4 ms·

> It often makes me wish for a non-religious religion -- just a refuge of tranquility. Have you looked into Buddhism yet? Because that's exactly one of the way

> It often makes me wish for a non-religious religion -- just a refuge of tranquility. Have you looked into Buddhism yet? Because that's exactly one of the ways I'd describe it--a non-religion whose focus is on tranquility. If you haven't looked into yet, this is a great easy-to-read book to start with: http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Every-Step-Mindfulness-Everyday/dp/0553351397/ref=sr_1_1_ha?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401487771&sr=1-1&keywords=peace+is+every+step http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Every-Step-Mindfulness-Everyday/...

sitkack 12y ago
Or something you can attend, http://afsc.org/ http://afsc.org/ with people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers are the closest thing we have to Buddhism in the Americas.
- neltnerb 12y ago
  ... except for you know, Buddhism. Which has a center in certainly every major US city.
  - sitkack 12y ago
    Quakers I think are slightly more percipient. Both are extremely self reflective but Quakers come with a nicer hug.
    - neltnerb 12y ago
      Thank you, that sentence made me smile.
- zo1 12y ago
  Interesting quote from that page: "Today, around 89% of Friends worldwide practice programmed worship[6]—that is, worship with singing and a prepared message from the Bible, often coordinated by a pastor." Note the usage of the phrase "programmed worship". Bit of an unintended pun there.
  - sitkack 12y ago
    I have been to a few Friends meetings and have never encounter this. It would strike me as really really odd. Trying to figure out how we can mash a joke out of Quaker Oats [0] and a Skinner Box [1]. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company#Logo_and_Quakers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company#Logo_and_Qu... [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_instruction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_instruction
Alex3917 12y ago
> I'd describe it--a non-religion whose focus is on tranquility. The reason white people invented Buddhism 150 years ago or whenever was explicitly to be a religion. This was in order to provide an argument against western imperialism, among other reasons.
- cfield 12y ago
  Curious what you mean by "white people invented Buddhism 150 years ago". What is this in reference to?
  - Alex3917 12y ago
    I was being a little flippant, but it was a reference to this: http://meaningness.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/a-new-world-religion/ http://meaningness.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/a-new-world-reli... I haven't read the books he cites, but if you listen to the Buddhist Geeks podcast (and really everyone should) then the differences between modern buddhism(s) and traditional buddhism(s) is a recurring theme.
    - walden42 12y ago
      You can (and many do) just follow the simple teachings of the Buddha that lived 2500 years ago. You don't have to buy into any ideologies you don't want to.
- shrnky 12y ago
  Ok since everyone here is too timid to call you out. What do you mean by "White People?" You do know there are tons of Asian ethnicities and I'd imagine many of them would take offense at being lumped in with western "white people."
ekianjo 12y ago
Nevermind the buddhist warriors then.

sitkack 12y ago

Or something you can attend, http://afsc.org/ http://afsc.org/ with people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers are the closest thing we have to Buddhism in the Americas.

neltnerb 12y ago
... except for you know, Buddhism. Which has a center in certainly every major US city.
- sitkack 12y ago
  Quakers I think are slightly more percipient. Both are extremely self reflective but Quakers come with a nicer hug.
  - neltnerb 12y ago
    Thank you, that sentence made me smile.
zo1 12y ago
Interesting quote from that page: "Today, around 89% of Friends worldwide practice programmed worship[6]—that is, worship with singing and a prepared message from the Bible, often coordinated by a pastor." Note the usage of the phrase "programmed worship". Bit of an unintended pun there.
- sitkack 12y ago
  I have been to a few Friends meetings and have never encounter this. It would strike me as really really odd. Trying to figure out how we can mash a joke out of Quaker Oats [0] and a Skinner Box [1]. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company#Logo_and_Quakers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaker_Oats_Company#Logo_and_Qu... [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_instruction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programmed_instruction

Alex3917 12y ago

> I'd describe it--a non-religion whose focus is on tranquility. The reason white people invented Buddhism 150 years ago or whenever was explicitly to be a religion. This was in order to provide an argument against western imperialism, among other reasons.

cfield 12y ago
Curious what you mean by "white people invented Buddhism 150 years ago". What is this in reference to?
- Alex3917 12y ago
  I was being a little flippant, but it was a reference to this: http://meaningness.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/a-new-world-religion/ http://meaningness.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/a-new-world-reli... I haven't read the books he cites, but if you listen to the Buddhist Geeks podcast (and really everyone should) then the differences between modern buddhism(s) and traditional buddhism(s) is a recurring theme.
  - walden42 12y ago
    You can (and many do) just follow the simple teachings of the Buddha that lived 2500 years ago. You don't have to buy into any ideologies you don't want to.
shrnky 12y ago
Ok since everyone here is too timid to call you out. What do you mean by "White People?" You do know there are tons of Asian ethnicities and I'd imagine many of them would take offense at being lumped in with western "white people."

ekianjo 12y ago

Nevermind the buddhist warriors then.