Why did buddhism appeal to you?

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Dear Azalia

Well I think when we allow it and seek to heal ourselves the right things are brought to us at the right time.

At the time I was doing a lot of soul searching and looking within, I was looking for the reasons for my deep unhappiness and to understand why I had attracted so much tragedy and pain into my own life when in reality friends kept telling me that I had done nothing to deserve it.

Buddhism helped me to appreciate that personal desire is the cause of all pain and suffering. Strict buddhists call it craving and in the Jesus Sutra's Jesus also calls it craving. It taught me that happiness was not outside of the self and that I should continue with my soul searching and seeking the happiness within.

It wasn't till much later that I remembered that in actual fact my mother had bought me a 12inch tall China Buddha and a flatmate gave me a book called 'Siddartha' about the life of Buddha twenty years earlier. So in many ways had I been so inclined, I could have made the breakthroughs 20 year's earlier but in my own case it took a great deal of pain before I was ready to truly understand what was being shared and not glaze over what was being read. Also in those days there were far fewer people like us to turn to and a lot less books on the shelves. In fact my own journey was solitary, no teachers, workshops, internet etc.

I was one that was very stubborn being an Aquarian and continued to hit my head on brick walls. Once I got to the point where I could literally take no more, I made my breakthroughs with the help of the combination of the teachings of Buddha and of Jesus.

So why did it appeal to me ? The universal truths are very simple happiness is within and its emphasis on compassion was very close to my heart.

I did not study it indepth I just got what I needed at the right time.

Love beyond measure

Kim xx

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

thanks for sharing Kim:D

I'll have a little think about my answer and I'll get back to you...

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Dear Azalia

There is a good thread on Buddhism on this forum called 'Zen for Courage'

Love beyond measure

kim xx

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

I think for me now it all just seemed to "make sense" as if recognised aspect of it from some unconscious awareness, but to be honest I was first introduced to it at a young age so that could be a reason. But even now when I hear or read new things, they just seem to "fit" into my mental picture of the world, like the jigsaw analogy I used on another thread

I remember another buddhist saying to me once discovering it was like "going from an unconfertable pair of shoes to a comfy well worn pair of slippers that you've had for years" So I guess I'm not the only Buddhist who feels this way.

I am also attracted to the fact that is seems so logical and scientific. nothing starts and ends - everything changes e.g. electricity, heat. So from this perspective reincarnation seems logical to me

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Bodhi
I think for me now it all just seemed to "make sense" as if recognised aspect of it from some unconscious awareness

I kinda follow that, Bodhi. Looking over the Zen thread, I find many things there in the descriptions that I have come to believe through my own inner searchings, without necessarily knowing they originated with Buddhist teachings. I haven't read much about Buddhism.. don't know if it's because I'm not ready for it or because I've already 'done that'... 🙂

One day I read a book on Zen and thought 'Ah, I finally understand it!'. Don't ask me what I understood though! Of late, Buddhist teachings bring me deep comfort and serenity and I suppose that's all you can ask of most spiritual paths...

Blessings
Moonfeather

PS - Has anyone read the books 'Buddha Da'? Wonderful little tale.

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

My partner and I are both very interested in Buddhism. Its grown on us over the 3 years since we first met. A lot of the ways we relate too, a lot of the ideas are very much the way we both see things.
For example - if something bad happens, there must be a reason for it, and usually quite soon after you find that there is a reason, a very good one.
Its also the way you feel and think within yourself... its a peace you cant really describe. You just feel so at peace with the world in general, because you know things change and things wont always be the same. We continually learn through life and that to me is what life as been about, one big learning experience.
But to me Buddhism isnt a religion or something you worship, its the way you live your life and the way you see others.
I've struggled all my life with insecurity and its helped me a great deal, not just with this part of my nature but other parts too.

The meditation aspect of buddhism is something we both want to discover more about but we need to find a local buddhist group. Being new to the area we arent sure where to start.

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

I was attracted to Buddhism after living in Thailand for 7 years. My husband although Thai, was actually brought up as a Muslim but changed to Buddhism as he felt much more comfortable with that way of life. Like you Manadafan, I don't regard it as a religion as for me there is no dogma attached to it. I picked up a book by the Dalai Lama which started off saying, "these are my thoughts which I would like to pass on you - if you find them useful then please introduce them into your life, if they are not, then throw the book away". That to me is what religion should be about - not forcing doctrines down one's throat. I don't pretend to understand a lot about Buddhism as I find some of it difficult to grasp (to a western mind) but we have lots of Buddhas around our house and to me they are just beautiful and I feel at peace when looking at them. I find the Thai style Buddhas to be far more graceful than the Chinese ones and also bear in mind that the so called Laughing Buddhas of China are not actually Lord Buddha himself but a chinese monk called Sankhajai (spelling). Similarly the Japanese ones are of a monk called Daibucho (again sp).

Love

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Hi,

i have to say that i also find budhism very appealing, i am not Budhist and have no intention ir feeling to convert, learn more as such and am happy as i am. but i just like what i see of it but then a lot of religions are appealing in some way.

I like the little budhas..prehaps as a muslim i am not supposed to but i don't really think that is the case..i think it is one of Allah's gifts and just as vital as anything else.

i must admit i don't know much why I like it but it has a nice feel about it..interesting as well,

hal

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Hello Hal,

You are so right. We can learn a lot from each other.

Love,
Patsy.
😀

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

wow, I haven't checked this thread for ages, and then i see that I have more replies:D

Thanks for sharing everyone!

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

I was with a girlfriend for many years who was a Jain - this religion I think precedes Buddhism, or is a splinter of it - anyway, I adopted an interest and in a joint trip around Thailand I visited various temples and met many Buddhists, this is probably where my eyes first opened to it.

More recently I was at Kings X and my life felt to be stagnating - my train was delayed for a few minutes so I nipped into a bookstore and virtually jumping off the shelf was a book called - "Going Buddhist - Panic and emptiness, the Buddha and me".

Divine guidance? who knows... [sm=1syellow1.gif]

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

ORIGINAL: Lotusflower

I picked up a book by the Dalai Lama which started off saying, "these are my thoughts which I would like to pass on you - if you find them useful then please introduce them into your life, if they are not, then throw the book away". That to me is what religion should be about - not forcing doctrines down one's throat.
Love

Yes, I really agree with this and made me actually LOL! I don't feel I belong to any religion or belief ATM, though am looking into Buddhism as I feel over the past couple of years (since having children) I have lost my way a little. Buddhism actually interests me, it's belief systems appeal, and the whole concept fits in with how I see my life changing and where I would like it to go :D.

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

Hi Blossom

Glad you like this theory as well. Since writing that post a year back, I've revisited Thailand and found it more spiritually profound this time round. Perhaps because I also had to attend a cremation and meeting the Phra Sangharaj this time, I have developed more of an understanding of it. I call it more of a philosophy than a religion - which I think all religions should be. I don't pretend to go deeply into the Buddhist religion as you'll find that the majority of Thais just accept it as a way of life and there is no "new ageness" about it. It just "is".

Love

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

i discovered it recently when after years of thinking that i was athiest i had a discussion here on hp where there were other athiests involved and i realised that my views were actualy very different.
im a little ignorant to religions as i was baptised catholic but had never been brought to church except for the day of my holy communion and confirmation, when i asked my very unreligious parents why they baptised us they said, understandably that since in ireland countryside there were only catholic schools they decided it was unfail to keep us out from what our friends were doing but always brought my sister who wanted to be catholic to church always supported us in whatever we decided we believed in but never pushed their own opinions on us. so i decided i was athiest but after this discussion on hp i decided it was time to look up my beliefs.
i looked up everything and realised that buddhism appeals and makes the most sense to me.
its also changed me as a person hugely, im much kinder, i see everything i do as having an effect on the whole scheme of things, it fits in with my life, ive also introduced my once faithless mum who loves these peacefull and unforceful ways of thinking.
i still have lots of research to do on all things buddism but am happy with my new ways of thinking!
love+happiness
jayne
XOX

RE: Why did buddhism appeal to you?

for me the traditions of teachings that have followed the historical buddha have so much to appeal to the seeker today.

i always found great difficulty in the competing arguments of those that believed in a spiritual reality and those that believed that all things were merely matter.

broadly speaking thisbecause the tradition does not require faith in any named god or fundamental existence of a material universe. in fact the buddha simply refused to answer questions about what fundamentally exists.

the buddhist teachings are not so much about what exists or what does not exist; they are tools to gain in skill and understanding. these teachings have helped me to "get on with it" and not get stuck in asking the question of "what really exists".

some later traditions come to the point of realisation that all things spring from mind but this is then just seen as another means of gaining understanding... no buddhist would agree tha "all is mind" and would not accept that they followed a school of philosophical idealism.

on this path (mahamudra)the meditatormight recognise that all that can be saidthat is beyond refute is that "there is awareness", and would then rest in this awareness as the key practice.

slowly out of resting inthis awareness, experience brings understanding. we have moved beyond the debate of discussion of "what is" or "what is not" and for me, this has been a great release from trauma of trying to resolve the conflicting views of those who assert "such and such is real" and "such and such is not real".

after some time of resting in this awareness we begin to gain in skill and learn that; in undestanding the illusory nature of all things, we are then free... to be free from the limits we set upon ourselves and become masters of our experience and what manifests in our bodies and the world around us... so long as it is for the benefit of all... and we do this by seeing ourselves as perfect... just pure enlightened mind... a mirror of loving kindness and compassion

in my opinion, when this is correctly understood,thisencompasses all the paths of all religions that establish their faith in a limitless loving God, whether named or not... and what is expressed through this god; expressed in human form, is limitless also and may focus attention to aspireon establishing the infininite in living now.

so this is why buddhism appealed to me and became more and more appealing along the way.

from not being concerned about what is, it then embraces what is: reality!

peace and love

Its simplicity x

ONly now

I'm only now beginning to explore Buddism - to want to learn more about it. I've always heard of it but it seems now to hold more that will allow me to find peace with my life, to let go of things.

Re; Why did Buddhism appeal to you

Norbu,
You said:

"slowly out of resting inthis awareness, experience brings understanding. we have moved beyond the debate of discussion of "what is" or "what is not" and for me, this has been a great release from trauma of trying to resolve the conflicting views of those who assert "such and such is real" and "such and such is not real".

This really sums it up for me. I get too phased by heavy philosphical discussions and my brain just blanks out eventually. Meditation and just relaxing into the natural state are, for me, essential. Good when practising therapies too, it helps to relax the client when the therapist is relaxed!
Kind thoughts,
Elen