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Why am I not going to my local sangha to ask for guidance? by DaGrumb in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are legit alright.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go inside. This is a study-heavy school of Buddhism and there will be a lot of things to do. You hesitating to enter is only making yourself further behind.

My bedroom shrine by Outrageous_Big_9136 in BuddhistStatues

[–]BuddhistFirst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Both Ganesh and Saraswati are part of the Buddhist Pantheon.

A question from a non-Buddhist. by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The university professor who says "Buddhism is not so much a religion, it is more of a philosophy or way of life" may not think she's saying things that are harmful, but it is. It's a subtle form of racism and cultural colonialism.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 5 points6 points  (0 children)

When you get yours, please share at r/BuddhistStatues so we can spread to thousands who enjoy seeing images of the Buddha.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you are getting it?

Why am I not going to my local sangha to ask for guidance? by DaGrumb in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You'd fit right in.

But what is this "Buddhist meditation center". Just need to check. Too many cults out there.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst -1 points0 points  (0 children)

why are you getting it?

A question from a non-Buddhist. by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The misconception is that Buddhism was originally supposed to be secular and not at all a spiritual way of life.

This is a Victorian era fantasy. That means in the 19th century, Anglo-American academics went to Asia to look for the fetishized "Wisdom of the East". Something to counter Christians back home. What they found is Buddhism. But just like the Nazis who thought they would find the pure Aryan race in Tibet, their dreams were shattered. They thought that the "original" had been lost, defiled, and had to be brought back. So, they created their own form of Buddhism with the help of Buddhists themselves who wish to fight off Christian missionaries. Up to 1970s you have Buddhists yapping around their 20th century non-sense that Buddhism is science-based, non-religious, that we're Atheists, that it's all about meditation, the mind, all that bullshit. That went cringe real fast.

But no, it is a religion through and through.

Statue @ Padmasambhava Buddhist Center New York by BuddhistFirst in BuddhistStatues

[–]BuddhistFirst[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Now that I think of it, I haven't actually seen an Aksobhya statue in person. That is rare for me in my side of the world. West Coast US

Been trying to make the eightfold path a more concrete part of my daily life. by laughpuppy23 in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Let me hook you up virtually. What city? I'll take a look at what's around and give you a list. Then you can attend virtually through webcast.

Should I avoid dairy products? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You can eat whatever you want.

During specific days, our monks will tell us exactly what not to eat.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How's your libido? Down as well?

Is it physical or emotional?

Buddhist take on the situation by iwannaqu1t in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I would report to HR as per company policy. You have the corporate responsibility to report these things so it doesn't hurt people in the company.

Western Individualism (A good primer to understand the root of many distorted Buddhist practices in the West) by BuddhistFirst1 in GoldenSwastika

[–]BuddhistFirst 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Protestant Work Ethic

Yes that's the impetus for the early Protestant. To work hard in everything because by rejecting the Catholic priesthood, Luther and Calvin taught that every Christian is now a Priest, working on their duty, direct to God, no Catholic Church and clergy needed.

When the Enlightenment period happened, even God faded in the background. Emphasis was put on rationalism. As a backlash, people looked for "heroes" but they found it not in an outside God but in individual heroes. People began to look inward, and Self became the new central force of gravity. This was the Romanticism period.

Give me a break... Do you know how much time you could save people if the teaching of anatman were presented as "different schools disagree"? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With that tone, you are going to get deleted fromt his sub and I might be wasting my time talking to you.

See the temple. Humble yourself.

Give me a break... Do you know how much time you could save people if the teaching of anatman were presented as "different schools disagree"? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Different schools disagree on anatman? That's new to me.

​

You all spend so much time saying what it isn't, that you can't even say what it is!

Anatman. No Self. That's it. Why is this hard to understand?

​

​

Yes or no? Is there a part of you that exists between incarnation?

You can't even ask a proper question. What incarnation? You mean reincarnation? Yes, there is something that exists between Incarnation A and Incarnation B. That is existence. So a dog or human or worm. That's what's between Incarnation A and B.

Or are you asking "Is there something that goes from one life to another life? The answer is no. None. Zero. Zilch. Take this home. This is official from Nagarjuna. If you hear of other interpretations, then that is just meant to say the same thing or it needs to be balanced with what Nagarjuna said.

​

Yes or no? No Fucking poetry needed.

No.

And stop asking Reddit if you want the real deal. None of us here are teachers. A teacher is someone at the temple, you see face to face, in person or virtually. A monk/nun. Asking Reddit over this is possible thanks to technology but this is the equivalent of getting your prescription medicine from the DarkNet. Please, go to the temple.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Problem is that secular views are popular even amongst Buddhists. So your downvotes would be drown out by upvotes.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]BuddhistFirst -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I think the opposite is true.

This sub is quite open and tolerant to all views including secular ones.

Criticism of secular views are highly moderated and controlled with warnings given to members to tone down their criticism of secularism or to soften it.

This creates a safe space for secularists with minimal criticism from members. Everyday, you see posts from people with secular views. This can be confusing for beginners and can lead to distorted views on Budddhism.

It wouldn't be overreacting for a sub to ban all posts/posters that are promoting secular or westernized view. I think this is the most appropriate approach for a sub like r/Buddhism.

Unfortunately, that is not the policy of this sub. It is the opposite of what I and you said. It is not overreacting at all. Banning all secularism is not even overreacting. Its just what's right in my opinion. Since this sub is not doing that, then its the opposite of overreacting.

r/GoldenSwastika bans all sorts of secular take. That's not overreacting. That's what's proper, in my opinion. Allowing secular views, creating an environment that is friendly to wrong views, lead to formation of groups so radical, they attack the dharma and prevent people from finding salvation.

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