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The Purpose Of Religion........... And Buddhism

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Posted by Glenn on November 8, 2000 03:42:21 UTC


Some people familiar only with hinayana or Theravada school of ideas see Buddhism as pessimistic or nihilistic- something designed only to prepare people for death.Or maybe u look Buddhism as something an otherwordly religion, Quietitude or even fleeing to another world, which i think the same thing is true even to
non-buddhist teachings and escaping the reality and living into some paradistical world.Or maybe u look into Buddhism as something to do with ORIENTAL MYSTICISM and felt like it weird.Yes! that is true with some other Buddhist sects who are practicing those kind of asciticism. But what is truly called a Buddhism which taught by us From Shakyamuni Buddha.
In truth,however, BUDHHISM is above all a religion of LIFE, a philosophy of LIFE that fills to the needs of man's desire to solve to the fundamental problems of LIFE in which people still ask themselves: WHat is LIFE? What is Death? How can i live happily? What happens after we die? Certainly, many still turn to religion to seek answer to these questions, yet when we look around the world, it seems that even some of the most Faithful and religiuos people continue to live in a state of fear, poverty, hopelessness or hatred.
In addition, when we examine the history, it becomes apparent that more than few have fallen victim to acts of violence committed in the name of religion.These facts lead many to reject religion and turn science for an answer.MAny have given up hope of finding answer altogether and merely struggle to survive from day to day.Still others, convinced that happiness lies in the pursuit of material wealth and status, devote their energies to gaining these things, leaving little time opportunity to reflect upon themselves or the important questions of Life.
Ultimately, all people seek to be happy, yet even the definition of happiness is elusive. We suspect that it is a state of satisfaction, og good feelings, but where does it come from?
Ceratainly, happiness is defined differently by different people. Some believe happiness lies in the restricted pursuit of pleasure. No matter what kind of we are, or how we define happiness, none of us can avoid the most fundamental suffering of all, the suffering association with death or the fear and apprehension associated with it.
Also we might say that religion itself arose in order to ease humanity's fear and apprehensions about life and death. Yet most religions offer no more than a simple formula for belief in order to allow us to have confidence about the future and the afterlife. Many religions espouse the existence of an abosolute, controlling a deity or power, so that we may remove the burden of responsibility from ourselves for solving our most fundamental problems.In addition, most teach some kind of theory about what happens after we die,which people are exhorted to believe in.
Nevertheless, belief alone might some confidence, but belief in and itself does not guarantte that what we believe is true. in order to truly undestand the nature of Life and death, and gain genuine confidence, what we need is wisdom- penetrating insight rooted in the depths of Life itself.In addition, we need the internal power and fortitude to conquer our own weaknesses and fears, and to act confidently upon our beliefs, thus demonstrating their validity through our actions.In addition, we need the power of compassion and courage to enable others to transcend their own limitations and establish the true confidence and happiness in Life.
Buddhism ,it may be said, is a religious philosophy that born out of the desire to solve these fundamental problems.

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