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So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

Quote from: "Validus"So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

Buddhist as in following some of the beliefs or practices but Not worship of the Buddha?  Just curious.

I've studied Buddhism and all the religions & philosophies of the world for more than 20 years.

Having said that, I think than much of what passes under the banner "Buddhism" has very little to do the teachings of Siddartha Gautama. When looking at the oldest accounts of his teachings [Dharma] we find that he was a man who had no use at all for the supernatural and really created the first psychology in history. He was concerned with human suffering and the mind....not with metaphysics or afterlives.

I hope that answers your question.

Quote from: "Validus"I've studied Buddhism and all the religions & philosophies of the world for more than 20 years.

Having said that, I think than much of what passes under the banner "Buddhism" has very little to do the teachings of Siddartha Gautama. When looking at the oldest accounts of his teachings [Dharma] we find that he was a man who had no use at all for the supernatural and really created the first psychology in history. Her was concerned with human suffering and the mind....not with metaphysics or afterlives.

I hope that answers your question.

It does.   And I'm not judging you - just curious.  I find many who don't often understand what Buddhism is.  Don't think they go back far enough to grasp the real history.
I've studied Lots of religions since the 70s........  even tried a few on.  My most recent was paganism - which I've still not completely eradicated from my system entirely.   Believe me - I'm in no position to judge anyone.   lol
The only people I get nasty/frisky with are christians who want to sell me jesus or try to convince me of their god with stories of rainbows as their proof or bananas have handles and whatnot.  LOL

There's one other guy with a difficult name who also seems to be a buddhist/atheist.

I'm more of an Atheist/Buddhist.

Quote from: "Validus"So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

I am, but not about modern Buddhism, but what was taught by Buddha originally and not the various schools that have been corrupted by Christianity, and Hinduism that thinks he is a god. He never taught to pray, he never thought what he taught was divinely inspired, there were no rituals or religious icons, there were no commands written in stone or absolute rules to follow, that he should be worshipped, and he thought later in his years that death (Para nirvana) was like blowing out a candle (I received a lot of flack from modern Buddhist that he didn't mean non existence, and that the Western mind can't understand what he said.) but that's their interpretation,) there were no demons, or ghost,  etc. It was just a good philosophy to live by, and still is.  :-D  Welcome back! Solitary AKA Bill  

PS I wrote this before I read the other posts or what Validus posted. And I too have studied all the religions, bibles, Scriptures, myths, and philosophies for over fifty years. It seems most people just have to have a spiritual leader and believe in superstitious nonsense and magic. Ignorance is bliss it seems.

Quote from: "WitchSabrina"

Quote from: "Validus"So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

Buddhist as in following some of the beliefs or practices but Not worship of the Buddha?  Just curious.

Your just upset you can't sacrifice the chicken now.  :wink:   Bill

Quote from: "Solitary"

Quote from: "Validus"So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

I am, but not about modern Buddhism, but what was taught by Buddha originally and not the various schools that have been corrupted by Christianity, and Hinduism that thinks he is a god. He never taught to pray, he never thought what he taught was divinely inspired, there were no rituals or religious icons, there were no commands written in stone or absolute rules to follow, that he should be worshipped, and he thought later in his years that death (Para nirvana) was like blowing out a candle (I received a lot of flack from modern Buddhist that he didn't mean non existence, and that the Western mind can't understand what he said.) but that's their interpretation,) there were no demons, or ghost,  etc. It was just a good philosophy to live by, and still is.  :-D  Welcome back! Solitary AKA Bill  

PS I wrote this before I read the other posts or what Validus posted. And I too have studied all the religions, bibles, Scriptures, myths, and philosophies for over fifty years. It seems most people just have to have a spiritual leader and believe in superstitious nonsense and magic. Ignorance is bliss it seems.

I believe it is far more useful to look at the Buddha for what he was, a great thinker much like Socrates and Spinoza.  To reduce him to 'merely the founder of a religion' I find limiting and ultimately idiotic.  I've often said that were the Buddha to walk into a Zendo or a Buddhist Temple, he would not recognize it as having anything at all to do with him....and after being informed of its purpose I suspect he would recoil in horror.

Didn't the Buddha say that one should question everything - even his statement that one should question everything?

That doesn't sound like a religion to me.

Quote from: "Colanth"Didn't the Buddha say that one should question everything - even his statement that one should question everything?

That doesn't sound like a religion to me.

Well, in the Sutras the Buddha says that one should not take his teachings or anyone else's on simple faith...rather one should investigate, test, and see if it's true.  So in essence yes, he did say that.  His attitude was similar to Socrates in that regard.

Duplicate.

Quote from: "Validus"When looking at the oldest accounts of his teachings [Dharma] we find that he was a man who had no use at all for the supernatural and really created the first psychology in history. He was concerned with human suffering and the mind....not with metaphysics or afterlives.

There is no harm in venerating Buddha since he is one of the wisest of men. Such veneration pulls one's mind to his teachings. The other person whom I venerate is Adi Sankara. I do not worship them as Gods, I am a strong atheist, but veneration is not worship. I also venerate Einstein, Planck, Heisenberg, and many other scientists. I venerate Bismillah Khan, Naushad, and M.S. Subbulakshmi for their life-long devotion to Indian music.

Quote from: "Solitary"Your just upset you can't sacrifice the chicken now. :wink:  Bill

:rollin:

I am not a Buddhist because I drink beer and yada yada yada, but I do love Buddha for his teachings and his unwillingness to speak of God, even when asked.

Quote from: "Doubtful_1"I am not a Buddhist because I drink beer and yada yada yada, but I do love Buddha for his teachings and his unwillingness to speak of God, even when asked.

That was the point Buddha was making. He didn't say you "can't" drink intoxicating drinks, just avoid them so you have a clear mind. So drinking doesn't mean you can't be a Buddhist. Also, modern Buddhist schools have added drugs to that list of shall not's. Solitary

Quote from: "Solitary"

Quote from: "Doubtful_1"I am not a Buddhist because I drink beer and yada yada yada, but I do love Buddha for his teachings and his unwillingness to speak of God, even when asked.

That was the point Buddha was making. He didn't say you "can't" drink intoxicating drinks, just avoid them so you have a clear mind. So drinking doesn't mean you can't be a Buddhist. Also, modern Buddhist schools have added drugs to that list of shall not's. Solitary

Then I don't know, maybe you COULD consider me a Buddhist. I believe he spoke the truth and I try to think like him. I don't meditate as much as I should though.

If you just ACCEPT the Buddha's teachings as truth, you're not a Buddhist.  If you've investigated them, and FOUND them to be true, you may be.

I am told of a Buddha Bar where monks sell drinks.

I am not, but don't stop believing, wink wink ;)
[youtube:3j2nw5wn]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSR6ZzjDZ94[/youtube:3j2nw5wn]

Whut?

Quote from: "Validus"So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

maybe around here but I doubt it since there are over a half a billion or so around the world!

I am a hindu/atheist. I do not know our exact numbers, but there are lots of us.

I admire the philosophy, i'm just reluctant to adopt it.  Not sure why.  It just doesn't seem right.  Something's missing.  

BTW, What does the swastika on the young man's head represent?

I know a buddhist who eats meat and drinks, so I don't know. there seems to be enough variability between one sect and another that you can pretty much do what you want. Like every other religion.

Quote from: "Jack89"I admire the philosophy, i'm just reluctant to adopt it.  Not sure why.  It just doesn't seem right.  Something's missing.  

BTW, What does the swastika on the young man's head represent?

From the internet:
Hinduism, the two symbols represent the two forms of the creator god Brahma: facing right it represents the evolution of the universe (Pravritti), facing left it represents the involution of the universe (Nivritti). It is also seen as pointing in all four directions (north, east, south and west) and thus signifies stability and groundedness. Its use as a sun symbol can first be seen in its representation of the god Surya.

 The swastika is considered extremely holy and auspicious by all Hindus, and is regularly used to decorate items related to Hindu culture. It is used in all Hindu yantras and religious designs. Throughout the subcontinent of India, it can be seen on the sides of temples, religious scriptures, gift items, and letterheads. The Hindu god Ganesh is often shown sitting on a lotus flower on a bed of swastikas.

 The swastika is found all over Hindu temples, signs, altars, pictures and iconography where it is sacred. It is used in Hindu weddings, festivals, ceremonies, houses and doorways, clothing and jewelry, motor transport and even decorations on food items such as cakes and pastries. Among the Hindus of Bengal, it is common to see the name "swastika" (Bengali: ???????? sbastik) applied to a slightly different symbol, which has the same significance as the common swastika, and both symbols are used as auspicious signs. This symbol looks something like a stick figure of a human being.[17] "Swastika" (???????? Sbastik) is a common given name amongst Bengalis[18] and a prominent literary magazine in Kolkata (Calcutta) is called the Swastika.

 The Aum symbol is also sacred in Hinduism. While Aum is representative of a single primordial tone of creation, the Swastika is a pure geometrical mark and has no syllabic tone associated with it. The Swastika is one of the 108 symbols of Lord Vishnu and represents the sun's rays, without which there would be no life. Solitary

Thanks Solitary, I kind of had an idea about the holy symbol thing, I was interested why it was painted on the young man's head.  I found Aupmanyav's picture on the interwebs and it's caption mentioned that "Brahmin boys' heads were shaved before their sacred thread ceremony and swastika was drawn on their heads."  I looked a little more and found that "the sacred thread ceremony" was an official acceptance in his varna. Apparently varna is the term for the four broad ranks in Hindu society.  Anyway, off topic, sorry.

@ Solitary, excellent description. I did not know about left-handed Swastika, and nivritti, the dissolution.

Quote from: "Jack89"BTW, What does the swastika on the young man's head represent?

Hindus have swastika at all happy occasions, first tonsure generally at the age of 1 to 3, sacred thread ceremony between ages of 7 to 11 (Yajnopavita, also accompanied by a tonsure), marriage, house warming, festivals, new year, ritual worship, etc. Swastika, for us, represents well-being and happiness. It is a tradition to put a swastika on a tonsured head, or the henna tattoo at the time or marriage, or religious observances, etc. Swastika is a part of our life. Never black, always in pleasing colours, red, orange, or yellow; and always right-handed, along with the four dots. The photograph is of a boy who is being given the sacred thread, emphasizing the continuation of the Hindu religious tradition. Here is my old avatara picture. That was for a child having his first tonsure (we call it 'chudakarman' or 'mundan'). My grandson is of that age and within six months, we will arrange for his 'mundan' accompanied with a grand party which will cost me some 5,000 dollars.

Very cool, thanks for the explanation.

Nivritti, the final dissolution of the universe also is not bad. According to Hindu beliefs, it is part of the natural cycle, and after dissolution, there is always a new creation, new Gods, new Vedas, new Adams. What does not change is 'dharma', that being eternal. :)

Quote.. a grand party which will cost me some 5,000 dollars.

The cost surely vary from one country to another, but this will suffice for some 150 guests that we hope will attend. Not a five-star hotel (one does not get good food at these five-star hotels, just the show).

Buddhism always struck me as one of the very few religions that has something meaningful to it, it being about self and finding your own inner peace and following.
There was a Buddhist chap in my local town who came into the shop my mother worked at there,  and he always seemed a very relaxed and inviting guy to be around, so back then I considered it seemed some good came from at least a few religions.
Of course I could be wrong? I never studied the practice much just what I saw about on programs and forums.

You are not wrong. Buddhism sure is wonderful (for me, no different from Hinduism). Just do not spend hours in meditation. That is not necessary. Understand.

Quote from: Validus on June 10, 2013, 08:10:30 AM
So......am I the only Buddhist/Atheist around here?

I am an atheist, and am very much interested in learning about Buddhism.

Theravada or Mahayana?