Difference in the culture

[david_dawei]

As an organized body, Buddhism doesn't appear to have a strong following.. but as Curt said, the temples appear to draw alot of people.

 

I think that the main Buddhist tenets that are alive today (in people's heart and in some practices are:

- Belief in after-life and cycle of life (reinforced by daoist appeal to following the way of nature; nature comes and goes, and comes again).

- Burning of incense with small alter like settings

- Respect for all living things

 

One also needs to differeniate Buddhism which came into China and Buddhism which formed in China (Chinese buddhism). Many schools of Buddhism were introduced to China (starting around they year 65, Han dynasty) but those aspects of Buddhism which took hold and found a home combined with daoism and confucianism. (That sect which came to be known as Zen usually traces back to around 400-500).

 

In short, the very practial aspects took root; If it was too speculative or too formal in everyday practice, it tended not to grow. I think that is why you see the last pieces as they are.

 

If you ask the average chinese what philosophy they follow, they sometimes don't even know how to answer it or suggest nothing.. in fact, you can trace back to the mix easily enough by observation but they don't think in terms of personal worship or following; just living and doing.

[david_dawei]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

 

[SheLikesME?]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

 

I'll give it a shot:

- toilet seat is up for politness to the man. Woman can pull it down on her way down to sit. Man has to bend over first. Waste of movement.

- Peel the banana so they have a stick to hold on to.

- bitter, like seed. Life is to be enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

SWAG

[RLS]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

 

I'll give it a shot:

- toilet seat is up for politness to the man. Woman can pull it down on her way down to sit. Man has to bend over first. Waste of movement.

- Peel the banana so they have a stick to hold on to.

- bitter, like seed. Life is to be enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

SWAG

 

Jeeesus, Doug, where do you come up with this stuff?

[bosco]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

 

I'll give it a shot:

- toilet seat is up for politness to the man. Woman can pull it down on her way down to sit. Man has to bend over first. Waste of movement.

- Peel the banana so they have a stick to hold on to.

- bitter, like seed. Life is to be enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

 

SWAG

Jeeesus, Doug, where do you come up with this stuff?

 

Maybe somewhere slightly south of that toilet seat?

[SheLikesME?]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

I'll give it a shot:

- toilet seat is up for politness to the man. Woman can pull it down on her way down to sit. Man has to bend over first. Waste of movement.

- Peel the banana so they have a stick to hold on to.

- bitter, like seed. Life is to be enjoyed.

SWAG

Jeeesus, Doug, where do you come up with this stuff?

Maybe somewhere slightly south of that toilet seat?

http://i12.tinypic.com/33wo0mr.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gif

http://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gif

 

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

HAAAAAAAAAAAAWhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gif

Edited January 6, 2007 by SheLikesME (see edit history)

[Urkidding]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

I'll give it a shot:

- toilet seat is up for politness to the man. Woman can pull it down on her way down to sit. Man has to bend over first. Waste of movement.

- Peel the banana so they have a stick to hold on to.

- bitter, like seed. Life is to be enjoyed.

SWAG

Jeeesus, Doug, where do you come up with this stuff?

Maybe somewhere slightly south of that toilet seat?

http://i12.tinypic.com/33wo0mr.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gif

http://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gifhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gif

 

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

HAAAAAAAAAAAAWhttp://i10.tinypic.com/2mw9mqs.gif

 

Hey Dougie,

 

is you wife here yet?

[Urkidding]

maybe someone can explain:

- why the toilet seat always has to stay up (do they like seeing a hole in the ground)

- why they peel bananas from the wrong end (did the first person pick it upside down)

- why they won't eat the skin of the grape (it was just in their mouth afterall)

 

 

This sounds like my house!

 

Remember this post?

 

http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...c=21055&hl=

 

Of course Feng Shui and different culture habits come in to play here.

 

These fall into a separate category like ¡°why do they take their shoes off before entering the house?"

[TLB]

As an organized body, Buddhism doesn't appear to have a strong following.. but as Curt said, the temples appear to draw alot of people.

 

I think that the main Buddhist tenets that are alive today (in people's heart and in some practices are:

- Belief in after-life and cycle of life (reinforced by daoist appeal to following the way of nature; nature comes and goes, and comes again).

- Burning of incense with small alter like settings

- Respect for all living things

 

One also needs to differeniate Buddhism which came into China and Buddhism which formed in China (Chinese buddhism). Many schools of Buddhism were introduced to China (starting around they year 65, Han dynasty) but those aspects of Buddhism which took hold and found a home combined with daoism and confucianism. (That sect which came to be known as Zen usually traces back to around 400-500).

 

In short, the very practial aspects took root; If it was too speculative or too formal in everyday practice, it tended not to grow. I think that is why you see the last pieces as they are.

 

If you ask the average chinese what philosophy they follow, they sometimes don't even know how to answer it or suggest nothing.. in fact, you can trace back to the mix easily enough by observation but they don't think in terms of personal worship or following; just living and doing.

 

I really like the way you have expressed this. I also believe the Buddhist tenets are alive in the ways of the people in China; in the same sense, one could say that growing up in the U.S., no matter what one's religious beliefs (or lack thereof), it would be very difficult to avoid a strong Judeo-Christian imprint on one's developing sense of self and the world.

 

I do think it's important to separate Zen as a particularly Japanese invention (or development), though having said that, I would have to agree with the counterpoint that Zen and Chinese Chan Buddhism seem to have more in common than does Chan with the Buddhism that came to China out of India.

 

I have found it interesting recently when, out of three young Shanghai (female) teachers with whom I've spoken this last month (I get a phone Chinese lesson once a week via chinesepod.com), two have told me they're Buddhist.

 

That's a good data sampling, right, three?

 

thanks for your contributions on this topic David, I find them very thoughtfully expressed and thought-provoking as well.

 

One question for you (I think you said this earlier): what do you mean by a "vertical" sense of time?

[david_dawei]

One question for you (I think you said this earlier): what do you mean by a "vertical" sense of time?

sorry I missed this for so long...

 

In chinese linguistics, time is perceived as along a vertical spectrum from top to bottom; Top is past and bottom is future. The middle is what you see in front of you.

 

Consider the chinese for morning, last week and last month. (Shang).

 

and afternoon, next week, next month. (Xia).

[david_dawei]

I do think it's important to separate Zen as a particularly Japanese invention (or development), though having said that, I would have to agree with the counterpoint that Zen and Chinese Chan Buddhism seem to have more in common than does Chan with the Buddhism that came to China out of India.

 

I have found it interesting recently when, out of three young Shanghai (female) teachers with whom I've spoken this last month (I get a phone Chinese lesson once a week via chinesepod.com), two have told me they're Buddhist.

What came out of India into china as Buddhism is clearly not Buddhism proper; and what developed early on is maybe best termed Chinese Buddhism to separate it from Indian and later coined Zen concepts.

 

I personally only feel a connection to Chinese Buddhism due to it's closeness to Daoism. Among my library are two books called "The Way of Zen" and "The Tao of Zen", where both titles play on the idea that [early] Zen was but a form a Daoism.

 

What is normally thought of when "Zen" is mentioned is the now Japanese form of meditation and monastery life. That side of Zen I have no interest in.

 

To say one is "Buddhist" is simply a dilemma of trying to categorize oneself. There are only three options: Daoist, Buddhist, COnfucianist. The first is hard for many chinese to claim since it has a philosophical side and a religious side, which the former may not want to associate. The second is most common to accept. The latter is an ethical way, so would normally never be considered a religious label.

 

For that reason, most will say "buddhist"... I would bet money on that. A few may say Daoist and those are probably the most interesting ones to get to know since they understand the difference !