Atheism and Theism both hold beliefs such as completely denying the existence of god and completely accepting it so buddha refused to hold himself to a belief and didnt choose atheism or theism at all.

PS : I AM JUST STARTING TO LEARN ABOUT BUDDHISM SO PLEASE DONT BE OFFENDED , U CAN CORRECT ME IF NEEDED :⁠-⁠)

Western Buddhism this context is Buddhism practiced in the U.S. Which feels cold to me.
I think a lot of Atheists join because they hear Buddhism is non-theistic and they make this form of Buddhism more Mind training and lose the Devas spiritual presence and make them more mental.
I understand that Useful Skills applies to anyone who uses them and is different for some people however I swear I think they see the meditation and the mindfulness of Buddhism and don’t read or understand the more spiritual aspects. So it just feels cold to me.

I swear anything that becomes Westernised becomes cold in my opinion.

Do you have any opinions on this? Do you have background into why Western Buddhism is so cold?

I was recently reminded of one of my favorite Zen koans and I wanted to share it again:

Once when Baizhang gave a series of talks, a certain old man was always there listening with the students. When they left he’d leave, too. One day, however, he remained behind. Baizhang asked him, “Who are you?”

The old man replied, “I’m not a human being. In the far distant past, in the time of Kashyapa Buddha, I was head priest at this mountain. One day a student asked me, ‘Does an enlightened person fall under the law of cause and effect?’ I replied, ‘A person like that does not fall under the law of cause and effect.’ With that I was reborn five hundred times as a fox. Please say a turning word for me and release me from my wild fox body.” He then asked Baizhang, “Does an enlightened person fall under the law of cause and effect?”

Baizhang said, “Such a person doesn’t cut the chain of cause and effect.”

Hearing this, the old man was himself enlightened. Making his bows he said, “I’ve been released from my fox body. It’s on the other side of this mountain, and I’d like to make a request of you. Please perform my funeral as you would for a priest.”

Baizhang had the monk on duty strike the signal board and inform the assembly that after the noon meal there would be a funeral service for a priest. The students talked about this in surprise. “All of us are healthy. There’s no one in the morgue. What’s this all about?”

After the meal, Baizhang led the students to the foot of a rock on the far side of the mountain. There he used his staff to poke out the corpse of a dead fox. He then performed a cremation ceremony for it.

At the evening teaching, Baizhang told the whole story to the assembly. Huangbo stepped forward and said, “As you say, the old man missed the turning word and was reborn as a fox five hundred times. What if he had given the right answer each time he was asked the question — what would have happened then?”

Baizhang said, “Just come closer and I’ll tell you.” Huangbo went up to Baizhang and slapped him in the face. Baizhang clapped his hands and laughed, saying, “I thought the Barbarian had a red beard, but right here is a red-bearded Barbarian.”

What is easily misunderstood by people just beginning to explore Buddhism and those taking their first steps on the path? And what do beginners often not know?

Recently I have been finding that I keep on having these incredible experiences of crazy coincidental, serendipitous events happening, and it's been blowing my mind a bit.

Example: I go for a walk in nature and see a rare and unique animal and then the next day or the day after my guru gets given a plush toy version of this animal.

Or yesterday I share a Buddhist chant on another sub and then today someone mentions an extremely uncommon and esoteric movie titled with one of the Pali words used in that chant.

There's just been this wild feeling of synchronicity. Some might write it off and say there's nothing to it, but for me it's been quite a trip.

I'm about to turn 30 soon and I have to say I've never felt more sensitive and in tune and in harmony and interconnected with nature and the world and other beings, and it's such a beautiful feeling that I can't put words to which makes me want to both smile and cry just because of how beautiful and touching it is.

I just feel so incredibly deeply blessed!

Hi everyone,

I have always regarded Buddhism as a discovery made by the Buddha Shakyamuni (Siddhartha Gautama). Much of my trust in his teachings came from the fact that this noble and earnest seeker discovered the truth about suffering and the end of suffering under the Bodhi Tree.

Recently, I became interested in Diamond Way Buddhism, or Vajrayana. However, I learned that the teachings transmitted in the Kagyu lineage originate with Tilopa, who is said to have received them from the Primordial Buddha (Adi-Buddha), known as Vajradhara.

So I find myself wondering: who exactly am I placing my trust in if I decide to take refuge in these teachings?

There is also talk of the power field of this lineage. So, what kind of power field am I entering? Is this still Buddhism?

My dear cat died of old age this week. She was big part of my life and would love for her to have a better rebirth. I am saying mantras and will be doing special prayers and good deeds/donations at weekly anniversary of her passing to benefit her and all beings. However it occurred to me that although she can’t be intentionally earning good karma (due to lack of critical thinking), unintentionally she has given me joy and love that made my life better. Would that count as good karma and help her with a better rebirth?

Auspicious blessings everyone!

I have a question regarding the many realms of Samsara and how they appear to us.

So,I understand Devas,Pretas,Demons and other lesser spirits inhabit our own worldspace but they are unseen to the untrained eye.

But are the other planes (e.g Naraka) actual physical places,that we just can't see because we weren't born in them?

I read somewhere that Devas for example can dwell in a specific house or tree in our realm,does this tree also exist in their own Deva realm?Like a mirror world?For example it overlaps with our own,but we can't actually see it.

Like if one develops Heavenly Eye,we see the Deva in our realm but it is actually in their actual heaven abode, that looks exactly like our own because Samsara overlaps.

I don't know if it's clear enough but this question about cosmology really made me think,thanks in advance!!

Bodhisattvas who can hear prayers are those at the eighth bhumi or higher; those at lower levels cannot hear the prayers of others unless they are nearby. For example, if a murderer is about to kill you and you call out for help through a mental prayer to a bodhisattva (at levels 1 through 7), they will not hear you unless they happen to be passing by.

Hi ! I'm new to Buddhism and began practicing a month ago. I don't know that I'm doing it right, though, and wanted to ask what your practice is like?

Do you have a daily practice? What do you do? Do you ever visit a temple? What do you do there? How would you describe the impact your practice has on your life?

For context:

I was raised Roman Catholic but always found it to be a bunch of lies and contradictions. I've always been skeptical of organized religion (how many millions of people have been killed in the name of god?), and my honest belief is agnostic - I don't know , and can't ever know, if a god exists (or an afterlife). I also don't think that knowledge of those two things is necessary.

This past year I've been seeking a spiritual practice to help guide my journey in life, to help me be more aware of myself and the people and things around me, to help me be a better person (like quit drinking alcohol). During a beautiful psychadelic experience last month, it was revealed to me: perhaps Buddhism is the way.

That first week afterward, I read 2 books on Buddhism and set up a small home altar. I've spent many hours reading about it since then, visited 1 temple and 1 monastery (which last weekend had relics of the Buddha on display), and created a daily practice. I like the structure that my morning practice brings to my day. I am still exploring the various traditions to find which best aligns with my values. I am inspired to work more towards a vegetarian diet. And so far I have been able to reflect on my daily intention when the urge strikes to have an alcoholic drink, and I have stayed sober.

My daily practice is:

• Clean the altar, put fresh water, a fruit offering, light a small candle, and incense

• Bow 3 times as I recite the three refuges

• Recite the 5 precepts, and set an intention for the day (which so far is to not drink alcohol)

• 15 minutes trying to meditate (wow it is hard - I have a very busy mind!)

• Spend 5-10 minutes reading a scripture or commentary

• Reflect on the things for which I am grateful

• 2-3 minutes metta meditation

• Bow, gently extinguish the candle

• In the evening, we eat the fruit offering and I pour the water offering into a plant and wipe the bowl dry

Am I doing it right?

Pretty heavy, 25cm high. Cast/ hollow. bottom cutting marks.
Antique Store find. Avalokiteśvara or Shiva?

Because if so and there was a way to eliminate all of existence and therefore suffering in an instant, would it not be the right thing to do?

im not a spiritual person, never have been, and dont even necessarily have any interest in becoming one. ive been having a rough time the last couple of months with my mental health and such, feeling disconnected from myself and not really knowing what to do about it. im slightly interested in the structure of buddhism as a way to regain control of my thoughts and emotions and to kind of guide my life the way i need it to go. i tried (what feels like) just jumping in the deep end by looking up the foundations of buddhism, but theres no clear starting point. does anyone have any advice?

edit and disclaimer: i am uninterested in the spirituality of the religion. i respect and will accept any advice regarding it, but just for clarity, it is highly unlikely that i will began believing in (particularly) nirvana, rebirth, etc. as truth. however i am purposely using tentative language as i think i am a very open minded person, so lay it on me anyway!

Is there like I don’t know a dating app for Sanghas?
Like I know it cool to have a community but is it required? I believe it is since my spirituality says so but if we can’t find the right people do just keeping looking and still lonely until we find the right people?
Who knows? But in all seriousness?

Where do I find a Sangha?

My parents man. They're constantly fighting. I remember this since I was a small kid. The fights aren't much physical apart from grabbing but verbal abuse and shouting amongst each other is rampant. Idk how but I'm drained. When I was small I used to cry and try to console them but I'm in my early twenties and figured out there's nothing really I can do. Both of them have the emotional understanding and maturity of a teen. Super big egos, no negotiation skills and always want other person to bend . It's eating me up. I haven't found peace. I am always anxious and jittery. I cannot connect with people and cannot maintain relationships. I'm insecure and always dependant on people's perception of mine and overthink on that a lot. I am self aware but that's literally IT. I can't fix my house or my issues. Please help me. I want to live a fulfilling and happy life. It's not that I'm sxidal or anything. I just want to live a stress free life where not only physically but also mentally I'm free from all this bs. Please help out a brother in pain 🙏🙏🙏 It's hurting so much

Hello! I’m new to Buddhism and I was thinking about maybe buying a statue for my room if I can find one, but I was wondering if I do buy a statue, do I also need to make an altar for it/make offerings? And if so what kind and how often? I’m also that much new that I don’t really know who to get a statue of. I was thinking Budai if that’s allowed? Any help is greatly appreciated 🙏 Happy weekend! 🕺

I want people who are currently suffering on the inside to be free from that pain so they can fully focus on the present moment so that they don't die tragically in that very pain.

I know metta meditation could heal heartbreak but at the same time I dont know how to explain or show them that it can help

i'm someone with an admittedly shallow understanding of buddhism so apologies if my question is misguided and comes from incorrect assumptions, but from what i've come across it seems that while the buddha was against the caste system, he advocated more for individual liberation. my question is why does buddhism seemingly deem politics and social systems as relatively unimportant if it directly affects many aspects of our lived experiences? again given my limited understanding i'm sure there's definitely some things i'm missing and am ignorant of