Contemplating Buddhism

[Etrain]

Hello everyone, I'm still very young and I don't have a religion. Before now, I have never been a big fan of religion, although lately I have been contemplating buddhism. If anybody here has any thoughts/suggestions or knows a buddhist, I would appreciate it if they would enlighten me with knowledge. I've heard mixed reports on cannabis/drug use regarding the religion, but talked to a buddhist today and said cannabis has long been used as a meditation and enlightenment tool. If I wanted to take this seriously, would I have to quit smoking socially/for fun? Does all this sound stupid? I'm confused...

Etrain Reviewed by Etrain on 04-13-2005. Contemplating Buddhism Hello everyone, I'm still very young and I don't have a religion. Before now, I have never been a big fan of religion, although lately I have been contemplating buddhism. If anybody here has any thoughts/suggestions or knows a buddhist, I would appreciate it if they would enlighten me with knowledge. I've heard mixed reports on cannabis/drug use regarding the religion, but talked to a buddhist today and said cannabis has long been used as a meditation and enlightenment tool. If I wanted to take Rating: 5

[Nullific]

There are no strict 'rules' in Buddhism, I believe Siddhartha did discourage use of mind altering substances but times change of course. This is the great thing about Buddhism, you don't need to follow a shitload of regulations, it does not try to control your life to the extreme most other organized religions do.

[az666]

yeah dude i dont know very much at all about Buddhism but from what ive read it seems to be one of the best religions out there....

[GHoSToKeR]

Strictly speaking, drug use etc isn't 'allowed', but like Null said, when it comes to Buddhism, there are no rules. You follow the path to enlightenment at your own speed, so to speak. lol

[richieguy69]

I try to do a little zen now and then. I've been reading up on it and it makes a lot of sense. Based a lot off Hinduism which is the ultimate religion. I think the thing that discouraged me from Christianity is the hipocracy that goes on inside churches. With Buddhism, you can basically believe what you want.

[Etrain]

Most Buddhists are lay followers â?? they live in the everyday world, get married and have families. Some, however, become monks and nuns, live in Buddhist monasteries and stay celibate. They do this because they believe they can abide by the Buddhaâ??s teaching much more fully without the distractions of work and family commitments. Lay-followers are expected to abide by the five precepts or rules. Put most simply, these are: not to kill, not to steal, not to misconduct oneself in sexual activity, not to lie and not to take intoxicating drugs or drinks. The upside of this is that Buddhism urges us to be kind to all living things, to practise generosity, to act responsibly as sexual beings, to be honest and truthful, and to keep the mind clear. Significantly, not all Buddhists are vegetarians. The Buddha did not prohibit the eating of meat unless an animal had been specifically killed for the person who was to eat it.

[Etrain]

^^I read that. Hmph.

[mrdevious]

I don't understand that last part. "eating meat is not prohibited unless it is specifically killed for the person who is going to eat it". so what, if you hunt your own food it's wrong, but if somebody else kills it for you and some others it's ok?

and there was one other thing that is kind of confusing for me. I've considered buddhism too except this whole main goal of "extinction of self" and separating yourself from the world. I can understand separating yourself from the negative, but what about the possitive? I mean if I were a buddhist could I no longer listen to metal and get a rush, or am I supposed to be detached and therefore always serene?

[Mojavpa]

Hey Etrain! I was just wondering, why are you thinking about choosing a faith to follow? I like learning about different religions and I have friends of different faiths, and there are things to admire about all religions. However, I happen to be an atheist.

[mrdevious]

Hey Etrain! I was just wondering, why are you thinking about choosing a faith to follow? I like learning about different religions and I have friends of different faiths, and there are things to admire about all religions. However, I happen to be an atheist.

well, buddhists kind of are atheists. they believe in "the ultimate reality", but no god.