Bill!, Ah, I see your point now - especially regarding Buddhism in SE Asia. I guess there are two factors here: It's problematic to talk about 'Buddhism' as one all encompassing ~ism. And what makes something a religion - Is it something inherent or what people do with it? Or both?
Mike ________________________________ From: Bill! <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 28 March, 2011 18:48:15 Subject: [Zen] Re: Is Zen a religion? Mike, I could accept your statement about Buddhism below if the ratio of people clinging to sutras, precepts, dogmas, etc... to those who do not were in the neighborhood of 50:50 or even 75:25; but I see that ratio as more like 99:1. I live in Thailand where 90% of the people consider themselves Buddhist. I don't know anyone here (Thai) that practices Buddhism who does not consider Buddhism as religion. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > Read your post just after sending my last one. I sit someone where in the > middle. (Zen) Buddhism is a philosophy with a systematic, practical > application regarding how to live in the world. One without the other > leaves >us > > swimming in world of delusion and suffering. You're right tho, many people > (not > > all) cling to the outward form (sutras, chanting, even zazen) giving Zen the > outward appearance of a religion. > > Mike  > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Mon, 28 March, 2011 18:25:23 > Subject: [Zen] Re: Is Zen a religion? > >  > Steve, > > From what I've seen it's mainly in Western intellectual circles that Buddhism > and/or Zen is regarded primarily as a philosophy. As far as I can tell that > allows Western intellectuals to embrace parts of Buddhism and Zen without the > danger of being labled as religious, at which most intellectuals look down >their > > noses. > > Buddhism can be regarded as a card game or a game show anything else. The > fact > of the matter (in my opinion) is the majority of people in the US and the > World > > regard it as I have indicated below. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], "SteveW" <eugnostos2000@> wrote: > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > > > JMJM, > > > > > > In my opinion: > > > > > > US PERCEPTIONS > > > - Buddhism is considered a religion - albeit a quirky one. > > > - Zen Buddhism is considered a sect of Buddhism. > > > > > > WORLD PERCEPTION > > > - Buddhism is considered a religion. > > > - Zen Buddhism is considered a sect of Buddhism - albeit a quiky one. > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > Hi Bill! Oh, Buddhism itself can be properly regarded as a philosophy >rather > > >than a religion. There is an interesting book by Stephen Batchelor entitled > >Buddhism Without Beliefs. Mr. Batchelor received Dharma transmission, if I > >am > >not mistaken, in the Korean form of Zen. > > Steve > > >
