A few questions on Buddhism (mystic, reincarnation, beliefs, experience)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by koan

Point 1. the Buddha did not die peacefully, he died in pain after eating a bad meal (some say mushrooms, some say meat) and having food poisoning.

Yes, he died of some kind of food poisoning. But he died peacefully. He is the Buddha after all. Have you read the Mahaparinibbana sutta?

Originally Posted by koan

point 2. Nibbana/Nirvana does not mean one does not have to come back, that is paranirvana. Nirvana is a state by which one has removed afflictions to dharma(not Dharma)

With nibbana, there is no more accumulation of karma? Why would one have to come back? From the scriptures, I thought that nibbana was when one attains enlightenment and parinibbana is when one dies for the last time after having attained enlightenment. I imagine some would choose to come back for the sake of others, but why would one have to? Mystic, perhaps you could help clarify?

[TurkeyOnRye]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Modern? A lot of Western Buddhists. I hear repeatedly from many (not all) Western Buddhists the claim that Buddhism, unlike the Abrahmic faiths, is devoid of supernaturalism and "superstition." And then I look at my relatives practicing Buddhism and it doesn't look any less supernatural than most religions to me. Since they are living in the same time frame, I take issue with the idea that Eastern Buddhists are somehow less "modern."

You're putting words in my mouth. By "modern buddhists," I mean "today's buddhists." I never even made a differentiation between eastern and western cultures, so I'm not even going to comment in that respect.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by TurkeyOnRye

You're putting words in my mouth. By "modern buddhists," I mean "today's buddhists." I never even made a differentiation between eastern and western cultures, so I'm not even going to comment in that respect.

I'm responding exactly to what you said. My relatives are alive now. They are every bit as much "today's Buddhists" as the ones you are talking about. And true that you didn't make the differentiation between Eastern and Western cultures; that's the problem. Buddhism as practiced in the West does not automatically apply to the East as well.

[TurkeyOnRye]

Originally Posted by lilithu

They are every bit as much "today's Buddhists" as the ones you are talking about. And true that you didn't make the differentiation between Eastern and Western cultures; that's the problem. Buddhism as practiced in the West does not automatically apply to the East as well.

I see no reason to make a differentiation between eastern and western Buddhism, because to do so would be to make a stereotype. All variations of Buddhism can be found in both cultures, even if there is a difference in division; it's just not something I felt was important to note. I think there is a bit of miscommunication here. If you re-read my first post, you'll notice that I said "A lot of modern Buddhists". I was simply stating that there are a number of buddhists today (whether they be eastern or western is irrelevent) who practice it in an essentially non-superstitious aspect. See what I mean? Was there a misunderstanding here?

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by TurkeyOnRye

I see no reason to make a differentiation between eastern and western Buddhism, because to do so would be to make a stereotype.

There is always the danger of overgeneralizing distinctions. But on the other end of the spectrum is the danger of failing to recognize real differences that exist.

Originally Posted by TurkeyOnRye

I think there is a bit of miscommunication here. If you re-read my first post, you'll notice that I said "A lot of modern Buddhists". I was simply stating that there are a number of buddhists today (whether they be eastern or western is irrelevent) who practice it in an essentially non-superstitious aspect. See what I mean? Was there a misunderstanding here?

If by " a lot" you mean a significant number, fine. If by "a lot" you mean "most," then no, this is not a miscommunication. It is a disagreement. Either way, I think your statement gives the impression that this is a fair characterization of all of Buddhism, in which case I assert that it is very relevant whether you are talking about Eastern or Western Buddhism here.

[TurkeyOnRye]

Originally Posted by lilithu

There is always the danger of overgeneralizing distinctions. But on the other end of the spectrum is the danger of failing to recognize real differences that exist.

True, we have to recognize real differences, though in this case, there wasn't reason to, especially since I don't agree with your absolute-ish eastern/western concept.

If by " a lot" you mean a significant number, fine. If by "a lot" you mean "most," then no, this is not a miscommunication. It is a disagreement. Either way, I think your statement gives the impression that this is a fair characterization of all of Buddhism, in which case I assert that it is very relevant whether you are talking about Eastern or Western Buddhism here.[/quote]

By "a lot," I meant "a lot" and that would be a simile of a significant number. I never meant to give the impression that this was a characterization of all Buddhism, in fact it was a distinction that there are other Buddhist perspectives, so it was quite the opposite.

[Willamena]

I have a question, and will borrow this thread to ask it rather than starting another.

I read this recently:

There are many people who have become Buddhas in the past, and many people will become Buddhas in the future.
There is nothing that Buddha does not know. Because he has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and has removed all obstructions from his mind, he knows everything of the past, present, and future, directly and simultaneously.
Buddhism New York - About Buddha

My (probably silly) question is: if all Buddhas know past, present and future simultaneously, then is Buddha in the past, Buddha in the present, and Buddha in the future essentially the same Buddha?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by koan

Point 1. the Buddha did not die peacefully, he died in pain after eating a bad meal (some say mushrooms, some say meat) and having food poisoning.

I thought he was on his way back to his home village, but half way there he realised the end was near and decided to lay down under a tree, shortly after he died with a smile on his face?
That's the story I heard anyway, how many different stories are there about his death?

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

I thought he was on his way back to his home village, but half way there he realised the end was near and decided to lay down under a tree, shortly after he died with a smile on his face?
That's the story I heard anyway, how many different stories are there about his death?

There is the Mahaparinibbana sutta. That's the only story I know.

He was making his way back north after traveling south to teach, yes. After a conversation with Mara, the Buddha decided that it was time. So if that's what you mean by "the realised the end was near," yes. If one is to believe the scripture, he was in perfectly good health; he simply decided that it was time. What he had set out to do he had accomplished. But the thing that actually killed him was ingesting a dish called "Delight of Pigs." Again, if scripture is to be believed, he ate it knowing that it would kill him and forbade anyone else from eating it for that reason. And then he told the host that had served the dish to him to not feel bad or guilty because the Buddha knew what was going to happen and chose to eat anyway. After which, he may have laid down under a tree - I don't remember - but even tho we would have been wracked with pain due to the toxins, he passed away peacefully.

Because he was the Buddha.

[Ashley-Yin]

Originally Posted by Phasmid

This is in no way a criticism or an attempt to slander the religion... these are just questions that came up in my head. If my questions contain ignorance of certain beliefs/practices, then please respectfully correct me.

Okay then!

1) Do all Buddhists believe in reincarnation?

2) What physically happens when you become 'enlighten