Comments (25)

Holy crap! You mean there are Buddhists in America? With their own temples and everything *right down the street from the Baptist churches*? Wow! How far-out can you get?

It's a good thing the temples have adopted "American Christian" features like places for people to sit, and songs being sung; otherwise things would just get TOO CRAZY!

"If you're not a Buddhist, you think there are Buddhists and non-Buddhists. But if you're a Buddhist, you realize everybody's a Buddhist - even the bugs."

~ Shunryu Suzuki

"To have some deep feeling about Buddhism is not the point; we just do what should do, like eating supper and going to bed. This is Buddhism."

~ (ibid)

"Buddhism is not a matter of discussing metaphysical questions, like whether we should deal with our lives as real or unreal. Buddhism is about accepting life totally and handling it with compassion."

~ Dainin Katagiri

"Be like an imbecile, twenty-four hours a day.
Be spontaneous, and buoyant, your mind like space.
Be beyond light and dark, no Buddhism, no body, or mind, year in and year out.
If anything is not forgotten, you've spent your life in vain."

~ Ch'eng Tu

"... for a time I play catch while the children sing.
Then it is my turn.
Playing like this, time slips away.
Passersby point and laugh, asking,
"What is the reason for such foolishness?"
I only bow.
Even if I answered, they would not understand.
Look around! There is nothing else but this."

~ Ryokan

I'm a Pure Land Buddhist;
I'm a Theravadin Buddhist;
I'm a Tibetan Buddhist;
I'm a Zen Buddhist;
In the midst of this ego and attachment -
Listen!
Buddha never says a word.

~~~~~~~

Truth is silent;
It's views and opinions
that make all the noise.

~ Azuki, 'Zen Graffiti'.

Sangha has three meanings:

1. "The four pairs, the eight kinds of Noble Beings." That is, those who have attained one of the four stages of enlightenment: Stream-Enterer; Once-Returner; Non-Returner; Arahant. (This is the Sangha that is referred to when Buddhists take refuge in Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.)

2. The modern-day Monastic order.

3. (And almost exclusively in America) Lay groups or communities of Buddhists. (In Thailand, for example, describing lay Buddhists as Sangha would be regarded as another bizarre misinterpretation of Buddhism by those crazy American 'farangs.')

Ondelette's observation that one can be both an atheist and a Buddhist (as I am) is best illustrated by the fact that several of the book recommendations on the web site of arch-atheist Sam Harris include books by Achan Chah, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and other contemporary Buddhist teachers. Buddhism is about how to live constructively in the real world, not about how that world was created.

The existence of God, like the transmigration of souls, is irrelevant in the strictest Buddhist sense. Also, being a religion from the East, not an Abrahamic religion, it does not require or care about exclusionary principles. One can be a Christian and a Buddhist simultaneously from the Buddhist point of view, one can be an atheist and a Buddhist simultaneously from the Buddhist point of view. A good friend of mine had funeral services in both a Methodist church and a Buddhist temple when she died. Not a problem.

The existence of God, like the transmigration of souls, is irrelevant in the strictest Buddhist sense. Also, being a religion from the East, not an Abrahamic religion, it does not require or care about exclusionary principles. One can be a Christian and a Buddhist simultaneously from the Buddhist point of view, one can be an atheist and a Buddhist simultaneously from the Buddhist point of view. A good friend of mine had funeral services in both a Methodist church and a Buddhist temple when she died. Not a problem.

B-MAN:

I agree with you. To me, whatever force a Christian calls "God" is basically some form/entitiy/energy/whatever that has to have always been. So, to me, at that point, a Christian is in effect agreeing with the view that things have always been--something has to have always been around to cause the next thing, logically. The only difference is they say that "thing" is "God". But what was God doing all that time? Floating in a vacuum all alone looking at voidness, and then at some point in the middle of infinite time he says, "I think I'll make some stuff"? I don't get it.

I do get the Buddhist view which says form has always been, it's just always morphing into new states/shapes/etc. And our mindstreams have always been--the immediately preceding moment of awareness is the cause for the very next moment of awareness. But it's analog--you can't really pinpoint exact moments. It's a flow. You can't pin it down. You can't really explain it with concepts, which is of course what we want to do. We want to say God made everything. Period. But ultimately, does that hold up to even rudimentary logical analysis?

Of course, I made a typo of my own... I wrote "crated creator-controlled universe." And while I kind of like the idea of the universe being in a crate, I meant "created creator-controlled" -- that's what I assume you intended to write. It would, after all, be difficult to have a creator-controlled universe that was uncreated (as there'd be no creator to control anything...)

MM,

It is the Christian God that is uncreated. Who made him? And who made he that made him. Etc.

In my opinion, this is a fatal flaw of Christianity, to posit a deity that looks and acts like a human being, yet was never actually created, but somehow just always was.

Don't know if this is a typo, but you say: "Buddhists also reject the idea of an "uncreated creator-controlled universe" that faith is often associated with."

I think you might have meant to say a "crated creator-controlled universe" (not "uncreated"). Right? Because Christianity believes in a created (by God) and creator-controlled (God is omnipotent) universe. Whereas Buddhism posits an uncreated universe that is not creator-controlled (a Buddha is thought to be omniscient but not omnipotent).

As far as I can get this news and the following discussion... It simply means that. the message of buddha ..has been flowing towards the Eastern direction since 2600 years ago when he first gave his sermon... to five of his own collegues/ meditators at Deer park,SARNATH(India)...This message has somehow tried to heal people of their sorrows/failures/distress/pains...(in general..called 'Dukkha')

It doesnt matter actually in which mould it is existing at present in any country ... (whether it be japaneese.. or Christian or a Hybrid of both )
The disciples and venerable monks tried their best to understand and use for themselves
the 'Dhamma' or Law of Nature....as told by enlightened one (buddha)..
At the same time we should keep this clear that buddha was not a god/prophet..
He was only a human being ..at best a teacher/guide.... he emphasizes this in his sermons... Consequently he lays gr8 faith in the capability of individual human beings..for taking themselves out of suffering....
Only the brave can follow this path...
With lots of goodwill and peace to all readers...

From Nichiren Buddhism understanding, the sangha is the body of believers or one of the three treasures. The other two treasures are the treasure of the Buddha nad the treasure of the law. The treasure of the Buddha is the originating teacher of the nteaching, and the treasure of the law is the dharma or mystic law of cause and effect; nam myoho renge kyo for me.

Regrding true buddha's Amida Buddha is considered a Buddha, however Amida Buddha is not a real buddha, like Shakyamuni Buddha the teacher of Buddhism.

Patrick

I have to add two cents to the Sangha discussion. The Sangha can refer to both the community of lay practitioners as well as the clergy/monks. This is similar to how the "Church" includes both the Clergy and the congregation. However, in Buddhism and especially in the west, the distinction between the clergy/monks and lay practitioners is lower than in the Church.

I believe the Buddha recognized that 99,9999% of people need social support and guidance to become more mature, moral, and happier people. The community which provides this support is the Sangha.

The Sangha in Mahayana Buddhism, which includes Tibetan, Zen, and Jodo Shin, refers both to those historical persons, living and dead, who achieved enlightenment as well as to the community of teachers, monks, and lay practitioners.

In Therevada Buddhism (S.E. Asia and Siri Lanka) the Sangha specifically refers to the orders of monks who have chosen a life of meditation and who follow Buddhas teachings written down in the Pali Tipitaka. Traditionally, the role of lay persons is to support the monks and gain benefit by supporting them.

In general, however, the Sangha is the community of Buddhists to whom one turns for guidance, teaching, and fellowship/moral support. The goal being for each individual to make progress along the path to a more open, compassionate, happy, and mature life.

It shouldn't be an issue. If you're a Buddhist then so what. Likewise for any other faith. No one group has the right to say theirs is any better than the other. Many of these so-called religious people lack spirituality. None of these people are spiritually wired. it's a business for them. Confront them with a question and they answer a question with a question. There seems so many parables that cross religious boundaries such as though shalt not kill that I believe these religions are linked. Christianity was not the first. But to convince your followers that it is the only true religion is wrong. is it any wonder there's problems in the middle east? I think it's become more of a business; trying to sell you god. What ever happened with truth inb advertising. many of these groups cannot sell you God. Only you can do that. If a religious leader tells you to do this or that then you'd better check out your book first to validate their request.God will give you the answers you need directly otherwise it's probably not God.

"Sangha" is used in different contexts, depending on the issue at hand. In the broadest sense it refers to the worldwide Buddhist community, although one can speak of individual denominations or churches as "sanghas." Sometimes the word is used is reference to a gathering of clergy.

While some branches of Buddhism could quarrel with the term "faith," those who are part of the Jodo Shinshu ("True Pure Land Religion") who call on the salvific power of Amida Buddha are most definitely involved in faith, as well as other aspects of religion.

SAY IT OVER AND OVER AND BE DELIVERED FROM DUALITY!

Actually, I'm pretty sure that sangha has to be the congregation. The word sangha is Sanskrit for gathering or congregation of any group of people. It does not have anything to do with clergy of any religion and does not even have to be used in a religious context. For example you can have a neighborhood book sangha (book club).

A sangha is the Buddhist clergy, not the congregation. A great many Buddhists who come to this country worship in their traditional way, which needs to be put in perspective here. It also would help to delete the psychotic ravings in the comments.

Confucius was Chinese, and Confucianism is not Buddhism, JJ.

Anyway, whatever else you're saying....

Ooops:

(1) "Whether you know it or not, the Universe is laughing behind your back... (But so is Rhonda Byrne. Author of: The Secret. She's laughing her way to the bank.)"

http://www.thescreed.info/

(2)"This is the first 20 minutes MOVIE of the global film phenomenon "The Secret". It is authorized by The Secret LLC for personal use only.
http://blip.tv/file/224369

Noe: This is a GIMMICK for OPRAH WINFREY's 'Mezmerized' audience and Materialistic seekers, not LOVE. Like a Fad for get-rich-quick-scamers.

All is TAUTOLOGY & FALSE THINKING, nothing New! Same old dillemma!

IT's called "WISH-FUll-(of you know what) THINKING". IT is. Do not fall for it. Thanks. Save your precious mind. That is the secret! Yaa.

PLEASE:

Do not let Oprah & OBAMA pull the wool over UNCLE-SAM and AUNT LIBERTY! aka "THE-PEOPLE"!

Note: OPRAH INFREY is been pushishing a 'Farceurs' mental "Law of Attraction" type of healings, to ALL or most of her follwers via Madame Byrnes, Dr. Phill , OBAMA yes!

INCAMERA (Secret) President wanna be OBAMA is counting , especially on VOTER reader hopes, so to spaket, on selling that Attraction-book, aka

THE-SECRET.

Please see link here to some Humour about "The-Secret" that is NO' secret at all ! UNJUSTLY a HOAK! Wow! THEREFORE:

VOTE: ((( Peace Love Rock nRoll nRap Mitt_ROMNEY for PREZ 08, YEA! ))))))))))))

Thank you me Fellow Eclati-On(s) & never the Off(s)! Ya a.

< ?: +) PEACE-SHOLOM-PAZ-SALAAM........

Note: This is reycled material From Brethren(s) SAWN PETER spool. Today . Thanks.

ON Madame Eddy and Madame Blavatsky :
Hello Cyber Friend L E P E D O P..., aka "BUTTERFLY", 2:14PM. et al;

Interesting: You said, "I've known people who DID overcome potentially fatal diseases without medical intervention..."

Please see (2) two Spiritual Healers involving Rabbi JESUS, herbs , mind and or will power over sickness, disease etc..

(1)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Baker_Eddy

Founder of "CRISTIAN SCIENCE" movement.[pbuh respectfuly]

(2)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blavatsky

Founder of "THEOSOPHY" movement. [pbuh].

Note: Both LADY's Propheta's are an Imported type of Religion(s), if any, Nothing Made in AMERICA nor bred Nor born in Sweet sweet U.S. of A.!

Happy Every Day!

Oooopsss!

This material is recycled from Moderator's PATEL spool today. Tonka Shame.

Hear ye Hear ye Sweet sweet AMERICA et al;

VOTE: ((( Peace Love Rock nRoll nRap Mitt_ROMNEY for PREZ 08, YEA! ))))))))))))

Thank you me Fellow Eclati-On(s) & never the Off(s)!

Please see link to Loyal , Hard working, good & funny & kind MORMON folk.

http://famousmormons.net/bus03.html

Beside people like the "AVIATOR" aka "INDUSTRIALIST" Howard Hughes (This MORMON Helped America defeat GERMANY & JAPAN & U.S.S.R., not just Rockafella!!) And

Astronaught DON LIND, & Space SCientist's JOHN S. LEWIS et al, PRESIDENT ROMNEY et al. Ya Ya.

REMEMBER: When you are VOTING , you are Not voting for a Moron. Hence a Mormon is not a moron as All the World shall see of His Honorable Mr. & MRS. Mitt ROMNEY & five Boy's et al!

Remember: Coting for the ROMNEY FAMILY is voting for O.U.R. FAMILY!

Praise the Holy NO-MAN LORD Eponymous ECLAT + "i" = LIFE/PHOTON's Awareness!

Sweet sweet AMERICA is Back, Back on Track!

The 911 Hang-over is Over! Forwards! Forwards,never back, never!

Thus saeth the Holy Cosmic No Mon LORD/YAWH/ALLAH/ISHVARA/ECLATi and by many names!

Hello again "Little-Sister", et al;

Any kind of BUDHHISM is all IMPORTED, nothing about it being born nor made in good g-d ole sweet sweet America. SHINTO etc..belongs in JAPAN from whence it came , includes Mr. CONFUCIS.

All are, zero Born, bred & PATENTED nor COPY RIGHTED in Authenticity or Original here in U.S.A.!

Example: Only "MORMON" Faith is Made in America via 'Blue-Bloods' who bled red so to speaketh via Mr. Joe Smith [pbuh] !? AND

Only "TRANSFINIY" ,the "Holy Cosmic Feeler(s)Faith, a belief like religion, but better, is Born via the "SHILOH" (Joktan Man born in AMERICA) , aka Harry Theraut,as mentioned seq passim here on 'onfaith .....AND

Another Example is the Establishing of the "SCIENTOLOG" quasi Psychiaty/psychology Religion via Mr. Ron L. HUBBARD et al!

So; Not to menton NATIVE AMERICANO beliefs that;

MORMON,
TRANSFINITY, and
SCIENTOLOGY man mad via ECLAT + "i" Philosophy is PURE AMERICAN made, ZERO-IMPORTED as if religion.

Ya Ya!