Wot Tha . . . ?

[iGas]

Pretty much everyone in Thailand: Chiang Mai are Buddhist, and if not all male it would be most male become a monk & serve at least 2 years of their lives as monks (big contrast to countries that have mandatory military service).

Chiang Mai people are among the kindest if not the most polite people that I have ever encounter. Kids as young as 9-10 years old volunteer to get their head shave and enter the monk hood for at least 2 years of their lives.

 

[iGas]

I don't believe it was "Pro Christian" so much as "Anti~Communist" in those days. The US Government would have supported Bozo The Clown (besides merely acting like they *were* Bozo) if they thought he could maintain control and fight the Commies.


In this particular case, Bhuddists (being non~partisan, and believing in Peace and moderation in all things) were caught in the middle of the old "anyone who isn't for us, is against us" line from Nhu's government...

That whole:



...idea tends to get in the way of encouraging the populace to go to war and keep one's government from being overrun by "The Reds".

So why didn't the US supported the moderate Nationalist Party (mixed of Catholic/Buddhist/Atheist to oust the Imperialist French?

Then went out of their way to help split the country into 2 and supported the dictatorship/junta regime?

And, what happen to the 10 commandments that said "Thou shall not kill"?

 

[Schadenfroh]

n/m going off-topic

 

[Scotteq]

So why didn't the US supported the moderate Nationalist Party (mixed of Catholic/Buddhist/Atheist to oust the Imperialist French?

Then went out of their way to help split the country into 2 and supported the dictatorship/junta regime?

And, what happen to the 10 commandments that said "Thou shall not kill"?

(1) 'cos the French are/were our allies

(2) The Catholic Church wiped it's ass with the 10 commandments hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. And no government has given religion much more than lip service, except insofar as that religion serves to keep 'The Masses' compliant. The US is no better in this regard than anyone else, save that we usually don't wrap ourselves in the robes of religion when we go forth and snuff out the unbelieving baztards on the other side.



{edit} And if you're looking to argue with someone over the morality of various historical actions of the US Gub'mint, please know that I don't pretend we're better (albeit no worse, certainly) than anyone else. And I fully believe/understand that the prime motivator of US Government policy for most of our history is whatever is in the immediate (and hopefully long term) benefit of the United States.

i.e. - If fucking over (one group) in favor of (second group) serves some US Gov't goal... well, then it sucks to be the first guy.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

My guess is that if something attracts millions it's because it either appeals to the ego or somehow touches the soul. Let us hope it is the latter in this case. Just the act of meditation, itself, seems to me to be anti ego.

The job of meditation is nothing but ego; denial of ego for the sake of ego is the greatest ego!

 

[disappoint]

Look mommy! Lemmings!

 

[KlokWyze]

They are making a spectacle of themselves for themselves. Isn't this essentially the opposite of the teaching of Buddha? DUURRRRRRRR

 

[Zebo]

lol. Listening to npr last night a odd story struck me. Christians were worried about islamic law being set up in the north of iraq (I think it was). So they talked about how this was going on and then they began fighting with each other over whos belongings would get on the truck first to gtfo. Lol. I thought Christianity was about helping each other? It seems to me that these invented religions of control (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) do nothing to ascend people to a higher level. They just keep them not thinking. I find it amazing we cant shake these relics.

Christianity is about mercy mainly isn't it remember that lady the mob was about to stone for adultery and Jesus said GTFO of here? While the other two try and act as hand of god on earth, more punitive, more rules. I'm no expert but you're not thinking if you say the tenets, mores and atmospherics are the same with all three. The fights they get into should tell you that.

 

[iGas]

Christianity is about mercy mainly isn't it remember that lady the mob was about to stone for adultery and Jesus said GTFO of here? While the other two try and act as hand of god on earth, more punitive, more rules. I'm no expert but you're not thinking if you say the tenets, mores and atmospherics are the same with all three. The fights they get into should tell you that.

The Islamic Iranian recently rescinded their decision on stoning a woman that was sentenced to death. And not long ago a woman were killed by injection in Christian Virgina USA.

Many have been killed in the the name of religion, but to say one is better than the other is a farce (specially Christian).

 

[Zebo]

I didn't say better I said different. I live in Saudi and saw decapitations every Friday on TV All three channels put it on I even went live once. That's Just a different justice system no matter how you ehm slice it.

 

[JSt0rm]

I didn't say better I said different. I live in Saudi and saw decapitations every Friday on TV All three channels put it on I even went live once. That's Just a different justice system no matter how you ehm slice it.

And we have bible versus on our sniper scopes. Its all crap. It's all about control.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

And we have bible versus on our sniper scopes. Its all crap. It's all about control.

Freedom from hedonism comes by being controlled by love

Dumb ass

 

[JSt0rm]

Freedom from hedonism comes by being controlled by love

Dumb ass

eh?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

eh?

It's all about control. Everything. Not one thing is NOT about control. If you, an enlightened smart individual, aware of the mind control created by all religion do something for the fun of it; like put on a electric dick-shocking collar and do some blow...

Do you think that you are any less controlled?

Everything is about control; the only question is what is controlling you?

To often it is self hate and self pity. In such a mindset you are controlled to a point where you can't do anything of value. You can only love others as little as you learn to hate and pity yourself; if something controls you to hate and pity yourself less, then you are free in the only way that matters.

also, i thought you would laugh at me saying "love others" and then calling you a dumb ass; no honest offense was intended... but with me being mildly retarded I can see how you might be confused.

 

[IronWing]

More than a few of those folks have to be thinking "I gotta piss so bad".

 

[IronWing]

If Mecca were in America:

 

[yllus]

whats the problem here? Of all the religions on the planet I only respect the older ones (Hindu and Buddhism). They are the only ones who are not out there trying to imposing their beliefs on me. I respect that.

Pretty much everyone in Thailand: Chiang Mai are Buddhist, and if not all male it would be most male become a monk & serve at least 2 years of their lives as monks (big contrast to countries that have mandatory military service).

Chiang Mai people are among the kindest if not the most polite people that I have ever encounter. Kids as young as 9-10 years old volunteer to get their head shave and enter the monk hood for at least 2 years of their lives.

If you're nine or ten years old, it's unlikely that you are in fact volunteering to take part in anything. In Buddhist households, just like Christian or Islamic households, there is a certain amount of implicit (and explicit) indoctrination that takes place upon the young. Western fantasies about the ancient, mystic East seem to cloud people's objectivity.

I'd rather the mandatory military service to religious service, myself.

 

[iGas]

If you're nine or ten years old, it's unlikely that you are in fact volunteering to take part in anything. In Buddhist households, just like Christian or Islamic households, there is a certain amount of implicit (and explicit) indoctrination that takes place upon the young. Western fantasies about the ancient, mystic East seem to cloud people's objectivity.

I'd rather the mandatory military service to religious service, myself.

That is truly a partisan attempt to justified mandatory military service and murder over that of volunteering to live a simple monk life.

Both military and Buddhist have doctrines, however the Buddhist doctrine is respect life and live in the other person/animal/plant shoes. Respect everyone older/younger, and show kindness regardless of race, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or bad things that they have done in the past (there is no sin or heaven & hell, in there doctrine, unlike Chistian, Muslim).

Western fantasies?
I was born and raised in South Vietnam to a hardcore Catholic family/mother (her family were atheist, and she converted to Catholic), however I was taught by my father & my mother parents to respect and learn from everyone, hence I have friends in all cultures/religions/non-religious. I have attended churches/temples/mosques of most religions to study so that I have a deeper understanding of their cultures and believe.

Unlike most people that spouts garbage in this forum, I lived trough the Vietnam War and literally have been shot at and bombed on. I have had close friends and families that died/jailed/forced labor/re-education camp by the French, Communist, SVN, and American during the war and after. In fact, I was drafted at a young age to fight Pol Pot in Cambodia.

I was born a Catholic, but I consider myself atheist, because I believe that most religions have leaders that are egotistical/self server instead of their teaching for the greater good of society. However, Buddhism is one of the mainstream religion that seems to be more tolerance than other religions & the religion of military/war/greed.

PS. How many Western military doctrines are based of Christian? And they go to war to kill with their chaplains blessing. IMHO, military doctrines are worst than religious doctrines because Western military doctrines is full of twisted Christian idea.

 

[JSt0rm]

That is truly a partisan attempt to justified mandatory military service and murder over that of volunteering to live a simple monk life.

Both military and Buddhist have doctrines, however the Buddhist doctrine is respect life and live in the other person/animal/plant shoes. Respect everyone older/younger, and show kindness regardless of race, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or bad things that they have done in the past (there is no sin or heaven & hell, in there doctrine, unlike Chistian, Muslim).

Western fantasies?
I was born and raised in South Vietnam to a hardcore Catholic family/mother (her family were atheist, and she converted to Catholic), however I was taught by my father & my mother parents to respect and learn from everyone, hence I have friends in all cultures/religions/non-religious. I have attended churches/temples/mosques of most religions to study so that I have a deeper understanding of their cultures and believe.

Unlike most people that spouts garbage in this forum, I lived trough the Vietnam War and literally have been shot at and bombed on. I have had close friends and families that died/jailed/forced labor/re-education camp by the French, Communist, SVN, and American during the war and after. In fact, I was drafted at a young age to fight Pol Pot in Cambodia.

I was born a Catholic, but I consider myself atheist, because I believe that most religions have leaders that are egotistical/self server instead of their teaching for the greater good of society. However, Buddhism is on of the mainstream religion that seems to be more tolerance than other religions & the religion of military/war/greed.

PS. How many Western military doctrines are based of Christian? And they go to war to kill with their chaplains blessing. IMHO, military doctrines are worst than religious doctrines because Western military doctrines is full of twisted Christian idea.

^^^ this.