https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/60122/jewish/Is-Buddhism-Kosher.htm
Today, this refinement process is extending to Buddhism. Many Jews began their spiritual trek with the path of Buddha and continued by discovering their own heritage in Torah. A twofold process occurs: Buddhism has evolved more in the past thirty years than in all its history before, to the point that what is presented today in America as Buddhism is already more Jewish than it is Buddhist. And, secondly, when those practicing "Jubus" return to Jewish practice, they reject those aspects that are anathematic to Torah, while making good use of those aspects that are complimentary.
Many of the Buddhist practices and world-concepts are in direct opposition to the Torah concept of singular Divine providence. When it comes to Tibetan rites, for example, Shamanism abounds. Even if the intellectual Buddhist conceives of these notions in a highly abstract fashion, they are still the notions of idolatry against which our father Abraham struggled. For a Jew to burn incense in front of a statue is horrifying, no matter what he will say are his inner intents. Similarly, the proclamation, "In Buddha I find refuge" is a catastrophe for the Jewish soul.
Their philosophy is interesting, but also can go against Torah.
ReplyDeleteIt may be necessary to empty our desires of this world every now and then, but the Torah only prescribed 1 day of fasting and restricting physical desires.
According to the Ramban, the verse (Vayikra 19:20) “Kedoshim Te’heyu”, “And you shall be holy”, is a Mitzva mandate to abstain from excessively indulging in physical pleasures; even though these pleasures may be legally permissible according to the Torah.
ReplyDeleteit is 19:2 , perhaps you mistyped
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, hareidim seem to think there is no prohibition to rape children, since it is not explict in the Torah, or even if it is, they seem to think the Talmud permits it.
And they still think they are more kadosh than secular, traditional, MO, or even Sephardi Jews.
Nop0e
ReplyDeleteI should correct what I said.
ReplyDeleteBeing overly frum may have negative consequences. For example, keeping kashrus 1000% more than the most basic requirement (eg Ben gurion airport hechsher basic) does not justify committing arayos, and other chamuros.
Thank you for the correction (19:2).
ReplyDeleteI will not respond to the rest of your slanderous comment.
Thank you for your tochecha.
ReplyDeleteThe Taz disagrees to some extent, as does the rambam and the Yerushalmi.
Taz said that what the Torah explicitly permits, the rabbis cannot forbid.
Yerushalmi asks isn't it enough what the Torah forbids, that I should add more restrictions? Rambam codifies this in Deot.
I've also heard that ramban holds that animals are not aware of any pain. But rambam disagrees, says they are very emotional beings and have strong feelings and awareness.
ReplyDeleteThere is no shitah on who to agree with, sometimes one side sounds more convincing, and sometimes the other.
The title is ridiculous. It is avodah zarah.
ReplyDeleteSo there are some similarities, yes, they use spices, and we use ketoret.
They (authors) shoudl stop trying to synthesize 2 religions, and think they have Torah.
Irrelevant to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteIt's a follow up to my comment about the Rambam and the Taz.
ReplyDeleteActually, your comment is also irrelevant to the discussion of Buddhism.
A person can restrict themselves from the pleasures of this world if it allows him to feel he's fulfilling the will of the Creator by showing this restraint. Problem is, too many people think that everyone should show such restraints.
ReplyDeleteIs chabad kosher? Chabad is simply another branch of Christianity (with the name of their saviour changed) rather than anything relevant to Judaism.
ReplyDelete