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| Buddhism and other Eastern Thought | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 15 2005, 04:34 AM (162 Views) | |
| who | Sep 15 2005, 04:34 AM Post #1 |
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Have light saber. Will travel.
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This is to anyone but particularly to Noah as he is a Buddhist. I spend a number of years as a very spiritual agnostic. I did not know if God existed or not but believed that there was a spiritual aspect to reality and that it was possible to elevate one's state of awareness to a higher state of enlightenment, nirvana, etc. I was, am still am, very much into meditation. I had many spiritual experiences that did not involve God. I did a lot of reading that had to do with Eastern Spiritual (including Buddhism) ideas that were closely related. In my reading related to Buddhism I do no recall God mentioned, particularly in relation to God as our Creator. I am interested in what others think Buddhism has to say in this regard. |
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| Data's Cat's Sister | Sep 15 2005, 05:27 AM Post #2 |
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Commodore
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Well I am a Buddhist in training, as it were, so I have some understanding of the subject. You may find mention of gods in Buddhism, because Buddhist's believe that there are six realms of existance. They go in this order. Hell realm, Hungry Ghost realm, Animal realm, Human realm, demi god realm, and god realm. A person is reborn into one of these realms depending upon the effects of their Karma at the time of death. So a person could be reborn as a god. As far as I am aware Buddhists do not believe in a creator god. However I do not know what Buddhisms explination for creation is. |
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| psyfi | Sep 15 2005, 09:01 AM Post #3 |
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psyfi
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My understanding of Buddhism is that there is a creative and causative force operating in the universe and that individuals can tap into this source through meditation and so free themselves of karmic bond. However, one cannot have a personal relationship with this causative force. I do not know whether one can establish relationships with those who have moved to higher karmic levels, e.g., Jesus, Buddha, and so forth. I once dated a fellow whose brother was into the type of Buddhism where one specifies what one wishes from the causative force and then chants, "Nam Yoho Renge Kyo," thousands of times until what is wished is delivered by the universe. I have to say that the guy's chanting NEVER FAILED to bring his desires. However, I always thought that this operated because the chanting served as a focus for his thoughts and highly focused mind is itself creative in terms of bringing us desired experiences. Plus, with each wish delivered, he built his faith in the power to receive and faith itself can indeed move mountains. |
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| Dr. Noah | Sep 15 2005, 03:14 PM Post #4 |
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Sistertrek's Asian Correspondant
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Like Christianity and Islam, there are many different sects of Buddhism, with different views on God and the creation of the universe. The philosophy I follow refers to God not so much as a personification as Christianity does, but as a force, or a collective conscienceness of life. The creation of the universe is somewhat a grey area though, suffice it to say Zen Buddhists hold the thought that first there was nothing, and then there was something. Similar to the alpha molecule theory of spontaneous generation of the universe. |
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| Swidden | Sep 15 2005, 03:22 PM Post #5 |
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Adm. Gadfly-at-large; Provisional wRench-fly at large
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A part of my impression of Buddhism has been that, in general, there is less concern with how the universe came into existence and more of a focus on what one should once one exists. |
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1:50 PM Jul 11