Buddhism

"Buddhism is just like any religion that teaches good and avoid evil."

Sounds familiar but I do wish to give some superficial personal view points here. Feel free to correct me!

诸恶莫做，众善奉行，自净其意，是诸佛教。Do all good, avoid all evil, cultivate the mind, thus are teachings of all Buddhas. Is that the same as all religion? The first 2 phrase is a YES but the last 2 is a NO. Why do I say so? What explanation I could come out with is how do we know our actions are good or bad.

By following the social norms, indeed we can't go astray too far. At least by following, we are socially correct and accepted. But is this what we are searching for? To address this, we must know that nothing in this world is absolute but only relative. And because of this, nothing is universally dependable.

Only through cultivating of the mind, we minimize contamination to the mind. Through right concentrations leads to right mindset and through that arises wisdom. With wisdom, we could swipe away the clouds that's covering the moon. And with the correct wisdom, then we can see the true nature of all things and phenomena. Observations from this stage are then most accurate and pure.

Reason for me to be a Buddhist is true Buddhist do not just do things in favor of the Gods and hope for promised paradise in return. If this view stands, the "heaven" will still be a place of difference, war and suffering. Cos' the Gods will still shower blessings to those that supports them. Sounds close to what happen in a country's politics.

In Buddhism, I do believe we encourage friendly debates that hopes to grow wisdom. I have an interesting past time when I was young is to initiate debates! Religious debates always ends up with comments like "We can never phantom what our creator is thinking just like a CPU...bla bla." I get caught up with Buddhism is because I always get great insights when my opponent is a Buddhist.

Some people will say life is good even if remain as a free thinker. But my advise is at least if you are not receptive to Buddhism, at least choose a God to believe. Human mind is vulnerable. It breaks apart when life gets tough. Having a spiritual and morale support is important. At least Buddhism lets you understand yourself.

Pple says Buddhism is religion. Yes as it needs faith. No as there is no promised heaven, hell and God.
Pple says Buddhism is philosophy. Yes as it studies fundamental of life. No as it does more than this existence.
Pple says Buddhism is Science. Yes as it is the first known text that describe earth as spherical and we as the little part of a big universe with different worlds. No as it goes beyond matter and anti-matter.
Pple says Buddhism is pyschology. Yes as it studies the mind. No as it also studies mental formation, how thoughts arises and cease and mechanism of which liberates the mind.
Buddhism does not rely on one single dotrine to explain phenomenas but rather extensive knowledge in different areas looking at particular happenings.

Hope I have created some insights into this beautiful teaching!!