Meditating and including buddhist philosophy in your life without abandoning previous religious beliefs?

Question

Is there a way where someone (could meditate and take up certain Buddhist practices without initiation into Buddhism?

This is just a question to understand theory, not directed to be anything argumentative or offensive

Thank you and Peace!

Answer 1

For the sake of discussion, and (by searching Mi Yodeya) to try to answer from the Jewish perspective,

• This answer warns that certain practices (e.g. bowing) might be seen as "devotional".

• And this answer, that worshipping the Buddha or seeing him as God-like would be prohibited.

• This answer says,

  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.

  ... but it also (rightly or wrongly) claims that,

  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.

• These answers suggest that Judaism already has some forms/objects of meditation of its own.

Answer 2

From a Buddhist perspective that's fine. The Buddha gave his teachings in order to alleviate the sufferings of living beings, and last time I checked that includes everyone, not just Buddhists. If a non-Buddhist wants to take up certain aspects of Buddhist practices because they feel it will help them, then that is fine.

Are you wondering about any particular practice in particular?

Answer 3

I think we can split Buddhism in 3 different levels of commitment:

1. Meditation, Dana (charity) and basic Sila (precepts). In this level, you can easily keep any peaceful religion, you will benefit from meditation and people will feel you are slowly changing, more inclined to a spiritual life, usually your family/friends/priests/bishops etc. will not see it as a threat.

2. Lay Buddhist Life. Here you may have some conflicts depending on your religion and how orthodox you are. Lay buddhists may prostrate and take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. This is where your previous religion may tell you that you are turning your back on them.

3. The life of a monk/recluse.

So, as long as you commit to the first level, i.e: meditating; cultivating generosity; refraining from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and intoxicants, you should be fine with your current religion.

Problems will arise if you want to progress in the Buddha's teachings while keeping your current religion, but it is up to you; the path is there, it is your choice.

Answer 4

Monotheism falls under Sassatha Ditti. It is one of the two false views that prevents one from progressing in the path. Such beliefs are called Maggavarana Ditti. But it does not prevent the path to heavens. Then again, you don't really need Buddhism to reach heavens. But if Nibbana is what you are looking for, you have to give up Monotheism at some point. You won't get far as long as you cling to such a belief.

Buddha preached the Dhamma to non-Buddhists, but they gave up their false views once they've embraced the Dhamma. Nobody attained enlightenment while still retaining such misbeliefs. It's not even technically possible.

Answer 5

Buddhist training is around:

• Morality
• Development of a controlled mind
• Develop true understanding of reality and wisdom

There would be no religion which is incompatible with this.

Also, Buddhist meditation revolves around how to get out of stress and misery. Any religion will not be opposed to someone seeing a psychologist. Likewise, there is no issue with someone taking up Buddhist Meditation.

As you see things for yourself, any wrong views will be abandoned as you see things at the experiential level. The main thing is getting started, not worrying about theoretical aspects which you have not seen at the experiential level (In Buddhism, any theory not put into practice is of little use). What you see at the empirical level is what you should consider as reality (Dhamma). Also, care should be taken not to jump to conclusions when you have seen things partially, either at the experiential level or through logical deduction. You are in the best position to judge this when you have reached the final goal, i.e. liberation of your mind from stress.

Answer 6

There are a lot of Jewish Buddhists. There is even a slang term for it (Jewbu or Jubu).

Wikipedia's Jewish Buddhist article says.

A large demographic of Jewish Buddhists, constituting its majority, still maintain religious practices and beliefs in Judaism coupled with Buddhist practices and perhaps beliefs.

Since most Buddhists do not consider the Buddha to have been a "god", Jewish Buddhists do not consider Buddhist practice to be "worship". In addition, many Buddhists (particularly Theravada Buddhists) do not "worship" the Buddha but instead "revere" and "express gratitude" for the Buddha's [...] accomplishment and compassionate teaching [...]. In Mahayana Buddhism (the dominant form of Buddhism in the world today), the Trikaya (three bodies) Doctrine, and praying to Buddha as savior in Pure Land Buddhism significantly blurs the issue for Jews of whether Buddhism is a religion and whether Buddha is considered a God.[^{citation needed}]

There's more information ("Further reading", "External links", etc.) in the Wikipedia article.

I believe the best example of a "Jewbu" is Leonard Cohen who is a Zen practitioner.

Answer 7

Meditation as a healthy practice of "spiritual hygiene" is not limited to Buddhist practitioners though the language used to teach meditation is easily accessible through Buddhist teachings. Contemplative practice is part of Judaism and other religious traditions. Jewish Buddhist retreats combining practices from both traditions in the setting of competent teaching and supportive community are available. See www.truenorthinsight.com for further information.

Answer 8

There is a misconception that Buddhism is a religion, and that you worship Buddha. Buddhism is a practice, like yoga. You can be a Christian and practice Buddhism. I met a Catholic priest who live in a Buddhist monastery in France. He told me that Buddhism makes him a better Christian. I love that.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer 9

Yes of course. HHDL regularly agrees that anyone can take up some Buddhist practices without becoming a Buddhist and also advises against changing ones tradition. Practice what is helpful. Abstain from what is not.

Answer 10

First of all, for anybody who wants to remain a practicing Abrahamic, I would recommended that they steer clear of any kind of Buddhist sect that features a "living" Buddha. (And, likewise, anybody who wishes to renounce Abrahamic theology should avoid converting to a "living" Buddha-sect -- the similarities are too strong, and you would end up practicing Abrahamism by another name.)

A living Buddha is one whose spirit is said to still exist, and be accessible to to humans by means of petition, holiness and sacrifice, and who can influence events in ones favor, in the afterlife or possibly in this life. Aside from being idolotrous (from an Abrahamic perspective), it is a gateway to superstition, and a form of attachment, wholly incompatible with the early Buddhism revealed through the Pali canon.

A non-returner Buddha, however, is much more compatible with monotheism, with atheism, with secularism, with almost any -ism you can throw at it. This Buddha never promised people a destiny of luxury and bliss; he taught others how to think rationality about the inevitability of suffering, in this life, in previous lives, even in the afterlife, so long as you continue to exist as an individual with its own wants and needs. That is the first (and second) noble truth. He taught people that suffering can be greatly reduced, if they control themselves and discipline their minds. Mindful meditation clears the mind; it eliminates unskillful motives, like boredom, loneliness, empty fantasies, and desire for control over the future. It can even help with dependencies and additions. It can be practiced with religious, superstitious, secular, even atheistic intent, depending on what is most effective for you personally.

How does this relate to Abrahamism? It does not directly attack the most valued Abrahamic orthodoxies. Although the Buddha himself was not a monotheistic worshipper (he knew better), he would not argue with you about mysticism and metaphysical questions. He would want to advise you, like he did his contemporaries, on how to make the most of your situation, in your day-to-day life; and he would ask you whether you are spending your time and mental energy most effectively.

Another way to think of it--this may be very controversial--would be that the historical Buddha himself would never take up arms in defense of any country or system of government; but there is no reason why you, as an ordinary person, cannot attempt to study and contemplate the Four Noble Truths, and practice mindfulness, even if you were drafted into the military in a country with universal military service. If your spiritual journey is such that you haven't yet given up the household life; if you, unlike the Buddha, have property and family to protect; there is no reason why you shouldn't defend your possessions, your family, and the regime that makes your profession, property claims, and civil rights possible; and honor your ancestors, who died defenseless, in so doing.

Answer 11

I would look to the Kalama Sutta The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry, and Bikkhu Bodhi's excellent essay A Look at the Kalama Sutta, to help understand the situation. As the sutta outlines there are many benefits for this group who are not disciples of Buddha and do not approach him already as their guide, to investigating what resonates with them in Buddhism and taking up it's practices. But, the benefits will be limited to better rebirth, without faith in the Four Noble Truths - that this thing 'awakening' exists and the Eightfold Path is the way to it, which cannot be understood through reason and doubt. Taking refuge as a monk is to profess such a faith, and dedicate to acting on it.

The Pali Brahmajāla Sutta: The All-embracing Net of Views, discussed in Susan Elbaum Jootla's essay Teacher Of The Devas, has a very interesting and radical take on monotheism, discussed in relation to Mahabrahma, the divine or ultimate reality. The Buddhist view is that the cosmos is uncreated, it only goes through cycles, and Mahabrahma mistakenly came to belief in being Creator as the first in this realm after an era in which it was emptied. And that fundamentally, Mahabrahma faces the same issues around suffering and awakening as all beings, just over a vastly longer lifespan.

So, I would say there are two ways to approach this. Either god has to be understood in a Buddhist way, as more humble than theologists tend to picture.

Or the Kalamas picture, of various consolations and benefits that can be attained, but not liberation from suffering. I would note 'atheist' Buddhists like Stephen Batchelor would also be in this position.

Types of monotheism vary widely in what their attitudes to combining practices will be. Reform Judaism likely fine, Hassidic - no way. Sufi, Wahabbi. Catholic, Quaker. It's not going to be Buddhists who have a problem, the Kalama Sutra clearly lays at that there can be many benefits even to only taking up some lay practices. Your real question is, what will the community of your other practice/s say?