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I’m atheist myself and very much a rationalist. I find I really like Buddhism just because it taught me how to meditate really good. I don’t really follow the rest of their philosophy though. Anyone else feel similar?
I think it has some good offerings in its philosophy that a lot of people, regardless of belief, can ascribe to. But overall, I still can’t get past the elitism of it all.
I’ve found benefit in meditation, but without all the buddhist, or other religious woo. Like many religions, or religious philosophies, you can find good points in it as well as bad. Like other religions, you do have to sort through alot of dross in order to find the good bits. However, the good points are far more easily found in secular philosophies.
I find I really like Buddhism just because it taught me how to meditate really good. I don’t really follow the rest of their philosophy though. Anyone else feel similar?
sciwoman - 12 May 2009 12:10 PM
I’ve found benefit in meditation, but without all the buddhist, or other religious woo.
For the same reason, decades ago I practised hatha yoga for a few hours per day for a few years, using Prof. Iyengar’s book ‘Light on Yoga’. I never did gain a great knowledge of either Hinduism or Buddhism but, as a means to a positive psychological end, the meditation can be extraordinarily successful, especially as part of a lifestyle based on a common sense attitude to healthy living.
I have found it helpful precisely because Buddha was not a god (though deified as it was popularized). Stephen Batchelor wrote a book about atheist Buddhism titled Biddhism Without Beliefs that introduced me to Buddhist practice. He showed that one does not have to buy into the mysticism (reincarnation and such) to find benefit in the philosophy.
I must admit that I tried joining a zendo in Los Angeles and was driven away by the emphasis on ritual and prayer, as well as the authority structure, but the extended meditation periods and dharma talks were wonderful. I also appreciated the goal of facing reality just as it is.
I don’t know Buddhism, that well personally. But I have read some of their beliefs and find it more morally sound that of Christians. Buddhism follows a moral code and is pretty structured in that code, whereas Christians can live any way they want and be saved on Sunday by praying or even just believing. However there are always structural problems in any organised religions, as personal beliefs tend to creep into all of them. But structure and fundamental wise Buddhism seems to me the better religion in the world. Meditation is also a excellent way to still the mind and keep it’s focus.
For me, it’s kinda vice versa.. I haven’t meditated very much (although I’m trying to turn it around), but find the teaching very helpful in seeing the world in a more meaningful way, that invites to explore and realize the unlimited potential of the mind.. but of course, in order to get there, you need to meditate..
Buddhism is a good example of how something can be corrupted by human desires. From the little I know about buddhism, it started out not as a religion, but a simple way of viewing the world built on self reflection and study. It was then corrupted for social, political and other reasons of control. Some of it has been almost codified, and made into a doctrine. The buddah has been made into a god figure in some sects. Needless to say, a lot of people have benefitted from exploiting this for a very long time.
I’m not quite sure where the line between the practice and the religion/philosophy can be drawn, but I find meditation and extremely useful and productive exercise in mental and emotional discipline/perspective maintenance.
Buddhism is a good example of how something can be corrupted by human desires. From the little I know about buddhism, it started out not as a religion, but a simple way of viewing the world built on self reflection and study. It was then corrupted for social, political and other reasons of control. Some of it has been almost codified, and made into a doctrine. The buddah has been made into a god figure in some sects. Needless to say, a lot of people have benefitted from exploiting this for a very long time.
All this desite the fact Buddha clearly espoused that he was not a god, and should not be worshiped as one. In addition, he also directed others to give what he was saying a try, and to discard his teachings if they did not “fit”.
And I’m sure those that worship him and turn his words into doctrine have their own justifications for doing so.
It just goes to show that we can twist even very clear direction to fit our world view, even if it clearly contradicts said view. (Christians killing in the name of God despite commandement #6, the push that Islam is a religion of peace, etc.).
I have also found the meditative procedures have helped me, at least when I am disciplined enough to practice. I guess I am thinking particularly of the mindfulness practice. In essence mindfulness meditation is more a psychological technique of self observation. I think the goal of learning to understand how one suffers and to develop a detachment to that suffering is what it is about. There is nothing woo about this and there is no need to swallow any other of Buddha’s teachings.
This form of meditation may not actually be a science but it shares some of the goals of science - eg training in accurate observation of phenomena, observing the data without drawing prejudging conclusions, only authentic knowledge is that based on actual sense experience and so on.
As far as Buddhism the religion goes - not really interested any more although I have had it in my “quest” in past years. I would argue, however that Buddhism may be most of the time relatively harmless when compared to the Abrahamic religions. Karma is weird and can’t be falsifiable. and the lineage of deities is all really just sacred genealogies. However you don’t see Buddhists too often blowing themselves up, adulating martyrdom, embarking on bloody crusades, condemning and judging those who are different or don’t believe. Evangelising is fairly tame although does happen. So all in all I think as religion goes it is a healthier package than many others.
My version of buddhism is whatever is within a couple popular writings on the Tibeten Dali Lama. That being said, I like it for three reasons. “Don’t believe anything that anyone has said, even if I have said it, if it doesn’t first agree with your own reason”. I’m doing this from memory, but that’s a quote from buddha. Buddhism, unlike Judeo-christian religions, has never said “Science is wrong, our unfounded beliefs are right” as far as I know. That’s the second. The third is that Meditation practice is extremely soothing to me. I don’t know how much of this is buddhism (I didn’t learn “buddhist” meditation, I just associate the two. I don’t know how buddhists meditate, or how it differs from my lotus-position breathing and thinking).
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