BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Buddhism Rituals and actions

If a Buddhist knows a lot about rituals and can give reference to many texts, but causes pains to others by words and deeds, is that person a Buddhist?

One of the greatest Indian Siddha Saint Kabir had said that you can read as many scriptures as you wish and learn them by heart. You can do indefinite practices. But two and half words of love are better than all this.

You bring up a good point. Being Buddhist is more then reading scriptures and knowing rituals. In addition to the reading, comes practice what you are reading, just like with any other religion. Reading words does not make one a Buddhist or Christian or Pagan or Muslim.

Well said. In fact in India some of the people with most knowledge were ignored in comparison to those who loved others.

Thank you for coming and posting CDM, always interesting to have your input.
Well, I'd like to address this, even though I risk your not reading my post due to your "ignore" policy...
Every single person we encounter, in any way, by any means, is Human. I have not yet had an encounter with someone who isn't.
Everybody, without exception, is subject to the conditioning and hurdles, handicaps and obscurations of Greed Hatred and Desire, and these three hindrances are the obstacles to enlightenment. And they are very often not obvious or manifest, but instead, subtle, insiduous, unseen and invisible.
The biggest problem anyone has is the relinquishing of personal Control over a situation. The reason people argue, fight, dispute and disagree is chiefly because they see a situation where they appear to not be in complete Control, and this stimulates further argument, fighting dispute and disagreement.

Everybody is guilty of it. Everyone.
Some retaliate through insults, some through revenge, some through promoting disharmony and discord for the object of their discomfort. The ways to show such offence, are Legion.....
We all have to fight these obstructions, but instead we grasp an cling to the ideal that "it's everyone - or someone - else, not me." We insist to ourselves that we could not possibly be the cause, or that we could not possibly be playing a part in this, it's always someone else.

Until we all wake up and realise that there is no difference between attacking another person and attacking ourselves, then the feeling and desire to Control will always persist, and we will always be subject to the cruel domination of Greed Hatred and desire.

And that, to quote Forrest Gump, is all I want to say about that....

ALexandra, well said. I feel that one of the major problems in the world today is exactly what you said

"Until we all wake up and realise that there is no difference between attacking another person and attacking ourselves, then the feeling and desire to Control will always persist, and we will always be subject to the cruel domination of Greed Hatred and desire."

Jeanette,

Our mythology is full of stories of attack on evil by good.

Jeanette,

Evil is very much there in the world. You know about abusers. Should they not be stopped? Evil has to be prevented at any cost. Kill Osama or he will kill thousands more innocents. Remember Hitler and million of jews.

Anyway, my thread was different.

Some years ago, a saint stayed in our home. YThat man was non stop doing japa of mantra but never allowed our pet dog to come near him. He thought he would get impure. I was talking of such hypocrites, who sound very religious and stuffed with knowledge but have no love in their heart.

So even this saint was tainted by the Obscuration of Hatred, Delusion and Greed.
No human being is devoid of these qualities.
And so it is that being aware of them, becoming Mindful of their influence, and being conscious of how destructive they are, we begin to develop and nurture Compassion and Love. so it is that we can distinguish between the things we see through these veils of Hatred Greed and Delusion, and seeing things As They Really Are.

Treat the saint with understanding, Compassion and Love, but demonstrate to him what you consider to be the error of his perception.
And do likewise with Osama, Hitler and abusers.
By all means work to prevent such hatred, bloodshed and wrongdoing. See how they are ed by Hatred, Greed and Delusion....? The desire at any cost to maintain, keep or exert Control?
Be a mirror unto them, and reflect their deeds that they might understand.
Changing their ways is up to them, we can only be signposts.
But Mindful, skilful, Compassionate and loving signposts.

You know, at times I feel conflicted on the subject of "evil" or "bad things". At times I think the world would be a wonderful place if everyone could just get along, love each other for who we all are, no one be judging of each other for superficial things, no one killed their fellow man. But then again I think of something my grandmother used to say and it too makes sense "You have to have evil to have good. You have to have bad things happen so you appreciate that good thing in your life. Life is about balance". But in Buddhism we teach and meditate to end suffering for all sentient being.