I'm working as IT support and im a Tibetan Buddhist I work in a company in Bandar Utama and has been Buddhist since young and i have always been attracted to Tibetan Buddhism since i was young. My parents are Theravarda with a bit of Mahayana.

cool brah, let me guess... your guru is Tsem Tulku Rinpoche?

yep how did you know? what do you think about him?

he's a cool guru in my opinion and also based on my friend's description and the many videos posted.

damansara, nobody in tibetan buddhism as popular as him, berah.

i'm not into tibetan buddhism though.

He is very strict when it comes to actual practice tho. And very direct.

which flavor of buddhism do you subscribe to?

Theravada by convention but i'm very open to the many schools of thought, a venerable calls it Hahayana.. heard of it?

here http://diydharma.org/which-yana-hahayana-ajahn-brahmavamso

This post has been edited by hotjake: Oct 11 2011, 10:48 AM

sounds like Buddhist Gem fellowship member

but its good to explore your options

not a member but i've been there for talks before. i'm not seeking for options but better understanding, i find the many traditions complement each other rather than contradict. my attitude is simple - if i'm closed to other teachings, i'm an idiot who doesn't want to learn about the truth

This post has been edited by hotjake: Oct 11 2011, 11:02 AM

but if you practice them all its gonna be confusing at the end, each path is the right path but you cant take more than one at the same time.

thats what Tibetan Buddhism says anyway, its pretty much serious and heavy when it comes to Dharma

what's so confusing...? the fundamental practice is the same, methods different. and it is humanly impossible to practice all things. take what works for you... u ain't doing it wrong, neither am i.

other traditions have their fair share of seriousness and heaviness when it comes to dharma if you care to explore more than what is perceived or on face value.

one example i can give u is the meditation methods. many of the kasinas meditation are actually categorised as samatha meditation in theravada, which brings to calm and absorption. i find the many mantras are similar in this goal, although it require invoking the various deities of the mantras. the methods different... if Buddha was adamant and strict that his 6 years of dera sendiri practice is the way, he wouldn't have achieved nirvana, would he?

click the link i gave u and listen till the part where this venerable was having discussions with monks from different traditions

This post has been edited by hotjake: Oct 11 2011, 11:33 AM

in tibetan buddhism its more like you focus and put all your energies in one method. the past sages have always been saying that having too many practices and not focusing in any will result in nothing in the end.

yep going serious in the Dharma requires conviction, maturity and commitment. It's pretty scary but im working towards there.

i think u got me wrong, when doing practice proper we need to go with one method u're most well-versed with. read my edited explanation again. and if can. listen to the link i gave u if u don know i'm getting at

This post has been edited by hotjake: Oct 11 2011, 11:37 AM

Yep all mantras are the same and all the Buddhas and deities are the manifestation of the Buddha himself but due to our delusions and needs we see him as different things. But the usages of Mantras, Sadhanas (practices/methods) differ in Tibetan Buddhism a little. Meditation on a deity or using the mantra is to plant seeds in our minds and also shape our minds to be that of the meditation deity and not to just attain calm and absorption. You can take on the qualities of the particular Buddha you focus on when done correctly and over a period of time.

If the Buddha was not adamant in finding the answers and after 6 years he said "forget it, im going back to the palace" or if he said "im done with hinduism, lets try jainism next", we wont have anything at all

yes it is that attitude we should adopt when practising. try listen to the link till the end if u can and maybe u can see where i'm coming from.

This post has been edited by hotjake: Oct 11 2011, 11:45 AM

I agree with this fully

How abt ppl that trust but not fully follow Buddhism?
eg: These may learn something basic during kid/teenage when attend junior class but nvr go into full practice when grow up. There believe what there learn just there nvr full practice it.

What are there consider as? Follower/Believer/other?

don't have to be follower/believer. all you need to do is do more studies, research, practice and see your practice bear fruits and see how it affects you as a human being. if it's good and you like it, continue and delve deeper. it doesn't require blind faith/belief. that will come once your practice has established your firm confidence in the teachings.

if merely trust... the result is only trust and maybe some happiness knowing you trust and have faith in something. if u're happy to stop just there, nothing further can be gained experience wise i mean. if buddha only believe that he will become buddha one day and not go thru all the practice and countless trails and tribulations, can he become the buddha and pass on all his teachings?

all the rituals are just rituals. if you practice properly, the rituals that supposed and officially recognise you as a buddhist is not that important. wasn't required/demanded by Buddha at all. Buddha only ask you to come and test his teachings yourself. no blind faith is needed, much less encouraged

This post has been edited by hotjake: Oct 11 2011, 12:17 PM

if you dont practice what you have learnt its more or less useless as it cant help you at all...

good morning brothers