What Would a Buddhist Do?

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   Angela Rhodesposted 15 years ago

   I'm surprised there are no other threads here, because I find Buddhism to be very interesting.  I have read some introductory books but find them overwhelming.  Here is what I really want to know:
   
   If I were a Buddhist, how would I practice my beliefs in daily life?  What would I do?  How would I live?

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      Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Well, to the best of my knowledge, it is not really a religion in a Western sense. You don't believe anything. You strive to connect to your inner self, and when you manage, you just know. So, as a Buddhist, your life basically is a series of successful and unsuccessful attempts to unite with the Absolute.

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         sooner than laterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         true, and I do not believe many Americans have the time nor patience to meditate enough to find the inner absolute. I admire the patience of the Buddhist, and I also admire the calm heart. But Love and Patience of the purest comes from God.

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            Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            The way you stick your god in every thread, you might as well stick him somewhere else.

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               sooner than laterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               In your heart

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                  Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                  Nah, no chance to stick your invisible super butcher there

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      Susana Sposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The cornerstone of Buddhism is meditation. The basic belief is that through meditation we can increase our experience of positive qualities such as compassion, joy, love and reduce our attachment to negative qualities such as anger, hatred, grasping, envy etc. As well as learning to live completely in the present moment.
      
      For a really good book which explains things simply and has some beautiful meditations such as the loving kindness meditation, i would recommend A Gradual Awakening by Stephen Levine. 
      
      When you meditate daily your life changes. You'll find yourself making different choices and treating others and yourself differently. The practice of being Buddhist is in every moment you experience fully. Mediation facilitates that.

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      mohitmisraposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Meditate and  try and get enlightened, become a Buddha as you have the potential to do so.

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   kephriraposted 15 years ago

   Your tree hugging profile picture shows that you've made a good start!
   
   Seriously though, Buddhism isn't really a religion in the conventional sense to they don't have a dogmatic morality of 'do this, don't do that' etc. Its more about personal spiritual development.

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   sooner than laterposted 15 years ago

   Its also about self control. Interesting as Budah couldn't keep food from his mouth.

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      kephriraposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      are you talking about all the fat Buddha statues? If so thats not actualy the Buddha, its some other icon whose name I can't remember.

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   Jeramiposted 15 years ago

   Does it take too much self controll to restrain ourselves from insults ???

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   TMinutposted 15 years ago

   A few things I've read in some of my science research has gotten me quite interested in a Buddhist meditation way of thinking. (Sorry for that convoluted sentence, don't know how to phrase it.) You can always go to the library and read about teaching meditation and Buddhism to children - that can give you a start and then the other books may make more sense. If you're from the West, your entire way of thinking may be so different that you need that very simple starting place.

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   remowillposted 15 years ago

   You guys sure are aggressive.

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   TMinutposted 15 years ago

   Quote:
   When you meditate daily your life changes. You'll find yourself making different choices and treating others and yourself differently.
   
   Sounds like trying to find out what you do in your daily life isn't the point, it's not something you have to arrange and DO. It's a natural outflow of your inner self changing and developing.

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   sunforgedposted 15 years ago

   Book and authors I would recommend
   
   Its easier than you think -Sylvia Boorstein
   
   Anything By the dalai lama
   
   Anything by Alan watts
   
   all of these authors can explain these eastern thougts from a western perspective so it makes easier to wrap your head around some concepts, IMO
   
   also, siddartha by Herman Hesse
   
   
   Siddartha Gautama  was at one point a practicing ascetic, so he would have been more likely to have been quite thin
   
   the symbol of "buddha" is not a depiction of the at same man, anymore than renaissance art of a white anglo saxon jesus
   
   "the style of the statues was influenced by the various cultures that influenced all culture in the sub-continent (India), Greek styles early on, then Roman, Persian and others. And by the cultures in areas where his teachings spread, and now we finally get to the Fat buddha. Buddhism reached China around 100AD, and was wide spread there by 600AD. And we get three theories on Fat buddha, each one probably reinforced the others over time. First the physical image of a Noble was different as was the concept of the results of enlightenment, a Noble was not athletic or a warrior, but a well fed person of leisure. Enlightenment led to material success and wealth and a position at least close to nobility. And a belief that fat men were inherently benevolent , similar to the "jolly fat man", Jolly Ol' St. Nick for example"

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   Drifter0658posted 15 years ago

   Meditation has no real form. It is a journey. Writing every day can be meditation, so can riding a motorcycle along desolate roads. Some backyard mechanics find meditation in swapping out carburetors.
   
   Buddhism IS about being in the moment and nothing more. Nothing less either.
   
   The best description I've ever read of realizing zen, was the understanding that one is not standing in the stream, but is part of the stream.

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    Angela Rhodesposted 15 years ago

    Thanks to all for your replies.  I especially enjoyed your thoughts on meditation, which I understand to be something that is key to the practice of Buddhism.  Drifter, your thoughts felt especially relevant to me.  I have always been at a loss for naming my feelings of spirituality because I discover the most peace and wholeness when I'm writing or in the woods.
    
    I have to confess I'm a little disappointed that we can't have an open discussion without people making jabs at one another.  What a shame.

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    DennisBarkerposted 15 years ago

    Daily meditation practice in whatever form is the essence of buddhism. The aim is to cultivate compassion towards yourself and all living things.
    
    I would suggest in the real world just spend time observing your thoughts when you react with anger or frustration to a situation or relationship. The act of being an observer as well as taking part can be enlightening in itself.
    
    Once you are practiced at observing your own thoughts and emotions without attachment, it is possible to begin to change those thoughts by contemplating the suffering of others.
    
    Again the reminder that there is some form of suffering or pain behind each situation can produce compassion for others and yourself.
    
    I find the process facinating.

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    Citrus000posted 15 years ago

    What does a Buddhist do during the holidays? Celebration, and involvement with typical Christmas time activities. Just curious???

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       spiritualityposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Buddhists can join in on any religious ceremonies they like. So religious holidays like Christmas can be celebrated anyhow.
       
       That's one of the advantages of Buddhism: it mixes very well with other religions or life philosophies.

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    William R. Wilsonposted 15 years ago

    I think that Westerners have a distorted view of Buddhism. 
    
    Yes, at its core, it is a philosophical system rather than a dogmatic one, but Buddhists in the East are every bit as "religious" as Christians are here.  In the West we see the philosophy first and think, hey, this makes perfect sense!  None of this religious nonsense!  In the East, however, people see Buddha as a supernatural being, they pray to him, give him offerings, make pilgrimages to his shrine, etc.
    
    On the other hand, many Christians in China don't look at Christianity as a religion but as a way of life.  They see Jesus as someone to emulate, someone with an amazing philosophy that makes perfect sense. 
    
    Kind of funny. 
    
    As far as what you'd do to be a buddhist, you'd want to follow the noble eightfold path: 
    
    http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html
    
    and you'd want to practice meditation regularly - although many Eastern Buddhists don't, sort of like how many Christians don't pray regularly I guess.

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