XPost: alt.philosophy.zen, alt.religion.buddhism.tibetan, alt.zen   
   From: peter@dharma.dyn-o-saur.com   
      
   What is Buddhism?   
   Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight   
   into the true nature of reality. Buddhist   
   practices like meditation are means of changing yourself in order to develop   
   the qualities of awareness, kindness, and   
   wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands   
   of years has created an incomparable   
   resource for all those who wish to follow a path — a path which ultimately   
   culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood. An   
   enlightened being sees the nature of reality absolutely clearly, just as it   
   is, and lives fully and naturally in accordance with   
   that vision. This is the goal of the Buddhist spiritual life, representing the   
   end of suffering for anyone who attains it.   
      
   Because Buddhism does not include the idea of worshiping a creator god, some   
   people do not see it as a religion in the   
   normal, Western sense. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are   
   straightforward and practical: nothing is fixed or   
   permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. So Buddhism   
   addresses itself to all people irrespective of race,   
   nationality, caste, sexuality, or gender. It teaches practical methods which   
   enable people to realize and use its teachings in   
   order to transform their experience, to be fully responsible for their lives.   
      
   ~   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)