Muhammad's Estrangement from Buddha

[jag]

The great strength of Buddism is that its adherents are free to choose truth from all religions.

Buddha was a great man, even a profit to his people, but he was an orphaned prophet, by that I mean he lost sight of his spiritual Father, the Father in heaven. His experience was tragic. He tried to live and teach as a messenger of God, but without God.

Despite Buddhism's successes of a thousand years, it could not compete with later Hinduism; despite a higher morality, its early portrayal of God was even less well-defined than was that of Hinduism. Buddhism finally gave way in northern India before the onslaught of a militant Islam with it's clear-cut concept of Allah as the supreme God of the universe.

jag

[Profpat]

Hi jag;

How's it going?

Some thoughts on the Buddha and Buddhism. Zen, a branch of Buddhism, was the religion that gave us All is Illusion, but the illusion is necessary. Buddha also gave mankind the secret to end suffering. END DESIRE. That you should be Compassionate. Finally it's the middle path to take.

So far I received NOTHING of value or original in Islam. That God is One, came from the Jewish faith. To practice love and charity, again Jewish and Christian faith.

A big difference is in the way Buddhist and Muslims practice suicide.

The Buddhist as during the Vietnam War burnt themselves, never taking another life. They were successful in ending the Diem regime and instilling a Buddhist leader. Much compassion was expressed for those monks who torched themselves in protest.

The Muslim following their teachings of their leader try to kill as many people as they can in there suicide. Much disgust and hated are expressed for those misguided chaps.

Buddhism is far from a dead religion, in fact it's the 4th largest religion. You are correct there is no God in Buddhism only Nirvana.

Best,

Pat

[Profpat]

The Buddha described Nirvana as the perfect peace of the state of mind that is free from craving, anger and other afflictive states (kilesas). The subject is at peace with the world, has compassion for all and gives up obsessions and fixations. This peace is achieved when the existing volitional formations are pacified, and the conditions for the production of new ones are eradicated. In Nirvana the root causes of craving and aversion have been extinguished, so that one is no longer subject to human suffering (Pali: dukkha) or further rebirth in Samsara.

[RascalPuff]

The great strength of Buddism is that its adherents are free to choose truth from all religions.

Buddha was a great man, even a profit to his people, but he was an orphaned prophet, by that I mean he lost sight of his spiritual Father, the Father in heaven. His experience was tragic. He tried to live and teach as a messenger of God, but without God.

Despite Buddhism's successes of a thousand years, it could not compete with later Hinduism; despite a higher morality, its early portrayal of God was even less well-defined than was that of Hinduism. Buddhism finally gave way in northern India before the onslaught of a militant Islam with it's clear-cut concept of Allah as the supreme God of the universe.

jag

Only guessling, jag, but it may be that Buddha's 'god' was one of philosophy - preceding the theism of Spinoza (and Einstein) - where they put credence in the existence of a supreme being, but weren't so sure about the various theistically varied 'details'.
- Bes regards,
- RP

[Profpat]

Hi RP;

Through limited research and recently watching a 2 hour special on PBS about the Buddha allow me to offer my thoughts on this subject.

The biggest problem is this, like the Christ the Buddha wrote nothing and therefore our knowledge is limited to oral tradition. Having made that disclaimer here is my understanding.

The Buddha when asked about God, the Buddha was silent. Thus to me PERHAPS representing an agnostic view.

The Buddha was visited by at least 2 Hindu dieties.

The Buddha had no interest in any creation explanation as that was of no consequence to the Eternal Here and Now.

Perhaps if we have Buddhist members they could shed additional light on the subject.

Best,

Pat

[jag]

HI Pat

I agree that Buddhism is a living, growing religion today because it succeeds in conserving many of the highest moral values of its adherents. It promotes calmness and self control, augments serenity and happiness, and does much to prevent sorrow and mourning. Those who believe this philosophy live better lives than many who do not.

Nirvana is oneness with God , is it not?

"Religion without faith is a contradiction; without God, a philosophic inconsistency and an intellectual absurdity."

Suicide was a common mode of retaliation. If one were unable to avenge himself in life, he died entertaining the belief that, as a ghost, he could return and visit wrath upon his enemy. (early superstition)

"And he to whom worshipping is a window,
to open but also to shut, has not yet
visited the house of his soul whose windows
are from dawn to dawn. " Gibran

jag

[Profpat]

"Nirvana is oneness with God , is it not?"

Hi jag;

I don't really know and a Buddhist Monk would probably be better able to answer that. In post #13 above is a little blurb about Nirvana. I think it's more like a place or state of mind. I'm not really sure you can really classify Buddhism or Taoism as a religion, more of a philosophy I think, since as you stated God is absent.

Maybe Nirvana is being one with Kurt Cobain.

Best,

Pat

[Profpat]

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pāli/Sanskrit "the awakened one"), and is classified as an Indian religion.

The above is from Wiki. It figures Buddhism is a koan.

[jag]

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pāli/Sanskrit "the awakened one"), and is classified as an Indian religion.

The above is from Wiki. It figures Buddhism is a koan.

Godless religion is an oxymoron.

Gautama formulated theories which grew into the philosophy of Buddhism. Later this philosophy prospered as a religion because it offered salvation through belief in the Buddha, the enlightened one.

"Siddhartha taught far more truth than has survived in the modern cults bearing his name. Modern Buddhism is no more the teaching of Gautama Siddhartha than is Christianity the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth."

The concept of God as a "state of mind" is one that makes sense to me. Much better than some, vengeful, jealous, giant sky man sitting on a throne hurling lightning bolts and squashing mortals that do not obey him.

The image of God is not that of a talking monkey but rather the self awareness inside that monkey.

jag

[Profpat]

Hi jag;

I agree, Christianity has perverted Christ's message.

1) The kingdom of heaven is at hand. In our midst. Not some lala land when when we die.
2) He is NOT the God of the Dead, but of the Living.
3) When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, that they may be seen by men..when thou prayest, enter your room and close the door, and pray to thy Father in secret.
4) I have come to tear down the temple.
5) Unless you are born again... John the Baptist was Elijah.
6) Love your neighbors.
7) Etc........

The main message I get from the Buddha is to end suffering; End desire. And from Zen that all is illusion

Best to all,

Pat