Questions for Buddhists

[Rootbeer]

Internet friends, I am doing a research paper on Buddhism and I would be interested in hearing from any Buddhists on some questions. I'm not really looking for hyperlinks. I have lots of those. What are your personal thoughts/feelings/beliefs on the following:

What are the important holidays and/or traditions of Buddhism?

How has Buddhism shaped your life?

What are the challenges, if any, to practicing Buddhism?

According to Buddhism what is the nature of the soul?

What occurs after death?

What components of our current existence will transfer to our next existence?

Are enlightened beings cognizant of previous lives?

Are enlightened beings concerned with the affairs of the living?

Are enlightened beings able to influence the physical world in which you and I live?

Are souls and intelligences still being organized/created, or are there a fixed number of souls in the world?

Is Buddhism an inclusive or exclusive religion? In other words, are there requirements for membership (Tithes, ordinances, participation, etc.?)

Is Buddhism the only path to eternal truth, or one of many paths leading to eternal truth?

[Johnny Bold]

Given the lack of response - perhaps you might find something of interest in how The Urantia Book covers it ???

131:3 BUDDHISM
http://urantiabook.org/newbook/papers/p131.htm

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

...Urantia...

Ahhhh....the kooky, new-age saucer cult.

I can't wait for their next issue:

"Kool-Aid and Comets: What Flavour Is Right For Your Next Suicide Pact?"

[Johnny Bold]

...Urantia...

Ahhhh....the kooky, new-age saucer cult.

I can't wait for their next issue:

"Kool-Aid and Comets: What Flavour Is Right For Your Next Suicide Pact?"

I prolly should call you a Moron, but if you know anything about The Urantia Book - that would just get you to wonder, 'why would tl go and make reference to my next life, while I keep playing at being the complete a_hole.

[Dr_Phibes]

I've always thought it remarkable that bundle theory goes back to the Buddhists. Whether they were the first to articulate it - not a clue:

'O Brethren, actions do exist and also their consequences, but the person that acts does not. There is no one to cast away this set of elements, and no one to assume a new set of them. There exists no individual, it is only a conventional name given to a set of elements'.

- Buddha.

[Rootbeer]

Given the lack of response - perhaps you might find something of interest in how The Urantia Book covers it ???

131:3 BUDDHISM
http://urantiabook.org/newbook/papers/p131.htm

Why would you direct me to the urantia book when the thread is clearly about Buddhism? I appreciate the reply, but I don't understand why you're pimping The Secret..errr...The Urantia Book in this fora.

[Johnny Bold]

Why would you direct me to the urantia book when the thread is clearly about Buddhism? I appreciate the reply, but I don't understand why you're pimping The Secret..errr...The Urantia Book in this fora.

Again:
- perhaps you might find something of interest in how The Urantia Book covers it ???

or not

Either way, it's all good.

[scanner]

A Buddhist asked me if I could answer the question, "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

I said yes. The sound of one hand clapping is a slap in the face; and that is what you need to get some sense knocked into you and quit messing around with this dead end religion.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

RACK the resurrection of Norm.

[upstart]

Could Buddha microwave a burrito so hot he couldn't eat it?

[trev]

Rooty wanted us to do his homework?