I'm just curious. If there are any Buddhists or Hindus ... or any of the above, then I'd like to know. My guess is that most of SciForums is Atheist. (points to Religion forum)

I have not made separate options for the many different branches of Buddhism or Hinduism, simply because I'm not aware of them all.

Oops, forgot periods after 'Tantra' and 'Sikhism.' Dang.

The question is strange, eastern "religions" are not like western ones. They often do not require one to belong, follow, or believe. Traditionalists might disagree.

I voted for Hinduism!

It is on the record that I follow Sanatana Dharma. See the very first post in this section if it is still there.

Humm. Three Hindus, three Taoists, three Buddhists, three non - Eastern. Interesting! :)

I was expecting all of the votes to go under "I do not follow and eastern religion." :D

Humm. Three Hindus, three Taoists, three Buddhists, three non - Eastern. Interesting! :)

I was expecting all of the votes to go under "I do not follow and eastern religion." :D


Hmm... the balance is evident! :p

well, spidergoat, do not (and never) ignore the existence of fanaticism.

UltiTruth; The balance was shattered! Call in another Taoist, Hindu, and Buddhist! :p

The Buddhists have managed to catch up :D How about the rest? :)

On a second (rather serious) thought, is it possible that the options chosen (and most importantly not-chosen) here represents which countries who haven't had any representative here in sciforums? As far as I can say from the "where are you based" forum, I don't see Japanese......

I voted for 'I don't follow any eastern religion'.

That's because I follow truth. Wherever I may find it, the name doesn't matter. ;)

That's very possible curioucity. I doubt that Jainists and Zoroastrians visit these types of sites, as well as probably lacking a computer.

Now let's get a Taoist in here and catch up!

// I doubt that Jainists and Zoroastrians visit these types of sites, as well as probably lacking a computer.//

Ozy : Stop being idiotic and judgemental. Why exactly do Jainists and Zoroastrians lack a computer?
One of the largest business houses in India - TATA, which is the leading manufacturer of Iron and Steel in the country among other things, is a Parsee group. Parsees are zoroastrians. Give educated replies please.

UltiTruth; The balance was shattered! Call in another Taoist, Hindu, and Buddhist! :p

Is it? And this is my 200th post too!

;)

Parsees are zoroastrians.

So? I have yet to see a Zoroastrian or a Jainist, as according to my poll. Whether or not my comment was "stupid and judgmental," it seems to have been correct.

edit, although I do admit the comment about lacking a computer was one made in haste, so? I make lots of comments I later regret. I'm flawed like that.

I make lots of comments I later regret.

Don't we all?

You can expect the results to be skewed, though. Of course there will be a lot of Buddhists and Hindus in this forum. I guarantee wildly different results if this was posted in, for example, the Physics forum. :)

Guess what, I am an atheist, but I really prefer eastern religions to their western counterparts. I like the idea that the right acting is most important. The way is the destination. Alas I am a sceptical and can not bring myself to believe completely in any kind of system, be it religious or not.

Guess what, I am an atheist, but I really prefer eastern religions to their western counterparts. I like the idea that the right acting is most important. The way is the destination. Alas I am a sceptical and can not bring myself to believe completely in any kind of system, be it religious or not.
The whole point about most 'Eastern' 'religions' is that you dont have to believe in a system, you just have to find out whether they're true or not.

Question for any Taoist scholars - I'm trying to follow up a reference to 'The Kuan Tzu' but cannot find the text. I thought Kuan Tzu was a sage, not a text. Is 'The Kuan Tzu' a text by Kuan Tzu, or has someone muddled up a peson with a text?

Perhaps my formulation is lacking a bit. The last sentence should go like this:
I can not believe in anything completely. I am perfectly aware that it is not a system.

Kuan Tzu was a sage, but it seems it is also a book, the author is Kuan Chung (at least the information I found states it that way). It is also called the Book of master Kuan (also "Kuan tzu chi p´ing"). I hope this information is right.

Goddess worship with a Buddhist/Hindu twist ...

Aw, no Tantrics? It'd be so cool to see someone here who is an actually practicing Tantric who can tell us what it's REALLY about, because we all know we can't trust the wild "sex yoga" stories.

I looked into buddhism when I was a teen. More recently I read some about Taoism. Certainly makes the big 3 seem bizarre in comparison.

However, if I was to go with a religion it would have to be a follower of zoroaster. It just sounds cool. "I am zoroastrian." Sounds pretty badass. Not to mention the temples and fire. Too bad its all nonsense. Sucks having to be a boring ass atheist.

Not to mention the Lord of the Rings feeling to the Zoroastrians ... with the God versus Prince of Darkness system going on?

Pretty hot! :D

Dreamwalker;

Sometimes texts are named after those who wrote them. The Tao Te Ching (or Daode Jing) was originally called the Lao Tzu.

The Chuang Tzu is a book (partially) written by Chuang Tzu. Most scholars agree that many parts were added/altered, and that the only parts that you can really trust to be written by Chuang Tzu are the "Inner Chapters."

Just go to Calcutta to see Tantriks.
They dance in the crematorium putting ash all over themselves and beating skulls together.

I study and am interested in eastern religions (philosophies) but have not been able to commit to any, atleast to call myself a budhist or hindu or tantric, etc.

As far as tantric, there is a western form of budhism that uses tantric, Shambhala. It was founded by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Thanks Ozymandias, my room was a bit cluttered with books and the information I posted was the only one I could find at the moment.

Tantra is a very advanced form of yoga practice, but my personal view is that it takes all the fun out of something that should be free and spontanious.

"Sitting around chanting what crap
don't hesitate get laid thats wisdom"

15th century zen master Ikkyu

The whole point about most 'Eastern' 'religions' is that you dont have to believe in a system, you just have to find out whether they're true or not.

How true. I follow Moses Ten Commandments and Jesus core teachings as far as practicable. Actually, it is the other way around. My way of life happens to match their teachings. :D

I study and am interested in eastern religions (philosophies) but have not been able to commit to any, atleast to call myself a budhist or hindu or tantric, etc.

Is there something you're specifically interested in? For me, it's Taoism. Buddhism and Hinduism ... I don't find quite as interesting.

How about other people, too?

I looked into buddhism when I was a teen. More recently I read some about Taoism. Certainly makes the big 3 seem bizarre in comparison.

However, if I was to go with a religion it would have to be a follower of zoroaster. It just sounds cool. "I am zoroastrian." Sounds pretty badass. Not to mention the temples and fire. Too bad its all nonsense. Sucks having to be a boring ass atheist.
What makes you say that it's all nonsense?

Seems inherantly nonsensical to me...with the immortals and good/evil spirits, etc. It is interesting but any rational person would immediately recognize its datedness. Do you think it merits serious consideration?

Seems inherantly nonsensical to me...with the immortals and good/evil spirits, etc. It is interesting but any rational person would immediately recognize its datedness. Do you think it merits serious consideration?
Well I don't know Zoroastianism at all, or Taoism well, but I think what Buddhists say is true. Don't confuse all those gods with the western kind. Gods are not fundamental according to Buddhists.

Gods are not fundamental according to Buddhists.

Very true. Buddhism in it's original form may be seen as an antithesis to hinduism at that time, with it's many gods and pointless rituals. Buddhism in it's pure form rejected the conception of a god. It was more a way of living and morality. Over time however, and through diffusion, buddhism has been corrupted and mixed with other religions. Tibetan Buddhism for example is not pure buddhism. Buddha's original vision is lost. Hell, now Buddha himself is worshipped as a god.

Very true. Buddhism in it's original form may be seen as an antithesis to hinduism at that time,
It may be seen incorrectly as that, yes.


ith it's many gods and pointless rituals
Pointless? Who says?


Buddhism in it's pure form rejected the conception of a god.
Nobody rejected anything and it's not that simple.


It was more a way of living and morality.
I'm afraid this is not the case. Please check your facts.


Over time however, and through diffusion, buddhism has been corrupted and mixed with other religions.
That is nonsense stated so sweepingly.


Tibetan Buddhism for example is not pure buddhism. Buddha's original vision is lost. Hell, now Buddha himself is worshipped as a god.
Where do get this stuff? Please do some research.

Where do get this stuff? Please do some research.

Tibetan Buddhism is a mix of buddhism and tribal religions. Are you saying the buddhism being practised now is pure buddhism? It definitely is not. Buddha did NOT worship any god. He advocated the middle path. I would call that a way of life. Buddha looked down upon idolatry and rituals of any sort; yet now buddhism is exactly that. His original vision has been lost.


Pointless? Who says?

Idiot. Not all rituals in hinduism are pointless, but some are. Eg:- A brahmin drinking cow's urine for his upanayam - thread ceremony; seems very pointless to me.

Tibetan Buddhism is a mix of buddhism and tribal religions. Are you saying the buddhism being practised now is pure buddhism? It definitely is not. Buddha did NOT worship any god. He advocated the middle path. I would call that a way of life. Buddha looked down upon idolatry and rituals of any sort; yet now buddhism is exactly that. His original vision has been lost.



Idiot. Not all rituals in hinduism are pointless, but some are. Eg:- A brahmin drinking cow's urine for his upanayam - thread ceremony; seems very pointless to me.
Do some research, for goodness sake.

Dismissing everything without examination? tsk tsk.
Tell me, do you really believe that every ritual in hinduism has some deep meaning behind it?

I voted for 'I don't follow any eastern religion'.

That's because I follow truth. Wherever I may find it, the name doesn't matter. ;)
I agree.If you want to find truth, religion is not enough. Especially one religion.

Are you saying the buddhism being practised now is pure buddhism?
Yes, indeed, it is as pure as possible, Buddha's sutras have been passed down since they were written, and the essential teaching, the personal revelation, is systematically verified from teacher to student in an unbroken line back to Buddha himself.


Buddha did NOT worship any god. He advocated the middle path. I would call that a way of life. Buddha looked down upon idolatry and rituals of any sort; yet now buddhism is exactly that. His original vision has been lost.
Buddha looked down on idolatry as such, but recognized the value of statuary as advertisement. Rituals are very important in Buddhism and always have been. You have to recognize the difference between the exoteric mythology intended for mass consumption, and the subtle teachings that take time and commitment to learn, or in the case of Zen, can be realized instantly under the right conditions. The sutras refer to Gods, but see them as somewhat lower than a fully realized human, such as Buddha, or you, when you become a Buddha. Buddhism is quite adaptable and flexible, and is compatable with the earlier influences of Tibetan shamanism, it is even compatable with Christianity. my friend's Hapkido master was a Korean Buddhist monk, but married an asian Christian, and went to church on sunday. He also meditated every day.

Aw, no Tantrics? It'd be so cool to see someone here who is an actually practicing Tantric who can tell us what it's REALLY about, because we all know we can't trust the wild "sex yoga" stories.

I used to practice during my college days. It is a highly focused charged mental activity - somewhat similar to Kundalini Practice but links are external rather than internal.

Here is a link, though not the whole story: http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/teachings/tantrayoga.htm

I divide Taoism into 2 groups: I-ching followers and worldly thinking. For me, the I-ching is fortune telling and not worth more than jelly beans.

My view is the worldlythinking Taoists long term goal is nearly identical with Confucian long term goals.

i voted for "HINDUISM".....mother of eastern and western religions

This one:

http://www.advaita-vedanta.org/

With:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0875482015/

Nice links...
here are some more..

www.hinduism.co.za

www.atributetohinduism.com