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Study of Buddhism
- Thread starter konovsky
- Start date
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
I enjoy reading about Buddhism, but I have more books than time, right now.
ItzKatzTime
Beach Fanatic
Same as Smiling joe....no time in the summer. But would like to welcome you to the SoWal Board!
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
It isn't that I don't have time to read about Buddhism, it is just that my reading list is fairly extensive right now. The books continue to stack. When I read one, four more seem to make the way into my stack to read. The list of books which I am currently reading, includes several books on Buddhism and Zen.
LightWorker
Beach Fanatic
I hope you will share some insights in the future.I lived in Japan as a child ,being blond haired, blue eyed.... the love shown to me at such a young age was amazing.
PEACEOcean breeze
Beach Lover
On the Shambhala Publishing website, I remember reading about the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Shambhala.
And a great travel documentary is "Search for Shangri-La," by Michael Wood. He explains that story is based on Shambhala, & actually finds the ruins of an ancient "kingdom of peace," on the Chinese side of the Himalayas:
http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/program_episode.html
It also reminds me of the "kingdom to the west," to which the sage Lao Tzu was heading when he was asked to leave a record of his wisdom. So he sat down at that gate on his westward path, & wrote the Tao Te Ching.
Paradise Kingdoms, myths & true legends, are seen as places of refuge from a screwed-up world.
In the "Far Horizon" story of Shangri-La, it is also the last refuge for a new beginning of civilization.
In modern times, people are working toward that same ideal of peace & harmony -- in ecovillages, around the world. They set a beautiful, fun-loving example for the rest of us:
http://gen.ecovillage.org/about/index.html
I don't know much about the Shambhala school of Buddhism, & I don't feel inclined at this time to study Buddhist books & scriptures.
But I love the stories it reminds me of (as you can see), & if we all hold to the essence of Buddha's teaching of loving-kindness, we'll have the golden thread that runs through every great religion & beyond...
Ocean breeze
Beach Lover
[For self-reliant spiritual seeking. I first discovered this great quote in the Gulf Coast College library as a young seeker. The village of Kalama is in India. Note the repeated word, "merely." The last verse and ending sentence are my favorites.]
Kalama Sutta
The people of Kalama asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who, like himself, passed through their town. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha's reply.
? Do not believe anything on mere hearsay.
? Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places.
? Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a great deal about it.
? Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage.
? Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being.
? Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true.
? Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests.
? But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it.
The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings.
? Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.
Kalama Sutta
The people of Kalama asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who, like himself, passed through their town. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha's reply.
? Do not believe anything on mere hearsay.
? Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places.
? Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a great deal about it.
? Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage.
? Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being.
? Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true.
? Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests.
? But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it.
The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings.
? Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.