convert to Taoism or Buddhism
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Originally posted by Steaks:
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?
Good for you!
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I am trying hard not to be influenced by others.But sometimes it is kind of tough to mediate with lustful thoughts in my mind and worse still,you barely understand what you are chanting.Maybe planning a trip to Thailand next year to visit the temples there.
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Originally posted by Steaks:
I am trying hard not to be influenced by others.But sometimes it is kind of tough to mediate with lustful thoughts in my mind and worse still,you barely understand what you are chanting.Maybe planning a trip to Thailand next year to visit the temples there.
As a beginner, you need someone to guide you
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Guide me in what sense?
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Originally posted by Steaks:
Guide me in what sense?
Just like a new student needs to be guided and taught.
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So who can guide me?Where to find this person?
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Originally posted by Steaks:
So who can guide me?Where to find this person?
Explore, if there is yuan fen with the person then can be. Or you can ask the buddhists here. To me what is important is someone you feel comfortable with, trust, with sound and right teaching of buddha.
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Need to look around,maybe the old timers in this forum can help.
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Steaks, don't burn out even before you have started... I'd said so previously and another forummer has sounded the reminder again that practising Buddhism is not only about the externals like visiting temples, setting up altars, offering incense, etc. So do keep that in mind, OK?
If you want to look for people to guide you, I would suggest attending a Dharma course at a well-established temple (e.g. Guang Ming Shan in Bishan) It's not the only place to take a beginner Dharma course, but since you asked about the biggest temple in Singapore, then that's the place. If you need recommendations for temples near you that offer Dharma courses, just ask and we can try to offer suggestions.
In the meantime, there are websites on the Internet where you can read up on the basics. The Buddhanet website is a good place to start.
Have you also checked out the other stickied topics on the forum?
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The KMSPKS website: http://kmspks.org/
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Activities of various buddhist societies in SG.
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Originally posted by Steaks:
I am trying hard not to be influenced by others.But sometimes it is kind of tough to mediate with lustful thoughts in my mind and worse still,you barely understand what you are chanting.Maybe planning a trip to Thailand next year to visit the temples there.
observe your precepts especially
3) To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct. This precept is often mistranslated or misinterpreted as relating only to sexual misconduct but it covers any overindulgence in any sensual pleasure such as gluttony as well as misconduct of a sexual nature.
linked from http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm
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Originally posted by Steaks:
Is the four faced Buddha and the normal Buddha the same Buddha that Buddhists worship?
no,
The Four-Faced Buddha, or Phra Phom, is not actually Shakyamuni Buddha, but the hindu god Brahma (since the Thai culture is heavily influenced by Brahmanism).http://sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/105213?page=2
quite mixed up. don't because people use the word "Buddha", it's Buddha.
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Originally posted by sinweiy:
no,
The Four-Faced Buddha, or Phra Phom, is not actually Shakyamuni Buddha, but the hindu god Brahma (since the Thai culture is heavily influenced by Brahmanism).http://sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/105213?page=2
quite mixed up. don't because people use the word "Buddha", it's Buddha.
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But I don't see four face buddha in hindu temples. -
Originally posted by fibytprsu:
But I don't see four face buddha in hindu temples.The four faced Buddha
a fusion of faiths
The four faced Buddha at the Erawan Shrine, Bangkok is actually Lord Brahma who is one of the Trinity of Hindu Gods.The other two are Lord Vishnu, the sustainer and Lord Siva the destroyer.
Brahma is said to be born from a lotus leaf sprouting from the navel of Vishnu.
The Thais call Brahma, Than Tao MahaProm or Phra Phrom.
When Indian scholars spread Buddhism to Thailand, they brought with them Hindu culture and folklore, which has been inextricably linked with Thai culture and beliefs.
Brahma in gold
Brahma has four faces and eight hands; a feature that could have given rise to the name four faced Buddha. He is the god of creation, mercy and benevolence. He sits atop a lotus leaf; the lotus flower is commonly used for prayers at Thai shrines and altars.The shrine of the four faced Buddha was named the Erawan Shrine after Erawan, Indra's three-headed elephant. The original version actually has 33 heads! However Erawan is symbolically represented with three.
- The four faces symbolize the four books of the Vedas, the Hindu scriptures and the source of all knowledge in the creation of the universe.
- The eight hands, symbolize the omnipresence and power of Lord Brahma.
- The upper right hand carries a rosary, symbolizing the cycle of life from creation to death. The upper left hand carries the Vedas, symbolizing knowledge and intellect.
- The lower left hand carries a pot of water representing cosmic energy of creation. The lower right hand bestows grace and protection.
The golden swan, the mythical steed of Brahma, is also revered in Thai culture. The royal barge, Suphannahongsa was named after the golden swan, which has been the name of the King's personal barge since King Rama I.Over the years, Brahma's knowledge and power has granted the wishes of many. Word of the power of this famous deity has spread far and wide and the legend of the Erawan Shrine has been the source of hope and sustenance.
Thais and ethnic Chinese from SE Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, who are mainly Buddhists and Taoists, flock to the shrine to pray and seek the blessings of the four-faced Brahma.
The four faced Buddha at the Erawan Shrine is a Hindu legacy in Bangkok that has become a fusion of faiths.
http://www.tour-bangkok-legacies.com/four-faced-buddha.html
i guess, it's a thai thingy at first but came to singapore, people thought the word buddha was use, they think it's buddha.
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Originally posted by sinweiy:
The four faced Buddha
a fusion of faiths<!-- google_ad_section_start -->
The four faced Buddha at the Erawan Shrine, Bangkok is actually Lord Brahma who is one of the Trinity of Hindu Gods.The other two are Lord Vishnu, the sustainer and Lord Siva the destroyer.
Brahma is said to be born from a lotus leaf sprouting from the navel of Vishnu.
The Thais call Brahma, Than Tao MahaProm or Phra Phrom.
When Indian scholars spread Buddhism to Thailand, they brought with them Hindu culture and folklore, which has been inextricably linked with Thai culture and beliefs.
Brahma in gold
Brahma has four faces and eight hands; a feature that could have given rise to the name four faced Buddha. He is the god of creation, mercy and benevolence. He sits atop a lotus leaf; the lotus flower is commonly used for prayers at Thai shrines and altars.The shrine of the four faced Buddha was named the Erawan Shrine after Erawan, Indra's three-headed elephant. The original version actually has 33 heads! However Erawan is symbolically represented with three.
- The four faces symbolize the four books of the Vedas, the Hindu scriptures and the source of all knowledge in the creation of the universe.
-
- The eight hands, symbolize the omnipresence and power of Lord Brahma.
-
- The upper right hand carries a rosary, symbolizing the cycle of life from creation to death. The upper left hand carries the Vedas, symbolizing knowledge and intellect.
-
- The lower left hand carries a pot of water representing cosmic energy of creation. The lower right hand bestows grace and protection.
The golden swan, the mythical steed of Brahma, is also revered in Thai culture. The royal barge, Suphannahongsa was named after the golden swan, which has been the name of the King's personal barge since King Rama I.Over the years, Brahma's knowledge and power has granted the wishes of many. Word of the power of this famous deity has spread far and wide and the legend of the Erawan Shrine has been the source of hope and sustenance.
Thais and ethnic Chinese from SE Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong, who are mainly Buddhists and Taoists, flock to the shrine to pray and seek the blessings of the four-faced Brahma.
The four faced Buddha at the Erawan Shrine is a Hindu legacy in Bangkok that has become a fusion of faiths.
http://www.tour-bangkok-legacies.com/four-faced-buddha.html
i guess, it's a thai thingy at first but came to singapore, people thought the word buddha was use, they think it's buddha.
Thank you for your post.
I used to be mistaken any deities or statue with name Buddha is the Buddha from Buddhism.
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Taoism and Buddhism are the same. However, it requires Buddhism to have Taoism into full realization of Lao Zhi's Enlightenment teachings. Most Taoists of the ancient time did not really realize the beauty of Taoism teaching. They were more onto the destination of 仙界 as stated in the Surangama Sutra, and it is not the journey shared by Lao Zhi to its disciples.
è€�å�也曾谈到佛，他说：“å�¾å¸ˆå�·ä½›ï¼Œè§‰ä¸€åˆ‡æ°‘也。”《西å�‡ç»�》说：“å�¾å¸ˆåŒ–游天竺，善入泥洹。”符å�云：“è€�æ°�之师，å��释迦文。”Amitabha Buddha _/\_
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Hi
I have many exchristian friends who have converted to other religions.
For starters, read up on the religion and join support groups near your house.
I myself is an exchristian.
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Every religion has truths in it. And truth is subjective. Our religion should not be a book but our religion should be striving to become a better person in this world.
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some of us also. so we know what u mean.
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Originally posted by Steaks:
But whats e difference btw Buddhism and Taoism?Sorry....I come from a Christian background.Both seems okay to me.Where should I start?
In terms of tradition, taoism focus on praying and rituals while buddhism focus more on practice and teaching.
Though the original taoism founded thousands of years ago may be very much different from what we see currently.
They have their own sutra like dao de tzing etc which is very good and profound.But ultimately what makes buddhism different and stands out from taoism and the rest of religions is impermanence and emptiness.
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Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:
taoism origins fm china, 5000 years ago. they have many taoist sutras for chanting. they also do meditation and also have a few martial arts for exercise. they mainly differ fm buddhism in their rituals and rites.
taoist deities are much much different fm buddhism.
Actually many of them though have a taoism name and appear in taoism sutra, but they are not so called taosim deities.
Many of them are also buddha disciple and dharma protectors.
It is only human that later on forcefully split them into different religions and start to give a name according to their culture. -
the 5000 years ago one could be some chinese custom or philosophy or worshiping, as Laozi was not born yet.
Laozi (Chinese: è€�å�; pinyin: LÇŽozÇ�; Wade–Giles: Lao Tzu; alsoLao Tse, Lao Tu, Lao-Tzu, Lao-Tsu, Laotze, Laosi, Lao Zi,Laocius, and other variations) was a mystic philosopher of ancientChina, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi).[1] His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism
According to Chinese traditions, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Historians variously contend that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures, that he is a mythical figure, or that he actually lived in the 5th-4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period.[5]
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Originally posted by Tcmc:
Hi
I have many exchristian friends who have converted to other religions.
For starters, read up on the religion and join support groups near your house.
I myself is an exchristian.
So your friends or you are now into which faith?What made them or you leave the church?I heard from some others that you can worship Taoist deities and eg Guan Yin together in your house.I also saw my cousin doing the same thing as well in his house.
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Originally posted by Steaks:
So your friends or you are now into which faith?What made them or you leave the church?I heard from some others that you can worship Taoist deities and eg Guan Yin together in your house.I also saw my cousin doing the same thing as well in his house.
Guanyin Pusa is a Bodhisattva. She has answered many devotees prayers including non Buddhists. Taoists pray to her in Taoist way. In fact, the most effective way of praying to her is to follow the Buddhist way of praying. Recite her names å�—æ— è§‚ä¸–éŸ³è�©è�¨as many times as possible. It is more effective than just using joss sticks.