Buddhism

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is anyone here a Buddhist?

I love the principles of Buddhism and want to know more about it. I understand it's not a bona fide religion per se, more a practice.

Not a Buddhist, but I am interested to know if they are as rigid about certain issues as Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc.

There is an interesting podcast called zencast. You might check that out.

I am not personally a Buddhist, though I have a great deal of respect for some of its branches. However, if you are interested in seriously studying Buddhism, and not only practicing it, I would recommend reading materials by and about Nagarjuna.

Hi again,
I saw the Dalai Lama when he came to my city. He was with Desmond Tutu, they were both remarkably similar, and suprisingly cute and mischevious. I mean, they spent most of their time laughing at the audience, well, ‘chuckling’ I guess... in a nice way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu

HI- Im very interested in buddhism. The best writer on the subject is Thich Nhat Hanh who set up "engaged buddhism" which is in my opinion the best school of buddhism - google engaged buddhism and you will get all sorts of interesting sites. Thich Naht Hanh is on you tube and is very insperational- he was nominated for the nobel peace prize by martain luther king. He escaped the vietnam war and founded monestries and works on creating peace. Other good books are by Lama Surya Das and of course Ram Das is a must if you like spirituality. I find the theravada buddhism is a little negative and find Thich Naht Hanh (zen) is better for the evolutionary among us as he talks of reincarnation as your atoms going on to make new things rather than a wishy washy explanation that other buddhist teachers give. I am interested in the collective consiousnes and interbeing and Thich is definately the best for that. The main thing in buddhism for me is the 8 precepts of right thinking, mindfulness, speech, action, diligence, concentration asnd livelihood. I find the three jewels great too- that means when there are any problems take refuge in the three jewels of the sanga (friends) the dharma (what buddha said) and the buddha. The best thing is to touch the earth - just reach down and touch the earth and feel your conection with everything.

I always just admire buddhism. If I was ever to be religious this would be the one I would choose because it is genuinely good and respectful of all life.

I agree with lotusblossom about Thich Nhat Hanh, and Lama Surya Das as well, although I've only read part of his book, "Awakening the Buddha Within" its very nice. Both are really good for beginners I think. For someone who comes from a different background Thich Nhat Hanh has a book called "Living Buddha, Living Christ" which is very lovely and draws parallells in a very nice way between the two traditions, its very consise and written in a very simple but beautiful way.

Contemplative Catholicism, which I belong to, is very close in spirit to Buddhism, but don't tell them that!

I have a lot of respect for Buddhism, but I am a bit too weak for that demanding religion. I'm a little bit of a child and I need Jesus to guide me. I don't have the brainpower to practice Buddhism.

i have a fireagate that i think looks like the budda

I find Buddha's Four Noble Truths make sense, especially the idea that suffering is caused by desire/wanting/clinging. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed I have to tell myself to detach and let go of the situation; that there is something that I am getting too attached to.

However, I am afraid that I might be misinterpreting Buddhism, since I really don't know much about it and I don't know any practicing Buddhists. It seems in some ways a negative religion--isn't there more to life than avoiding suffering? And when is detachment healthy and when is it not? (I tend to extremes).