Another Religion...

Originally posted by Devil King
In the defense of the view of others, it's been my experience that in America most buddhists are following a fad. It's kind of like that song that says: "But isn't she pissed at all the other non-conformists; listening to that same obscure band!" Your typical American "buddhist" has read a few books; maybe went out and bought a buddha statue that he lights a scented candle in front of everyday; probably even sits on a mat a few of times a week and thinks about his life, and calls all that striving for enlightenment.

If I was the dalai lama, I'd be shitting my pants over the Scream 4, independant film festival, starbucks, consumerism version of buddhism that's going on in America today.

And before a bunch of you jump on me, that was not directed at anyone in particular. It was just an observation based on experience. And if there are any real buddhists here, they should be angry over the poor representation of buddhism that is presented by these types of in-name-only buddhists.

It all depends on what type of Buddhist you are talking about. You are talking like there is a true Buddhist and then a untrue Buddhist. 😆 That is as silly as a true or untrue Christian. Most Buddhists I know, would not be offended by what other people say on an Internet forum. They are far too concerned with every day life. However, there are as many different types of Buddhist as there are types of Christians, but someone who is not a Buddhist might not know that.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It all depends on what type of Buddhist you are talking about. You are talking like there is a true Buddhist and then a untrue Buddhist. 😆 That is as silly as a true or untrue Christian. Most Buddhists I know, would not be offended by what other people say on an Internet forum. They are far too concerned with every day life. However, there are as many different types of Buddhist as there are types of Christians, but someone who is not a Buddhist might not know that.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
That was the stupidest analogy in history. What does my profession have to do with your opinion on the origin of the cosmos? Absolutely nothing. Being a mechanic has nothing to do with religion, at all.

And you keep saying that there's no stringent rules in Buddhism about theistic teachings, and maybe that's why its popular with some people in the US. You can call yourself a Buddhist, and all the while be lazy about the religion, hell you can even torque it to suit your arbitrarily made up beliefs.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It all depends on what type of Buddhist you are talking about. You are talking like there is a true Buddhist and then a untrue Buddhist. 😆 That is as silly as a true or untrue Christian. Most Buddhists I know, would not be offended by what other people say on an Internet forum. They are far too concerned with every day life. However, there are as many different types of Buddhist as there are types of Christians, but someone who is not a Buddhist might not know that.

😆

No 🙄

There are people who say they are buddhists, and go through the motions or preach about it to others and like the assumed reverence or weight it gives their opinion and they buy the statues and light the candles and buy the books, but at the end of the day, they're about as buddhist as I am a Jedi.

So you're saying that to become a buddhist it's only a matter of claiming it? That means there are about as many fake buddhists out there as there are fake christians.

Originally posted by Devil King
😆

No 🙄

There are people who say they are buddhists, and go through the motions or preach about it to others and like the assumed reverence or weight it gives their opinion and they buy the statues and light the candles and buy the books, but at the end of the day, they're about as buddhist as I am a Jedi.

So you're saying that to become a buddhist it's only a matter of claiming it? That means there are about as many fake buddhists out there as there are fake christians.

sorry couldn't resit 😛

Originally posted by Devil King
😆

No 🙄

There are people who say they are buddhists, and go through the motions or preach about it to others and like the assumed reverence or weight it gives their opinion and they buy the statues and light the candles and buy the books, but at the end of the day, they're about as buddhist as I am a Jedi.

So you're saying that to become a buddhist it's only a matter of claiming it? That means there are about as many fake buddhists out there as there are fake christians.

I don't understand what you are getting at, and why would you say no my commit? 😕

Buddhism is like the ocean.

Look man, it's not like I'm speaking buddhist here, it's pretty easy to understand. I really didn't think you were the type to profess ignorance when you didn't want to discuss a subject or didn't have an answer to a question.

And if buddhism is like the ocean, it's full of human shit and aids needles. I recommend you don't go in unless you have your surfsocks on.

Originally posted by Devil King
Look man, it's not like I'm speaking buddhist here, it's pretty easy to understand. I really didn't think you were the type to profess ignorance when you didn't want to discuss a subject or didn't have an answer to a question.

And if buddhism is like the ocean, it's full of human shit and aids needles. I recommend you don't go in unless you have your surfsocks on.

So if a person is a child in the practice of Buddhism, then they are not a Buddhist? Is a Buddhist a special person who become a monk? Can a common person be a Buddhist?

You should go for a walk and get control over the world of anger that you are in right now. That is why I am having a difficult time understanding you. The world of anger is a world where communication with words are not used. In other words, the more angry you get, the more stupid you sound to me.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
So if a person is a child in the practice of Buddhism, then they are not a Buddhist? Is a Buddhist a special person who become a monk? Can a common person be a Buddhist?

You should go for a walk and get control over the world of anger that you are in right now. That is why I am having a difficult time understanding you. The world of anger is a world where communication with words are not used. In other words, the more angry you get, the more stupid you sound to me.

Man, you've gone off the deep end. If you can't understand that there are people who say they are buddhists just for the sake of saying it, then you're more lost than you think I am. The converse of what you say is that everyone who says they are a buddhist IS a buddhist. If a person is a child of buddhism, then they should have knowledge of it and follow it's practices. And if you don't think there are people around who say they are buddhists and do none of those things, you are trying not to understand what I'm sayiing in favor of starting an argument.

Originally posted by Devil King
Man, you've gone off the deep end. If you can't understand that there are people who say they are buddhists just for the sake of saying it, then you're more lost than you think I am. The converse of what you say is that everyone who says they are a buddhist IS a buddhist.

What is a Buddhist? You are saying that a Buddhist has to be this or that, but you have not told me what this or that is. In some forms of Buddhism you have to do a lot; give up everything in your life, but there are some types of Buddhism that requires almost nothing. They would receive those people with open arms.

What are you asking me? Are you asking me my personal opinion? If so, then there are people who I would call Coffee house Buddhists. They are Buddhists without a practice. I thought I made that clear.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
What is a Buddhist? You are saying that a Buddhist has to be this or that, but you have not told me what this or that is. In some forms of Buddhism you have to do a lot; give up everything in your life, but there are some types of Buddhism that requires almost nothing. They would receive those people with open arms.

What are you asking me? Are you asking me my personal opinion? If so, then there are people who I would call Coffee house Buddhists. They are Buddhists without a practice. I thought I made that clear.

No, in fact, I said my comments weren't directed at anyone...just in general. Fine, you call them coffee house buddhists; I called them fake consumerism buddhists. There are a lot of people who claim to be buddhists simply because they don't subscribe to a western religion. So, they're pretty much buddhists in name only and likely do as much just so people will think they're mysterious and enlightened when they speak. You're the one who went off the deep end and started telling me that everyone who claims buddhism IS a buddhist.

A buddhist is someone who subscribes to the beliefs, teachings and practices. So those who don't do those things are not buddhists, even if they say they are.

So you tell me what a buddhist is?

Originally posted by Devil King
No, in fact, I said my comments weren't directed at anyone...just in general. Fine, you call them coffee house buddhists; I called them fake consumerism buddhists. There are a lot of people who claim to be buddhists simply because they don't subscribe to a western religion. So, they're pretty much buddhists in name only and likely do as much just so people will think they're mysterious and enlightened when they speak. You're the one who went off the deep end and started telling me that everyone who claims buddhism IS a buddhist.

A buddhist is someone who subscribes to the beliefs, teachings and practices. So those who don't do those things are not buddhists, even if they say they are.

So, this was all just a way to personally attack me. You have no credibility.

Now, please answer my question, or should I call you JIA?

Originally posted by Devil King
In the defense of the view of others, it's been my experience that in America most buddhists are following a fad. It's kind of like that song that says: "But isn't she pissed at all the other non-conformists; listening to that same obscure band!" Your typical American "buddhist" has read a few books; maybe went out and bought a buddha statue that he lights a scented candle in front of everyday; probably even sits on a mat a few of times a week and thinks about his life, and calls all that striving for enlightenment.

If I was the dalai lama, I'd be shitting my pants over the Scream 4, independant film festival, starbucks, consumerism version of buddhism that's going on in America today.

And before a bunch of you jump on me, that was not directed at anyone in particular. It was just an observation based on experience. And if there are any real buddhists here, they should be angry over the poor representation of buddhism that is presented by these types of in-name-only buddhists.

An anecdote virtually applied as a generalization? hmm

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
What is a Buddhist? You are saying that a Buddhist has to be this or that, but you have not told me what this or that is. In some forms of Buddhism you have to do a lot; give up everything in your life, but there are some types of Buddhism that requires almost nothing. They would receive those people with open arms.

What are you asking me? Are you asking me my personal opinion? If so, then there are people who I would call Coffee house Buddhists. They are Buddhists without a practice. I thought I made that clear.

I really have no clue how the hell someone can draw a line and people have to meet or exceed that benchmark in order to call themselves "Buddhists". There probably is a line....but it is blurry and probably varies from person to person. The truth lies in the heart of the professor of that religion.

Originally posted by Devil King
So you tell me what a buddhist is?

A Buddhist is a person who is a member of a Buddhist organization (or school), and has a Buddhist practice.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
So, this was all just a way to personally attack me. You have no credibility.

Now, please answer my question, or should I call you JIA?

Are you crazy! I said 4 posts ago that I wasn't attacking anybody! I said that there are a lot of buddhists out there that call themselves buddhists because they view it as a consumerist fad!

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
A Buddhist is a person who is a member of a Buddhist organization (or school), and has a Buddhist practice.

And how is that not EXACYLY what I said?

And I wouldn't even include that they have to belong to an organization.

Originally posted by Devil King
Are you crazy! I said 4 posts ago that I wasn't attacking anybody! I said that there are a lot of buddhists out there that call themselves buddhists because they view it as a consumerist fad!

And that was a lie then just like it is a lie now.

Originally posted by Devil King
And how is that not EXACYLY what I said?

I couldn't understand what you said. Now, I know that it was just a set up. Therefore, you did not have a real point. Most trolls don't.