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Why are you happy with Buddhism?

buchy2013buchy2013
edited December 2010 in Buddhism Basics
I'm exploring religion and i would like to see what it is about Buddhism that you like?

Comments

  • thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
    edited December 2010
    I love it for the Internet forums;)
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited December 2010
    It seems to express the truth in most ways, and more importantly through practice I've found some measure of peace that nothing else in my life has brought (for example I used to have social anxiety and take medication; now that's gone!).
  • kurrakurra
    edited December 2010
    i am not a buddhist, i just live by buddhist ethics, etc.

    what's there to be happy or unhappy about?
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited December 2010
    Why be otherwise?
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited December 2010
    buchy2013 wrote: »
    I'm exploring religion and i would like to see what it is about Buddhism that you like?

    The thing I like about Buddhism is that sooner or later, you do get answers.
    It is entirely satisfactory, because it is based on the self-reliant cessation of suffering.

    The choice is yours, always.

    That better?
  • thelavenderlotusthelavenderlotus
    edited December 2010
    It's simple. Simple guidelines for life that actually do make me feel just right.
  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Being able to study your own mind and develop the ability to see how your emotions come and go gives me control over emotions. I can address emotionally charged issues rationally. Cultivating compassion and helping others goes a long way too.
  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    edited December 2010
    buchy2013 wrote: »
    I'm exploring religion and i would like to see what it is about Buddhism that you like?


    Yes its been a great help to me when I actually started applying what was taught :)
    How to control your mind Sums it up, All happiness starts in the mind so thats the only place to look. :p
  • CinorjerCinorjer Veteran
    edited December 2010
    I'm happy with Buddhism for the same reason other people are happy with their own religions. Because it gives meaning to my life.

    The reason why Buddhism in particular makes me happy, instead of some other religion, is because Buddhism doesn't require belief in the impossible, something I've never been able to do. All it requires is effort and a willingness to learn.
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    edited December 2010
    I like Buddhism because it actually works when it comes to bringing about a clear and peaceful life. We may all begin with a series of beliefs and praises, but the actual practice (notably of meditation), brings something more convincing that mere belief: It brings experience.
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited December 2010
    Buddhism helps me cope with life's uncertainties and the agitation that usually brings. I don't sweat the small stuff anymore. Now, I'm much more tolerant and peaceful. :)
  • WujiWuji
    edited December 2010
    It makes logical sense to me which I instinctively require of my beliefs.

    It allows me to be content with my life. Before I used think some day I will do all these things and find happiness. Much to my surprise at the time all I found was a lot of sadness and that list just kept getting bigger. Without suffering what reasons are you left with to not be happy?
  • EpicurusEpicurus
    edited December 2010
    Because it doesn't require faith, although some might disagree.
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Depends on your definition. :) There's a sliding scale between blind belief and wisdom, and all of our words like "faith" and "belief" and "conviction" and "confidence" fit somewhere on that scale.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Well I think I had suffered quite a bit... I was pretty disillusioned and sad but very curious student in graduate school. Then I met a very interesting older and wiser student and had a crush on her. Once for an event I was giving her a lift and I lost her number out of my pocket. I drove back to campus and retraced my steps and found it blowing in the wind.

    That led to depression when I got rejected and a great letting go that triggered a psychotic break but I did see that people were more than I thought they were. They weren't cartoon characters that fit in my world and they were somehow...hard to put in words. To trite and not what I realized to say they were empty. Just they were wonderful and I was joyful. I said I don't ever want to meet anyone again, surprisingly. Too intense. Then the crazy thoughts came and the hospitalization and medication and not taking medication. Then dull mild depression for a long time with a lot of work pressure research turned out to be something I sucked at and couldn't emotionally cope with.

    So from depression I started reading about buddhism and tried meditation.

    Etc...

    Today its hard to say but I practice as I understand the teachings with my day to day situation. I feel the transformations and see the teachings. Often I am confused or depressed and I ask questions or read for inspirations.

    I didn't ever get the girl to kiss me though. But I might get enlightenment eventually ;)
  • [DeletedUser][DeletedUser]
    edited December 2010
    buchy2013 wrote: »
    I'm exploring religion and i would like to see what it is about Buddhism that you like?
    It enlightens that you are buddha and I have to love you unconditionally :)
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited December 2010
    No dogma, no "thou shalt nots" (but lots of "thou shalts" which are better!), no hierarchy, no holier-than-thou mucky-mucks. Just a lot of really cool people and a really cool philosophy of life that matches mine. What's not to like?
  • TheDoctorDonnaTheDoctorDonna
    edited December 2010
    Its simple,

    For me, it inproves my life and the life of others in a way that I had not found before.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited December 2010
    It fits.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited December 2010
    (You SHALL go to the ball!)
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Groove is in the heart... Strip down the walls came down between us lately lost between us lately and we just gave, but since you asked we have both a link for 20 seconds remain...then its off with the prix

    Wrong ball eek
  • hermitwinhermitwin Veteran
    edited December 2010
    bUDDHISM has many weaknesses just like other religions.
    But i like what Buddha taught.
  • EpicurusEpicurus
    edited December 2010
    Cloud wrote: »
    Depends on your definition. :) There's a sliding scale between blind belief and wisdom, and all of our words like "faith" and "belief" and "conviction" and "confidence" fit somewhere on that scale.

    Well if 0 is blind belief and 100 is wisdom, I prefer to be on the >50 side of things where there is no belief :P
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited December 2010
    hermitwin wrote: »
    bUDDHISM has many weaknesses just like other religions.
    But i like what Buddha taught.

    Can you name a few of the "weaknesses"? :)
  • BrigidBrigid Veteran
    edited December 2010
    Hi buchy,

    I'm very happy with Buddhism because it was not too long ago that I believed it was too hard for me to live in this cruel world. I suffered intensely. I had a broken heart and a broken body and the way I viewed these things made me suffer. All of my ideas and beliefs caused and perpetuated my suffering.

    But Buddhism taught me that the way I was choosing to see the world and my life in it wasn't the way things actually are. It gave me hope and a way not only to survive in this hard world but to actually be happy. Genuinely happy. Buddhism taught me that my fears were unfounded and that life in this world is much better than I thought it was.
  • FoibleFullFoibleFull Canada Veteran
    edited December 2010
    buchy2013 wrote: »
    I'm exploring religion and i would like to see what it is about Buddhism that you like?

    The results. It changes who you are, smoothes out the bumps in the road, opens your heart to others, and calms the restless horses in the paddock of your soul.
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