>"Steven Brust" <skzb at dreamcafe.com> wrote: > > >Rubbish. Anyone who has even studied Japanese karate knows that there is >belief in, and certainly reverence for, superhuman powers in Buddhism. >Indeed, Buddhism, more than any other region that comes to mind, is all >*about* supernatural powers, revering them, and how to get them for >yourself. Really? And though I have to agree about the "supernatural" powers thing, or at least about Buddhist believing in them, I thought Buddhism was (or at least traditional Buddhism is) *about* reaching a state of Nirvana and ending the cycle of birth-death-rebirth. I also thought that unless you were "Pure Land" Buddhist you generally believed that once you reach this state of Nirvana you simply become part of the energy that flows through the cosmos, and then, emmm you simply cease to exist. (the "white stage" or "Buddhist plane" if you will, and if you are into meditation. Though, through meditation this it is difficult stage to reach or keep for more than a short period.) Furthermore, I also was under the impression that even Pure Land Buddhist only go to their "paradise" for a short time where Amita Buddha along with Bodhisattvas help these souls in this comforting environment until they reach their state of Nirvana as well. The only place I can think of where Buddhism would be about super-natrual powers and how to "revering them, and how to get them for yourself..." would be in the belief in karma, and then, this as I understand it, is only so that one will be reborn into a better rebirth. My understanding is also, that monks, who are supposed to have fuller dharma bodies than the rest of us work with things such as loyalty and self-sacrifice to reach states of "wisdom", and as I see it "wisdom" and "power" are two completely different things. Lastly, though Buddhism may not be an atheistic religion in all essence and as it has been defined here, (because they do believe in Bodhisattvas, Therevada Buddhist even believe in a hell before rebirth if you have acquired more bad karma than good, (and more bad karma then would simply force the cycle to cause you to have a life that is "worse off" than before) and Buddhist also worship Buddha-- but as a man, not in his dharma form), in all essence Buddhism "can be" considered a poly-theological OR an atheistic religion because the goal is to "cease to exist" not enter some heaven, and there is no omniscient power over looking them all, not even Guatama Buddha. Though of course, I am probably wrong as I am not a Buddhist. :) :) :) _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus