Bill, I have not heard Buddhism advocate killing. Yes, with the exception of Tantric Buddhism, which fries and eats fish. But then the sacred monk releases them back from his mouth, alive and kicking. Isn't that an entertaining and enlightening scene? Anthony
--- On Wed, 30/3/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote: From: Bill! <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] Re: Is Zen a religion? To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, 30 March, 2011, 2:33 PM Mike, All that killing reveals to me where practicing the religions of the 'Big 3' leads - in spite of what their holy books or holy men say. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > >Mike, That's a good point. I think what people do with it IS the only true > >reflection of what it 'is'... > > But how does that sit with monotheisism's Big 3 and the killing that is done > in > the name of God and scripture? > > Mike > > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tue, 29 March, 2011 18:15:30 > Subject: [Zen] Re: Is Zen a religion? > >  > Mike, That's a good point. I think what people do with it IS the only true > reflection of what it 'is'...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > > > > 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! <BillSmart@> > > 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 > > > > > > > > > >
