Comments on: Thinking about Buddhism anew http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/03/13/thinking-about-buddhism-anew/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:44:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/03/13/thinking-about-buddhism-anew/#comment-1779 Gerald Ford Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:58:20 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-1779 Hi Suvro, You make some excellent comments here. It's the simplicity of the message that often makes up trip up. We hate the idea of having to forsake our selfish lifestyle, so we hide behind rituals and absolutions to somehow make it easier. The Buddha did not compromise on this point: we have to make the effort, or we can only expect more of the same in our lives. Hi Suvro,

You make some excellent comments here. It’s the simplicity of the message that often makes up trip up. We hate the idea of having to forsake our selfish lifestyle, so we hide behind rituals and absolutions to somehow make it easier. The Buddha did not compromise on this point: we have to make the effort, or we can only expect more of the same in our lives.

]]> By: Suvro Chatterjee http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/03/13/thinking-about-buddhism-anew/#comment-1778 Suvro Chatterjee Sun, 16 Mar 2008 07:02:14 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-1778 Though nominally a Hindu brahmin, I have been reading and trying to practise Buddhist ideas for a very long time now. You are quite right, we unnecessarily complicate things - and then find it unsatisfactory, or quarrel over whose complications are 'more right'! I have an idea the teachings of the great masters are so startling in their simplicity, and so hard to practise (at least in the early stages) that most of us prefer to hide beind ritualistic anodynes, which save us from thinking and doing things we have grown up to find unpleasant, or weird (like not wanting to shop all the time, or avoiding gossip, or trying to be happy at the good fortune of others). May I suggest a little book titled 'What Buddha would do' by Franz Metcalf? I found it wonderfully lucid and contemporary, without distorting the essential message through over-simplification. Though nominally a Hindu brahmin, I have been reading and trying to practise Buddhist ideas for a very long time now. You are quite right, we unnecessarily complicate things – and then find it unsatisfactory, or quarrel over whose complications are ‘more right’!

I have an idea the teachings of the great masters are so startling in their simplicity, and so hard to practise (at least in the early stages) that most of us prefer to hide beind ritualistic anodynes, which save us from thinking and doing things we have grown up to find unpleasant, or weird (like not wanting to shop all the time, or avoiding gossip, or trying to be happy at the good fortune of others).

May I suggest a little book titled ‘What Buddha would do’ by Franz Metcalf? I found it wonderfully lucid and contemporary, without distorting the essential message through over-simplification.

]]> By: Michael Joyce http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/03/13/thinking-about-buddhism-anew/#comment-1777 Michael Joyce Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:52:41 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-1777 This is great and has really got me thinking. But my take on it is this: memorizing sayings, remembering parables/stories, understanding and respecting tradition are essential beginnings. Extraordinary people like Jesus, Buddha and Lao Tzu were bestowed a gift of understanding. To become the enlightened person, it feels to me that we must (with full completeness and openness) embrace the above and bring them into our life. Once we have it instilled in mind, body and soul... we can reflect on the gentle nature of the universe in peace. This is because the passing of time has effaced our desire to question the ancient wisdom... we can just see it out of the window. This is great and has really got me thinking. But my take on it is this: memorizing sayings, remembering parables/stories, understanding and respecting tradition are essential beginnings. Extraordinary people like Jesus, Buddha and Lao Tzu were bestowed a gift of understanding. To become the enlightened person, it feels to me that we must (with full completeness and openness) embrace the above and bring them into our life. Once we have it instilled in mind, body and soul… we can reflect on the gentle nature of the universe in peace. This is because the passing of time has effaced our desire to question the ancient wisdom… we can just see it out of the window.

]]> By: Gerald Ford http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/03/13/thinking-about-buddhism-anew/#comment-1775 Gerald Ford Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:18:20 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-1775 Those are great words, Erg. :) Thank you. Those are great words, Erg. :) Thank you.

]]> By: Erg http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2008/03/13/thinking-about-buddhism-anew/#comment-1776 Erg Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:51:47 +0000 http://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=94#comment-1776 Its funny. I often struggle to hold back my annoyance with the more traditionalist set and get along with the reductionist guys. But I am a noob who knows alot less about life and Buddhism than the traditionalists or the reductionists. What do I know? WHo am I to say? I don't know. The key, I think, is to jsut live with myself and them and stop trying to grasp at this. But thats hard, and I am lazy. Its funny. I often struggle to hold back my annoyance with the more traditionalist set and get along with the reductionist guys. But I am a noob who knows alot less about life and Buddhism than the traditionalists or the reductionists. What do I know? WHo am I to say?

I don’t know. The key, I think, is to jsut live with myself and them and stop trying to grasp at this. But thats hard, and I am lazy.

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