the most important what happens after life well as long as i dont do anything wrong or regret when i was alive then i dont mind what happens after
what babyrain said is basically what you have to know about buddhism =) it covers a lot of the important points. but as the OP asked, i believe one way of reaching enlightenment is through dedicated meditation. not just amateur medication, but trained meditation.. you will not reach enlightenment, but you will get some answers. it is not possible to reach enlightenment within one life time.. rather, its through many life times of experiences, for example, the dalai lama and his 15 (?) lives + his previous lives BEFORE becoming the dalai lama..
