I’m not sure if this is the right place to put this, but here goes:
I’ve recently been digging very seriously into Buddhism, both as a practice and as a religion, on a level I’ve never done before, and I am stunned by how remarkably compatible it is with Paganism. The original early Buddhist texts have such a fascinating view of the old gods (specifically the Hindu ones but it extends to all of them). Maybe I’m just late to the party though? lol
I’m curious if anyone else here is familiar with this? Have you tried blending any Buddhist-style rituals or philosophy with your own practice?
Because I am dead serious when I say that I’m considering it! By a weird series of events, my spiritual path seems to now be pointing in this direction anyway…
That soooo makes sense to me. I have studied religions on my own (not “officially”) for decades and my conclusion is, “we are all working to the same destination, just on different paths to get there.” That is my conclusion for all religions. If the spirit moves you to that pantheon, more power to you!!! Way to go Wren!!!
A lot would also depend on which sect of buddhism too.
In Japan, for example, Buddhism is associated with the dead, for it is for funerals.
The use Shinto for life/living abd buddhism for death/the after life.
Hey Red, I wondered if you’d be familiar with this!
I find myself most drawn to Theravada Buddhism and Southeast Asia… especially Thailand and Cambodia right now. I am also interested in Nepal though it’s not clear to me what sect they are. I may read more into Tibetan Buddhism too. I’m not fully decided yet.
It is curious you mention that about the dead. When I think about it, these two new deities showed up at a time when I really thought I was going to be facing my mother’s death over the holidays, so that was an element to the happenings… interesting.
Looking at your posts about Buddhism, I need to make a comment. Not related to Buddhism, but yesterday while walking at a strip mall, I went into DDs Discount (never been there before). Five dollars apiece, I bought these books, The Egyptian Book of the Dead; US constitution of the United States of America and other founding documents; Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu; Dandelion medicine; and Stoicism 101. I’m starting with Book of the Dead.
Cool, Sedim! That’s awesome. JuBu by itself sounds kinda like a martial art lol. I’m starting to get the impression that every religion may have blended with Buddhism on some level. I guess that’s not surprising considering how old and profound it is!
I am not sure how to address this issue. Sound scary, but you seem to have a handle on it. I have only had issues with a familiar, but not scary nor dramatic like that!! What an experience!!! You always think “yeah, right”, like you say, until it happens!!! My strength is reaching out to you today!
I became familiar with various forms of Buddhism, Taoism, and a number of other ism’s years ago when I was a student of Kriya Yoga. I think if more people were open to blending spiritual practices instead of putting up walls… forgive me my fantasies. I can’t imagine my life without the bits and bobs I have incorporated into my daily practices from Buddhism and a number of other religions. My whole-hearted advice would be to go for it!
Kriya Yoga looks like a very cool practice, I’m definitely going to check it out. That’s great that you got so much out of it!
Edit - And I know what you’re getting at. We could all use a little more love and understanding when it comes to seeing the independent ways people choose to practice.
I try to incorporate some Buddhist philosophy into my life and practice. I would like to revisit some of the tenets and other practices around meditation and working through the mental blocks that keep the mind stuck and from reaching higher points. To me, that is the biggest benefit of Buddhism; but that could also be said of many other practices too.
It’s been said here but I’ll echo it too: you can find many truths and similarities in many different religious and spiritual practices globally - we are all going towards the same thing but on different paths.
It’s really interesting to compare some of their practices with western traditions and ideas around personal growth too. At times it reminds me of alchemy. The way I see they build shrines/altars and present their offerings to the Buddha or a Boddhisatva, it reminds me so much of Wiccan or a high magick ritual - just from the fact that they combine elements, symbols of female and male energy, the use of color symbolically, etc. etc.
I’m hoping I’m not committing any horrible taboos by making these observations, I know that the Buddhist practices are much more nuanced, complex and unique than making simple comparisons. These are just the musings of a beginner.
(Sorry it’s taken me a while to get back to our conversation! It’s taken me a while to put together a succinct reply lol.)
No worries, I wasn’t really expecting advice. I just wanted to share that experience because I’d been holding onto it for about 2 months and I finally understood enough to explain it properly! Trust me, I spent a long time just figuring out if they were safe in the beginning. (I was ah… a little on edge lol!) That trust has been growing rapidly as I’ve experienced their natures and seen how they work… so I don’t believe there’s reason to worry.
They apparently don’t mind the spirits I was familiar with - my ancestors and my familiar have all returned. It’s just my old gods that have remained gone. Also, to clarify, what scared me about their entrance was not any sense of evil, it was the intensity of their energy - it literally felt like a cosmic giant was shoved into my space. I’d never felt anything like it.
Thank you again Lady Gene, I appreciate it!
P.S.: For any who are curious, these are the two gods: Avalokiteśvara/Lokeśvara and Shiva/Maheśvara. There is still a chance I might be off, but I’m feeling quite confident it’s these two. If you read about them, you’ll understand why their energy felt off the charts!
Hakuna Matata (no worries), I am glad that it is okay over there with y’all. Intensity! so that’s what it was. Sounds awesome, in many different ways. I am so glad that no-one is scared!
right now. LOL
You always think “yeah, right”, like you say, until it happens!!! My strength is reaching out to you today!
