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Different answers-Different traditions

nanadhajananadhaja Veteran
edited September 2010 in Buddhism Basics
For all you newbies here at the forum.
You will often notice that some questions are answered from entirely different perspectives.
This is because there are people on this site from various traditons of buddhism.Zen,Vajryana,Purelands,Theravada etc.
Often when I post I mention that I am a theravadin.This is not to promote my tradition,it is merely a tool to clarify where my response is coming from.
Also,those of us who are bhikkus will often come at things from a different angle than lay people as we need to adhere to the vinaya.
I hope that this will clarify any possible confusion that all of you people who are new to buddhism may have.
I would also like to say that this particular site demonstates how those of us from the various traditions can get together and be nice to one another.
I hope that you will enjoy your time here as you grow in the dhamma.
With metta

Comments

  • JaliJali
    edited September 2010
    That's one of the reasons why I refer to myself as 'not a Buddhist'. I'll have people point out that I do seem to 'get it' when it comes to a lot of the generic aspects, but at the same time, when I have a discussion about what I know, I take pains to make sure they understand that what I know is only what I know, and hopefully that avoids a lot of misinformation. :)

    Labels are sometimes harmful, but they're just as useful, too. It depends on how they're used.

    Jali
  • zombiegirlzombiegirl beating the drum of the lifeless in a dry wasteland Veteran
    edited September 2010
    i haven't decided on a label yet, and even when i do find one, it will only be because i have found a center that i wish to attend.

    but back to the OP, i appreciate all that about this site as well. i was introduced to buddhism through the Soka Gakkai (Nichiren Tradition) and i sought out a buddhist forum (e-sangha, at the time) because i had questions that weren't being answered. what i found, however, was so much more than answers to my questions... well, i found a lot more questions actually lol. i appreciate the different views given and i feel that it creates a more pure form of buddhism. a great big melting pot capable of criticisms from all sides.
  • nanadhajananadhaja Veteran
    edited September 2010
    Absolutely.The other day I answered a thread which involved bodhisatvas.As I was not sure if my understanding of this was correct or not I asked to be corrected.I received an answer so that now I more fully understand the concept.
    When I first started to study buddhism and I asked my teacher about the bodhisatva vow,he replied "mahayanists are stupid".Not really what I was looking for.
    Luckily I took this with a pinch of salt and looked for a new teacher.
  • JaliJali
    edited September 2010
    goingforth wrote: »
    When I first started to study buddhism and I asked my teacher about the bodhisatva vow,he replied "mahayanists are stupid".Not really what I was looking for.

    We're all fish in a sea of samsara and some just keep swimming? :)
  • nanadhajananadhaja Veteran
    edited September 2010
    Maybe this is why I took up scuba.I just loved swimming in that sea.
  • andyrobynandyrobyn Veteran
    edited September 2010
    goingforth wrote: »
    When I first started to study buddhism and I asked my teacher about the bodhisatva vow,he replied "mahayanists are stupid".Not really what I was looking for.
    quote]

    That still has me smiling several minutes after reading !!
  • Invincible_summerInvincible_summer Heavy Metal Dhamma We(s)t coast, Canada Veteran
    edited September 2010
    goingforth wrote: »
    When I first started to study buddhism and I asked my teacher about the bodhisatva vow,he replied "mahayanists are stupid".Not really what I was looking for.
    Luckily I took this with a pinch of salt and looked for a new teacher.

    And they say Western Buddhists are not sectarian? :rolleyes:
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