ramseyoptom wrote:And this is relevant in a discussion of Buddhism??

paarsurrey wrote:I think we may or we have to learn to co-exist peacefully, respecting one another, even when we differ; that is the beauty of the Truthful Religion.

paarsurrey wrote:

ramseyoptom wrote:And this is relevant in a discussion of Buddhism??

The discussion is about Buddha; not about Buddhism.

I defend the truthful Buddha; not Buddhism.

Beatsong wrote:

Peace, brother

paarsurrey wrote:

ramseyoptom wrote:And this is relevant in a discussion of Buddhism??

The discussion is about Buddha; not about Buddhism.

I defend the truthful Buddha; not Buddhism.

paarsurrey wrote:I don't think any worthwhile Atheistic or Agnostic society existed in the ancient in any large numbers. Had it been so? I would like to know status of women in those cultures or civilization. That is why sometimes I think that there was no worthwhile Atheist Agnostic culture anywhere in the world in the ancient times; might be no Atheist Agnostic existed in those times; and it might be simply a recent growth; please correct me if I am wrong. No disrespect intended; I am open to change and revise my opinion.

Thanks and regards

paarsurrey wrote:Board index ‹ Belief & Nonbelief ‹ Theism ‹ Other Religions & Belief Systems

I think it is proper forum to discuss about Buddha; so the relevance is obvious.

Obvious is self-evident, does not need any evidence; that is why it is called as such; we observe thousand of things in daily life that are self-evident or obvious.

Shrunk wrote:

paarsurrey wrote:Board index ‹ Belief & Nonbelief ‹ Theism ‹ Other Religions & Belief Systems

I think it is proper forum to discuss about Buddha; so the relevance is obvious.

Obvious is self-evident, does not need any evidence; that is why it is called as such; we observe thousand of things in daily life that are self-evident or obvious.

The Byzantine Greeks were Buddhists?

"Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelled Graeco-Buddhism, refers to the cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, which developed between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE in the area covered by the Indian sub-continent, and modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western border regions of modern India. It was a cultural consequence of a long chain of interactions begun by Greek forays into India from the time of Alexander the Great, carried further by the establishment of Indo-Greek rule in the area for some centuries, and extended during flourishing of the Hellenized empire of the Kushans.[citation needed] Greco-Buddhism influenced the artistic, and perhaps the spiritual development of Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, which represents one of the two main branches of Buddhism.[1] The Buddhist religious system was then adopted in Central and Northeastern Asia, from the 1st century CE, ultimately spreading to China, Korea and Japan."

AlohaChris wrote:..... world where humans are treated well by other humans because they're human.

paarsurrey wrote:

Shrunk wrote:

paarsurrey wrote:Board index ‹ Belief & Nonbelief ‹ Theism ‹ Other Religions & Belief Systems

I think it is proper forum to discuss about Buddha; so the relevance is obvious.

Obvious is self-evident, does not need any evidence; that is why it is called as such; we observe thousand of things in daily life that are self-evident or obvious.

The Byzantine Greeks were Buddhists?

I don't know much of history; I never claim to be a scholar; I am an ordinary man in the street.

But you may like to read the following entry on Byzantine Greeks and Buddhists from Wikipedia:

"Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelled Graeco-Buddhism, refers to the cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture and Buddhism, which developed between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE in the area covered by the Indian sub-continent, and modern Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western border regions of modern India. It was a cultural consequence of a long chain of interactions begun by Greek forays into India from the time of Alexander the Great, carried further by the establishment of Indo-Greek rule in the area for some centuries, and extended during flourishing of the Hellenized empire of the Kushans.[citation needed] Greco-Buddhism influenced the artistic, and perhaps the spiritual development of Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, which represents one of the two main branches of Buddhism.[1] The Buddhist religious system was then adopted in Central and Northeastern Asia, from the 1st century CE, ultimately spreading to China, Korea and Japan."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhism

There was some interaction between the two.

You may like to read the whole entry; no compuslion however

paarsurrey wrote:

AlohaChris wrote:..... world where humans are treated well by other humans because they're human.

You mean every human being should be respected by default? Please say in bold.

paarsurrey wrote:

Agrippina wrote:
What's wrong with men and women looking at each other?

Maybe you missed reading the reasnon/s Buddha had given in this connection, I quoted from Buddha; or should I quote it again for you? Please

paarsurrey wrote:@[color=#CC0000][b] HughMcB[/b][/color]

Buddha quoted again, as you asked for it:

"The Gospel of Buddha

The Bikkhu's Conduct toward Women

The bhikkhus came to the Blessed One and asked him: [1]
"O Tathagata, our Lord and Master,
what conduct toward women dost thou prescribe
to the samanas who have left the world?" [2]

And the Blessed One said: [3]

"Guard against looking on a woman. [4]

"If ye see a woman, let it be as though ye saw her not,
and have no conversation with her. [5]

"If, after all, ye must speak with her,
let it be with a pure heart,
and think to yourself,
'I as a samana will live in this sinful world
as the spotless leaf of the lotus,
unsoiled by the mud in which it grows.' [6]

"If the woman be old, regard her as your mother,
if young, as your sister,
if very young, as your child. [7]

"The samana who looks on a woman as a woman,
or touches her as a woman, has broken his vow
and is no longer a disciple of the Tathagata. [8]

"The power of lust is great with men,
and is to be feared withal;
take then the bow of earnest perseverance,
and the sharp arrow-points of wisdom. [9]

"Cover your heads with the helmet of right thought,
and fight wih fixed resolve against the five desires. [10]

"Lust beclouds a man's heart,
when it is confused with woman's beauty,
and the mind is dazed. [11]

"Better far with red-hot irons bore out both your eyes,
than encourage in yourself sensual thoughts,
or look upon a woman's form with lustful desires. [12]

"Better fall into the fierce tiger's mouth,
or under the sharp knife of the executioner,
than dwell with a woman and excite in yourself lustful thoughts. [13]

"A woman of the world is anxious to exhibit her form and shape,
whether walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping.
Even when represented as a picture,
she desires to captivate with the charms of her beauty,
and thus to rob men of their steadfast heart. [14]

"How then ought ye to guard yourselves? [15]

"By regarding her tears and her smiles as enemies,
her stooping form, her hanging arms, and her disentangled hair
as toils designed to entrap man's heart. [16]

"Therefore, I say, restrain the heart,
give it no unbridled license." [17]"

http://reluctant-messenger.com/gospel_b ... ter_33.htm

I think that helps

paarsurrey wrote:

AlohaChris wrote:..... world where humans are treated well by other humans because they're human.

You mean every human being should be respected by default? Please say in bold.