[PilotVertolet]

Hi,

I have recently begun to investigate the world of Buddhism and found the benefits of meditation to be profound!(both spiritually and merely in terms of mood/everyday life outlook)
My parents and friends however seem to be taking issue with my new found practices and to be honest I don't really know how to answer them . I know I shouldn't be worried about what other people think, but the questions they ask are beginning to stir doubt in my own mind. Their accusations of Buddhism are that it is only attractive because:

1) by belonging to it you can touch the infinite
2) you can have joy without concrete religious obligations.

Can anyone help me to understand these claims?
Thanks!

[bortycuz]

Welcome m 502,

I'm going to move your question to the Buddhism for Beginners forum which is a more appropriate place for it.

Kind regards

Aloka

[Staillateno]

Hi,

I have recently begun to investigate the world of Buddhism and found the benefits of meditation to be profound!(both spiritually and merely in terms of mood/everyday life outlook)
My parents and friends however seem to be taking issue with my new found practices and to be honest I don't really know how to answer them . I know I shouldn't be worried about what other people think, but the questions they ask are beginning to stir doubt in my own mind. Their accusations of Buddhism are that it is only attractive because:

1) by belonging to it you can touch the infinite
2) you can have joy without concrete religious obligations.

Can anyone help me to understand these claims?
Thanks!

Welcome to the forum.

I would not give much weight to these accusations. Although there are some people who are attracted to Buddhism because of these [misleading] impressions, the main reason for the Buddha having taught and the main reason for putting the teachings into practice is for the cessation of suffering.

Both of the accusations leveled sound like stereotypes. To "touch the infinite" may be a misinformed metaphor for Nirvana, which is the cessation of suffering. Many Buddhist monks and nuns who have made great accomplishments in the cessation of suffering had "concrete religious obligations" in the form of monastic vows. Not everyone takes these vows, of course.

Still, ultimately the Buddha taught:

Simsapa Sutta (SN 56.31)

"What I have revealed is: 'This is Suffering, this is the Arising of Suffering, this is the Cessation of Suffering, and this is the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering.' And why, monks, have I revealed it?

"Because this is related to the goal, fundamental to the holy life, conduces to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment and Nibbaana, therefore I have revealed it.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....031.wlsh.html That you are experiencing the benefits of meditation is excellent and supports this point made by the Buddha.

[9rCR9hWL]

I don't really understand 1), why is that supposed to be a bad thing in their opinion?

For 2) yes they are correct you can practise Buddhist meditation and/or the Buddhist path as a whole without concrete religious obligations.

There are lots of groups in the west that take a more secular approach to Buddhist practise with little or no religious trappings, if you want some links let us know.

[agrismhig]

1) This is extremely vague. But if it means you can have a spiritual connection with all of the universe or something along those lines then why is it a bad thing.

2) Why would this be bad. Most of Buddhist practice can be practiced by anyone regardless of most religious beliefs.

[exchpaypalgold]

My parents and friends however seem to be taking issue with my new found practices and to be honest I don't really know how to answer them

Is it possible to not answer them at all? Because their questions seemingly stem from a total lack of understanding of the Buddha's teachings.

If you must answer them, maybe say something along the lines of:

1) by belonging to it you can touch the infinite
That's the infinite peace and happiness of letting go.

2) you can have joy without concrete religious obligations.
In Buddhism, there are no obligations enforced by the fear of God or an unseen power. In Buddhism, moral restraint is voluntarily followed by understanding with wisdom the benefits of moral conduct.

My advice to you is not to get discouraged by your environment. There will always be someone who disagrees with what you do. Unshakable faith in Buddhism takes time to develop. I suggest that you read more and investigate dhamma. As the Buddha said, if your practice makes you a happier person, then you are on the right track.

[tinamasak]

Hi,

I have recently begun to investigate the world of Buddhism and found the benefits of meditation to be profound!(both spiritually and merely in terms of mood/everyday life outlook)
My parents and friends however seem to be taking issue with my new found practices and to be honest I don't really know how to answer them . I know I shouldn't be worried about what other people think, but the questions they ask are beginning to stir doubt in my own mind. Their accusations of Buddhism are that it is only attractive because:

1) by belonging to it you can touch the infinite
2) you can have joy without concrete religious obligations.

Can anyone help me to understand these claims?
Thanks!

(1) Dont see Buddhism as primarily looking to instant euphoria.

(2) Maybe concrete obligations is more a fear thing..................not too spiritual...........

[oraltyrap]

When I was a child, I was impressed with a quotation from the Upanishads, to the point that this sole quotation has been at the root of everything I have done and not done for the rest of my life:
"Accept only that which appeals to your heart as truth. Let the rest pass you by, for the time being. For to each comes his own, and none can gain his own until he's prepared for it."

You have found the Buddha's knowledge or maybe the Buddha's knowledge has found you. Beliefs are very personal and I personally don't feel compelled to respond to people's questions or nagging. I don't mess with other people's ideas and keep rather silent as to my own because what is useful to me might not be useful to others. Remember that even the Buddha was rather reluctant to teach to others after his Enlightenment. He thought maybe his experience had been too personal.

I have at least three people in my environment who are very Christian and are continually attacking my lack of belief in a God and my Buddhism. But then, we all come from different walks in life and I find it's only natural that we have each been led to believe different things. I don't indoctrinate anyone.

I think the best way to explain Buddhism to people is to set the example. Be the best person you can be, learn and read as much as you can, quote the Buddha in your conversations and that's all there is to it. We are ethical because we have empathy with other sentient beings' feelings, not because we fear the punishment of a God.

[Gastonleruanich]

Like others, I'm a bit confused by "by belonging to it you can touch the infinite".

As for "you can have joy without concrete religious obligations", that's certainly true but I don't think it has quite the consequences your friends/family think it does. To make something more substantial you need to add in another premise, probably something along the lines of "One ought/ought not to have concrete religious obligations", which will itself require a long, boring, drawn-out argument which is inevitably going to be inconclusive whichever end you attack it from. Better, perhaps, is to consider the famous injunction to "be lamps unto yourselves".

[Kokomoxcv]

Uh i don't get it i don't see the problem with the two reasons that's the whole purpose isn't it?

[Jesslovers]

The exact same topic was posted on Dhamma Wheel

Apparently, these are quotes from Cardinal Ratzinger, so this is just a Troll. Don't waste your energy on replying to trolls.

[Qutlsilh]

Thank you very much for pointing this out Bhikkhu Pesala.


I have just compared the OP with this quote at the Buddhist Channel:

"If Buddhism is attractive, it's only because it suggests that by belonging to it you can touch the infinite, and you can have joy without concrete religious obligations.

It's spiritually self-indulgent eroticism.'' ~ Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI)


This was the only post of "mongaloid502" and he/she hasn't been back for 2 months so I will close the thread.