convert to Taoism or Buddhism
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Originally posted by Steaks:
But how do I differentiate the different schools of teachings like Tibetan,etc?
tibetan buddhist, foundation is still mahayana.so basically is the same, only when you understand mahayana and have the ability to proceed further, there where the vajrayana comes in (aka tibetan buddhist)
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Originally posted by Steaks:
If I put a Buddhist statue at home.....Where can I get it and is there anything I need to do every morning or every night?
for me, every morning i will set up my offering of min 7 water bowl offering. and keep the offering every night.... that the simplest i do....but frankly, my advice if you are really sincere, read more, go to different event taoist, buddhist , regardless is mahayana, hinayana, or vajrayana to explore which you are comfortable with... eg even in vajrayana there is already 4 major linege of gelug, sakya, nyingma and kagyu.... so for a beginer it may be very overpowering..
for vajrayana if you want to explore, let me know maybe can discuss separately....
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All your questions can be answered by your first approach to begin with is - Humility, Sincerity and Calm 虚心heart/mind. All sects in Buddhism has both Theravada and Mahayana depending on your level of gratitude，and it leads to pure supreme bodhi.
As a matter of fact in life and pointed out by Buddha in an instantaneous teaching session - you got to love it and be deligently engaged in buddhism practice for the compassionate benefit of all......
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Namo Amituofo -
u don't have to go straight into Mahayana. u can explore Theravada first.
btw, be sure to practice Morality. Morality is a foundation in Buddhism. without it, you are only a flower in a vase, looks good on the outside, but without root, it will not last long or be effective.
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Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:
She has finally see the Truth. She did not know anything about Buddhism until such time she encountered Buddhism and surprised that Buddhism could satisfy all her questions in life.
Buddhism is amazing. Finding out a little by little I have built up my respect for Buddha whom in the past I thought has nothing to do with Chinese.
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Originally posted by "newbie":
i am more curious is that, you seem to me that you dont really understand what is taoism or buddhism.If so, what make you want to convert to this religion? What is your motivation towards taoism or buddhism?
find out more like for buddhism get the book 4 noble truth read and try to understand better
Agree with you. The fundamental is to find out before making decision.
Are the 4 noble truth book in one book?
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Originally posted by fibytprsu:
Agree with you. The fundamental is to find out before making decision.
Are the 4 noble truth book in one book?
The BuddhaNet website is a good place to start if you want to read up on the fundamentals.
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Originally posted by realization:
The BuddhaNet website is a good place to start if you want to read up on the fundamentals.
Thanks.
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Thinking back...I was ashamed of my previous lifestyle and doing things like going to prostitutes in Geylang regularly cos I could not control my lust for women and things like that.I was stripped away of everything by the emptiness inside me and finding my purpose in life once again.
Just want to ask if I am chanting,what if I do not know or understand what I am chanting,how do you guys understand what you are chanting?Can I also put a statue of Guan Yin alongside the statue of Buddha in my place?Do I have to make daily offerings to Guan Yin too?
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Sorry for double posting.....Do I need to turn vegetarian too?
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Originally posted by Steaks:
Thinking back...I was ashamed of my previous lifestyle and doing things like going to prostitutes in Geylang regularly cos I could not control my lust for women and things like that.I was stripped away of everything by the emptiness inside me and finding my purpose in life once again.
Just want to ask if I am chanting,what if I do not know or understand what I am chanting,how do you guys understand what you are chanting?Can I also put a statue of Guan Yin alongside the statue of Buddha in my place?Do I have to make daily offerings to Guan Yin too?
The most effective way to reduce lust is to recite"å�—æ— è§‚ä¸–éŸ³è�©è�¨" as many times as you can everyday. I've a friend who told me that it is very effective.
It is ok that you do not understand or chant wrongly (as some of the words are difficult to read), as long as you are sincere, the chanting still works. There are many sutras that are easy to understand. As for those which are difficult to understand, you may find listen to dharma talks by Venerables on youtube. Just search for the sutra name that you wish to listen. The Venerables will explain what is the sutra all about. It is ok to put Guanyin Pusa statue besides Buddha. May be other forummers may want to add.
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it's not easy to understand what the mantra u chant are all about. they are spiritual language for spiritual beings. u just need to get the sound and message that u want to bring across correct. follow an audio playback from youtube or mp3 or cd etc, and u should be fine. but i don't learn so many. mostly the shorter ones and repeat it all the way. like Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo....or Amituofo, Amituofo, Amituofo....this can avoid the pronoucation problem. not that u really need to pronounce is exactly. just be sincere and focus.
vegetarian is encouraged but not a must. u can do it slowly when u are developing bodhi-mind. it'll help in accumulating merit, which are an advantage along the way.
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last time mantra pronoucation are recited very accurately by high monks, hence their spiritual powers are very effective. curing of illness are also very effective. sort of like acupuncture, that vibrate certain point in the body to heal an illness. now the pronoucation accuracy is gone. but i think for the most popular ones, like "Om mani padme hum", the spiritual beings can still accept and understand.
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Thanks....Will just concentrate on Huang Si Ting's song on The Great Compassion song which I just downloaded from Youtube.I guess I need to take one sutra at a time.Will be looking to visit some temples later...
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Steaks, enjoy your journey of discovering buddhism.
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Originally posted by fibytprsu:
Steaks, enjoy your journey of discovering buddhism.
Thanks,I think I will visit the temple at Waterloo Street later and also get two figurines of Buddha and Guan Yin from there too. -
Originally posted by Steaks:
Thanks,I think I will visit the temple at Bishan later.Taoist or Buddhist temple?
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The one that is famous lol.....Are there any Buddhist temples too?Gonna buy some joss sticks too and the container holding joss sticks.Any idea of the cost per figurine,packet of joss sticks and containers?
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Originally posted by Steaks:
Thanks,I think I will visit the temple at Waterloo Street later and also get two figurines of Buddha and Guan Yin from there too.buddhism is practised with the heart not with external stuffs.
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Originally posted by Insg:
buddhism is practised with the heart not with external stuffs.
Thanks for the reminder.Just wanted to check out the costs. -
Originally posted by Steaks:
Thanks for the reminder.Just wanted to check out the costs.learn the dharma first & decide on the path you wish to walk by then you will know what you need & what you dun.
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Originally posted by Steaks:
The one that is famous lol.....Are there any Buddhist temples too?Gonna buy some joss sticks too and the container holding joss sticks.Any idea of the cost per figurine,packet of joss sticks and containers?
Temples usually provide joss sticks.
Smal packet of joss stick costs 50 cents. Prices also base on the quality.
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I visited the temple at Waterloo Street today and I liked what I saw and I got the things I wanted.Will be working hard to practice the 4 truths.
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if you can afford, buy better quality incense sticks, esp those from Taiwan. About $5 to $8 for sandalwood. You find many of these shops at waterloo street.
Cheap incense sticks are sometimes made from bad stuff and not good for praying.
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Thanks....I have been reciting The Great Compassion sutra for a few weeks now.Been mediating too.I feel great inside.What is the biggest Buddhist temple in SG?Looking to visit someday.Is the four faced Buddha and the normal Buddha the same Buddha that Buddhists worship?