How many types of Buddhism do we need?

FireGarden · 5th February 2003, 11:22 AM

Some of the Buddha's last words were:

"Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation."

Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism?

Tricky · 5th February 2003, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodPropaganda
Some of the Buddha's last words were:

"Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation."

Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism?

It depends on whether or not you "need" to be liberated.

whitefork · 5th February 2003, 11:34 AM

No, I think is means that "you" need one type. "We" don't need any.

"Many paths through the gateless gate".

Tricky · 5th February 2003, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by whitefork
No, I think is means that "you" need one type. "We" don't need any.

"Many paths through the gateless gate".

Agur?

whitefork · 5th February 2003, 11:49 AM

Tricky-san:

We're often mistaken for one another.

You should read my project plans and program specs some time.

I believe that COBOL should be structured as an interlocked series of Haiku.

5th February 2003, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodPropaganda
Some of the Buddha's last words were:

"Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation."

Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism?

Heaven and Hell are inside us?

fidiot · 5th February 2003, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodPropaganda
Some of the Buddha's last words were:

"Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation."

Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism?

Think of it as climbing a mountain, no matter which side you're gonna start from, you can still reach the top. Basically there's no one definite way to reach nirvana, everyone can have their own way of reaching it.

The Don · 6th February 2003, 01:52 AM

Heaven and Hell are inside us?

Nah, Mexican food just makes you feel that way

FireGarden · 6th February 2003, 03:25 AM

Great answer, Whitefork.
We each (individually) need one, but the group needs none. Except that some of us may need the group. Liberation through service, etc.

Of course, as Whodini implies, the Buddha might tells us that we already have everything that we need.

edthedoc · 6th February 2003, 08:42 AM

This is one reason why I'm becoming more and more attracted to Buddhism, but also why many Christians find Buddhism difficult to understand:

Buddhism seems (IMHO) to be pretty much free of doctrine, rules, and regulations. It encourages you to find the answers yourself rather than reading and (mis)interpreting ancient scriptures but does seem to leave many questions difficult to answer.

Because of this relative lack of structure there are many ways to interpret the true meaning of Buddhism but as this is are core part of Buddhism it doesn't matter.

If only more people would take responsibility for their own actions and beliefs rather than using their religion as an excuse for their behaviour.

neutrino_cannon · 6th February 2003, 11:37 AM

Yen Buddhism:

Based around the belief that the ownership of monetary wealth is a burden of wickedness upon people, the clergy of this enigmatic religion have become the richest in the universe.

Like any other religion, the number of sects will continue to grow until demand for variety dies. Lesson in capitalism.

whitefork · 6th February 2003, 12:21 PM

Eighty-eight level
Value denominated
Whim of the coder

5th February 2003, 11:22 AM	#1
FireGarden Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Spannungsbogen -- without a visa Posts: 5,043	How many types of Buddhism do we need? Some of the Buddha's last words were: "Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation." Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism?
	__________________ When Americans talk about freedom, it’s our secular code word for salvation. There’s no salvation outside the church; there’s no freedom outside the American way of life. -- James Carroll B'tselem Tony Karon's blog

5th February 2003, 11:33 AM	#2
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,359	Re: How many types of Buddhism do we need? Quote: Originally posted by GoodPropaganda Some of the Buddha's last words were: "Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation." Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism? It depends on whether or not you "need" to be liberated.

5th February 2003, 11:34 AM	#3
whitefork None of the above Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: aka kullervo Posts: 2,339	No, I think is means that "you" need one type. "We" don't need any. "Many paths through the gateless gate".
	__________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies - Nietzsche

5th February 2003, 11:49 AM	#5
whitefork None of the above Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: aka kullervo Posts: 2,339	Tricky-san: We're often mistaken for one another. You should read my project plans and program specs some time. I believe that COBOL should be structured as an interlocked series of Haiku.
	__________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies - Nietzsche

5th February 2003, 03:27 PM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	Re: How many types of Buddhism do we need? Quote: Originally posted by GoodPropaganda Some of the Buddha's last words were: "Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation." Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism? Heaven and Hell are inside us?
Guest Posts: n/a

5th February 2003, 11:45 AM	#4
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,359	Quote: Originally posted by whitefork No, I think is means that "you" need one type. "We" don't need any. "Many paths through the gateless gate". Agur?

5th February 2003, 07:07 PM	#7
fidiot Thinker Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 181	Re: How many types of Buddhism do we need? Quote: Originally posted by GoodPropaganda Some of the Buddha's last words were: "Since there is no external saviour, it is up to each of you to work out your own liberation." Does this mean that we need at least 6 billion types of Buddhism? Think of it as climbing a mountain, no matter which side you're gonna start from, you can still reach the top. Basically there's no one definite way to reach nirvana, everyone can have their own way of reaching it.
fidiot Thinker Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 181	__________________ "If the book the Bible and my brain are both the work of the same Infinite God, whose fault is it that the book and my brain do not agree?" - Robert Ingersoll "No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude." - Karl Popper

6th February 2003, 01:52 AM	#8
The Don Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cymru Posts: 8,233	Heaven and Hell are inside us? Nah, Mexican food just makes you feel that way

6th February 2003, 03:25 AM	#9
FireGarden Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Spannungsbogen -- without a visa Posts: 5,043	Great answer, Whitefork. We each (individually) need one, but the group needs none. Except that some of us may need the group. Liberation through service, etc. Of course, as Whodini implies, the Buddha might tells us that we already have everything that we need.
	__________________ When Americans talk about freedom, it’s our secular code word for salvation. There’s no salvation outside the church; there’s no freedom outside the American way of life. -- James Carroll B'tselem Tony Karon's blog

6th February 2003, 08:42 AM	#10
edthedoc Thinker Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 165	This is one reason why I'm becoming more and more attracted to Buddhism, but also why many Christians find Buddhism difficult to understand: Buddhism seems (IMHO) to be pretty much free of doctrine, rules, and regulations. It encourages you to find the answers yourself rather than reading and (mis)interpreting ancient scriptures but does seem to leave many questions difficult to answer. Because of this relative lack of structure there are many ways to interpret the true meaning of Buddhism but as this is are core part of Buddhism it doesn't matter. If only more people would take responsibility for their own actions and beliefs rather than using their religion as an excuse for their behaviour.
edthedoc Thinker Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 165

6th February 2003, 11:37 AM	#11
neutrino_cannon Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Seventh circle of limbo Posts: 2,571	Yen Buddhism: Based around the belief that the ownership of monetary wealth is a burden of wickedness upon people, the clergy of this enigmatic religion have become the richest in the universe. Like any other religion, the number of sects will continue to grow until demand for variety dies. Lesson in capitalism.
	__________________ "Man would have been too happy, if, limiting himself to the visible objects which interested him, he had employed, to perfect his real sciences, his laws, his morals, his education, one half-the efforts he has put into his researches on the Divinity" -Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Necessity of Atheism

6th February 2003, 12:21 PM	#12
whitefork None of the above Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: aka kullervo Posts: 2,339	COBOL - for AP Eighty-eight level Value denominated Whim of the coder
	__________________ Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies - Nietzsche