But what you describe is not classic Buddhism, robguz. That is more like cultish behavior, and that stuff happens with all religions. It is not at all a standard of mainstream behavior. Go to Buddha's writings and you will not find anything that would condone or encourage what you just described.
"A good path is free from torture and groaning and suffering." ~ Buddha
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." [Buddha]
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WOW! I have THROUGHLY enjoyed reading this topic!
An exchange of ideas and view points - on VERY touchy subjects - RELIGION - PHILOSOPHY; with NO name calling, etc.
Reads and Feels like PunaWeb of 2006!
Mahalo to you ALL!
Real Aloha!
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Punafish,
quote:
The simplest way I can characterize the difference in religious attitudes, is that while Westerners worship a deity, Japanese worship beauty. If you don't believe me, go check out a Zen garden: Japanese nature-inspired aestheticism at its best.
Not sure who you include as "westerners" but I include Europeans in that and think it's fair to say most Europeans don't believe in a deity. If you mean North America then that's a different argument.
Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/
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@TomK: Meant "traditional" Judeo-Christian views of religion. I'm not into worshiping deities either, even though I'm North American.
Tim
A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions--Confucius
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My friend is leaving to-morrow and saying thank you for a lot of interesting information.He was going to do it himself but on advice of punafish we discussed it over a bottle of vine (or two).I think he discussed too much):.
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quote:
Originally posted by Menehune: WOW! I have THROUGHLY enjoyed reading this topic!
An exchange of ideas and view points - on VERY touchy subjects - RELIGION - PHILOSOPHY; with NO name calling, etc.
Reads and Feels like PunaWeb of 2006!
Mahalo to you ALL!
Real Aloha!
I also found reading the thread somewhat interesting.
My limited experience with Buddhism (which was my Buddhist ex-wife) was that the Buddha is worshiped in the local Hongwanji. At least that's the way it appeared to me at the Makawao Hongwanji Mission in the 70s.
Unfortunately, I fear that the cordial atmosphere of this discussion was because no Christians, or at least obvious Christians, posted any dissenting views. I hope that I'm wrong, but my fear is that had an obvious Christian posted a dissenting view, no matter how respectfully, that person would have been ridiculed and or insulted.
Aloha!
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
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Oink: Unfortunately, I fear that the cordial atmosphere of this discussion was because no Christians, or at least obvious Christians, posted any dissenting views. I hope that I'm wrong, but my fear is that had an obvious Christian posted a dissenting view, no matter how respectfully, that person would have been ridiculed and or insulted.
This is a fascinating post. No disrespect in the thread, but if an 'obvious Christian' posted, then it would've happened to them. Okayyyy...
And what, pray tell, would this putative 'dissenter' be going on about? Buddhism doesn't qualify as a religion? Or perhaps that since it isn't Christian, it is ipso facto to be wiped out?
I don't get it.
-dwajs
-dwajs
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When I first came here in the 70s, religion was listed in state data banks and at that time, more residents said they were Buddhists than any other religion but they were only about a third of the population. Christians were a close second, also in the 30% range. Now I can't find that data in state records but Wikipedia says 51% of Hawaii's residents are not affiliated with any religion. It also shows a predominance of Christian adherents in the beginning of this 21st century. US Census data I saw did not make note of religious affiliation; I assume for the obvious reason of personal privacy.
A 2002 Advertiser article addresses the general lack of info on religions in Hawaii and may shed some light on the matter for some. Here's the link:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/articl...faith.html
Frankie Stapleton
Frankie Stapleton
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And now, a non-philosophical/religious reason for a Buddha Statue in a yard...
Buddha as garden statue is not new, and may just be in a yard as an "Asian" decor item.
Buddha statues are semi-common throughout Asia, and there are many tour guides for places like Japan that have walking/motor tours of the regions finest Buddha statues.
Many of the original Buddha statues on island were brought by immigrant workers, bringing a "piece of home" (and more likely to have philosophical/religious ties). During the 50's &60's, it was very popular to have 'Japanese' gardens throughout the 'Western' world (NA & Europe), and they were featured in many home & garden magazines. Today the Asian influenced gardens remain popular (there are many "Zen" gardens that have nothing to do with a religious/philosophical belief) & many of the recent Asian influenced garden statues are imported from places like Thailand & not too much $$ for a nice piece of statuary...
] at your friend
] @ Menehune