Buddha2525
Well-Known Member
Alright, yes it's not yet Sunday, but this Buddhist is very busy except on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Here's what's up.
You get to ask a Buddhist any question you want about this religion. I've seen there are many misconceptions about what is and what's not a "real" Buddhist.
The only rules are:
Respect the Buddha, and celestial Buddhas, even if you don't believe, no need to be rude! (I read a lot of posts here, and lots of you folks are real rude and mean. None of that here. Enlightened talk only.)
No asking why not just be a Christian, or an Atheist, or my way, and here let me convince you. Uh, not to be rude, but no thanks. I am what I am, you're not going to convince me, I'm only here out of my kindness to let those curious about how a Buddhists isn't an atheist and can believe in a "higher power." Ok?
Other than that you can ask any question about Buddhism.
The Buddha is said to have 10,000 different paths depending on a particular person's need.
Here is a pet peeve of mine, "you're a real Buddhist", and yet I've been one for all my life. Even so, some arrogant know it alls will say, "hey, that's not a real Buddhist, here, I'll prove it based on this Wikipedia entry!"
Umm, ok. Good for you. That's one interpretation of Buddhism, and probably what you think of is some western version from a weirdo named Henry Steel Olcott, who really damaged Buddhist culture. Because of him many think Buddhism is just this fancy way of thinking, like no different from a New Age humanist secular liberal who only values critical scientific methods, doesn't believe in God, let alone a higher power.
I've seen it on many posts while researching grow stuff on this site, because I was curious about fellow buddhist here.
Well, lots of what you were told are wrong. Maybe not "wrong" but you were given too broad and stereotypical information. Especially if it was one of those people who think they're an expert because of reading a wikipedia entry.
See, I'm a Pure Land Buddhist, who believes in the higher power of Amitabha Buddha.
What? Higher power you say? But but, Buddha2525, all Buddhists are really atheists!
Wrong!
Most Far East Asian style Buddhists, like myself, not the "original" Theraveda Buddhists (atheistic, new age, and "scientific" ones such as Sam Harris), do believe in a higher power.
They call out, "Namo Amituofo" or in the original Sanskrit, "Om Namo Amitabha Buddhaya," which roughly translates to: "I take refuge in the Amitabha Buddha."
To most Buddhists, who are also Pure Landers, when we talk about the "Buddha" we don't mean Shakyamuni Gautama, the last physical human Buddha, but the "celestial" Buddha from the western Pure Land Sukhavati.
Yes, we also pray too. But not like most Christians, who think God is like Santa Clause, or a Jinn. We think of Buddha as support, hence why we seek refuge. Our actions are ours alone, but we seek to cleanse our past wrong karma, to eventually become either a bodhisattva, or a Buddha. What we pray for is that others can see compassion and lead a proper Buddhist life, such as "Om Mani Padme Hum."
What separates Pure Landers from other sects is we believe that if we live a pure enough life, and have a one pointedness towards becoming a Buddha, but since we live in the Mofa or Mappo age, where Dharma has become "degenerate" or "corrupted" the only way to enlightenment is to have Amitabha teach us the true Dharma in his pure land by saying, "Namo Amituofo" over and over, until we die and are reborn in Sukhavati.
I hope this made sense and wasn't too long, making a good introduction.
As always,
Namo Amituofo!
Here's what's up.
You get to ask a Buddhist any question you want about this religion. I've seen there are many misconceptions about what is and what's not a "real" Buddhist.
The only rules are:
Respect the Buddha, and celestial Buddhas, even if you don't believe, no need to be rude! (I read a lot of posts here, and lots of you folks are real rude and mean. None of that here. Enlightened talk only.)
No asking why not just be a Christian, or an Atheist, or my way, and here let me convince you. Uh, not to be rude, but no thanks. I am what I am, you're not going to convince me, I'm only here out of my kindness to let those curious about how a Buddhists isn't an atheist and can believe in a "higher power." Ok?
Other than that you can ask any question about Buddhism.
The Buddha is said to have 10,000 different paths depending on a particular person's need.
Here is a pet peeve of mine, "you're a real Buddhist", and yet I've been one for all my life. Even so, some arrogant know it alls will say, "hey, that's not a real Buddhist, here, I'll prove it based on this Wikipedia entry!"
Umm, ok. Good for you. That's one interpretation of Buddhism, and probably what you think of is some western version from a weirdo named Henry Steel Olcott, who really damaged Buddhist culture. Because of him many think Buddhism is just this fancy way of thinking, like no different from a New Age humanist secular liberal who only values critical scientific methods, doesn't believe in God, let alone a higher power.
I've seen it on many posts while researching grow stuff on this site, because I was curious about fellow buddhist here.
Well, lots of what you were told are wrong. Maybe not "wrong" but you were given too broad and stereotypical information. Especially if it was one of those people who think they're an expert because of reading a wikipedia entry.
See, I'm a Pure Land Buddhist, who believes in the higher power of Amitabha Buddha.
What? Higher power you say? But but, Buddha2525, all Buddhists are really atheists!
Wrong!
Most Far East Asian style Buddhists, like myself, not the "original" Theraveda Buddhists (atheistic, new age, and "scientific" ones such as Sam Harris), do believe in a higher power.
They call out, "Namo Amituofo" or in the original Sanskrit, "Om Namo Amitabha Buddhaya," which roughly translates to: "I take refuge in the Amitabha Buddha."
To most Buddhists, who are also Pure Landers, when we talk about the "Buddha" we don't mean Shakyamuni Gautama, the last physical human Buddha, but the "celestial" Buddha from the western Pure Land Sukhavati.
Yes, we also pray too. But not like most Christians, who think God is like Santa Clause, or a Jinn. We think of Buddha as support, hence why we seek refuge. Our actions are ours alone, but we seek to cleanse our past wrong karma, to eventually become either a bodhisattva, or a Buddha. What we pray for is that others can see compassion and lead a proper Buddhist life, such as "Om Mani Padme Hum."
What separates Pure Landers from other sects is we believe that if we live a pure enough life, and have a one pointedness towards becoming a Buddha, but since we live in the Mofa or Mappo age, where Dharma has become "degenerate" or "corrupted" the only way to enlightenment is to have Amitabha teach us the true Dharma in his pure land by saying, "Namo Amituofo" over and over, until we die and are reborn in Sukhavati.
I hope this made sense and wasn't too long, making a good introduction.
As always,
Namo Amituofo!
