Christians turning to Buddhism

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..Not converting to Buddhism, but learning from Buddhism, because it is possible to practice Buddhism and be Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, even Atheist at the same time, even if it doesn't work both ways. It's not a competition, or it shouldn't be, and doesn't have to be. It's about helping each other get through it all.

http://www.buddhas-teaching.com/why-are ... -buddhism/

Many Christians would disagree you can be both at the same time because there are Idols in Buddhism.

That's why I said it may not work both ways. And it depends on what you interpret as being "idols." I am not aware of anything that Buddhist consider to be "idols"

And like I said, it is not conversion, it is just willing to learn from each other. There are many, many churches that I know of that allow Buddhists to use rooms in the church for meditation, study groups, yoga and many other things, so there are some more open minded, accepting and tolerant Christians out there.

I'm sorry. That was not a very thoughtful response on my part. What I would like to say is that not all people need to be accepting of the idea, but the possibility exists to work together to learn from each other without looking at each other as rivals or misunderstanding the traditions of other beliefs. That is what caring enough to learn from one another is all about.

Yes and no, more no than yes. In the west any Buddha statues are simply that, statues, models of the Buddha and we don't pray to lumps of rock. Typically we don't even pray to Buddha... he was just an ordinary man who achieved enlightenment. In Asia things are a little different and humans seem to have a compelling need to pray to something and indeed Buddha is perceived almost like a god in some Asian countries. So your statement about idols is basically incorrect. I'm Zen Buddhist AND atheist. I don't know any other Buddhists who pray to idols.

Which is one reason there is a term in zen circles, "if you see the Buddha on the street, kill him, which non Buddhists and non Zen Buddhists, mistakenly take as a form of violence who in actuality it just means to kill that idea in your head that Buddha is anything special, beyond being a human being. It is what Buddha achieved, that we aspire and show respect to when we bow before a statue or picture. It has nothing to do with the statue or picture. Practitioners of zen do not look at these clay figures as "idols" They are the representation of the Dharma , the sangha and the idea of what the Buddha found, or experienced, in terms of what we know as "enlightenment", but which is really just truth that is present in all of humanity. My understanding anyhow.

We can easily argue, based on archeological evidence, that the Buddha didn't want any physical representations of him. The first actual Buddha statue comes up nearly 300 years after his death. Before that, his representations would be just a mark of his footprints, or a wheel (symbolizing the begining of his teachings).

I don't think people have to worship the Buddha to practice what he thaught. Just like you don't need to worship Freud in order to do psychoanalysis. The Buddha kind of adressed this question himself. He spoke to a group of people who were not his followers, and were very confused about different teachings, from different masters. He said, basically, that people shouldn't accept a teaching based on the authority of people, books or traditions or based on personal biases. He said that, when people know from experience that a teaching that is thaught by a virtuous person is benneficial and leads to happiness, then they should adopt it.

When I lived in England I had a Buddha statue in my garden. It was around four feet high and made of concrete - essentially a big garden ornament with the Buddha sitting cross-legged meditating. It was a lovely meditation spot. I'd made a pond full of water lillies and a Japanese style bridge crossing over it to my meditation shelter. Often used to sit there in the evenings with some candles burning and either meditating or with an MP3 player listening to dharma talks.

I'm glad you could find a place for that and time to find peace and study there. It sounds ideal. I hope you have been able to replicate a similar location there in France to resume your practice.

Unfortunately not. While the garden we have in France is huge in comparison we are living in financial poverty. Back in England I had two full time jobs but here I'm unemployed with no income, so I no longer have money to make similar structures here. However, I often meditate outside under a tree when the weather is reasonable. The location is pretty good, miles away from anywhere surrounded by fields and woodlands. I'd like to set aside part of the house as a meditation area but the house too needs lots of work doing to it and the upstairs isn't really habitable, especially in winter as there is no heating. Anyway, I make the best of what I've got and mindfulness can be practised anywhere any time.

I have no idea the scale of France or your exact location. Are you in proximity to Plum Village or any affiliate thereof in France? I sometimes go to a zen center 140 miles away for weekend retreats, but only a coner of a quiet room and my balcony for meditation and reflection. I find dishwashing and food preparation to be meditative periods of time, but I am alone with no interruptions not scheduled by myself, with little to no exterior noise to distract me. I participate with online zen practice as well on a regular basis

I looked into Plum Village some time ago but unfortunately it is too expensive for me to visit for any retreats etc.

That is unfortunate. Plum Village affiliate organization here that I know of operates on small donations but it is a very small monastery in a very small community in Mississippi, mostly, it seems self sufficient but they do have teachings and public events a few times a year for which they charge some sort of fee. The zen center I sometimes attend is a Korean Kwan um zen affiliate in Indianapolis Indiana, usually no more than 20 participants in a 3 day retreat I can afford one or two times a year. Exhausting for me. !08 full prostrations and group chanting every morning at 5;30am.. Meditations and dharma talks through the day. Very rough on my old knees.

I can relate. Oddly enough I've never done the full lotus position and have only recently started doing exercises intended to facilitate it; but at 53 my limbs may never be flexible enough for that position. It is hard enough getting on the floor and back up again nowadays.

Everything becomes clear when one realizes that there are 4 forms of Buddhism:

1. Buddhist culture
2. Buddhist religion
3. Buddhist philosophy
4. Buddhist EXPERIENCE

When you observe what occurs in a Buddhist country ask yourself if what your observing is part of 1, 2, 3, or 4.

Yes, some worship statues = religion.
Yes, some pay monks to bless the opening of a cafe = culture
and so on.....I hope you see my point.

True dharma is the ineffable experience of ones true nature.

Yes that was a good way of expressing it. In the west we tend to adopt 3. Buddhist philosophy and 4. Buddhist experience. At some western monasteries there are some trappings of 1 and 2 e.g. associated with ceremony but they are of lesser relevance or importance.

I bought an *idol* this afternoon. A little (1 foot tall) Buddha statue. Not had one since moving from England; the one there was too big and heavy to bring to France.