buddhism

[notself]

Hi,

The reason Dharmakaya has so many name and various degree/level of understanding ( like those wide range of description in the Lanakavatara Sutra ) is that it is the ignorance minds looking at the truth, due to their delusion inclination they are unable to perceive the complete truth, but only from a partial and distorted version – much like the attempts to see the moon with it’s reflection that appears the waving and muddy water surface at the ponds, hence many a time it is still interpreted clouded mind from the relative truth perspective. But for the enlightenment – they perspective of in absolute truth is perfectly match with one another, transcending time and space.

So, it is certainly not the Unmanifest Brahman in Brahmanism but to lead to awaken to the much beyond and profound understanding of the ultimate truth.

Dharma-kaya is actually still a simplified version used in the discussion in general Buddhist community.

Inside the Lotus School, in the deeper understanding, great masters such as Tientai, Miaolo, Dengyo, Nichiren revealed the Tathagata in the Lotus Sutra is actually the Unity of the Three Bodies/kaya, known as ‘Nyorai of the Musa Sanjin’, the un-acquired triple bodied Tathagata.

The Three Bodies/kayas are - the Dharma body, the Sambhogakaya, and the Nirmanakaya;
The Three Truths are – Emptiness/ Non-Substantiality, Temporary Existence and the Middle Way;
The Three Virtues are – the Dharma Body, Wisdom and Emancipation.

In which in actual they are all of in mutual inclusive with each another:

1. The Principle of enlighten mind - The Entity of mind - The Impersonal Dharma – Dharmakaya – Middle Way
2. The Trans-personal Insight/Wisdom and Empathy/Compassion of the enlighten mind – The Nature of mind – Sambhogakaya – Sunyata/Emptiness
3. The Actions of the enlighten mind - The physical Appearance emancipation of enlighten person - Nirmanakaya – Temporary Existence

Why the 3 bodies are mutually inclusive? Take one simple example, the Appearance mind / Nirmanakaya ( it is the same when applying to the rest of bodie/kaya)

i) (是相如, this Appearance is ‘Thus’/ Suchness ) indicates that each of the ten factors of the reality ( descript in the Lotus Sutra ‘ Chapter 2 ) such as appearance , nature, entity and power “is Thus” . Here the word ‘Thus’ (Suchness) represents the principle of Emptiness (non-substantiality/ Sunyata )
So all the Ten Realms (from the realm of Hell to Buddhahood ) are also characterized by the Truth of Emptiness.
Therefore, we ourselves are none other than Thus Come Ones of the Reward Body ( Sambhoga-kaya ) , the eighty-four thousand Teaching , and Wisdom.

ii) ( 如是相, ‘Thus’ Appearance or appearance like this ) indicates the Appearance manifested by the form and shape of one’s own body.
All such appearances are of Temporary Existence, so likewise it is applies to all the ten factors from appearances, nature, entity, power and so forth , and all Ten Realms are characterized by the Truth of Temporary Existence.
Therefore , we ourselves are none other than Thus Come Ones of the Manifested Body ( Nirmana-kaya ) . This is also known as Emancipation.

iii) ( 相如是 Appearance is Thus ) refers to the Middle Way, the Buddha of the Dharma body. We ourselves are none other than Thus Come Ones of the Dharma Body ( Dharma–kaya ). This is also known a the Middle Way; as the essential nature of phenomena; as nirvana; and as tranquil extinction.

These three bodies of the - Thus Come One ( 如来 ) are in no way something that is extraneous to us. Rather we should understand that we ourselves are non other than ultimate entities endowed with the Three Virtues, Buddhas of Original Enlightenment , who posses the Three Bodies within a single one. When we understand this, we may be called Thus Come Ones sages enlighten ones. While we do not understand this, we are called ordinary mortals, ordinary living beings or people in a state of delusion. “ Nichiren, WND2 , p83

“

Next, with regard to the reward body (Sambhogakaya) , the commentary by the great Teacher TienTai( Chi-i/Zhi-i ) states:’ The wisdom that accords with the true nature of phenomena, following the way that accords with the truth, reaches perfect enlightenment.

Wisdom accords with the Principle of the true nature,

and because it Abides by this Principle, it is called ‘Thus’ ( 如 )
one comes in accordance with Wisdom and hence the word ‘Come’ ( 来 ) “ is used.
Hence the term ‘Thus Come One of the reward body’ . This is called rochana , which is translated as ‘pure and full’ “

This means that the Wisdom that accords with the True Nature of Phenomena follows the way that accords the Wisdom of Perfect Enlightenment become perfectly fused with the Principle is called ‘Thus’ ( 如 ) and the Wisdom is called ’Come’ ( 来 )“ WND2 ,p76

ASN

Continued

 

[notself]

This explanation of the Lotus Sutra certainly conforms to the beliefs of other forms of Mahayana and does not significantly conflict with Theravada. It also agrees with the comments made by Fa Chan from a Pure Land perspective.

Asking for an explanation of the Lotus Sutra on a Buddhist Forum, has generated many post such as these two. All are in agreement of this interpretation, that Buddha is not God. I realize your school within the larger tradition of Nichiren Buddhism may disagree. But this interpretation closely conforms with sutras of the the Agamas and Nikayas.

As for all the texts which represent the words and teachings of the Buddha, what one looks for in such things is consistency of tone and message. The Lotus Sutra, when interpreted literally, stands out and away from this larger body of work. When interpreted the metaphorically, it conforms to the larger body. The Great teachers mentioned in the post T’ien T’ai (538-597 CE), Dengyo Daishi(767-822) both seem to interpret the Lotus Sutra metaphorically. You will also note that Nichiren (1222-1282) also supported this view.

Inside the Lotus School, in the deeper understanding, great masters such as Tientai, Miaolo, Dengyo, Nichiren revealed the Tathagata in the Lotus Sutra is actually the Unity of the Three Bodies/kaya, known as ‘Nyorai of the Musa Sanjin’, the un-acquired triple bodied Tathagata.

The Three Bodies/kayas are - the Dharma body, the Sambhogakaya, and the Nirmanakaya;
The Three Truths are – Emptiness/ Non-Substantiality, Temporary Existence and the Middle Way;
The Three Virtues are – the Dharma Body, Wisdom and Emancipation.

I did not post all of this to pick a fight but rather to clearly state that the majority of Buddhist in the world to not consider the Buddha God.

Just as some Christian have deep theological differences, so can Buddhists. I hope that your posts and mine have helped to clarify those differences so people looking to worship God and become at the same time Buddhists will know that it is not possible unless they join a lineage such as the one of which you were a member.

 

[Marc1152]

Wow !!! That is way too much for me to read and digest. Can you sum up your position in a paragraph or two?
Thanks

 

[Marc1152]

Btw… You cant be a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox and also be a Buddhist… Pick your group. If you would like to discuss it I would be happy to jump in.

 

[notself]

Btw… You cant be a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox and also be a Buddhist… Pick your group. If you would like to discuss it I would be happy to jump in.

I was raised Roman Catholic.

I do find your discussion of Orthodox faith very interesting. If I still believed in God, you might be able to convince me to be Orthodox.

But, I haven’t believed in a God for 30 years. Theravada Buddhism is the thing for me.

I think it is fascinating how people move between faith and no faith; religion and atheism; Buddhism and Christianity.

What made you decide to become Eastern Orthodox?

 

[notself]

Wow !!! That is way too much for me to read and digest. Can you sum up your position in a paragraph or two?
Thanks

Yeh’, its enough to make your eyes cross.

The main comment from this member of the Nichiren School whose post I quoted is a synopsis of the teachings of the Sage Tientai that the Lotus Sutra has two levels. The first is the surface meaning for those who are unsophisticated and need to rely on the concept of a separate deity. The second level is metaphorical, which is the more sophisticated reading. This level recognizes the capacity for enlightenment in every person. Each person’s buddha mind (true mind) is like a shiny mirror that is covered with the mud of delusion. With effort, this mud is removed and the buddha mind of enlightenment shines forth.

In Mahayana Buddhism everyone has a buddha mind, a capacity for enlightenment. This same concept exists in Theravada. The Agamas (Mahayana core sutras) and the Nikaya (Theravada core suttas) both teach that it is easier for a Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni to reach enlightenment because they are not distracted by the worldly life. Both also teach it is possible for lay people to reach enlightenment although it is more difficult.

It could be that your teachers were giving you only the literal interpretation in the belief that distractions of the lay life were too difficult to overcome in this modern age. If this is the case, it shows a certain pessimism. Enlightenment is certainly possible today.

Dipa Ma (1911-1989), a meditation master, is believed to have reached enlightenment as a laywoman. Several books about her are available on Amazon.

Two Bhikkhus that are believed to have reached enlightenment in modern times are Ajahn Mun (1870-1949) and Ajahn Chah (1918-1992).

I love reading the words of Ajahn Chah.

“When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing.”

“Only one book is worth reading: the heart.”

“Don’t think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down. When coming out of sitting, don’t think that you’re coming out of meditation, but that you are only changing postures. If you reflect in this way, you will have peace. Wherever you are, you will have this attitude of practice with you constantly. You will have a steady awareness within yourself.”

“If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will have complete peace.”

“You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”

“Try to be mindful and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful, rare animals will come to drink at the pool, and you will clearly see the nature of all things. You will see many strange and wonderful things come and go, but you will be still. This is the happiness of the Buddha.”

 

[Fa_Chan]

Yeh’, its enough to make your eyes cross.

The main comment from this member of the Nichiren School whose post I quoted is a synopsis of the teachings of the Sage Tientai that the Lotus Sutra has two levels. The first is the surface meaning for those who are unsophisticated and need to rely on the concept of a separate deity. The second level is metaphorical, which is the more sophisticated reading. This level recognizes the capacity for enlightenment in every person. Each person’s buddha mind (true mind) is like a shiny mirror that is covered with the mud of delusion. With effort, this mud is removed and the buddha mind of enlightenment shines forth.

In Mahayana Buddhism everyone has a buddha mind, a capacity for enlightenment. This same concept exists in Theravada. The Agamas (Mahayana core sutras) and the Nikaya (Theravada core suttas) both teach that it is easier for a Bhikkhu or Bhikkhuni to reach enlightenment because they are not distracted by the worldly life. Both also teach it is possible for lay people to reach enlightenment although it is more difficult.

Exactly how I would describe the Mahayana concept of the Buddha. In traditional Pure Land Buddhism, the Buddha is not a separate being. We all have that Buddha nature that just needs to be uncovered, just like Shakyamuni did. He uncovered his true nature and was enlightened. This is the whole of the Mahayana teaching. Now, Jodo Shu views Amitabha (Amida, Jp) as a real being that is existential in nature. But, this is a minority view, not a majority view.

Peace…

Fa Chan

 

[Marc1152]

The main comment from this member of the Nichiren School whose post I quoted is a synopsis of the teachings of the Sage Tientai that the Lotus Sutra has two levels. The first is the surface meaning for those who are unsophisticated and need to rely on the concept of a separate deity. The second level is metaphorical, which is the more sophisticated reading. This level recognizes the capacity for enlightenment in every person. Each person’s buddha mind (true mind) is like a shiny mirror that is covered with the mud of delusion. With effort, this mud is removed and the buddha mind of enlightenment shines forth.<<

Actually just the opposite is true in Nichiren Buddhism. The modernists who have turned this school of Buddhism into “Good Luckism” to coin a phrase, cant find their idea’s in the Lotus Sutra or the commentaries of the great sages with a blood hound. Therefore to kosher their heretical idea’s, they developed a doctrine that said what the Sutra’ actually teaches in not it’s real meaning. It’s “True Meaning” are their own idea’s ( what a surprise! ) even though the texts often speak in direct opposition to those ideas.

If you become familiar with the players, the conservative Old Believers, the elderly Priests, the Monks and the great scholars are in concert with what I have said to you. The Japanese gangsters who run some of the Nichiren sects in Japan use the “It’s all a big metaphor” excuse. Often naive lay people get manipulated and think the authentic is the fake and the fake is authentic.

And if you think the term “Ganster” is too harsh, google on the name Daisaku Ikeda. He is the leader of the largest modernist group. His reputation is quite checkered.

 

[notself]

Actually just the opposite is true in Nichiren Buddhism. The modernists who have turned this school of Buddhism into “Good Luckism” to coin a phrase, cant find their idea’s in the Lotus Sutra or the commentaries of the great sages with a blood hound. Therefore to kosher their heretical idea’s, they developed a doctrine that said what the Sutra’ actually teaches in not it’s real meaning. It’s “True Meaning” are their own idea’s ( what a surprise! ) even though the texts often speak in direct opposition to those ideas.

If you become familiar with the players, the conservative Old Believers, the elderly Priests, the Monks and the great scholars are in concert with what I have said to you. The Japanese gangsters who run some of the Nichiren sects in Japan use the “It’s all a big metaphor” excuse. Often naive lay people get manipulated and think the authentic is the fake and the fake is authentic.

And if you think the term “Ganster” is too harsh, google on the name Daisaku Ikeda. He is the leader of the largest modernist group. His reputation is quite checkered.

I don’t want to argue with you because this is more of a Mahayana thing, but the poster quoted Teintai who lived 538-597 CE, hardly a modern Gangster.

Clearly there is a difference of belief between your school of Nichiren Buddhism and the rest of Mahayana Buddhism regarding the Lotus Sutra. That’s a shame.

The good news is you have found a home where there is no dispute as to whether someone is God or not.

What made you decide to become a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church? Were you converted by missionaries?

 

[Marc1152]

I don’t want to argue with you because this is more of a Mahayana thing, but the poster quoted Teintai who lived 538-597 CE, hardly a modern Gangster. ?

You have miss understood. I stand with Master Tein tai and Dengyo and Nichiren. I stand against the re-working of their Buddhism into the forms that are so popular today.

In the Japanese Medieval period there arose a philosophy called “Hongaku Shi So” which loosely translates as “Inherency thought” or Philosophy. It became wildly popular and over time changed the core assumptions of many Buddhist sects.

This new idea was that all people are INHERENTLY Buddha’s and need only practice to REALIZE this pre existing state. Many forgeries were produced to promulgate this new idea in the name of various Masters. I am most familiar with the forgeries made in Nichiren’s name that inserted this philosophy into his Buddhism.

There is no hint of this Medieval Hongaku in the authenticated writings of Nichiren or Tein Tai. If you stick to their authenticated writings they clearly considered the Eternal Buddha to actually exist ( jap. " Ji-Kempon "). Nichiren foremost believed that the seed of enlightenment was transfer via the faith of the believer from the Buddha ( who really lives eternally) to the ordinary person (jap. “Bombu”)

This is why several modern Nichiren cults and others make the lame argument that the Masters were speaking metaphorically and that the True meaning of their teachings( read: their idea’s) is hidden below the surface. However, if you read Nichiren straight on, you get the Buddhism I have described to you and not Hongaku re-working.

What made you decide to become a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church? Were you converted by missionaries?

I finally grew up

 

[notself]

I finally grew up

I asked the question because I am interested in the path you took. But if you would prefer not to answer, I understand.

Thank you for the interesting dialogue. I leaned a great deal.

Metta
notself

 

[Marc1152]

I asked the question because I am interested in the path you took. But if you would prefer not to answer, I understand.

Thank you for the interesting dialogue. I leaned a great deal.

Metta
notself

I have no great or dramtic converstion story. I grew out of one thing and into another.

Oh also, I was converted at age 19 to Buddhism by Buddhist “missionaries”. Guys who used to come to campus or knock on doors. It’s funny that you assumed the opposite was true.

 

[notself]

I have no great or dramtic converstion story. I grew out of one thing and into another.

Oh also, I was converted at age 19 to Buddhism by Buddhist “missionaries”. Guys who used to come to campus or knock on doors. It’s funny that you assumed the opposite was true.

I must have misunderstood one of your previous posts. I thought you were raised as a Nichiren Buddhist.

Were you active in any religion prior to college?

 

[Marc1152]

It is unfortunate that one sutra can hold all the meaning and practice for a Buddhist sect. I personally don’t think Shakyamuni Buddha would have us discard all his other teachings and hold one sutra as absolute. The Lotus Sutra teachings are one dharma door, not the ultimate. They are meant for some, not for others. <<<

Lotus Sutra based Buddhism is not too eccumenical. It is considered the “Original Gate” to Buddhahood, a direct path. Keep in mind the basic assumption is that we live in a degenerate age when people are born withount the seed of enlightenment within them. The other practices were valuable during earlier times when all people needed to do was to cultivated that original seed. Not so today, so the other Sutra’s are considered worthless for out times. Only the Lotus Sutra plants the seed of enlightenment for those born in this age.

According to the Lotus Sutra. I know of nowhere else that this claim is made. Many have eternal lives. That’s not something for a Buddha only.<<<

The point of Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra is that the Buddha never died but continues to teach and is a Supreme Being of sorts.Any other Buddha’s are merely replica’s of this one central Eternal Buddha…That is the teaching anyway… You are free to reject it.

The terms omnipotence and omnipresence are not suitable terms for the Buddhist faith. It works well in Christianity, but terribly in Buddhism. There is no such thing as these in Buddhism, no matter what sect it is. <<

If you say so. But I practiced many years and had training from very competant teachers and I assure you that the Sutra is pretty clear on this and it is understood as I have mentioned by many.

It implies god-like characteristics that Buddhas simply don’t have. Omnipotence is out of the question as this implies that a Buddha could say the word and kill a human being. Not so. <<

I didnt use that word I believe. I said Omni-present and omnicient… He is ever present teaching the Dharma and is enlightened which means he knows all Truth and all things.

I would use the term manifestation for Buddhas instead of omnipresence. A Buddha can manifest to a person and help them in their time of need, but this is more akin to the saints or angels in heaven, not similar to a God-like quality.<<

In Buddhism “Saints” are called Bohdisattva’s. The Eternal Buddha is in a different catagory

Which ones declare that there is a Supreme Being? <<

The Lotus Sutra.

That way we can methodically deal with them. It’s such a general and misleading statement that has no debateable value.

I dont follow. The Lotus Sutra reveals the Buddha’s true nature…

I found this in the Wikipedia under Mahayanna… Apparently I am not alone in my viewpoint:

“The earliest mention of “Mahayana” occurs in the Lotus Sutra between the first century BCE and the first century CE.[6] Mahayana scriptures are based on the belief that Buddha is still teaching and, announced in the Lotus Sutra, that a Buddha is immortal.”

 

[Marc1152]

The eternal Shakyamuni Buddha is a metaphorical way of expression used as convenience way / skillful way to teach the profound concepts those yet in the dream land/ unawaken minds, reading Mahayana texts one must have to wisdom to read it’s intent and not take all the literal surface meaning,<<<

This is the excuse various corrupted versions of Nichiren Buddhism use to rationalize away what the Lotus Sutra clearly teaches and what they prefer to believe. The fact remains that the Lotus Sutra ( LS) teaches one thing but these folks believe other things that they say are “Below the Surface” meanings. However, if you read the commentaries of Nichiren, excluding known forgeries, there is not a single teaching by him that supports their viewpoint but rather he consistently maintains the traditional interpretations that I have mentioned.

The problem is that Nichiren Buddhism is riddled with forgeries and it takes some time and education to find out which texts are considered to be authentic by scholars and which ones are not.

that why Great Teacher Tientai ( Chi-I) spoken about the important to perceive the actual meaning in hidden in between the lines of the important sutra. Because it is may be written in a way to suit the unawaken minds ( who always clings to extrenal deities and heaven etc , and forgot or afraid to recognise themselve are the Buddha ) in order to lead them into the Dharma gate, and hopefully they could see the hidden truth and tehir mind could be awaken eventually. <<

I notice there is no direct quote here by Master Tein Tai. At no time did he ever discard faith in the Eternal Buddha, which is the bottom line. Of course one must be careful when reading the Sutra. But to say that there is a hidden philosophy that Nichiren himself missed that is so much different in it’s root assumptions and details is unlikely. Nichiren would have to have been very dishonest to teach the Sutra one way by day and a totally different way at night.

When we read the Lotus sutra - we should read as it is spoken from our innate Buddha nature , that it is originally enlightened since the beginless time. This entitt is derive from the prespective of the Truth of Middle Way, which consists of both the Truth of Temperory existience and the Truth of Emptiness/Sunyata.

While our current appearance mind and it’s nature may seem covered in delusion, this enlighten potential is always with us and could be tapped with we do the correct practice. A tarnish mirror is like our mind that is clouded by our 3 poisons and ignorance , but daily polished will enable it start to shine from our innate consciouness. <<

I am sorry to tell you this but the metaphore of a “tarnished mirror” that needs to be shined up to reveal our Buddhahood is a dead ringer sign of Medieval Hongaku style forgeries.

Plus, people fail to understand the difference between Buddha Nature ( the potential to become enlightened) and being already enlightened inherently. Tein Tai spoke of a persons potential, not his pre existing enlightenment that needs to be polished up and realized.

The Dharmakaya is the funadament Entity of the individual minds we all share .
It means the eternal Truth body or principle of the universe. <<

This heresy sees the focus of Buddhism on the Dharma Body of the Buddha which is “Things just as they are”… Careful study will reveal that Nichiren saw the “Hojin” the Enlightenment Body of the Buddha to be central. It is a fundemental shift and why Tein Tai and Nichiren were so much different than other forms of Buddhism. But Medival Hongaku Buddhism reverted to the Buddha as “Principle” or Ri-Kempon and rejected Nichiren’s teachings which were solidly
“Ji-Kempon”, the Buddha as actual manifestation…a “Real living Buddha” , not just an amorphus principle like “The Force” in Star Wars is.
It may be a shock to some, but Buddhsim is not a form of Atheism although it has been over run by Atheists here in the USA who are incapable of belief in a Supreme Being.

More later…

 

[notself]

Theravada in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Australia, and the United States is almost universally atheist or at the most agnostic. This belief is based on the Tipitaka and is not a corruption of original Buddhist teachings.

If you want to continue to believe that the Buddha represents God, I don’t have a problem with it. This belief in God is not held in the oldest Traditions nor in most of Buddhism, but clearly the belief in God is very important to you and to at least some sects of Nichiren Buddhists. You are so vehement in your responses, it is almost as though you are still more of a Nichiren Buddhist than you are an Orthodox Catholic.

Do you have a foot in both religions? Are you still in transition from one to the other?

 

[Marc1152]

Theravada in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Australia, and the United States is almost universally atheist or at the most agnostic. This belief is based on the Tipitaka and is not a corruption of original Buddhist teachings.?

The American Atheist leader Madeline Murray O’Hare once announced that she was moving the headquarter of her “American Atheists” organization to Hawaii because “There are so many Buddhists there and after all Buddhism is a form of Atheism”… The Buddhist leaders in Hawaii were so offended by this that they took up a petition asking her not to come and explained to her that Buddhism by no means is a form of Atheism. True story.

If you want to continue to believe that the Buddha represents God, I don’t have a problem with it. <<

I never said that. There are real difference between the Judeo - Christian God and how Buddhism understands divinity, creation, intercession of the divine and the nature of the Buddha… Big differences.

However, the total denial of the Divine is wholly and completely un Buddhist. It is at great odds with the Buddhist Scriptures and the understanding of the Great Sages.

The problem is that Buddhism in America and the West has been packaged to sell to a target audience of disaffected pseudo-intellectuals who are by in large Atheists and have some beef with Judaism or Christianity. These Buddhist sects have come here looking for "members’. I have had conversations with Buddhist Priests and have asked them directly “Why dont you tell these people the Truth” and they have answered “Oh, they will never accept it”…True story.

Buddhism is not Christianity for sure, But the Truth is the Truth and the Buddhist sages of old via their well developed spiritual sense got many things right and ended up understanding that we are all not little Gods or little Buddha’s all on are own. Rather, they had the wisdom to see a bigger picture…

May I suggest two books: “The Unexpected Way” by Paul Williams. Dr. Williams is Professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy and Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Bristol. He is one of the worlds foremost Buddhist scholars. This book details his conversion from Buddhism to the Roman Catholic Church. He goes through every argument and doctrine in detail.

The other book is : “Christ the Eternal Tao” by Fr. Damascene who is the Abbot of the famous Plantina Orthodox Monestary in California and also a former Buddhist.

Also I recommend the writings on-line of the Buddhist scholar HG Lamont who is a Cambridge educated scholar of Nichiren Buddhism and who remains a member of the Kempon Hokke Shu sect of Buddhism. He is a world class translator of Nichiren Daishonin and the Lotus Sutra. He writes in detail about the corruption of Buddhism by Medieval Hongaku thought and explains the original uncorrupted teachings of the great Masters.

Best of luck to you in your studies

 

[notself]

Thank you for the references.

As things stand now, I think I will stick with Theravada and the Tipitaka.

If you wish to read any of these teachings, get anything by Bhikkhu Bodhi. He is a pre-emenent scholar and translator of the Tipitaka.

Another excellent source is the online site Access to Insight. This site has an excellent index.

accesstoinsight.org/index.html

Here are ten audio recordings of Bhikkhu Bodhi on the core teachings of the Buddha according to the Tipitaka. I have just run across them today so I have not listened to more than the first. I think you will find it interesting. He speaks of the concept of the Buddha and what the term means.

bodhimonastery.net/talks_audio.html

I encourgage you to listen at least to the first tape. It will give you a glimps of the ancient teachings.

Here is something on Bhikkhu Bodhi.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhikkhu_Bodhi

 

[Marc1152]

Thank you for the references.

As things stand now, I think I will stick with Theravada and the Tipitaka.

If you wish to read any of these teachings, get anything by Bhikkhu Bodhi. He is a pre-emenent scholar and translator of the Tipitaka.

Another excellent source is the online site Access to Insight. This site has an excellent index.

accesstoinsight.org/index.html

Here are ten audio recordings of Bhikkhu Bodhi on the core teachings of the Buddha according to the Tipitaka. I have just run across them today so I have not listened to more than the first. I think you will find it interesting. He speaks of the concept of the Buddha and what the term means.

bodhimonastery.net/talks_audio.html

I encourage you to listen at least to the first tape. It will give you a glimps of the ancient teachings.

Here is something on Bhikkhu Bodhi.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhikkhu_Bodhi

And thank you too for these references, Please forgive me if my words were too harsh, I think they were… The Internet can be creepy in it’s effect on how folks express themselves. I bet if we met in person and not just writing flat posts, we would have lots to talk about and a merry time would be had by all.

Oh one last reference as it is the best one on Orthodoxy:

www.ourlifeinchrist.com

This is an Orthodox Internet radio site. It is very easy to listen too as it is produced by two former Protestants who are lay people. They cover all of the hot button topics though Buddhism isn’t really on the front burner and not mentioned. But it is a good place to learn about Ancient Christianity and how it is alive today.

I hope one day your practice will lead you to belief in God. Though some Buddhism is occult and should be avoided, much more of it will certainly keep you spiritually sober and preserve you until the day you wish stand before your maker . I hope that day for you is not the minute after you die and all you can say is “Whoops, I should have known better.”

Good luck

bye

 

[notself]

And thank you too for these references, Please forgive me if my words were too harsh, I think they were… The Internet can be creepy in it’s effect on how folks express themselves. I bet if we met in person and not just writing flat posts, we would have lots to talk about and a merry time would be had by all.

No problem. I think we would have a great time talking face to face.

Oh one last reference as it is the best one on Orthodoxy:

www.ourlifeinchrist.com

This is an Orthodox Internet radio site. It is very easy to listen too as it is produced by two former Protestants who are lay people. They cover all of the hot button topics though Buddhism isn’t really on the front burner and not mentioned. But it is a good place to learn about Ancient Christianity and how it is alive today.

I will check them out. They sound very interesting and I would love to know more about early Christianity. Obviously I have a preference for the practice closest to the source, in your case Christ and in my case Siddhartha Gotama.

I hope one day your practice will lead you to belief in God. Though some Buddhism is occult and should be avoided, much more of it will certainly keep you spiritually sober and preserve you until the day you wish stand before your maker . I hope that day for you is not the minute after you die and all you can say is “Whoops, I should have known better.”

Good luck

bye

Fortune telling, magic charms and amulets and all that jazz is specifically forbidden in Theravada Buddhism. Of course that doesn’t stop the superstitious, just as there are Christians that visit fortune tellers. I can’t post the link because this forum does not allow links to YouTube but if you go to YouTube and search for Ajahn Brahm you will find his dhamma talk on superstition. It is quite droll.

I wish you well in your spiritual journey and that you will be reborn in the realms of heaven.

Metta
notself