spidergoat said:
One should have no problem engaging in a lively debate, Buddhism is like riding the stream without getting caught up in it.
But one does not jump into the stream without learning how to swim first. An experienced spiritual practitioner can do this, but does this mean the introduction to Buddhism should be “just jump in the stream and have fun, that’s what Buddhism is all about”?
spidergoat said:
Forget everything you think you know about zen and the peaceful monastic stereotypes of Buddhists rejecting the world.
I don’t think, forget everything you know is fair. Firstly there are many zen monasteries, yes they may have strange teaching methods, but life is still essentially monastic. Secondly, Buddhism is larger than zen, in other Buddhist schools of thought the monastic life is more important. In Theravada for instance, nirvana is only thought attainable by monks.
Although yes Buddhism has many paths and some are more freeform than others
spidergoat said:
If they reject the world, it's only a temporary method. All the precepts are also tentative and experimental in nature, not dogmatic.
Yes it is a temporary method, but it still remains a Buddhist method.
One of the basic precepts of Buddhism is to take refuge in the Buddha, dharma and sangha. Which essentially means accepting Buddhist philosophy above all others. (and preferably living in a spritual community). I know many say there is no Buddhist doctrine and Buddha said we must find our own truths (which I agree with). But there is a difference between what Buddha said and what Buddhists do in practice (as with most other religions). I mean what is the Pali Canon if not doctrine. Buddha may have intended that there be no doctrine, but later Buddhists have indeed made one (or many – depending on which Buddhist path you choose). Zen of course is probably least doctrinalised.
te jen said:
Some sects within Buddhism have more ritual than others, and some Buddhists feel the need for more ritual than other. I have a Buddha statue to remind me of how he started the wheel in motion and a string of prayer flags because I think they look cool. That's about it. I am really immersing in a mix of Buddhism and Taoism with as few trappings and dogma as I can get away with. In my more sublime moments, I know I need nothing.
I have a statue of Buddha too, I also recite mantra and meditate. But I am not a Buddhist. I try and keep my mind as unattached and equal as possible, but the inspiration for this comes more from the bhagavad gita and Vedanta than from Buddhism. Karma yoga as it is described. Actions without attachments to the results. So although I have taken much inspiration from Buddhism and continue to read and learn about it (I know only a small part still). I, like you , mix it with other philosophies and religions.
The thread starter asks “are there any Buddhists out there”. I say unlikely on this forum. Others argue that it is likely. Well - they argue that there’s nothing to prevent Buddhists being here anyway (which I agree with).
But so far we have not had one person come forward and say yes I am a Buddhist , my whole life is based in Buddhism! So it is looking like no there aren’t any Buddhists out there.
What there are is a lot of people who have been touched by the ideas of Buddha and try to apply some of them to their lives and philosophies. Does or should this make them Buddhists though?................