Originally posted by Lucius
Instead of all that you could just say..
My religion is very simple, my religion is kindness!
~The Dalai Lama
True buddhism at its core is nothing more then that. Kindness,compassion
I consider myself to be a buddhist (though I do /not/ follow /all/ ideas of buddhism, and mix alot of different streams(mahayana,zen,pure land) and some of my own ideas of course..nothing beats the heart) but I know that what truely matters is just that little Dalai Lama quote up there. And it so happens to be that all major religions follow that idea. Compassion, kindness, honesty, generosity, care, acceptrance, equality..and everything else that belongs to that line. Simple values that make up just that what buddhism is really about, I think. No complicated thoughts, just that. Compassion.
Alot of people might disagree, but everything else is up secondary and not a must. Its just..whatever you feel comfortable with. If that is meditation and reciting mantras or praying to god..as long as you practice your religion from the goodness of your heart, you are doing the best thing you can do.
We can do without temples. We can do without meditation. But we can't do without compassion. Another quote there. But if you feel like you found something amazing in buddhism (I figure, why else share) Im glad. Carry on
Compassion is nice and dandy, but how will you become a buddha without meditation? Compassion will make Samsara a better place, but only meditation will get you out of it. Once you become a buddha, then help all living beings. Helping before becoming a buddha, a person may apply wrong applications and make matters worse. Only a buddha knows the appropiate method for any delusion that arises. Buddha has given the 84,000 teachings for the 84,000 delusions of the mind, not all sutras contain the methods. Mostly what is taught in the Pure Land Schools is Sutra only, the uncommon method is the Buddhist Tantra Method, which I have listed on another thread.
About Tantra
Different people have different capacities for spiritual understanding and practice. For this reason, out of his compassion, Buddha Shakyamuni gave teachings at many levels, just as a skilful doctor administers a variety of remedies to treat different types of sick people.
For those who wish merely to attain human happiness Buddha gave teachings revealing actions and their effects, or karma; and he taught moral discipline as their main practice.
For those who wish to experience the permanent inner peace of liberation, or nirvana, for themselves alone, Buddha gave teachings on the faults of samsara; and he taught the three higher trainings - training in higher moral discipline, training in higher concentration, and training in higher wisdom - as their main practice.
For those who wish to attain the ultimate goal of full enlightenment Buddha gave teachings on the development of great compassion and bodhichitta; and he taught the six perfections - the perfections of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, mental stabilization, and wisdom - as their main practice.
All these teachings are open to anyone who wishes to study and practice them. The experiences that are gained from practicing them are called the 'common spiritual paths'.
Besides these teachings, Buddha also gave teachings on Tantra. These may be practiced only by those who have received Tantric empowerments. The experiences gained by practicing these teachings are called the 'uncommon spiritual paths'.
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