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What makes one a Buddhist ?
Shoshin
No one in particularNowhere Special Veteran
Kia Ora,
Well apart from the obvious taking refuge in the three jewels...What is it that makes one a Buddhist ?
Metta Shoshin 
0
Comments
practice
Kia Ora Jeffrey,
Good answer...
Metta Shoshin
Jeffrey's answer is good, but ....
What I was taught was that being a Buddhist is defined soley by Refuge.
That said, you should practice, too.
As you will see shortly, there are those who will differ with my definition.
Don't know. I might be taking refuge in the jewels without knowing them as such though. ..
If you follow Buddha's teachings and call yourself a Buddhist as a result, that's good enough for me. Most people I know who call themselves Buddhists either have taken refuge (with a teacher or on their own) or are planning to do it at some point.
I was thinking about this question today, actually. I dipped my toes in the waters of several different faiths along the way. And every time, I had the same question "what makes you a X?" For me, it was always asking for the purpose of wondering if that is where I was. Could I call myself an X yet?
But when I found the path that I belonged on, I never had to ask that question.
I like Jeffreys answer because it implies that what makes a Buddhist, a Buddhist, is not just someone who took the refuges but is the one who is still taking the refuges.
I think anyone who is a "Buddhist" for long enough begins to wonder how it would be possible to not-be a "Buddhist" ... at which point you can stop wondering and do something useful ... like sell Tupperware.
I think what makes someone a buddhist is traits. Being kind, helpful and understanding. Meditation and practice is very important but is useless unless shared with others.
Kia Ora,
So on a personal level what does it mean to take refuge ? And what does one practice when practicing ? When does practice stop being practice and become a way of life ?
Metta Shoshin
Metta Shoshin
@woods93 do you mean expressing those traits along with identifying as a Buddhist? My mother in law is wonderfully kind, helpful, and understanding. But she is a devout Catholic and wouldn't probably want to be called a Buddhist just because she had those traits
From a Mindful Agnostic POV- Mindfulness. The practice begins and doesn't stop. Bob
Taking refuge is to live in the flow of the universe. From your side you are going to work hard and investigate. From the universes side Buddha will keep calling to you.
From the heart sutra:
So we know that all of the Buddhas get happy when someone understands the dharma.
The real question implied is what makes one a proper or real Jeffery, Howard, Lobster, Shoshin, Cushion or Buddhist? Apart from name calling, trust in the path, walking the walk . . .
Nothing makes one a Buddhist. Even the Buddha did not go in for name calling . . .
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.036.than.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dona_Sutta
Taking refuge makes you a Buddhist. Your practice makes you a Buddhist.
But if I had to choose one thing, I'd say your actions make you a Buddhist. Buddhism is a belief that entails practice, not just learning.
As the old adagio goes "Your actions speak so loud, I can't hear what you say."
And frankly my response is if you had spent the last decasdes selling tupperware you would not have to beg for money on your blog under a picture of yourself dressed as a Zen teacher.
Irritating twaddle.
@Città... breathe...
....
It’s not the clothes you wear, the ceremonies you perform, or the meditation you do, says DZONGSAR JAMYANG KHYENTSE. It’s not what you eat, whether you drink, or who you have sex with. It’s whether you agree with the four fundamental discoveries the Buddha made under the Bodhi tree, and if you do, you can call yourself a Buddhist
One is a Buddhist if he or she accepts the following four truths:
All compounded things are impermanent.
All emotions are pain.
All things have no inherent existence.
Nirvana is beyond concepts
@ Citta
Your response to Genkaku's light hearted post was uncharacteristically harsh.
What's up?
Otherwise Citta is only characteristically harsh then?
Aaargh this markdown is killing me. How do you get the smileys to work?
In truth ?
I am pretty much tired of the same old expressions of superiority over 'ordinary believers, who apparently need putting in their place' by the use of paradox, made constantly by someone who has a picture of his own zendo himself dressed as a zenteacher on a blog which constantly puts down all the other people dressed as zen teachers. And constantly decries the very idea of Buddhism.
Ok, guys, I get it, but let's stay cool, ok?
Kia Ora,
Sabbe Dhamma Nalam Abhinivesaya - for if you cling you suffer...
Metta Shoshin
Thanks @Shoshin, but I've been doing this for nearly 10 years... I'll ask if I need help...
...;)...
Kia Ora Federice,
I don't doubt your knowledge, experience and commitment...Good on you....And keep up the good work...
Metta Shoshin
Thank you. :0)
(and it's 'federica'... Only important, because placing the "@" symbol IMMEDIATELY before a member's name alerts them to mention of them in a post: but the replication of their forum name has to be exact.)
@Shoshin: a little less Pali for us rookies here, please...
Brackets and translation would come handy, too .. :eek2: ..
Well, to be fair, the translation did follow, but it wasn't clear that it WAS the translation...
Kia Ora Dharmamom,
Sorry about that... Sabbe Dhamma Nalam Abhinivesaya=(Nothing Whatsoever Should Be clung To !) It's the only Pali sentence I like to use because of its great importance when interacting with others-especially when differences of opinion come into play as they often do in such forums, it's important to just drop it/let go before any unwholesome mental baggage starts to accumulate...
Metta Shoshin
It reminds me of that old joke: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"
For some reason this quote seemed relevant.
A student once said: "When I was a Buddhist, it drove my parents and friends crazy, but when I am a buddha, nobody is upset at all."
Jon Kabot-Zinn
In brief: Don't talk - do.
In short, oneself?
No.... Because some other smart-ass apart from me will tell you that a Buddhist knows there is no 'self'.....
To become an Official Buddhist™, you need to send me $200 via check or money order (in US dollars, of course), along with your legal name, mailing address, and copy of a government issued photo ID as proof of identity, plus the following statement, signed and dated by yourself: "Please enroll me as a Registered Buddhist. I recognize that failure to practice the principles of Buddhism and/or engaging in illegal activity may result in termination of this membership." Your Official Buddhist™ membership card will be arrive 3-6 weeks after receipt of payment.
Easy peasy.
I thought that was how you become Pope....
Kia Ora,
Cheque's in the post....
Metta Shoshin
(Yeah, right... Like we haven't heard that one before....)
Define "Buddhist" and then you'll understand what makes one a Buddhist!
Picky picky.....
Kia Ora,
Easy peasy.
A person who has sent Jason a cheque for $200 US and received in the post an Official Buddhist™ membership card ! -
Metta Shoshin
@Shoshin Well that counts me out. Oh well. Maybe next year!
Kia Ora,
I was told the $200 US is a special discount price on for this month only...-
--
Metta Shoshin
If you act now you can also be Christian and Zoroastrian for this singe price of $200..
And with a one time payment of $201.00 we can now offer you a life time
Buddhist registry ) with a magic decoder ring for Zen Koans.
Notice to reincarnating Tibetans. Transfers are now available with proof of original purchase.
I see you have all conveniently omitted to mention the pound of flesh payable, and Branding-of-the-buttock ceremony any New wannabe Boodhist has to submit to..
Really Federica
Ya want me to send another copy of my buttock brand.... again?
I am beginning to think there is more to this than meets the eye
Stop moaning and just sit on the copier, will you...!?
Kia Ora,
I wasn't told about this special offer when I signed up, so can I be upgraded...Make me one with everything --
Metta Shoshin
For a one-off payment of £100 you will be franchised to teach SMS ( Spiny Meditation System ), though you will need to purchase your own equipment ( comfy chairs, snacks and widescreen TVs ).
The robes. Don't forget the robes. You can't be a bona-fide Buddhist without the robes...