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Student with some questions
Hello, I am enrolled in an Intercultural Communications class in college and am researching religions. I have a few questions I would like to ask about your daily lives. These questions are to help me understand other cultures way of life. I have been curious about Buddhism, so that's why I picked your forum.
Please answer a few questions for me:
1. Does your family attend religious services together?
2. Does your family pray together?
3. Have your own religious practices changed at all since you were a child?
4. What leisure time activities does your family partake in?
5. How are chores divided in your family?
6. Does religion shape the activities or family chore division?
7. Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for your time.
Tim
Please answer a few questions for me:
1. Does your family attend religious services together?
2. Does your family pray together?
3. Have your own religious practices changed at all since you were a child?
4. What leisure time activities does your family partake in?
5. How are chores divided in your family?
6. Does religion shape the activities or family chore division?
7. Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for your time.
Tim
0
Comments
NO
2. Does your family pray together?
No. Not all Buddhists pray.
3. Have your own religious practices changed at all since you were a child?
I started studying as an adult.
4. What leisure time activities does your family partake in?
Same as everyone else.
5. How are chores divided in your family?
I do everything.
6. Does religion shape the activities or family chore division?
Nope.
7. Anything else you would like to add?
You should study Buddhism a little bit. These questions have a very Christian feel to them from my stand point.
That really sucks man. I bet you see "judgmental" written on everyone's face.
Yeah they are a bunch of monkeys.
I have meditated before, but without any religious ties, I was trying to improve my mind and my control over my body. I succeeded, but was a little scared of some of the things that I was able to do, so I quit. I slowed my heart rate down so low once that I thought my heart was going to stop during meditation. I was also able to remember things from as early as 1 yrs old. I would only remember flashes, but they were extremely vivid, almost like I was reliving the experience.
Does anyone experience this sort of thing during or after meditation?
We all have things happen through meditation. Buddhism at it's basic level is to control negative emotions. Nothing more, nothing less. You should do some more investigating. Hang out here at the site. We are always willing to help.
secondly, meditation is as productive as one wants it to be. you can do anything you want, meditation is simply taking the time to concentrate on that want.
I ask this because I am frequently asked which church I attend, and am usually invited to their church after I reply that I do not currently attend. Sometimes I go, if I do I make a show of it, often going up front when they call up the sinners. They make a big spectacle, praying for me and carrying on. In then end, I just don't feel like I am a part of the group, or that I belong. It is hard to explain in words, but I just don't believe in it.
One thing that is hard for me to believe is the rebirth. I feel that we live on through our children, in that essence we are reborn, but I don't feel that there will be life after death.
if they ask me what religion i am, i usually ask them to narrow down their question.
“If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”
- Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh
I'm sorry to hear of the persecution you may experience or feel.
Everyone is just where they are, and unfortunately, sometimes this makes it hard for other people, or themselves.
Still, there is only so much we can do.
I have always thought it is good to know your environment and thus if it is a strong base of a certain style - then just keep a lower profile. There is no point IMO in going up against those whom are fully convinced of their own beliefs, and worse, righteousness. Personally, I would not bother and I think taking care is important. Righteousness or conviction is not contained to any group, we are all capable of this in small and large ways. However, some teachings may lend themself a bit more to this than others. Buddhism, to its credit, does its best to kick the birds out of nesting holes when there is some maturity and this in my opinion, is a tremendous credit.
As to representations of Buddhism, I attended a Church when younger, and it represented Buddhism as superstitious clap trap. Whilst I can appreciate the attempts to divert persons from other religions, I am not so much a fan of things which are not true.
Still, we are all brothers and sisters regardless, and the Dharma also has her own ways, so we just do our best within the lives we find ourselves.
Wishing you well,
Abu
There is a book review of Thich Nhat Hanh here which further illustrates some of his teachings --
No
2. Does your family pray together?
Not generally
3. Have your own religious practices changed at all since you were a child?
Yes, I was not very religious per se when I was young. I used to pray a bit and also would bow to the Buddha but it was not very central or had any real understanding of the teachings at that stage. I never thought much nor explored much about things like God or religion, it was not very relevant to a happy and successful life.
I discovered Buddhism, or rather it got me in my 20s. At first I thought Buddhism was more about bowing and maybe asking for things, but as I learnt more and more about what the Buddha taught (including the path of practice), as opposed to what I just believed, it just intrinsically made sense. In addition, I had a number of so called spiritual experiences at the same time as my initial explorations, and not knowing where or how else to find an answer to what I wanted to know, I travelled the world to leading monasteries around the world to meet teachers and see 'real life' practice environments - as most of my exposure at that stage was just via online or reading books. I also asked all those whom I was sure 'knew' (knew for themself as opposed to talking just intellectually about things) some of whom were available to me online. I also sat my first sesshin (an intensive Zen meditation retreat) within the first six months, and over time, my practice moved from a strong understanding of the theoretical to practice, then manifestation. Of course naturally then, now I not only believe in the Buddha's teaching, I know they are as true as when I look up at the sky and see it is blue. No belief is necessary, it is just the way it is. It's a relief but it took many years of dedicated search, inquiry and practice. And struggle too perhaps.. And a lot of friendship from friends. But - as they say, it doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen
4. What leisure time activities does your family partake in?
Eating, TV, family time, family activities: shopping, cooking, school etc, laughter.
5. How are chores divided in your family?
Roughly shared
6. Does religion shape the activities or family chore division?
No my family remains relatively 'non-religious'
7. Anything else you would like to add?
Yes, I wish you the best. All blessings to you and those around you, Tim.
Thank you for your time.
Pleasure.
Tim:
Some other Buddhist forums you can post these questions at:
Zen Forum International - primarily Zen based practitioners
Buddhism Without Boundaries - A smaller but nice and friendly cross denomination site
Dhamma Wheel - Theravadan Forum
This is incorrect. No, it isn't.
Buddhists aren't required, encouraged or taught to believe anything.
The essence of Buddhism is to understand the origin of suffering, and the cessation of suffering.
given that most Christians don't have a clue about enlightenment, this is a completely fatuous statement.
What Christians believe about Buddhism being idolatry, is that they are under the impression we revere the Buddha as a god. Which is rubbish.
:rolleyes: ...Quite.....
A Christian is encouraged to Spread the word and proselytise.
A Buddhist isn't.
So some Christians will be very "in-your-face" about it.
Buddhists aren't.
Your posts are presenting a lot of misinformation.
The essence of Buddhism is to know the truth of dukkha and find internal, unconditioned peace and happiness. There is nothing to believe in. You're speaking of Enlightenment as if it's some mythical, mystical thing/objective/place.
How so?
Calling it an idol, in any event, when speaking to those with a Christian background, is very misleading.
The Buddha never spoke of "enlightenment." That's just a common translation of Nibbana. Nibbana is the cooling of the fires of greed, aversion, and delusion. It is unconditioned peace and true happiness.
What...?
_Tim_,
Rebirth means different things to different Buddhists. Generally the metaphor of a flame is used... one candle lights another. It's neither the same flame nor a different flame. What this metaphorical flame is has been described as a life energy, mind, our kammic streams... like I said, different Buddhists will tell you different things.
But some Buddhists take rebirth doctrine to be a mundane teaching of morality. The Buddha stated he taught only dukkha and freedom from dukkha, and rebirth teachings aren't really relevant to this. So not all Buddhists believe in rebirth.