buddhism

[nekura]

though technicly buddhism is pagan do you think it is? when some people post on MW and say pagan they seem to just leave buddhism out what do you think?

[Shanti]

To me its not pagan. To me pagan means not of mainstream organized religion. Buddhism is more a philosophy than religion,from my perspective. To me its totally differant than anything else. Its like its own thing. :)

[Chidori]

though technicly buddhism is pagan do you think it is? when some people post on MW and say pagan they seem to just leave buddhism out what do you think? I don't think it's wise to label someone else's path as pagan or anything else. I don't think anything about people not including Buddhism because how other people choose to see Buddhism in regards to religion or philosophy is none of my business. To me Buddhism is a philosophy some Buddhists agree, others don't. To each their own.

[Dreaming Mind]

To me its totally differant than anything else. Its like its own thing. :) +1

[Toby Stimpson]

It is most unwise to call Buddhism, Pagan. Although i'm sure it is from Christian standpoints...everything outside Christianity being Pagan, it is not. Buddhism is a nontheistic philosophy as Chidori said. It acknowledges Gods, but does not honour them. It honour's Boddhisattvas and Masters and the great deliverer of Buddhahood Siddartha Gautama. It recognizes Gods, but views (in some traditions) Gods as being spiritually as low as Humans. Paganism does have many common things, like the idea of Karma and reincarnation...but you must understand that modern Paganism borrowed those ideas from Hinduism, which Buddhism is partly derived from. I would be careful about making assumptions...and ofcourse making generalities based on technicalities, I think you'll find it will annoy a lot of people. Namaste.

Tobias

[GryphonGirl]

Since we all come from the same place and are headed to a common destination, I don't see why there should a alot of concern about what one calls his or her path. If we, during our journey, hail our fellow travelers and sometimes share our food and stories - getting to that Place can be more meaningful, yes?

[Toby Stimpson]

Thankyou for the Karma touch...I must touch your's too Gryphon...however, I must disagree with you that we are all heading toward the same destination. Ultimatly, we really don't know if there is a destination...or if it will be the same. Sometimes the destination can become confused and someone can veer off their path if they're allowed to think things that are inaccurate or untrue. Names...although certainly small minded and archaic help us to trasmit correct information to one another...diversity of thought is merely a guise for the underlying unknoweable truth of the universe...but through divirsity we can begin to understand a little of that underlying truth. If incorrect information about another path that your learning about is given to you...such as names and what not...your understanding of what that path is is affected. So you do miss out on soemthing somebody else has...which is unfortunate. Thats why names and terms should be labelled correctly in referring to other's paths. In regards to what a patyh should be called or categorized as...would a Christian like to be called a Pantheist when they are not? Would an anceint greek like to be called a Monotheist when they're belief system obviously is not? My poiint on that is simply know what a word means before making generalizations...a matter of respect really :) (which is why i'm guessing you asked the question 'what do you think pagan means' in the first place, right Nekura?) Know what I mean sort of? Namaste

Tobias

[Aidron]

Is it Pagan? Yes, in that it does not ascribe to Judeo-Christian philosophies and ideals.

Is it a religion? Ask an asian buddhist, they'll tell you it is. It does have a dogma, though it is less harsh than most and more open for individuals to apply to their lives than most.

[Phoenix_Blue]

I think Buddhism is Buddhism. Why call it by something it may or may not be when you can call it by something it is?

[WandererInGray]

*shrugs* I'm a Buddhist. Occasionally identify myself as Pagan also. Don't see it as a philosophy so much as a faith and a way of being.

*smiles* Like Pagans, ask 10 Buddhists what they are, you'll probably get 13 different answers.