Buddhism

WanderingYogini

(1 post)

12. Buddhism is both a religion and a philosophy!

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:43 PM

Dec 2012

This might be a good example of how labeling things takes the conversation away from the real point, particularly when the dualistic trap of "this or that" is imposed.
For example, i raise the question of whether Buddhism is atheistic or agnostic and posit that it is neither.
For starters, isn't it important to move beyond the notion (label) of God as a super being who happens to be a Him?
I know of a definition of God that perfectly reflects my Buddhist understanding of Buddha mind, Buddha nature, the absolute truth, or whatever one may choose to call or think of the way things really are (and it is all of the following):
infinite mind, spirit, principle, intelligence, life, truth, love.
This is excerpted from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science. As far as I'm concerned, this understanding of God is completely consistent with and no different from the essence of my Buddhist beliefs as expressed by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche as to the "natural state of mind, unmistakenly and exactly as it is, [which] need not be sought for elsewhere but is present within ourselves."

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Do you view Buddhism as a religion or a philosophy? [View all] white_wolf Dec 2012 OP

Philosophy Of Life - Not Religion cantbeserious Dec 2012 #1

Buddhism is accepted and practiced as both throughout the world randr Dec 2012 #2

depends on the sect mzteris Dec 2012 #3

I don't know of any that worship Buddha white_wolf Dec 2012 #4

but the "worship" mzteris Dec 2012 #7

Religion. bananas Dec 2012 #5

Don't forget the monks, monasteries, temples, rituals, etc bananas Dec 2012 #6

i am really facinated at the really serious misconceptions about Buddhism. rabid_byter Feb 2013 #21

Is there a difference between the two? ellisonz Dec 2012 #8

I think so. white_wolf Dec 2012 #9

Many would argue that this is a distinction without a difference... ellisonz Dec 2012 #10

Many Buddhists are atheists obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #18

to paraphrase Bill Clinton - who now visits Buddhist temples in NYC, fairly regularly .... marasinghe Dec 2012 #11

Buddhism is both a religion and a philosophy! WanderingYogini Dec 2012 #12

Welcome to DU and I hope you enjoy the site. hrmjustin Dec 2012 #13

On a tangent, sort of, I view religion as distinct from spirituality in that religion is organized byeya Dec 2012 #14

There are variants depending on tradition. Some seems like religion mmonk Dec 2012 #15

I think... SoapBox Dec 2012 #16

Ethical path obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #17

For me it's all in how one responds to doctrine. GliderGuider Dec 2012 #19

actually Buddhism is a 'Psychology'. rabid_byter Feb 2013 #20

I never thought about it from the angle of Psychology, but it makes sense. white_wolf Feb 2013 #22

I view it as spiritual, value-based psychology JudyM Mar 2013 #31

I think the Buddha would say that it is a path leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #23

You said it well libodem Mar 2013 #24

It is so flexible Newest Reality Mar 2013 #25

I believe Buddhism is a religion for several reasons. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #26

I think the Dalai Lama called himself a Compassionate Agnostic. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #27

Sure, but none of that means Buddhism is not a religion. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #28

Depends on your definition of religion. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #29

I think of religion as supernatural answers to life's "big" philosophical questions. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #30

I've been reading the Delai Lama book on Anger leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #32

Although reincarnation is not worshipped, belief in reincarnation is belief in the supernatural. Pterodactyl Apr 2013 #35

I guess I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what it is. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #33

In my view, it is a religion. Pterodactyl Apr 2013 #34

I think most people refer to it as a religion. leftyladyfrommo Apr 2013 #36

Yes. grantcart Apr 2013 #37

Philosophy Of Life just like AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #38

Religion, at least in Asia. M.G. Oct 2013 #39

either, both, and more. MasonDreams Oct 2015 #40

Philosophy and psychology vlyons Oct 2015 #41