Post by Keith on May 24, 2007 23:41:12 GMT -8
What it takes to be a Buddhist is a pretty simple question. I can easily and happily answer that question since I'm born and raised a Buddhist. My grandmother happens to live her life as a travelling Buddhist nun. I'm still getting over that. But at the same time, not everybody can say their own grandmother or grandfather is a nun or a monk associated with any religious faith.
I'm more of a moderate Buddhist with my mom being more Buddhist than me with my grandmother being a tad bit extreme on her views. There are various practices of Buddhism such as Zen Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Vietnamese Buddhism, etc. Being part of a congregration or a specific practice isn't neccessary to be a Buddhist.
Being a Buddhist means be moderate. Like take things in moderation. Like don't take Buddhism out of moderation which is one example. Better examples are like eat in moderation, drink in moderation, and do other things in moderation. Do everything in moderation and not do anything in excess and definitely not be excessive in your actions or radical in your religious or political views.
Buddhist teachings preach us to be vegetarians or vegans. But they're mainly guidelines. The core beliefs of Buddhism is to live a good and noble life. Help out others if and when you can. The most important part of Buddhism is to seek one's own self-enlightenment. One person's enlightenment is different from another's enlightenment. I could explain all about Buddhism. But this article is about what it takes to be a Buddhist.
The main aspect of being a Buddhist is walk the "Middle Way." It was discovered by Buddha before he became enlightened. For one reference to the Middle Way, watch the movie with Keanu Reeves called "Little Buddha." Which emphasizes moderation in both religious and political views. Stay in the middle and not stray to the left where you end up in the far left and do not stray to the right and end up in the far right.
One perfect analogy of staying in the middle path is political affiliation today. Politically, the Middle Way is staying in the middle or being an independent. Why the liberals are on the left and the conservatives are being on the right. Staying in the middle means not being too liberal and the same time not being too conservative. Regardless of the temptations, you have to stand on the middle ground.
Living the Middle Way also means finding "balance" in your life. On a more social and political level, it's basically helping create balance.
Being Buddhist is being simplistic, moderate, and balanced. Nothing more, nothing less. Accept people for who they are regardless of religious faith, political affiliation, or sexual preference. Respect their faiths, political affiliations, and sexual preferences.
To be balanced is the main core of being a Buddhist. Just live a good and balanced life. Take everything in moderation, that includes religion with Buddhism not being an exception.
www.helium.com/tm/261850/takes-buddhist-pretty-simple
I'm more of a moderate Buddhist with my mom being more Buddhist than me with my grandmother being a tad bit extreme on her views. There are various practices of Buddhism such as Zen Buddhism, Yogacara Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Vietnamese Buddhism, etc. Being part of a congregration or a specific practice isn't neccessary to be a Buddhist.
Being a Buddhist means be moderate. Like take things in moderation. Like don't take Buddhism out of moderation which is one example. Better examples are like eat in moderation, drink in moderation, and do other things in moderation. Do everything in moderation and not do anything in excess and definitely not be excessive in your actions or radical in your religious or political views.
Buddhist teachings preach us to be vegetarians or vegans. But they're mainly guidelines. The core beliefs of Buddhism is to live a good and noble life. Help out others if and when you can. The most important part of Buddhism is to seek one's own self-enlightenment. One person's enlightenment is different from another's enlightenment. I could explain all about Buddhism. But this article is about what it takes to be a Buddhist.
The main aspect of being a Buddhist is walk the "Middle Way." It was discovered by Buddha before he became enlightened. For one reference to the Middle Way, watch the movie with Keanu Reeves called "Little Buddha." Which emphasizes moderation in both religious and political views. Stay in the middle and not stray to the left where you end up in the far left and do not stray to the right and end up in the far right.
One perfect analogy of staying in the middle path is political affiliation today. Politically, the Middle Way is staying in the middle or being an independent. Why the liberals are on the left and the conservatives are being on the right. Staying in the middle means not being too liberal and the same time not being too conservative. Regardless of the temptations, you have to stand on the middle ground.
Living the Middle Way also means finding "balance" in your life. On a more social and political level, it's basically helping create balance.
Being Buddhist is being simplistic, moderate, and balanced. Nothing more, nothing less. Accept people for who they are regardless of religious faith, political affiliation, or sexual preference. Respect their faiths, political affiliations, and sexual preferences.
To be balanced is the main core of being a Buddhist. Just live a good and balanced life. Take everything in moderation, that includes religion with Buddhism not being an exception.
www.helium.com/tm/261850/takes-buddhist-pretty-simple