Life Of A Buddhist Living In A Buddhist Nation Vs A Christian One Through Phetaroi'S Eyes.

[rockyysdt]

My practice of mindfulness hasn't been as concentrated as I'd like these days, but one thing I've noticed is how fast time seems to be flying by.

My current employment involves regularly entering dates into a log. Each time I do this I often think of how quickly time seems to pass, and how I'm being propelled to a time close to the end of my life.

It seems like only yesterday when four months ago in the midst of the Red Shirt demonstrations and ensuing violence that Vince (phetaroi) left Thailand's shores for a new life back in the U.S.

This prompted me to ask, how does life compare for a Buddhist living in a Buddhist nation compared to life in a predominantly Christian one?

Is there advantage in living amongst Buddhists or can one travel successfully regardless of location?

Edited September 26, 2010 by rockyysdt

[phetaroi]

Well, I can tell you a great disadvantage. In Thailand I went to a temple almost daily and found it easier to focus on Buddhist-related thoughts. Here there is a Buddhist temple in a house -- the type fo situation I had been in previously in Virginia, and it's simply not the same.

On the other hand it may be an advantage to seeing "a big picture" when you are re-confronted up close with Christian values and teachings as being the more dominant lifestyle.

[Capealava]

Do all that is good and keep one's thoughts pure-this is the teachings of all the Buddhas.

Rinzai-Zen monk--- Become the master of all situations.

If you meet the Buddha -Kill him

[moe666]

Create a temple in your own mind.

[rockyysdt]

On the other hand it may be an advantage to seeing "a big picture" when you are re-confronted up close with Christian values and teachings as being the more dominant lifestyle.

Do Christian values and teachings bring you closer to Buddhism?

What are some examples?

[Xangsamhua]

On the other hand it may be an advantage to seeing "a big picture" when you are re-confronted up close with Christian values and teachings as being the more dominant lifestyle.

Do Christian values and teachings bring you closer to Buddhism?

What are some examples?

The teachings of Jesus as distinct, though not necessarily different, from those of "Christians" were probably closer to the major precepts of the Bodhisattva http://www.shantideva.net/precepts.htm .

Hence the multitude of theories about Jesus having been exposed to Buddhist teaching (Galilee was on a major trade route).

These teachings are probably best discerned in the oral teachings ("Q") passed on and embedded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. (But note that these gospels had other agendas to suit their target communities - Jews for Matthew, gentiles for Luke.)

Some of the sayings, parables and sermons of Jesus sourced to "Q" and pre-dating the Gospels are: The Beatitudes, Love your enemies, The Golden Rule (also attributed to Rabbi Hillel before Jesus), Judge not lest you be judged, The birds and the lilies of the field, etc - I think generally consistent with Buddhist ethics and soteriology, though Jesus taught in and from a Jewish framework.

[phetaroi]

On the other hand it may be an advantage to seeing "a big picture" when you are re-confronted up close with Christian values and teachings as being the more dominant lifestyle.

Do Christian values and teachings bring you closer to Buddhism?

What are some examples?

1. It works both ways. Visiting Thailand often, and then living there for a while gets one out of the Christian perspective of the world. Living in the US gets one out of the Buddhist perspective of the world.

2. The more time passes, the more I come to the conclusion that no religion answers all the questions and that there is wisdom and truth in most religions.

[Brucenkhamen]

The question I'd ask is where is this predominately Christian nation?

In my country in the last census 55.6% of people chose Christian or one of the Christian denominations, I suppose that's a majority as it's over half, but when you consider probably not much more than 5% of the population regularly attends church why would you describe it as a Christian nation?

I suppose the closest we'd get is bible belt USA.

A much higher percentage in Thailand would probably identify themselves as Buddhist but again I wouldn't expect the percentage of those genuinely practising it to be much more than 5%.

Off the top of my head I can probably think of about 8 monasteries, retreat centres or sitting groups in my country that I'd be interested in attending retreats or sittings with, that's one per 500,000 people.

Transfer that proportion to the population of Thailand then I'd need to find 120 monasteries, retreat centres or sitting groups in Thailand that I'd be interested in attending retreats or sittings with. If I was fluent in Thai then I think this might be possible but as it is it's nowhere near this figure.

So I think your question should be comparing Thai with western culture, not national religions.