What Makes Up Your Buddhist Practice?

[robitusson]

What constitutes Buddhist practice for the TV members? Do people practice Buddhism with out considering themselves Buddhist?

[sabaijai]

Some of the options in the last list aren't mutually exclusive. And you need one more:

... practical, religious and academic.

[deadman]

"What constitutes Buddhist practice for the TV members? Do people practice Buddhism with out considering themselves Buddhist?"

I'm sure the Buddha himself didn't think that he was a 'Buddhist'.

[suegha]

Do people practice Buddhism with out considering themselves Buddhist?

Yes.

[Gohonzon]

'I am primarily interested in Therevada Buddhism.

I am primarily interested in Tibetan Buddhism '

1. A smite exclusive perhaps? Maybe an answer indicating other Buddhist schools - other than the two mentioned - might have been a little less so?

For instance, I'm a practising Mahayana Buddhist of the Lotus Sutra School. It would be respectful to have been acknowleged, if only in a general context.

2. Likewise with the question: Do you make merit?

I presume that this concept as used refers to the Thai Theravada equivalent of 'tham boon'? I answered that I make merit daily, as I do so everytime that I chant, propagate Buddhism or act out of compassion, etc.

I have read of other Buddhist schools saying the same thing concerning metta meditation, for instance. I mean it isn't just about visiting the temple and offering flowers and/or insense to an image of Shakyamuni Buddha is it? Athough that too has its place.

If I'm in fact wrong about your meaning of 'making merit' , then I apologise. Although a line or two's elaberation may have clarified your meaning for prickly old pedants and ,other considered to be (?) non-orthodox Buddhists like me. Nichiren, Zen, Pure Land, et al

No offence taken anyway. But just to point out that Buddhist practice and theory isn't the sole property of any one or another tradition.

3. After thought.

I practice mostly every day without fail. But that practice rarely involves meditation, but in the chanting of Nam-myho-renge kyo ( ;

[robitusson]

Some of the options in the last list aren't mutually exclusive. And you need one more:

... practical, religious and academic.

Yes, I made a pig's ear of the options on the poll. But then when you go back to edit it you can only edit the message, not the questions! Disaster!