What does it mean to respect another's religious beliefs?

I was just curious about your thinking.

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Originally Posted by ftil

You talk about Buddhist concept of consciousness but it is a first layer what this religion is all about.

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So which Buddhist teacher have you studied with? Or did you you follow a particular tradition, or attend a paticular school? Or did you study it as a comparative religion?

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Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC

As far as your brother goes...I don't care. If you want to ask me how I may feel about such circumstances personally, I'll gladly share that with anyone in a private conversation.

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I don't have private conversations online.

I'm Christian, perhaps a bit confused, but most definitely Christian.

I wonder how you feel about me.

I know how Neely feels about me. I don't know if he's Christian due to his Oscar Wilde picture, but he warms my heart. I just wonder how you feel about me.

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Originally Posted by Paulclem

So which Buddhist teacher have you studied with? Or did you you follow a particular tradition, or attend a paticular school? Or did you study it as a comparative religion?

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I didn’t follow any teaching; I just studied it. There were a number of teachers. I have only stayed for a couple of months with Nichiren Buddhism, a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism, but left. I am not a person who can follow any religious practice and Nichiren practice was mind blowing. I am reading about Kalachakra Tantra, Dalai Lama's religion, now.

Now Vonny... what's wrong about good ol' Oscar? You surely know that he was never wrong about anything?:nod:

I would also beware of judging the person posting from his or her avatar. I used to use Runens' portrait of his sister-in-law, Susanna Fourment...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/...0351de11_z.jpg

... until one too many members assumed I was a "she".

Now I use a lovely Roman bust of Antinoös...

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/...74626039_z.jpg

... but I can assure you that I am neither a Pagan nor anybody's "pretty boy". I only chose the image because of my love of art and art history... (although member Mortal Terror might question my choice considering my known ambivalence toward Roman art) and because I actually looked quite a bit like this sculpture when I was 18... but now I'm probably far closer to Caracalla in both looks an temperament. :biggrin5:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/...ae35e9c5_z.jpg

Unfortunately, Caracalla seems to have held onto his hair better than I... then again... I've held onto my head longer than he (who lost his in a most unsavory manner). Perhaps its time for an Avatar switch... hmmmmm?

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Originally Posted by Vonny

I don't have private conversations online.

I'm Christian, perhaps a bit confused, but most definitely Christian.

I wonder how you feel about me.

I know how Neely feels about me. I don't know if he's Christian due to his Oscar Wilde picture, but he warms my heart. I just wonder how you feel about me.

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I honestly don't have an opinion (or any particular feeling) since I don't know you. What are the things that you are confused about? I myself have drifted in and out of confusion about things. I've studied and lived and tried to combine that which I have learned from both areas (studying and living). Not all things are clear cut, but I respect the notion of those who admit that they don't have all the answers, because I surely don't. I also have discovered that those who act as if they know all the answers (whether they are Christian, of other non-christian religions, atheist, agnostic, or other) are usually those who fall short in knowledge.

Feel free to get o know me (in whatever way you feel comfortable), and I'll rest assured that I'll do my best not to draw conclusions about you that are not merited.

StLukes, you switching your avatar would turn my world upside down.

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Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC

It's amazing how much fighting there has been in a thread originally posted to get us to stop fighting.

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Ways to get people to stop fighting:

-close this thread
-censor this site
-kill, jail, or blackmail everyone
-reverse human nature
-pray to God

That's all I can think of right now.

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Originally Posted by ftil

I didn’t follow any teaching; I just studied it. There were a number of teachers. I have only stayed for a couple of months with Nichiren Buddhism, a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism, but left. I am not a person who can follow any religious practice and Nichiren practice was mind blowing. I am reading about Kalachakra Tantra, Dalai Lama's religion, now.

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I see. So how did you come to a clear appraisal of the Buddhist concept of consciousness?

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Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi

StLukes, you switching your avatar would turn my world upside down.

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For quite a while I thought St Lukes was a she. :)

It is funny how we picture associate the random avatars.

Yes ... maybe I will try making one. edit: how is it?

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Originally Posted by Paulclem

I see. So how did you come to a clear appraisal of the Buddhist concept of consciousness?

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I started to question it when I studied Transpersonal psychology. I look at it as another theory and I believe that any theory is useless if I can’t experience it. Secondly, when I read Stanislav Grof’s theory I seriously questioned his explanation of spiritual crises. Thank you very much for that kind of experience. :biggrin5:

If free thought was respected as religion is, I'd have nothing to say.

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Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC

It's amazing how much fighting there has been in a thread originally posted to get us to stop fighting.

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We're not fighting. We're arguing - which is pretty harmless really.

It means to be humble. It means to recognize that at best we only have one perspective on Ultimate Being and that others will likely conceptualize this experience differently than you do. But it is much more pleasurable to know that your perception is "right."