Buddha Dharma
Dharma Practitioner
My world was shaken so to speak when I concluded that Buddhism might not be where I wanted to remain. I made another thread about factors that prompted this conclusion, so I won't expound further here.
It was a big step because I was a practicing Buddhist roughly ten years and my entire adult life. Encountering Hinduism on this forum made me rethink.
I definitely still have a Dharmic slant, but now that I've lost my confidence in organized Buddhism- I think I'd be okay identifying as Spiritual like so many do in today's world.
I do think Bhedabheda Vedanta is informing my spirituality a good deal these days, but Buddhism continues having it's influencing presence too.
I'll probably stay off of here as I sort it all out, but I wanted to update all my friends on here. I think Spiritual without an organized religion is okay for me.
In a sense it's a return to my skeptical roots and I mentioned that in the other thread too: that once my doubt for Buddhism came on, the doubt came back strong. I was an agnostic atheist growing up, so in some ways my skeptical tendencies always continue.
I've concluded that I definitely believe in Brahman. I accept the Jivatman view of Bhedabheda and have been employing some practice, including meditation.
I couldn't possibly give up the deities I've had in my life as a Buddhist, but my view there is shifting some too. I am entertaining in a very Bhedabheda fashion that it's possible for the deities to be Brahman and distinct- and they can in fact be both.
Well that's probably a sloppy explanation for what I mean.
Anyway- cheers folks. Be well.
It was a big step because I was a practicing Buddhist roughly ten years and my entire adult life. Encountering Hinduism on this forum made me rethink.
I definitely still have a Dharmic slant, but now that I've lost my confidence in organized Buddhism- I think I'd be okay identifying as Spiritual like so many do in today's world.
I do think Bhedabheda Vedanta is informing my spirituality a good deal these days, but Buddhism continues having it's influencing presence too.
I'll probably stay off of here as I sort it all out, but I wanted to update all my friends on here. I think Spiritual without an organized religion is okay for me.
In a sense it's a return to my skeptical roots and I mentioned that in the other thread too: that once my doubt for Buddhism came on, the doubt came back strong. I was an agnostic atheist growing up, so in some ways my skeptical tendencies always continue.
I've concluded that I definitely believe in Brahman. I accept the Jivatman view of Bhedabheda and have been employing some practice, including meditation.
I couldn't possibly give up the deities I've had in my life as a Buddhist, but my view there is shifting some too. I am entertaining in a very Bhedabheda fashion that it's possible for the deities to be Brahman and distinct- and they can in fact be both.
Well that's probably a sloppy explanation for what I mean.
Anyway- cheers folks. Be well.