Posted on 03/26/2008 8:45:03 AM PDT by tang0r
There is much confusion in the Western world over the basic tenants of Buddhism. Many Westerners believe that Buddhism is -- a) a religion circulating around the worship of a portly Asian sage (often gilded or bronzed and meditating near the door of your favorite Chinese restaurant holding the mints and toothpicks), b) involving a lot of sitting in uncomfortable positions, and c) coldly atheistic or fancifully pantheistic (depending on which section of Wikipedia you consult)
Of course, when inspected closer, these stereotypes and inadequate attempts of pigeonholing a religion that has neither formal creed nor divine teachings is absolutely useless.
At least in the Judeo-Christian sense, Buddhism is not a religion. Instead, Buddhism is more like a collection of insightful observations centered on a single principle- the study of what is. A Buddhist isn't interested in what might or what should be- he is simply interested in analyzing reality as it is, without undue romanticism or abstraction.
(Excerpt) Read more at theprometheusinstitute.org ...
Lha gyalo!
Blessing and Prayer: "Accept me, my Lord, accept me for this while. Let those orphaned days that passed without thee be forgotten. Only spread this little moment wide across thy lap, holding it under thy light.
I have wandered in pursuit of voices that drew me yet led me nowhere. Now let me sit in peace and listen to thy words in the soul of my silence. Do not turn away thy face from my heart's dark secrets, but burn them till they are alight with thy fire." (Tagore)
Karuna.
Homage to all the victorious ones.
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