Is Buddha tooth here the real McCoy?
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Just as one who plant the seed of a mango tree, will reap the fruits of mangoes. For what he had sowed, he shall reap.
A man will never escape the tragedies of his own destiny for the seeds of misdeed that he had sowed, he shall reap.
Yamizi, I think I had found a good example of slandering. Would you be kind enough to let us know the fruits of slandering?
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Number 1, you are biased towards the fact I can use 1-liners to educate people.Originally posted by Beyond Religion:Number 1: You are a troll. No questions about that. You post to irk and offend, not to clarify and discuss. Your so called "immutable" facts are often cryptic, unsupported one-liners that masks your ignorance.
Number 2: A lot of countries and people do not have the opportunity to hear of the dharma, let alone practise it.
Number 3: Not true. If AEN makes a statement about other religions. He always cross reference the religious texts and also stated that he is not an expert on this subject (this humility alone will probably take you a eon or two to cultivate). More importantly, and unlike you, he does not portray the other religious groups in a bad light.
Next, I would also like to remind you that AEN does like to misuse information to bombard people.
Number 2, what makes you think that there are countries which have not heard about Buddhism? They decided that Buddhism is against the social order they impose.
Number 3, AEN makes some references then goes off topic and then claims there is a link between the two different topics or he straight goes off topic and ask forumners to go check on the accuracy. -
Your one-liners "educate" people?Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:Number 1, you are biased towards the fact I can use 1-liners to educate people. Next, I would also like to remind you that AEN does like to misuse information to bombard people.
........... Yes, I suppose you are not wrong, in a sense... though I suspect that the actual "lesson" you "teach" is not what you might think you have.
No I am not biased against you. I pity you. -
Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
As if. Most of your posts are one-liners not backed by reasons. Sounds more like a meaningless insult.
Number 1, I don't troll and I do state immutable facts for presentation.Number 2, Buddhism has been around for countless centuries and yet, which society of human individuals actually responded to Buddha Dharma as a whole? Hence it is a proven fallancy that Buddhism is a suitable religion for every man.
Buddhism has been around for countless centuries, but not all places have access to Buddhism. As of current, Buddhism has not spread to most countries yet.
Buddhism is a suitable for every man, of course! Because every person seeks liberation from sufferings and seeks bliss and wisdom and that is the fruits if practising Buddhism. Just that they didn't know there is such a good teaching yet.
Like I said, there are many people out there who simply did not yet bother or simply did not know about spirituality and its benefits, they are ignorant of how Dharma can transforms their lives, and therefore they are living in their delusions and suffering.
Then there are those who already have another religious background and chose not to look deeper.
And then there are those are like you, ignorant and yet completely dogmatic and unwilling to drop his own dogmatic and biased beliefs and look deeper.
I will paste the reply I sent you in the other topic here to elaborate on this.AEN chose to present otherwise, a falsehood and hide it behind scriptural facts.
I present facts and only facts. No falsehoods.Number 3, AEN purposefully and wilfully state false facts about other religious groups without checking the accruracy of his accusations. If in doubt, kindly check with MDA, the registrar of Societies or the Singapore Police Force
Check what? What Singapore Police Force? I only know that Buddhists makes up the most significant portion of Singaporeans.
Also, for a fact, most countries now do not have access to Dharma teachings. There are no Dharma missionaries around, and they come from different religious backgrounds.
Secondly, those countries which recently have access to Dharma teachings (such as the West), Buddhism is becoming one of their fastest rising religions there. -
Copied from: http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=269245&page=2
This is again the kind of garbage that comes from the pure dogmatism. Can't blame you only, because it's not rare.Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:Because whatever the Buddha preaches does not exist.
There are a lot of people who, when presented with facts and observable realities with scientific methods, simply refuse to accept it because it runs contrary to what he WANTS to believe.
Similarly when Buddha provided all these, there are those who are so appreciative of it and did all that the Buddha instructed to achieve the same enlightenment and realisations that countless others have done before.
There are also those who, unfortunately, didnt want to bother with finding out the truth because he felt comfortable with his old dogmatic thinking. An analogy is scientist tell you that the world is round, but you say 'aiya I think the world is flat lah, but who cares anyway, don't wanna bother finding out'. They are the 'bo chap' people who just want to continue living his own life in ignorance, not knowing that there is the possibility of the perfect bliss and liberation of all sufferings in our lives in the realisation of Nirvana, the possibility of fundamental ground shaking insights that shakes our perspective of reality and identity, and a radical transformation of each individual. They choose to continue their own samsaric habitual ways and thinking... and also going through the same old sufferings in cycles again and again.
And then, the worst type of people, are people like YOU. Those who not only did not bother about finding out the truth when facts and observable realities and scientific method is presented to them -- instead, chose to deny them and accuse them of fallacy. This is the worst kind of dogmatism, he's completely illogical, unscientific and going contrary to what is observed. That's like if scientists telling you the world is round, but not only do you not bother finding out, you go on refuting every single claim about it not bothering to find out the truth of the matter yourself.
This, to me, is simply pure dogmatism.
Buddhism and Science by Ajahn Brahmavamso.
...Come and See for Yourself
If you had just one person who had been confirmed as medically dead who could describe to the doctors, as soon as they were revived, what had been said, and done during that period of death, wouldn't that be pretty convincing? When I was doing elementary particle physics there was a theory that required for its proof the existence of what was called the 'W' particle. At the cyclotron in Geneva, CERN funded a huge research project, smashing atoms together with an enormous particle accelerator, to try and find one of these 'W' particles. They spent literally hundreds of millions of pounds on this project. They found one, just one 'W' particle. I don't think they have found another since. But once they found one 'W' particle, the researchers involved in that project were given Nobel prizes for physics. They had proved the theory by just finding the one 'W' particle. That's good science. Just one is enough to prove the theory.
When it comes to things we don't like to believe, they call just one experience, one clear factual undeniable experience, an anomaly. Anomaly is a word in science for disconcerting evidence that we can put in the back of a filing cabinet and not look at again, because it's threatens our worldview. It undermines what we want to believe. It is threatening to our dogma. However, an essential part of the scientific method is that theories have to be abandoned in favour of the evidence, in respect of the facts. The point is that the evidence for a mind independent of the brain is there. But once we admit that evidence, and follow the scientific method, then many cherished theories, what we call 'sacred cows' will have to be abandoned.
When we see something that challenges any theory, in science or in religion, we should not ignore the evidence. We have to change the theory to fit the facts. That is what we do in Buddhism. All the Dhamma of the Buddha, everything that he taught, if it does not fit the experience, then we should not accept it. We should not accept the Buddha's words in contradiction of experience. That is clearly stated in the Kālāma Sutta. (AN III, 65) The Buddha said do not believe because it is written in the books, or even if I say it. Don't just believe because it is tradition, or because it sounds right, or because it's comforting to you. Make sure it fits your experience. The existence of mind, independent of the brain, fits experience. The facts are there.
Sometimes, however, we cannot trust the experts. You cannot trust Ajahn Brahm. You cannot trust the scientific journals. Because people are often biased. Buddhism gives you a scientific method for your practice. Buddhism says, do the experiment and find out for your self if what the Buddha said is true or not. Check out your experience. For example, develop the method to test the truth of past lives, rebirth and reincarnation. Don't just believe it with faith, find out for yourself. The Buddha has given a scientific experiment that you can repeat.
Until you understand the law of kamma, which is part of Buddhism, kamma is just a theory. Do you believe that there is a God 'up there' who decides when you can be happy or unhappy? Or is everything that happens to you just chance? Your happiness and your suffering in life, your joy, your pain and disappointments, are they deserved? Are you responsible or is it someone else's fault? Is it mere chance that we are rich or poor? Is it bad luck when we are sick and die at a young age? Why? You can find the true answer for yourself. You can experience the law of kamma through deep meditation. When the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, the two knowledge's he realized just before his Enlightenment were the knowledge from experience of the truth of rebirth, and the knowledge from experience of the Law of kamma. This was not theory, not just more thinking, not something worked out from discussions around the coffee table this was realization from deep experience of the nature of mind. You too can have that same experience.
All religions in the world except Buddhism maintain the existence of a soul. They affirm a real 'self', an 'essence of all being', a 'person', a 'me'. Buddhism says there is no self! Who is right? What is this 'ghost in the machine'? Is it a soul, is it a being, or is it a process? What is it? When the Buddha said that there is no one in here, he never meant that to be just believed, he meant that to be experienced. The Buddha said, as a scientific fact, that there is no 'self'. But like any scientific fact, it has to be experienced each one for themselves, paccattam veditabbo viññūhī. Many of you chant those Pāli words every day. It is basic scientific Buddhism. You have to keep an open mind. You don't believe there is 'no self', you don't believe there is a 'self' both beliefs are dogmatism. Keep an open mind until you complete the experiment. The experiment is the practice of sila, samādhi and pañña, (virtue, meditation and insight). The experiment is Buddhist practice. Do the same experimental procedures that the Buddha did under the Bodhi tree. Repeat it and see if you get the same results. The result is called Enlightenment.
Men and women have repeated that experiment many times over the centuries. It is in the laboratory of Buddhist practice that the Enlightened Ones, the Arahants, arise. The Arahants are the ones who have done the experiment and found the result. That's why Buddhism always has been the scientific way. It is the way of finding out for your self the truth of Enlightenment.... (continued in the website)
Please also recall the previous link: Ken Wilber - Spirituality and the 3 Strands of Deep Science -
Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
Sorry to say, your one-liners are often full of ignorance, meaningless, and valueless. I suggest you back your "one liners" with proper explanation and reasoning.
Number 1, you are biased towards the fact I can use 1-liners to educate people. Next, I would also like to remind you that AEN does like to misuse information to bombard people.
If you want to post one-liners just to insult others, forget about it. There is no room for trolls here.Number 2, what makes you think that there are countries which have not heard about Buddhism? They decided that Buddhism is against the social order they impose.
Of course there are a whole lot of countries that have no heard about Buddhism. Just shows your ignorance of the world at large.
For Buddhism to spread to other places, alot of missionaries are needed to spread the teachings across to the masses. So far it has only begun in the west and is already showing superb results.
You think set up missionaries so easy? Need manpower one you know. To spread Buddhism we need experienced and enlightened teachers and practitioners willing to go to different places to spread Buddhism. Of course, there is always a shortage of such people.
And then of course there are Islamic countries that do not allow missionaries of other religions.Number 3, AEN makes some references then goes off topic and then claims there is a link between the two different topics or he straight goes off topic and ask forumners to go check on the accuracy.
As if. If you don't understand what I'm saying, just admit it and I'll explain it to you. -
Dhammapada verse 69:
So long as an evil deed has not ripened,
the fool thinks it as sweet as honey.
But when the evil deed ripens,
the fool comes to grief.
Dhammapada verse 125:
Like fine dust thrown aganist the wind,
evil falls back upon the fool,
who offends an inoffensive,
pure and guiltless man.
Dhammapada verse 232:
Let a man guard himself
aganist irritability in speech;
let him be controlled in speech.
Abandoning verbal misconduct,
let him practise good conduct in speech. -
Yes yes...Originally posted by oldkid:Dhammapada verse 69:
So long as an evil deed has not ripened,
the fool thinks it as sweet as honey.
But when the evil deed ripens,
the fool comes to grief.
Dhammapada verse 125:
Like fine dust thrown aganist the wind,
evil falls back upon the fool,
who offends an inoffensive,
pure and guiltless man.
Dhammapada verse 232:
Let a man guard himself
aganist irritability in speech;
let him be controlled in speech.
Abandoning verbal misconduct,
let him practise good conduct in speech.
Must practise. Ganbarimasu
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Given the whole last century till now, the whole world has been better connected due to better communications facilities and travel modes. Due to the rapid connection of communication and travel of the world, information of and about Buddhism has spread around for nearly a full century. Nevertheless, Buddhism, although well understood by the global population, has never taken root in the spiritual hearts and minds of the global population.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Buddhism has been around for countless centuries, but not all places have access to Buddhism. As of current, Buddhism has not spread to most countries yet.
Buddhism is a suitable for every man, of course! Because every person seeks liberation from sufferings and seeks bliss and wisdom and that is the fruits if practising Buddhism. Just that they didn't know there is such a good teaching yet.
Like I said, there are many people out there who simply did not yet bother or simply did not know about spirituality and its benefits, they are ignorant of how Dharma can transforms their lives, and therefore they are living in their delusions and suffering.
Then there are those who already have another religious background and chose not to look deeper.
And then there are those are like you, ignorant and yet completely dogmatic and unwilling to drop his own dogmatic and biased beliefs and look deeper.
I will paste the reply I sent you in the other topic here to elaborate on this.
Check what? What Singapore Police Force? I only know that Buddhists makes up the most significant portion of Singaporeans.
Also, for a fact, most countries now do not have access to Dharma teachings. There are no Dharma missionaries around, and they come from different religious backgrounds.
Secondly, those countries which recently have access to Dharma teachings (such as the West), Buddhism is becoming one of their fastest rising religions there.
The only reason is that it is incompatible as a religion for the future even though Einstein said otherwise.
I would suggest that AEN can drop his own dogmatic and biased belief that it is possible to understand his version of Buddhism without serious mental indoctrination even though Buddhist scriptures ask us to try and understand Buddhism with an open mind. He keep asking people to find "masters" of Buddhism but nevertheless, this is a form of indoctrination of the spiritual mind.
I would advise that AEN refrain from using the word "cult" on religious groups that has been allowed to register with the Registrar of Societies and Associations unless the Ministry of Home Affairs has said otherwise. The Singapore Police Force has a tough stance against illegal religious groups in Singapore and what AEN has posted on certain topics can be legally construed as libel. -
Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
Not true. Just because there are information available, people will not know the significance or bother to go deeply into it unless there are teachers around. Someone asked me in this forum before, how come Christianity got alot of people preaching and spreading 'the word' to their friends, and yet in Buddhism they hardly even heard about the dharma and the truths the Buddha taught? (Therefore I think Buddhists should try to spread the dharma to their close friends and family as well)
Given the whole last century till now, the whole world has been better connected due to better communications facilities and travel modes. Due to the rapid connection of communication and travel of the world, information of and about Buddhism has spread around for nearly a full century. Nevertheless, Buddhism, although well understood by the global population, has never taken root in the spiritual hearts and minds of the global population.
The only reason is that it is incompatible as a religion for the future even though Einstein said otherwise.
Clearly, 99.9% of the non-Buddhists out there do not even have the slightest idea of what Buddhism is about, therefore they can't get started in the first place... so this is very very unfortunate. If this is happening in Singapore, then it is happening in other countries with lesser Buddhists.
And also, the sea of information can be very confusing and people don't know where to start. Therefore it is very important to have a living teacher to teach that person according to his level of understanding.
Just like there are many different subjects and different books of a particular subjects, you will need a teacher to teach you and guide you and finally you can achieve something (i.e gain qualifications, degrees, etc).
On the other hand, when there are experienced teachers and missionaries, Buddhism spreads fast because there are experienced people who can answer their questions and give them the right understanding.I would suggest that AEN can drop his own dogmatic and biased belief that it is possible to understand his version of Buddhism without serious mental indoctrination even though Buddhist scriptures ask us to try and understand Buddhism with an open mind. He keep asking people to find "masters" of Buddhism but nevertheless, this is a form of indoctrination of the spiritual mind.
Finding "masters" of Buddhism is very important, i.e Enlightened masters and teachers. Because they are the persons that can guide you closely along your path, being a living embodiment of enlightenment.
Similarly if you want to learn a subject and get a degree, you need to find a Ph.D or other highly qualified person to teach you. It doesn't make sense for you to learn yourself, because by learning yourself you can get wrong understanding, wrong concept with nobody correcting you, and you will progress much slower.I would advise that AEN refrain from using the word "cult" on religious groups that has been allowed to register with the Registrar of Societies and Associations unless the Ministry of Home Affairs has said otherwise. The Singapore Police Force has a tough stance against illegal religious groups in Singapore and what AEN has posted on certain topics can be legally construed as libel.
When did I mention about cults? -
You ask people not to study religion dogmatically but yet, you claim that without coaching and indoctrination, Buddhism cannot spread. Religion is a personal issue and not a social issue, so please don't claim that making it more significant to a larger social circle is important. If you want to compare to Christianity, kindly compare apples to apple and pears to pears as they do believe in indoctrination.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:Not true. Just because there are information available, people will not know the significance or bother to go deeply into it unless there are teachers around. Someone asked me in this forum before, how come Christianity got alot of people preaching and spreading 'the word' to their friends, and yet in Buddhism they hardly even heard about the dharma and the truths the Buddha taught? (Therefore I think Buddhists should try to spread the dharma to their close friends and family as well)
Clearly, 99.9% of the non-Buddhists out there do not even have the slightest idea of what Buddhism is about, therefore they can't get started in the first place... so this is very very unfortunate. If this is happening in Singapore, then it is happening in other countries with lesser Buddhists.
And also, the sea of information can be very confusing and people don't know where to start. Therefore it is very important to have a living teacher to teach that person according to his level of understanding.
Just like there are many different subjects and different books of a particular subjects, you will need a teacher to teach you and guide you and finally you can achieve something (i.e gain qualifications, degrees, etc).
On the other hand, when there are experienced teachers and missionaries, Buddhism spreads fast because there are experienced people who can answer their questions and give them the right understanding.
The man on the street has a very good glimpse of what Buddhism is about due to this age being an era of high information conductivity. Nevertheless, certain societies view that Buddhism and many other religions to be perversive of their social structure, hence Buddhism never took root. In Singapore, there is a lot of cross-religious/cultural activities and thus many are well-informed about Buddhism. So the real limiting factor to Buddhism's spread in Singapore is actually its poor philosophy and application to real-life social factors. It is even more so in the western countries.
As I have replied before, having any spiritual teacher really limits your mind in questioning philosophies and ideas and application in real life of your understanding will be stagnated by the teacher. In real life, trial and error in religion is the only way to find out the truth. -
Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
Obviously Buddhism cannot spread without teaching, just like any subject there requires people to teach. And what exactly do you mean by indoctrination? What I'm saying is just that, there needs to be people to teach.
You ask people not to study religion dogmatically but yet, you claim that without coaching and indoctrination, Buddhism cannot spread. Religion is a personal issue and not a social issue, so please don't claim that making it more significant to a larger social circle is important. If you want to compare to Christianity, kindly compare apples to apple and pears to pears as they do believe in indoctrination.The man on the street has a very good glimpse of what Buddhism is about due to this age being an era of high information conductivity. Nevertheless, certain societies view that Buddhism and many other religions to be perversive of their social structure, hence Buddhism never took root. In Singapore, there is a lot of cross-religious/cultural activities and thus many are well-informed about Buddhism.
As if, that Singapore is well-informed about Buddhism.
Obviously, you are completely ignorant about our own nation, please walk out of your tiny room and look around.
99% of the non-Buddhists have no slightest ideas of what even the core Buddhist teachings is, and most so called "IC Buddhists" are merely people who pray to gods and deities but are actually NOT Buddhists, nor have the slightest hint of what Buddhism is about.
When you talk about Buddhism to people, most of them have the impression that you're talking about the folk religion of praying to gods in temples, which obviously has nothing to do with Buddhism.So the real limiting factor to Buddhism's spread in Singapore is actually its poor philosophy and application to real-life social factors. It is even more so in the western countries.
Wrong. It simply is the ignorance of what Buddhist teachings is. That is why experienced and enlightened teachers are needed.As I have replied before, having any spiritual teacher really limits your mind in questioning philosophies and ideas and application in real life of your understanding will be stagnated by the teacher. In real life, trial and error in religion is the only way to find out the truth.
What a weird notion. Do you tell me that having a physics or biology teacher really limits your mind in blah blah blah?
Buddhism is simply a subject just like anything else. If you want to learn Buddhism, you have to learn the correct way of practise, the correct teachings, in order to reach the goal of Enlightenment.
Just like if you want to learn Biology, or Physics or whatever you need to learn the the subject topics, and experiment accordingly to prove the result.
Obviously having a teacher does not limit your mind, because a teacher's task is merely to teach you the proper knowledge of a subject and a proper way to conduct an experiment to achieve a desired result.
If you want to come up with your own version of Biology or Physics with your own facts, obviously nothing good will come out of it, because it does not stand true to experience, observation, and reality. -
Just test the "cause and effect sutra"
Can live up to any test -
This sutra, http://web.archive.org/web/20031228162200/http://www.purifymind.com/KarmaSutra.htm, is fake.Originally posted by maggot:Just test the "cause and effect sutra"
Can live up to any test -
So many distributions of it aroundOriginally posted by An Eternal Now:This sutra, http://web.archive.org/web/20031228162200/http://www.purifymind.com/KarmaSutra.htm, is fake.
But how to prove a sutra is fake?
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Please read http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index.php?showtopic=1876Originally posted by maggot:So many distributions of it around
But how to prove a sutra is fake? -
Need membership to seeOriginally posted by An Eternal Now:
Too many accounts and passwords to remember
Maybe when I'm free -
I am not following these long arguments between AEN and Herzog. I shall try to focus on propagation. First we must distinguish between religion and philosophy. To me, both are spread but not necessarily evangelised. More correctly, philosophy is sought, religion is spread.
There are fundamental differences between Buddhism and Christianity - in form and in practice. Forget for a moment about the moral part.
I shall not dwell on the differences. There are many who have done this.
Christianity and Buddhism are propagated differently. History is full of recorded truths. Christianity rode on wars, conquests and colonisations. There were holy wars and crusades. Missionaries were part of these campaigns in the name of spreading God's word. Indeed there were persecutions and forceful conversions. The Catholic Church itself had persecuted many. These are truths never told or admitted. Christians today read/study the bible without reference to history.
Central to Christianity is Creator-God, Sin, Saviour and Eternal Life.
Buddhism was not considered a religion (depending on how religion is defined). There is no Creator-God or the One God, hence no war was fought in the name of God or for God. Buddhism emphasizes on looking inwards, seeking the way out of suffering. Each individual reach that goal not thru a Saviour (if you missed the First, there is a Second).
Buddhism was also spread but not as 'evangelised' as Christianity. If today you say there are more Christians, then the simple truth is due to the very zealous and even aggressive evangelism. Personally, I see less 'witnessing' by Buddhists than by Christians. Also, Christianity offers an easier way to Eternal Life than Buddhism's offer of Emptiness. It is easier to accept that one has sinned than to accept that 'there is suffering'.
I speak from experience. -
Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:
Hi, I have not read your post nor intend to reply today due to the limited time I have.
I am not following these long arguments between AEN and Herzog. I shall try to focus on propagation. First we must distinguish between religion and philosophy. To me, both are spread but not necessarily evangelised. More correctly, philosophy is sought, religion is spread.
There are fundamental differences between Buddhism and Christianity - in form and in practice. Forget for a moment about the moral part.
I shall not dwell on the differences. There are many who have done this.
Christianity and Buddhism are propagated differently. History is full of recorded truths. Christianity rode on wars, conquests and colonisations. There were holy wars and crusades. Missionaries were part of these campaigns in the name of spreading God's word. Indeed there were persecutions and forceful conversions. The Catholic Church itself had persecuted many. These are truths never told or admitted. Christians today read/study the bible without reference to history.
Central to Christianity is Creator-God, Sin, Saviour and Eternal Life.
Buddhism was not considered a religion (depending on how religion is defined). There is no Creator-God or the One God, hence no war was fought in the name of God or for God. Buddhism emphasizes on looking inwards, seeking the way out of suffering. Each individual reach that goal [b]not thru a Saviour (if you missed the First, there is a Second).
Buddhism was also spread but not as 'evangelised' as Christianity. If today you say there are more Christians, then the simple truth is due to the very zealous and even aggressive evangelism. Personally, I see less 'witnessing' by Buddhists than by Christians. Also, Christianity offers an easier way to Eternal Life than Buddhism's offer of Emptiness. It is easier to accept that one has sinned than to accept that 'there is suffering'.
I speak from experience.[/b]
But I would like to suggest you to create a new topic for this discussion, since the recent replies and discussion has completely went off-topic.
I will look into it when I have the time.. -
Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:
Very good observations.
I am not following these long arguments between AEN and Herzog. I shall try to focus on propagation. First we must distinguish between religion and philosophy. To me, both are spread but not necessarily evangelised. More correctly, philosophy is sought, religion is spread.
There are fundamental differences between Buddhism and Christianity - in form and in practice. Forget for a moment about the moral part.
I shall not dwell on the differences. There are many who have done this.
Christianity and Buddhism are propagated differently. History is full of recorded truths. Christianity rode on wars, conquests and colonisations. There were holy wars and crusades. Missionaries were part of these campaigns in the name of spreading God's word. Indeed there were persecutions and forceful conversions. The Catholic Church itself had persecuted many. These are truths never told or admitted. Christians today read/study the bible without reference to history.
Central to Christianity is Creator-God, Sin, Saviour and Eternal Life.
Buddhism was not considered a religion (depending on how religion is defined). There is no Creator-God or the One God, hence no war was fought in the name of God or for God. Buddhism emphasizes on looking inwards, seeking the way out of suffering. Each individual reach that goal [b]not thru a Saviour (if you missed the First, there is a Second).
Buddhism was also spread but not as 'evangelised' as Christianity. If today you say there are more Christians, then the simple truth is due to the very zealous and even aggressive evangelism. Personally, I see less 'witnessing' by Buddhists than by Christians. Also, Christianity offers an easier way to Eternal Life than Buddhism's offer of Emptiness. It is easier to accept that one has sinned than to accept that 'there is suffering'.
I speak from experience.[/b]
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THat day got 1 singnet engineer come my house do a line test.
Anyways, she saw my altar where I put my Dhammo Grand Master and Guanyin Bodhisattva statue. Den she say :" Wah, siao di, all your 'shen' (gods) put here in this special room very nice hor?
I fainted, dun even try to correct her liaos. Sianz 1/2.
Singnet Engineer contractor dun even know the difference. Sians!
Tell me that Singapore who dunno wads buddhism one? Wif all the internet, media abt the tooth temple la, vesak day la, etc.... STILL got this kinda pple. Kaos! -
Wow this debate so long man
Anyway, I am just a free-thinker but since this testing issue come out, can anyone enlighten me on how you all know buddha exists hah?
Like got any prove or evidence thingy?
ps: please don't link me long long articles, short and sweet reply will do.
Thank you. -
Buddha exist as there is book written by christian missionary who wrote of this personOriginally posted by Qing^.^:Wow this debate so long man
Anyway, I am just a free-thinker but since this testing issue come out, can anyone enlighten me on how you all know buddha exists hah?
Like got any prove or evidence thingy?
ps: please don't link me long long articles, short and sweet reply will do.
Thank you.
all the collection is inside the British Museum ,Asian Religion section. -
Hello, the Buddha is a historical person that lived 2500 years ago in India, and other than the countless relics he left behind there are countless other historical records of the Buddha in India as a historical figure, just as our ancient chinese emperors were recorded to live (like emperor qin etc). There is generally no doubts that Buddha existed in India, lived a life as a prince (even had a wife and a son), and later renounced, sought enlightenment, attained enlightenment and started his 49 years of dharma teaching.Originally posted by Qing^.^:Wow this debate so long man
Anyway, I am just a free-thinker but since this testing issue come out, can anyone enlighten me on how you all know buddha exists hah?
Like got any prove or evidence thingy?
ps: please don't link me long long articles, short and sweet reply will do.
Thank you.
But not only that, the Buddha still exists right now. Buddha Nature is all pervading like space, it is in a blade of grass and a tree, and your dog, and everything you see and feel. Everything is an expression of buddha, our buddha nature, pure awareness. You can see, hear, smell, etc, your 6 sense faculty is functioning because of Buddha Nature, or pure awareness. Therefore everyone, every sentient being has Buddha Nature. To awaken to that pristine nature which has always been here but missed due to our ignorance, we have to practise Buddhism, to develope wisdom and purify our minds.
But it is not through seeking Buddha in his physical forms and appearances that we can attain Enlightenment, for the true Buddha Nature is Empty (not void, or non-existence, but empty as in dependently arisen, transient, ungraspable, empty of inherent existence) and luminous. It is said in the Diamond Sutra:
“He who sees me (Buddha) in forms or seeks me in sounds is on a heterodox path and cannot see the Tathagata (Buddha).”
“All forms are but illusions, in seeing that all forms are illusory, one sees the Tathagata.”
He also used to say: He who sees the Dharma sees the Buddha.
To awaken is to see the Buddha. -
Fwah~~~2 days no check here fight like no day no night liao ah?