BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Buddhism Rituals and actions

Ok i see the point of your original post since you described it that way. Unfortunately the hypocrites you have described are in every religion. There is a couple who attend temple at the monastary I go to. Everyone was in shock when we learned man was cheating on his wife, making plans to abandon her, and also stealing from his place of work. Yet Saturday and Sunday he would be at Tara practice or at study group with a smile on his face discussing the Dharma with us. We have the Catholic priests and their sex scandals. But we are human, we are going to make mistakes but we better be prepared in this life to answer and pay for our mistakes.

what I was pointing towards was that-

we should first imbibe more of humanity and then go for rituals.
What does Buddhism say about this?

Buddhism is quite specific in that it teaches that all compounded phenomena are impermanent. Therefore, it is commendable if people wish to attach importance to ritual, ceremony and all these entail, but the most important thing is to shed all atachments to material things, treansitory things, impermanent redundant things and to practice.
Examine, understand and accept the Four Noble truths.
Examine, understand and accept the Eightfold path.
Examine, understand and accept the relevant precepts.
Remain Mindful, Skilful and practise, practise, practise.

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I couldn't have said it better Alexandra. YOu are like my wingman (wingwoman) a lot of the time!

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Thats pretty!!! Thank you!!!

I love it when they give the english translations!!!!

Isn't it amazing....?
I only have to sit through it once and it makes my whole day.....

Being Buddhist is listening to ones heart/inner voice/intuition and combining that with a promise to oneself to treat others as you would like to be treated.

Being happy and learning to connect one's heart is the thing that is wholey missing in society today. No point being anything including Buddhist if there is no ability to love, be compassionate and learn to share.

I am never stop being amazed by people who appear to have everything materially yet choose not to share, help others or give from the heart. Gratitude is something that takes practice and yes the ability to be attached to nothing.

It is extremely refreshing to see so many positive comments here on bellaonline.

In gratitude, kindness and love,

Maria
www.butterflyhealer.com

Dear Maria,
Welcome to our forum, how nice to meet you.

I think, for me personally, the effective way for me to consider the immeasurable pleasure and fortune i have been blessed with is to stop myself from descending into self-generated sorrow, self-pity or misery, by focussing my attention on those i know are less fortunate than myself.
In these trying times, when there is so much intolerance, injustice, selfishness and hatred in the world, it hardly befits someone who purports to be practising Buddhism to focus on her own misfortunes.
I have just been made redundant, but please let me not hear or read one word of sympathy or sadness for me.
I can find a job. I am not suffering.

Can the military junta in Burma say the same of their dignity and reputation?
Can the same be said of the countless people they have killed, injured or imprisoned?
Compared to just this small example, my life is immeqsurably blessed.
My Buddhist Pearl of Wisdom quotation for today was:
" Those who are unhappy in this world, are so, because they seek happiness for themselves alone.
Those who are truly happy in this world, are so, because they seek happiness for others."

Metta, karuna and welcome to our humble forum, Butterflyhealer.

Wonderful answers!!!
:-)