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I understand the traditionalists hesitation (and fear). But it seems to me this is actually a good thing from the Buddhist perspective; it's increasing contact

I understand the traditionalists hesitation (and fear). But it seems to me this is actually a good thing from the Buddhist perspective; it's increasing contact in an age of more secularism. Customers like Mr. Kai in the article seem just as likely to simply not use a priest at all, rather than figure out how to negotiate with the local temple that they have no roots in, if the "on-demand" service was not available.

frozenport 10y ago
On the other hand Mr. Kai gave some portly dude 50 bucks to dance around his living room. Without community and roots, religion is a scam.
- scoot 10y ago
  Religion is a scam in either case, so why not streamline it?
  - toasterlovin 10y ago
    Sure, most of humanity participates in a religion of some kind, but they're all just fools getting taken in a con. I get that there are some well established problems that come up in conjunction with religion, but perhaps there's a little bit more to it than that, no?
    - deleted 10y ago
      [deleted]
    - kbart 10y ago
      Big (if not major) part of humanity are used to some kind of drugs too (alcohol, tobacco, sugar, coffee etc.), but we don't say there's something more to it. Religion is a drug for one's mind to make feel better and ease existential pain/uncertainty.
      - gerbilly 10y ago
        >Religion is a drug for one's mind to make feel better and ease existential pain/uncertainty. Well if that's the case then Buddhism is pretty bad at it. It teaches that you have no self even when you are alive, much less after death. It also does not promise reincarnation either, but rebirth, which is kind of an impersonal process.
        kbart 10y ago
        I'd say that Buddhism is more like philosophy than a "real" religion. Though I agree that there's no clear definition of what "religion", especially now, where every nutjob can create his own "religion".
        kijin 10y ago
        It teaches you to embrace the fact that you are nothing, and to make peace with the impersonal universe. That's one way to ease existential pain. Buddhism is remarkably compatible with the modern scientific view that the universe has neither purpose nor personality. Once you throw away the anthropocentric Judeo-Christian mindset, you are left with no external, authoritative source of purpose. Many people struggle to find an alternate source of purpose, either within themselves or in something else. This can be very stressful. Buddhism relieves you by teaching you that you don't need to try so hard, you don't even need to "be yourself". It's a strangely attractive proposition.
        CivilianZero 10y ago
        Maybe let's not talk about Buddhism like we all know what it's really like as a religion. It IS a religion and there is much more to it than the average person seems to think. Granted, like any belief system people are free to pick and choose if they want, but we don't base our judgement of a belief system's "religiousness" on people who have chosen the very least amount.
        gerbilly 10y ago
        > Maybe let's not talk about Buddhism like we all know what it's really like as a religion.[1] Oh really, and why not? Maybe some of us do know what it's like... One could argue that "the very least amount" correlates roughly with Theravada buddhism which bases its practices on a set of very early talks given by the buddha that are believed to be the core teachings. There are a _lot_ of theravada buddhists in the world, so you could say that many have chosen "the least amount". Why do you come to HN if not to discuss things? Should we exchange credentials before being allowed to discuss things? [1] http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/582/861/e26.jpg http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/582/861/e26...

frozenport 10y ago

On the other hand Mr. Kai gave some portly dude 50 bucks to dance around his living room. Without community and roots, religion is a scam.

scoot 10y ago
Religion is a scam in either case, so why not streamline it?
- toasterlovin 10y ago
  Sure, most of humanity participates in a religion of some kind, but they're all just fools getting taken in a con. I get that there are some well established problems that come up in conjunction with religion, but perhaps there's a little bit more to it than that, no?
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
  - kbart 10y ago
    Big (if not major) part of humanity are used to some kind of drugs too (alcohol, tobacco, sugar, coffee etc.), but we don't say there's something more to it. Religion is a drug for one's mind to make feel better and ease existential pain/uncertainty.
    - gerbilly 10y ago
      >Religion is a drug for one's mind to make feel better and ease existential pain/uncertainty. Well if that's the case then Buddhism is pretty bad at it. It teaches that you have no self even when you are alive, much less after death. It also does not promise reincarnation either, but rebirth, which is kind of an impersonal process.
      - kbart 10y ago
        I'd say that Buddhism is more like philosophy than a "real" religion. Though I agree that there's no clear definition of what "religion", especially now, where every nutjob can create his own "religion".
      - kijin 10y ago
        It teaches you to embrace the fact that you are nothing, and to make peace with the impersonal universe. That's one way to ease existential pain. Buddhism is remarkably compatible with the modern scientific view that the universe has neither purpose nor personality. Once you throw away the anthropocentric Judeo-Christian mindset, you are left with no external, authoritative source of purpose. Many people struggle to find an alternate source of purpose, either within themselves or in something else. This can be very stressful. Buddhism relieves you by teaching you that you don't need to try so hard, you don't even need to "be yourself". It's a strangely attractive proposition.
      - CivilianZero 10y ago
        Maybe let's not talk about Buddhism like we all know what it's really like as a religion. It IS a religion and there is much more to it than the average person seems to think. Granted, like any belief system people are free to pick and choose if they want, but we don't base our judgement of a belief system's "religiousness" on people who have chosen the very least amount.
        gerbilly 10y ago
        > Maybe let's not talk about Buddhism like we all know what it's really like as a religion.[1] Oh really, and why not? Maybe some of us do know what it's like... One could argue that "the very least amount" correlates roughly with Theravada buddhism which bases its practices on a set of very early talks given by the buddha that are believed to be the core teachings. There are a _lot_ of theravada buddhists in the world, so you could say that many have chosen "the least amount". Why do you come to HN if not to discuss things? Should we exchange credentials before being allowed to discuss things? [1] http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/582/861/e26.jpg http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/582/861/e26...