Are there any Polish buddhists?

hey, I was going to say something along those lines exactly!!! as for being familiar with all sutras and other buddhist text - no, I've not yet read everything, nor have I claimed that I have, but I hope to read and study most of it in the years I have left on this earth....I will be happy to respond to you or anyone, but not if you get aggressive or abusive....it's just not helpful, or pleasant....

Muzyka, yes, that's a beautiful attitude - 'to read and study [the sutras] in the years I have left on this earth.' Keep it up, never lose!

All right, now I'm shutting up.

most 'catholics' haven't even picked up the bible to read it never mind start to finish! only what they hear in the church and then they claim 'to know' the bible

namaste (hindi greeting i know but sentiments are the same)

I knew one. I like Buddhists because they tend not to start wars in the name of their religion. If I was forced to adopt a religion then it would probably be Buddhism that I would choose.

although it's commonly seen as a religion, it actually isn't.....Buddhism has no dogma, no higher power or "god" who will save you (or punish you for that matter)......you are ultimately responsible for your own salvation, which is not very consoling for most people who want to believe they will be "saved" if they just believe (or appear to believe etc.,)....you're right, many wars have been initiated in the name of "religion" and "god".....

things are ok.....I'm enjoying the beautiful autumn weather that is so typical of melbourne.....as for not knowing much about buddhism, I think we're all learning.....

Right, Muzyka, this is exactly what makes these conversions so problematic. The 'western mind' always calculates what is better etc, and doesn't just jump into something unless it is 'worth it'. These can work in very scary ways (as in Pascal's gambit or Kalama Sutra). And all the calculations are just more or less complicated reasonings, 'mind-understandings'. And the western way is 'the harder you try, the closer you get'. So, it seems to me, any westerner has to have a target, something he wants to achieve via 'eastern ways' that comes from his western self. Therefore he is treating eastern practice as a 'set of exercises', just some means to his western ends.

Would you say than, that even starting with western end in mind, proper practice can make him a Buddhist along the way?

yes, for sure, because if you start on the journey with sincerity (to study and learn) you'll soon begin to understand it on a completely new level and eventually you'll find that all that "western" stuff will start to disintegrate and become irrelevant.....this is the process of transformation. It takes time, but the rewards from meditation and Buddhist practice are what people are always searching for but failing to find = happiness and inner peace.....so, why don't you just go ahead and BEGIN.....that's the best advice I can give you.......:)

You are of course absolutely correct. Sloppy language on my part.

not really szarlotka - most people wouldn't know that, so don't feel badly......

Muzyka,

see what happens when you send everybody 'the eastern path'?

Nobody is talking anymore!

Hope you are enjoying nice weather this Easter,

Bruno

Bruno, so you've sent everybody 'the eastern path' Would this mean you've sent moi, Puzzler, there just as well? If so, then exactly how? Do you suggest that your sending everybody 'the eastern path' has caused that 'nobody is talking anymore'? If yes, would you explain what you mean? Hm, and do you, bruno, practice a lot?

hi Bruno, I just read this and I'm trying to work out what you meant.....did you mean that no-one is talking because they're all contemplating the truth??

Hi Muzyka, good to hear from you again. That's what I meant, joking here a little.