American Buddhist leader
Lama Surya Das
Photo by Anathea Utley
In an interesting development, it appears that Buddhists globally are becoming increasingly proactive in both protecting and spreading their ancient ideology. Numbering up to 500 million adherents worldwide - the fourth largest religious denomination in the world - there are two major paths of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana, and many sects, including the familiar Zen and Tibetan versions. All of these sects have one thing in common, which is that they emphasize the attainment of an enlightened or liberated state of mind, a quality defined differently from path to path. Depending on the sect, Buddhism traces its traditions to more than 2,500 years ago, with some followers asserting it to be at least 15,000 years, having been established long before the alleged time of "the Buddha," also called Siddhartha Gautama and Sakyamuni. Over the millennia, Buddhism has developed a complex and colorful system some describe as "mind boggling." While traditional Buddhism is not devoid of flaws - including sexism - and like other mass movements includes a bloody past in some areas, one thing is clear: Of the major religions, Buddhism has one of the best records of being truly peaceful and less marred by violence.
Is Buddhism atheistic?
Buddha Amithaba
Because of Buddhism's emphasis on resolving dilemmas through the enlightenment of the individual human being, rather than putting one's faith in a god or superhuman savior, Buddhism has been widely depicted as "atheistic" and the Buddha as an "atheist." Indeed, in presenting a "historical" Buddha, certain sects have largely stripped Buddhism of its miraculous, magical and supernatural qualities, as found abundantly within Tibetan Buddhism, for example. Traditional Buddhism, while not monolithic, does in fact depict a tremendous amount of magic and mystery, as well as many sacred and divine aspects in its teachings that each human being in essence can achieve Buddhahood. The attainment of Buddhahood is generally perceived to bring with it many divine and godlike qualities, and sundry tales surrounding the Buddha - and various of the other numerous Buddhas - are certainly as supernatural as any we may find within patently mythical religions such as those of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. What this assertion boils down to is that there is plenty of divinity, sacredness and godhood within Buddhism. Hence, Buddhism overall cannot be deemed "atheistic," although Zen comes very close to this perception. In actuality, there is something for everyone within Buddhism.
Buddhism on the rise globally
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Talmage, California
From various news items and developments, it seems as if Buddhism may be making inroads into culture worldwide - a welcome development in comparison to the rising fanaticism of other religious or spiritual systems that incorporate far too much bigotry, hatred and violence. In the United States, for example, as opposed to other noisy faiths like Christianity, Islam and Judaism, Buddhism has been so quiet that few realize there are more Buddhists than Muslims or Hindus in America. With as many as 6 million American adherents, Buddhism constitutes the fourth largest religious group in the United States. As part of this subtle movement, which includes hundreds of temples, monasteries, schools and communities, Nepalese Buddhists have recently opened their first temple in Portland, Oregon. Concerning Buddhism in America, the Christian Science Monitor remarks:
"Buddhism is growing apace in the United States, and an identifiably American Buddhism is emerging. Teaching centers and sanghas (communities of people who practice together) are spreading here as American-born leaders reframe ancient principles in contemporary Western terms."
Elsewhere in the world as well, we find Buddhism making its move, such as in India, where the religion finds its traditional birthplace but from where it was driven centuries ago by both Hindus and Muslims. Having once become almost extinct in India, today Buddhism is returning slowly but surely, with the Indian residence for the past several decades of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, along with the rather vocal demand recently by Buddhists to control the Indian site of Bodh Gaya, traditional spot where Buddha is said to have attained nirvana. In addition, in February 2010, sacred relics from all over the Buddhist world will be taken to Chennai, India, as part of the global Buddhist outreach program the Maitreya Project Heart Shrine Relic Tour.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, there is increasing interest in Buddhists running for public office, representing a significant demographic segment. Such a change may be seen by many as positive and progressive movement into the future.
Sources & Further Reading
Zen Statistics: How Many Buddhists Are There Worldwide?
American Buddhism on the rise
Buddhist Temples in the USA
Buddhism in the United States
No Buddhists in Washington?
Buddhists demand complete management of Bodh Gaya
Buddhist relics coming to city
Women In Buddhism: The Thai Nun Controversy
The 'historical' Buddha?
Is Buddhism Atheistic?
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Comments
Sounds like a benign practice but it still requires delusion and illusion to provoke transcendentalism.
Anthony, Buddhism doesn't require delusion and illusion and doesn't aim to provoke transcendentalism in all it's forms either. To the contrary, it is about cutting through delusion to face reality as such with a clear and tranquil mind. From a general Buddhist perspective we are all deluded, partly due to social programming and partly due to our tendency to get mentally stuck in rut and need to free ourselves from our own fictions about life. You should perhaps study it before making judgments based on superficial observation. I admit that it does often carry a lot of cultural baggage that can lead one to see it the way you apparently do but those are skillful means to integrate with the cultures it finds itself in as Buddhism doesn't deny the reality, validity and usefulness of cultural expressions as they are found in reality as opposed to an idealistic dreamworld were some, perhaps yourself included, hope to get rid of whatever cultural expressions doesn't suit their taste.
Funny,how in one of the traditions the heroic Buddha died chocking on a piece of pork. No tragic nailing to a tree. No assassinated while in a trance like Zoroaster. Not shot while on a hunting trip like a certain avatar of Vishnu. Not even crucified upside down like Peter and then made into an Ozzie Osbourne album cover thousands of years later. I'm surprised Muslims and Jews aren't going, 'see...see! Jehovah was right all along about his laws!'
Hey, dude, why am I not on your list of favorite examiners? I would call myself a freethinker except thinking isn't one of my known qualities. I'm just free like a bird (I'm pimping Lennon until the world starts remembering him).
"Meanwhile, back in the United States, there is increasing interest in Buddhists running for public office, representing a significant demographic segment. Such a change may be seen by many as positive and progressive movement into the future."
If the same trend continues, they will no more remain a peaceful religion, I can assure you.
Daniel, I agree with you but qualifying the fact that Buddha was born and brought up in a devout "Hindu" kingdom. He did pick up the threads from "Hindu" (meaning Vedic) culture. One can not forget this fact. The essence is the same as regards the achievement of "Enlightenment". As Vedas propound,"Ekam Sat, Vipra Bahudha Badanti". TRuth is one, the scholars call it by different names and so did Buddha.
A last word about the controversy of replacing 'Hindu' monks at 'Bodh Gaya', is a begining of the morning shows the day of Buddhism as the most peaceful religion. Religion when gets organised, is the most dangerous thing.
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
I keep distinguishing between "Religion and Spirituality". If you draw a circle, the periphery of the circle will consist of millions of dots, but the centre remains the same and one only; however bigger the circle you expand. With increasing size of the circle, the number of peripheral dots increase, but the number of "CENTRE" does not.
Now with this analogy, I take you to the Religion which represents the dots on the periphery. The Spirituality on the other hand remains constant at the centre. So my hyothesis is that the Religion is a path to reach the centre,i.e "Spirituality".
"Tamaso maa jyotir gamayaa;
Asato maa sad gamayaa;
Mrityormaa Amritangamayaa." (Brahadaaranyak Upanishad)
Take me from darkness to light; lead me from non-truth to 'Truth'; and guide me from mortality to 'Immortality'. This is the old Vedic truths lost in quigmire and allusive fight of needless cult, called Religion. Reason being that'Religion' today is reduced to business.
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
Daniel, Only in passing do I know anything about Buddhism but from what I see they are attempting to delude themselves into believing that they have found a highway to truth and peace. Any cultural group,no matter what you call them, that perform incantations, cloth themselves a certain way, ring bell,bongs and perform other functions are in fact deluding themselves on purpose. It is a self fulfilling prophesy e.g., psychological iatrogenesis. They perform and they are labeled by their peers; they believe or have faith in what they do and so they become what they think they are. This is what they perceive as reality but I disagree.
The reason to design 'Religion' was to discover "Who you are" i.e. 'Koham' to 'Soham' or 'Aham Brahmashmi'. This simply exhorts each one of us to "The Divine Truth" which we realy are. This needs a set process of austere practices.
I am convinced that "Spirituality" is a most perfect science needing to explore, experience and liberate yourself from the miseries of this worldly life. People are today busy in finding faults in other religions, in the vain hope of promoting their side of the gospel which is no more than a business driven by monetary considerations. "A high intelligence coupled with low desires".
Just a word for those who may confuse, I am not a priest or a promoter of a specific cult. I am just narrating from my little personal experinces. Basically I am a trained allopathic Surgeon, with some interest in "Sprituality". I call the "Spiritual" practices an art for happy living, the dire need of the hour.
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
How many times to I have to tell everyone. Who created the universe/'s? And, then who or what created that, and what or who created what was created by what was created on so on...
Something, but we don't know exactly what (facts not written)! It wasn't nothing! It was something, but it wasn't budhism, christianity, and definetally not done by mormons.
Man created religions - period! God, Alahh, supreme being, omniscient creature, all powerful, or whatever was already out there or in there. if you think you know god, then you may be one. yah - Keep wishing!
To be a Buddhist or not; is it the best selection among the major religions is a little like asking 'which service to join, the army, marines, navy, air force, coast guard. If you are excited about joining and can see no other 'path', perhaps that's ones destiny. A few may see paths that are more fulfilling to them and, those paths exist.
Anthony and jabberjaw,
you both raise good points, almost similar but put in a little different way. If you kindly read my post, this is what I have tried to explain. Do not get bogged down with all these needless jargons or voluminous books. "Truth" is always same, will you both agree with me? The truth is that we are all alive and the force that is keeping us all alive is nothing but a form of "Energy". Once you can discover the nature of that very "Energy", you have known what you wanted to discover. This is also called "Self Realisation" That is the "Truth". God is another name you may subscribe to the "TRUTH". I repeat,"Ekam sat, vipra bahudhaa vadanti." You may find its meaning in my earlier post.
Lastly, if you are a serious student of "Spirituality", I can assure you of fantastic experiences and bliss you may never have dreampt of, I say so with my due respects to you and with my personal experiences.
God bless
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
Arhata,
You are perfectly right to say that and I agree with you in entirety.
Like any other thing, we have ascribed a name called 'God' for the sake of description. You may choose to call it by any name. Like, 'God' is an english name, but there are perhaps thousand languages spoken on this planet. They all do not address it by the name of'God". They all have different connotations, but that does not change its basic nature.
Same way, if I change my own name from "A" to "B", that does not alter my inherent quality or nature. So the name is only for the sake of a "Tag" for you and I.
God bless,
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
buddhims strives for pure spirit. there is no such thing in the universe! all things are a blend of physical matter and spirit/energy. you can not separate the 2. buddha also theorized that the key to human suffering was desire, so he tried to eliminate desire! WOW! that was intelligent! in striving for spiritual purity, buddha really showed off his "extreme intelligence" by attempting to eliminate ALL of his desires. he took only the water that driped down from the leaves when it rained.. finally, he was saved from near death by a woman. duh! desire is the essence of being human!!! when we achieve our desires we feel great joy! that is what human life is all about! the work that is needed to achieve our desires is not suffering...it is merely a part of the fullfillment of joy! buddha never achieved anything great. he left his wife and only child behind, never knew the great joys of love and raising children! the dalai lama has never solved a war! understanding respect is the key!
Christianity treads water while Buddhism rises? Could the parallel with today's political situation be similar - the rising influence of the east and the waning influence of the west?
Or is the rising tide lifting all boats? Certainly the tide has gone out economically, allowing spirituality to rush in and fill voids in many.
When one reasons and then admits that ALL forms of religion were mere philosophical ideas and "made up" then one can have a personal relationship with God and not some silly pipe dream religion like Christianity et al.
I'm not fond of labels, as I seem always hesitant becoming [or getting] attached to any of them. However, Beatrice Wood, that beloved figure from the Dada movement, stated she wished to have transcribed on her tombstone... the epitaph, "I Do Not Know."
If forced to take a religious stance, I myself admit a fondness for the central tenet of "futilitarianism" - but by my choice of definition only - which describes a holder of this ~ism to be one who does not subscribe to... or even believe in... beliefs.
Alan Watts - the late theologian, comparative religion professor at UC-Berkeley, and prolific book author - once described his take on the difference... between belief... and faith... thusly:
"Faith is a state of openness or trust. To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float. And the attitude of faith is the very opposite of clinging to belief, of holding
Although I agree with the general concept of the article, I need to object about the dismissal of PRESENT acts of genocide and violence as “part of the past”.
Are you aware of the persecutions that the Buddhist majority of Sri Lanka has been perpetrating for decades against the Hindu minority there?
There are millions of Hindu refugees who have been displaced by the Buddhist pogroms.
And what to speak of Tibet and the Dalai Lama?
Is running away and leaving your family to be massacred by hostile invaders the proper definition of "peacefulness".
I am not surprised the Dalai Lama got the Nobel Prize - the same prize was awarded to Yasser Arafat the founder of "Black September".
... on. In other words, a person who is fanatic in matters of religion, and clings to certain ideas about the nature of God and the universe, becomes a person who has no faith at all. Instead they are holding tight. But the attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be."
So I'm not one who would disavow faith... when clearly faith in something far greater than myself... seems to me... essential... and in my best interest. Human beings and their religions can be as enchanting as they can be humorous. Then too, whether they be "binding" or "re-binding" to Something... or some Superior Being called Whatever... they seem needlessly to subjugate or belittle the Being called Human.
Fear and doubt is borne always... of belief, not faith. Thus are most religious systems anathema to a conception of free-spirited abandon... unbound from dualism... definition... and dogma.
msms2[dot]blogspot[dot]com/search?q=alan+watts
After Words...
Dr. O. P. Sudrania, Your analogy of Religion and Spirituality is good but my belief is that spirituality is just a mental construct that somehow helps some people coupe and give meaning to their lives. For myself spirituality is a delusion.
jabberjaw, I have to say that I am really tired of this universe created business. I think it more logical that the universe just "IS" with no creation attached to it.
betrothed jewish girl (mary) "warms up" KING SOLOMON thereby making the child heir to the throne ,
Very rich man wants it covered up.(hebrews negotiate a contract in the desert).
Jesus was heir to Solomon's fortune , As soon as he got the money they killed him and split it.
As a Donoist. I can't claim to know anything, but the study of life through nature seems to have paid off for sciences like Taoist and Buddhist. I make use of their ideas and techniques. I enjoy the result.
O.P. Very few people, especially those vehemently clinging to any particular interpretation of the word God, will grasp what you designate with it. No blame though, they've never thought about it in any other way than the way they got taught and since they follow no spiritual path they will keep on clinging to particulars whilst seeking essences where they are not to be found. Both theists and atheists tend to argue over something nonexistent. Usually neither grasps the functional or creative activity that accompany the spiritual quest. They say they want pebbles in the hand but they spend a lot of time fighting over bubbles in their minds never realizing the nature of mental constructs or that we are aware lived through experience itself. People perceive themselves as separate objects in a universe of many objects, each existing in and of themselves whilst not realizing all phenomenas' dependently arisen nature. Buddhism aims to heal this gap between reality and perception.
There's nothing new under the Sun. The basic elements of Buddhism were what satan used to tempt Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He told them that if they ate the fruit they would be like/equal to G-d.
The restoration of Israel since 1948 has coincided with a 200-fold increase in the number of believers in Yeshua/Jesus in China and the conversion of South Korea from a Bubbhist nation to the the nation that now fields more Christian missionaries than any other. Christianity is now also exploding in India nd Indonesia.
Anthony D'Auria,
Thanq.
We become what we think and we think the way we are, and the way we are is our inborn trait; that is inalienable and absolute. The 'Visible Principle' may differ in its form and functions, but the 'Absolute Invisible Principle' is identical to them all. Take for example 'Electricity'. It is the 'Invisible Absolute Principle'. It can activate the various 'Visible Physical Principles' like fan, heater, freeze, cooker and etc, which may differ in shape and functions.
'Delusion' is also a state of mind. We get to the way we proceed. These things are beyond arguments and discussions. Sugar is, but you will find it difficult to describe and easy to find it by a quick 'Taste'. The whole thing is a game of mind attuned and played under the guidance of an "Enlightened Guru".
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
Daniel,
Thanq for your kind appreciation and you are quite correct when you say,"...,they've never thought about it in any other way than the way they got taught.." The reason - an average person is self-centred and myopic. The 'Dons and Vanguards' of so-called 'Religion' keep them bogged down into the concept of "Fear of God" in stead of "Love of God". This keeps them their followers subjugated and inflate numbers due to an instilled and indoctrinated concept of "Fear of Sin and Hell". This is all the politics and business side of 'Religion' enacted through high intelligence combined with 'Ego' and 'Low-desires'. Whereas to "Enter" into "Spirituality" for the sake of attaining "Enlightenment" or "Self-Realisation", in fact, an "Intelligence" may even prove a 'hindrance' - an apparent paradox but true. Details are beyond the scope here. We are our own "GODS". Accept and 'Realise' it.
Dr. O. P. Sudrania
"Christianity is now also exploding in India nd Indonesia. "
Renaul,
We are well aware of the Christian Jihad being waged against Hindus in India. Infact we will successfully defend ourselves against this fanatical Euro/ middle eastern aggression. Christianity's spread has stalled. Christian terrorists in order to demonize Hinduism spread slander about a caste system when casta is a Portugues/Spanish word. Infact, as measured by the GINI index, Christian countries like Brazil, Mexico and US have far higher income disparities than India thus proving where ethnic caste identities truly exist (Check the CIA world factboook).
Infact Dalit Christians are reconverting to Hinduism in large numbers. With India's industrialization, we will reverse the efforts of evangelical christian intolerant extremists.
It's only due to Hindu tolerance and respect that the Dalai Lama is able to practice this religion. If India was an Islamic country, he would not be alive unless he converted.
Until now I thought that the most beautiful and peaceful religion was the Islam. Thanks for this article I now realised I was wrong when I wanted to be a suicied bomer to get the 72 virgin in the paradise. I want to live now on this earth. Thank you.
Enlightened human is an oxymoron.
When you understand, things are just as they are. When you don't understand, things are just as they are. Turn the light inwards and shall be liberated, hence there is no DUALISM in every thought. See things truly as they are, dualism brings about discrimination and bias and that is where all transgressions arises. The mind before and after enlightenment is the same mind, buddha has not gained it, sentient beings have not lost it. It is not being realise yet. Everyone has this mind, nourishes it, nurture it and wisdom shall grows. When Self Realisation reveal, Perfect Wisdom will dwell inside the mind and cast out all false thought and ignorant.
When you understand, things are just as they are. When you don't understand, things are just as they are. Turn the light inwards and shall be liberated, hence there is no DUALISM in every thought. See things truly as they are, dualism brings about discrimination and bias and that is where all transgressions arises. The mind before and after enlightenment is the same mind, buddha has not gained it, sentient beings have not lost it. It is not being realise yet. Everyone has this mind, nourishes it, nurture it and wisdom shall grows. When Self Realisation reveal, Perfect Wisdom will dwell inside the mind and cast out all false thought and ignorant.
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