map of religious war
The Simplicity O' Buddhism
You can use BUDDHIST DICTIONARY for better understanding.
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Muslim Grrrls
Written by a Muslim lawyer about her experience...
I myself believe that, in the West, muslims women can realize their freedom and justice like all western women; but this can only happen when western governments willingly support it to happen. Freedom of all people is in the hand of the people who have the conditions to do it!
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Buddhist Swastika
news about a symbol of a Buddhist tradition used by the Nazi -
I appreciate the court ruling that the symbol is not owned by the Nazi but is cultural and has been around long before Nazi was born.
In this case, Nazi took the symbol what is not theirs. So I think the culture must not give it up but must reclaim it from the hand of Nazi or any other group whether which is pro- or anti-Nazi. Swastika belongs to the world. It also belongs to the world's peace. People must recognize the peaceful culture before any group or activism that is against the peace of the world.
Swastika or Sun Wheel An ancient religious symbol used long before Hitler came to power. It was used in Buddhist inscriptions, Celtic monuments and Greek coins. In sun god worship, it is supposed to represent the sun's course in the heavens.
Whilst the Nazi symbol swastika has been taken as evil, other symbols (skull and SS) used by the Nazi are not targeted seriously.
What are the reasons? Because these symbols are less serious, less famous or not representing all Nazi?
Thus again, I rather insist to readapt peace symbol as it is and see it being good and different from the bad one.
Actually, the symbol of peace swastika has far more serious MEANINGs. Look at this one.
I was introduced to the Nazi symbol I think during grade 4. About the same time, I found the swastika symbol - 'settjya' in Burmese language. Settjya means the turning spinning thing - settjya-valar is the universe in Burmese - the turning spinning sky. The word came from 'Pali' language of Buddhism. There are different shapes of settjya swastika symbols but are similar and understandably the look turning spinning.
By preserving the original cultures of swastika, the world may reconcile for peace and belittling the works of those who turned these symbols into their interpretation of hatreds and narrow views. The remembrance of the how the Nazi hurt the peoples of Europe doesn't need suppressing the original meanings of the real swastikas - this only oppresses the good swastikas and making the symbol of the Nazi only to be most visible. By promoting the real swastikas and their actual meanings, Nazi movements can be veiled.
i JUST WANT TO PROMOTE PEACE...
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I've just read "Inside Iran's sex slave industry"
... wondering now: how on earth we people do suffer so! So much sufferings appear to never every have no ending! The long trail of pain, agony, ... as one track and lust, anger... as another track, humanity is just cursed with the crowing Demon's - "they will follow me to eternity agony!"
I don't believe in any reason about the ignorance of the leaders and governments of these so many societies. These top level people know all the lies... but they benefit from them ... through out the history of these societies; and also there are many followers who want such benefits.
http://www.youtube.com/user/spaceagebachelor
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No One Better Than You!!!
I don't know how those claims are true. I can't read Arabic and I have not been aware of this type of reality in the Middle East. I know nice food, nice songs, nice poetry and nice dance.
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Save the Whales
Save the sweetest whales singing through the oceans...
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Curiosity Philosophy...
if god did not create 'death', what might be the population of the world by now?
I'm not a believer though.
so this is a philosophical question.
if the creation of death is not the cause of murder, then how did people come up with the word 'murder'?
if the cause of death is assumed not the act of crime, why do people fear of death?
if the cause of death is assumed not the act of crime, why don't believers feel glad when they/their loved ones die as believing in the god? Not psychologically, but only philosophically, why don't believers are glad to die for themselves - by not killing others but themselves?
it happened a few times as mass suicides - why were those people wrong?
suicide happens everyday - we generally believe that these are caused by both psychological matters: hatred, anger, frustration, stress, breakdowns, and intellectual matters: views, to kill others, to cause others left behind in pain or feel guilty, etc.
If god creation of death was a right action, then why is suicide wrong in general and why is it right when causing the enemies harm?
is the word 'murder' supposed to be amongst the believers?
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Well, it's a Buddhist history. Perhaps it can interest all Buddhists who would like to know about Buddhist history. I think the article is well-written and quite informative and it's from a non-Buddhist source. I think it gives some glimpse to how some intellectuals from other beliefs see Buddhism. With so much comparison, I can appreciate Buddhism in this way. The article opens my eyes about the Buddhist history in the conflict zones of the past. The reality is we got Buddhism from Siho now Sri Lanka where a war against the invaders who were destroying Buddhist establishment there was fought, and as the Buddhist king won the war Buddhism has been alive and now we have Buddhism.
Sihi Sri Lanka
90. Dutthagamani’s victory was glorified in a famous chronicle known ¯ ˙˙ ˙ as the Mahavamsa (5th–6th centuries ce) which relates that his ¯ ˙ army was accompanied by Buddhist monks and that Buddhist relics adorned the spears of the soldiers. Monks disrobed and joined the army to fight in what the chronicle depicts as a ‘holy war’, although no such concept exists in Buddhism. Despite this apparent endorsement by the sangha, after his victory Dutthagamani felt ¯ ˙˙ ˙ remorse at the loss of life, whereupon, according to the chronicle, he was reassured by enlightened monks (arhats) that he was responsible for the deaths of just ‘one and a half people’. The meaning of this cryptic remark seems to be that in contrast to Buddhists, Tamils count only as half persons, since they are ‘evil men of wrong views’ little better than ‘beasts’.
I think Holy War is not a Buddhist word. I don't think the Buddha mentioned His battle with Mara & his army of gods as a holy war. And war within one's own heart, against own delusion, is not a holy war either. Although wars were fought to protect the Buddha's teaching, these wars were not intended for significance, glory, personal achievement, etc. and thus, they don't qualify the word 'holy' in the sense of Buddhism. The Buddha did mention that the war against oneself is the greatest - most glorious; but that is only comparison or metaphor. So I rather conclude the sense of 'holy war' is not part of Buddhism - they are just mere protection Loki thing.
The term jihad in Islam is very important however. That makes there is no similar word in Buddhism to match the intensity of the actual meaning of jihad. So I'm not adapting that word into my knowledge of Buddhism - I think it's not proper; it will only make Buddhism unholy. LOL
Yes, the support of Loki is essential for Lokuttara in terms of alms, monastery, medicine, cloths, stationaries, etc. but war is not needed constantly but only casually. But these days are not better than the past. Threats from both within and outside are quite large. Hopefully the reputation of Buddhism will remain in tack.
Above are from emails
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Buddha's Teachings
the reality is a harsh existence. we humankind needs protection from brutes, the cruel, the deceitful, the cunning, ... for protection, we must be hate-less within our heart. as we wash our bodies to keep it comfortable and disease free, our society need such protection - as Buddhists, we should have no pleasure in protection, the safety, the development, ... of the society but we have to do what to do and keep the house safe from mosquitoes, flies, etc.
Both HATE & PLEASURE are not good. Have no pleasure in cleanliness, being comfortable ... just have the mindset of 'do it for good'!
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Therefore, God doesn't exist.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/#HumSufExtFreWilDef
Good and evil, what is the third one that God didn’t create? That is freedom from both good and evil. Freedom exists – at least during deep sleep and coma. In deep sleep, you can’t find either good or evil.
Thus, God doesn’t.
If Free Will be true, if it’s about avoiding evil and to do good, then why can’t people avoid diseases and natural disasters created by God? They can’t – whether they have faith in God or not, they can’t avoid criminals in the society, diseases and disasters that come from just anywhere. They might even have to give their lives to evil things – criminals, diseases and natural disasters. They also time and again have to face hardship for generations. They can’t avoid such diseases and natural disasters. They can’t stop such things from coming to them. Famine is a nasty thing. Plague is also a nasty thing. They can wipe out an entire community.
Thus, God doesn’t exist.
And why did God give a lot of powers to Satan? He knew Satan would revolt and would take lots of angels with him to hell and to mankind. In hell, he might suffer but yet he can escape hell and inspires humankind – since the creation of Adam and Eve. Satan has the absolute power to free himself from hell and come to the people anytime he likes to give evil to people whilst God doesn’t intervene (in crimes, diseases and natural disasters). God doesn’t stop either Satan or evil. God doesn’t stop because God doesn’t exist.
Thus, God doesn’t exist. As God doesn’t exist, Satan doesn’t either.
By worshiping God, nobody ever gained freedom from evil – neither physically nor mentally. God inspires people who worship him to be good. But his worshippers never have been free from evil – since Adam and Eve. Thus, worshipping God cannot free anyone from evil. Thus, God doesn’t give his worshipper free from evil. Why? Because God doesn’t exist.
Thus, God doesn’t exist.
The worst thing is God forms foetuses where they will be born into utter sufferings. Foetuses cannot know anything. Babies cannot be subjects of test even if the adults are tested in such a way by God. Merciful God wouldn’t do this. But in reality, such things happen.
Thus, God doesn’t exist as merciful God doesn’t do it.
As God doesn’t exist, neither Adam nor Eve ever created.
By nature, free will doesn’t exist. Whether one is free from good or evil, that’s still a condition of the nature.
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This is about Jesus:
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If there was God creating the mankind and its place in this very world, then:
Show us the love that had ever unified the world once;
Show us the peace that had ever dried the rivers of tear, killed the volcanoes of fear and filled the oceans of hunger;
Show us the beauty that had ever killed and decomposed the aging of woman an' the death of mankind;
Show us if you could, if we were supposed to see them!
God may clear the way wherever the jungle of confusion growing ahead of the cliff of doubt hiding its peak in the cloud.
When I were enlightened:
I'd forget the diseases and their pains fell upon us and beloved ones time and again;
I'd swallow the misery that I've seen and heard everyday if God wouldn't want to;
I'd stop worrying about my health and my teeth from falling and loss;
I'd stop attempting to improve my lifestyle and stop dreaming for a better future.
Yet if I had to worry for the people of the world misunderstanding about God, even after He had shown the light to me exclusively:
I'd fly around the world with the wings given by God and cry as loud as thunders from the sky with the voice as sweet as nightingale; and day and night,
I'd spread the aromatic truths in the currents of air and rivers and would let them rain together and let them be drunk by the thirsty ones whose hearts are burning in despairs...
