Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
If someone were to ask me my religion, what would I say?
Jainarayan
Veteran
I dislike labels, but I know humans in general need them. We like to categorize. So if someone were to ask me my "religion", how would I respond? I am not Christian, I am not Hindu. I thought I could follow Hinduism, but as I learned more about it, things about it don't sit well with me. I am reluctant to call myself Buddhist because I don't know if I can. Here's what I believe, do and don't do...
I believe the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. I believe I have taken refuge, because I believe the Buddha's teachings to be true, that he was (is) enlightened. I believe the Dharma is correct, and that the Sangha is like the loving embrace of one's mother (too corny?). I would like to keep the Six Perfections and Five Precepts 100%, but I admit it's hard... some days are harder than others.
I have a shrine and occasionally do offerings, though I know rituals are not required and some people go through their entire lives without so much as lighting a candle. I've come to disbelieve in an individual soul, but I believe in the rebirth of something that I can only describe as consciousness. I really don't know what you'd call it, except not a permanent self or identity. I'm drawn to Amitabha and Pure Land. I ashamedly admit I don't do nianfo nearly as much as I should, though I try to be at least somewhat mindful of Amitabha. I do believe in other deities from Hinduism and Taoism, not as any kind of supreme God, but rather as helper beings on higher planes. For example I wear a pendant of Hanuman because I believe him to be my patron deity of strength (I'm a gym rat) and courage.
So, is this Buddhism or something else?
I believe the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. I believe I have taken refuge, because I believe the Buddha's teachings to be true, that he was (is) enlightened. I believe the Dharma is correct, and that the Sangha is like the loving embrace of one's mother (too corny?). I would like to keep the Six Perfections and Five Precepts 100%, but I admit it's hard... some days are harder than others.
I have a shrine and occasionally do offerings, though I know rituals are not required and some people go through their entire lives without so much as lighting a candle. I've come to disbelieve in an individual soul, but I believe in the rebirth of something that I can only describe as consciousness. I really don't know what you'd call it, except not a permanent self or identity. I'm drawn to Amitabha and Pure Land. I ashamedly admit I don't do nianfo nearly as much as I should, though I try to be at least somewhat mindful of Amitabha. I do believe in other deities from Hinduism and Taoism, not as any kind of supreme God, but rather as helper beings on higher planes. For example I wear a pendant of Hanuman because I believe him to be my patron deity of strength (I'm a gym rat) and courage.
So, is this Buddhism or something else?
0
Comments
because deep down, that's all that really matters.
Find the confidence to look inside youself and make that decision, regardless of what others may say.
Being asked such a question is a person attempting to understand who you are, and there is nothing wrong with that, it's just relationship. Where they PUT you in their own personal categorical system is their business and prerogative, we don't have much control over where people put us in their minds. We imagine we have MORE than we do. You can say "I'm a Satanist" and cause all kind of emotional perturbation in the person asking
If you just tell them in your own best words (if you want to go to the effort), where they end up putting you is 90% the asker's prerogative and 10% what you choose to disclose and how you explain it. (The above % statistics are my own :P )
So what's the point going to all the trouble? I start losing the point, personally. I'm wondering why I 'need' to be in one certain category in another person's head versus another category. Does it matter? Maybe. But if my honest answer causes the asker to categorize me in a negative way, do I want to make an effort to stop that? And why would I? There may be good reasons, the asker may be someone you need something from badly.
To me it's not a matter of labels or categories so much as what my intentions are when I divulge my facts.
Gassho
Richard Greer when asked if he was a Buddhist replied, 'I practice.'
. . . by the way, what religion are you?
http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?surveyid=27
If everything changes, only those un interested in truth, carry around stock answers.
Just looking beyond the question at the intent of the questioner, probably results in a different answer every time, if skillful means come into the equation.
The most interesting answers are usually whatever your practice of the moment comes up with.
I used to tell people I was Buddhist.....now I say..."You'll
find out as you get to know me"
Seriously, I felt I couldn't answer "Buddhist" because I thought I fell short of what Buddhism is, but I don't think that's the case, from all the answers.
I don't think anyone has ever asked me that. Religion is not much of an issue where I live though. I really only know a handful of religious people.
"Where is your home church"? and then.."where did you go
to highschool"? hahaha...If you mess around and don't give
a home church answer, you'll be given a lengthy invite to theirs....
if there is no 'doubt' only one can say 'i know'
if there is 'doubt' in anything above you said
you have to read more, listen more and practice more
That will have most people scratching their heads for an hour so you'll have plenty of time top get out unscathed.
" KINDNESS IS MY RELIGION"
Hogwarts.
I would have to say "I don't know" because I truly don't know at this point.
In metta,
Raven