Buddhism

i'm buddhist. :cute:

every new year, chinese new year, and wesak day, we head over to the temple to receive blessings from the monks and become vegetarians for the day.

I dont know if every temple does the same thing, but here's my version.

while we pray the monks will chant and sprinkle holy water at us (using a chrysanthemum flower), and after that we burn josticks, they look like incense sticks, the amount of josticks each person holds is according to the number of family members (i dont know if everyone does it like that, but my family do). and we'll receive this orange strings to tie around our wrists, they're normal cotton strings, and some temples have it in red, or even a few colours in one.

I remember my mom told me that after praying you have to say 'sadu sadu sadu', its like saying thank you before you get up. I like temples, its the perfect place to meditate.

last year i joined my school's buddhist club, and every meeting we have to chant before we start. i dont know the exact spelling, forgive me.

namo tasa, bahavarto araharto sama, sam buddha sa

Siddharta (Buddha) was a hindu from the beginning. ...just som facts.
I wouldn't call me a buddhist though. but I definitely like buddha's words, and try to follow them as well.

I was studying Buddhism in philosophy and there's a part of rebirth I can't get my head around....the Buddhists don't belive in a soul, but then SOMETHING gets REborn...but what?

I learned about many religions this year and my favourite was Buddhism. It just had everything that I had thought of moulded into a religion. I love the idea of reincarnation and things and I love the concept of nirvana too. And I liked that out of those preceptes (I learned it in french, I'm not sure how to spell it) the last was the most important because if you didnt follow that one then you might not follow the other ones. I thought that was a good way to look at it.

Im christian but i belive the Buddist's peacful ways are awsome!

I've recently taken a strong interest in Buddhism. I've always liked the idea of it, but had never researched it properly. I don't see Buddhism as a religion, but more as a philosophy. I always see a religion as being something based around worship, whereas Buddhism is not about worshiping. Buddha was not a God, but a man. I've gathered that Buddhism is about bettering oneself to better the world; in a sense.

If anyone could recommend any books, it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm studying Buddhism at the moment in my Religion Eduction class as part of a two religion course - the other being Judaism.

It such a hard and complex religion to understand, there are different sects in Buddhism all have different views on the same aspect of their religion but all come back down to the same aspects on life.
At first we were told they do not worship any gods then were told that Mahayana Buddhist do - but dont at the same time. Then theres the spelling - two different spellings for each word. It really opened my eyes, how self-centered our lives really are. Everyone of us are so selfish - its amazing we have time to care about anyone else. In our lessons we read Denise Cush. Its not a very thick book but you can't skip a word or two as it is quite complex to read, but it really has helped me to a certain degree. I would however be glad if anyone could help me understand it better.

I believe what you mean is: Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato samma sambuddhasa

:D Basically, it means Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The Supremely Enlightened One.

Buddhism brings such light into my life. Whenever I feel upset I always go and meditate to release the stress.

I'm actually seriously considering converting to Buddhism. It really fascinates me, the whole reincarnation and enlightenment thing. I don't know much about it, but I do plan on researching it when I can find the time. But my fascination does not solely come from the interesting points of the religion. There are things that I remember or experience sometimes... really strange things. I don't normally tell people about them because I don't think they'll believe me, but those things have also kind of pushed me towards Buddhism. A bunch of people here have already said that they can't really get into it because of that fictional feel to it--or something along those lines--but to me, it seems totally realistic. Again because of those strange things. I've also tried meditation a few times in the past and I must say it is highly effective.

Zen Buddhism is basically the same as Buddhism, from what I know of it, except Zen Buddhists don't believe in the possibility of enlightenment. Soooo it's kinda just like repetitive meditation. At least, that's what I know of it. I could be wrong.

All religions for the most part have the same purpose to be at peace with yourself the world and what ever comes in the afterlife. you don't even have to be part of a religion to do this religion is just a crutch or an aid, a set of guidlines to help you out.

My favorite buddhist are shaolin monks that practice the zen type of buddhism, I love their combined life style =]

What interests me about Buddhism is that it's more of a philosophy than a religion. I appreciate the idea of all life being holy and scared, and individual strive towards Nirvana. Buddhism is one of the few religions which has no history of people forcing it on others, which is refreshing to see in modern society.

I practiced Buddhism when I was a kid, because of my father's side of the family. I've also been taught the ways of the Hindu and Hinduism. All very beautiful, the most beautiful thing I've ever encountered. It was very tough, honestly, growing up in Indiana where I did. My family was the only one I knew of that practiced anything besides being Christian/no religion at all. And, I didn't "look the part", with heritage from Iceland and Sweden. I didn't tell many people about my religion or speak about it in conversations where it wasn't relevant because I didn't want to seem like I was shoving anything down anybody's throats, and I didn't know how to speak without seeming as if I was doing so...so I didn't speak about it at all, really. But, I wasn't ashamed of it and I did mention it when and if I was in a conversation about religion and such. I remember one particular friend of mine that knew I was a Buddhist (and raised with Hinduism, too, but I guess that's for a different forum) always treated me as a smaller person when it came to religion debates and such as if I knew less or if I wasn't capable of talking about "their God" or "their Jesus". Like, since I believed and was raised with something different, my thoughts and desires when it came to happiness, peace, and sense of self didn't matter as much as someone who was a Christian/no religion at all, like the majority of my hometown---which was very small and mostly uneducated, and this included the mind of my friend, Samantha. I remember having a conversation with her about "my God, not yours", as she said. I didn't even bother being mad because being mad is a waste of time, but I very well could have, I think. Very hypocritical considering they have no issue with criticizing Buddhism or Hinduism.

I don't consider myself to me Buddhist yet just because I am not totally trying yet. I never wanted a god, I don't need one. I don't believe there is any high, perfect creator. I never have and never will, which is why Buddhism spoke to me. While I don't call myself a Buddhist, I still try to revolve my life around it. I've been a vegetarian for 8 months since I believe you sort of need to be (just my opinion for myself, I just think I needed to become a vegetarian to take a step closer towards Buddhism). Of course I'm taking other steps too, like being a nicer person and not hurting people much my words or actions or physically. I want to fully become Buddhist but I just have no one here to help me, which is why I would assume I am taking very small steps. But I told my mom about it (wasted, of course, and when I woke the next morning I realised I need to give up alcohol) so at least I have some what of a small support system, despite her being Christian. I think she's only okay with it because I'm not worshiping a different god than hers.