Why does everybody like Buddhism when they know nothing about the religion?
I hate asking this question, because it's so hard to explain the messages they're expressing in an actually formal manor.
There are so many people I know in school(currently in grade 9) that will say something like, "religions are so pointless", then talk about how they're Buddhist, and how Buddhism is an acceptable religion, yet obviously they know nothing about it, because they haven't converted, they have limited knowledge about it, and they actually show no respect for the religion itself. They'll say "Buddhism is cool", then not say why, or anything, and move on to fighting with somebody.
By the way, these tend to be all of the 'smart-sh kids' who think being strange is cool.
Why do they talk about how they're Buddhist, when they aren't, and talk about how it's the only respectable religion? It doesn't make any sense to me! Are they just trying to get attention?
If it helps, I am not religious. I choose to remain open-minded about all religions, from Islam, to Christianity, to Atheism. As I don't know which is the truth, I won't block the other religions from my heart.
Thanks for helping.
To Imma Eat Chu and Leo King- Sorry, my definition of 'religion' was skewed.
cause it's like a trend these days and most of people who pretend to practice it are wannabes who want to look cool and interesting, which is really sad
I'm actually reading the Buddha's teachings (or an English translation) it's very different to how I expected. Good different. It's also funny that Christians say that Buddha is in hell when the concept of Buddha is the perfect human. One could very well argue that Jesus was an example of Buddha.
My atheist, lesbian, obese daughter, Mary, claims to be a Buddhist following his 8-fold path to enlightenment. She's only on step 2, though and still quite bitchy.
Even though you're a 9Th grader, you make a good point.
Just look at how many people get the definition of Karma incorrect. Sorry guys, but Karma isn't "you get what's coming to you" or anything like that.
I like to read the Dhammapada now and then because of the great advice it gives and love the concept. But just like Christianity, good concepts are usually ruined by humans. Buddhism is peaceful on paper. But humans aren't. Nations that have a large population of Buddhists are often very violent and poor nations.
well for the record, I think Buddhism is just as as shitty and amoral as the rest of them, it teaches self loathing and reincarnation and desensitization and other things which I think are either dumb or sick or both.
Well, for one thing, Buddhism isn't seen by Buddhists to be a religion because there's no worship of God involved. So I guess it's more apt to call it a philosophy, a lifestyle, or a belief.
I don't think there's anything wrong with liking Buddhism, but I agree that such a preference is questionable if they don't actually know anything about it. I also agree that it's silly to claim to be a Buddhist if you don't know anything about it. You shouldn't be a Christian if you don't know who Jesus of Nazareth is, shouldn't be a Muslim if the five pillars of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad are Japanese to you, shouldn't be a Sikh if Guru Nanak and the Guru Granth Sahib are words that go in one ear and out the other. Everyone should take care to learn about something before they profess to believe or accept it. For another example, I don't know much about the Big Bang, so I don't claim that that's how the universe began because I couldn't justify it in an argument.
Also, atheism isn't a religion, and it's not capitalized because it's not a proper noun.
I have wondered the same thing. One the one hand, I think it's because Buddhism is sort of exotic. Images of Jung FY monks levitating around in the mountains on the other side of the world seems glamorous to people. On the other hand, people like it because it doesn't require anything of them.
In my case, when I realized that I believed in God, I also realized that live honestly, that meant I was going to have to change my life. Being a Buddhist is fairly meaningless. People talk about karma, and how people get what they deserve, which is great as long as your life is pretty good. And they talk about detachment, which they can use as an excuse to not care about anything. And Buddhist language can be used to say that life is empty and meaningless. People don't have to look below the surface of things, because there's nothing really there, they say.
The western interpretation of Buddhism lends itself really well to empty materialism. And Buddhism in the east and west is subject to political tyranny. Buddhism and democracy, or Buddhism and the rule of law do not go well together.
The 'smart-sh' kids find Buddhism because they are the ones that look a little further for their sources of knowledge. But it's sad if they stick with Buddhism.
The truth is out there. There are many feel good religion/doctrine out there but are far from the truth.Is it good to follow a lie, a false religion? Many would answer NO. And yet many do just that. The truth can be found. It is like a priceless gem. You need to search and search and search!
Hmm Many have been convinced there is no gods and no hell and to be Buddhist one simply terms themselves Buddhist They then look idiots when pressed on the matter
Look copy down the link which explains some of the hells
The next day they will all be terming themselves Muslim Lil
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha told Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, ?Merciful One, these hells are created by the people themselves who commit these malefactions in all the worlds. The power of karma is so great as to be compared with Mount Sumeru and as deep as the immense ocean. The power of karma can block the way of Buddhadharma. Therefore, do not ignore a minor evil and think that it is guiltless. There is retribution after one dies, even as small as a hair or fib re, and this must be taken. Even the closest relatives, like father and son, have different road. Even meeting, they cannot substitute their retribution for each other. Now relying on Buddha?s divine power, I will give a general explanation of the situation in hell. Please Merciful One listen to me.?
Bodhisattva Samantabhadra answered, ?For a long time, I have known of the retributions of the three evil levels. I hope the Merciful One speaks so that all beings who do evil acts in the future of the Dharma-Ending Age rely on and take refuge in the Buddha.?
Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha said, ?Merciful One, the following are the retributions of hells: There is a hell which pulls out a criminal person?s tongue and loughs it with an ox. There is a hell where a mean devil takes out the criminal person?s heart and eats it. There is a hell where they cook criminal peoples? bodies in a big cauldron. There is a hell which burns copper pillars and makes criminal persons hold them. There is a hell which uses fire to burn criminal people. There is a hell which is always frozen and icy. There is a hell of endless excrement and urine. There is a hell of flying maces. There is a hell that is full of fire spears. There is a hell in which one?s chest or back are beaten. There is a hell where only hands or legs are burned. There is a hell where iron snakes twist and coil around one. There is a hell where iron dogs chase. There is a hell where all ride on iron donkeys.?
?Merciful One, such retributions in every hell use hundreds of thousands of instruments of Karma?s Way. Those instruments are made of copper, iron, stone or fire. The four materials are caused by the heavy karma of beings. It is nearly impossible to explain all the situations in all hells, because there are hundreds or thousands of sufferings in each and every hell. Now, relying on the divine power of Buddha, I have replied to the request from the Merciful One, and I have only explained in general. Even to the end of aeons, there is no end to explaining all the hells in detail.?
When I was young, the big thing was to be into yoga. Everybody ran around spouting pop-culture yoga philosophy ... but not understanding, not living it. And they didn't want to .. they wanted to be different, wanted to see themselves as "cool" and were so very proud of themselves for being so "cool".
It's always the domain of adolescence, trying to find who you are, and many will define themselves as ANYTHING different from what their parents are. Kids raised in Buddhist societies think it's cool to be Christian, for instance.
So you're more mature. This is good. But don't worry about those who are so desperate to define themselves or be cool. See it for what it is, and view it with compassion and tolerance. They'll outgrow it.
obviously they heard about different religions - Buddhism too.
you described they know nothing. then why? that's clear to me that they don't have opportunity to know. they might want to know and get more involved. although they don't have opportunity now, they can later as they're growing up to earn and have a better chance to learn what they like to.
if 'be cool' is the case, then that's still a starting point. some might go from 'be cool' to 'be true' - some might not.
it seems kids want multicultural education. I think the system should arrange for them some good seminars or even regular classes which they don't have to sit for exams. knowing other cultures is not a loss.
Why does everybody like Buddhism when they know nothing about the religion?
