Bill!, I don't think it's as straight forward as that tho. There's really no such thing as 'Buddhism', as it comes in so many different forms. I also disagree with you that faith is an essential part of what the Buddha taught. He taught the Dharma, and that this has to be experienced, not believed.
Mike ________________________________ From: Bill! <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 21 November 2012, 1:00 Subject: [Zen] Re: the way: Buddha-hood in the supermarket Mike, Of course all this depends on your definition of 'religion'. My casual definition of it is 'a system of belief based on faith'. To me that includes Buddhism and science. Zen is not based on faith (or knowledge), it's based on experience. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > Dunno. Sounds like a false dichotomy to me. The effect of both is the same. > It seems to me tho, that a Zen Buddhist who attends sesshins etc. is someone > who 'get's' Zen, but is also paying their dues (thru gratitude and > propagation). > > > Mike > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, 21 November 2012, 0:36 > Subject: [Zen] Re: the way: Buddha-hood in the supermarket > > >  > I just wanted to point out to everyone that I actually AGREE with Merle - zen > is NOT a religion. Buddhism however is. > > I think as far as me agreeing with Merle's posts that makes about 5 out of > 284 so far... > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > >  zen is not a religion.... prove to me it is?..merle > > > > > >  > > Merle, > > > > No, isolation is not my thing. > > > > It's worked miracles for certain sages. > > > > Its main benefits are available at Sesshin, the 7-day retreat that is a > > traditional training ground for Zen practitioners, aside from daily > > practice at home or at our local zen center. > > > > Some people take vacations: THAT'S not isolation (unless they go outback of > > the Outback). > > > > Sesshin is like vacation, except with RULES. And hard work. ;-) > > > > And you might come home fully awake, you never know. > > > > Anyway, that's the way of our religion. > > > > --Joe > > > > > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > you talk of isolation..do you really think it is such a "mind blowing" > > > activity?. > > >
