Trying to read up on Buddhism

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

I am interested in learning more about Buddhism: its philosophy, beliefs, and history. Can anyone recommend any good links on the internet?

 

[nordskoven]

Buddha I like; Buddhism I don’t like.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali_Canon

Here’s the Wiki info on the Pali Canon, and as earlier teaching derived from Buddha and his adherents, it can give a glimpse into what Buddha was actually doing in breaking away from Hinduism in a temperate, philosophical way, not instituting a religion of recycled HInduism as extant today. Hinduism is the religion of the Babylonian/Aryan invaders of India who brought their Babylonian Mystery Religion, one with: elitist caste system versus the elect chosen by God at His will alone as Judeo-Christianity teaches; reincarnation and karma instead of “once to die” and forgiving grace; annihilation of the person reaching Nirvana instead of eternal person-hood united with God; disdain for women, who cannot attain Nirvana without reincarnating as a male; sacrifice of humans to gods as the Kali cult versus God’s offering His only Son for human redemption; and countless deified dyslexic dogs who turn into gods.

This is all the same old Gnostic stuff of the fallen angelic rebel gnow-it-alls who teach insider info that directly contradicts all God has revealed about His nature and His will. Repectfully, the other modern Gnostic religion with each adherent possessing insider info is Mormonism with its elite Temple Mormons and, formerly, Africans being devils and Caucasians being holy, and, formerly, death squads of human sacrifice, including those who enforced bigamy among disgruntled women, and evolution into gods and goddesses.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Buddha I like; Buddhism I don’t like.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali_Canon

Here’s the Wiki info on the Pali Canon, and as earlier teaching derived from Buddha and his adherents, it can give a glimpse into what Buddha was actually doing in breaking away from Hinduism in a temperate, philosophical way, not instituting a religion of recycled HInduism as extant today. Hinduism is the religion of the Babylonian/Aryan invaders of India who brought their Babylonian Mystery Religion, one with: elitist caste system versus the elect chosen by God at His will alone as Judeo-Christianity teaches; reincarnation and karma instead of “once to die” and forgiving grace; annihilation of the person reaching Nirvana instead of eternal person-hood united with God; disdain for women, who cannot attain Nirvana without reincarnating as a male; sacrifice of humans to gods as the Kali cult versus God’s offering His only Son for human redemption; and countless deified dyslexic dogs who turn into gods.

This is all the same old Gnostic stuff of the fallen angelic rebel gnow-it-alls who teach insider info that directly contradicts all God has revealed about His nature and His will. Repectfully, the other modern Gnostic religion with each adherent possessing insider info is Mormonism with its elite Temple Mormons and, formerly, Africans being devils and Caucasians being holy, and, formerly, death squads of human sacrifice, including those who enforced bigamy among disgruntled women, and evolution into gods and goddesses.

Interesting. I think that the “resurrection of the body” is not something you would logically come to; belief in re-incarnation seems to be more prevalent (though I can’t offer any proff of this; only my oppinion). even the greeks believed in some sort of migration of the soul.

 

[Siddhartha]

For Buddhism in general, check: BuddhaNet.

For Theravada Buddhism, see Access to Insight.

For Zen, see Zen Mountain Monastery.

For Pure Land Buddhism, see Jodo Shinshu.

For Tibetan Buddhism, see Pema Chodron.
.

 

[rossum]

I am interested in learning more about Buddhism: its philosophy, beliefs, and history. Can anyone recommend any good links on the internet?

Start with Buddhism in a Nutshell

I would also suggest two books:

• “What the Buddha Taught” by Walpola Rahula
• “Buddha” by Karen Armstrong.

If you are going to read the scriptures then start with the Pali Canon, in particular the Dhammapada. Google will find you many translations, just pick one that you like.

Mahayana scriptures generally need more knowledge of the background and vocabulary of Buddhism before you can understand them fully.

rossum

 

[InquisitiveCath]

Well since everyone has covered the basic theoretical portions, may i also suggest the following works although they are more academic in nature:

1.) Buddhism as Philosophy by Mark Siderits

This is an introductory overview of the philosophical underpinnings of the Theravada and the Mahayana schools of thought (Yogacara/Consciousness Only school and Madhyamaka/Non-Dualist).

2.) Unmasking Buddhism by Bernard Faure

As we all know, there are Ideas as they exist in our heads, and Ideas as they are actually deployed in the real world. Faure takes every single Western soundbyte/stereotype about Buddhism, all that we think we generally know, and pairs it up against the historical record. What you find out may surprise you indeed.

This one is probably the most user-friendly/easiest to read.

3.) Buddhism in Practice by Donald Lopez

Some people will tell you Buddhism is all about Meditation, or all about Karma, or all about (insert favorite aspect). Lopez will show you that it is all of these things…depending on where you go/tradition you take up.

This is where theory meets Practice.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

[5Loaves]

I am interested in learning more about Buddhism: its philosophy, beliefs, and history. Can anyone recommend any good links on the internet?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is surely the leading contemporary teacher with his life. I’ve found Pema Chodron a very helpful teacher. Here’s an interview Bill Moyers did with her.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

One of the main motives for me wanting to know more is hearing the phrase “Christianity and Buddhism have a lot in common” thrown around so often. I used to believe this when I was a non-believer, but then I didn’t know much about Christianity at that time. I think, in fact that though there are common points, there is much that is very dissimilar.