Buddhism

Cocaine_Nosejob

Religion or way of life?
I'm looking for opinions...needed for my Japanese culture class...merci!

Cocaine_Nosejob

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HELP ME PEOPLE!

LONGRD

I can't speak for Japanese (Zen) Buddhism because their branch is different from Southeast Asians (Theravada). In the SE Asia, it's pretty much a way of life, once you're born, you are taught about basics of the beliefs. It varies between boys and girls, what the principles are between the two genders when they're inside a "Wat"(Temple) or at gathering with monks.

I don't have the study for the more complex idealogy of the beliefs but based on my 8-years under that system, it was more of a belief and way of life than it was a religion.

But like I said our branch is different from the Japanese so I'm sure if that helps.

decides2dream

Cocaine_Nosejob wrote:

Religion or way of life?
I'm looking for opinions...needed for my Japanese culture class...merci!

in my limited understanding...it is both.
it is a religion, but with no 'god'...and it is a way of life. however, 'religion' of all denominations really are meant to be 'ways of life'...and not just something to do in temple or church once a week.

chiquimonkey

yeah i see religion as a way of life, although you can conduct a way of life that could be considered spiritual without the trappings of organized religion.

side note, years ago the dalai lama waved at me as he drove past in a motorcade, it was awesome

decides2dream

chiquimonkey wrote:

yeah i see religion as a way of life, although you can conduct a way of life that could be considered spiritual without the trappings of organized religion.

side note, years ago the dalai lama waved at me as he drove past in a motorcade, it was awesome

tres cool!
:cool: