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I was reading this article about the way buddhism is going in the US Buddhist divideand, given my comment that the discussions on this sub-forum is mainly about christianity, I wondered if there were any folowers of buddhism/ buddhist practice here?
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice." - Schiller
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Intel - I saw this post go up with interest, and am amazed that no-one has contritubted. I know probably as many Buddhists as I do Atheists so I thought that there would be at least an equal response to this as to those threads in which the atheists on the forum contribute.
Does this mean that there are NO practitioners of Buddhism here? Or merely that they stick to their guns about not proselytising?
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Of course there's a Buddhism organization notorious for proselytising.Unfortunately famous musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Larry Coryell are its members. This is the group:Randy Quaid was proseltised in this movie. By the way, Last Detail is one of my favorite movies.
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Hi almostfreebird, I guess that proselytising has shades of meaning but, not living in the US, can you tell me why they are "notorious" over there? The wiki link (nearly wrote wikileak!) says they hand out leaflets but that seems, on the surface, pretty harmless (at least if they do so in the way leaflet distributors do in the UK) - do they pin passers-by to the pavement and fill their pockets with literature? Or are they sponsoring TV ads etc?
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice." - Schiller
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Romany wrote:Intel - I saw this post go up with interest, and am amazed that no-one has contritubted. I know probably as many Buddhists as I do Atheists so I thought that there would be at least an equal response to this as to those threads in which the atheists on the forum contribute.
Does this mean that there are NO practitioners of Buddhism here? Or merely that they stick to their guns about not proselytising? I don't know whether commenting would count as proselytising, Rom. I feel it a shame if folk are here but aren't commenting. Always had a soft spot for buddhism and Tao, and would love some input. Oh and I practice "mindfulness" meditation which has roots in buddhism - argh, perhaps I'm the buddhist who is not commenting.
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice." - Schiller
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intelfam wrote:Hi almostfreebird, I guess that proselytising has shades of meaning but, not living in the US, can you tell me why they are "notorious" over there? The wiki link (nearly wrote wikileak!) says they hand out leaflets but that seems, on the surface, pretty harmless (at least if they do so in the way leaflet distributors do in the UK) - do they pin passers-by to the pavement and fill their pockets with literature? Or are they sponsoring TV ads etc? Maybe in the USA, they don't know about the issue of the organization. What the wiki-English says about the organization doesn't describe "Controversies" section written in wiki-Japanese. For lack of my writing skill, and my laziness I just can offer these links: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/12/27/MN62956.DTLhttp://www.toride.org/edata/gpower.htmlIn my humble opinion, you might be able to say that the organization is a Japanese version of Scientology. One of the reason that makes me think like that is that Chick Corea was, if my memory is correct, a member of the organization; now he is a member of the Scientology.
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Hmmm, thank you for that friend, I looked at their UK site. All low key stuff but when one delves, there is a "too smooth" look about it. I don't think SGI has a large following in the UK (yet). The fact that the Dalai Lama spent some time here and set up a monastery means quite a few buddhists (Brits) have gone for Tibetan buddhism. Those into martial arts tend to go Zen or Tao. I guess we have quite a hotch potch.
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice." - Schiller
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Sorry Intel the only Buddhist I've ever been acquainted with was Adzel, a large dragon-like sentient being from a warlike alien species, who converted to Buddhism after learning of it in the library of a trading ship, of the polytechnic league. Poul Anderson writes of this gentle being.
Question authority, before it questions you. How do you know, that you know, what you know?
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Intel: I also know nothing of Buddhism in the US. I've attended one private luncheon where seven Buddhist Monks spoke to us and chanted and ate a lot and laughed even more; one ceremony in an old New England church where several monks played really queer instruments (eerie sounds, but goose-bumpy); and one night-time ceremony to watch them blow a giant mandala into the river as we held candles.
It was all wonderful... they truly emitted positive vibrations and had a happy, content aura... and did laugh and joke at every opportunity.
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Buddhism does seem to have taken off more in the US than in Europe so I am a little surprised that nobody has responded. We do have a fair number of people from Southern India in the UK who keep (one of) the more original forms going, which are open to all to attend. I have gone to a Theravada ceremony but found it not my cup of tea. I have also visited a buddhist centre in London where they hold daily public meditation sessions which I found truly grounding and peaceful.
As I said, I practice mindfulness meditation, but I came to this practice via the US guy, Jon Kabat Zinn, who is a medic keen on its medical applications. He did a lot of stuff around stress reduction and pain management and it is the latter that I was interested in.
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I wanted to share this article from a US Buddhist. I find it refreshing and so unlike most of the christian exhortations I have read. I do believe that we are in a time in which society/the world needs to make some real decisions about how we share the limited resources among a growing population and that we need some leadership whcih takes us away from individual salvation whether through christian or any other egocentric path to personal fulfilment/redemption/salvation. What kind of world do we want?
"The voice of the majority is no proof of justice." - Schiller
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"The word dharma means not just Buddhism but the whole body of principles that support human beings and draw out our best potentials. To be itself, karuna, “compassion,” must eventuate in karana, “doing.” Our work may begin with transforming our own minds and values but it cannot stop there. We have to go further and manifest these in action—in deeds that will build a safer, kinder, and more just world."
thanks for the article, intel... it is short and worth reading.
the above is the last few sentences.
do your work with compassion and make the world a better place. OK... will try.
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This German and this American are really serious about Zen.
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Excerpt: There are times when I experience that feeling of openness, of enlightenment, followed by periods when I wonder what it's all about. It's a cycle of high and low. So it's best not to think too much about being enlightened. It's something you should keep to yourself — talk about it, and it vanishes (laughing).
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RubyMoon wrote:in deeds that will build a safer, kinder, and more just world."
thanks for the article, intel... it is short and worth reading.
the above is the last few sentences.
do your work with compassion and make the world a better place. OK... will try. I have to admit that the word compassionate seems to have been "overdone" and one hears people talking of "compassion fatigue". I am pondering whether this alleged fatigue is caused because the west sees "compassion" as being somehow "doing good" i.e. as the west being superior and dispensing good to the "deserving poor". If it (compassion) is seen in this patronising way then after a while the "deserving" become "undeserving" as "they" cease to "sort themselves out"? The word "kindness" is softer and suggests a parity between the giver and receiver. I like that word. Thank you for highlighting it RubyMoon.
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almostfreebird wrote:
Excerpt:
It's something you should keep to yourself — talk about it, and it vanishes (laughing).
Not sure about the "laughing" almostfreebird. Although the "mindfulness" meditation I practice is based on a system devises by a doctor (Jon Kabat Zinn) and is not about attaining enlightenment, he does say that when you find yourself preaching about the wonders that mindfulness has done for you, it is about to slip through your fingers!
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intelfam wrote:almostfreebird wrote:
Excerpt:
It's something you should keep to yourself — talk about it, and it vanishes (laughing).
Not sure about the "laughing" almostfreebird. Although the "mindfulness" meditation I practice is based on a system devises by a doctor (Jon Kabat Zinn) and is not about attaining enlightenment, he does say that when you find yourself preaching about the wonders that mindfulness has done for you, it is about to slip through your fingers! almostfreebird, hi... you mention the "laughing"-- I noticed that with the Buddhist monks... they were serious and chanting (till the room literally vibrated) and then the meditation finished and seems like one second later they were all joking and laughing and so happy... yet with such an obvious detachment-- all of a sudden they said bye-bye and left the room. Intel-- I have Zinn's original (first) book; hadn't thought of it/him till your posting here.... Just googled Zinn--didn't realize he is still at UMass; his meditation&health center there is a huge success and still growing. agree about overuse of "compassion"... More affordable health&wellness, meditation centers are needed.
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RubyMoon wrote:I have Zinn's original (first) book; hadn't thought of it/him till your posting here.... Just googled Zinn--didn't realize he is still at UMass; his meditation&health center there is a huge success and still growing.
agree about overuse of "compassion"...
More affordable health&wellness, meditation centers are needed.
Hi Superwoman ( RubyMoon) - is that "Full Catastrophe Living"? I have that one as an audiobook only. While I found it really interesting, I miss being able to flick through and find particular bits. Maybe I should buy the hard copy but I have been disappointed by his later books, sadly...
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RubyMoon wrote:almostfreebird wrote:
Excerpt:
It's something you should keep to yourself — talk about it, and it vanishes (laughing).
almostfreebird, hi... you mention the "laughing"-- I noticed that with the Buddhist monks... they were serious and chanting (till the room literally vibrated) and then the meditation finished and seems like one second later they were all joking and laughing and so happy... yet with such an obvious detachment-- all of a sudden they said bye-bye and left the room. I seem to recall that a portrayal of the "laughing buddha" is quite common. Dang, wrote that and then remembered my daughter bought me a little wooden carving of the laughing buddha and it is standing in full view in the dressing room. Oh, the perils of old age....
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intelfam wrote:RubyMoon wrote:I have Zinn's original (first) book; hadn't thought of it/him till your posting here.... Just googled Zinn--didn't realize he is still at UMass; his meditation&health center there is a huge success and still growing.
agree about overuse of "compassion"...
More affordable health&wellness, meditation centers are needed.
Hi Superwoman ( RubyMoon) - is that "Full Catastrophe Living"? I have that one as an audiobook only. While I found it really interesting, I miss being able to flick through and find particular bits. Maybe I should buy the hard copy but I have been disappointed by his later books, sadly... Superwoman? i'm lost on this... inside joke? compliment?... sounds good, so thank yurrr!
don't know where Zinn's book is-- sorry, would have maybe snail-mailed it to you.
i didn't/don't care for any of his books, but that is no reflection on his health center and its great success.
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