Do not Condemn or Insult Other Religions
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The Buddha advised us that at no time should we ever insult or condemn the religion of another. Intolerance is the greatest enemy of religion. Denouncing unfair criticism of other faiths the Buddha states, "It is as a man who looks up and spits at heaven. The spittle does not soil the heaven, but comes back and soils his own person." On another occasion the Buddha said, "If you find truth in any religion, accept that truth."
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Excellent!
We need this especially in today's world. -
true indeed.
just remember buddhism practice tolerant. let's not turn this place as a flaming place. -
This mindset or philosphy is more advanced in many Western countries.
where you can read about volunteer orgs willlingly organise protests against hate and where the local authorities do consider the diverse makeup of their community before implementing stuff, for example, putting up Xmas decos
Sadly, in Asian countries, whether or not they have a homogenous community, anti religious laws or other anti hate laws are the most visible form of protest against hate
I wish it becomes a mindset or a culture, than just laws -
i agree.
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Yes, that is very true.
Condemning other religions only bring harm to ourselves and the others, it does not bring any good. Rather we should practise that the Buddha taught and seek our liberation.What kind is Speech is Most Constructive?
Ten wholesome topics of conversation
"There are these ten topics of [proper] conversation. Which ten? Talk on modesty, on contentment, on seclusion, on non-entanglement, on arousing persistence, on virtue, on concentration, on discernment, on release, and on the knowledge & vision of release. These are the ten topics of conversation. If you were to engage repeatedly in these ten topics of conversation, you would outshine even the sun & moon, so mighty, so powerful -- to say nothing of the wanderers of other sects."
-- AN X.69 -
Someone help me please. I am getting increasingly offended by followers of one of the monotheistic faiths. Right now there is a lot of anger and frustration in me. I know these are destructive sentiments, so I am seeking some help here.
First, something about me; All my life, I have experienced members of a particular monotheistic faiths trying to convert me.
In the late 1970s, there was a very vocal and aggressive campaign in Singapore not only to promulgate that monotheistic faith, but also to denigrate the traditional Chinese religions such as Taoism and Buddhism. I even get preached everywhere. On the streets, while waiting for a bus, even at home! And these preachers do not stop preaching even after I requested them to stop.
When I was studying in a missionary school of that faith, our pastor would often tell us stories of a Buddhist/ Taoist converting to that faith after realizing that the statutes they worship are nothing but pieces of wooden blocks. That pastor never fails to gleefully narrate the way these new converts smashed up the Buddhist statutes after being ‘saved’.
Even while I was in the armed forces, a fellow soldier freely distributed evangelical materials graphically depicting Buddhists/ Taoists burning in hell for not believing that faith. Even now in the work place, my head of department (HOD) is a member of that faith. On her first day of work, she conducted interviews to familiarize with each of us, and in that interview, not only announces her religion but also ask if I share her faith. I do not. Subsequently, she will seize every opportunity to talk about her faith in office, even to the extent of leading the department in prayer during company sponsored department lunches! By the way, I work in a profit-oriented, secular company. There are people of different religions working in my department.
Things like that are still happening all over Singapore. Just not to long ago, there were some public concerns over members of that faith exploiting their institutional/ vocational advantages to spread their faith. Eg, a doctor trying to convert his terminally ill patient and lecturer leading prayer sessions with his students etc. members of this faith even manage to insert its influence in sex education, culminating in the recent ST forum discussion of a supposedly secular sex education program not being secular at all.
The members of this faith areÂ…insidious, for want of a better term. Is there no escaping these evangelists? The latest incident in my office disturbed me the most. I cannot tell my HOD of my concerns. That would be a career limiting move on my part, no matter how politely I may request that. I can of course report her, but that might jeopardize her career. I donÂ’t want something bad to happen to her career tooÂ…
You know Buddhists as a whole are a stoic lot. They donÂ’t push back even while they are encroached! This is especially true of Singapore Buddhists, who tend to have a very low profile while members of that monotheistic faith are getting increasing vocal. I am having a hard time looking for fellow Singapore Buddhists to share my concerns and to offer me advice on how to manage my feelings of being indignant.
Help please! -
It is unavoidable
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its fated
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Should tell this to some christians... They keep saying other religion not good, only theirs is the true religion... I hear until damn sianz.
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And the reason why buddha say this is because all religious teachings came from the same source--God. Each religion is a different aspect of God. Put them all together and you get the full picture.Originally posted by marcteng:The Buddha advised us that at no time should we ever insult or condemn the religion of another. Intolerance is the greatest enemy of religion. Denouncing unfair criticism of other faiths the Buddha states, "It is as a man who looks up and spits at heaven. The spittle does not soil the heaven, but comes back and soils his own person." On another occasion the Buddha said, "If you find truth in any religion, accept that truth." -
Why do you need to feel stress?? Those members of the church believe in being evangelical because it serves them. You have the free choice to walk away from them if you so desire. Use your intuition in discerning the truth. And do not worry about those who convert. In fact you should be happy for them. These people convert for they believe what they are doing is right and if it serves them, so be it. Do no be judgemental.Originally posted by Beyond Religion:Someone help me please. I am getting increasingly offended by followers of one of the monotheistic faiths. Right now there is a lot of anger and frustration in me. I know these are destructive sentiments, so I am seeking some help here.
First, something about me; All my life, I have experienced members of a particular monotheistic faiths trying to convert me.
In the late 1970s, there was a very vocal and aggressive campaign in Singapore not only to promulgate that monotheistic faith, but also to denigrate the traditional Chinese religions such as Taoism and Buddhism. I even get preached everywhere. On the streets, while waiting for a bus, even at home! And these preachers do not stop preaching even after I requested them to stop.
When I was studying in a missionary school of that faith, our pastor would often tell us stories of a Buddhist/ Taoist converting to that faith after realizing that the statutes they worship are nothing but pieces of wooden blocks. That pastor never fails to gleefully narrate the way these new converts smashed up the Buddhist statutes after being ‘saved’.
Even while I was in the armed forces, a fellow soldier freely distributed evangelical materials graphically depicting Buddhists/ Taoists burning in hell for not believing that faith. Even now in the work place, my head of department (HOD) is a member of that faith. On her first day of work, she conducted interviews to familiarize with each of us, and in that interview, not only announces her religion but also ask if I share her faith. I do not. Subsequently, she will seize every opportunity to talk about her faith in office, even to the extent of leading the department in prayer during company sponsored department lunches! By the way, I work in a profit-oriented, secular company. There are people of different religions working in my department.
Things like that are still happening all over Singapore. Just not to long ago, there were some public concerns over members of that faith exploiting their institutional/ vocational advantages to spread their faith. Eg, a doctor trying to convert his terminally ill patient and lecturer leading prayer sessions with his students etc. members of this faith even manage to insert its influence in sex education, culminating in the recent ST forum discussion of a supposedly secular sex education program not being secular at all.
The members of this faith areÂ…insidious, for want of a better term. Is there no escaping these evangelists? The latest incident in my office disturbed me the most. I cannot tell my HOD of my concerns. That would be a career limiting move on my part, no matter how politely I may request that. I can of course report her, but that might jeopardize her career. I donÂ’t want something bad to happen to her career tooÂ…
You know Buddhists as a whole are a stoic lot. They donÂ’t push back even while they are encroached! This is especially true of Singapore Buddhists, who tend to have a very low profile while members of that monotheistic faith are getting increasing vocal. I am having a hard time looking for fellow Singapore Buddhists to share my concerns and to offer me advice on how to manage my feelings of being indignant.
Help please!
But I would condemn the behaviour of people smashing religious statues. Remember that all religions came from God. So it does not matter what faith you suscribe to. NO religion teaches bad. -
Those christians who say that do not even understand the teachings of jesus christ.Originally posted by DailyFreeGames.com:Should tell this to some christians... They keep saying other religion not good, only theirs is the true religion... I hear until damn sianz. -
God?Originally posted by shade343:And the reason why buddha say this is because all religious teachings came from the same source--God. Each religion is a different aspect of God. Put them all together and you get the full picture.
Then why people got killed because of different beliefs?
Please go Iran to tell Iranians about God and my guess you will be beheaded -
People get killed because those people have become fanatics and do not know the truth.Originally posted by maggot:God?
Then why people got killed because of different beliefs?
Please go Iran to tell Iranians about God and my guess you will be beheaded -
If all these teachings are from God, then why are they so inconsistent? You have Islam saying that there is no god but God, and the Christian Bible saying that similar things... This essentially started the whole series of crusader wars during medieval times.Originally posted by shade343:People get killed because those people have become fanatics and do not know the truth.
BTW, are you a member of the Bahai faith? -
When the fanatics succeeded in killing all the unbelievers their truth will be the real and only truthOriginally posted by shade343:People get killed because those people have become fanatics and do not know the truth. -
The teachings were never inconsistent. Rather, it was the followers who made it inconsistent by coming up with many intepretations of the teachings based on their ego, pride and arrogance.Originally posted by Beyond Religion:If all these teachings are from God, then why are they so inconsistent? You have Islam saying that there is no god but God, and the Christian Bible saying that similar things... This essentially started the whole series of crusader wars during medieval times.
BTW, are you a member of the Bahai faith?
And the wars was started because of the leaders ignorance about who God is and allowed their ego, arrogance and pride to control them. The past was about a history of control and dominance by humans. And sadly, religion was often used as an excuse to intiate such wars. -
Not really. Things are not always as they seem.Originally posted by maggot:When the fanatics succeeded in killing all the unbelievers their truth will be the real and only truth And no religion teaches you to go around killing each other. -
I am not feeling stressed because people convert to other faith. The reason I am feeling frustrated are:Originally posted by shade343:Why do you need to feel stress?? Those members of the church believe in being evangelical because it serves them. You have the free choice to walk away from them if you so desire. Use your intuition in discerning the truth. And do not worry about those who convert. In fact you should be happy for them. These people convert for they believe what they are doing is right and if it serves them, so be it. Do no be judgemental.
But I would condemn the behaviour of people smashing religious statues. Remember that all religions came from God. So it does not matter what faith you suscribe to. NO religion teaches bad.
(1) Buddhism are being ridiculed and attacked left and right by the monotheistic faiths in order to convert Buddhists, but the very premise of Buddhism prohibit Buddhists from even responding to this encroachment. As a religion, Buddhism may be heading towards extinction. For example, the Middle East (at least Afghanistan) used to be rife with Buddhism, but then Islam invaded, and Buddhists yielded. We are seeing a repeat of history right now. If Buddhists are to yield every time we are encroached, where is Buddhism heading except towards extinction?
(2) I am being preached in office by my boss. Therefore I am under duress. I do not have the option to ignore my boss and tell her to stop what she is doing! And this is but a small manifestation of a bigger phenomenon; Monotheists using an underhanded and unfair advantage to preach their faith to people whom they have a heavy degree of influence resulting from their vocational powers. -
Are you sure that no religion teaches people to go around killing unbelievers?Originally posted by shade343:Not really. Things are not always as they seem. And no religion teaches you to go around killing each other.
The next coming war likely to be on religion -
Monotheists using an underhanded and unfair advantage to preach their faith to people whom they have a heavy degree of influence resulting from their vocational powers..................very trueOriginally posted by Beyond Religion:I am not feeling stressed because people convert to other faith. The reason I am feeling frustrated are:
(1) Buddhism are being ridiculed and attacked left and right by the monotheistic faiths in order to convert Buddhists, but the very premise of Buddhism prohibit Buddhists from even responding to this encroachment. As a religion, Buddhism may be heading towards extinction. For example, the Middle East (at least Afghanistan) used to be rife with Buddhism, but then Islam invaded, and Buddhists yielded. We are seeing a repeat of history right now. If Buddhists are to yield every time we are encroached, where is Buddhism heading except towards extinction?
(2) I am being preached in office by my boss. Therefore I am under duress. I do not have the option to ignore my boss and tell her to stop what she is doing! And this is but a small manifestation of a bigger phenomenon; Monotheists using an underhanded and unfair advantage to preach their faith to people whom they have a heavy degree of influence resulting from their vocational powers.
Buddhism also prohibit Buddhists that gain the 6 powers from responding with anger
Why have this rule...... -
sorry if i offend anybody here..
as a muslim i feel blessed that i'm living in sg where there multiracialism is prosperous..
i feel the middle eastern muslims ppl sucks...thats how i feel...there a an arrogant and proud bunch...even they think they r the best amongst all muslims in the world....i can't blame indonesian muslims either man..its their teachings..some have been wrongfully taught..like i said they think they're the best..so they bend some rules teaching these and that...so where's the truth man........regarding those caricatures,isn't it funny they they drew all holy symbols and printed them but refrained from printing jesus,citing it will hurt someone?huh??..of course muslims will be angry..i am furious..so what muslims then practice? instead of showing patience or talking things out..they torch other countries flags..hurting ppl, this is what they call jihad..for that they can kiss my butt man...is that what our religion teaches us..and what piss me off the most is when they do all those things they will shout 'god is great'..wtf..isn't it a wonder ppl r seeing islam in these manner...
well regardless of any faith u believe in..i believe GOD creates us differently so that we will live peacefully together but i think we just screwd up....
remember the tsunami,hurricane katrina....why didn;t the holy places destroyed..isn't that signs that we need to do something..well this is just my view of the world at this point.. -
Hmm...I see. , let me say this. Is there any universal rule or Law that states that you must respond to anybody who issues you a statement of negativity?Originally posted by Beyond Religion:I am not feeling stressed because people convert to other faith. The reason I am feeling frustrated are:
(1) Buddhism are being ridiculed and attacked left and right by the monotheistic faiths in order to convert Buddhists, but the very premise of Buddhism prohibit Buddhists from even responding to this encroachment. As a religion, Buddhism may be heading towards extinction. For example, the Middle East (at least Afghanistan) used to be rife with Buddhism, but then Islam invaded, and Buddhists yielded. We are seeing a repeat of history right now. If Buddhists are to yield every time we are encroached, where is Buddhism heading except towards extinction?
(2) I am being preached in office by my boss. Therefore I am under duress. I do not have the option to ignore my boss and tell her to stop what she is doing! And this is but a small manifestation of a bigger phenomenon; Monotheists using an underhanded and unfair advantage to preach their faith to people whom they have a heavy degree of influence resulting from their vocational powers.
Like I said its precisely because of how man interpreted God words that causes them to do things like smash religious statues in afghanistan. These people are fanatics who do not understand God. You think prophet mohammad is happy with these fanatics? And why are you concern about whether buddhism will be extinct or not? Remember that buddhism teaches the sublimation of ego, pride and arrogance. Look to the west. More and more caucasians are adopting buddhism and its something which is gaining popularity over there.
Im a student and I have friends who preach to me about the gospel and the bible. And I feel sad that some of them tell me things like "if you are not a christian, you would go to hell". It only shows how much they know about God.
Again I ask, Why are you so concern about how the monotheist go about preaching? Does it serve you to be concern about their ways? Why worry about what they are doing? Is it because you dont want their fellowship to be bigger than the fellowship of buddhism? Be at Peace! Buddism is a peaceful religion!
If what your boss says displeases you, you can always be polite and tactful about it. If she ask you to go to church, you can politely decline and explain that it is not really necessary as you have another faith. Christians are taught to be evangelical...Unfortunately, that does not mean asking people of another to faith to convert.
But then again, I think your boss has a rather outgoing personality -
Its unlikely you would offend anybody who post in this forum.Originally posted by jugganotz:sorry if i offend anybody here..
as a muslim i feel blessed that i'm living in sg where there multiracialism is prosperous..
i feel the middle eastern muslims ppl sucks...thats how i feel...there a an arrogant and proud bunch...even they think they r the best amongst all muslims in the world....i can't blame indonesian muslims either man..its their teachings..some have been wrongfully taught..like i said they think they're the best..so they bend some rules teaching these and that...so where's the truth man........regarding those caricatures,isn't it funny they they drew all holy symbols and printed them but refrained from printing jesus,citing it will hurt someone?huh??..of course muslims will be angry..i am furious..so what muslims then practice? instead of showing patience or talking things out..they torch other countries flags..hurting ppl, this is what they call jihad..for that they can kiss my butt man...is that what our religion teaches us..and what piss me off the most is when they do all those things they will shout 'god is great'..wtf..isn't it a wonder ppl r seeing islam in these manner...
well regardless of any faith u believe in..i believe GOD creates us differently so that we will live peacefully together but i think we just screwd up....
remember the tsunami,hurricane katrina....why didn;t the holy places destroyed..isn't that signs that we need to do something..well this is just my view of the world at this point..
As usual, the West is always practising double standards. No need to get work up about it. I think people should learn how to ignore things that dosent serve them. I think when Islam speaks of Jihad, it has the same meaning as jesus said in the bible "an eye for an eye". It means self defense and not indiscriminate killing.