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 > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
