Buddhism

[draper]

Any thoughts on it?

Thoughts on practising in the Western world?

For anyone who actually practises, how do you apply it to your life? I guess that's more of an 'overview of the faith' general type question.

Does anyone have any good online links explaining the philosophy?

 

[Hungry Hungry Hippo]

http://buddhism.about.com/ - More stuff about Buddhism than you could ever digest.

I tried meditation with some Zen Buddhist monks when I went to Japan a few years ago, it's very difficult. You're supposed to free your mind and stop thinking all together, not my cup of tea.

Also, I disagree with some of the concepts in the four noble truths, but I like the eightfold path. I guess I just pick and choose little bits and pieces from any religion I study to apply to my life, including christianity.

 

[Lithium Hobo]

If I had to choose one religion to practice, it'd be Buddhism.

 

[nadroj1985]

I'm a big fan of Zen Buddhist philosophy. Go here and read "Self and Other" and "The Nature of Consciousness." It's a whole 'nother way of thinking

 

[MuAndNu]

http://buddhism.about.com/ - More stuff about Buddhism than you could ever digest.

I tried meditation with some Zen Buddhist monks when I went to Japan a few years ago, it's very difficult. You're supposed to free your mind and stop thinking all together, not my cup of tea.

Also, I disagree with some of the concepts in the four noble truths, but I like the eightfold path. I guess I just pick and choose little bits and pieces from any religion I study to apply to my life, including christianity.

If you stop thinking altogether, how do you bring yourself back out of the meditative state?

 

[The Seeker]

If you stop thinking altogether, how do you bring yourself back out of the meditative state?

And more importantly, if you meditate by not thinking, shouldn't stupid people be the best at it?

 

[Hungry Hungry Hippo]

I don't know, I'm not an expert on Zen Buddhism.

http://www.zenguide.com/zenmedia/books/content.cfm?t=zazen_meditation_guide&chapter=06

I do remember using the nonsense saying (koan) to start, and I think the idea of doubt mass is fascinating.

"Out of the three essentials in zazen practice, doubt-mass is most needed in this practice. About this method of practice, there is a Zen saying that goes like this: "The bigger doubt, the bigger enlightenment." You should start your koan with a doubt-mass: "What is the sound of one hand?" or "What is it that hears sounds and sees colors?" or "What is my Original Face before my parents were not born yet?" Try one of these until you got it, if you really want to. "

 

[Eudaimonist]

I tried meditation with some Zen Buddhist monks when I went to Japan a few years ago, it's very difficult. You're supposed to free your mind and stop thinking all together, not my cup of tea.

Not my cup of tea either. Rational thought is a good thing!

Unless maybe you're a compulsive worrier, in which case bringing your thoughts into moderation might be beneficial. Okay, I try to see the good in everything.

 

[Lokisdottir]

If you stop thinking altogether, how do you bring yourself back out of the meditative state?

Someone I know uses an egg timer.

If you meditate long enough, eventually some stimulus will bring you back, such as hunger or a full bladder. It's impossible to meditate indefinitely.

 

[Dragar]

I tried meditation with some Zen Buddhist monks when I went to Japan a few years ago, it's very difficult. You're supposed to free your mind and stop thinking all together, not my cup of tea.

Well, that's one way, I suppose. Not a great way.

The best way I've found is just to be quiet, and watch your thoughts. Just be aware of them. You'll probably find yourself getting bored. So examine that feeling. What is it like to be bored? Where did it come from? Where will it go?

You're not supposed to stop 'thinking'. You're supposed to just...watch.

 

[MuAndNu]

If you meditate long enough, eventually some stimulus will bring you back, such as hunger or a full bladder. It's impossible to meditate indefinitely.

Well, I guess that's good to know.

 

[vajradhara]

well...


what would you like to know?

as Dragar explained... it's not about stopping thinking... more properly, it's concerned with how you direct your concentration and attention.

within the various types of meditation, in particular, Vipassana and Samatha, the mind is used in a few different ways.

typcially, with the Vipassana meditations one tries to calm the discursive intellect..still the mind, is what it's usually called. this doesn't mean that thoughts cease to occur... far from it, actually, what it is mean to denote is the state of being wherein your attention and concentration are fully focused on the object of attention and there are no wandering thoughts. this is the stilling the mind technique that then allows one to use the Samatha meditational techniques whereby the analysis of the object of attention is examined.

there are some good introduction sites to Buddhism, in general:

www.buddhanet.net

and they will discuss some of the philosophical schools found in Buddhism. we can discss those on this thread, if you're interested.