Why I pick Buddhism over Religion, and achieve a higher level of serenity over religious people

Err what? Just sharing the ancient knowledge bro :)

Don't get attached to Buddhism, its a trap many fall into! Don't get attached to any religion, let the lesson pass through but don't get obsessed. Allow you mind to constantly change its views and opinions. Allowing yourself to get sucked into Buddhism can be dangerous for your spiritual development, in fact even Buddha himself warned against this. Take the lessons then move on

"and achieve a higher level of serenity over religious people"

This part shows that you have a resentment towards religious people, mainly Christians and there is no serenity where resentment lies.

How do you know what serenity or lack off religious/Christian people have? I have great peace and joy in that I am secure for when the soon to be Great Tribulation kicks off. You cannot beat that serenity!

Completely agree there, i'm not a full on buddhist, i just apply some of the teachings to my life. I meditate very rarely and most of my spirituality comes from within and not Buddhism. But some people are obviously getting the wrong idea!

All religions are prisons for the mind.

So tired of westerner hippie who only see one aspect of "Buddhism". You are wrong, Buddhism is a religion, you guys mostly have a wishy-washy conception of half-baked pseudo-Zen...budddhism is more than Zen, why don't you put down the new-age paperback Zen and read some academic papers about Buddhist history, doctrine, etc... read about different sects and traditions within Buddhism u will see it is very much a "religion" like any other with rituals, superstitions, etc, but it's probably pointless to talk to u because people see what they want to see.

Don't get me wrong I dont bash Budhism only the shallow new-age Westerner version that ignores 90% of the reality and focus only on "spirituality not religion."

Your title indicates that you haven't achieved ANY level of serenity over another. Keep working...you've got quite a way to go yet.

Buddhism is just another religion that you need to break free from. Keep working at it OP. Be like the Buddha not a follower of him. That is not what he wanted.

Where I am is filled with at least 90% Buddhists. They claim a pure Tibetan tradition. Theirs is the unofficial de-facto state religion. And it is very much a religion to them. I am surrounded by both generational practicing Buddhists, as well as secular people who are Buddhist in name only.

I have observed that seemingly most Buddhism practiced here involves worship of Buddha, and to a lesser extent, worshiping or otherwise venerating ancestral and other spirits. This seems quite different than the Buddhism I've researched while in the West. But it is the reality on the ground here.

In the capital city the Buddhist culture is very full of ego, and generally lacking in compassion on the street, accompanied by short tempers and resulting violence, which is common here. I'm not saying this to demean anyone, but simply to illustrate the reality of Buddhist culture as it is practiced in at least one Buddhist-controlled & dominated nation.

The moral of my observation here is that human nature tends to be the same no matter where you are at, or whatever religion people uphold. Buddhism as it is practiced here I've observed holds no special enlightenment over other religions, nor is it tolerant or accepting of other belief systems in practice. It seems to suffer the same limitations I've seen in other religions in practice, as it is limited to the constraints of human nature that also inhibit other religions.

Peace

Err what? Just sharing the ancient knowledge bro :)

so true,

I've spent time among, Christians, scientific atheists, Muslims, Pagans, hard core Sabbat Luciferians, Masons, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus, Native Americans, Asians, Blacks from Africa and America, rich and poor whites, a few Europeans....

and what you say rings true for all of them across the board

I'm a Buddhist who follows Christ.

Thank you for posting this information.

Your title indicates that you haven't achieved ANY level of serenity over another. Keep working...you've got quite a way to go yet.

you don't need Budda if you truly know Christ.

Buddhism can't save you, only the shed blood of Jesus, can do that, because you are still a sinner, like all of us and the wages of sin is death. I'm talking about the second death of the your Soul. For every man will die a fleshly death. There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus. Put your Faith in Him!

Buddhism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of a deep insight into the true nature of life.

Buddhism teaches that all life is interconnected, so compassion is natural and important.

Buddha was not a God.

He never claimed to be a God.

He never claimed to be a son of God.

He never claimed to be a mesasnger of God.

He was a man who achieved Nivana through human effort.

Buddha did not have an ego, unlike jesus and muhammad. His teachings were simple to help others on the path of enlightenment, not to sustain a state of power and importance.

Buddha, like Jesus and Mohammad are examples of what we are all capable of. If everyone achieved this state of consciousness we would all be basking in the divine ecstasy of existence at all times and each day would just be about creating beautiful things.

Buddhists believe that nothing is fixed or permanent - change is always possible
- unlike most religions which promote and endure violence due to not being able to accept the way society has changed because the books (bible, qu'ran) Have a firm set of rules which you must follow or you will be punished), ie, the way we dress, the way we eat, who can love who. the way we live in general.

Now we've all seen the protests and violence which came from a recent video depicting one mans opinion. Both sides of the argument are wrong and should not carry on what they are doing, as all they are bringing to the world are pain, death and fear. Nothing positive, which is what they think they are doing.

Why Buddhist could help save this entire world from self destruction:

Non-violence is at the heart of Buddhist thinking and behaviour. The first of the five precepts that all Buddhists should follow is "Avoid killing, or harming any living thing."

Buddhism is essentially a peaceful tradition. Nothing in Buddhist scripture gives any support to the use of violence as a way to resolve conflict.

''In times of war
Give rise in yourself to the mind of compassion,
Helping living beings
Abandon the will to fight.''

Figures like the Dalai Lama (who won the Nobel Peace Prize) demonstrate in word and deed Buddhism's commitment to peace.

"Hatred will not cease by hatred, but by love alone.
This is the ancient law."

And now a few quotes from Buddha

“Change is never painful; Only resistance to change is painful.”

''Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. ''

''To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.''

''We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. ''

''Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.''

''Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.''

More quotes can be found here:- [link to www.brainyquote.com]