Is it acceptable for a Catholic to have a Buddha shrine?

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s okay to have a statue of the Buddha in your home because you like looking at it from an art standpoint.

It’s NOT okay to have a statue of Buddha in your home as a “shrine” or any focus of worship or reverence.

If you can’t distinguish between the two things, probably best to not have one.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Or perhaps the Buddha helps to see Christ with a different perspective and renewed appreciation. Buddha was a philosopher who taught a way of life. He was not a theologian.

I suppose if one thinks of the Buddha as reasonably being in Heaven, which doesn’t seem out of the question, then one could privately venerate him as a saint.

I still would not make a “shrine” to him, as that seems a little uncomfortably close to practicing Buddhism.

Though where people are getting the idea that the Buddha was a dangerous man I’m not sure.

He’s not, but the practice of Buddhism (as in, too much focus on self) can be dangerous for Catholics.

I’m a recent convert i don’t claim to have it all figured out.

This is reason for concern. As a relatively new Catholic, you could easily get off track with this stuff.
It’s different from somebody who’s been practicing for decades and knows better where the limits are.

 

[jredden92]

He’s not, but the practice of Buddhism (as in, too much focus on self) can be dangerous for Catholics.

I thought Buddhists believed there was no self. Like a universal Self. Love your neighbour AS yourself.

 

[phil19034]

Though where people are getting the idea that the Buddha was a dangerous man I’m not sure.

No one is saying the Buddha was a dangerous man. But going down the rabbit hole of Buddhism does not lead to Jesus Christ.

It Is potentially dangerous because it can lead you away from Christian forms of prayer, Catholic worship, and potentially even away from Jesus himself.

 

[Margaret_Ann]

Thank you. I always wanted to make an icon corner in our house but we never had a good spot for it.

Full disclosure: My parents had a Buddha statue which was given to them by a man who my dad knew. This man had been to Japan and brought gifts home for my parents and me (this was when I was a baby). He brought kimonos (real silk ones), the buddha and other stuff. This man died when we were young.

TBH, I never liked that statue. It was very ugly but my parents kept it because it was given to them as a gift.

Years later, I learned what @(name removed by moderator) and @yankeesouth have said: that the Holy Trinity is the one true God. Since He alone IS Truth, everything else is false.

After +Mom passed away last year, I finally got rid of it.

 

[phil19034]

yankeesouth:

jredden92:

we were taught that all religions were trying to get people to realize the same thing.

That Christ is King?

No that all religions were different cultures trying to explain awareness they just gave it different names because they were speaking different languages.

I took a World Religions course in college and it screwed me up for a little bit.

One thing I learned after my course was over, is that most of the professors who teach those World Religions courses are not Christian & VERY FEW of them truly understand the Catholic Faith. Most of them are actually atheists or agnostic at best.

They study the Catholic Faith the same way they study the Greek & Roman gods.

Because they fundamentally lack a true understanding of the Catholic Faith, they only look where religions are similar- but they fail to understand where they fundamentally differ.

I challenge you to focus more deeply in learning about Christian prayer, Christian meditation, lectio divina, the mystic Saints, etc.

Everything you find attractive about Buddha and/or Buddhism you can find in orthodox Catholicism if you study the Scriptures, Jesus Christ, the Saints, the Rosary, etc.

God Bless

 

[jredden92]

No one is saying the Buddha was a dangerous man. But going down the rabbit hole of Buddhism does not lead to Jesus Christ.

It Is potentially dangerous because it can lead you away from Christian forms of prayer, Catholic worship, and potentially even away from Jesus himself.

I just think the Buddha taught the same message that has been echoing through the ages by people before him and after The same message that was then perfected by Christ. If that means I can’t be Catholic then I guess it is what it is.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s more complicated than that, particularly when it comes to meditation techniques.

Buddhism is not just Catholicism, Eastern style. When you get deeper into it than the shared moral tenets of love and peace etc, there are significant differences from Catholicism. Trying to incorporate Eastern religion concepts into Catholicism is an advanced practice, and somewhat controversial as to whether it truly adds anything that Catholicism didn’t already have better.

I just think the Buddha taught the same message that has been echoing through the ages by people before him and after The same message that was then perfected by Christ. If that means I can’t be Catholic then I guess it is what it is.

I would urge you to please talk to your priest if you’re thinking like this.

At the same time, if you’re actually going through RCIA I would expect them to make it somewhat clear that one doesn’t practice Buddhism and Catholicism together.

It’s also important to realize that many world religions share basic moral tenets of love thy neighbor, be kind to others, work for peace, etc. While it’s nice that we have these commonalities, we don’t go around practicing several religions at once.

 

[umamibella]

Jredden92 if it is not too personal, Are you trying to find some

“elements of truth in all religions and philosophy and cultures and Christianity can assimilate those to itself”

I am not sure what your previous religion was, but can fully understand attempting to tie any truths it contained to Catholicity.

 

[phil19034]

:man_facepalming:t2:

I’m sorry, but I don’t think you are understanding what I’m saying (perhaps it’s my fault?).

Let me ask you, what did Buddha teach that was perfected by Jesus?

Because the most important lesson Jesus Christ taught us is that God is A Holy Trinity of Persons. One God in Three Persons. The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit. And that God the Father loved the world so much that He sent His only beloved Son to be crucified and buried so than on the Third Day He would be raised from the dead, sit on the right hand of The Father to judge the living and the dead, and that His kingdom will have no end. Finally, that we may achieve salvation by the forgiveness of our sins.

With all respect to Buddha and others, no one taught anything like that EXCEPT Jesus Christ and His Church.

God bless

 

[jredden92]

I’m sorry, but I don’t think you are understanding what I’m saying.

Let me ask you, what did Buddha teach that was perfected by Jesus?

The most important thing Jesus Christ taught us is that God is A Holy Trinity of Persons. One God in Three Persons. The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit. And

The peace and love of others. The centering of yourself detachment from the world and the moral wrongs that attachment create. It’s all the same. Yes it’s worded differently but it’s all summed up in the commandment to love.

Peace

 

[jredden92]

Jredden92 if it is not too personal, Are you trying to find some

“elements of truth in all religions and philosophy and cultures and Christianity can assimilate those to itself”

I am not sure what your previous religion was, but can fully understand attempting to tie any truths it contained to Catholicity.

I think you’re right. Maybe I’m a Buddhist trying to be Catholic and I’m confusing myself.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s all the same.

Um, no it’s not. Although I don’t have a big ax to grind against Buddhism, this is disturbing. It seems something has really gotten lost in translation here if you’re in RCIA but making a statement like this.

Please speak to your priest.

 

[phil19034]

phil19034:

I’m sorry, but I don’t think you are understanding what I’m saying.

Let me ask you, what did Buddha teach that was perfected by Jesus?

The most important thing Jesus Christ taught us is that God is A Holy Trinity of Persons. One God in Three Persons. The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit. And

The peace and love of others. The centering of yourself detachment from the world and the moral wrongs that attachment create. It’s all the same. Yes it’s worded differently but it’s all summed up in the commandment to love.

Peace

But that’s not what it means to be a Christian. What Jesus was teaching there was essentially how to behave according to the Natural Law.

Most religions get the Natural Law correct or very close.

The most important things Jesus taught us the God is A Holy Trinity, One God in Three Persons & that God the Father is a loving Father.

The Holy Trinity is the most essential part of Christianity. Any religion/sect (even if they worship Jesus) that doesn’t believe in the Holy Trinity isn’t Christian.

Loving your neighbors as yourself is how we must live, but it’s not the essence of Christianity. Loving your neighbors as yourself is just the essence of being a good person.

 

[lwest]

Buddha may have been a great guy but he can’t compare to the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you like meditation, meditate on Scripture, the rosary, the Teachings of the Church. You can’t serve 2 masters.

 

[OddBird]

I’m a recent convert i don’t claim to have it all figured out.

Then be careful.

I don’t say that because I don’t like Buddhism. Part of my family by marriage is Buddhist, and I can see where there are some points of convergence (as well as, to be honest, some huge disagreements). In our own Christian tradition, a recent mystic like Thomas Merton apparently found a way to integrate parts of Buddhist spirituality in his own walk toward Christ – but he also was a man of a time which, I think, dreamed of a kind of universal common ground between religions more than ours does.

In order to be able to do that anyway, and remain faithful to Christ, you have to grow some pretty strong roots in your Christian faith and commitment. If you’re a recent convert, you’re not there yet.

Ultimately, though, I’d have to question why. Because this:

Everything you find attractive about Buddha and/or Buddhism you can find in orthodox Catholicism if you study the Scriptures, Jesus Christ, the Saints, the Rosary, etc.

is, I think, spot on.

If what you like is

The peace and love of others. The centering of yourself detachment from the world and the moral wrongs that attachment create.

that’s noble and good, but, as @phil19034 is I think pointing out, true peace, true love of others, true detachment from the world and attachment to the Ultimate Good, are gifts flowing from the Trinitarian love, and cannot, from a Christian perspective, be rightly understood, much less rightly lived, without being caught up in that Trinitarian love.

 

[jredden92]

jredden92:

It’s all the same.

Um, no it’s not. Although I don’t have a big ax to grind against Buddhism, this is disturbing. It seems something has really gotten lost in translation here if you’re in RCIA but making a statement like this.

Please speak to your priest.

Ok I will. Unfortunately RCIA class hasn’t been happening for months because of covid. Maybe I just need to get off the internet for awhile so I don’t embarass myself further.

PS. Thanks for taking what I said out of context

 

[Bluebright]

More than frowned upon. Its extremely dangerous for your soul to do such meditations. At best they are completely fruitless and at worst will lead to diabolic interference and attachment. We already have enough trouble with temptation and trying to become detached why would you want to make life harder for yourself? Follow Fr Nix’ series called VLX on the Padre Peregrino channel on YouTube to learn how to meditate in a Christian manner. God bless

 

[PeterT]

ThomasMT:

Why is a shrine needed for meditation?

It’s a constant reminder to meditate.

Then why not replace the Buddha with a small sculpture of our Lord meditating. Wouldn’t that also be a constant reminder to meditate?

https://www.amazon.com/The-Peace-of-Christ-12LAB/dp/B01CW9SB20

 

[phil19034]

PS. Thanks for taking what I said out of context

You realize that we are all taking this in the context of your title, right? Your title asks if it’s ok for a Catholic to have a Buddha “shrine.”

The word “shrine” is a very spiritually & religiously loaded word.

While Catholics do have Shrines dedicated to Catholic Saints, I think almost everyone here would be very concerned with a Shrine dedicated to any non-Catholic religious/ spiritual leader or founder.

The idea of a Catholic having a Shrine to Buddha is just as scary & dangerous as a Catholic having a shrine to Martin Luther, John Calvin, and/or King Henry VIII