I am becoming Buddhist, anyone have tips?

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I'm a pure atheist as well. I don't believe in anything which is mentioned in that quote from tricycle.com. Neither do I believe in any kind of godhead or deity that would supposedly have created the world, for that matter.

I am not devoting my life to acquiring merit for a future life. That's because I don't believe in future life. Neither do I believe in past life for that matter, so I definitely do not think that a life of suffering is the result from wrongdoings in a supposed past life (I fullheartedly agree, by the way, that the notion of a child being crippled as of its own fault in a past life, is rather appalling).

As for original sin, I am an adherent of what christians would call "pelagianism", meaning that a person is essentially free from sin on birth ("Adam's peer"), while sin is something that is "acquired" later on by wrongdoings in the present life.

Which latter, by the way, is the only thing I "believe" in: present life. I think it could be disputed though whether that "present life" starts at birth and out of nothingness, or whether maybe it has, in a sense, always "been there" - "been" understood not so much in the sense of "being actually" but more in the capacity of "potentially", which potentiality becomes in fact "actualized" as from birth.

To me, reincarnation as it is generally understood doesn't exist. I don't think it's likely that before I was born I was a crocodile in the Everglades or Bob Marley or a yellow-bellied woodpecker or whatever. There is a totally different concept of reincarnation however, that seems less improbable if you think about it for a minute. As a human being, you die and are born again constantly and perpetually. This happens every single second. The "me" that started writing this reply, is dead, gone forever and will in all likelihood never exist again. I'm a new "me" - and having typed that last sentence, that new "me" is also dead and there is yet another "me", with different experiences and different thoughts. That is, in a nutshell, how I see reincarnation.

And if I’m constantly and perpetually changing into something else, what’s the “real me”? What is the essence of “me”? What’s the constant factor? Is there any? And come to think of it, I don’t think anything in our universe is really constant. Not even suns or galaxies, even those rise and perish every so-many billions of years.

I think this is the essence of Zen. If nothing is everlasting, it's best not to attach too much to anything you come across. That is, neither positively (by liking it vehemently and constantly wanting more) nor in a negative way (by absolutely hating or despising something). Which is, by the way, not to say that one shouldn't attach to anything at all. I for one love motorcycles and my family. It's just that I keep forcing myself to realize that motorcycles may break down, and family members don't have eternal life either.

That's my view on buddhism. It's not a religion (despite what some people make of it), it's an attitude towards life. And the practise of meditation is, in my opinion, meant to make one aware of this approach by actually "feeling" it, and not just understanding it intellectually.

I have found the writings of the 14th Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh to be very informative on Buddhist thought. the diamond sutra should be read by all. A Buddhist Bible by Dwight Goddard was my introduction to the subject long ago... its a good collection of sutras and such. hope your journey goes well.

I don't think that Buddhism is always cleanly separated from Hinduism, Vedantism and other beliefs that are related to reincarnation. It can be in things like zen, but Pure Land Buddhism sounds strangely like born again Christianity - you only get saved by calling on the grace of Amitabha.

Prince Gautama believed in the law of Karma, but had a different spin on it than his fellow Nepalese. He didn't talk about previous lives or lives to come. It was all here and now.

Pretty much the conclusion I have come to.
Conclusion being a poor choice of words.
I like to toss in the word revolutionary, as well.
My wife and I get into heated debate over it.
They were an occupied land and he did piss some people off.
I asked my wife to read the Book of Mary and her take on it was, it some strong Buddhist underlying's to it.
Those that choose Mary's words were hunted down and killed.
While I do admit to being surprised with her take on it, I really shouldn't have been.
I see strong links in thoughts in my interpretation of Jesus and the Buddha.

Nice link.

If you're more atheist-leaning, but like Buddhist philosophy and mind-study, try Buddhism Without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor.

I have contemplated Buddhism for a long time. I had even thought about going into the local temple here and asking advice on my path. However, I realized, according to Buddhism I am an Aspie for something I did in one of my past lifes.

Even if you don't believe in reincarnation one cannot justify this type of thinking by adherents. Take away reincarnation, there is only the teachings as advice for life. Which is cool, but it's the same with some of Jesus' and Muhammad's teachings. The part where it breaks down is when you apply it as a religion.

Live by the golden rule is basically all they said.

Which simply isn't enough,
if you're a screwed up person.

For example, following that,
I should go out and kill people.

That's the letter of the law, not the spirit.

So, I have to presume that my own
best guide is faulty? No thanks.

O mighty Zebra who seeks the Truth,
I was half-Buddhist once. I still do not drink alcohol (other than a sip of watered wine once a week, Sundays to be precise lol, with other incidents few and far between like that sherry outside a theatre or that glass on New Year's Eve some years back at the house of some friends of my parents - anyway I have) try to be kind to fellow-humans and representatives of other species (surely that includes refraining from deliberate harm, unless you are talking "cruel to be kind," I seek to keep a reasonable reign on my temper (is sublimating anger into creating fantasy worlds a "good way" or only a "lesser of a thousand evils" kind of way?). I am wholely Christian now, but know that I am not very good at all, just improving unevenly in fits and starts.

Have you heard of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism? The first has been well paraphrased by Westley from "The Princess Bride" (the film; in the book it is Fezzik's [sic] mother who renders this excellent advice): "Life is pain, Your Higness (obviously that address is only in the film) and anyone who says differently is selling something."

Do you wish to be a monk? I have nurtured this desire (along with some mutually exclusive ones) in the past, and still think of this wish with fondness. The rules for Buddhist monks differ according to which school or branch of Buddhism you adhere to, just as with the religious orders of the Roman Catholic Church (I do not know much about monasticism amongst the Greek, Russian, Coptic or Ethiopian Orthodox churches - any information would be much appreciated). For the Orthodox Christians (at least the Greeks and Russians; incidentally the Copts probably have the longest history of CHRISTIAN monasticism (obviously not of Hindu or Buddhist monasticism - though it is not a competition) one can be a married priest or a celibate monk (like post-19th century Anglicans in a welcome reversal of the Dissolution of the Monasteries back in the 16th, though Anglican bishops can also be married, whereas I think Orthodox bishops, metropolitans and patriarchs tend to be chosen from the monastic orders).

I hope this was either helpful, informative, entertaining, or all of the above.

Regards,

Alexander the Solitary. I hope you do not object to my liberties with your user name; some are quite rightly particular about this.

Do you mean to say that what you would have other people do unto you is slay you? Just to be clear. By the way I am not offering to fulfil this desire; I do not intend to become a murderer simply to prove you right (or any other compelling motive that springs to mind for that matter). What you say reminds me of a dilemma that once occurred to me - are masochists faithfully, if naively and perhaps perversely, seeking to literally keep the Golden Rule, obliged to ACT like sadists? Forgive my untimely levity; these are serious matters. Humour can be an effective tool, but sometimes it is just playing with people's minds, which may sometimes be fun but is seldom ethical.

"If your right eye causes you to sin pluck it out," (now, Calandale! For if you are right it has been lying to you to years; if you are wrong others need it more - others please disregard dark humour; laughing in the dark can be like trying to hold a candled in the wind or in the rain. Others please disregard pretentious pseudo-profundity as hollow as profanity).

"To whom shall I compare this generation? They are like children playing in the marketplace, saying,"We piped for you and you would not dance; we wailed a dirge for you and you would not weep." For John the Baptist came to you fasting and abstaing from strong drink and you said, "He hath a demon!" Then the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you said, "This man is a drunkard and a glutton; he eats with tax collectors and sinners!" (Jesus Himself in humility used this title more frequently than "Son of God" or even "Messiah" though proper to Him by right). As you may have noticed the words of this Master (Teacher as well as Lord; not the Renegade Time Lord with Id and Ego but no Superego - or That and I but no Over/Above I - or indeed dat, ich and über-ich but now I am just showing off rather than sharing knowledge) are wiser than mine. Then again so are those of most people. Not necessarily as learned or (rarely) as clever, but almost invariably wiser. Take heart, mightyzebra! And that last bit was meant well and sincerely - I hope. My mind is so splintered, and has been so for so long; the approach to wholeness in approaching Christ from some great distance is the best I have; God grant us all better ere the World falls screaming into the Abyss. I hope this was neither too long nor too confusing.

THAT may be impossible, but an honest
effort is always appreciated.



Yes, that too crossed my mind,
but seemed redundant.



I'm afraid so, to this bird brain.

The key is that the golden rule
is crap. What is important is to
treat others as THEY wish to be
treated.

Can you recommend a good translation (of the Diamond Sutra) or a decent commentary thereof? Not to be pushy or anything.

Is that short enough, Calandale?

'Twas beautiful.

No need on my account though.

My suggestion is that, if you are planning to become a Buddhist, to familiarize yourself with this fellow:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarjuna

There is a fair bit about him on the web.

Admittedly, I express my bias for Buddhist nominalism. However, I don't think one can go wrong in exploring his contributions to the tradition. His ideas have had a significant influence upon Tibetan Buddhism.

Cheers,

Mark