If you're a Buddhist, you have to read the Buddha's words

An Eternal Now SG

If you're a Buddhist, please, please, buy "In the Buddha's Words"

And study the Buddha's teachings in his own words. It's a great book by a great translator who produced a great translation with great skills in arranging them in a great order for reading.

http://www.amazon.com/Buddhas-Words-Anthology-Discourses-Teachings/dp/0861714911

geis SG

thanks, just bought it on kindle app

gorgorlokaychyong SG

/Really, I don't know about this. My sister regard herself a buddhist. Pray with joss stick to Buddha everyday but does not want to read the buddha's words. She is taking it easy. She does not believe in the existence of pureland. She is contented that as long as she does not commit crimes like murder and so on she should be safe in her life after death.

An Eternal Now SG

You're only a real Buddhist if you take refuge in the triple gems.

Before that, we can only call them "future Buddhist" since if they have some faith in buddha, they are potential Buddhist. We should not call them non-buddhist since this is discouraging.

gorgorlokaychyong SG

You're only a real Buddhist if you take refuge in the triple gems.

Before that, we can only call them "future Buddhist" since if they have some faith in buddha, they are potential Buddhist. We should not call them non-buddhist since this is discouraging.

Real and fake buddhists?

An Eternal Now SG

Best not to call them negative names like fake buddhists, non-buddhist, etc. But you only truly become Buddhist if you take refuge in the triple gems. Worshipping and praying to Buddha doesn't mean you are a Buddhist - i.e. if you take refuge in some worldly gods, but at the same time pray to Buddha, doesn't mean you're Buddhist.

Just like some atheist or even followers of other religions etc respect Buddha, doesn't mean they're Buddhist.

An Eternal Now SG

Learning Buddhism starts with taking refuge in the Three Treasures

http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol8no1d.htm

gorgorlokaychyong SG

Just like some atheist or even followers of other religions etc respect Buddha, doesn't mean they're Buddhist.

You mean gui yi as what we called in Chinese?

Anyway, it is her that regards herself as buddhist so I respect that. To me, anyone not practising the religions they are from are not truly followers or believers of those religions.

sinweiy SG

i think, apparent or ritual guiyi, and still continue his/her own habitual negative way, not much use, compare to guiyi in the heart, mind and 'pure' actions.

basically one need to know about the life of Shakyamuni, then His 4 noble truth, and the noble Eightfold path.

there are more to learn about the truth in Buddhism. like why u are here? who are u, really? questions about life, etc.

Pray with joss stick is still pretty folk believer. they can even pray to gods in different temples, pray for lottery numbers. folk Taoist also believe the same thing. many things u see and surrounding people tell u are quite superstitions and misleading. that said, how u live and die, u will still live and die the way u use to be. continue rebirth, continue suffering.

do read this book for beginner to know what truely is Buddhism. all the myth need to clarify.

http://www.dhammaweb.net/books/Lamp.pdf

winsomeea SG

Buddhism is change from within.