- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
By D. T. Suzuki, forward by Carl Jung This fast became my favorite book a few years ago and I am going to dive back into it again.
The introduction by psychologist Carl G Jung is phenomenal, and almost as enlightening as the rest of the book. I’ve never felt the spirit as much reading anything other than scripture, as I have when I read this book. On a spiritual level, everything that is discussed concerning Zen can be applied to ‘the spirit’.
Don’t be put off, as zen buddhism is not a religion, it’s not even a philosophy or way of thinking and feeling; it just is.
Any other recommendations along this vein?
I love Buddhism. It’s a great lifestyle. I know Secular Buddhism is a new fad, I prefer the more traditional. That said I have read of plenty of Buddhist followers who experience faith crisis or changes and join churches. Look no farther than Chieko Okazaki. She continued to practice her Buddhism all her life, she worshiped with her mom when she visited her. She said she took her Buddhism with her.
Buddhism seems to have had many fads over the years, I like the underlying messages and spirit of it, much like the message of all religions without their different dogma. I’ll have to read Chieko’s story.
This is a good book, I read it some years ago. I second the recommendation. (Although some Zen Buddhism is very much religion from personal experience.)
Since you asked for stuff along the same vein:
* Zen in English Literature and Oriental Classics by RH Blyth. This book was an influence on the Beats. Not sure if it’s in print but a lost classic in my view.
* Zen in the Art of Archery by Herrigel. An interesting take and not too long from from what I remember.
* Zen Mind, Beginners’ Mind by Shunryu Suzuki (no relation. Suzuki is the most common Japanese surname)
In all honesty, I do identify far more as Buddhist, than LDS. I love “The Art of Happiness” by Dalai Lama XIV. I’d be willing to say I’d follow the Dalai Lama and have trust in him far beyond anyone in our current Q15. I’ve found Buddhism is a lot simplier belief system than any other religion. Simply put, “There is pain and suffering, here is what causes it, there is an escape from it, and here’s the best way we’ve found to get there”. They’re very accepting, very focused on both self improvement and service, and don’t get bogged down in metaphysical questions. Plus, they actually have a lay ministry. Also, I really like the Dalai Lama’s approach to knowlege and wisdom from other sources, and his willingness to change (he declared the traditionally held buddhist belief of Mt Meru to be false, because scientific evidence was against it). To quote,
Quote:“If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims.”
I have some relatives who are devout Buddhists, and they have done a lot of good in the world volunteering with the Tzu Chi charities in Taiwan. In terms of service, they put most members of the church to shame. It makes me embarrassed that my two-year “service” for the church was far less Christlike and service-oriented than what they do. There’s a lot we can learn from the Buddhist tradition. I’m not very familiar with the Zen type of Buddhism though, I’m interested to learn more about that. I have said on more than one occasion that if I did not love the concept of a Savior so much, even if I view it differently than many other members, I would consider myself a Buddhist Mormon. I see so many similarities between what I consider to be the ideals of each religion, including the theoretical tie between reincarnation and eternal progression. Quote:
I’ve found Buddhism is a lot simplier belief system than any other religion
As presented to the west in its watered down form, but in reality many forms of Buddhism are far more complex than the LDS. What many westerners think of as Buddhism – being nice and meditating occasionally – isn’t quite Buddhism. There is no central canon, there are frequently complex rituals, mantras, a technical vocabulary about ten times as large as ours, visualizations, lineages…
I have read tons of Buddhist literature and the complexity is staggering. It’s not just that I’m having to deal with an entirely foreign culture base (unlike Christianity in the west), but that meditation is much harder work than first appears. What first appears one way turns out another e.g. many equate karma with sin.
Buddhist retreat centers are usually tough places. I was rec’d one but then found out you had to get up at four oe five every morning and do four two hour stretches of meditation over the course of the day.
There is also an ugly undercurrent in some forms of Buddhism but less so than Hinduism. We have some of this in cultural Christianity, but it’s all there in Buddhism too. Ideas like that people’s poverty or illness are their own fault, and that helping them would be hindering their spiritual development – that’s a concept alien to Christianity. Certain streams of Tibetan Buddhism also have some dangerous rituals as well.
Despite all this, I am a bit of a fan of Buddhism. But remember, in real life Buddhism as in Christianity, things don’t play out as idealistically or simply as they’re supposed to.
SamBee wrote:
(Although some Zen Buddhism is very much religion from personal experience.)
I agree, Buddhism according to Buddha himself shouldn’t be a religion, but people like forming structures. Suzuki points out again and again how Zen itself cannot be contained in a religious or dogmatic form. I like the idea of zen in a spiritual metaphysical sense.
I had a copy of Zen in the Art of Archery, and it was on my list to read, then it disappeared. Thanks for the suggestions I will check those out.
dande48 wrote:
Simply put, “There is pain and suffering, here is what causes it, there is an escape from it, and here’s the best way we’ve found to get there”.
Beautifully said.
Arrakeen wrote:
I’m not very familiar with the Zen type of Buddhism though, I’m interested to learn more about that.
Zen is the fulfillment of all Buddhist training and thought, it is enlightenment. All of the stories of how so-and-so obtained enlightenment are not pathways for someone else to obtain it. Zen can’t be described with words, but all these are guideposts along the way. Zen can’t be sought and obtained, it just is. Lots of seemingly contradictory writings on Zen, because it is like describing what salt tastes like.
Old Timer wrote:
I have said on more than one occasion that if I did not love the concept of a Savior so much, even if I view it differently than many other members, I would consider myself a Buddhist Mormon. I see so many similarities between what I consider to be the ideals of each religion, including the theoretical tie between reincarnation and eternal progression.
I think you should consider yourself a Buddhist Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints rather than a Buddhist Mormon
No seriously I personally don’t see anything wrong with adding to your spirituality. Recognize truth (the spirit) wherever it comes from.
SamBee wrote:
..Buddhism are far more complex than the LDS.
I think this is true of most, if not all religions. Maybe I like the watered down version, or more specifically, the end attainment of zen.
SamBee wrote:
There is also an ugly undercurrent in some forms of Buddhism but less so than Hinduism. We have some of this in cultural Christianity, but it’s all there in Buddhism too.
I think this is true of most, if not all religions as well. Either in Dogma or culture,
So far my feeling is the ultimate goal of a Zen path is spiritual enlightenment and connection to the divine. Take away Buddhism as a religion for its essential building up around the main spiritual theme, and you are left with the same thing in Christianity. The basis of Christianity is spiritual connection to the divine, take away all of the different Dogma and essentially it’s all the same.
LDS_Scoutmaster wrote:
The basis of Christianity is spiritual connection to the divine, take away all of the different Dogma and essentially it’s all the same.
Personally, I’d say it’s very different in most respects. God vs nature. Prayer vs meditation. Eternal states vs cycles. War vs peace. One true way vs many paths. Salvation through God vs salvation through self. Kingdom come vs here and now. Becoming like God vs transcending the gods.
The more I learn about Buddhism, the more I feel many of the teachings of the Church are blantantly wrong; often leading off in wild distractions, or causing more pain and suffering. In my experience, Buddhism has helped me find more peace and happiness than the LDS Church has been able to offer me.
There are other differences – in Christianity you only get one shot (maybe not LDS), in Buddhism your soul retutns – 100,000 times or more in some forms of Buddhism. Doing good vs non-harm (subtle difference).
Evil as an illusion rather than a reality.
Oh and like I say, there
aregods in many forms of Buddhism. In the zen lands many invoke Kwannon/Kuan Yin for example as boddhisattvas have taken on that role. In India snd Tibet, they still worship gods as well, and Gautama himself fills that role sometimes. I can recommend Stephen Batchelor’s Buddhism without Belief. He discusses many of the ideas and practices of Buddhism while rejecting the “reincarnation” aspects of it. I found it easier to integrate some of the Buddhist ideas into my own Mormon theology via his secular perspective on Buddhism. It’s a short book and, if you don’t know much about Buddhism, a user-friendly way to be introduced to it. Gerald wrote:
I can recommend Stephen Batchelor’s Buddhism without Belief. He discusses many of the ideas and practices of Buddhism while rejecting the “reincarnation” aspects of it. I found it easier to integrate some of the Buddhist ideas into my own Mormon theology via his secular perspective on Buddhism. It’s a short book and, if you don’t know much about Buddhism, a user-friendly way to be introduced to it.
Yep read this one as well. Not bad.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.