Buddhism and Magical Powers

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

.....but then, what people experienced in the above examples, might be 'something' we have very little handle on: a subject not really talked about.

I wasn't expecting an explanation to yesterday's 'Drop and Run ' by you but that's typical. Anyhow you may find this helpful to your understanding of Buddhism and ' Magic Amulets '


The Buddha considered such practices as fortune telling, wearing magic charms for protection, finding lucky sites for buildings, prophesising and fixing lucky days to be useless superstitions and he expressly forbade his disciples to practise such things. He called all these things ‘low arts’.



“Whereas some religious men, while living off food provided by the faithful make their living by such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood as palmistry, divining by signs, interpreting dreams, bringing about good or bad luck, picking the lucky site for a building, the monk Gotama refrains from such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood”.

Because of greed, fear and ignorance. As soon as people understand the Buddha’s teachings, they realise that a pure heart can protect them much better than bits of paper, bits of metal and a few chanted words and they no longer rely on such things. In the teachings of the Buddha, it is honesty, kindness, understanding, patience, forgiveness, generosity, loyalty and other good qualities that truly protect you and give you true prosperity.


Your Buddhist Wife/Daughter and Family will explain the reasons behind these Teachings and what ' Low arts ' mean.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

It was his individual Thankgas.

People claim they can not feel energy but if they go to some sacred sited such as Stonehenge, they claim they can. People also claim they feel this person or that person is negative or positive. Is that not feeling energy?

Feeling an Aura, is that not energy?

What about a Chakra?

Or maybe a Vortex?

Did they ever do energy work?

And what about feeling the love energy radiating from their love ones?

Not everyone has to do energy work.. Some just open up naturally which can be very confusing for them.

All those things have energy I would agree. If you feel energy from the amulet.. very cool.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

As for amulets, feel the energy, if you can, from an amulet just made.

Then feel the same amulet after a monk has 'blessed it'.

The energy is very strong. That is why some amulets are worth a whole lot more then other amulets.

I would say it depends on the depth of the monk. Some have energy, some don't.

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

I would say it depends on the depth of the monk. Some have energy, some don't.

The concept of how a monk can turn an amulet just made into a powerful amulet such as one for protection or prosperity is a mystery. But that concept can be found in other belief systems.

From the website buddhanet.net we find:

"The Buddha considered such practices as fortune telling, wearing magic charms for protection, finding lucky sites for buildings, prophesising and fixing lucky days to be useless superstitions and he expressly forbade his disciples to practise such things. He called all these things 'low arts'.
"Whereas some religious men, while living off food provided by the faithful make their living by such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood as palmistry, divining by signs, interpreting dreams, bringing about good or bad luck, picking the lucky site for a building, the monk Gotama refrains from such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood"."

Buddhist amulets, blessed by monks, is a common practice in and outside Buddhist dominate countries. How can this be?

If you look, amulets are also used by other religions, for example Christianity. Some Christians claim those who wear crosses, pendants of saints, have statues of Jesus and saints, etc. are not Christians. Ironically, some Buddhists claim these practices are acceptable in the Christian realm while claiming such practices are NOT acceptable in the Buddhist realm. This strange type of thinking should be re-examined.

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

The concept of how a monk can turn an amulet just made into a powerful amulet such as one for protection or prosperity is a mystery. But that concept can be found in other belief systems.

From the website buddhanet.net we find:

"The Buddha considered such practices as fortune telling, wearing magic charms for protection, finding lucky sites for buildings, prophesising and fixing lucky days to be useless superstitions and he expressly forbade his disciples to practise such things. He called all these things 'low arts'.
"Whereas some religious men, while living off food provided by the faithful make their living by such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood as palmistry, divining by signs, interpreting dreams, bringing about good or bad luck, picking the lucky site for a building, the monk Gotama refrains from such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood"."

Buddhist amulets, blessed by monks, is a common practice in and outside Buddhist dominate countries. How can this be?

If you look, amulets are also used by other religions, for example Christianity. Some Christians claim those who wear crosses, pendants of saints, have statues of Jesus and saints, etc. are not Christians. Ironically, some Buddhists claim these practices are acceptable in the Christian realm while claiming such practices are NOT acceptable in the Buddhist realm. This strange type of thinking should be re-examined.

It's good to see you have read a Buddhist Teaching




“They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans” (Isaiah 2:6, NIV). The Bible further warns us, “In that day, the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes [and] amulets” (Isaiah 3:18-20, NAS).

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

The concept of how a monk can turn an amulet just made into a powerful amulet such as one for protection or prosperity is a mystery. But that concept can be found in other belief systems.

From the website buddhanet.net we find:

"The Buddha considered such practices as fortune telling, wearing magic charms for protection, finding lucky sites for buildings, prophesising and fixing lucky days to be useless superstitions and he expressly forbade his disciples to practise such things. He called all these things 'low arts'.
"Whereas some religious men, while living off food provided by the faithful make their living by such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood as palmistry, divining by signs, interpreting dreams, bringing about good or bad luck, picking the lucky site for a building, the monk Gotama refrains from such low arts, such wrong means of livelihood"."

Buddhist amulets, blessed by monks, is a common practice in and outside Buddhist dominate countries. How can this be?

If you look, amulets are also used by other religions, for example Christianity. Some Christians claim those who wear crosses, pendants of saints, have statues of Jesus and saints, etc. are not Christians. Ironically, some Buddhists claim these practices are acceptable in the Christian realm while claiming such practices are NOT acceptable in the Buddhist realm. This strange type of thinking should be re-examined.

Not really a mystery. It is just a transmission with intent.

People can give power to objects that don't have any real energy to them just based on belief alone. That is not the same thing.

Also, if you notice the list you mentioned is still at the local mind level, stuff people can get trapped in/caught up in and is not at the level of what the Buddha taught or tried to share.

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by sky123

It's good to see you have read a Buddhist Teaching




“They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans” (Isaiah 2:6, NIV). The Bible further warns us, “In that day, the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes [and] amulets” (Isaiah 3:18-20, NAS).

But he didn't take away any of those things... so what does that mean?

Sounds more like those people bad, we good mentality..

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

Not really a mystery. It is just a transmission with intent.

People can give power to objects that don't have any real energy to them just based on belief alone. That is not the same thing.

Also, if you notice the list you mentioned is still at the local mind level, stuff people can get trapped in/caught up in and is not at the level of what the Buddha taught or tried to share.

The point I was trying to say was: some Buddhist believe amulets is okay in Christianity while claiming it is wrong in Buddhism.


In Buddhism, I never knew a monk that was not involved with amulets.

You might ask yourself why do Temples have statues of Buddha, etc.?

As been said or implied: are virtually all Buddhists who have amulets, etc. not really Buddhist and can that be said to be true also of Christians?

[sky]

Originally Posted by jonesboy

But he didn't take away any of those things... so what does that mean?

Sounds more like those people bad, we good mentality..

I'm not understanding what your referring to, explain please

[jonesboy]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

The point I was trying to say was: some Buddhist believe amulets is okay in Christianity while claiming it is wrong in Buddhism.


In Buddhism, I never knew a monk that was not involved with amulets.

You might ask yourself why do Temples have statues of Buddha, etc.?

As been said or implied: are virtually all Buddhists who have amulets, etc. not really Buddhist and can that be said to be true also of Christians?

I am not really sure why you are addressing this to me.

I have no issues with amulets. Could not a cross be said to be the same thing?