Existential Buddhism versus Theravada Buddhism

[Shantanu]

It is acknowledged that Buddhism as practiced worldwide in an organised fashion is attributed to Lord Buddha who was an avatar of Vishnu in the Das Avatar of Hindu mythology.

However, In Hindi or Sanskrit, the language of the Hindus, the term buddhi means intelligence and wisdom (combined).

So when we talk about the Faith of Buddhism we are referring to the use of our intelligence and wisdom to run our lives. That is why the Faith is called Buddhism and not Buddhaism. There is a major difference, as seen by Hindus who started this brand of theology.

The Buddha took an atheistic view of this reality and carved out Theravada Buddhism as the most original form of Buddhaism as I prefer to call it.

Many Hindu Buddhists are theists and practice Buddhism differently with a focus on worshipping God as a Personal Saviour God with whom one can have a one-to-one relationship with. There is still the focus on dharma as central to Hindu thought, but it is based on theistic reality.

So Hindus see true Buddhism as a science based religion that is termed Existential Buddhism

 

[George-ananda]

Sounds like you are creating a new religion I would call 'Buddhism plus Materialism'. I am not understanding how this differs in any significant way from Humanist Atheism.

The Buddha did not teach materialism or atheism but stayed away from metaphysics as much as possible.

Materialism (from Wikipedia): Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are identical with material interactions

 

[Shantanu]

Sounds like you are creating a new religion I would call 'Buddhism plus Materialism'. I am not understanding how this differs in any significant way from Humanist Atheism.

The Buddha did not teach materialism or atheism but stayed away from metaphysics as much as possible.

Materialism (from Wikipedia): Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all phenomena, including mental phenomena and consciousness, are identical with material interactions

I am not creating a new religion but describing how millions of Hindus worldwide with a belief in God live their lives: As you know Hinduism is diverse and vast and the great majority of Hindus do not have a label for their practices: I am the first person to have ascribed the name Existential Buddhism to how they live their lives worshipping God and performing their dharma that incorporates swadharma, the duty to oneself. The Buddha did not teach materialism but ones buddhi tells Hindus that one cannot get away from materialism because of the fact that one has to live in vyvaharika, the perceived reality.

Existential Buddhists do not organise themselves into a codified religious path like the Buddha-ism has done so do not subscribe to the three Jewels of taking refuge in the Buddha, taking refuge in the Dhamma, and taking refuge in the Sangha, the Buddha-ist community. They only take refuge in dharma and this is determined through the path of satya-advaita or truth accommodation. They just quietly live away our own lives performing this dharma in accordance with what comes naturally to them as taught by the elders since the time of the Mahabharatta, namely the belief in ahimsa, truth, justice, and the yamas and niyamas of Yoga.

Their God and how they relate to themselves is very personal.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I am not creating a new religion but describing how millions of Hindus worldwide with a belief in God live their lives: As you know Hinduism is diverse and vast and the great majority of Hindus do not have a label for their practices: I am the first person to have ascribed the name Existential Buddhism to how they live their lives worshipping God and performing their dharma that incorporates swadharma, the duty to oneself. The Buddha did not teach materialism but ones buddhi tells Hindus that one cannot get away from materialism because of the fact that one has to live in vyvaharika, the perceived reality.

Existential Buddhists do not organise themselves into a codified religious path like the Buddha-ism has done so do not subscribe to the three Jewels of taking refuge in the Buddha, taking refuge in the Dhamma, and taking refuge in the Sangha, the Buddha-ist community. They only take refuge in dharma and this is determined through the path of satya-advaita or truth accommodation. They just quietly live away our own lives performing this dharma in accordance with what comes naturally to them as taught by the elders since the time of the Mahabharatta, namely the belief in ahimsa, truth, justice, and the yamas and niyamas of Yoga.

Their God and how they relate to themselves is very personal.

Why do you mix buddhism in to this? 99% of things you talk about does not belong in Buddhist teachings.
And if you are the only one who talk about Existential Buddhism, who are "they" you talk about? who are the others?

If you take away 2 out of 3 in the 3 jewels is it anything left to take refuge in? Dharma mean teachings so even there is Dharma in Hinduism it is different Dharma in Buddhism.

 

[Shantanu]

Why do you mix buddhism in to this? 99% of things you talk about does not belong in Buddhist teachings.
And if you are the only one who talk about Existential Buddhism, who are "they" you talk about? who are the others?

If you take away 2 out of 3 in the 3 jewels is it anything left to take refuge in? Dharma mean teachings so even there is Dharma in Hinduism it is different Dharma in Buddhism.

My relatives in India who cannot give a name for their religion are Existential Buddhists. We do not believe in taking refuge in anything, not in Buddha (obviously), not in Buddha's Dhamma or even other forms of dharma that are universally practiced such as ahimsa, vegetarianism or veganism, truth, justice, fighting for ones rights with ones enemies as related to us in the Mahabharatta and Ramayana which are all non Buddha-ist, and least of all we do not take refuge in Sangha. We are independent sole people who only take refuge in God and for which we pay devotional reverences to God in the accustomed manner such as the use of Brahmin priests to perform rites. Our buddhi is used to maximum advantage in this life and we try to attain liberation in this life that we believe is possible through the appropriate dharma yudha. Dharma yudha is a battle within oneself to perform the correct duties and righteous actions no matter what the obstacles and provocations are.

We have Gurus (like Buddhas for Buddha-ists) who we consult for religious purposes.

 

[sayak83]

It is acknowledged that Buddhism as practiced worldwide in an organised fashion is attributed to Lord Buddha who was an avatar of Vishnu in the Das Avatar of Hindu mythology.

However, In Hindi or Sanskrit, the language of the Hindus, the term buddhi means intelligence and wisdom (combined).

So when we talk about the Faith of Buddhism we are referring to the use of our intelligence and wisdom to run our lives. That is why the Faith is called Buddhism and not Buddhaism. There is a major difference, as seen by Hindus who started this brand of theology.

The Buddha took an atheistic view of this reality and carved out Theravada Buddhism as the most original form of Buddhaism as I prefer to call it.

Many Hindu Buddhists are theists and practice Buddhism differently with a focus on worshipping God as a Personal Saviour God with whom one can have a one-to-one relationship with. There is still the focus on dharma as central to Hindu thought, but it is based on theistic reality.

So Hindus see true Buddhism as a science based religion that is termed Existential Buddhism

you just made this idea up. Sorry. There is no such thing called existential Buddhism practiced by Hindus at least. Further the word for Buddhists in Sanskrit is "Bauddha" i.e. "followers of Buddha". Hindus do revere Buddha, but rarely is he actually worshipped in any significant way.

 

[Spirit of Light]

My relatives in India who cannot give a name for their religion are Existential Buddhists. We do not believe in taking refuge in anything, not in Buddha (obviously), not in Buddha's Dhamma or even other forms of dharma that are universally practiced such as ahimsa, vegetarianism or veganism, truth, justice, fighting for ones rights with ones enemies as related to us in the Mahabharatta and Ramayana which are all non Buddha-ist, and least of all we do not take refuge in Sangha. We are independent sole people who only take refuge in God and for which we pay devotional reverences to God in the accustomed manner such as the use of Brahmin priests to perform rites. Our buddhi is used to maximum advantage in this life and we try to attain liberation in this life that we believe is possible through the appropriate dharma yudha. Dharma yudha is a battle within oneself to perform the correct duties and righteous actions no matter what the obstacles and provocations are.

So where does the part of Buddhism come in when you reject all that has to do with buddhism? Why used the word Existential buddhism when nothing of it has to do with buddhism?

 

[Shantanu]

So where does the part of Buddhism come in when you reject all that has to do with buddhism? Why used the word Existential buddhism when nothing of it has to do with buddhism?

The word Existential Buddhism comes from the meaning of the word 'buddhi' which is using ones intelligence and wisdom based approach to living so as to be smart and survive in this world with faith in God.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It is acknowledged that Buddhism as practiced worldwide in an organised fashion is attributed to Lord Buddha who was an avatar of Vishnu in the Das Avatar of Hindu mythology.

However, In Hindi or Sanskrit, the language of the Hindus, the term buddhi means intelligence and wisdom (combined).

So when we talk about the Faith of Buddhism we are referring to the use of our intelligence and wisdom to run our lives. That is why the Faith is called Buddhism and not Buddhaism. There is a major difference, as seen by Hindus who started this brand of theology.

The Buddha took an atheistic view of this reality and carved out Theravada Buddhism as the most original form of Buddhaism as I prefer to call it.

Many Hindu Buddhists are theists and practice Buddhism differently with a focus on worshipping God as a Personal Saviour God with whom one can have a one-to-one relationship with. There is still the focus on dharma as central to Hindu thought, but it is based on theistic reality.

So Hindus see true Buddhism as a science based religion that is termed Existential Buddhism

What a bummer. More clutter.

 

[Spirit of Light]

The word Existential Buddhism comes from the meaning of the word 'buddhi' which is using ones intelligence and wisdom based approach to living so as to be smart and survive in this world with faith in God.

Buddhists do not reject that there are gods, But we do not follow any gods, and we do not worship any gods

 

[LuisDantas]

It is acknowledged that Buddhism as practiced worldwide in an organised fashion is attributed to Lord Buddha who was an avatar of Vishnu in the Das Avatar of Hindu mythology.

... according to some non-Buddhists.

However, In Hindi or Sanskrit, the language of the Hindus, the term buddhi means intelligence and wisdom (combined).

So when we talk about the Faith of Buddhism we are referring to the use of our intelligence and wisdom to run our lives. That is why the Faith is called Buddhism and not Buddhaism. There is a major difference, as seen by Hindus who started this brand of theology.

The Buddha took an atheistic view of this reality and carved out Theravada Buddhism as the most original form of Buddhaism as I prefer to call it.

Your views are yours to do as you please, but Theravada Buddhism is far from "atheistic", although Theravadin practicioners may easily be.

The Dharma itself is far closer to an ignostic stance. Or even apatheistic.

Many Hindu Buddhists are theists and practice Buddhism differently with a focus on worshipping God as a Personal Saviour God with whom one can have a one-to-one relationship with. There is still the focus on dharma as central to Hindu thought, but it is based on theistic reality.

So Hindus see true Buddhism as a science based religion that is termed Existential Buddhism

They do? If you say so. How many such people do exist?

 

[Shantanu]

you just made this idea up. Sorry. There is no such thing called existential Buddhism practiced by Hindus at least. Further the word for Buddhists in Sanskrit is "Bauddha" i.e. "followers of Buddha". Hindus do revere Buddha, but rarely is he actually worshipped in any significant way.

Only atheistic Hindus revere Buddha, those who have studied the organised religion of Buddhism see nothing but self infatuation in what he started and which became a worldwide phenomenon. Secondly, Hindus who do not belong to sampradayas and other schools such as advaita are Existential Buddhists on account of the fact that they use their 'buddhi' to survive in this world; hence the term buddhism.

 

[Shantanu]

Buddhists do not reject that there are gods, But we do not follow any gods, and we do not worship any gods

Which God do you know about as a Theravada Buddhist?

 

[Spirit of Light]

Only atheistic Hindus revere Buddha, those who have studied the organised religion of Buddhism see nothing but self infatuation in what he started and which became a worldwide phenomenon. Secondly, Hindus who do not belong to sampradayas and other schools such as advaita are Existential Buddhists on account of the fact that they use their 'buddhi' to survive in this world; hence the term buddhism.

Where do you get this info from?

 

[Spirit of Light]

Which God do you know about as a Theravada Buddhist?

The Christian God
There are gods in Hinduism.
Probably many more too. But i dont reject them at all, i just do not follow their teaching, i follow the teaching of Sakyamuni.

 

[Shantanu]

Your views are yours to do as you please, but Theravada Buddhism is far from "atheistic", although Theravadin practicioners may easily be.

The Dharma itself is far closer to an ignostic stance. Or even apatheistic.

What do you understand by the philosophical provisions of Annatta?

 

[Shantanu]

The Christian God
There are gods in Hinduism.
Probably many more too. But i dont reject them at all, i just do not follow their teaching, i follow the teaching of Sakyamuni.

Which ones do you reject?

 

[Shantanu]

Where do you get this info from?

From the practice of Existential Buddhism.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Which ones do you reject?

I do not reject them, i just not follow their teaching

 

[Spirit of Light]

From the practice of Existential Buddhism.

Where is the scriptures?