Man....i beg to to differ.....to be a buddhist u need not follow proceedures like this....in my view buddhist is just a superficial name given by man to distinguish people who practice buddhism...yah it's true in the temples they would ask u to seek refuge to the triple gem...Buddha(sumpreme teacher),dharma(knowledge)and sangha(monks)...but in my view this are traditional practices.....we shouldn't draw the line between buddhist and non-buddhist....they and us or should i say WE are all equal...seeking knowledge about darma.....just that our way of seeking the knowledge are different...provided that we keep the 5 precepts in mind.....Originally posted by Xabir:No, they probably aren't buddhists.
Because they have not taken refuge in the triple jems:
1) Buddha
2) Dharma
3) Sangha.
To be a buddhist, one must take refuge in the triple jems first.
Taoist temples don't provide refuge... only Buddhist monasteries and dharma centres would tell followers to take refuge in the triple jems.
Indeed we should be mindful. Yet the human mind is full of delusions and weak. We need a guide thus we take refuge. Many times people read about buddhism and in fact do know a lot of the teachings. Taking refuge is not simply a tradition, it is giving our whole faith to the triple gem. Without such strong faith in the triple gem, we may waver along the way whenever we meet obstacles due to our karma. And due to our karmic imprint, it is vrey easy to waver along the way. After all, we are in the degeneration stage.Originally posted by S@mz_Rev0LuT|on:Man....i beg to to differ.....to be a buddhist u need not follow proceedures like this....in my view buddhist is just a superficial name given by man to distinguish people who practice buddhism...yah it's true in the temples they would ask u to seek refuge to the triple gem...Buddha(sumpreme teacher),dharma(knowledge)and sangha(monks)...but in my view this are traditional practices.....we shouldn't draw the line between buddhist and non-buddhist....they and us or should i say WE are all equal...seeking knowledge about darma.....just that our way of seeking the knowledge are different...provided that we keep the 5 precepts in mind.....
Hmmmm.....i agree.....thats why we should keep the 5 basic precepts in mind....hahahahhaz.....Originally posted by Origami:Indeed we should be mindful. Yet the human mind is full of delusions and weak. We need a guide thus we take refuge. Many times people read about buddhism and in fact do know a lot of the teachings. Taking refuge is not simply a tradition, it is giving our whole faith to the triple gem. Without such strong faith in the triple gem, we may waver along the way whenever we meet obstacles due to our karma. And due to our karmic imprint, it is vrey easy to waver along the way. After all, we are in the degeneration stage.
Then, I beg to differ you again. Taking Refuge is essential before you can be called a Buddhist, a follower of Buddha.Originally posted by S@mz_Rev0LuT|on:Man....i beg to to differ.....to be a buddhist u need not follow proceedures like this....in my view buddhist is just a superficial name given by man to distinguish people who practice buddhism...yah it's true in the temples they would ask u to seek refuge to the triple gem...Buddha(sumpreme teacher),dharma(knowledge)and sangha(monks)...but in my view this are traditional practices.....we shouldn't draw the line between buddhist and non-buddhist....they and us or should i say WE are all equal...seeking knowledge about darma.....just that our way of seeking the knowledge are different...provided that we keep the 5 precepts in mind.....
Originally posted by Xabir:haha maybe you are mistaken about my previous post....nonono i definately will not look down at the triple gem...yes,Buddha replied that ppl should take refuge in the Triple Jems,but in my vew(correct me if i'm wrong)what he's trying to imply is that by seeking "refuge" in the triple gem...it is to learn the teachings of the darma, follow the 4 noble truths and the 8 fold path.....and when u take "refuge"...take refuge to the buddha...i mean not to him as a supreme being but to him as your supreme teacher,the reason why seeking refuge in the triple gem is so important in buddhism is not the process, but the meaning behind it...and yes i agree with you that Whatever tradition you are in, your Spiritual guide is important and will guide you towards liberation.
Then, I beg to differ you again. Taking Refuge is [b]essential before you can be called a Buddhist, a follower of Buddha.
When asked, "How can I become a disciple of Buddha?", Buddha replied that he should take refuge in the Triple Jems. Taking refuge is not a Tradition, and should not be looked down upon. Without taking refuge, you are not the a disciple of the triple jem. When you take refuge, you also take refuge in a Master, or a Root Guru. Whatever tradition you are in, your Spiritual guide is important and will guide you towards liberation.
Therefore, according to the "8 Dharmas of the Bodhisattva", all bodhisattvas must inspire sentient beings, if cause and conditions are there, to take refuge in the triple jems.
Before you enter the university to study and learn and finally graduate, you have to register for it.
Buddhism is the same.
If you have not registered for University, yet you call yourself a university student, people will laugh at you.
Buddhism is the same.[/b]