Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?? |
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Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?? |
 Jun 2 2012, 10:08 AM
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#1
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AF Elite  Group: Members Posts: 6,700 Joined: 9-October 07 From: NYC  |
Knowing that religions usually talk about God
Buddhism doesn't ... so is it a philosophy or really a religion??? |
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Jun 4 2012, 04:27 PM
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#2
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AF Fan  Group: Members Posts: 89 Joined: 17-June 11 |
QUOTE (avisitor @ Jun 2 2012, 05:08 PM)  Knowing that religions usually talk about God Buddhism doesn't ... so is it a philosophy or really a religion??? Wow! This Forum is still alive!!! I will answer you when I'm sober again... "The bodhisattva Mañjuśrī wanders through the taverns, but these traces are not his mind." This post has been edited by balkan: Jun 4 2012, 04:32 PM |
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Jun 5 2012, 02:28 AM
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#3
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AF Fan Group: Members Posts: 26 Joined: 17-February 12 |
It can be both. For the truely devoting ones, it is a religion. Because there are rituals such as shaving your head, wear saffron rope, chantings, go into homelessness, etc...
for the ordinary people, busy with everyday life, then it can be a philosophy, i,e the eightfold path. |
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Jun 8 2012, 09:40 AM
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#4
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AF Fan Group: Members Posts: 89 Joined: 17-June 11 |
Maybe the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni - the Sage from Shakya) was a philosopher. But today Buddhism is an organized religion because there are rituals, ceremonies, vows, temple worship, faith in the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, clerical hierarchy, monks, etc. Of course, every religion has its own philosophy.
Yes, there is no God in Buddhism, but the notions of karma and samsara are religious notions (taken from the Upanishads). These are not rational categories, but a matter of faith. This post has been edited by balkan: Jun 8 2012, 09:41 AM |
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Jun 17 2012, 09:46 PM
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#5
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AF Elite Group: Members Posts: 6,700 Joined: 9-October 07 From: NYC |
I think if anything talks about life and how to live it then it is just a philosophy
But, if it continues to talk about after life or something after death then it probably is a religion. |
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