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