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QuestionAny Catholics practicing Buddhism? (self.Buddhism)

xmashtardis が 投稿

Hi. I'm a Catholic interested in Buddhism and was wondering if it's possible to practice both religions. If there are any out there who do, I would love to get some insight on how it's like.

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[–]sanghika 6ポイント7ポイント  (9子コメント)

"Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are."

I was raised Catholic, but ended my relationship with the church at least a decade ago. I've been a meditator for five years. Now that that's out of the way...

What attracts you to buddhism?

[–]xmashtardis[S] 2ポイント3ポイント  (8子コメント)

mostly mediation and being able to handle negative emotions. I've read The Power of Now and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, as well as Deepak Choprah's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. I just really liked what I've read.

I noticed that you called yourself a meditator. Does that mean you don't consider yourself a Buddhist? Thanks for your reply, by the way. =)

[–]sanghika 6ポイント7ポイント  (7子コメント)

It's a shame how the church has relegated most contemplative practices; the only ones who do them are either monks, nuns, or lay saints. Have you heard about the Desert Fathers? They were a bunch of christians who, tired of how popular christianity had become in Rome, and how it had become a religion and not a practice, retreated to the desert, to conduct their spiritual life and practices. Have you heard of Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castle? She basically described, in her language and from her understanding, the stages of absorption one can achieve through meditation. They're comparable to the samatha jhanas (states of absorption through mindfulness of the breath). She's missing one or two, if I remember correctly.

To get to my point, Catholicism does have a contemplative/meditative tradition, and you might want to look into that as well. Search for Ignatian parishes, or maybe Franciscan. I'm not too up-to-date on the exact groups that still practice contemplation.

The reason I mention looking into your own church's "obscure" practices is seemingly subjective: it's possible that once you've started to meditate intensely, you'll see through most of what the church wants you to believe. I'm not saying that their beliefs are silly, or false. I'm saying that their focus, their ways, aren't exactly great.

I feel like I'm rambling, sorry about that. It's just that I've been where you are, and I could go on and on! Anyway, meditation as taught by the Buddha is for everybody, in my opinion. You'll definitely benefit from it, depending on your effort and conviction. Those books you mention are a good first step, but if you want to learn Buddhism, read buddhist authors, lay or monastics. You can also check out your local buddhist groups, called sanghas.

About calling myself a meditator: it's because I meditate. You'll notice that many buddhists don't meditate, and that's alright; we all have different conditions influencing our decisions and goals. Buddhism is, for me, a label that probably does no one any good. When I say buddhism I mean the somewhat organized groups of people. When speaking of the Buddha's teachings, I say Dhamma, or Dharma. I avoid the buddhist label, but I'll use it as a convention.

Again, sorry about the messiness of this response. It must be the caffeine! Hehehe

EDIT: To clarify what I wrote above - There might come a point, after proper meditation, where you'll begin to understand your catholic beliefs differently. When this happens, you'll probably want to let go of your Catholic label. And then there will come another point in which you'll let go of your Buddhist label :)

[–]PAPIST_SUBVERSIVE 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

Everything in this post about the desert fathers and Catholic mysticism is wrong.

[–]sanghika [スコア非表示]  (1子コメント)

Might be so. Care to elaborate?

[–]PAPIST_SUBVERSIVE [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

Check /r/bad_religion, where we analyze misconceptions about religion, I just posted an analysis.

[–]RE1SYscientific 4ポイント5ポイント  (2子コメント)

I'm Catholic as well to some degree. Buddhism has taught me to dissolve labels, but for the purpose of this thread I was raised catholic and attend mass. So the most beneficial thing I can say about the religion is that it gives me time with family, while meditating. Also the church was very generous to me when I lost family members. They really get a bad rep, but the problem is because the church is such a large organization there is bound to be bad seeds.

As far as belief's I don't retain a whole lot of dogma from the Catholic Church. Instead I find myself thinking about metaphors it provides. Much like Buddhism. Thanks for posting here, I'd be interested in how you find Buddhism appealing if you so wish to share.

[–]xmashtardis[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (1子コメント)

I've read Eckhart Tolle's books and also one of Deepak Choprah's. I really liked the philosophies they shared.

[–]BurtonDesqueseon 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Chopra? Ewww... He's a nonsense babbling charlatan.

This will give you as much 'wisdom' as the real Chopra: http://www.wisdomofchopra.com/

[–]Paradoxiumm 3ポイント4ポイント  (7子コメント)

You should check out some writings by Thomas Merton, he was a Trappist monk who saw a lot of similarities between Buddhism and Catholicism.

[–]autowikibot 1ポイント2ポイント  (5子コメント)

Thomas Merton:

Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was an American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion. In 1949, he was ordained to the priesthood and given the name Father Louis.

Merton wrote more than 70 books, mostly on spirituality, social justice and a quiet pacifism, as well as scores of essays and reviews. Among Merton's most enduring works is his bestselling autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain (1948), which sent scores of World War II veterans, students, and even teenagers flocking to monasteries across the US, and was also featured in National Review's list of the 100 best non-fiction books of the century. Merton was a keen proponent of interfaith understanding. He pioneered dialogue with prominent Asian spiritual figures, including the Dalai Lama, the Japanese writer D.T. Suzuki, the Thai Buddhist monk Buddhadasa, and the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, and authored books on Zen Buddhism and Taoism. In the years since his death, Merton has been the subject of several biographies.

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Interesting: St. Joseph's Intermediate and Commercial School | Thomas Merton Award | Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School

Parent commenter can toggle NSFW or delete. Will also delete on comment score of -1 or less. | FAQs | Mods | Magic Words

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

This is wonderful. Thanks!

[–][deleted] 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

There's also a contemporary priest, Father Tiso, who has studied a lot about Tibetan Buddhism - I don't know if he actually practices any buddhist practices, though. He's especially famous for researching the "rainbow body" phenomenon of advanced meditators (interview about it).

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Thank you! This is all great info!

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Thank you very much!

[–]theriverratzen 2ポイント3ポイント  (1子コメント)

There are Catholic priests, monks, and nuns who practice Zen meditation, and Catholic priests who are Zen teachers, like Fr. Kennedy,

http://kennedyzen.tripod.com/

And here is Zen master Seung Sahn with Trappist monks,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seungsahn#/media/File:Dss_and_gethsemani.JPG

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Thank you for those examples. Examples of actual priests, nuns and monks who practice zen actually help answer my question. I guess it is possible to a certain degree in order to stay true to Catholicism. I will check out those links you posted.

[–]buconLanka Novice 1ポイント2ポイント  (2子コメント)

There are active Catholics that practice Buddhism, particularly Zen. There are a number of books written by such practitioners. Many Christians are drawn to Sanbo Kyodan school of Zen, and its derivative schools, Diamond Sangha and White Plumb Asangha.

[–]sanghika 2ポイント3ポイント  (1子コメント)

I believe it was the monk Thomas Merton who became very interested in Zen. That's an author OP might explore.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Thanks! I was just going to ask for an author's name to look into.

[–]ebookit 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

I am a Catholic, my wife is half-Thai and I've been to Thailand three times and learned Buddhism there. My in-laws are Buddhist and I learned it to learn how they worship.

Meditation helps me because I am mentally ill and disabled. If only the Catholic faith had meditation like Buddhism, I heard they had it before but dropped it. Now we just meditate on the mysteries of the rosary.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I have heard from friends that praying the rosary is a type of meditation, but I cannot seem to see how that is since meditation requires one to keep a clear and present mind, while praying the rosary requires reciting and repeating certain prayers at certain points of the prayer process. And I would think that such procedure makes the mind busy.

[–]chokingduck 1ポイント2ポイント  (7子コメント)

I'm a recovering Catholic that considers himself a Buddhist, not sure if that counts.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (6子コメント)

Recovering Catholic? So I'm guessing you couldn't keep Catholicism in your life at the same time as Buddhism? What made you leave Catholicism, may I ask?

[–]chokingduck 1ポイント2ポイント  (5子コメント)

I couldn't agree with the dogma.

If when I pray by myself I am taking directly to God why do I have to go through another person to be absolved for sins (confession with a priest)

If God was all knowing why did he create Lucifer, knowing that he would fall? You can give me the whole free will argument... But if he's all knowing why would he essentially create his own enemy indirectly?

My friends that identify as being anything other than heterosexual are sinful people that are on the wrong path no matter what? The church tells us something is wrong with them and/or their actions?

There are quite a few more questions I had along these lines and none could be answered sufficiently in my opinion. We won't even get into the whole handling of the abuse, which is appalling at best.

Recovering as in I still in some ways feel like a Catholic, especially in caring guilt around.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (4子コメント)

I complete understand your views. No need for the free will argument. I've always believe confession was unnecessary and have always been against the Catholic views on homosexuality. At the same time, there are aspects about Catholicism I still love. But I totally understand what you mean. Thank you for your comment.

[–]chokingduck 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

Yeah it's been over a decade since I've lapsed and I hope my comment didn't come across as malicious, just my way of thinking. If it did I sincerely apologize.

There seems to be some changes being made in the Church thanks to the new pope coming from a Jesuit background, I am curious to see what happens the next few years.

On a side note, I now live in the South and find it hilarious when people say that Catholics aren't "real Christians"...

Needing to remind them that they were the ones that broke off from the Church after Martin Luther, not the other way around, and that Catholic can be defined as "universal" depending on context.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Don't worry. I wasn't offended at all.

I'm very happy with our new Pope today. I really admire him and he is one of the reasons why I still attach to Catholicism. Not really sure how I'm going to fit Buddhism in my life as I feel that I may need to let go of one to keep the other.

Ahhhh...I've met Christians who have given me the same speech as well. In fact, it was a random ambush during a group study session in law school. It really ticked me off. I said the same thing: that Christianity began with Catholicism.

[–]WhiteLotusSocietypure land 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

Have you looked into Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu)?

Amitabha Buddha or His 18th Vow.?

Everything you like about Catholicism can be found in Pure Land Buddhism.....minus all the harmful things in the Christian religion.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

No, I have not. Thank you for the tip. I will look into it.

[–]Chi_Rho88 5ポイント6ポイント  (37子コメント)

No, its impossible for someone to be a Christian and a Buddhist.

[–]buconLanka Novice 6ポイント7ポイント  (19子コメント)

It is true that a Christian could not be a Buddhist and be true to their faith, but this doesn't exclude them from practicing Buddhism. Being a Buddhist is not required to practice Buddhism.

[–]xmashtardis[S] 2ポイント3ポイント  (17子コメント)

So I'm assuming what they do is practice the mediation and some philosophy aspects, and leave out beliefs that contradict with their Christian religion?

[–]buconLanka Novice 5ポイント6ポイント  (16子コメント)

Doing Buddhism doesn't generally require any particular belief. Also, Buddhist practice isn't limited to meditation.

[–]KlugerHans 0ポイント1ポイント  (15子コメント)

Doing Buddhism doesn't generally require any particular belief.

"The Triple Gem, – the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha, – are what the Buddhists believe in very strongly. "

http://www.buddhapadipa.org/dhamma-corner/triple-gem/

[–]buconLanka Novice 6ポイント7ポイント  (8子コメント)

Yes, taking refuge is an important part of being a Buddhist, but not at all required to engage in Buddhist practice. Most who are not culturally Buddhist engage in Buddhist practice long before taking refuge. The OP doesn't seem interested in abandoning Catholicism, which does not exclude the OP from practicing Buddhism. A person doesn't need to be a Buddhist, take refuge in the triple jewel, to develop wisdom and compassion within a Buddhist context.

[–]KlugerHans 0ポイント1ポイント  (7子コメント)

If you're talking about spirituality then yes I agree. But it sounded like the OP was talking about religion.

There's the Apostles' Creed and then there's the Triple Gem, that both posit a list of beliefs to be held, and they are incompatible.

[–]sanghika 0ポイント1ポイント  (3子コメント)

The difference is that our "belief" in the triple gem is not based on blind faith.

[–]KlugerHans -2ポイント-1ポイント  (2子コメント)

Neither is Christianity.

[–]sanghika 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

That might be so. In my experience, blind faith (as in, based on rewards and punishments in the after life) was expected from me during my catholic years. I'm sure many others have had similar experiences.

[–]jewish-mel-gibson 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Except yes it is.

[–]Chi_Rho88 -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

Sorry. Yeah, that is what I meant. The two can't run simultaneously.

[–]sanghika 1ポイント2ポイント  (2子コメント)

Let me share something else with you, might be mind-blowing! There's a discourse in which the Buddha converses with a being that believes itself to be omnipotent, omniscient and the Creator of Everything. Ring a bell? I'm not sure how widely accepted my view of this matter is, but I think that God/Yawhe is/was this being, Maha Brahma.

Seeing this happen, the Brahma being thought, "I am Brahma, Mahābrahmā, the Almighty, Omniscient, the Lord of All, Creator, Master of all creatures. I am the source of all life, Father to everything which exists and will come to exist. These creatures are my creations. How can I conclude this? Because, just as I was thinking, "Let it be that another being may come here and accompany me", then my wish made that being come into existence."

[–]xmashtardis[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

What you think makes a lot of sense to me and I would have assumed the same thing.

[–]sanghika 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Aye. So, once you dig deep into the truths taught by the Buddha, you might have trouble believing in God as described by the church. Don't lose hope, though, as it might happen that your idea of "God" changes or expands.

[–]joseph1234567 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I was raised Catholic and I still attend mass from time to time as a way of connecting with my family and cultural roots. However, I have a number of issues with the Catholic religion.

1) Salvation. After death you either condemned to Hell or allowed to enter Heaven depending on how much devotion you demonstrated to Jesus and God. 2) The only direct line to God is through the Roman Catholic Church and only those teachings that are sanctified by the church can be considered to be an authoritative source from which one can derive spiritual guidance. (Don't even bother trying to read and interpret the Bible on your own. If you come up with your own interpretations and understanding of the text, chances are you're wrong so don't even bother to think for yourself) 3) The belief in a virgin birth...nuff said. 4) Public figures like Michael Voris. If you haven't heard of him, look him up. He'll either convert you and you'll never question your faith again. Or you'll be so turned off by him that you'll run kicking and screaming from the Catholic church. You could go either way. 5) The churches stance against homosexuality and sex is general

The list goes on, but I think the biggest issue I have with Catholicism and Christianity is the notion that we are born defective or with a deficit (aka original sin). And because you are born with this defect and that you are naturally a sinful person, that you must work your way out of this hole if you are to receive God's mercy? love? grace? forgiveness? blessing?

What I appreciate about Buddhism is that is recognizes that people are prone to doing harmful and hurtful things (towards themselves or others). However, I find the notion "you are perfect the way you are and you could use a little improvement" to be a much stronger foundation on which to build and grow towards becoming a self-actualized person, improving the quality of your life, and those around you.

Imagine taking that time and energy worshiping, praising, and asking God for forgiveness and direct it inward towards finding mental and emotional stability / resiliency and then outwards towards helping others and improving the world. That's what I love about Buddhism.

[–]BurtonDesqueseon 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

You cannot practice Buddhism and follow Jesus' Great Commandment simultaneously.