Is Buddhism a religion for lazy people?

[Ignatius]

Is Buddhism a religion for lazy people? Here's my take. Most Buddhists I know aren't really Buddhists. My understanding is that one cannot be a Buddhist anyway, because in each moment we are "becoming" we are never one thing or another. We just "are" and we have no name. I think for the greater numbe of adherents to this religion, particularly in the west, Buddhism is almost a lifestyle choice, along with Yoga and vegatarianism. Mainstream religion is too much like hard work. All that genuflecting and confession and special dietary laws ..too much. Why not become a self satisfied Buddhist instead? No need for any going to church or any of that nonsense. Just adopt a glassy eyed expression and quote a few sayings from Buddha and everything will be ok. You don't need to understand any of it, just be able ot quote it. If someone pulls you over on it, just quote another one, and adopt an even smugger expression. Chances are they won't ask again. Is it just me, or do Buddhists deserve to be sneered at as much as every other religion. What makes them so special? Or was my first shot right on the button? Maybe they are just lazy.

Ignatius Reviewed by Ignatius on 09-28-2006. Is Buddhism a religion for lazy people? Is Buddhism a religion for lazy people? Here's my take. Most Buddhists I know aren't really Buddhists. My understanding is that one cannot be a Buddhist anyway, because in each moment we are "becoming" we are never one thing or another. We just "are" and we have no name. I think for the greater numbe of adherents to this religion, particularly in the west, Buddhism is almost a lifestyle choice, along with Yoga and vegatarianism. Mainstream religion is too much like hard work. All that Rating: 5

[gr8misadventures]

I'm feelin ya, but not really coherent enough to respond on an appropriate level.

[robert42]

Maybe the buddhist people u meet are just giving other Buddhist people a bad name

[Blunt burner turner]

sorry off topic but ignatius do you go to school in north london?

[MelT]

I'm a Buddhist and have been for quite a time. I think taht in any religion, or even sports, you get people who do things just so they can say they do them. I did Aikido for a while and there were people who'd just want to tell everybody else they were going, but they weren't actually interested in practising. Same with Buddhists, we have bad ones and good ones.

Is it lazy? Hmmm....Well, saying that we dont have any dietary laws or things to do isn't quite right. We're vegetarian and if we're meditators then we have to avoid certian foods and meditate regularly. I'd say that being self-satisfied doesn't come easy

A good Buddhist is someone who observes a strong moral code, but more than anythng else tries to understand the true nature of reality through meditation. The 'goodness' part of Buddhism, our morality, is second to our search for a direct experience of reality, as reality itself, to become enlightened. Too much emphasis is placed on the idea that we're just about doing good things and being non-violent, that's a part of meditation practise as much as it is a moral goal.

I don't have a car, mobile phone, dvd player, etc, etc. I'm a veggie', I don't drink. I spend a lot of time alone and in meditational retreat. Meditation is pretty much all I do apart from writing. Am I a good Buddhist though? No, not really, I'm still an amateur compared to real monks and those who devote their entire lives to it. It's all relative I think. Good post though, good question.

MelT

[Universer]

I am not a Buddhist, although I often play one on the Internet.

And here I go: I disagree that Buddhism is a lazy religion, or is for lazy people. In my experience, Buddhists and Zen practicioners are constantly in thought, constantly trying to learn, constantly seeking enlightenment, constantly searching for new perspectives to add to the human experience.

Indeed, to me, laziness is having the desire to be instructed in all things, to be given from-on-high all of your precepts and ideas, to be told what absolutely is and what absolutely is not, to simply follow the edicts of inflexible doctrine without the need to think or consider or be terribly introspective. To be a sheep to a religion, to believe that there's nothing more to be learned because you already know it all -- now that's lazy.

[afghooey]

To be a sheep to a religion, to believe that there's nothing more to be learned because you already know it all -- now that's lazy.

Well said, I agree.

[gr8misadventures]

Indeed, to me, laziness is having the desire to be instructed in all things, to be given from-on-high all of your precepts and ideas, to be told what absolutely is and what absolutely is not, to simply follow the edicts of inflexible doctrine without the need to think or consider or be terribly introspective. To be a sheep to a religion, to believe that there's nothing more to be learned because you already know it all -- now that's lazy.

I feel like I should have this mounted...

[phytokind]

Buddhism is a lazy religion in the sense that you don't have to get it right the first time, you just keep getting reincarnated until you're ready to move on. And you in no way need to be a vegetarian to be a buddhist, most buddhists are meat eaters. But I'd say that buddhists are fundamentally pacifists and try to kill as few animals as possible. There are also various types of buddhism. I would say that if you're the kind of person who doesn't like to step on bugs and who understands that there is no need to resolve conflicts with violence, you may be a buddhist. Are you lazy if you decide to solve your problems with the pull of a trigger? Maybe so.

[moorephened]

I lived in China over the summer and here is my impression of Buddhism in a country where Buddhism is mainstream and there are plenty of facilities (temples, pagodas, shrines) around.

-Even the most virulent Buddhists, with the exception of monks, go to a temple any more than three times a month.

-Visits are short and usually only consist of making an offering (incense, fruit, ect.) to some shrines. Often followed by alms to the poor.

-Any daily regimen is at a shrine set up at home.

-A big reason for this is that the study of "The Buddha" no longer requires talking with a monk and reading scrolls at the monastery. This can now be done at local schools, in books, or online.

None of this should denote the zealotry of these people. There just isn't as much required by most Christian sects.