Zen & Buddhism

[NIGhtMAre]

I must say, after being a pretty hardcore athiest for the past 2 years I've started thinking that maybe I need to rethink where I stand on this whole issue.

I have been reading about Zen and Buddhism in the past few days and have found that Im liking their belif system more and more. I really like the theory to what happens to us after you die.

my intrest in ZEN has changed my attitude too, I try to detach myself from material objects and focus on what else is out there in life. I seem to be more positive as a result.

Anyone else intrested in Buddhism or The act of Zen? Please use this forum to talk about it.

I'm sketchy on meditation, I see how it can be important I have changed my state of mind before (Lucid Dreaming tecniques) but I seem to not want to commit to something like that, Can anyone with a Zen background tell me how important Mediation is? Will it really make me look at life completely diffrent.

Don't make this thread an arguement. This thread is strictly for talking about ZEN and buddhism, no religious arguments will be tolerated.

I'm currently expanding my Link library for Buddhist and Zen reasources and If its okay I'd like to post the links later for anybody intrested.

Take Care,
Victor.

[BakerStencil]

[QUOTE=NIGhtMAre] I try to detach myself from material objects and focus on what else is out there in life. I seem to be more positive as a result.

QUOTE]


That is also a Christian Teaching("Jesus said to quit story up foryourselves thing on earth but rather treasures in heaven" which would be your relationship with god)however many don't follow it, Personaly I try to live my life as simple as possible with regard to material things, so I encourage you to deffinatly try that yourself because I found that it really helps me to avoid a lot of the stresses so many people have.

[HailToTheThief]

i don't think a belief system is right for me, but a set of guidelines to live by is good
if i try hard enough to be a decent person and still take care of myself, i believe i have done enough

i do think the inner harmony goals that zen and buddhism strive for are more than viable efforts, and i respect those who make true efforts to balance themselves internally
feel free to post those links, if you'd like

[NIGhtMAre]

i currently have only found 3 links that actually have some quality info right now, the rest are just confusing sites that are just quotes from buddha or something.

[DARKSTAR4ever]

i dont want to make this an argument but be a christian because if your a good little/big boy/girl you will go to heaven forever and it will be a wonderful world

[NIGhtMAre]

Okay thank you for that close-minded and very ignorant comment. Your post had nothing to do with the subject of this thread.

Moving on...

[.pie.]

Interesting, but not for me. I kinda believe in Karma though.

[stronghold]

and in other relions dark, i'm pretty sure you go to somewhere special/good as well..

anyway i'm not sure if this is idea, but you can try and visit a temple or something along those lines, or thoes religious shops, and maybe they can help you out and just guide ya through the religion..

[R-dude]

i don't really think i'm a person for a religion so i don't really believe in any of it yet sometimes religions interest me...just to read about it all and whatnot. yet i know hardly anything bout zen and buddhism, so if its not considered spam would it be ok to post those 3 links?

[Blind Sheppard]

I really like the teaching of Zen, i have a book with lots of different teachings. Meditation doesn#t have to be sitting with your legs crossed in a trance, it can be just sitting quietly in a relaxed state just thinking of things. I always feel really calm and relaxed after just sitting there reflecting on things.

[w1skater]

i dont believe in anything. If there was proof that any of these gods existed than i might think differently.

[Rastabilly]

I really like teachings of Buddism and Zen also. People take medatation the worng way. You don't have to be in a crossed leg trance. Like Blind said you can go anywhere and just free the mind and relax. Ive been trying to do it as much as I have the free time for. After skating, work, or school I like to go to the park and chill and free my mind. It really takes off a lot of stress and keeps on the right note. Ive also been looking into the buddest teachings lately to. Links would be much appreacheated. Ive only been able to find summeries and Im looking for something more in depth.

[HailToTheThief]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
start here.

[glimmer14]

buddism is about achieving bliss and harmony in a world of hate and possessions. Buddists believe that humans biggest flaw is desire. The want for more. Buddists believe in incarnation until you reach buddah. eg. you continue to return to this prison of pain until you learn the buddist faith in one of your lives, then you will get to go to a heaven like place.

[tup tup]

I love Zen and Buddhism because I’m a pretentious cunt who cant handle real life so I need someone to make a set of rules for me to live by. I also have loads of spare time on my hands because I have no friends, apart from my best mate Maurice who is a peddle, so I can practice meditating. I say meditating…all I do is wank with my legs crossed. Once I’ve completed my daily 3-hour ‘meditation’ I swagger around the place thinking I'm mint and spiritual because I read 3 paragraphs of a web page I found on google. I’m thinking about becoming a full time Buddhist, I think it could really make up for lack of personality.

Peace and tranquillity.

[Poser Park]

I don't get Religion. It has caused too much trouble in the world.

[crazy_dave]

I believe in chi(spelt wrong) thats it though.

[DarkHawk2-2]

i follow buddhist and zen teachings. it calms the mind, and it seriously helps making things like, less significant so u dont stress over it. I meditate just about everyday to free my mind before facing the negative aspects of the world. Skating becomes much more enjoyable with a clean spirit. Essentially, the biggest flaw in humans is attachment, like glimmer said.

nightmare, nothing in buddhism requires a true commitment unless ure really aiming for enlightenment. Meditation is just a tool that releases the user from the physical world into a state of calmness. It calms you down. Also, its a learning tool. Other followers meditate to achieve wisdom and an overall better understanding of the world's state of affairs. I'm at where I am because of meditation. Like, it calms me down enough so that I dont stress and focus boards. The days I do stress are the days I didnt meditate.

buddhism and zen arent real religions. Theyre just a set of goals and teachings that frees the spirit from the wear and tear of the suffering world. War for Buddhist domination is non-existant cuz unlike hard-headed others, buddhists understand the diversity of human thought and will. The wars fought by buddhists were essentially for the honor of their people and for the honor of their emperor. (i.e. Japanese samurais)

[NIGhtMAre]

Wow, I see..How do you meditate? the conventional method or do you have your own way?

[360degrees]

i believe in aliens and jar jar binks...oh and superman and ghosts

[.pie.]

I don't get Religion. It has caused too much trouble in the world.

Buddhism isn't a religion, nor if it was, hasn't caused any problems in the world. If anything, the world has caused many problems for buddhism, like in Tibet, where monks are prosecuted and unable to fight back due to their beliefs.

[DarkHawk2-2]

Wow, I see..How do you meditate? the conventional method or do you have your own way?
i sit outside (not in any weird position. I just sit on the ground) and let it all flow with the environment. Breathe in sync with nature, relax and free your mind of any emotion or thought. From there, let nature do the work.

[taximan]

I've always liked the philosophies of buddhism, you know the whole not wanting desires stuff, and the veganism.

[crazy_dave]

I think i'm gonna start meditating, this stuff sounds great. Cheers DarkHawk you may just of changed my life.

[360degrees]

hmm sounds dodgy to me..oh well

[metallicaibanez]

^jonny make da gooda point *squeaky voice* ryan sheckler LMAO p/j

[zeronoah]

i have read up a tad on buddhism myself. i didnt really get too deeply into the whole idea though, but from what i read it sounds very fulfilling. like being a better person and finding inner peace instead of trying to compete with others on some level that only people with half a brain can understand. maybe thats why i like to imbibe halloucinogenic drugs, they change the way i percieve things and they let me understand things that would normally be a very abnormal concept. but who the hell knows.

[Ramp]