From: longn@lauto.lmc.com (Long Nguyen)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese
Subject: [RELIGION]  Reply: Gia'o Ly' -Da.o Pha^.t
Date: 8 Sep 92 06:06:00 GMT
Reply-To: lauto!longn@sequent.com


Helloluya,

>   okidukie,
 
> Ba'c Tien va` nhu*~ng ai bie^'t nhie^`u ve^` pha^.t gia'o la`m
>o*n cho tui bie^'t la` pha^.t Thi'ch Ca or any buddha co'ba('t buo^.c ngu*o*`i
>ta su`ng ba'i, ta.c tu*o*.ng tha('p nhang, tho*` ho.  hay kho^ng??

No.  In the last two years, I've been hanging around the Buddhists and
learned a few things.  I am not a Buddist.  Alright?

> Ne^'u co' thi` ta.i sao?

I already answer no but will anwer the next question because there are
other reasons behind it.

>Gia'o ly' nha` pha^.t cho ra(`ng "pha^.t ta.i ta^m" thi` ta.i sao 

"pha^.t ta.i ta^m" is the 'urge' to be good, to visit the temple, to find the peace
in mind.  Watch out for those who pretend to be good by going to the temple (or church).

There was a time (poor) when I was fumbling to find nickle adding up the bus-fare,
a stranger (American) offered the spare change to help out.  What 'urge' drove
the person to make the offer (very small)?

>thie^n ha. tho*` tu*o*.ng pha^.t -de^? la`m gi`? (what's the point)??

Why do people have family pictures on the walls, girl/boy friend pictures in their
wallets?  Why do America have the statue of Liberty?

The point in Buddhism is to salvation "giai? thoa't" of yourself not worshiping 
those "tu+o+.ng, or pictures".  However, some feel the need having those, let them!

>   2.  Who/what gives birth to the soul ? (in buddhist's point of view)

I don't know.

>   3.  or is it from "nothing" gives birth to every living things?
       
In chaos brings oder.  (Conversely, in order brings chaos.)

If you have a telescope, try and look up Jupiter and find its red spot.
We know that the gaseous red spot has been there hundred of years in a very
dynamic form with wind (Jupiter kind) up to hundreds of miles/hour.

Why is there the red spot in such a chaos of gas dynamic?  Is there an order there?

In Buddhism teaching, there is this teaching (in a way similar to the chaos theory):

"Co' la` kho^ng, kho^ng la` co'".

With only scratching the surface of the above teaching, I'll try to make an example:

Let's imagine that your beloved car gets a big dent on a side from a *#$% motorist.
If you look at the dent as a new fashion, style then the dent is as part of the car and
NO LONGER A DENT but a fashion, style decoration.  Feel free to take the hamer and
increase the BEAUTY of your car if you ever get the point, but Longan is not liable here!

I don't really understand that Buddhist teaching so please don't question me further.

Side track:  About beauty, I just recalled reading some old National Geographic magazines.
There are some African tribal women that would make their neck long (for beauty) with
supporting & enlonging rings.  Other custom would have the women inserting round pieces of
wood to enlarge the holes in the ears and the below lips in their mouths.  Interesting, huh?!?

>I appreciate if you give me your opinions. I'll try not to criticize, mock, 
>or verbally attack you. Constructive discussion is what I like,
>NOT destructive quarreling(sp)!

You are doing fine.

>Peace everyone,
>
>TDN

Longan - Trai' nha~n
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese