What makes a devout Buddhist? What makes one a buddhist?

[savethedreams]

The older I get, the more in love with Dharma , philosophy and a path of Buddhism. Its more close to pacifism, nihilism, compassion and anarchism, ideologies that i've felt as a child.

I've been practicing off and on for a while. so my question is, What makes one exactly a Buddhist? What makes on a devout Buddhist?

 

[Twilight Hue]

Good question. But it'll pass over time.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I've been practicing off and on for a while. so my question is, What makes one exactly a Buddhist? What makes on a devout Buddhist?

I would say a "Buddhist" is anyone who does Buddhist practice. I'm not sure what a "devout" Buddhist is, maybe somebody who practices more?

What kind of Buddhist practice have you been doing?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The older I get, the more in love with Dharma , philosophy and a path of Buddhism. Its more close to pacifism, nihilism, compassion and anarchism, ideologies that i've felt as a child.

I've been practicing off and on for a while. so my question is, What makes one exactly a Buddhist? What makes on a devout Buddhist?

In my experience, someone who practices the Dharma by meditation and understanding of life itself explained fully in the Dharma.

Each school has their own initiations to be "formal" Buddhists. Anyone can practice the Dharma. It depends on which school you talk with when it comes to who an when one can be or will be enlightened as The Buddha himself.

As for a devout Buddhist, it depends on your devotion. If you are more into study, then that's not the Dharma practice. That's theology etc. By actual practice you become devout. It's a journey not a goal to a destination. It's a journey because the Dharma says everything changes constantly.

As for what it means to "end rebirth". Question: What happens or what is the nature of life without rebirth? I can't figure out life without it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Well the stock answer would be those who apply the Buddha's teachings as they are described and told.

Yet it all up to to interpretation.

"Thus I have heard"

 

[Ana.J]

I think it is more about being a Buddhist in your heart, mind and actions. Simple as that

 

[Aupmanyav]

Boils down to action - Compassion to all living, IMHO.

 

[buddhist]

"And the Blessed One spoke to the Venerable Ananda, saying ... 'Whatever bhikkhu or bhikkhuni, layman or laywoman, abides by the Dhamma, lives uprightly in the Dhamma, walks in the way of the Dhamma, it is by such a one that the Tathagata is respected, venerated, esteemed, worshipped, and honored in the highest degree. Therefore, Ananda, thus should you train yourselves: 'We shall abide by the Dhamma, live uprightly in the Dhamma, walk in the way of the Dhamma.'" - DN16

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think it is more about being a Buddhist in your heart, mind and actions. Simple as that

I suppose a person who rides a raft to cross a river might contemplate as to weither one is riding a raft or is the raft. It carries well enough along anyways to realise a thing or two once the crossing is complete.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

As for a devout Buddhist, it depends on your devotion. If you are more into study, then that's not the Dharma practice.

It's difficult to generalise here. Some schools have devotional practices, other emphasise study more.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It's difficult to generalise here. Some schools have devotional practices, other emphasise study more.

I can see that. The Dharma is much more about practice, though. Unless one looks at the school before they do the Dharma?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I can see that. The Dharma is much more about practice, though. Unless one looks at the school before they do the Dharma?

Studying suttas/sutras is a form of practice, but again it depends on the school. But only doing study wouldn't go very far, that would mean being an armchair Buddhist.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Studying suttas/sutras is a form of practice, but again it depends on the school. But only doing study wouldn't go very far, that would mean being an armchair Buddhist.

Basically what I'm saying. Armchair Buddhist aren't quite what I imagine a Buddhist to be.

 

[Atman]

I suppose a belief in the reality of the Four Noble Truths, and consequently a belief in the effectiveness of the Noble Eightfold Path, would probably the bare minimum one would need to believe to be considered a Buddhist. A devout Buddhist would thus be one who not only believes these things to be true, but actively tries to follow the Eightfold Path, and thus realize the Four Noble Truths. As was previously mentioned what sort of practice is utilized to obtain this realization depends upon both the school, and status of the particular Buddhist. For a Theravada monk it may involve prolonged periods of secluded meditation, and studying of the sutras. For a layman following one of the Mahayana schools, it may involve devotional practices in the hopes of being reborn into a celestial Buddha's heaven, where they can further advance one's progress towards enlightenment.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Armchair Buddhist aren't quite what I imagine a Buddhist to be.

Me neither. You often find them on discussion forums though.

 

[ak.yonathan]

What kind of Buddhist practice have you been doing?

I've been trying to eliminate all of my desires.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I've been trying to eliminate all of my desires.

There are good desires and bad desires. Kusal and akusal. No harm with kusal desires.

 

[ak.yonathan]

There are good desires and bad desires. Kusal and akusal. No harm with kusal desires.

Really? I thought that all desires were bad because you ultimately will never get what you want. It would appear (at least to me) that what you're saying contradicts the Four Noble Truths. Don't they teach that attachment of any kind is bad because it will only lead you to disappointment that you did not get what your heart so longed for?

 

[Aupmanyav]

"At this stage one has to have developed skillfulness (panna) in determining what is wholesome (kusal) and unwholesome (akusal). Wholesome deeds or kusal are the bodily, verbal and mental activities that lead one towards cessation of dukka – i.e. nibbana. It is through panna one determines kusal and akusal. Through right effort one should suppress all akusal from arising and develop kusal. To do this, one must develop clear comprehension (sathi sampajanna) or full awareness."
https://bhikkhu.wordpress.com/2006/10/06/essence-of-buddhism/

You can search for more information on the internet.

 

[buddhist]

Good desires leads one towards nibbana, but even those good desires must then be abandoned to finally reach nibbana itself.

E.g. Good desires and actions leads one towards cessation of suffering (e.g. heavenly states), but even the heavens themselves will need to be abandoned for nibbana.