Which Eastern Religion Makes Most Sense?

[MysticSang'ha]

Can't say I am!

But tell me, Mystic, what of the other Eastern religions have you looked into, and what did you like about them also?

Mostly Hinduism, since I was actually introduced to it after beginning yoga practice when I lived in New York. I read up on the Hindu religion and theology, and I discovered the belief in escaping samsara, knowing and practicing the dharma, and attaining moksha. When I discovered Buddhism, I understood just how identical Hindu philosophy is to Buddhist philosophy. Where I preferred the Buddha Dharma over the Bhagavad Gita was it's concept of what we call God. I couldn't exactly believe the Hindu henotheistic nature, but I readily accepted the nature of the Buddhist shunyata (dependent arising).




My sadly little exposure to Taoism came when I bought the Tao Te Ching several years ago. Much like Hinduism, I saw how heavily it influenced Buddhism, and so I came to respect it's philosophy on the nature of being. However, I wound up continuing to practice Buddhism because I preferred a more structured teaching. Unless I am missing something, I haven't found Taoism to have that kind of framework. Again, since I know rather little about Taoism, I can concede to being very wrong in my understanding of it.




I have not studied Jainism or Sikhism to have any kind of informed opinion on them. So to these, I just can't comment.




Overall, I love the influence Hinduism and Taoism had on my practice. We recognize how essential they were to the formation of the Buddha Dharma, and I personally do not get annoyed when someone says that Buddhism is an "off-shoot" of Hinduism. IMO, to get annoyed at such a comment would show a lack of appreciation for the mother and the wellspring of all the Dharmic religions.




Peace,
Mystic

 

[lilithu]

Mostly Hinduism, since I was actually introduced to it after beginning yoga practice when I lived in New York. I read up on the Hindu religion and theology, and I discovered the belief in escaping samsara, knowing and practicing the dharma, and attaining moksha. When I discovered Buddhism, I understood just how identical Hindu philosophy is to Buddhist philosophy. Where I preferred the Buddha Dharma over the Bhagavad Gita was it's concept of what we call God. I couldn't exactly believe the Hindu henotheistic nature, but I readily accepted the nature of the Buddhist shunyata (dependent arising).




My sadly little exposure to Taoism came when I bought the Tao Te Ching several years ago. Much like Hinduism, I saw how heavily it influenced Buddhism, and so I came to respect it's philosophy on the nature of being. However, I wound up continuing to practice Buddhism because I preferred a more structured teaching. Unless I am missing something, I haven't found Taoism to have that kind of framework. Again, since I know rather little about Taoism, I can concede to being very wrong in my understanding of it.




I have not studied Jainism or Sikhism to have any kind of informed opinion on them. So to these, I just can't comment.

Great post.

Overall, I love the influence Hinduism and Taoism had on my practice. We recognize how essential they were to the formation of the Buddha Dharma, and I personally do not get annoyed when someone says that Buddhism is an "off-shoot" of Hinduism. IMO, to get annoyed at such a comment would show a lack of appreciation for the mother and the wellspring of all the Dharmic religions.

But it's not an off-shoot of Hinduism. It's an off-shoot of the great Vedic traditions that went on to become Hinduism, which in turn was influenced by the traditions that sprung from it like Buddhism and Jainism. paticca samuppada. Interdependant co-arising. Nothing stays the same. Everything that is is the result of interactions with what was and will as we speak give rise to what will be.

 

[SoliDeoGloria]

The pride I have of being from eastern descent is that I exist, the heritage of my ancestors exists, the great and many cultures within China and India (and Japan and Korea and Nepal and Thailand and Laos and Vietnam and Indonesia etc) exist, and the OP/thread was refering to those cultures.

I tried to compare labeling continents to states because I thought it would be easier for you to grasp. Once again (and for the last time), if I asked:
"What are your favorite Western states in the U.S.?
A.California
B. Oregon
C. Washington
D. Other
E. All of the Above

It may be appropriate for someone to say "You forgot Utah" or "Arizona." Someone could even make a strong case that Colorado or New Mexico should be included as "Western" states. But if someone said "Missouri" I would want to know why they think that's an appropiate response. And if they responded by saying because it's in the Mid-West and is therefore a Western state, I would have the same response for them as I did for you. That label is an artifact of history and reflects the bias of the labeler. The Mid-West is not the West, except from the perspective of the East coast. The Middle-East is not the East, except from the perspective of Europe and the Americas.

But you know what? You wanna call the Middle-East the East? Fine. For the sake of this argument, let's do that. So then which religions originated from the East and which from the West? We know that every region in the world has produced indigenous/earth-based religions, and there are too many of them to list. So setting those asside:

East (by your definition):
Hinduism
Judaism
Taoism
Jainism
Buddhism
Christianity
Islam
Sikhism
Baha'i

West:
Humanism/Naturalism
Wicca
Scientology


Happy now?

yes, yes I am.

Would you kindly stop trying to divert this thread?

Just answer the poll if you wish, and comment on it, if you wish.

If you want to start a new thread, you have as much right as any other RF user to do so. Please do so.

I did vote (can you tell which one I voted for?). You mean to tell me that what I have been doing is not "commenting" on the poll?!

On a side note, it would sure be nice if someone would comment on the websites I reffered to before (about the apostle Thomas making it to India in the A.D. 50s) being as how if this is indeed true then one could make an interesting case for Christianity being successfull in the "far east" much longer than it has in anywhere in the west.

Sincerely,
SoliDeoGloria

 

[MysticSang'ha]

But it's not an off-shoot of Hinduism. It's an off-shoot of the great Vedic traditions that went on to become Hinduism, which in turn was influenced by the traditions that sprung from it like Buddhism and Jainism. paticca samuppada. Interdependant co-arising. Nothing stays the same. Everything that is is the result of interactions with what was and will as we speak give rise to what will be.

Well, OK. I see what you're saying.



Nicely done.




Peace,
Mystic

 

[groovyable]

With what i know about Eastern religions, i'd have to say Buddhism, yet they all must make sense and have reasonable understandings.

 

[akshar]

I've heard that Sikhism is an off-shoot of Hinduism, is that true?

It is, Guru Nanak didn't agree with vedas just as buddha mahavira (jainism)

 

[akshar]

I think to some people hinduism does not make sense because we have more then 1 god. False. 1 god only, different apearences.