If you consider yourself to follow Eastern Religion, what religion do you belong to?

Discussion in 'Eastern Philosophy' started by Ozymandias, Feb 24, 2004.

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If you belong to an Eastern Religion -- which one?

  1. Shinto, or any other (if there are any other) Japanese native religions.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. Hinduism.

    17 vote(s)
    29.3%
  3. Buddhism.

    15 vote(s)
    25.9%
  4. Taoism.

    6 vote(s)
    10.3%
  5. Confucianism.

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%
  6. Jainism.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Zoroastrianism. (Yeah, it's not exactly Eastern, but I thought I might include it.)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. Tantra

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%
  9. Sikhism

    1 vote(s)
    1.7%
  10. (Other).

    5 vote(s)
    8.6%
  11. I do not belong to an Eastern religion.

    12 vote(s)
    20.7%
  1. Maia Crimson Spirit Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    248
    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.
     
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  3. fadingCaptain are you a robot? Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,762
    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.
     
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  5. Maia Crimson Spirit Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    248
    Not to mention the Lord of the Rings feeling to the Zoroastrians ... with the God versus Prince of Darkness system going on?

    Pretty hot!

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  7. Ozymandias Unregistered User Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    799
    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."
     
  8. airavata portentous Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,352
    Just go to Calcutta to see Tantriks.
    They dance in the crematorium putting ash all over themselves and beating skulls together.
     
  9. Awake Just BE! Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    136
    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.
     
  10. Dreamwalker Whatever Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    4,205
    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.
     
  11. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    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
     
  12. kmguru Staff Member

    Messages:
    11,757
    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.

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  13. Ozymandias Unregistered User Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    799
    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?
     
  14. Canute Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,923
    What makes you say that it's all nonsense?
     
  15. fadingCaptain are you a robot? Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,762
    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?
     
  16. Canute Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,923
    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.
     
  17. airavata portentous Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,352
    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.
     
  18. Canute Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,923
    It may be seen incorrectly as that, yes.

    Pointless? Who says?

    Nobody rejected anything and it's not that simple.

    I'm afraid this is not the case. Please check your facts.

    That is nonsense stated so sweepingly.

    Where do get this stuff? Please do some research.
     
  19. airavata portentous Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,352
    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.
     
  20. Canute Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,923
    Do some research, for goodness sake.
     
  21. airavata portentous Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    1,352
    Dismissing everything without examination? tsk tsk.
    Tell me, do you really believe that every ritual in hinduism has some deep meaning behind it?
     
  22. arsea Registered Member

    Messages:
    2
    I agree.If you want to find truth, religion is not enough. Especially one religion.
     
  23. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    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 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.
     

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