Buddha taught about Nibbana extensively. Nibbana is experienced here & now. It is perfect peace. Nibbana is defined as the end of greed, hatred & delusion.
No thanks. I respect your right to say that (of course, I have a right to block you, but I'm not going to exercise it).
The only person I have ever blocked was aldenp4, because he sent me every single one of his videos that I had no interest in (it was really stupid crap like him licking lollipops).
My opinion is that buddhism is just meditation and reading sutas, you dont have to believe in anything from the sutas.
I believe in reincarnation because of things i can remember in my mind, when i remember them its like ''ahh haha i remember that time!'' and then i start to wonder? why was i in a suit? and etc..
Second, (just a technical thing) your lighting scheme is horrible. Your video would be some much more watchable if you quit backlighting yourself with that open window. It ends up making you look like a silouette. You need to draw the shades & put some nice bright but diffuse light coming from ahead of you & from the sides. Or if you want to use natural light, turn the camera so that window is not in the shot & have the light from window fall on your profile.
First off I love your perspective & your detailed knowledge on the topic.
But, Christian / Buddhists are not just a modern "new-age" perversion of Buddhism. In the 1600's when Christianity was spreading throughout Japan (before it was ruthlessly crushed by the shogun) most new Japanese Christians held to their Buddhism as well & saw little conflict between the two, much to the consternation of the Portuguesse missionaries. But since japan is largely athiestic now that phenomenon is historical.
I would go so far as to say they were always largely atheistic. It's true that Buddhism and Christianity spread through Japan, Christianity taken a bit more seriously, hence the massacres, but buddhism not so much. If you look at their history, and even now, you can find Christian, Buddhist, and Shintoist ideas spread through out. It's always been like that. They generally just do what they want, and sometimes use religious ideas to enhance however they happen to be living at the time.
From a former Buddhist Monk on Richard Dawkin's site:
"There are no articles of faith that one must profess in order to be a Buddhist, even a monk. The ordination procedure that I took (there are different versions) doesn't contain any pledges to uphold belief in rebirth or kamma or supernatural anything."
"While I was ordained, nobody asked me what I believed or pressured me to believe in anything. (That may not be true for every monastery, school or sect.) It's up to you. Belief isn't important in Buddha's path; action in the form of self-cultivation is."
"If you've been led to believe that the Buddhist path an all-or-nothing proposition, I suggest you question the source of that belief. If the Buddhists you've talked to insist that you believe in literal rebirth, kamma, etc as articles of faith, keep shopping. You'll find Buddha's ideas better represented elsewhere."
I am a skeptic and a Buddhist, there is nothing supernatural in the Four Nobles, the Eight Fold Path and the Kalama Sutta is one of the most skeptical pieces of teaches ever to be written and I follow it to the letter.
Some schools have chosen to deviate from the Hinyana, and that is their choice, but the new teachings of later teachers are not that of the Hinyana.
Again you are mistaken, reincarnation and nirvana after the ego dies along with your brain (as it is a construct and illusion) is accurate. Your energy and matter goes on to become part of everything eventually, including other beings.
It is scientifically accurate.
However, it is not dogma in any way with the exception of some schools.
1. They still believe in rebirth. Nirvana is stopping rebirth.
2. So you're saying the Buddha used a superstitious belief around at the time to use a metaphor that would obviously be twisted? Remember: in my video I ask "what is more likely..."
The areas where Mahayana spread they did not believe in reincarnation. In Theravadin areas however, they originally did (Hinduism in Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc.). Mahayana and Theravada diverged out of early Indian Buddhism, so wouldn't it have been then when reincarnation belief was in?
Again, it is not dogma, and I have discussed this with Mahyanan monks... as ever, the afterlife and how you view it is your own decision, Buddhism is about the NOW.
Because they choose to, it was a regional belief in most areas before Buddhism, just as Taoists and Christian areas version of Buddhism tends to mirror their prior beliefs.
Tibetan Buddhism is VERY much like Bon, the prior religion of that area and many practice both because Buddhism is not a religion and you can do that with no conflict.
Taoists, Confucians and Shintoists did NOT believe in rebirth in anyway close to how Buddhists believe in it. Thats what my argument was. There was no reincarnation belief in East Asia (well, it was there, just minor). Also, what are the chances of both major branches of Buddhism developing reincarnation from "regional influence"?
1. What is your point? I'm a skeptic. I'm a naturalist. Buddhism contradicts that.
2. I'm just sick of people saying "well Buddhism is atheistic, so atheists should love it"! I care far more about skepticism, non-religion and naturalism.
Being an atheist does not make one a skeptic nor part of any movement... it is simply a lack of belief in a god or gods... again, nothing more or less.
Buddha taught about Nibbana extensively. Nibbana is experienced here & now. It is perfect peace. Nibbana is defined as the end of greed, hatred & delusion.
BarbarraBay 3 years ago
Buddha was a hard core naturalist.
BarbarraBay 3 years ago
There are actually a fair number of Vietnamese Christian Buddhists. (Thich Nhat Hanh, anyone?)
XiaoGui17 3 years ago
yea i agree wit Iwatchyou2ube.
Khmerb00 3 years ago
hahah your 13? don't pretend like you know anything about the world. share your vast knowledge with me after your balls drop punk.
uh oh better delete my comment!
iwatchyou2ube 3 years ago 4
"uh oh better delete my comment!"
No thanks. I respect your right to say that (of course, I have a right to block you, but I'm not going to exercise it).
The only person I have ever blocked was aldenp4, because he sent me every single one of his videos that I had no interest in (it was really stupid crap like him licking lollipops).
SaimDI 3 years ago
My opinion is that buddhism is just meditation and reading sutas, you dont have to believe in anything from the sutas.
I believe in reincarnation because of things i can remember in my mind, when i remember them its like ''ahh haha i remember that time!'' and then i start to wonder? why was i in a suit? and etc..
headhead9 4 years ago
That's not really evidence for rebirth...
De ja vu has lots of easy non-supernatural explanations...
SaimDI 3 years ago
Second, (just a technical thing) your lighting scheme is horrible. Your video would be some much more watchable if you quit backlighting yourself with that open window. It ends up making you look like a silouette. You need to draw the shades & put some nice bright but diffuse light coming from ahead of you & from the sides. Or if you want to use natural light, turn the camera so that window is not in the shot & have the light from window fall on your profile.
stevenptrue 4 years ago
OK, thanks.
SaimDI 4 years ago
First off I love your perspective & your detailed knowledge on the topic.
But, Christian / Buddhists are not just a modern "new-age" perversion of Buddhism. In the 1600's when Christianity was spreading throughout Japan (before it was ruthlessly crushed by the shogun) most new Japanese Christians held to their Buddhism as well & saw little conflict between the two, much to the consternation of the Portuguesse missionaries. But since japan is largely athiestic now that phenomenon is historical.
stevenptrue 4 years ago
Source?
SaimDI 4 years ago
Actually, I believe you, you don't need a source. That sounds like something that could happen.
SaimDI 3 years ago
I would go so far as to say they were always largely atheistic. It's true that Buddhism and Christianity spread through Japan, Christianity taken a bit more seriously, hence the massacres, but buddhism not so much. If you look at their history, and even now, you can find Christian, Buddhist, and Shintoist ideas spread through out. It's always been like that. They generally just do what they want, and sometimes use religious ideas to enhance however they happen to be living at the time.
ultimategoobah 3 years ago
From a former Buddhist Monk on Richard Dawkin's site:
"There are no articles of faith that one must profess in order to be a Buddhist, even a monk. The ordination procedure that I took (there are different versions) doesn't contain any pledges to uphold belief in rebirth or kamma or supernatural anything."
rkzenrage 4 years ago
"While I was ordained, nobody asked me what I believed or pressured me to believe in anything. (That may not be true for every monastery, school or sect.) It's up to you. Belief isn't important in Buddha's path; action in the form of self-cultivation is."
rkzenrage 4 years ago
Cont' from the former Buddhist monk
"If you've been led to believe that the Buddhist path an all-or-nothing proposition, I suggest you question the source of that belief. If the Buddhists you've talked to insist that you believe in literal rebirth, kamma, etc as articles of faith, keep shopping. You'll find Buddha's ideas better represented elsewhere."
rkzenrage 4 years ago
I have already read FormerBuddhistMonk's posts.
SaimDI 4 years ago
Seriously rkzenrage, why did you think they would change my mind since I had obviously already read them?
SaimDI 4 years ago
I love how you keep saying "you mean" or something similar... putting words in my mouth or twisting what I stated. It's funny.
Ad hominem/strawmem everywhere!
rkzenrage 4 years ago
Where specifically where there ad homs? I didn't insult you at all!
And can you show where there where strawmen?
SaimDI 4 years ago
I am a skeptic and a Buddhist, there is nothing supernatural in the Four Nobles, the Eight Fold Path and the Kalama Sutta is one of the most skeptical pieces of teaches ever to be written and I follow it to the letter.
Some schools have chosen to deviate from the Hinyana, and that is their choice, but the new teachings of later teachers are not that of the Hinyana.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
Gah! I keep trying to post a link to the Kalama Sutta in context, but it wont work!!!!! Just search Google for "Kalama Sutta in context".
SaimDI 4 years ago
Again you are mistaken, reincarnation and nirvana after the ego dies along with your brain (as it is a construct and illusion) is accurate. Your energy and matter goes on to become part of everything eventually, including other beings.
It is scientifically accurate.
However, it is not dogma in any way with the exception of some schools.
Yoga is Hindu.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
1. They still believe in rebirth. Nirvana is stopping rebirth.
2. So you're saying the Buddha used a superstitious belief around at the time to use a metaphor that would obviously be twisted? Remember: in my video I ask "what is more likely..."
3. I know Yoga is Hindu, lol
SaimDI 4 years ago
Who is "they", there are many schools of Buddhism, many that have added aspects after the Hinayana.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
The areas where Mahayana spread they did not believe in reincarnation. In Theravadin areas however, they originally did (Hinduism in Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc.). Mahayana and Theravada diverged out of early Indian Buddhism, so wouldn't it have been then when reincarnation belief was in?
There are even more sects of Christianity.
SaimDI 4 years ago
Again, it is not dogma, and I have discussed this with Mahyanan monks... as ever, the afterlife and how you view it is your own decision, Buddhism is about the NOW.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
Then why do Mahayanists believe in rebirth, hm?
SaimDI 4 years ago
Because they choose to, it was a regional belief in most areas before Buddhism, just as Taoists and Christian areas version of Buddhism tends to mirror their prior beliefs.
Tibetan Buddhism is VERY much like Bon, the prior religion of that area and many practice both because Buddhism is not a religion and you can do that with no conflict.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
Taoists, Confucians and Shintoists did NOT believe in rebirth in anyway close to how Buddhists believe in it. Thats what my argument was. There was no reincarnation belief in East Asia (well, it was there, just minor). Also, what are the chances of both major branches of Buddhism developing reincarnation from "regional influence"?
SaimDI 4 years ago
Atheist in no way means naturalist or skeptic.
Again, it only means a lack of belief in gods, NOTHING MORE.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
1. You think I don't know that?
2. I fucking know that! I'm saying that I'm anti-religious, a naturalist and a skeptic before I'm an atheist.
SaimDI 4 years ago
Which has nothing to do with Buddhism.
You may want to look into meditation... or Xanex.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
1. What is your point? I'm a skeptic. I'm a naturalist. Buddhism contradicts that.
2. I'm just sick of people saying "well Buddhism is atheistic, so atheists should love it"! I care far more about skepticism, non-religion and naturalism.
SaimDI 4 years ago
Why do you care what other's think and believe instead of focusing on what people DO?
Your youth is showing.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
Did you perhaps notice that that's what this whole skeptic "movement" is ABOUT?
SaimDI 4 years ago
Being an atheist does not make one a skeptic nor part of any movement... it is simply a lack of belief in a god or gods... again, nothing more or less.
rkzenrage 4 years ago
I know that. That's why I don't call myself an atheist. I call myself non-religious, a skeptic, a naturalist, a rationalist and anti-religious.
SaimDI 4 years ago
I know that. You don't need to point that out. I identify with skepticism more than atheism.
SaimDI 4 years ago