Buddha Taught Some Useful Ideas

Buddha predated the alleged time of Jesus by about 500 years. What is now considered Buddhism has, like the Bible, been passed down through edited writing and cultural practices. Today there are branches to be admired and branches to stay away from.

Rather consistent, I understand, is the teaching of Buddha that he did not consider himself to be a god with super natural powers. Thus, he had no power to cure diseases or feed the masses loaves and fishes.

His teaching was that within every human is the ability to deal with more troubles than they, themselves, might think they can handle on their own.

When I was in Thailand several years ago, a couple of different Thai friends told me one can be of any religion and still follow the teaching of Buddha. I guess that means one can believe there is a god but still follow Buddha's teaching about the power of human resolve.

An older Thai woman I know prays at an alter of Buddhist objects including candles each evening. She told others this practice brings her good luck. This woman does not read or write and lives in a rural area. I've been told practices of Buddhism are different in rural areas than in cities. No doubt each faction looks down on the other's version of the faith.

If Buddhism is really about digging down to find one's own personal resolve to deal with whatever comes along and is not about magical tales it may help some people. To the extent it is about many factions believing different ideas and looking down on all others it is too much like Christianity to be of much help.

Comments

  1. Matt NoahAugust 19, 2019 at 8:21 PM

    Interestingly enough, the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen showed tremendous tolerance and respect for other world religions. His premise, I believe, is that each religion can or may have things to offer which are consistent with Catholicism. In that regard, there is goodness to be found. I don't want to speak, quote or paraphrase for Sheen but if you want to spend some time listening to whom many consider the greatest Catholic preacher America has ever seen, try this broadcast of "Life is Worth Living" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6aIhHzXkw

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more