I googled Buddhist charities and found about 200 Singapore alone, which is a rather small place. Anyway, why is it necessary to continually cast dispersions upon other people’s faiths? Can you tell me what will be gained from that?OK. So your system demands that you not injure any living thing, but it certainly does NOT seem to command that any compassion be shown to others. I guess “compassion” is another human construct, changing and all, so therefore not “real”.
Perhaps this explains why I have NEVER seen nor heard of Buddhist charities. Where is the Buddhist Mother Theresa? There are NO charities that I am aware of here in Japan other than Christian. Buddhism doesn’t seem to suggest that care about one’s neighbor is of any “value” on the road to “awareness”.
There are a lot of “homeless” here, even though the propaganda machine called the Japanese press would have you believe otherwise. I don’t see the Buddhist monks feeding any of them. In fact many priests here drive Mercedes Benz cars, but I have yet to see a temple “soup kitchen”.
This might also explain why people here, who self identify as Buddhist, will step around a sick person collapsed on the sidewalk rather than render aid. I have seen it many times. There is after all no compulsion to show “mercy” or “compassion” in your system. Only to reach some state of mind divorced from reality it seems, since reality is not “real” anyway.
Does that strike anyone else as being a bit…ah…selfish perhaps. Find “enlightenment” while your neighbor is starving.
I am actually NOT trying to be argumentative. I have no animosity toward your belief system. I just find it lacking in some very real ways, as I am sure you find my system unfathomable.
As far as my “perception of Evil” not being infallible, perhaps not. But when you have seen a woman ripped open by a knife wielding “boyfriend”, or a person’s head blown off over a bindle of crack as I have on more than a few occasions, it is hard to rationalize how that is NOT evil. I’m sorry, there are no circumstances that can excuse such behavior, at least in my mind.
W.Unland
Please study more of Buddhism before you expose more of your ignorance. I cannot summarise all of Buddhism within the post size limit here. The four brahmaviharas are:* universal loving-kindness.OK. So your system demands that you not injure any living thing, but it certainly does NOT seem to command that any compassion be shown to others.
You have never heard of Buddhist charities because you have never googled “Buddhist charities”. It took 0.19 seconds to find 414,000 results, including the Tzu chi Foundation. I have always thought that it is worth checking facts where I am uncertain just in case I make an error. Google would have found Buddhist compassion for you as well, and a lot more quickly than I can reply here.Perhaps this explains why I have NEVER seen nor heard of Buddhist charities.
Such behaviour is undoubtedly evil. I have a problem with the reified EVIL that is detached from describing specific actions and floats around free as a noun instead of an adjective. Evil is an adjective which describes certain actions. Nothing more than that.As far as my “perception of Evil” not being infallible, perhaps not. But when you have seen a woman ripped open by a knife wielding “boyfriend”, or a person’s head blown off over a bindle of crack as I have on more than a few occasions, it is hard to rationalize how that is NOT evil.
I usually suggest Karen Armstrong’s biography: Buddha. She is not a Buddhist so she approaches his life from a non-Buddhist perspective. Thomas Merton can also be useful in looking at Buddhism from a Christian perspective.This thread is the first time I have run into this topic on Catholic answers. I am mostly ignorant of your beliefs.
Correct. Buddhism is a path to be followed. Following that path will change you.It is the practice of transforming your mind from negative bad thoughts to positive good.
Gods are basically irrelevant in Buddhism. The main focus is on changing yourself, and only you can do that.They who practice it reach some form of peace without having to be subject to God.
For some whose lives are in chaos, and fear judgmental attitudes and sick religion, Buddhism can be a psychology, rather than a religion, which can lead them back to the Church. The Dalai Lama presents a psychology that is not incompatible with Christianity, except for belief in reincarnation. And he holds to reincarnation because his position came about because of this belief.Thomas Merton can also be useful in looking at Buddhism from a Christian perspective.
Rossum, for the Christian, who falls into the trap of evil, his own understanding is fruitless. It is only through the Triune God that peace and salvation is found.So I disagree that we ourselves can find the complete truth through our own understanding.Peace, CarlanGods are basically irrelevant in Buddhism. The main focus is on changing yourself, and only you can do that.
rossum
Then through whose understanding can we perceive the world, if not our own? Revelation itself must be comprehended through the lens of our own reason, and very few religious motions have meaning if they have not been assigned them by our world-view.…I disagree that we ourselves can find the complete truth through our own understanding.
My son is such a person. I’m looking for readings for him that present Buddhism as a healing psychology, a stepping-stone, if you will. Thanks, Publisher.For some whose lives are in chaos, and fear judgmental attitudes and sick religion, Buddhism can be a psychology,
Yes, but only with the enlightenment of our Creator .If you are an atheist you are believing in your power as if you are your own God.Then through whose understanding can we perceive the world, if not our own? Revelation itself must be comprehended through the lens of our own reason,
Yes, and I can understand that. The ultimate end complete union with the Triune God! Peace, CarlanMy son is such a person. I’m looking for readings for him that present Buddhism as a healing psychology, a stepping-stone, if you will. Thanks, Publisher.
There are many gods worshipped by men: YHWH, Christ, Allah, Krishna, Durga, Amaterasu etc. If you are relying on one of them to save you and you pick the wrong one then you have a problem.Yes, but only with the enlightenment of our Creator .If you are an atheist you are believing in your power as if you are your own God.
Yes, I suppose , rossum.But all I can tell you is that I have been given a precious gift, Trust in the Triune God I believe in.There are many gods worshipped by men: YHWH, Christ, Allah, Krishna, Durga, Amaterasu etc. If you are relying on one of them to save you and you pick the wrong one then you have a problem.
I know that I exist. *** I am much less sure ***about any of the gods. I would rather rely on myself than rely on a god that might not exist rossum
Nirvana. All of the heavens of all of the gods are temporary. Why would I aim for temporary happiness when nirvana is available:There is, monks, an unborn, an unbecome, an unmade, an unconditioned. If there were not that unborn, unbecome, unmade, unconditioned, no escape would be possible from the born, become, made, conditioned. But precisely because there is an unborn, unbecome, unmade, unconditioned, escape from the born, become, made, conditioned is possible.Yes, I suppose , rossum.But all I can tell you is that I have been given a precious gift, Trust in the Triune God I believe in.
Why not ask, what do you have to lose?