Buddhism questions
 

Hello all, I am not really a religious person but things have happened in my life which left me with one simple explanation which is "there is someone or something out there watching over and helping me", now whatever or whoever that is, I have absolutely no idea. My mom is Hindu and my dad is christian but to be quite honest, it is not in my nature to pray to any statue or believe the words of the bible which was written by man. I guess I am in a way like a scientist, I need to see physical proof of something before I can beleive it and not take the "word" of man so I have been struggling with organized religion all my life, I am now 49.

I do believe there's a force out there which governs the universe but what that force is I don't know so I pray to the forces of nature, meaning I simply speak out loud while looking at the sky asking that force for help and guidance and I also pray every day while taking a shower by simply closing my eyes and concentrate while the water is running over me and I speak to that force. Someone has told me that Buddhism is very close to my beliefs so I decided to seek out a forum for this to ask questions, can anyone tell me please if this is the correct place to ask my many questions? Thanks.

Maybe some reading of these may be of some assistance...

What the Buddha Taught
What Buddhists Believe
The Buddha and His Teachings
Good Question, Good Answer
Buddhism for the Modern Skeptic

Sure. Fire away. There are many here who are more learned than myself who can assist you. All the best.

Absolutly Not.

I do believe there's a force out there which governs the universe but what that force is I don't know so I pray to the forces of nature, There are basically four of them: Gravitation, Electron-Magnetic and Strong and Week Interactions at the atomic level. And the phenomenal fact of cause and effect in nature.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

Here, here Kaarine….well said!! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/up2.gif

I think that maybe the ‘inner child’ in all of us holds onto the belief that maybe there is someone or something bigger and stronger ‘out there’ who will look after and protect us. I can’t speak for anyone else, but that is certainly how I used to feel and think. I tried to make myself believe in God for many years because I wanted to feel protected and less alone in this world. We come in alone and we go out alone…and I didn’t want to accept this harsh fact of life - and it is a harsh fact. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/sad.gif

Something has changed in my thinking lately which has allowed me to be more realistic and willing to take responsibility for my own actions and direction in life. That is the Buddha’s teaching. There is only cause and effect. Actions and their consequences. But it is not a depressing and pessimistic way to look at life. On the contrary, it enables you to feel more in control of your own destiny, and to make the most of your life and the talents you have been given. I have found Buddhism to be very empowering and positive.

Welcome to the forum mystic….hope you enjoy being here. I’m new myself, but there are many experienced and helpful people on hand to answer your questions and offer encouragement. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/hands.gif

Well said Aasha... this is the way it works, IMO.

Hi, mystic. This is one place to ask, but only you can decide if it is "the" place to ask. Prayer isn't useless, in my experience. I'm pretty sure there is no supernatural being out there that's listening, but your unconscious and subconscious minds are guiding your behavior in a way that is kusala- wholesome. Trust that instinct and guidance. "In this very fathom-long body..." Your mind is completely capable of guiding itself; all you have to do is relinquish preformed expectations and desires and trust it.

Peace...

I have started reading 'What the Buddha Taught', and it is a very good read in my opinion for someone that would like to know more about Buddhism. I too, recommend this book.

Dandelion :)

Thanks everyone for the very kind welcome, I will go read the links referred to by plwk [thanks a lot] tonight and will comment on that tomorrow, meantime, yes, I absolutely agree with what Aasha wrote above but at the same time, how does "karma" fit into this?

Hi mystic,

From what I understand - though that isn‘t a great deal!! - I read that Karma means ‘cause and effect’. When we do something (an action) it leads to consequences. If we act skilfully, then that should lead to positive consequences for ourselves and others. It might not be an immediate thing, but the seed of a positive action, whether that is a thought, or a deed, has been sown and is waiting for the right conditions to take effect and produce the result. And vice versa. If someone acts in an unskilful way, maybe wishing someone harm, then that action will have consequences for that person somewhere down the line. It may be a guilty conscience, taking away their peace of mind, or it might be the reaction of others to their behaviour etc. That’s just a simple example.

I don’t have the knowledge or the correct words to describe this more adequately or clearly for you, but the more experienced members here will give you better explanations, and links to articles to read up on it.

I may even be wrong on this myself, and if so, my apologies!! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

Well, that's exactly what I have always thought Karma means, simply put, you do good and good will follow, you do bad and you will pay for it somehow, again action and consequence so that makes sense.

I read up briefly on the Buddha and where it started and was surprised to find out that Buddhism it's not much different from the bible I think because it was a human being like you and me who sat under a tree and all of a sudden was "enlightened" and thus began this religion. This is what as mentioned in my original post was always bothering me, that a religion gets started by a man's words? My question to you guys then would be, why wouldn't you believe in the bible but would beleive in Buddhism?

hi Mystic

Buddhism certainly holds there are (natural) forces out there which govern the universe; which also include karmic (psychological) forces.

My opinion is the kind of 'prayer' you are doing is like a search for wisdom.

It is like 'brainstorming' or using another to bounce one's personal ideas off.

Kind regards

Element http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

I can only speak for myself, mystic, but Buddhism doesn't require a belief in things supernatural. The heart of the teachings that you are expected to examine for yourself, rather than blindly agreeing because it's the Buddha's words or tradition and the like. If you can't agree with everything in the suttas, that's OK.

This explains better: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....065.than.html

Hi. I'm new to this forum and this thread, so here it goes....

For me, the bible or Christianity asks us to believe in something or someone "up there", some kind of unknown being that we just have to trust is there, while Buddhism just asks you to believe in yourself. I hear very little, if any, talk of God in Buddhism, which is what draws me to it. It's more about introspection and working on yourself for the good of all beings. Christ was very much like the Buddha I believe, but the religion of Christianity seems to pin too much hope on the afterlife which I have a hard time swallowing.

Thanks for the link, it made sense so it's not that you believe fully in Buddha himself but more his teachings which seem to make sense, is that right?. Yes Jenni, that was very well put. I myself think I am kinda in between Buddhism and Christianity, although I don't like believing in the supernatural or what I cannot see something or someone has helped me out in the past for which I cannot give an explanation but at the same time it's hard for me to believe that we control everything in our lives without the help of some outside force?

Yes, and more important than making sense, the practices produce the results they promise when I put them into practice.

it's hard for me to believe that we control everything in our lives without the help of some outside force? I don't think we really control all that much. Dependent co-arising is complicated, but it suggests the idea that phenomena arise when certain conditions are met, regardless of one's will. The outside forces described by physics are sufficient to explain everything I've witnessed.

Peace.

Does the chanting really work or more mind over matter?

Does it work for what?

Nothing "works"...it's actually the exact opposite. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/lol.gif

Here is ZM Seung Sahn on chanting:

Chanting meditation means keeping a not-moving mind
and perceiving the sound of your own voice. Perceiving your
voice means perceiving your true self or true nature. Then
you and the sound are never separate, which means that you
and the whole universe are never separate. Thus, to perceive
our true nature is to perceive universal substance. With
regular chanting, our sense of being centered gets stronger
and stronger. When we are strongly centered, we can control
our feelings, and thus our condition and situation.

In our Zen centers, people live together and practice
together. At first, people come with strong opinions, strong
likes and dislikes. For many people, chanting meditation is
not easy: much confused thinking, many likes, many dislikes
and so on. However, when we do chanting meditation
correctly, perceiving the sound of our own voice and the
voices all around us, our minds become clear. In clear mind,
there is no like or dislike, only the sound of the voice. Ultimately,
we learn that chanting meditation is not for our
personal pleasure, to give us good feeling, but to make our
direction clear. Our direction is to become clear and get
enlightened, in order to save all beings from suffering.

So when you are chanting, you must perceive the sound of
your voice: you and the universe have already become one,
suffering disappears, true happiness appears. This is called
nirvana. If you keep nirvana, your mind is clear like space.
Clear like space means clear like a mirror. Red comes, red.
White comes, white. Someone is happy; I am happy. Someone
is sad; I am sad. Someone is hungry; give them food.
The name for this is great love, great compassion, the great
bodhisattva way. That also means great wisdom. This is
chanting meditation, chanting Zen.

Perceiving sound means everything is universal sound:
birds singing, thunder, dogs barking—all this is universal
sound. If you have no mind, everything will be perceived just
as it is. Therefore, when you are chanting with no mind it is
also universal sound. If you have “I” then it is “my” sound.
But with a mind clear like space, sometimes even the sound of
a dog barking or a car horn honking will bring enlightenment,
because at that moment you and the sound become
one. When you and the sound become one, you don't hear
the sound, you are the sound.

One famous Zen master only heard the sound of a rooster
crowing and was enlightened. Another Zen master was just
sweeping the yard when his broom threw a rock against a
piece of bamboo with a loud knock and he was enlightened.
He and the sound had become one. So this matter of sound
in Zen practice is really very simple. Any sound will do.

What’s important is to perceive the sound and become one
with it, without separation, without making “I” and “sound.”
At the moment of true perceiving, there is no thought, no
separation, only perceiving sound. This is the crucial point.
So during chanting time, perceive your own voice and the
voice of others, just perceive this bell or drum sound, and cut
off all thinking. Then your wisdom-mind will grow, you will
get enlightenment and thus save all beings.

Zen Master Seung Sahn
vi I have been told by some that this is helpful, so I offer it to you.

good luck and thanks for practicing,
Keith

Hi mystic, I'm not really sure what you mean or what kind of chanting you're refering to. Some types of chanting probably help one to become more focused and remember certain teachings, but its not absolutely necessary.

Sorry guys, I should have been more specific, I was meaning to ask if continuous chanting of the words "nam myoho renge kyo" really makes a difference in a person's life? If so, how please?

Thanks for the reference Keith A! I guess any meditation clears the mind and puts things in perspective.