Ask A Buddhist

[rossum]

The first two carvings are of Siddhattha Gotama, the Buddha. The first is of him in the position of the earth touching murda. The deva Mara challenges the Buddha to prove that the Buddha is worthy of enlightenment. The Buddha touches the earth to bear witness for him. Here is something on murdas. buddhas-online.com/mudras.html

Typo: murda → mudra.

The second carving is also representing the Buddha before he reached enlightenment. It is at the time he was studying with aesthetics. He was near starvation from austerities. He left these aesthetics and went to practice on his own, declaring that such practices as starvation actually stopped one from reaching enlightenment.

Typo: aesthetics → ascetics

Yeah, sometimes I have days like that as well.

Buddhism is described as the “Middle Way”. It is the middle way between sensual pleasure and extreme asceticism. The Buddha was brought up in luxury as the son of a noble, so he experienced sensual pleasure. In his search for enlightenment he tried extreme asceticism. So, when he said that neither work, he was speaking from experience.

As to the Lotus Suttra, it is not part of the Tipitaka but a teaching of Mahayana Buddhism which is a form of Buddhism that is practiced in China and Japan. Here is something by Wiki.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Sutra

The Lotus Sutra is part of the Mahayana Tripitaka but not of the Theravadin Tripitaka. The Lotus has a big following in China, Korea and Japan, though it is less emphasised in Tibet.

rossum

 

[notself]

rossum,

Thank you for your corrections. I was unaware that Mahayana uses the Pali word Tipitaka. I just assumed they called their canon something else. What are the baskets of the Mahayana Tipitaka?

Dear all, Tipitaka means “three baskets” in Pali.

 

[Vouthon]

Yes, but you are only a formal heretic if you know the truth and reject it.

If you reject it in good faith then you are not culpable. But “good faith” doesn’t just mean that you sincerely believe it (then a Nazi wouldn’t be culpable for killing Jews if he sincerely believed it to be right)–it means that you must have come to that belief through genuinely being open to the truth.

Only God can know whether this is true or false in a given circumstance.

Yes you are absolutely spot on brother Contarini

“…Peace… puts down its roots in the freedom and ***openness of consciences ***to truth…However much one may remain convinced of the truth of one’s own religion, no person or group has the right to attempt to repress the freedom of conscience of those who have other religious convictions, or to induce them to betray their consciences…Freedom of conscience, rightly understood, is by its very nature always ordered to the truth…”

- Blessed Pope John Paul II, World Day of Peace, 1991

 

[Vouthon]

“…All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit…”

- Proverbs 16:2

I think this applies to the Nazi example referred to above by Contarini.

 

[Bakmoon]

Yes but I still have to go back to my original question, What natural truth do you feel Buddhism has given us that was not revealed to us by God himself in the second person of the Trinity.

What I am saying is Buddha has not showed me anything that Jesus has not revealed to me.

Actually, the question is whether or not a Catholic can learn from Buddhism and benefit from some of its ethical and practical teachings without contradicting the teachings of the Church.

There are many such things which I could give examples of, and I don’t mind giving a few, but bear in mind the actual original question.

All these natural truths I would contend either fall under the category of supporting natural happiness or of ethical teachings.

Here is a practical example. In Theravada Buddhism there is a meditative technique that is used to deal with the arising of craving (especially sexual craving) that is very helpful. In brief, what one does is when the lust arises in the mind, one removes one’s attention from the object of lust and instead places it on one’s attention on the process of sensory awareness, and can alternate between putting attention on the senses, the awareness of the pleasure of the object that arises in the mind distinct from its object, and the actual sexual craving itself distinct from the object.

This technique works AMAZING for dealing with sexual lust, and I find that it also is very useful to use for food cravings when engaging in fasting, for example. A Catholic who has great difficulty maintaining chastity (not being able to stop masturbating, for example) could find great help with this practical technique, I think.

 

[Vouthon]

Actually, the question is whether or not a Catholic can learn from Buddhism and benefit from some of its ethical and practical teachings without contradicting the teachings of the Church.

There are many such things which I could give examples of, and I don’t mind giving a few, but bear in mind the actual original question.

All these natural truths I would contend either fall under the category of supporting natural happiness or of ethical teachings.

Here is a practical example. In Theravada Buddhism there is a meditative technique that is used to deal with the arising of craving (especially sexual craving) that is very helpful. In brief, what one does is when the lust arises in the mind, one removes one’s attention from the object of lust and instead places it on one’s attention on the process of sensory awareness, and can alternate between putting attention on the senses, the awareness of the pleasure of the object that arises in the mind distinct from its object, and the actual sexual craving itself distinct from the object.

This technique works AMAZING for dealing with sexual lust, and I find that it also is very useful to use for food cravings when engaging in fasting, for example. A Catholic who has great difficulty maintaining chastity (not being able to stop masturbating, for example) could find great help with this practical technique, I think.

An excellent example since cravings are the cause of all the wars and disputes among human beings. Such techniques could thus be useful to aid a Catholic in dying to self-will and following the Will of God which would consist in extinguishing those cravings. To do so these practices could help a Catholic open themselves up to the Grace of God by means of helping to create the right tranquil, inner state of mind for God to act - where we are empty of self:

“…Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts…Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God…”

- James 4:1-4

 

[Bakmoon]

Another question (sorry if I get so annoying): is there any analogous idea to the Mahayana concept of trikāya in Theravada?

You’re not being annoying at all. It is for people like you (and of course people who want friendly debate and lively discussion) that I started this thread in the first place. I find great enjoyment in answering these questions.

The Theravada has no teaching similar to the Trikaya doctrine. It seems to be a much later teaching.

The Lotus Sutra doesn’t have any textual parallels in the Theravadin Canon, either. Many Theravadins regard the Lotus Sutra with a sense very similar to how Christians regard the Gnostic Gospels, for instance. They are seen as later texts that aren’t correct portrayals of the teachings of this historical figures they seem to be of.

I don’t personally think Mahayana sutras are somehow worthless, but on the whole, they aren’t my cup of tea. I can learn some things from some of them if I interpret them metaphorically for example, but I prefer the clarity and practicality of the Pali Suttas over the poetry and metaphor of the Mahayana texts, personally.

 

[Contarini]

Actually, the question is whether or not a Catholic can learn from Buddhism and benefit from some of its ethical and practical teachings without contradicting the teachings of the Church.

There are many such things which I could give examples of, and I don’t mind giving a few, but bear in mind the actual original question.

All these natural truths I would contend either fall under the category of supporting natural happiness or of ethical teachings.

Here is a practical example. In Theravada Buddhism there is a meditative technique that is used to deal with the arising of craving (especially sexual craving) that is very helpful. In brief, what one does is when the lust arises in the mind, one removes one’s attention from the object of lust and instead places it on one’s attention on the process of sensory awareness, and can alternate between putting attention on the senses, the awareness of the pleasure of the object that arises in the mind distinct from its object, and the actual sexual craving itself distinct from the object.

Interesting. C. S. Lewis recommended exactly this (or more precisely, he put a recommendation of the opposite approach into the mouth of “Screwtape”; Screwtape says at one point that the tempter needs to get humans to focus on the process rather than the object in the case of virtuous feelings, and on the object rather than the process in the case of vicious ones).

Edwin

 

[rinnie]

Actually, the question is whether or not a Catholic can learn from Buddhism and benefit from some of its ethical and practical teachings without contradicting the teachings of the Church.

There are many such things which I could give examples of, and I don’t mind giving a few, but bear in mind the actual original question.

All these natural truths I would contend either fall under the category of supporting natural happiness or of ethical teachings.

Here is a practical example. In Theravada Buddhism there is a meditative technique that is used to deal with the arising of craving (especially sexual craving) that is very helpful. In brief, what one does is when the lust arises in the mind, one removes one’s attention from the object of lust and instead places it on one’s attention on the process of sensory awareness, and can alternate between putting attention on the senses, the awareness of the pleasure of the object that arises in the mind distinct from its object, and the actual sexual craving itself distinct from the object.

This technique works AMAZING for dealing with sexual lust, and I find that it also is very useful to use for food cravings when engaging in fasting, for example. A Catholic who has great difficulty maintaining chastity (not being able to stop masturbating, for example) could find great help with this practical technique, I think.

Well here is the problem according to the word of God if a person looks at another with lust he has already sinned.

Now how do we wipe out that sin? Go do this meditation you say? God says we repent.

So can we meditate without repenting and rid ourself of the sin. Not by the word of God.

So my answer is no meditation will work. You must repent ask God for forgiveness and it is his Grace that rids us from the sin. Not meditation. Sorry. I am trying to be as honest as I can. I mean you no disrespect.

 

[BListon]

I think I may be the first Buddhist to officially be on this site, so I thought it might be cool to do a forum for people to ask any questions to clear up any questions or possible misconceptions about Buddhism.

Just as a little disclaimer, I am a lay Buddhist, but I think I should be strong enough in my understanding (or at least have enough reference materials) to answer any questions you may have. I will answer from a general perspective and from that of the Theravada sect(The one I follow.)

Is it true that you can’t kill anything… including bugs?

 

[Bakmoon]

Well here is the problem according to the word of God if a person looks at another with lust he has already sinned.

Now how do we wipe out that sin? Go do this meditation you say? God says we repent.

So can we meditate without repenting and rid ourself of the sin. Not by the word of God.

So my answer is no meditation will work. You must repent ask God for forgiveness and it is his Grace that rids us from the sin. Not meditation. Sorry. I am trying to be as honest as I can. I mean you no disrespect.

I thought that in Catholic Moral Theology, sin requires an act of will. In otherwords, temptation does not equal sin. Even Christ was tempted in the desert, but he was free from sin.

I should be clear that my use of the word lust is different from the Catholic use. In the Buddhist sense, it here refers to the unwholesome desire of something, thus corresponding to the Catholic concept of temptation rather closely.

I am advocating that a Catholic may use this technique as a means of resisting temptation, not as a means of obtaining absolution for sin if one fails. By all means, a Catholic should still frequently go to Confession and pray for the grace to resist temptation, but this may also be a helpful practical technique of seeing the vanity of temptation and separating one’s self from them.

 

[Bakmoon]

Is it true that you can’t kill anything… including bugs?

Correct. In general, we are not allowed to intentionally kill any living creature that is capable of suffering. If it is accidental, there is no wrong, however, so if I step on an ant, I haven’t broken my commitment.

The reason why we cannot kill is because it brings harm to what we are killing. It is often difficult to empathize with lower lifeforms, but they do have the ability to suffer and feel pain, even if this is much cruder than with human beings.

Intentionally killing a bug isn’t on par with killing a person, though. It all depends on the complexity of the life form and its ability to feel pain and have a desire for life, I think.

 

[notself]

Well here is the problem according to the word of God if a person looks at another with lust he has already sinned.

Now how do we wipe out that sin? Go do this meditation you say? God says we repent.

So can we meditate without repenting and rid ourself of the sin. Not by the word of God.

So my answer is no meditation will work. You must repent ask God for forgiveness and it is his Grace that rids us from the sin. Not meditation. Sorry. I am trying to be as honest as I can. I mean you no disrespect.

I think you must have misread Bakmoon’s post. Meditation on Craving is not a process for forgiving sin, nor is it a process for repentance. It is a process to assist those who have improper sexual thoughts to stop those thoughts as soon as they start to arise.

 

[notself]

Is it true that you can’t kill anything… including bugs?

I agree with Bakmoon’s comments. However, I’d like to expand on them a bit.

I make the effort to take outside any spiders or creepy crawlies or flying whatsits that appear in my home or screened in porch. I do this out of compassion for the creature who is in the wrong place and may no longer have access to its natural food source. I do this because the effort I expend, strengthens the virtue of compassion and loving kindness in my heart.

Sila, morality in Buddhism is part of the training that leads to nibbana. The way the are described in the suttas is in the form of commitments not commandments. Most of the commandments are written in the form of “thou shalt not” or in the form of orders, “keep holy the sabbath”.

The Precepts are written in the form of pledges or vows.

“I undertake to refrain from killing”
“I undertake to refrain from taking what is not freely given” ,etc.

 

[dsully]

Hey there. I used to be very interested in Buddhism, but ended up returning to my Christian faith.

Have you heard of Paul Williams? He is a Buddhist practitioner and scholar who converted to Roman Catholicism about ten years ago. He also happened to have written some of the books and articles that I was using to study Buddhism in college.

whyimcatholic.com/index.php/conversion-stories/buddhist-converts/item/65-buddhist-convert-paul-williams

 

[rinnie]

I think you must have misread Bakmoon’s post. Meditation on Craving is not a process for forgiving sin, nor is it a process for repentance. It is a process to assist those who have improper sexual thoughts to stop those thoughts as soon as they start to arise.

Yes I understood it and it is the thought that is a sin. Let me show you.

Improper sexual thoughts.

Mt. 5:28 You have heard it said You shall not commit adultery. But I say this if a man LOOKS a a woman Lustfully he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye should be your downfall tear it out, and throw it away, for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself then have your whole body thrown into hell.

If you have these improper sexual thoughts you have already sinned.

 

[rinnie]

I think you must have misread Bakmoon’s post. Meditation on Craving is not a process for forgiving sin, nor is it a process for repentance. It is a process to assist those who have improper sexual thoughts to stop those thoughts as soon as they start to arise.

You must have missed my point. Which is where is this meditation going to help me in forgiving my sin?

Once you have had the thought you are in a state of venial sin. How do I get out without repentance? Meditation will not save my soul? But prayer and repentance will.

Meditation will not stop my thoughts, but by the Grace of God and prayer it can.

let me show you!

Romans 5:20 To put in my words there is no sin that can trump the grace of God. God can overpower any sin with his grace.

 

[rinnie]

Actually, the question is whether or not a Catholic can learn from Buddhism and benefit from some of its ethical and practical teachings without contradicting the teachings of the Church.

There are many such things which I could give examples of, and I don’t mind giving a few, but bear in mind the actual original question.

All these natural truths I would contend either fall under the category of supporting natural happiness or of ethical teachings.

Here is a practical example. In Theravada Buddhism there is a meditative technique that is used to deal with the arising of craving (especially sexual craving) that is very helpful. In brief, what one does is when the lust arises in the mind, one removes one’s attention from the object of lust and instead places it on one’s attention on the process of sensory awareness, and can alternate between putting attention on the senses, the awareness of the pleasure of the object that arises in the mind distinct from its object, and the actual sexual craving itself distinct from the object.

This technique works AMAZING for dealing with sexual lust, and I find that it also is very useful to use for food cravings when engaging in fasting, for example. A Catholic who has great difficulty maintaining chastity (not being able to stop masturbating, for example) could find great help with this practical technique, I think.

Please forgive me for this, but it sure didn’t work for Buddha, The food craving that is!

Must husband had a friend who had the same gut as BUddha.

He had the T shirt, it said WHAT I have the body of a greek god!

 

[Bakmoon]

Please forgive me for this, but it sure didn’t work for Buddha, The food craving that is!

Must husband had a friend who had the same gut as BUddha.

He had the T shirt, it said WHAT I have the body of a greek god!

That’s very disrespectful, and if you read some of the earlier posts, you would know that the “laughing Buddha” statue is a depiction of a semi-legendary Chinese monk who is basically the Chinese Santa Claus. Poking fun at the Buddha based on the appearance of this monk would be like me joking about Jesus’ appearance based on the looks of Santa Claus. It’s disrespectful.

 

[rinnie]

That’s very disrespectful, and if you read some of the earlier posts, you would know that the “laughing Buddha” statue is a depiction of a semi-legendary Chinese monk who is basically the Chinese Santa Claus. Poking fun at the Buddha based on the appearance of this monk would be like me joking about Jesus’ appearance based on the looks of Santa Claus. It’s disrespectful.

I am sorry. It is just when you said about the diet and everything. I was just trying to lighten things up a bit.

But in all honesty I didn’t make the shirt. That is a true story. But again my bad, Forgive me.