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Buddhism: What makes it contrary to progressive black Americans ?...huH (2322 hits)

One of the beliefs of buddhism is reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In the case of rebirth, the person comes back in a different form wheras in reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. Either way, it takes away the drive for living in the life they have been granted by the ONE GOD. It is the drive which makes for leaders and champions. Which is why seldom is a Black American that practices Buddhism a champion....more a copout. As if to say the hell with this life, when I die, I will come back as something else. My suggestion, is to avoid buddhism at all cost.

Posted By: jamal Abraham
Saturday, June 4th 2011 at 11:52PM
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I have a book by the title "Living Buddha, Living Christ" by Thich Nhat Hanh, which I have yet to read. I picked it up used for $1, mainly because I read this on the back:

"Thich Nhat Hanh is a holy man, for he is humble and devout. He is a scholar of immense intellectual capacity. His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity."

-Martin Luther King Jr.,
in nominating Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 5:55AM
Steve Williams

Buddhism addresses how people must account for (un)wholesome actions and (un)wholesome states. The former is outlined in a guideline known as the Noble Eightfold Path. Action springs from excercising the will, which springs from intention, which springs from thought, and so forth. The quality of actions can be described in ethical terms, simply as either good or bad, or both good and bad, or indifferent. Now, what's missing ? Gratefulness to the One God. In other words, yes there is accountability for excessing your will to do good or bad...but, start with being thankful to God that you EXIST. Being thankful that you woke up in the morning, being thankful that you were not hit by a stray bullet. Then there is human drive which encourages reward. Reward is not evil but can be misconstrude as evil in Buddhist terms. So a man strived hard in order that he would have some of the luxuries of life and be able to purchase a Porche car so he could attract more ladies. Is that good or bad. Buddhism has a lot to say about his intentions. If, however, this person strived hard and was thankful to God for rewarding him with some of the finer things in life and repeatedly he was thankful to God for him being ABLE to purchase a porsche and he did not worship the car but remained grateful to God and worshipped Him and Him only, then where is he evil. This is why Buddhism should be avoided because it clouds man's ability to be grateful to God and strive for the finer things in life like freedom, justice and equality.
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 8:30AM
jamal Abraham

@Carmen....your relationship with God would make a Buddhist uncomfortable in the realm of wanting good, trying to avoid the bad so as to please God...rather than thoughts of reincarnation conclusions to your actions.
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 8:33AM
jamal Abraham

Irma...there is no such thing as my Buddhism because do not hate myself enough to practice such a belief. Read any credible book on Buddhism and you will find what I have spoken about. This is what education does for a person....it allows a person to pick up a book..then read it...then understand what it is saying.
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 9:43AM
jamal Abraham

@Irma...sure I have heard of Malcolm X, but not sure what he has to do with this blog which is about Buddhism. Malcolm X certainly was no Buddhist.
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 10:28AM
jamal Abraham

Here is a test for any human being to show you how insignificant Buddhism is to life on earth. Turn on the TV and listen to world news (CNN, PBS, ABC, FoxNews, NBC). How many times will the word Buddhism come up or a Buddhist believer come up ? Please, do not take my word for it. Do it for yourself. Buddhism is so insignificant, that if it comes up once in a weeks time, you or me would be surprise. They don't seem to want to thank God that He created them...or for the fact that they even exist. That are in to a form of inner evaluation of good and bad which is so subjective that no wonder that most of them are confused. As for me, I thank God when I wake up in the morning.

Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 10:29AM
jamal Abraham

Tell that to Alice Walker!!!

Just as there are many Christians who do not practice the teachings of Christ and are poor representatives of the Christian faith, the same is true of Muslims, Buddhists, HIndus and any other religion.

Just because someone announces their adherence to their religion that does not mean they are somehow representative of their faith.

If a person leads a life of peace and love, that is the only way anyone can be sure they are truly following their faith.

Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 12:03PM
Richard Kigel

Alice Walker....the author of color purple which puts down black men as crude, viscious and vile and is married to a white, jewish man. Her caucasian husband Mel Leventhal living in Jackson, Mississippi is responsible for oppression to how many black men........Then, too, this interracial couple in the face where so many well qualified black brothers also live. This is my point....she has no respect for her African origin and is hardly a good example for African American families, black women or brothers looking for a sharp sister.
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 12:33PM
jamal Abraham

Saint....putting an expensive coat on a dog does not change the dog. It is just a dog with an expensive coat. If your argument is in favor of reincarnation, what about it. The life we live at present has value and becomes a testimony to everyone's life as to their free practice of will. If a persons viewpoint of reincarnation is to discount God and subject themselves to dissecting good and evil to the point that motivation for freedom and justice for your people are lost.........then the attention given to reincarnation is mute. This is why Buddhism is absolutely insignificant for the struggles that Black Americans face in this country.
Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 3:36PM
jamal Abraham

As-Salaam Alaikum Brother Jamal:

Religion is defined in many ways by the people. When you go to the root of the term, it simply means "to rejoin", "to reconnect". If there is anything you are trying to attain spiritually, then you cannot do it except through a method of religion.

Prior to and during contact with the slavemaster, the non-white people of the earth had spiritual beliefs and practices and this equates to their religion. Trance, dances, the beating of drums, burning of incenses, fasting, prayers, the eating of certain foods, doing certain things only at certain times, meditation etc. all become pointless if there was no objective of reconnecting with something.

Based on my research and what our Sister Irma has shared with us, Buddhism, like Christianity and Islam, encompasses the methods individuals use to reconnect to God. Some of us may say that Islam implies peace and is a state rather than a religion. But Islam, like Buddhism and Christianity, is a state and an action.

In order to be in the state of Islam you must be practicing Islam. Similarly, you must practice Buddhism to become a Buddah. This goes back to the 5 pillars of Islam (belief in Allah and his Messenger, fasting, prayer, pilgrimage, and charity). Indeed, Prophet Muhammad said Islam is based on 5. That is, its base, its foundation is upheld by practicing the 5.

Buddhism, like Islam and Christianity, is a religion in the same sense that Yoga is a religion. Yoga means "union". Philosophically, you can't "do" yoga. But every yogi knows that you must do yoga to attain yoga.

Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 3:47PM
Siebra Muhammad

Hello to All,

I will explain what religion is and its only purpose. True religion is a religion given to a people by God through their anointed prophet.
For instance, the religion of Islam was given to the Arabian people by God through their prophet, Prophet Mohammed.
Likewise, the religion LIFE is given to Black Americans by God through our prophet, Prophet Harry.

Religion is what Siebra explained for the most part. Religion is the means by which a people worship God as well as seek the help of God. Religion and God is synonymous.

You must bear in mind that religions are racial if you will since prophets are racially different. Therefore, religion is specifically for that race of people. In other words, the Arabian religion cannot help Black Americans since religions are tailored only to help the people in question.

There are two things about religion. That is some things are rational and some things are of personal belief to that specific people only and binding on no other people.

That is why you all argument about Buddhism, Islam and Christianity is stupid since you Black Americans are not Hindus, Arabs or European gentiles.

For instance, a personal belief about Islam is the seven virgins a Muslim receives in heaven. That is the Arabian people's beliefs and who are you to say that it is wrong. Perhaps, that is what God told them through Prophet Mohammed since Prophet Mohammed mentioned the seven virgin deal to his Arabian people. Likewise, Buddhists believes in reincarnation and that is their personal belief.
Since Jake is not biologically a Hindu but voluntarily binds himself up in the Hindus belief of reincarnation tells you that Jake is mentally sick.
Lastly, the European Christians believe that Jesus has a place for them in heaven in is Father's mansion.

The question is since we are Black Americans even though we are dumb and ignorant; nevertheless, we should be looking forward to our religion LIFE and our personal beliefs that would make and separate our religion LIFE from other religions just for Black Americans as Islam is just for Arabian people. Does that make sense to you all?

What say you?

Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 11:05PM
Harry Watley

Hello Jake,

Firstly, Hebrew Israelites became a nationality when they acquired the state of Israel in 1948. Nationality is associated with a country otherwise the people are a race. Nationality does not define a person's race. Nationality tells you that this specific race of people has a specified country. Therefore, without a country there is no such thing as nationality. For instance, Black Americans are a race without a nationality since we do not have a country of our own as yet.

However, my greater point is that religion is a racial issue. Since you are biologically not the same people as the Jews in the state of Israel their religion and worship of Yahweh is not your worship and religion. In addition, since you are biologically not a Hindu your belief of reincarnation is also wrong. You are not written about in the Bible so when you refer me to the Bible to substantiate and support your point I look at you as an ignorant man because nothing about you is in the book of the real Israelites or the Jewish people that descended from Moses and Abraham.

Jake you are a sick puppy with your abstract and erratic beliefs.

What say you?

Sunday, June 5th 2011 at 11:56PM
Harry Watley

Love you Irma. Why? Because you make me smile (smile).
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 7:17PM
Steve Williams

Reincarnation in a characteristic of the Buddhism and not something spoke by any of God's holy prophets from Noah to Muhammad. Jesus, Lot, Abraham, David, Moses never spoke of reincarnation. There are no ancient scrolls of writing of the prophets that mentioned anything about reincarnation. If you would do a word search on the text of the bible of reincarnation, you would come up blank. There is nothing about reincarnation that can do any good for Black Americans. It has to do with another race of people that wants to take the attention AWAY from God and put it on nature and the universe...but, before there was nature or a universe, THERE WAS GOD. Thus, in this case, Harry is correct.

Monday, June 6th 2011 at 7:18PM
jamal Abraham

Jamal, explain what is meant by the words "Abraham slept with his fathers".
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 7:24PM
Steve Williams

Little Abraham does not respond to such a thing, Steve......for you to have something in quotations.....who said this...and where was it said....less one speaks a thing out of context. Then, when I have the answer...I must ask..now, what does this have to do with this blog on Buddhism.
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 7:42PM
jamal Abraham

Okay, I got my verses mixed up. Genesis 25 says he was gathered (or added) to his people. It says the same of Ishmael. Later (I don't know what you take as scripture), we are told of David, Solomon etc. as sleeping with their fathers. So I will rephrase my question. What do you suppose the phrase "gathered (or added) to his people" means?
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 9:29PM
Steve Williams

@Saint.....A = A, B = B, C = C

regeneration is not the same as reincarnation, no matter how you slice it. I laugh at people who have no education in science trying to explain science terms.

Monday, June 6th 2011 at 10:12PM
jamal Abraham

Well let's think about that. "Re" is a common denominator so can be canceled out, as can the "ion". We are then left with the words generate and incarnate. What are the roots of these words?
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 10:21PM
Steve Williams

Well, Jamal, fortunately for the reputation of African American literature, very few people agree with you.

The first black woman Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award winner Alice Walker remains one of the most respected voices in black literature today.

You may disagree--but you don't have a large following behind you.

One reason why your evaluation is completely without meter---she has written more than a dozen works of fiction another dozen and more collection of essays, and another dozen books of poetry.

You have evaluated one single novel by offering your own opinion--there are many African American women who absolutely LOVE her book because it is all about a woman who finds herself.

You also judge her by her not for her own talents and abilities but for her ex-husband, a man she is no longer associated with.

So you are entitled to your opinion. But understand--you are in a very tiny tiny minority.

In the world of literature--and especially African-American literature--she is deeply admired and her work highly admired.

Monday, June 6th 2011 at 10:23PM
Richard Kigel

Richard....you really do not judge a person by what they say but by what they DO....When you have an African American woman marry the caucasian white man....she has said enough. And fiction is just that.....fiction....it is not true...it is make belief.....This blog is not about fiction...so your premise is hogwash to say it mildly.
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 10:43PM
jamal Abraham

Saint.....first of all the Hebrew Israelites in this country have no nation of their own..they have MOUTH and that is about it. For a people to claim so much understanding and to have so little in assets is what we in the world of science call "fabrication". When you make silly rediculous statements like regeneration to be the same as reincarnation, it is like saying the metric meter to be equal to the english inch. They are not the same though both units of length. Basically, you are wrong on all counts. Then you start rambling all about Kush and Kaba that have nothing to do with this dialogue. Which obvious means that you do not know what you are speaking about. When little Abraham speaks, it is clear and easy for any fool to understand.

We are speaking about Buddhism and how contrary it is to the progress of Black Americans. A facet of Buddhism is reincarnation which takes black people in to disneyland's never never land like my brother Saint is speaking which leads you to where....NO WHERE...which is why Buddhism has no place in to progress of Black Americans in our efforts to acquire a nation of our own. Now, isnt that simple enough. It certainly is the truth.
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 10:52PM
jamal Abraham

Thank you, Irma for explaining your version of Buddhism, N D Buddhism. This blog does not direct itself to a particular denomination of Buddhism but rather generic Buddhism. In other words, if you were to walk into a Barnes and Noble bookstore and pick up a book on Buddhism, it would speak of what this blog is about. One can speak of what is Islam without getting into all the differant denominations. One can speak of Christianity without getting into all the differant denominations. Why, because there are fundamental beliefs of all major religions. And no, I do not believe in a Buddhist God. When you here me speak of God, I am speaking of God the creator of the heavens and earth or the universe.
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 11:26PM
jamal Abraham

Irma...I DO NOT REGRET THAT I POSTED THIS BLOG. Every blog that I post is for purpose and reason. So if you don't mind I can speak for myself
Monday, June 6th 2011 at 11:58PM
jamal Abraham

Irma...it is the first and final points you made.....

"FIRST , it provides us with the courage to face both life and death. It enables us to see death not as some tErrifing unknown but as a normal phase of existance that alternates with llife in an eternal cycle. "

Here, there is no granting to an eternal cycle unless God permits it.

"Finally, this way of thinking enables us to redirect our instinctive desires so that we can elevate our state of being. we learn to avoid pitfalls of hedonism and pessimism, to fing joy and truth in compassion rather than in ephemeral hope for rebrith in paridise"

Here, there is no rebirth into paradise unless the One God permits it.

So, I have answered you.

Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 12:03AM
jamal Abraham

Hello Saint,

I have made the point many times that prophets are racially different.

For example, Prophet Mohammed was an Arab man. Prophet Moses was an Israelite. Prophet Jesus was a Jewish man. Prophet Harry is a Black American man.
Consequentially, no prophet can reach outside the race of himself and his people.
Therefore, when you use the Jewish and European gentiles' scriptures (Bible) to make a binding on Black Americans you are simply out of touch with reality.
In other words, you don't understand the significance of why prophets were and are racially different. The scriptures of the Jewish people are not binding on Black Americans or Chinese people since Black Americans are not Jewish people. Likewise, the scriptures of the Arabian people are not binding on Black Americans or Japanese people since Black Americans are not Arabian people.
Similarly, when Black Americans begins to develop our own scriptures as the Arabian and have our scripture will not be binding on Arabian, Jewish or European gentiles.

Why is that so difficult to understand?

Now, Jamal makes a very good point when he said that reincarnation and regeneration are two different animals. Can you trump his point by merging the two words into one? I don't think that you can.

What say you?

Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 2:29AM
Harry Watley

Irma, I will address your point about the Circle.

God is revealed to us in Nature, and everything around us is seen to be a Cycle. Even the Universe is thought to exist in terms of a Cycle. That is, the Universe we live in today is said to have started with the Big Bang, and is still expanding. But we are told that it will in the future begin contracting, until again it becomes an infinitesimal Point, and there will be another Big Bang.

Our minds however insist on thinking of Time as Linear. but we all know that a Line is defined by two Points. So Eternity cannot be thought of as a Line, because what then are the two Points. The only way we can makes sense of Eternity is to think of it as a Circle.

And just as Matter neither be created or destroyed, neither can Mind. That is why the Rebirth of the Soul makes sense.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 8:51AM
Steve Williams

Jake, there is a book called Who Wrote the New Testament, by Burton Mack, you may find interesting. I don't say you will agree with it, but it is interesting to research how the New Testament came into being, since we know it wasn't Iesus himself that wrote it, or equally important, Canonized it.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 9:46AM
Steve Williams

I agree with you about allegorical interpretation. But aren't you mixing literal interpretation with the allegorical?
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 10:13AM
Steve Williams

Again, this blog is about Buddhism and its doctrine which includes intangible disciplines that allows it believers to take a disconcerning attitude toward the problems which Black Americans face every day in this country. It is not about the fallacies of the Hebrew Israelites and why there existence is insignificant to the sojourn of Black Americans in the United States. Nor, is it about the many falsehoods found in the Bible. We already know that Muhammad of Arabia was inspired to provide the texts for the Holy Quran...but, this blog is not about that.

Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 12:14PM
jamal Abraham

Peace Beloveds:

In addition to what I posted above it is not so much the name that makes the religion of Buddhism what it is, but the fundamental beliefs, practice, rituals, etc. that makes it what is.

If we do the research we will find that Buddhism is nothing but an offsping of Islam. The religion of Buddhism, as a matter of fact, began as an offspring of Islam in the country of India. The founder was Siddhartha Gautama, a man of Black lineage who lived 2,500 years ago. It is not easy to give an accurate historical account of the life of Gautama, since no biography was recorded until hundreds of years after his death. Before he was credited with being the originator of Buddhism, Gautama had actually studied Islam, and he got what we call Buddhism from Islam.

For example, here are some of the core beliefs and principles of Buddhism, which are also at the core of Islam:

1. Buddhism and Islam deals with a new way of life, which gives a being freedom from confusion and disillusionment.

2. Both the religions require practice and faith in self. Both of them have different methods of worship, but on the whole talks about similar facts.

3. Both religions believe that the eternal life depends on the works of the present life and is only applicable for those who follow the path whole heartedly.

4. Both believe that the universe is separate from God and has been created by Him.

5. Buddhism believes in humanity and love for all beings. Similarly, the most important aspect in Islam is humanity.

6. The Buddhist doctrine exhorts the Buddhists to follow the essence of Dhamma and condemn idol-worship. Likewise, Islam also imposes a taboo on idol-worship.

7. Buddhism opposes the evils of caste and creed and asserts the equality of all beings. Islam also stresses on the equality of individuals, thereby, abhorring caste and creed.

8. Buddhism adopted terms from Islam, however, those terms carry completely similar meanings.

Buddhism may have certain refinements that makes it what it is today, but at its core, it is the same as Islam.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 12:30PM
Siebra Muhammad

When I was a little child growing up in Islam, I heard the my father speak what messenger Elijah said that that Buddha(Gautama) was the only prophet of Allah that went astray. He wanted the people to worship him rather than Allah. So yes, you will find similarities but there are vivid differances meaning THEY ARE NOT THE SAME.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 3:23PM
jamal Abraham

Let's consider the terms regeneration and reincarnation. Regeneration comes from an Ancient Greek word, reincarnation from Late Latin. So for the two linguists here (Jamal and Harry) I would like to hear the etymology and meaning of these words.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 3:56PM
Steve Williams

Hint: regeneration has a much longer linguistic history than reincarnation.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 3:58PM
Steve Williams

Hello Jamal,

Now that you are talking to me we can figure out or rationalize things out in good faith.

Firstly, you are making the point that White America along with Christianity held Black Americans captive and not Arab Muslims and Islam per se. However, behind the scene you are making the point that Islam is Black America's salvation as well rather than Christianity because you think that Islam is for all humanity and that is not true.

Islam is just as misleading for Black Americans as Christianity is since neither Islam nor Christianity belongs to Black Americans. God did not rise up a prophet from among us to give us the religion of Islam. God rose up Prophet Mohammed from among the Arabian people and gave Prophet Mohammed the religion of Islam to specifically resolve the pagan practices of the Arabian people, am I right.

Paganism is not the problem that Black Americans have. The problem of Black Americans is that we want to be sovereign and free on a reasonable and fertile portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders.

By now you should realizes the pagan practices of the Arabian people is different from the problems of Black Americans. So one size or on religion does not fit all people. In other words, the Arabian religion Islam does not fit because I am not an Arab man. And, it doesn't matter how many other races have embraced Islam there will come to know at some time in their future when God anoints them a prophet Islam do not fit them as well. Am I making any sense?

You mentioned that Islam present a different religious solution to Black Americans. That is preposterous! The only solution to Black Americans is our own religion LIFE.

The Arabian people do not have our solution. God has our solution and this same God had the Arabian people solution. As God rose up Prophet Mohammed for the Arabian people only this same God raised me up for Black Americans only as well.

Furthermore, the Qumran has said nothing about us. Black Americans are not in the Qumran neither is there an event like that of Black Americans plantation slavery. But, the Bible does. So, if we were to employ logic and had to pick the lesser of the two evils, the Bible should be your choice. The story of Moses is very, very similar to the life of Black Americans, am I right.

What say you?

Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 4:04PM
Harry Watley

Harry. what does Qumran say?
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 4:11PM
Steve Williams

Harry, NO YOU ARE WRONG....God rose up Elijah Muhammad, a black American to teach us our religion Islam which has differances than the orthodox sect of Islam....for example we no longer get on our knees and pray but pray upright.....and we know who the devil is .....whereas the orthodox sect of Islam remain puzzled on who the devil is.....so Harry you are about 80 years too late.
Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 4:21PM
jamal Abraham

Hello Jamal,

You said that God rose up Elijah Muhammad. I beg to differ. Mr. Master Fard Muhammad taught Elijah Muhammad. Am I right or am I wrong?

What say you?

Tuesday, June 7th 2011 at 4:52PM
Harry Watley

Hello Jake,

You believe in regenerate. You substantiate the legitimacy of this belief from the Bible when Jesus said you must be born again.
You also believe in reincarnation. You substantiate the legitimacy of this belief from the Bible as well.

You believe that the two words are synonymous. Well, I am not going to argue the differences of the two words. What I am going to argue the basis for your belief.
Your belief is based on Jewish (Jesus) and European gentile Christian religion dogma and you are neither a Jew nor a European gentile. Consequentially, you are wrapping yourself in a coat that does not belong to you. You need to wear your own coat.

Your belief must come from the prophet of your own race and not from prophets of other races.

For instance, the Arabian people (men) believe in seven virgins in heaven they will receive when they get to heaven. Well, that is a personal belief of that specific race (Arabians) which is not binding on Black Americans.
In other words, God didn't inspire me what this seven virgin deal. God inspired Prophet Mohammed with the seven virgin deal. Likewise, God inspired Moses with the Passover, which is not binding on Arabian or Black Americans since we are not Jewish people. Consequentially, each race of people that God visits will have their own religion or a way to worship God and will have personal beliefs that are only applicable to that specific race of people.

My point is that since I am a Black American I should expect to have my own from God that I need not follow in the footsteps of other people. Am I making any sense with you?

What is wrong with Elijah Muhammad and Jamal's belief is that Jamal is a Black American man following in the footsteps of the Arabian people because he believes the Arabian prophet was to all people. That is not rationally thinking since Prophet Mohammed is limited only to the Arabian people since he himself was an Arab man.

Tell me what you think.

Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 1:57AM
Harry Watley

By now you know why Buddhism is not a positive influence for Black Americans; it bypasses God in favor of rationalizing good versus evil. Then, by realizing there is a cause and effect relationship, they suspect they can reincarnate themselves skipping over the creator responsible for the universe in the first-place.

Harry speaks of a religion Life, that only he worships that has no substance, no people, no merit and no sense.

We have learned whereas the Muslims have OIL and FERTILE LAND, Christians have Guns, Prosperity and LIES, the Hebrew Israelites have blind hope and a big MOUTH.

Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 3:08AM
jamal Abraham

You are right Harry, it was another of my bad jokes. But the word was misspelled because you don't proofread what your software thinks you said. And if you didn't have your software your fingers would get tired and you would possibly give up saying the same things over and over and over and over and... You get my drift.
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 3:10AM
Steve Williams

Hello Steve,

When you said it was another one of your bad jokes and I might add stupid joke it wasn't necessary for me to consider your reasoning or purpose.

What you need to do is stop being stupid wasting time pointing out harmless errors that does not change the landscape of the point being made. Contend yourself with the point that is being made knucklehead.
If the point is wrong then comment in good-faith showing why the point is wrong.

You are not a very bright man to be a White man. I expect better from you.

Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 8:44AM
Harry Watley

Thanks Jake,

If one considers the Mind (or Soul or Spirit, also synonyms) to reside in the Body, then Rebirth and Reincarnation can be considered synonyms, and not to carry in themselves the distinction Jamal has made in his original post. I would say that both views of what they mean have occurred to me, but I would not claim to know if a Buddhist (a generic term) distinguishes between them. If one is reborn into the same body, that could account for the experience of deja vu, though there are other things that could account for it. I personally haven't experienced deja vu in quite some time now. I rather prefer the idea that we are reborn into different bodies, as part of our spiritual perfecting.

Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 9:45AM
Steve Williams

Obviously it recognizes the caves of Qumran, which in fact do have something to say.
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 9:56AM
Steve Williams

Harry, this blog is about Buddhism so can you try to stick to the issue or "delete"
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 10:15AM
jamal Abraham

Dear Jamal:

You may call my opinion hogwash. You are perfectly entitled to do that.

In my effort to stand up and support the most prominent African-American Buddhist (after the esteemed lady Irma Robinson!!!) I pointed out the obvious fact that millions of AFrican-Americans do not agree with your assessment of Alice Walker. Her writing remains a highlight of AFrican-American literature courses in colleges and universities all across the nation.

She is a first-class writer as evidenced by her stature and position of respect in the Black literary community.

And your opinion cannot change that fact.

Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 11:25AM
Richard Kigel

Richard....Hello...when Nuclear power plants which features equipment that I'm responsible want to know meaning of alarms...they ask for my opinion. As an applied scientist, my opinion is the differant whether electricity is generated or not in many countries. So, it matters not, what liberal artist claim...when it comes to science matters, there are millions of people all over the world, depend on it. This is not about Alice Walkers literature ability, but her decision to embrace Buddhism....so again your opinion is hogwash in that regard...however as an fiction writer, Alice Walker deserves all the acknowledgements she has received.
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 11:34AM
jamal Abraham

When we talk about progress Jamal, it certainly cannot be proved that it depends solely on applied scientists and those who speak hatefully of the blue-eyed devil, Buddhism, Christianity, etc. In fact the case could be made that all of the above hinder progress.
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 1:22PM
Steve Williams

Steve....to the contrary....if you want a healthy garden, it is well known that you must pull up all the weeds less they destroy the good crop.
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 9:14PM
jamal Abraham

Here we have wild strawberries. My mom considers them a weed because they compete with the cultivated things she plants. On the other hand I myself prefer the wild strawberries to the things she plants. So she pulls them up, but I let them grow.
Wednesday, June 8th 2011 at 11:24PM
Steve Williams

Hi...Irma.....you must know by now that I am saying that Buddhism similar to a weed.
Thursday, June 9th 2011 at 6:06AM
jamal Abraham

The weed that needs to be rooted out is intolerance of the spiritual choices made by others if they are not the same spiritual choice made by oneself. This weed is what destroys the peace of mankind, the garden, or Paradise.
Thursday, June 9th 2011 at 1:11PM
Steve Williams

In simplist terms, God is a separator; the sheep from the goat...the wheat from tare
Thursday, June 9th 2011 at 2:05PM
jamal Abraham

Irma, we can only hope they remain unpatented by Monsanto. Enjoy!
Thursday, June 9th 2011 at 5:48PM
Steve Williams

...and, one more thing Jamal taht you always remain in denial about me is how "I" always say when I am refering to me, I never use my NDB and religion, but always say my NDB practice, because fo rme just the mention of the word religion gets over shadowed by the MINE IS BETTER THEN YOURS mentality and i can not fit this into my daily life because "I" respect a-l-l religious choices. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@Jamal as one who has been practicing NDB for almost 23 years soon , would you please tell me more as this form of Buddhism is brand new to me. And, you know how I am always out to learn brand new things...

I know there are 142 different forms of Buddhist practices in America alone, how many there really are I have no idea...so I look forward to learning more about this form of Buddhist practice from you , Jamal. Thanks (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

jAMAL, i AM GOING TO DO A BLOG IN A TANGABLE SCIENTIFIC MANNER AS A NDB AND IT MAY JUST GO TO HELP YOU AND HARRY IN YOUR NATION BUILDING...WILL BE DOING IT SOON YOU WILL RECOGNIZE IT WHEN IT IS POSTED...MUST GO NOW AND TEN TO MY WEEDS I WILL BE EATING VERY SOON...STEVE YOU KNOW TOSE STRAWBERIES I HAVE BEEN BRAGING ABOUT THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DYING OR GETTIN GILL FROM EATING THEM RIGHT OUR OF MY YARD. LOL (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Thanks as I said Jamal and can you tell me more about this form of buddhism, because each buddhist practice does not have 'good or bad as buddhism believe in 'balance and would say good and bad is a balance...does your buddhism include respect for trees, plants, water, air ect. you know much like these tings that got people from Africa labeled as nonhuman because they had respect for the planet and had equality for women also the buddhism I know have these things.

Oh and Jamal, may I ask you a question about Islam in relation to how people say stay away from another religion...

Do you believe that Muslims would have less problems at least in America as it is a Christian nation if they said God and not Allah? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@Carman, what you described is the same way Jamal speaks about the leader of the NOI...and, I guess yours is only one person, Jamal says this for his whole religious organization...OH, well, that i slife, would you say? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

...and, as I leave, may I ask both you Carman and Jamal, have you ever heard of a person named Malcom X? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

JAMAL, IT IS JUST TOO BAD TAHT YOU GO FROM ONE EXAMPLE TO ANOTHER and it back's fired so you go to another one. example Jamal a weed is any plant taht that individual decieds is in the worng place...

Take dandoline greens they see in markets (at lease here for almost $2.00 a pound.lol (smile)

Please let me know when you are taken serious in the NOI to have you come and speak in a debate with Minister Farrakhan or hell anyone running for leadership for the NOI...I will be there...there is one thing I can say about Harry, he does stick with his points and on't change them with each comment like you do , Jamal.

NOw back to the theme of Buddhism and how do you change this into a weed?!? Oh, in Buddhism people get interested in it because in Buddhism the actual daily life of the individual is the ad for getting interest in it now telling others they don't qualify as being able to think for themselves... or a form of ...

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS...OR BUILD YOU NATION AND PEOPLE WILL COME IF ATRACTED TO IT...MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT SO WILLING TO CHANGE ONE MASTER THEY ALREADY KNOW'S CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES FOR ONE THEY DON'T KNOW. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@Jamal, I gave up a long time ago trying to get you to understand that I practive nichiren Daishonin Buddhism and taht "I" believe in Christ... SO JAMAL WHAT YOU ALWAYS END UPDOING IS REPLACING CHRIST WITH YOUR BELIEF IN A BUDHIST GOD AS I TELL YOU IN VAIN THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IN A BUDDHIST GOD EVEN EXIST AS YOU DO...

but you problem is your insiSting taht you must live my lafe and determine my values...much like logic would be able to tie in that Malcom X was a member of the NOI and it was not a Buddhist taht killed him because they thought he was wrong in his bELIEfs....Jamal it is you not me taht keep saying how useless the noi is to the Black community because they are followers of Farrikhan...me I continue to say they are followrs of Islam or this is one of the reasons I continue to find out if this is true about the NOI follow Islam or Farrkhan...but instead of learning something about the NOI, I get lectures on Buddhism and not one word about which Buddhist practice you are talking about...but again if you want to over rule the 142 buddhist practices to cover only your version , yes logic dictates I must callit your own version until you teach me it is not yours but say ZEN, Confusus, Mayahana , yahnana or Tebitian, India, China, Vietnam ect. and, I do this for the ame reason I would never call Islam, Christian it is called respect in my book. (smile)

@Jamal, I am only out to get proper education not an identity nor am I seeking a resigious conversion, only information so I can better understand and try to help spread taht different is not difecient as we are all members of the human race. PEACE (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

iF THIS LADY IS MARRIED TO A WHITE MAN WHO OPPRESSES BLACK PEOPLE IS HE, jAMAL DOING ANY LESS TAHN WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO SAY ABOUT THE LEADER OF THE NOI?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????

AT LEASE HE IS NOT BLACK AND I AM SURE HE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A HALF BREED EITHER. LOL (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Thanks so much Jake and you also Jamal for this post so I can try once again to say someting about BUDDHISM it self and not opinions....

BUDDHISM IS ABOUT B-A-L-A-N-C-E...AND TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS IN A 'SCIENCE' POINT OF VIEW..."GOOD VERSES EVIL IS AN EITHER OR AND NOT BOTH...

BUDDHISM SAYS THAT GOOD IS NEEDED TO BALANCE EVIL....CAUSE GOOD...EFFECT GOOD CAN RECOGNIZE EVIL...

OR GOOD CAN NOT RECOGNIZE EVIL IF EVIL IS NOT THERE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE GOOD A VALUE / NOT A VALUE IN OUR LIVES.(SMILE)

...in other wise Jamal if you don't find some way to justify Buddhism to be a dangerit is a threat to your nation building???? and I say this because Buddhism is about individual choices and ot some one making your choices for you...say like not just Minister Farrakhan is a threat to you but so is the NOI...and why you did not notice nor did you comment on my comment about Siebra being a Muslim in general and a mamber as are you of the in specific NOI!!!!!

which I use in your belief of either or or your NOI nation building for mambers of the Black race versus the already estaboished NOI which it is you taht says in NOT GOOD FOR THE BLACK RACE AND I AM SSURE YOU KNOW MORE BLACK PEOPLE IN DANGER OF THE NOI THAN YOU KNOW BUDDHIST...OR AM I WRONG AGAIN , JAMAL??? LOL (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Thank you , thank you, thank you my beautiful almost perfect daughter for your comment...and, I say this because you are Black and a Muslim and a member of the NOI...

I needed what you just said...no not about Buddhism, or even your own faith Islam...it has just given backmy faith in teh NOI that it is not just about getting rid of the present leader by pushing him out/ murder as what I see on tis site was leading me to believe.

and, this is why I love dialoging as the silver bullet against war. and, thank you for this bog Jamal as it is a teacing moment. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

...AND,, ONE THING THAT a-l-l bUDDHIST FAITHS / PRACTICES HAVE IN common is...The problems of mankind are the sufferings due from BIRTH, SICKNESS, GROWING OLD AND DEATH...and, here is what Buddhism says about problems...

PROBLEMS are not in themselves the fundamental cause of unhappiness. Lack of power and wisdom to solve them is the cause. example...Jamal seem to have gone from Buddhism is and absolute negative in teh Black community to if own notice, he now has agreed with 3 out of 5 of the examples goven by NDB, he is in agreement with that are not a danger to our community...

@Jamal what does 'science' say about this in relationship to things being "TESTED' for PROOF?!? lol (smile)

or just plain old every day cause and effect say in dialogue / allowing all sides to have a say...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@Jake, hopefully you have caused Jamal to take time off from this blog to go try to study what you have said so he can comment to you in more details than the last try.. lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

jAMAL, ARE YOU SAYING TAHT when we die, that is it? OVER DONE... NOTHING LEFT????? or is your version of there is life after death as say in the body when what we define in the 'real world of death...

as in when one's heart and breathing stops what we call the body rotting .ect. does not exist????

Please could you tell me what you mean if you say that Man is not going to die as we continue to say, WRONGLY ???? (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

...Jamal are you saying that moses did not go to L-I-V-E with his god as he believed he would and this is what most religions say about when this body dies we will live again????? Tis is what I am after as it is you taht talks about a G-O-D, not me so I am just trying to ask you to help me understand what it is you are saying about no existance after what is described and experiences as people get buried, cremated or just not allowed at the dinner table in say your own home???...because I do believe if sitting one at your dinner table after they stop breathing and heart stops for say a day it will be an arrest action called mutlation of a corpse...lol (smile)

NOT A BUDDHIST LAW IN AMERICA BUT IT IS A LAW IN AMERICA AND CAN EVEN GET ONE PUT IN AN INSANE HOSPITAL OR REJECTED BY THOSE THEY ARE LEADING AS THEIR LEADER IF THEY KEPT A 'DEAD' BODY...JUST THINING...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

...OH, JAMAL, POOR THING AS YOU HAVE NO IDEA THAT BUDDHISM IS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL BEING RESPONSIABLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS / KARAM WHICH MEANS ACTION...STEVE IS SPEAKING WHICH FALLS UNDER THE DEFINITION OF BUDDHISM AS IN ANYTHING TAHT MAKES SENSE TO OUR SENSES AS IN SIGHT, TASTE, FEEL ECT...

OR IN SHORT JAMAL, CAUSE AND EFFECT IS BUDDHISM'S REALITY AND ALL THINGS RATIONAL, AS IN LOGICAL... EXAMPLE, COMMUNICATION ON A SOCIAL NETWORK NEEDS A SENDER OF A MESSAGE AND A RECEIVER(.SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@jAMAL, AS I patiently wait for you to tell me what Buddhist religion / practice you are refering to, I will say what my Nichiren Daishonin Buddhist practice says about this issue you have based your blog theme on...

FIRST , it provides us with the courage to face both life and death. It enables us to see death not as some tErrifing unknown but as a normal phase of existance that alternates with llife in an eternal cycle.

SECOND it teaches us to treasure the life we now live and to make it as worthwhile as possible. If we believe in our hearts that present behavior creats and determine future exisnce, we will strive to cultivate ourselves and make the most ot what each day offers.

THIRD, it teaches us that the only way to fullfill the potential of th ehuman race is to live just, kind, benevolent and compassionate lives-- to be aware that each activity in which we engage can be the source of growth and self-reformation. It is our conduct is undiminished by death, that it is intergal to life and will enhance our eternal self.

Finally, this way of thinking enables us to redirect our instinctive desires so that we can elevate our state of being. we learn to avoid pitfalls of hedonism and pessimism, to fing joy and truth in compassion rather than in ephemeral hope for rebrith in paridise.

IN SHORT WE DON'T LIVE OUR LIVES FOR A GOOD DEATH, BUT WE LIVE LIFE FOR A GOOD AND HAPPY, SAFE, SECURE L-I-F-E. (SMILE)

AND, WITH THIS I WILL ONLY RETURN IF YOU HAVE THE DECANCY TO SAY WHAT BUDDHISM YOU SPEAK OF, JAMAL AS YOU HAVE SAID IT IS NOT OF YOUR OWN CREATION...BUT, YET YOU DO BELIEVE IN A BUDDHIST GOD AS YOU KEEP PROVING OVER AND OVER ON YOUR POST / MANY COMMENTS ON DIFFERENT POSTINGS. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

"C-A-U-S-E", L-I-F-E...

"E-F-F-E-C-T", D-E-A-T-H...

(S-M-I-L-E)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@JAMAL NOW PLEASE POINT OUT WHAT PART OF MY NDB PRATICE THAT IS NOT SIMILAR OR EXACT TO WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT LIFE, DEATH...O.K.?...

PLEASE NOTICE I AM NOT GENERALIZING YOUR RELIGIOUS CHOICES ONLY WANT THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR SEEING WHAT IS SO DANGEROUS TO BLACK PEOPLE IN MY 4 POINTS AND MY CONCLUSION IN YOUR EXPERT, PERSONAL, SCIENTIFIC POINT OF VIEW...

I DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXPLINATION JUST THE POINTS OR EVEN JUST THE NUMBERS 1,2,3,4 ALL OF THEM OR SOME OF THEM OR NONE OF THEM. PLEASE AND THANK YOUAS THIS IS YOUR BLOG THEME. (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

@Jamal you have answered me if you had been talking to me about something I had said about God which I have not said anything about a human can cnacel out any of god's plans for those he created in his own image, but that is alright, because I now have no idea if you saying you ae a Muslim but you use the Bible and not the Koran and Allah as you jump around from God to Allah as you are an expert on Buddhism which I have never known them touse a bible or a Koran...but this is your blog and you world Jamal...

actually I had only retruned to see if the comments of mine and Jake's about we were bored and leaving had returned or not...but if your mind says we did not write these comments and we ran away from your scientific proof using your Allah and God and bible and Koran...then this is just fine. (rotfl) (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Buddhism says that all human beings are do respect as one's equal FOR BEING MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RACE...Buddah was a human being...

so Jamal are you saying man and God are equal or is this being changed to fit your example of what you 'heard' as opposed to what is practiced in Buddhism...I would like tp point out that Siebra is a Muslim is she not and is she not speaking directly about Islam eventhough it does not seem to me the same as your version in this post related to Budhism / Islam. Please correct me on this if I am wrong, Jamal.(smile)

AS I ALWAYS SAY, "I" AM NOT ABOUT RIGHT / WRONG ONLY TRYING TO LEARN FROM ALL SIDES AS I AM NOT A COMPUTER WAITING FOR AN IDENTITY- PURPOSE FOR MY VERY EXISTANCE. ...

EXAMPLE, JAMAL...IN BUDDHISM IT IS DEFINED AS CAUSE AND EFFECT...

IN SCIENCE IT IS DEFINED AS FOR EVERY ACTION THERE WILL BE A REACTION. (S-M-I-L-E)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA