Buddhism's view on Religions

• Ensō

  3 Jan 09, 02:51

  I have a personal notion that all religions are one ? Can anyone share their views on this ?

  :D thanks

• dumbdumb!

  3 Jan 09, 03:40

  Originally posted by Ens�:

  I have a personal notion that all religions are one ? Can anyone share their views on this ?

  :D thanks

  even if my religion explicitly says it's different from the others? 

• Tranpere

  3 Jan 09, 08:51

  IMHO, religion basically means the worshipping of one supreme or many supreme beings.  They do have similarity in their value, but the main difference arises from the point of focal (supreme) when one should always relied upon for blessing and direction.  In fact, they do differs in terms of value, even within the same religion itself.  So to me, I would explicitly regard almost all places of worship differs.

• An Eternal Now

  3 Jan 09, 12:58

  Not all religions are the same, though the founders of the religions may share some similar insights.

  Nowadays, many religions have lost in meaning/purpose and degraded/degenerated into a form of idol worshipping, superstitions, and so on.

  Buddhism also does not share the same beliefs of having a theistic, personal, creator God unlike the Abrahamic religion.

  The mystics and contemplatives (rare) of these traditions however, do have a much similar understanding (though not fully similar) to Buddhism.

  Another thing is my Master would often say -- many religions teach people to avoid evil and do good. Buddhism alone teaches people to purify their minds. Buddhism teaches about liberation, enlightenment, and not just hope for a better afterlife. We believe rebirth even into the highest heaven is temporary/impermanent.

  We can realise our true nature and live in the so called 'kingdom of god' here and now. We can realise the highest bliss of Nirvana and be forever freed from birth and death and sufferings.

• An Eternal Now

  3 Jan 09, 13:03

  Originally posted by Tranpere:

  IMHO, religion basically means the worshipping of one supreme or many supreme beings.  They do have similarity in their value, but the main difference arises from the point of focal (supreme) when one should always relied upon for blessing and direction.  In fact, they do differs in terms of value, even within the same religion itself.  So to me, I would explicitly regard almost all places of worship differs.

  Buddhism however, does not worship any beings. We respect the Buddhas (enlightened beings) for teaching us the Dharma, but ultimately it is up to us to practice the dharma and realise our innate and self-perfected Buddha-Nature.

   

• wilsonhao

  3 Jan 09, 22:28

  All religions are different though they have similar viewpoints about things. They dont point to the same thing. Religions like Islam and Christianity talks very different things from Buddhism. Even Taoism is different from buddhism.

  From the buddhist point of view, we see other religions as other paths. We do not label them as 'good' or 'bad' paths because the defination of good and bad differs from each individual. And which path is true? Each path is TRUE to those who walk down each path. I am not walking other paths so i do not know if they are true, but neither can i say they are false because as i said im not walking on them so i have no rights to comment

• Ensō

  3 Jan 09, 22:36

  :D

  thanks for your opinions, but yea, months back i thought no one could agree with me until i read 'No Religion' by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, anyone hear of it ? sorry i have only the hardcopy :P

  any one here studied other religions indepth as well ?

  thanks :)

• wilsonhao

  4 Jan 09, 10:30

  Maybe i know a little bout other religions