The Pagan, Buddhist, and Hindu Thread

[Clara Tea]

I've never seen many active Buddhists on forums. My city has a few temples, and most seem to be organized more by country than sect. For example, there is a Buddhist temple near me, and it's known as a Vietnamese Buddhist temple. It may well just be a factor related to language. I've been inside one Buddhist temple, a large one out on a large area of land, (quarter section) about 40 miles outside the city. The monk there couldn't communicate in English. It has large standing statues, and will one day be really special. The gardens are massive. There is also a very large monastery on PEI, and of course, elsewhere.

As with Hinduism, I trust the immigrant population much more that western adoptives regarding authenticity. Adoptives tend to carry more baggage. As with Hinduism, there is a language barrier.

The first step to envy, war, and misunderstanding is separation.

Brown v. Board of Education, 1954, concluded that "separate is necessarily unequal."

 

[Secret Chief]

Kumbh Mela is about Gods fighting over a pot (kumbha) of amrita


Homeless deaths broke records last year (2020), and are on track to break last years record this year (2021).

Narcotics and insanity are blamed for the homeless problem.

But, where is concern from any religion? Do I see any post about the homeless from any religion? The Christian religion is supposed to tend to the homeless, and their churches are not supposed to lock their doors to the homeless (but they do). What about the other religions....how do they deal with it?

I've see Religious Forum discussions about how Santa Claus might be evil and Christmas is a Pagan holiday. Well, this string is about Pagans...merry Christmas.

I've seen discussions about how Easter is a Pagan holiday, and discussions about how the Easter Bunny is Pagan.

Well, as we worry about the evils of Santa and the Easter Bunny, do we consider that those beliefs are the things that keep our little kids happy, and we are still distracting ourselves from the central issues that most religions should focus on.

Are all religions about us? About how we can make it into heaven? About how we can improve our karma?--And, somehow forget that our karma could improve if we help others.

Congratulations on breaking records, everyone....grim as the news is.

I'm sure RFers in the "real world" try to address issues in their own way, just maybe don't talk about it here. I regularly offer money, food and drink (and the odd item of clothing) to homeless people but haven't felt the need to post about it. Till now...

(And the causes of homelessness are economic policies in the main).

 

[Clara Tea]

I didn't know that the meditations, koans, and mondo he slipped in during martial arts lessons was Zen.

Before martial arts training, one must learn control. Great power requires great control. One must not create a monster with no constraints. The western world doesn't consider such things. They think of martial arts training as a tool to fight better, not to defend better or exercise the connection between the chi, the body, and the external world (oneness).

 

[Clara Tea]

I'm sure RFers in the "real world" try to address issues in their own way, just maybe don't talk about it here. I regularly offer money, food and drink (and the odd item of clothing) to homeless people but haven't felt the need to post about it. Till now...

(And the causes of homelessness are economic policies in the main).

Jewish tradition is to donate anonymously, otherwise, the donation isn't necessarily from the heart, but it is for admiration from others. My cancer hospital (City of Hope) was built by generous donations, almost exclusively from Jews, yet, there are plaques praising them everywhere.

I can understand that you hide your generous heart. You have, in some way, restored my faith in humanity.

The gap between the rich and poor has grown wider, as the middle class has been made poor. Paying for a home has become harder. The elderly get reverse mortgages and eventually lose their homes (the ads say that reverse mortgages aren't designed to get the elderly's homes). We see people hunched over pushing shopping carts of all of their possessions...they can barely survive life, let alone homeless life.

As people donate to the poor, the middle class can no longer afford food (because buying food is a competition, and those with more money get more food). We need to, instead, make more food, and work out distribution programs. We need to make sure that manufacturers don't dump food in order to drive prices up.

If compassion is the link between disparate religions, the world has hope.

 

[Clara Tea]

Its true; none of us really seem to be marketers.

I do believe the Hare Krishnas proselytize a bit, and I think the Arya Samaj are said to, but I've never experienced it from either group. Heck, I've never met a follower of Arya Samaj.

I did meet a Pagan author once who came across as kind and understanding in her books, but if you didn't follow her branch of Paganism, you were bad, bad, bad(in her book). However, that was the only time I encountered that attitude from a Pagan.

Never met a Buddhist who proselytized, either.

The package, properly put together, should sell itself, without marketing. Sealed into the package is peace and compassion...both compelling comodities in a world of war and torture camps and ignored homeless camps.

 

[Secret Chief]

There is no right answer to these general questions, as the dharmic faiths have many sects and variations.

That should be a sub-heading to this thread.

 

[Clara Tea]

I'm sorry, @The Hammer. I wasn't sweeping you under the rug. I missed this post last night.

Yes, I meditate each morning immediately after waking and showering.

The word is unimportant, but satcitananda (existence/consciousness/bliss) would be a good way to describe it. I may have also said "samadhi." I don't recall the exact discussion. What is important is the state of being the word implies.

I participate in and interact with the world around me with this body/mind complex, but I am not this body/mind complex and am unattached to worldly things.

The result is liberation from suffering.

You avoid (your own) suffering when you are unattached, yet, you participate and interact (which is attachment). Do you sense the suffering of those around you? Does the suffering of others make you suffer (compassion)?

 

[firedragon]

You avoid (your own) suffering when you are unattached, yet, you participate and interact (which is attachment). Do you sense the suffering of those around you? Does the suffering of others make you suffer (compassion)?

Some of the Buddhist teachings on this maybe a bit of a thing to consider. The avoidance of suffering or looking for an end to suffering is not necessarily an immediate outcome.

Anyway that's not the main point. Your consideration of other peoples suffering being a suffering for you, due to compassion is mitigated philosophically. When you gain a level of enlightenment, you develop the ability end suffering or minimise it. Sovan or arahath. And Buddhism has the concept of "empathetic compassion". I dont know if that is a very good translation of maithri. And this is not suffering for you to have it. Its a kind of peace.

 

[SalixIncendium]

You avoid (your own) suffering when you are unattached, yet, you participate and interact (which is attachment).

Oh? Tell me, how attached are you to the last meal you ate? You’re body is interacting with it. Are you actively discriminating its qualities and attributes as you digest it?

Do you sense the suffering of those around you? Does the suffering of others make you suffer (compassion)?

Yes and no.

Compassion =/= suffering.

 

[metis]

In another thread, I told someone I feel that us Buddhists, Pagans, and Hindus get swept under the rug around here.

I've been heavy into the eastern religions for a few decades now, so I'm game. Going by the number of posts already, seems that I'm a Johnny-Come-Lately though.

Seems like this should be an interesting thread, and I'll try and get caught up later today.

 

[sun rise]

Buddhists (et al) have stuck to their peaceful ways.

Sadly that's not universal with violence by Buddhists in Sri Lanka and Myranmar as two notable examples.

 

[Vinayaka]

I would imagine that in a large university, professors teach.

I think that everyone has points of commonality, and points of diversity.

Sorry, you missed the point. Had nothing to do with universities.

 

[crossfire]

<...>
And Buddhism has the concept of "empathetic compassion". I dont know if that is a very good translation of maithri. And this is not suffering for you to have it. Its a kind of peace.

Kindness is an English translation I have often seen for maitri/metta. Karuna is more fitting for "empathetic compassion."

 

[firedragon]

Kindness is an English translation I have often seen for maitri/metta. Karuna is more fitting for "empathetic compassion."

Metta or Maithri is different to Karuna. Metta is basically and fundamentally empathy but with compassion. Not as just an "understanding" as many assume empathy is. So the English word Empathy is not representing Metta.

Karuna is directly compassion but on an active note. Karuna is zilch if you dont dakva or show outwardly. So Karuna is compassion. Metta is empathetic compassion. Kindness is not really a good translation. But it can be used for karuna but definitely not metta.

All of them have empathy built into it. Difficult to directly translate into English.

 

[The Hammer]

Perhaps what distinguishes it in terms of formal practice is the emphasis on objectless meditation, usually called zazen or shikantaza. ( rather than koans as referred to by @crossfire )

Zazen..... This is typically the type of meditation I do.

I just sit. And let my thoughts slow and/or stop.

 

[The Hammer]

I have a brotherly feeling to all pagan religions of the world since Hinduism also is a pagan religion, a religion without a messenger, a religion from times immemorial. As for European pagan religions, we have the exact counterparts of many of their deities in Hinduism, brought to us by migrating Indo-Aryans. Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Agni, Varuna (Ouronos), Ashwins (Diós-kouroi, Ašvieniai, Dievo sūneliai, Dieva dēli) are not originally Indian.

This is why I try to talk with the Polytheistic Hindus here. It gives me a chance to look at a Polytheistic practice and see how that works, so that I can use insights gathered in order to flesh out my own views.

 

[sun rise]

Metta or Maithri is different to Karuna. Metta is basically and fundamentally empathy but with compassion. Not as just an "understanding" as many assume empathy is. So the English word Empathy is not representing Metta.

Karuna is directly compassion but on an active note. Karuna is zilch if you dont dakva or show outwardly. So Karuna is compassion. Metta is empathetic compassion. Kindness is not really a good translation. But it can be used for karuna but definitely not metta.

All of them have empathy built into it. Difficult to directly translate into English.

As a note KarunaVirus | Responding with Compassion has an "about" page which includes this:

It's the Sanskrit word for compassion.

Good news, uplifting stories, goose-bump-raising videos, inspiring ideas. Scientists call it cognitive reframing, but we just call it love. A new story.

The intent behind KarunaVirus.org is to amplify the voice of our collective compassion -- by featuring news of everyday people choosing love over fear. We feel that the acts of courageous kindness we're seeing all over the world will far outlive the virus, and if enough of us keep it front and center of our consciousness, it could well bring new possibilities for our future.

 

[sayak83]

In another thread, I told someone I feel that us Buddhists, Pagans, and Hindus get swept under the rug around here.

So, I'm making a thread devoted to these three(very vast) worldviews. Any and all may participate, but this thread may not delve into discussions of Abrahamic viewpoints, scriptures, or their God.

Anyone have anything interesting to share or ask?

As a lay Hindu from India, I am happy to answer any queries as far as I am able.
(Goes back to sleep).

 

[Aupmanyav]

But, where is concern from any religion?

This is a political/economic problem. Religion cannot do much about it, at least in India, since the other people also find it difficult to manage the requirements of their life. A few rich people cannot take care of all homeless in India. Here, homelessness is because of unemployment. People come to cities to earn something, the cost of a house in cities is beyond their reach. That is why they live in slums or even on streets. With India's millions, the problem will take time, especially since India had dynasty rule for 55 years. Things are now moving in right direction.

 

[The Hammer]

I'm sorry, @The Hammer. I wasn't sweeping you under the rug. I missed this post last night.

Yes, I meditate each morning immediately after waking and showering.

The word is unimportant, but satcitananda (existence/consciousness/bliss) would be a good way to describe it. I may have also said "samadhi." I don't recall the exact discussion. What is important is the state of being the word implies.

I participate in and interact with the world around me with this body/mind complex, but I am not this body/mind complex and am unattached to worldly things.

The result is liberation from suffering.

Very interesting. Liberation from suffering sounds like a noble goal.

Yes, the word may be unimportant, but I see words have a power to them . No worries, though on not remembering the discussion, I was probably eavesdropping in the Hindu DIR anyways.

"I participate in and interact with the world around me with this body/mind complex, but I am not this body/mind complex and am unattached to worldly things."

This^^^ seems counterintuitive to me.

I understand it intellectually, as I believe in Spirit and Reincarnation. But I don't see how one can separate their Self, from their Mind/Body (I'm just realizing I see us as a Trio-ism, not Dualism), even with meditation, as it is all intertwined.

(This isn't meant as a critique or argument.)