If someone ask me above question I may give a conventional answer “Yes”.
But in realistic sense that question does not make any sense to me.
One of my so called Buddhist friend who was 45 years old told me that he understood the meaning of the first precept only recently.
He said he just repeat the Pali words without knowing the meaning of that!
I gave up my social drinking habit only ten months ago.
About 98% of my Buddhist male friends drink alcohol!
Who do you considered to be a Buddhist?
Are you a Buddhist?
Are you a Buddhist?
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Anyone can call themselves Buddhist, as it's only a way to identify themselves as belonging to a group. In this sense the word "Buddhist" refers only to the actual common quality of that group, whether it be racial or national or whatever (or, rarely, the pursuit of Dhamma).
To practice dhamma is something else altogether, and for that reason I don't tell others I'm a Buddhist; instead I do my best to live a dhammic life (hard though it is).
To practice dhamma is something else altogether, and for that reason I don't tell others I'm a Buddhist; instead I do my best to live a dhammic life (hard though it is).
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
There are many types of Buddhists, with a wide range of faith and skill in the practice of the Buddha's teachings.
The Venerable Ledi Sayādaw describes Four Types of Buddhists in his "Manual of the Excellent Man."
The Venerable Ledi Sayādaw describes Four Types of Buddhists in his "Manual of the Excellent Man."
Blog • Pāli Fonts • In This Very Life • Buddhist Chronicles • Software (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
No. I'm a practitioner of the Buddha-Dhamma. Being a Buddhist is craving-for-becoming and clinging-to-identity-view.
Kindly,
dL
Kindly,
dL
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
If so, then being a "Dhamma Practitioner" is also craving for becoming and clinging to identity view.danieLion wrote:No. I'm a practitioner of the Buddha-Dhamma. Being a Buddhist is craving-for-becoming and clinging-to-identity-view.
One should understand labels such as "Buddhist," "Daniel," "Bhikkhu Pesala," or "Dhamma Practitioner" for what they are — conventional truths.
Last edited by Bhikkhu Pesala on Wed Sep 18, 2013 9:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Blog • Pāli Fonts • In This Very Life • Buddhist Chronicles • Software (Upasampadā: 24th June, 1979)
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Anyone who does Buddhist practice.SarathW wrote:Who do you consider to be a Buddhist?
Buddha save me from new-agers!
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Depends on the level of the question - if you are a census worker and asked my religion I would reply, I am a Buddhist. But many may not. The ethical, moral view of many atheists are same as a Buddhist.
If you take the " supernatural " elements like rebirth, kamma, Nibbana out of the equation then many educated and humanist atheists will fall into the framework that Buddha laid down.
There is a movement roughly called Buddhism 2.0 ( not that I subscribe to it ). I am just a curious member of Secular Buddhism Forum. My sister who is an atheist one day after discussion with me found that without knowing she is a Secular Buddhist.
Yes I am a Buddhist who follows 8 precepts for short bursts and 5 precepts always. But most do not. However most good people follow Dhamma with or without knowing it. And as Buddha said Dhamma is the essence.
Arijit
If you take the " supernatural " elements like rebirth, kamma, Nibbana out of the equation then many educated and humanist atheists will fall into the framework that Buddha laid down.
There is a movement roughly called Buddhism 2.0 ( not that I subscribe to it ). I am just a curious member of Secular Buddhism Forum. My sister who is an atheist one day after discussion with me found that without knowing she is a Secular Buddhist.
Yes I am a Buddhist who follows 8 precepts for short bursts and 5 precepts always. But most do not. However most good people follow Dhamma with or without knowing it. And as Buddha said Dhamma is the essence.
Arijit
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Is Nibbana "supernatural"?arijitmitter wrote: If you take the " supernatural " elements like rebirth, kamma, Nibbana out of the equation...
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Jivaka Sutta: To Jivaka
(On Being a Lay Follower)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
(On Being a Lay Follower)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
"When one thing is practiced & pursued, ignorance is abandoned, clear knowing arises, the conceit 'I am' is abandoned, latent tendencies are uprooted, fetters are abandoned. Which one thing? Mindfulness immersed in the body." -AN 1.230
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Supernatural - Attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature. I guess for most people it means Nibbana is supernatural.Spiny Norman wrote:Is Nibbana "supernatural"?arijitmitter wrote: If you take the " supernatural " elements like rebirth, kamma, Nibbana out of the equation...
To a believing Buddhist like me Nibbana is an acceptable truth I strive towards in this life and all following lives, but I will have a hard time convincing the man sitting next to me in a bus that it is " natural ". So yes to most of human race it is supernatural just as rapture is supernatural / mythical to me but not to a believing Christian. I have hard time believing every one lying in a grave will rise up and be transported to heaven before Armageddon ( from my understanding of Christian soteriology, which may be mistaken ). I have no doubt Christians and atheists or other faiths view Nibbana with same feeling of ludicrousness.
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Re: Are you a Buddhist?
I agree. There seems to be a modern tendency especially among some New Agers to say that they "have no labels" that way they have no ego-clinging. But they actually do have a label, the label of "one with no labels" And they could even have ego-clinging in the spiritual-materialist label of "one who is superior to those with labels"Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:If so, then being a "Dhamma Practitioner" is also craving for becoming and clinging to identity view.danieLion wrote:No. I'm a practitioner of the Buddha-Dhamma. Being a Buddhist is craving-for-becoming and clinging-to-identity-view.
One should understand labels such as "Buddhist," "Daniel," "Bhikkhu Pesala," or "Dhamma Practitioner" for what they are — conventional truths.
We all need some labels in this conventional world. It is no biggie, nothing to be obsessed about, just helps identify our roles in society, not something that has to be an ego-clinging. The Buddha was ahead of his time and brilliantly (in my opinion) explained it with the Raft Simile. We can get rid of all our labels and attachment to the Dhamma when we reach the other shore.
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Whether or not I identify myself as Buddhist depends on who I am speaking to:
If I were speaking to someone who has gone all-out-- precepts, meditation, temples, shrines-- then no, I am not Buddhist.. or at least, I am not Buddhist in the way they are Buddhist, and I wouldn't want to give the impression my religiosity is equal to theirs.
If I were speaking to a Christian or to a dogmatic atheist I'll identify myself as Buddhist, as it communicates that, while I demonstrate no external expression of it, I confidently harbour philosophical and metaphysical beliefs (and sometimes practices) which potentially contrast with theirs and would best be described as Buddhist in nature.
I also feel Buddhist. When I read Buddhist texts, I have the conviction that what I am reading is an authoritative, reliable exposition of reality, not just some exotic cultural artifact. I accept them as being something I would have severe difficulty arguing with. When I survey my understanding of the world, I find that it is Buddhistic. From my perspective it's not that 'I am a Buddhist' but moreso 'I am convinced Buddhist philosophical beliefs are the best description of the human condition.'
If I were speaking to someone who has gone all-out-- precepts, meditation, temples, shrines-- then no, I am not Buddhist.. or at least, I am not Buddhist in the way they are Buddhist, and I wouldn't want to give the impression my religiosity is equal to theirs.
If I were speaking to a Christian or to a dogmatic atheist I'll identify myself as Buddhist, as it communicates that, while I demonstrate no external expression of it, I confidently harbour philosophical and metaphysical beliefs (and sometimes practices) which potentially contrast with theirs and would best be described as Buddhist in nature.
I also feel Buddhist. When I read Buddhist texts, I have the conviction that what I am reading is an authoritative, reliable exposition of reality, not just some exotic cultural artifact. I accept them as being something I would have severe difficulty arguing with. When I survey my understanding of the world, I find that it is Buddhistic. From my perspective it's not that 'I am a Buddhist' but moreso 'I am convinced Buddhist philosophical beliefs are the best description of the human condition.'
"What holds attention determines action." - William James
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Hi Pesala,
Kindly,
dL
I agree that both are labels, but I also suspect--and, of course, I might be wrong--that the conventional/ultimate "truth" distinction is a false dichotomy. I intentionally avoided using the word "being" (no, my use of "I'm" is not an "is of indentity" conjugation) to distinguish the conventionality of the label from ontological descriptors. I suppose I could've have been more specific and clarified that I view practicing the Buddha-Dhamma not as an identity, but as an activity; not a "thing" but a process.Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:If so, then being a "Dhamma Practitioner" is also craving for becoming and clinging to identity view.danieLion wrote:No. I'm a practitioner of the Buddha-Dhamma. Being a Buddhist is craving-for-becoming and clinging-to-identity-view.
One should understand labels such as "Buddhist," "Daniel," "Bhikkhu Pesala," or "Dhamma Practitioner" for what they are — conventional truths.
Kindly,
dL
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Hi David,
Kindly,
dL
I agree that labels are very pragmatic, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the opposite of some pie-in-the-sky "ultimate" truth.David N. Snyder wrote:We all need some labels in this conventional world.
Kindly,
dL
Re: Are you a Buddhist?
Hi Viscid,
Great post.
Kindly,
dL
Great post.
Kindly,
dL