Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04
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.

Do you feel like Buddhism or religion period, for that matter, are constricting?

blulotus29blulotus29
edited January 2011 in Buddhism Basics
?

Comments

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    Nope. You only end up believing what life conditions you to believe; following what life conditions you to follow. No one needs Buddhism, or religion, that doesn't come to either one through conditions. Generally it's suffering or a desire to know the truth that winds up being a cause for coming to Buddhism.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    Sure. In Buddhism, it tells you that you shouldn't go on a shooting spree and kill random civilians; thus, that is a constriction.
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    edited January 2011
    That's something that we as human beings know innately not to do. You don't need Buddhism to tell you that.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    Restriction is an illusion. The truth is that you are free. We are seeking freedom and liberation. But in truth nothing else exists.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    Restriction is an illusion. The truth is that you are free. We are seeking freedom and liberation. But in truth nothing else exists.
    you have to know that that same answer repeated over and over to every question isn't THAT helpful. especially when it doesn't really work or make sense. He's not free, he's controlled by craving and aversion, he's control by his physical universe. and other things do exist, most of what you say is ridiculous, I'm sorry.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    That was a bit harsh, aHN.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    edited January 2011
    harsh is better than nonsense imo he repeats the same thing to every single question then when you try to discuss he slams shut and tells you to "get off his dick" LOL
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    Restriction is an illusion. The truth is that you are free. We are seeking freedom and liberation. But in truth nothing else exists.
    you have to know that that same answer repeated over and over to every question isn't THAT helpful. especially when it doesn't really work or make sense. He's not free, he's controlled by craving and aversion, he's control by his physical universe. and other things do exist, most of what you say is ridiculous, I'm sorry.
    Are you referring to me?
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    nonono strangely enough i was referring to the person I quoted
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    nonono strangely enough i was referring to the person I quoted
    Oh I didn't see that, ok.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    nonono strangely enough i was referring to the person I quoted
    ROFL!
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    Lots of compassion and kindness on this forum I see.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    edited January 2011
    I'm having fun take yourself less seriously.
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    I'm having fun take yourself less seriously.
    Maybe you are "having fun" but it comes across rather rude and snide, much like your last comment.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    description of the photo
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    Really I meant no harm, you gotta relax, what's the point of Buddhism if anything can offend you so easily. Just a little joke, seriously just chill it out
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    Really I meant no harm, you gotta relax, what's the point of Buddhism if anything can offend you so easily. Just a little joke, seriously just chill it out
    Yet you are still communicating in a condescending and disrespectful manner. What's the point in being a Buddhist if you cannot practice kindness and watching what you say?

  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    yes, I wasn't treating you with a careful formal respect. I was making fun of you. cmon who cares.

    I do practice kindness, I have helped you many times, watching what I say though? that seems more like an effort in the interest of making people like you more or think more highly of you. I'd prefer to mess around on occasion and have fun. Buddhism is about happiness, fun is about happiness, maybe combine the two here and there.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    I see nothing wrong with what hes saying. I know pastors who speak no worse than that. Monks too.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    Here, I'm sorry. I think you may have felt like we were ganging up on you. I really just meant it as a joke, let's forget about it
  • bodhipunkbodhipunk
    edited January 2011
    Well, it is true that the only real restrictions that exist are the ones you place on yourself. Also, "freedom" and "liberation" only go so far as an arm's length away, and it is a continuing process. Sometimes, throughout history, people have justified their "right" and "freedom" to do all kinds of crazy stuff (like, I dunno...slavery). That is why I say that true "freedom"/"liberation" only exists as far as an arm's length away. Things like coercion, exploitation, usury, etc. are usually the end result of people not being able to restrict their desires and attachments in the first place. I also remember this old situationist saying as a kid, "Don't liberate me, I'll take care of that."

    As MindGate noted, sometimes self-restriction can be a good thing. As well as transforming that anger that leads one to go on a killing spree in the first place.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    aHN, since you are a nihilist and don't even know much about buddhism let me quote well respected people within the buddhist community so that maybe you will see that i'm not just making stuff up.

    From "Nothing to do, nowhere to go" by thich nhat hanh(hmmm, does the title sound familiar? Like what i've been saying) ""Dear friends on the path, nowadays if you want to be the great gentleman, you have to realize the truth of the fact taht there hnever has been anything to do." Ok. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING TO DO. Unless you know more than thich nhat hanh, i'd watch the attitude when talking about things that you clearly have no knowledge of.

    Another quote. "All the buddhas...are free from ideologies and doctrines." Just like what i've been saying.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited January 2011
    Another quote.

    "Dharma talks aren't the truth....We shouldn't get caught in words and terminologies." EVEN DHARMA TALKS AREN'T THE TRUTH. Words are empty in their nature. They have no true meaning. They cannot express the truth. Once again, I actually read and can back up my statements. I thought what I was saying was much more common knowledge so I didn't think to write down the quotes that show what i'm saying because I thought the community was more educated than they are. These quotes are from things that i've read in the last few hours. If you actually read you will find that what I speak of is spoken of again and again in buddhist and eastern documents.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    Mr. TheJourney, I do know just as much as you do about Buddhism. Nihilism doesn't mean I don't. I wish you were making it up, all your doing is quoting over and over without explaining or proving.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited January 2011
    Are you seriously that dense? Jesus. I'M NOT TRYING TO PROVE ANYTHING. YOU'RE ATTACKING ME NEEDLESSLY. I don't care what you believe. Read thich nhat hanh. He speaks about what I say over and over. You're clearly not very well read if you think that my views don't make any sense and are just crap i've made up. REAAD. LEARRN. Drop the cocky ass arrogant attitude. I can promise you i'm more well read on buddhism than you are. I can promise i'm more well read than you in general. I'm always reading at least 7 books. Always at least 6 on spirituality and philosophy. Just leave me alone, honestly. I'm sick of having to play defense. I'm not doing anything wrong. I have the right to discuss my views.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    I feel left out.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    I'm not attacking you, no need to break your computer. you do realize you came on to this thread and specifically wrote a comment to me right?
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    There's no way you're this dense. There's no way. I responded to this thread. You then said "you have to know that that same answer repeated over and over to every question isn't THAT helpful. especially when it doesn't really work or make sense. He's not free, he's controlled by craving and aversion, he's control by his physical universe. and other things do exist, most of what you say is ridiculous, I'm sorry. "

    YOU attacked ME for no reason. I don't want to discuss with you. Yet you keep trying to argue with me.
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    umm...Journey? Weren't you the first one to start a thread on how hostile people on this site were, and how we should all lighten up?
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    he's gonna ahsplode!
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    umm...Journey? Weren't you the first one to start a thread on how hostile people on this site were, and how we should all lighten up?
    Well now i'm sticking up for myself. I'm sick of being attacked all the time for no reason. All I want is a place to discuss. Yet i'm being attacked over and over. For the first week or so I let it go. But now i'm sick of it. I can't say anything without being attacked. I'm not just gonna sit here and let everyone attack me for no reason anymore.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    All i want is a place to discuss! and if you discuss with me I'm gonna yell at you and tell you how many books i read and that you should get off my dick and stuff.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    "most of what you say is ridiculous, I'm sorry. " Yes, that's friendly discussion.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    Still feel left out.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    yea yea yea, all you do is spew nonsense and back it up with any quote you can possibly find then brag about your enlightenment or how many books your reading, it gives me the roflz.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    :screwy:
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    :ninja:
  • GlowGlow Veteran
    Do you feel like Buddhism or religion period, for that matter, are constricting?
    Well, Buddhism does indeed offer certain guidelines to live by, as well as specific ideas about how to approach life. As such, it does indeed impose limits on a person regarding what is acceptable or skillful behavior. It is for this reason that it's important to really think deeply about these teachings and weight their pros and cons: is this teaching beneficial to me in my life? Or is it unhelpful and only cause me suffering? The Buddha himself said never to take up his teachings without first thinking about their effects on your life:

    "Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias toward a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness,' enter on and abide in them."
    Source: Kalama Sutta

    So, unlike religions centered around the authoritative commandments of a god or a prophet, Buddha gives us a choice. We get to choose what parts of the philosophy to live by. If there are restrictions, they are restrictions we take up willingly. For a truly honest practice, we never force ourselves to live by principles that make no sense to us. If you think about it, we all make decisions about what is important to us and how to live our lives based on our past experiences and convictions, based on advice we've gotten from others, etc. Buddhism just offers one set of guidelines and ideas of how to live life skillfully.
  • sndymornsndymorn Veteran
    Someone once asked a rabbi I studied under, " Don't jews come off seeming elitist when they assert their claim to the moniker,"chosen people."
    The rabbi replied that the term is generally misunderstood. He asserted that though the Ten Commandments were given to the jewish people (seemingly "chosen" by God therefore) , a careful reading of the scripture reveals the truth : Jews chose the tablets. They chose to yoke themselves to the law.
    So my newbie's answer to the question "Is buddhism restricting" is ,"I think so, I hope so."
  • 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 January 2011
    AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY I CLOSE THREADS!!!

    Shall I just go through this and remove all the sniping, ad hominem attacks and see just how much shorter it gets?


    TheJourney and AHappyNihilist - if you two cannot share forum space and not interact in any other way other than the way you have above, you're going to find yourselves both banned for a week.
    Anyway, AHN...I thought you were leaving?
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    edited January 2011
    >Do you feel like Buddhism or religion period, for that matter, are constricting?

    Constricting for your urges to cause suffering for your yourself and others, yes. But isn't that the point? Skillful discipline brings peace, joy, happiness and freedom beyond the imagination. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/joyeffort.html
  • Ada_BAda_B
    Most of this thread looks like the sort of conversations my kids (aged 12, 14 and 16) have on a regular basis.
  • 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 January 2011
    Oh come on Beta, that's thoroughly and completely unfair....









    on your kids....
  • blulotus29blulotus29
    Nothing
    Most of this thread looks like the sort of conversations my kids (aged 12, 14 and 16) have on a regular basis.
    I'd like to apologize for anything I said that was rude or uncalled for. I felt like in the beginning the kind of tone that was set by a few people on here was just really disrespectful and I shouldn't have stooped to their level. I should've just ignored it and moved on. I'd like to be able to use this site because I feel that it helps me learn more about Buddhism by getting personal perspectives from various people. Thanks you to those that are actually genuine and kind and have been helpful to me. :) Hope everyone has a great day!

  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Most of this thread looks like the sort of conversations my kids (aged 12, 14 and 16) have on a regular basis.
    That may be because a lot of these people are teens--there was a huge influx of teens to the site in December.
  • [DeletedUser][DeletedUser]
    edited January 2011
    That's something that we as human beings know innately not to do. You don't need Buddhism to tell you that.
    Indeed, that is conscience of all and that Buddhism is merely expanding this realization of inherent conscience, to a unified conscience of equality in all known as Blessed One or Tathāgata-garbha :ninja: or Buddha
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited January 2011
    whoops, mis posted now i can't delete.


    may as well say something while im on the spot...










    I'm going to bed.
Sign In or Register to comment.