Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

[Siggie]

*looks hopefully in Jeff's direction*


I'm reading up and it's good stuff. I feel like it shouldn't even be classified as religion though... Not when looking at Buddha's teaching's anyway (kharma and rebirth are concepts added later). It doesn't deal with the supernatural at all. <3

[KanadaHye]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

*looks hopefully in Jeff's direction*


I'm reading up and it's good stuff. I feel like it shouldn't even be classified as religion though... Not when looking at Buddha's teaching's anyway (kharma and rebirth are concepts added later). It doesn't deal with the supernatural at all. <3

Careful... remember what happened to Kurt Cobain after Nirvana..

[jgk3]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

The appeal of Buddhism to non-religious people is precisely the philosophical nature of the original tenets spoken by the Buddha. It is congenial to science because it doesn't make declarations about God and the nature of His creation. Instead, it focuses on what the very nature of one's experience is, but in doing so, it does make its own assumptions which, in order to become a Buddhist, must be adopted. That said, Buddhism has been adapted to a religion, and has extended beyond its elemental form. Like all religions, it has broken down throughout its long history into different sects that hold onto their respective historiographical traditions, often incorporating supernatural, scientifically disproven and/or dubious elements.

But yeah, I enjoyed my experience learning about it I recently found this book being sold in bookstores, it's written by a very prominent figure in Buddhist studies. I skimmed through it and liked it, maybe I'll take it out again for a quick read next time:

Beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing to the present day, both Buddhists and admirers of Buddhism have proclaimed the compatibility of Buddhism and science. Their assertions have ranged from modest claims about the efficacy of meditation for mental health to grander declarations that the Buddha himself anticipated the theories of relativity, quantum physics and the big bang more than two millennia ago.

In Buddhism and Science, Donald S. Lopez Jr. is less interested in evaluating the accuracy of such claims than in exploring how and why these two seemingly disparate modes of understanding the inner and outer universe have been so persistently linked. Lopez opens with an account of the rise and fall of Mount Meru, the great peak that stands at the center of the flat earth of Buddhist cosmography—and which was interpreted anew once it proved incompatible with modern geography. From there, he analyzes the way in which Buddhist concepts of spiritual nobility were enlisted to support the notorious science of race in the nineteenth century. Bringing the story to the present, Lopez explores the Dalai Lama’s interest in scientific discoveries, as well as the implications of research on meditation for neuroscience.

Lopez argues that by presenting an ancient Asian tradition as compatible with—and even anticipating—scientific discoveries, European enthusiasts and Asian elites have sidestepped the debates on the relevance of religion in the modern world that began in the nineteenth century and still flare today. As new discoveries continue to reshape our understanding of mind and matter, Buddhism and Science will be indispensable reading for those fascinated by religion, science, and their often vexed relation.

[Siggie]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

Sounds interesting; thanks! I can't believe I didn't think to search for science and Buddhism.... I did search for Buddhism and atheism though.

Buddhism Plain and Simple is the one I'm reading.

I did want to read this one: Buddhism Without Beliefs but there's no kindle format. *grumble*

[KanadaHye]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

I'm reading up and it's good stuff. I feel like it shouldn't even be classified as religion though... Not when looking at Buddha's teaching's anyway (kharma and rebirth are concepts added later). It doesn't deal with the supernatural at all. <3

This is where Buddha lacks depth in his analysis of life. It is said that he didn't feel that the origins of man were of any importance to our understanding of the universe and our outlook on life. He was more of a philosophical/spiritual leader than a revolutionary leader who stood against tyrants.

[Armanen]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

Buddhism can't be fully understood without studying Hinduism. Not that is a truly interesting religion.

[Eddo211]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

Buddah is cool.....live and let live.

If you see his statue and you rub his stomach it will bring you good luck.

[jgk3]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

Sounds interesting; thanks! I can't believe I didn't think to search for science and Buddhism.... I did search for Buddhism and atheism though.

Buddhism Plain and Simple is the one I'm reading.

I did want to read this one: Buddhism Without Beliefs but there's no kindle format. *grumble*

They look like good books

Buddhism can't be fully understood without studying Hinduism. Not that is a truly interesting religion.

Not an interesting religion? What makes you say that?

[Siggie]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

Not an interesting religion? What makes you say that?

I think he meant "now that" and just mistyped.

[Armanen]

Re: Anyone familiar with Buddhism?

i think he meant "now that" and just mistyped.

yes!