What makes you interested towards Dharmic Religions ?

[chinu]

If you are interested in Dharmic Religions, than what makes you interested towards Dharmic Religions ?

 

[Curious George]

Complexity draws me.

 

[LuisDantas]

Dharmic religion just plain makes sense. It has a down-to-Earth, sensible approach to the need to seek purpose using the tools of everyday life and connect to higher aspirations.

 

[chinu]

Complexity draws me.

Are you a researcher, or a searcher ?

 

[chinu]

Dharmic religion just plain makes sense. It has a down-to-Earth, sensible approach to the need to seek purpose using the tools of everyday life and connect to higher aspirations.

What about other than Buddhism ?

 

[Curious George]

Are you a researcher, or a searcher ?

Neither.

 

[chinu]

Neither.

Tired ?

 

[LuisDantas]

What about other than Buddhism ?

I was in fact more interested in Taoism originally.

But pragmatically, it is difficult to find good teachers and the choice is limited.

And in any case, I need a religion that is fully compatible with strong atheism, so Sikhism and even Hinduism are out of the table, much as I admire them.

 

[chinu]

I was in fact more interested in Taoism originally.

But pragmatically, it is difficult to find good teachers and the choice is limited.

And in any case, I need a religion that is fully compatible with strong atheism, so Sikhism and even Hinduism are out of the table, much as I admire them.

According to the entire Buddhism, is Buddhism fully compatible with strong atheism, or is there any disagreement regarding this concept between different Buddhists ?

 

[LuisDantas]

According to the entire Buddhism, is Buddhism fully compatible with strong atheism,

Yes.

I suppose you could make a case that there are lines of Buddhism that are not fully compatible with strong atheism. But a better case can be made that those lines are not fully Buddhist.

or is there any disagreement regarding this concept between different Buddhists ?

You will need to be more specific for me to answer. What kind of disagreement are you asking about?

 

[chinu]

Yes.
I suppose you could make a case that there are lines of Buddhism that are not fully compatible with strong atheism. But a better case can be made that those lines are not fully Buddhist.

Do all Buddhists accept that these lines are not fully Buddhist ?

You will need to be more specific for me to answer. What kind of disagreement are you asking about?

Disagreement that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism.

 

[crossfire]

Like Luis, I came from a more Taoist approach, but a lack of Taoist teachers is a problem. I tried looking at Hinduism, but it focused too much on ritual and things, rather than processes for my taste. When I started studying Buddhism, it was like getting my first pair of prescription glasses!

As for Theism/Atheism, Buddhism is rather transtheist: from the Kalama Sutta:

17. "The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who has such a hate-free mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind, and such a purified mind, is one by whom four solaces are found here and now.

"'Suppose there is a hereafter and there is a fruit, result, of deeds done well or ill. Then it is possible that at the dissolution of the body after death, I shall arise in the heavenly world, which is possessed of the state of bliss.' This is the first solace found by him.

"'Suppose there is no hereafter and there is no fruit, no result, of deeds done well or ill. Yet in this world, here and now, free from hatred, free from malice, safe and sound, and happy, I keep myself.' This is the second solace found by him.

"'Suppose evil (results) befall an evil-doer. I, however, think of doing evil to no one. Then, how can ill (results) affect me who do no evil deed?' This is the third solace found by him.

"'Suppose evil (results) do not befall an evil-doer. Then I see myself purified in any case.' This is the fourth solace found by him.

"The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who has such a hate-free mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind, and such a purified mind, is one by whom, here and now, these four solaces are found."
​

Whether or not there is a god, afterlife, or karma, it is beneficial to purify your mind in the here & now.

 

[chinu]

Like Luis, I came from a more Taoist approach, but a lack of Taoist teachers is a problem. I tried looking at Hinduism, but it focused too much on ritual and things, rather than processes for my taste. When I started studying Buddhism, it was like getting my first pair of prescription glasses!

As for Theism/Atheism, Buddhism is rather transtheist: from the Kalama Sutta:

17. "The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who has such a hate-free mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind, and such a purified mind, is one by whom four solaces are found here and now.

"'Suppose there is a hereafter and there is a fruit, result, of deeds done well or ill. Then it is possible that at the dissolution of the body after death, I shall arise in the heavenly world, which is possessed of the state of bliss.' This is the first solace found by him.

"'Suppose there is no hereafter and there is no fruit, no result, of deeds done well or ill. Yet in this world, here and now, free from hatred, free from malice, safe and sound, and happy, I keep myself.' This is the second solace found by him.

"'Suppose evil (results) befall an evil-doer. I, however, think of doing evil to no one. Then, how can ill (results) affect me who do no evil deed?' This is the third solace found by him.

"'Suppose evil (results) do not befall an evil-doer. Then I see myself purified in any case.' This is the fourth solace found by him.

"The disciple of the Noble Ones, Kalamas, who has such a hate-free mind, such a malice-free mind, such an undefiled mind, and such a purified mind, is one by whom, here and now, these four solaces are found."
​

Whether or not there is a god, afterlife, or karma, it is beneficial to purify your mind in the here & now.

What is mind according to you ? and what is pure and impure mind according to you ? and which mind, or who is getting all this information ?

 

[crossfire]

According to the entire Buddhism, is Buddhism fully compatible with strong atheism, or is there any disagreement regarding this concept between different Buddhists ?

Buddhism is compatible with those who contemplate the Four Seals:

1. Impermanence or Change (anicca)
2. Suffering or Unsatisfactoriness (dukkha)
3. Not-self or Insubstantiality (anatta).
4. Nibbana is beyond concepts
​

Anyone who contemplates these is a Buddhist. (Although the Eightfold Path is right up there, as well.)

 

[chinu]

Buddhism is compatible with those who contemplate the Four Seals:

1. Impermanence or Change (anicca)
2. Suffering or Unsatisfactoriness (dukkha)
3. Not-self or Insubstantiality (anatta).
4. Nibbana is beyond concepts
​

Anyone who contemplates these is a Buddhist. (Although the Eightfold Path is right up there, as well.)

According to all Buddhists, do these seals justifies that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism, or not ?

 

[LuisDantas]

Do all Buddhists accept that these lines are not fully Buddhist ?

What an odd question. It is too self-referential to be meaningfully answered.

Disagreement that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism.

Quite frankly, it depends on how well-informed people are.

Those who actually know the doctrine and are not following an effectively separate religion (there are a couple at least that claim to be Buddhist but are not even Dharmic) do in fact agree that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism, far as I can tell.

 

[LuisDantas]

According to all Buddhists, do these seals justifies that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism, or not ?

Who are "all Buddhists"? Are you asking about informed opinions, I assume?

 

[crossfire]

What is mind according to you ? and what is pure and impure mind according to you ? and which mind, or who is getting all this information ?

The Kalama Sutta specifically points to a mind purified of greed, hatred/aversion, and delusion.

The word translated as "mind" here is the Pali word citta.
AN I_utf8

 

[chinu]

Quite frankly, it depends on how well-informed people are.
Those who actually know the doctrine and are not following an effectively separate religion (there are a couple at least that claim to be Buddhist but are not even Dharmic) do in fact agree that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism, far as I can tell.

What if, any such Buddhist who claim that Buddhism is compatible with strong Theism. rather than atheism, Says the same as you have said above ?

Whom should I acknowledge ? You, or the one who is standing opposite to you ? or why such Buddhist isn't eligible to be true Buddhist for the one who isn't aware of Buddhism at all ?

 

[crossfire]

According to all Buddhists, do these seals justifies that Buddhism is compatible with strong atheism, or not ?

What if, any such Buddhist who claim that Buddhism is compatible with strong Theism. rather than atheism, Says the same as you have said above ?

Whom should I acknowledge ? You, or the one who is standing opposite to you ? or why such Buddhist isn't eligible to be true Buddhist for the one who isn't aware of Buddhism at all ?

Read the Fourth Seal: Nibbana is beyond concepts.