Islam and Buddhism - almost direct opposites!

[enceladus]

Hi all -

Although, I am an atheist, I've mentioned many times that I have a fondness for Buddhism.
In particular, there are some really good quotes by Buddha . These are two of my favourites -

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
- Buddha

"In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true."
- Buddha

Those two quotes show that Buddhism is almost the direct opposite of Islam.

Buddhism says - "Use your brain! Be sceptical! Don't believe something just because it was Buddha who said it."
Islam says - "Believe! The Quran is the word of Allah, and if you do not believe, you are doomed!"

Buddhism says - "People create distinctions and divisions where none are necessary".
Islam says - "There is Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb. House of Islam and House of War."

What contrasts! See the goodness and kindness promoted in Buddhism, and the HATRED AND DIVISION promoted by Islam.
- enceladus

[FinallyFree]

I don't share your particular fondness for Buddhism but I do very much enjoy these quotes. The best religions (even though non are true to me) are those who encourage kindness and brotherly feeling among humans. In most world religions other than Islam the founder was often a charitable and decent figure, these founders are sometimes believed to have been the figments of imaginations (Jesus, Buddha etc) but they are usually very peaceful and have good intentions and ideas.

Muhammad sets Islam apart though because he was definitely real-why would anyone make up such a monster? And he was definitely a warlord, charlatan and horrible man....any half-decent things he ever said were stolen from others and never applied in his own life.

[elle]

enceladus, technically speaking although many people regard Buddhism as a religion, Buddhism, like Confucianism are only philosophies. Both these philosophies do not worship a god. They are philosophies.

Main Entry: philosophy
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: principles, knowledge
Synonyms:
aesthetics, attitude, axiom, beliefs, conception, convictions, doctrine, idea, ideology, logic, metaphysics, ontology, outlook, rationalism, reason, reasoning, system, tenet, theory, thinking, thought, truth, values, view, viewpoint, wisdom

Having made that definition, Buddhists do not subjugate themselves to a god, but they need to pay penance for their sins.

In Islam, the fundamental of Islam is to submit your will to Allah, and to obey Allah's commands. There are no commands in Buddhism, only codes of how to lead a good life.

[smarty84]

Islam is totally opposite to every religion on earth....Not only Bhudhism.

[elle]

smaety84, actually, Islam fits every definition of a repressive cult.

[Mujahid]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I will also let you know that I am a Muslim. I am here to only get the "other" side of the "story" so please, no rudeness because of my beliefs, I'm not here to fight or bicker. But I would like to here your arguments and proofs of some of the statements you have made i.e. "Islam fits EVERY definition of a cult". Please provide for me EVERY definition of the word cult and then provide FACTS from the Qur'an and/or Hadith that support those definitions if you could.

Thank You

[elle]

Welcome Mujahid to intelligent discussions based on facts. Are you a Sunni, Shia, or Ahmadi? Because it does make a difference how we answer your queries. You name means: "Meaning of the name MUJAHID : fighter" Regarding your question, here is a link:
http://www.religio.de/cudef.html

[IshraqiLight]

In many ways I think that Islam and Buddhism may not be as far apart on everything as some may believe. Have you seen "A Buddhist View of Islam", "Islamic-Buddhist Dialog" , and "Some Common Features of Islam and Buddhism: A Conversation with Snjezana Akpinar and Alex Berzin" on Alexander Berzins page?

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/ar ... ialog.html

The Dali Lama seems interested in Islamic and Buddhist dialogue as well and also points to the many areas of agreement:

See:
https://www.fonsvitae.com/OnlineStore/t ... dhism.aspx


"This is an important and pioneering book, which seeks to find common ground between the teachings of Islam and of Buddhism. It is my hope that on the basis of this common ground, followers of each tradition may come to appreciate the spiritual truths their different paths entail, and from this develop a basis for respect for each others’ practice and beliefs.This may not have occurred very often before, because there has been so little opportunity for real understanding between these two great traditions.This book attempts to set that right ... From a Buddhist point of view, the practice of Islam is evidently a spiritual path of salvation. "
— His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Speaking of the book "Common Ground Between Islam and Buddhism" by Reza Shah Kazemi, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and introduced by HH The 14th Dalai Lama.

[fakknows]

In many ways I think that Islam and Buddhism may not be as far apart on everything as some may believe. Have you seen "A Buddhist View of Islam", "Islamic-Buddhist Dialog" , and "Some Common Features of Islam and Buddhism: A Conversation with Snjezana Akpinar and Alex Berzin" on Alexander Berzins page?

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/ar ... ialog.html

The Dali Lama seems interested in Islamic and Buddhist dialogue as well and also points to the many areas of agreement:

See:
https://www.fonsvitae.com/OnlineStore/t ... dhism.aspx


"This is an important and pioneering book, which seeks to find common ground between the teachings of Islam and of Buddhism. It is my hope that on the basis of this common ground, followers of each tradition may come to appreciate the spiritual truths their different paths entail, and from this develop a basis for respect for each others’ practice and beliefs.This may not have occurred very often before, because there has been so little opportunity for real understanding between these two great traditions.This book attempts to set that right ... From a Buddhist point of view, the practice of Islam is evidently a spiritual path of salvation. "
— His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Speaking of the book "Common Ground Between Islam and Buddhism" by Reza Shah Kazemi, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, and introduced by HH The 14th Dalai Lama.

But accoring to islam Dalai lama and the rest of the buddhists are going to hell, because they dont believe in Allah.

'The Dali Lama seems interested in Islamic and Buddhist dialogue as well and also points to the many areas of agreement:' Id say going to hell forever is a Major area of debate that needs to be discussed with the buddhists, then i think the many areas of agreement will vaporise.

[Muhammad bin Lyin]

Pretty much.

[Muhammad bin Lyin]

"This is an important and pioneering book, which seeks to find common ground between the teachings of Islam and of Buddhism. It is my hope that on the basis of this common ground, followers of each tradition may come to appreciate the spiritual truths their different paths entail, and from this develop a basis for respect for each others’ practice and beliefs.

Sounds great!!! It's a shame the Quran can't play along.

85. And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers.

This may not have occurred very often before, because there has been so little opportunity for real understanding between these two great traditions.

Hmmmmmm........One involves mysticism, the other is nothing more than common uneducated desert tribal wisdom. The Quran is as deep as a baby pool.

This book attempts to set that right ... From a Buddhist point of view, the practice of Islam is evidently a spiritual path of salvation. "
— His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Yes, because BUDDHISM teaches that each person has their own path that is most appropriate for them, but that's not what Islam teaches at all.

Not only that, it tells us this:
8:39 (Y. Ali) And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

I suppose "cease" means to stop contesting Islam and submit to it's will. You don't have to be a Muslim, but if you don't want to be, you must still submit to Islamic law, and pay a tax that is designed to be humiliating, humbling and submissive

[sarang qazi]

If dalai lama said that then he must be drunk or must not be having complete knowledge of islam. And I can say that about him bacause buddha said

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
- Buddha

But can I point out about muhammed? Noooo... why beacause the sissy muslims are way too sensitive about him. No mater if he was a rapist, a pedophile, a warmonger.. You do not say a word about him.

Dalai lama is an exceptionally learned man. I read the book called destructive emotions that was authored by daniel goleman in which there is a dialogue between both upon psychology. The only reason dalai lama would say such a thing abut islam is because he is a pacifist and would not want to spread hate. However muslims are going to use it as a proof of islams validity and suck up dalai lamas blood until he converts. That is all they want, supremacy of islam...

[Wootah]

If dalai lama said that then he must be drunk or must not be having complete knowledge of islam. And I can say that about him bacause buddha said

"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."
- Buddha

But can I point out about muhammed? Noooo... why beacause the sissy muslims are way too sensitive about him. No mater if he was a rapist, a pedophile, a warmonger.. You do not say a word about him.

Dalai lama is an exceptionally learned man. I read the book called destructive emotions that was authored by daniel goleman in which there is a dialogue between both upon psychology. The only reason dalai lama would say such a thing abut islam is because he is a pacifist and would not want to spread hate. However muslims are going to use it as a proof of islams validity and suck up dalai lamas blood until he converts. That is all they want, supremacy of islam...

Religious and political leaders have kow-towed to Islam for too long to all our detriment.

[sarang qazi]

Religious and political leaders have kow-towed to Islam for too long to all our detriment.

Exactly...

[mooseburger]

Dalai lama is an exceptionally learned man. I read the book called destructive emotions that was authored by daniel goleman in which there is a dialogue between both upon psychology. The only reason dalai lama would say such a thing abut islam is because he is a pacifist and would not want to spread hate. However muslims are going to use it as a proof of islams validity and suck up dalai lamas blood until he converts. That is all they want, supremacy of islam...

I respect this man for his knowledge as well as for what he's been doing throughout his life, but I find it irresponsible for him to use his influence to portray Islam as a good religion. He has tremendous influence on people and stating Islam as such would have detriment effect on people. True, he is a pacifist but, the doesn't mean he has to paint rosy picture of Islam which is, in fact, dangerous to humanity. Buddha himself castigated those practices that is harmful. If he believes speaking out against Islam would instigate hatred among people and would ensue bloodshed, he should silent about it.

[BurgeoningKnowledge]

Dalai lama is an exceptionally learned man. I read the book called destructive emotions that was authored by daniel goleman in which there is a dialogue between both upon psychology. The only reason dalai lama would say such a thing abut islam is because he is a pacifist and would not want to spread hate. However muslims are going to use it as a proof of islams validity and suck up dalai lamas blood until he converts. That is all they want, supremacy of islam...

I respect this man for his knowledge as well as for what he's been doing throughout his life, but I find it irresponsible for him to use his influence to portray Islam as a good religion. He has tremendous influence on people and stating Islam as such would have detriment effect on people. True, he is a pacifist but, the doesn't mean he has to paint rosy picture of Islam which is, in fact, dangerous to humanity. Buddha himself castigated those practices that is harmful. If he believes speaking out against Islam would instigate hatred among people and would ensue bloodshed, he should silent about it.

Seems like the Dalai Lama and people here are direct opposites. Learn from his wisdom...

[Ansar al-Zindiqi]

From an old link that no longer works . . . .

Islam's War Against Buddhism

“Allahu Akbar”! The tinny P.A. system tore asunder the pre-dawn peace and quiet.

I was jolted in my mind, almost like experiencing a car wreck, suddenly and without any warning. This totally incongruous sound intruded upon and encompassed everything, causing even the birds to rustle in the darkness.

It was just after 4 a.m. I was seated underneath the holy Maha Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, in the state of Bihar in India. It was a few days past the full moon of May 2004, a few days past Veesak. This was my second visit to this unparalleled location, the site of the Lord Buddha’s attainment of full Enlightenment over 2,500 years ago. Now, towards the end of my 10 day stay, I had applied for and been granted the great honor of permission to spend the night within the Maha Bodhi compound.

My plan was to spend the entire night practicing seated meditation, walking meditation, and circumambulation of the great Maha Bodhi Stupa. The air was warm and my practice was going very well as I alternated between the three practices, as the hours passed.

The beautiful waning full moon light filtering through the glistening leaves of the Maha Bodhi Tree, the soft fluttering of the leaves, the serene quiet, took me back to that time long ago when the Buddha himself had sat very near this same exact spot.

Or so I thought…….

The mussein’s call to prayer for the faithful of Islam, here in this most sacred location to all of Buddhism, ripped me back to modern reality. I was stunned! How could this be? Here in one of the most significant spots of Buddhism, loud speakers come on at four in the morning every day, to shock and intrude upon meditators and Buddhist practitioners using this spot for that which it has to offer in its most special way?

How could this be allowed? It is…

The Muslim call to prayer seemed to go on and on…..20 minutes to a half-hour later, the scratchy recording thankfully ended and quiet returned.

My concentration was thoroughly blown. Instead of following my breath, I found myself looking at the great distraction and paradox I had just experienced.

I thought about Mecca!

Could any other religion intrude itself there in the holiest of places to Islam, as the tenets of Islam had so intruded itself here in the holiest place of Buddhism?

No way! I could imagine immediate death being visited upon anyone that would even try – that is, if they would be admitted anywhere close to the Muslims’ holy Kabah – let alone be allowed to set up a loud public address system that would broadcast the message of another religion across the courtyards of the Grand Mosque, or any other Moslem religious site. The hypocrisy was astounding.

After awhile, I ceased to be so shocked and began to calm down. I began to see that this was merely a continuation of a long and sad trespass against Buddhism perpetrated by the faith of Islam.

In my previous visits to India, I had visited every site that was specific to the actual life of the Lord Buddha. At every location the pattern was the same: Just the partial foundations remaining of what had once been great Stupas or elaborate religious universities of Buddhist learning and practice. Even the place of the Buddha’s birth had been destroyed and buried, with modern day excavations only now giving some restoration.

I had learned from guides on location, and then from further studies once I returned home, that these locations had all been laid to waste in the early Moslem invasions of India, starting in the 900’s by Turkic hordes issuing forth from what is now Afghanistan, and continuing for over a thousand years until the Mughal era. A prolonged and calculated assault, an assault designed to wipe an entire belief, an entire religion, off the face of the Earth. The long history of Islam, being spread by the sword and by fire, had left its indelible mark on these wonderful peaceful, harmless, legacy sites of Buddhism.

I learned how the monks and nuns and religious students were slaughtered without mercy and piled up and burned, and all terrified survivors were driven like dry leaves before a strong wind, out of the region of India entirely, wherever this Islamic wind blew.

I was told this is how Buddhism actually came to Tibet and Southeast Asia, by Buddhists fleeing for their lives! My faith had been rendered a refugee faith via the tender mercies of Islam.

I learned how Islam was particularly unkind and brutal to Buddhists, because to Moslems the Buddhist represented the most reprehensible type of human personality: the “atheist” holding no monotheistic God image as their object of worship and veneration. We were worse even than the far more numerous Hindus, with their vast pantheon of multiple gods. The Buddhists, to the Muslims, only worshipped the image of a man, and no God higher.

Apparently they did not bother to look into the philosophies of Buddhism any more deeply. That was enough for the sword to come down and the fire to be applied. And so they have over the centuries until today.

I remember, some years back, before the gripping situations that we face today had quite come in to focus for many of us, I followed the story of the great Buddhas of Bamiyan, in sad and war torn Afghanistan. The Russian war was over, and the rein of the Taliban was in full force, but they were not content to merely rule the people with an iron hand by the strictest applications of Sharia law. They had to physically erase the “infidel” past, as well.

I remember shedding tears as I saw the footage of those magnificent Buddhas, the tallest ancient statues in the world, being reduced to rubble by explosive charges and artillery shells. I remembered hearing on the news footage, that same cry of “Allahu Akbar!” – as the dust of Bamiyan settled to reveal the emptiness of the destruction. The same cry that destroyed my meditative absorption under the Bodhi Tree.

Now, I pray we never hear this call in this our home, America. Not until and unless Islam totally and completely reforms itself after over a thousand years of ravaging and sweeping all others before it.

I feel, through my direct experiences of it, that Islam has not changed its ways in the least. In fact it has become more aggressive now than at any time since its period of greatest expansion in the 900s to the 1200s. “Modern” Islam seeks to return humanity to those very same times – a revival of the dark ages of Islamic slaughter, mayhem, and pillage – all in the name of Allah.

We Buddhists must realize that we, and our cherished practices, would be swept away entirely and crushed utterly, should Islam ever gain ascendancy in this world in which we live. Islam is the only belief that propagates itself thus – by the sword.

And it is very patient.

Satu.

[Psycho Bunny]

I regard the Dalai Lama as a piece of crap and in no way representative at all of Buddhist ideology.

[Ozes]

I regard the Dalai Lama as a piece of crap and in no way representative at all of Buddhist ideology.

I like Buddhism and everything they brought to the south asian civilizations, TIbet's religious system is a thing of beauty to me. But this Dalai Lama, i do not like. The Tibetan cause has almost faded away completely the last years, it had to make room within the Western liberal world as China became too great of an ally. Can't say i respect the guy, he tells the world nothing about the suffering of Tibet.

If he has the slightest clue he knows favoring Islam won't ever help. Just reading the quran will tell you that.

[tsrajesh]

I respect this man for his knowledge as well as for what he's been doing throughout his life, but I find it irresponsible for him to use his influence to portray Islam as a good religion.

The same thing happens in india.. (Again, Buddism is born out of india, and there are still a majority of hindus who consider Buddha as one of the avatars of vishnu).. painting islam as a "Peaceful Religion", the terrorists are a very tiny minority.. blah blah.. Eventhough most of these people do it only to prove that they are "secular" (A word that has lost its meaning in india.. Originally it used to be "Keeping religion separate from state/governance", but now it means "Anti-Hindu" / 'Pro-Muslim".. We have renamed it to "sickularism"), it is mostly due to the fact that these religions (Hinduism / Buddhism) have tolerance towards other's beliefs and try to see the good in every faith...