Originally posted by Justbyfaith
Cool... What's SGI?
SGI is SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL
http://www.sgi.org/english/index.htm
Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is a Buddhist network
that actively promotes peace, culture and education
through personal change and social contribution.
I am a member. I know some Christians who are also members.
Originally posted by Justbyfaith
Actually I looked at the SGI link. It would be a conflict of spiritual interests for me to do so. Im sure some Christians would have no conflict. I am more orthodox... Thank you anyway Shaky. 😉
SGI, is a non-state member of the UN. And works around the world to help people dose that disagree with your orthodox Christian belief?
I think you are using the term orthodox loosely, because your beliefs, as you have conveyed to me, are not Orthodox Christian. Your beliefs are closer to Evangelical Christianity.
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
SGI, is a non-state member of the UN. And works around the world to help people dose that disagree with your orthodox Christian belief?I think you are using the term orthodox loosely, because your beliefs, as you have conveyed to me, are not Orthodox Christian. Your beliefs are closer to Evangelical Christianity.
Sounds reasonable...you are by far one of the more mature non-christians on this forum. A pleasure talking to you.
Originally posted by MARCMAN
Shaky,What is Nirvana? A realsease form the endless cycle of death and rebirth?
How many "forms" of Buddhism are there?
What is Nirvana? I am not sure if I can explain it. I only understand it in an abstract way. It appease to be different from heaven, it is also called extinction.
Since I attained Buddhahood
the number of kalpas that have passed
is an immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands,
millions, trillions, asamkhyas.
Constantly I have preached the Law, teaching, converting
countless millions of living beings,
causing them to enter the Buddha way,
all this for immeasurable kalpas.
In order to save living beings,
as an expedient means I appear to enter nirvana
but in truth I do not pass into extinction.
I am always here preaching the Law.
I am always here,
Chapter Sixteen: The Life Span of the Tathagata [Nyorai Juryo]
I do not know how many forms of Buddhism there is. I just learned about a new one to me the other day.
I understand that while Buddhism takes a wide variety of forms, that there are 3 main kinds: Theravada, Mahayana and Tantrisim.
Theravada means "the doctrine of the lesser way" (later changed to the way of the elders), referring to the belief that only a fortunate few lifelong monks can find nirvana by absolutely following the way to Buddha. The best hope is to rise to a higher level when reborn in their next life so they may become monks.
Mahayana, the doctrine of the "greater way", teach that Buddha believe that nirvana is available to all people. Buddha originally taught that the only person who can save you is you, but Mahayaha developed the idea of saviors gods or Bodhisttvas. Followers of Mahayana reasoned that Buddha had remained on earth for 45 years when he could have gone straight to nirvana. He decided to stay to save mankind and became the first and supreme Bidhisttave, a savior to mandkind who can be called on by the faithful. Other Buddhist monks who achieve nirvana and become enlightened as Buddha did also become Bodhisattva.
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism differ radically in thier opinion of Buddha. To Theravada, Buddha was only a teacher (as Buddha himself claimed), but Mahayana has raised him to the position of savior-god for all people.
Tantrism is a blend of Mahayana with the ancient occult practices of Tibet. Tantric Buddhism uses incantations and occult signs. It contains strong elements of animism (attributing conscious life to inanimate objects or objects in nature) and is a religion that can leave its followers open to demonic activity.
Do you agree?
Originally posted by MARCMAN
I understand that while Buddhism takes a wide variety of forms, that there are 3 main kinds: Theravada, Mahayana and Tantrisim.Theravada means "the doctrine of the lesser way" (later changed to the way of the elders), referring to the belief that only a fortunate few lifelong monks can find nirvana by absolutely following the way to Buddha. The best hope is to rise to a higher level when reborn in their next life so they may become monks.
Mahayana, the doctrine of the "greater way", teach that Buddha believe that nirvana is available to all people. Buddha originally taught that the only person who can save you sis you, but Mahayaha developed the idea of saviors gods or Bodhisttvas. Followers of Mahayana reasoned that Buddha had remained on earth for 45 years when he could have gone straight to nirvana. He decided to stay to save mankind and became the first and supreme Bidhisttave, a savior to mandking who can be called on by the faithful. Other Buddhist monks who achieve nirvana and become enlightened as Buddha did also become Bodhisattva.
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism differ radically in thier opinion of Buddha. To Theravada, Buddha was only a teacher (as Buddha himself claimed), but Mahayana has raised him to the position of savior-god for all people.
Tantrism is a blend of Mahayana with the ancient occult practices of Tibet. Tantric Buddhism uses incantations and occult signs. It contains strong elements of animism (attributing conscious life to inanimate objects or objects in nature) and is a religion that can leave its followers open to demonic activity.
Do you agree?
I do not know. I believe Nichiren Buddhism is a Mahayana form, but we do not believe that Buddha was a god, just a teacher.
Originally posted by MARCMAN
I understand that while Buddhism takes a wide variety of forms, that there are 3 main kinds: Theravada, Mahayana and Tantrisim.Theravada means "the doctrine of the lesser way" (later changed to the way of the elders), referring to the belief that only a fortunate few lifelong monks can find nirvana by absolutely following the way to Buddha. The best hope is to rise to a higher level when reborn in their next life so they may become monks.
Mahayana, the doctrine of the "greater way", teach that Buddha believe that nirvana is available to all people. Buddha originally taught that the only person who can save you is you, but Mahayaha developed the idea of saviors gods or Bodhisttvas. Followers of Mahayana reasoned that Buddha had remained on earth for 45 years when he could have gone straight to nirvana. He decided to stay to save mankind and became the first and supreme Bidhisttave, a savior to mandkind who can be called on by the faithful. Other Buddhist monks who achieve nirvana and become enlightened as Buddha did also become Bodhisattva.
Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism differ radically in thier opinion of Buddha. To Theravada, Buddha was only a teacher (as Buddha himself claimed), but Mahayana has raised him to the position of savior-god for all people.
Tantrism is a blend of Mahayana with the ancient occult practices of Tibet. Tantric Buddhism uses incantations and occult signs. It contains strong elements of animism (attributing conscious life to inanimate objects or objects in nature) and is a religion that can leave its followers open to demonic activity.
Do you agree?
Majestic and grandeur Buddhas are nothing but just illusions..Real Buddhas are the people themselves, a teacher of the Law, who are devoting their lives of spreading the Mystic Law who worked for the salvation and hapiness of all living beings- which is the path of the single Buddha vehicle.
Originally posted by Alliance
I head buddha was fat becuase he was so lazy, all he did was sit and eat all day. He even made people carry him around.
Was that heard?
Siddhârtha Gautama was an ascetic for quite a while. Up until he became so weak he fell in a puddle and almost drown. After this I don't know how the story goes.