Buddhism?

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I have been studying various religions lately and have become increasingly interested in Buddhism. I really enjoy how it's more of a philosophy than a blind-faith religion. I like the idea of trying to find peace within one's own mind and the world around them. I really think that something like this would be good for me. I have never been religious or spiritual, having turned away from Christianity long ago and considering myself a deist (and sometimes atheist) for most of my life. I am now wanting to learn more about Buddhism and see if it's a possibility for me. There are many local groups, though these two seem to be the most active:

http://www.austinzencenter.org/

http://austin.txshambhala.org/


Are there any other Buddhists here?

Good luck on your path my friend. You may want to check out some Taoism sites as well.

You may also want to look at the Bahai too. Don't know much about it but I think they believe that Christianity and Bhuddism carry essentially the same message they are variants that have evolved from the one God (but I could be wrong).

I turned my back on Christian churches a while ago, but still consider myself Christian. You don't need to go to church to worship God or believe in Christ.

Yeah, buddhism is great, lots of good ideas. I'm very fascinated by zen buddhism, pleases my autistic mind. If I were able to sit down and meditate in the proper position I'd probably try to find a retreat or monestary and spent some years there. Due to my deformity it's not possible.

Men go crazy in gongregations, they only get better one by one.

I read" Sadartha" in high school and found it really intrigueing....I am very leary of "joining"any group,social phobia and paranoia about being controlled...but I consider myself more "buddhist" then anything else...my biggest problems with it are...

I am female and it seems to be very "male centric"(as most other religions)
Reincarnation seems based on your deeds in past life(over symplification)and that would seem to indicate that people who are born poor or rich, deserve their "lot" in life based on past behaviors...?I know that I am simply not understanding something here, but have never had a good explaination.
I think it's morally bad to eat animals but I do it anyway..so perhaps I am not "evolved" enough...

keep learning about it...I think there is a lot of wisdom there for both the individual and society.

I'm not Buddhist, but it makes more sense then most religions.

Mostly because I think it wasn't ment to be a religion, and it turned into one anyways. Though it's still based on asking a lot of questions.

I'm also probably closer to Buddhist than anything else. Though I'm fairly commited to not being particularly commited to anything.

no buddhism is an offshoot of hinduism, so its essentially a theism. but to a buddhist, all that is not importend. and also i believe there are derivates that scratched out the deities.

you could call it a religion, but its not based on deitie veneration. its mostly a stricked philosophy.

i really really like the concept, but its far too schizoid for me. though i am schizoid, i wont take it as a belief.
and its too nihilistic. though theres something to say for nihilism, to believe in the nonvalue of everthing (other then their precious nirvana) to that extend....:/

but to some extend.......the extinguishing of the "ego" is a belief i held even before i knew thats what buddhism is about. but i dont take it from a nihilistic or schizoid point of view but more from this:
"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us _universe_, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest...a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."

thats from einstein,
a jew, that like all theistic great minds, has a personal take on his theism thats far closer to pantheism and is somewhat agnostic in its presentation, and is said to have been an aspie

and also, i allready had that exact belief before ever knowing einstein said anything besides E=MC^2

I've harboured a mild interest in Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. I also like to read about philosophy in general.
But between my other obsessions, finding a job, trying to not isolate myself by keeping busy, and school, I have minimal time to read into this. I only read into it all about half an hour a day or so, so I don't feel I know very much.
I would consider myself an Atheist with Agnostic tendencies at times. I've been an Atheist since about age 4, I think.

Jread, I'm right there with you on that one. It's definitely far more a science of mind and science of being than even a religion in the sense of the word. Reading the Dalai Lama's Art of Happiness and Sun Tzu's Art of War you see how its really all on having the best attitude you can on things and the best personal adaptation not only for the emotional peace and harmony of your own life but for that of those around you. Even in conflict, it's about resolving and defusing it before it comes to fists, knives, guns, etc. because when it comes to the physical at all it's already a sign that control of the situation has been lost and it then comes down to the most precisely placed damage to be the most crippling to the foe's morale with the least amount of bloodshed. Its funny though, if you look at the Adult Autistic Picture Project there's actually a guy on there I think who's both a catholic priest AND a buddhist - just goes to show that it can be even applied concurrently with other religions just because of its basis in being a way of living more than demanding of you what you should or shouldn't think or feel.

I am a Buddhist.


-SpaceCase

If looking for an atheistic religion I would suggest Jainism

I suggest reading "thus spoke zarathustra" by nietzche (spelling).


I guess my beliefs would be considered agnostic by some..

I meditate, but I can only meditate within a moving rhythym in my head, I can't "clear my mind entirely" as some explanations of buddhism suggest.

However, I believe ultimately you could apply almost every religion to your own understandings.

Even christianity, personally I see christ as a metaphor, and he works the same role as a metaphorical buddha.

Instead of believing him to be my saviour, I believe in being my own.

Instead of believing buddha sat under a tree for 10 years without moving, I believe he simply went on his own and separated from the ignorance around, to find his own understanding. (even jesus praying to his father on the olive tree works with this)

As usual, I am in agreement with Xuincherguixe. I bet he could even talk me into voting Liberal!