dorjeshugden.com
General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: icy on April 18, 2015, 08:43:33 AM
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Maybe it is refreshing and interesting to hear Buddhism from Richard Gere's perspective:
This is real core of Buddhism. Richard Gere explains how Buddhism is different from Christianity and other beliefs. He explains how “western” the Buddhism is and its basic principles.
Buddhism speaks to you. Its self realization. Buddhism is all about your emotions, thoughts, and actions. You are entirely dependent on you. Richard Gere is aware that you bring yourself in to every situation. “You have ultimate responsibility for your experience. You gotta work on your mind. When you change your mind, the universe change.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OASbnKFXUE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OASbnKFXUE)
http://www.bbncommunity.com/richard-geres-buddhism/ (http://www.bbncommunity.com/richard-geres-buddhism/)
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Thanks Ice for this inspiring video, that few things that is very true firstly because of the teaching it change a person to be more kindder like what Richard said he has become less angry, and because of the teaching he is more willing to help others this is something very true about the teaching.
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It is good to have celebrities like Richard Gere sharing Buddhism. But it would be better if he is not politically inclined then his efforts will be greater.
I heard a rumour that the Dalai Lama may proclaim Richard Gere to be a rinpoche. I wonder if that will be publicised if it is true.
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That's interesting, I have never heard that about Richard Gere being a Rinpoche, but I have heard that Steaven Seagal is one, but choose to be who he is today.
I am not very sure where Richard Gere stands as a Buddhist, but if he understands that much about Buddhism, then I would like to assume that he is practicing... after all, I have never heard him making any sensitive statements that may cause disharmony, and that... I would consider that a wonderful thing, given how the world in such chaos these days
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This reminds me of the famous book and documentary "The Secret" and which is full of Buddhistic concepts.
Richard Gere is a well known buddhist and is a follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That makes me wonder what is his stand on the Protector Dorje Shugden.
Nevertheless, his view are Buddhist and I think he is skillful in offering a version of Buddha's teachings suited to the Western culture and that is easy to accept and apply.
I rejoice that he is using his fame to benefit others.
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After going through all the 4 parts of Richard Gere's interview with BBC, it is quite certain he is deeply intrigued by Buddhism. At the time of the interview he was already practicing Buddhism for 30 years. Richard elucidated the Dharma very well. He used very little Buddhists jargons . He spoke out of his personal experience. He spoke about himself, his negativities, his weaknesses, his own delusions. Very honest declarations which are hard to make, especially for a person who's personality and demeanour earns him his money. Most others have to hide behind a make believe personality in order to please their fans. To be able to be so honest of one's own weaknesses is in itself liberating ! I rejoice for Richard Gere !
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To my understanding everyone could be called a “Rinpoche:- the precious one” when one actions of body, speech and mind was conformed to that of a bodhisattva threading the path. Unlike many of the rich and famous out there who spend their wealth and time indulging in worldly samsaric pleasure or busy collecting more wealth and power, Richard Gere use his this fortunate rebirth in cultivating more positive potential by benefiting those who’re in need. Judging by all his actions, his current social status and success, we could infer that he must have been creating the causes for this positive ripening in his previous lives.
When one does these continuously with a noble motivation in the eye of others, one will be the precious one, a Rinpoche because not many in this world have enough of merits to sustain such noble deeds and at such scale.
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Is it possible that Richard Gere could be a tulku? In an interview conducted by Melvin MacLeod, the actor said that obviously there was some very clear and definite [karmic] connection with the Tibetans or his life would not have expressed itself this way. He thought that he had always felt that practice was his real life. When he started to practice meditation at the age of 24, he had a very clear feeling that he had always been in meditation, that he had never left meditation. I think Richard Gere is a deeply spiritual person and he can be a good Buddhist teacher if he wants to.
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Hmmmm... if Richard Gere is to be a Dharma teacher, I would truly rejoice. As per his interview he explains the Dharma very well and very sincere in his answers.
Let it be possible that Richard Gere will teach the Dharma in 10 directions and benefit many onto the path of spirituality and eventual enlightenment. The path to liberation.
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Buddhism a about taking charge and not reliance on salvation from a supreme being. It is about being responsible of all your actions, about the law of karma. Everything things is connected and every actions has its consequences. No one can do something and expect the consequences to be wipe off simply from the salvation of a supreme being and is forgiven.
Buddhism is about living responsibly and awareness of others. Is it the most logical of religion and take no hostage.
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What Richard talks about, is really the mother of all Buddhism basics, but yet it is taking the western world by the storm.
The single biggest difference between Buddhism and other religions, is Buddhism stress that we the practitioners need to be responsible for all our experiences, and we need to work on our mind. And as Richard said, there is no creator god who will come down and fix the problem for us.
When I have this mindset, I really come to terms with my past issues and all the current problems which I am facing now.
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When a famous actor such as Richard Gere practices a faith well it will be beneficial for many. Actors have many fans and have much influence on people's mind. In the pursue of fame and wealth one can be consumed and destroyed by them. We have enough of many bad examples. It is refreshing from the likes of Richard Gere.
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Richard Gere is a well known buddhist and is a follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That makes me wonder what is his stand on the Protector Dorje Shugden.
His stand is the stand of an active minion of the evil dalie, and therefore an active Shugden-hater, which thoroughly disqualifies him as a Buddhist.
Nevertheless, his view are Buddhist and I think he is skillful in offering a version of Buddha's teachings suited to the Western culture and that is easy to accept and apply.
Following him, Westerners will easily accept and apply teachings such as how to create schism within he Sangha, and therefore easily go to the appropriate hell in due time.
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What Richard talks about, is really the mother of all Buddhism basics, but yet it is taking the western world by the storm.
The single biggest difference between Buddhism and other religions, is Buddhism stress that we the practitioners need to be responsible for all our experiences, and we need to work on our mind. And as Richard said, there is no creator god who will come down and fix the problem for us.
When I have this mindset, I really come to terms with my past issues and all the current problems which I am facing now.
Many Americans are learning Tibetan Buddhism because the teachings are logical and pragmatic. They apply the teachings to resolve whatever situations they are in and they experience the results. In Christianity, they are taught to pray and have faith in God because whatever hardships they go through are lessons that God wants them to learn. When they are dying of hunger and their children as well, it's difficult to accept this train of thought. Hence, learning to take responsibility and understanding karma, impermanence, changing our perspectives are more constructive and have more tangible results. Learned intelligent and exposed people all prefer this.
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You have ultimate responsibility for your experience.
What he means is that if Shugdenpas face hardship, this is because of their own fault, not because of his guru the evil dalie's persecution, and therefore it's ok to support the evil dalie and his crimes as he does.
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Good observation. Only those that apply the Dharma and the effort to change one's mind from negative to positive will be able to summarize in such a fashion. Glad that you shared this with everyone.
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Whether it is Western or Eastern, Buddhism is universal. It has been kept in the Eastern region of the globe for 2,500 years. Now that it has widely spread to the Western communities, many are receptive to the teachings by the Buddha as they find it easy to relate to life. I am among the fortunate ones to have met the Dharma. The 4 videos of Richard Gear’s spiritual journey were done well for others to relate to Buddhism easily and his sharing of the encounter with the Dalai Lama was interesting. The story ended with others and Richard himself sharing the changes in him after practicing the dharma.
May those who watched the story be inspired to learn and practice dharma!
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Richard Gere clearly has shown indications that he is still karmically connected to Buddhism via being a follower of the Dalai Lama for over 30 years. It is very courageous for him to share his Buddhist knowledge, on Buddhism and what he has experienced during the course of applying these knowledge throughout his life. He doesn't use 'big words' to explain Buddhism but in words that can relate to new Buddhist to educate them.
He may be politically inclined towards the Dalai Lama but I will ignore them for we may not know of his motivation of doing what he is doing currently. We cannot speak on his behalf nor can we assume.
But with his Buddhism knowledge, practice and application of the teachings he is able to make himself a better person and benefit others, then that is the right motivation on the correct path.
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From the Western point of view which is rooted in Christianity and science, we have a contradicting view of faith in god and logic. Christianity generally is about the faith in God and divine providence (although fatalistic view are practice by some churches), while science is based on logical view.
Richard Gere Buddhism is based more on science, hence form the logically point. Science advocate forming theories, testing these theories through experiment, gathering the results and making conclusion. Further, from these, science advocate practical applications of the new knowledge learned.
Buddhism has stand all the tests of science and in fact there are many unanswered questions of science that the Buddha has given answers to and science has not caught up.
Hence, Buddhism is the faster growing religion in the West and the World.
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Richard Gere gained fame when he stared in "Pretty Woman" and yet he did not let his fame and status overwhelm his mind. Instead he seek teachings from the Dalai Lama and became his student for so many years. It must be the accumulation of his good merits from past lives for him to have the right conditions of practice. It definitely would be wonderful for him to start teaching as his famous status will make it easier to reach out to the people. As far as I know, he had been very low-keyed and humble in his practice although often pictured next the Dalai Lama. A true practitioner who does not take sides.
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Richard Gere is one of the most popular actors well known for being a Buddhist. Buddhism has taught him to look inside himself more deeply, to worry less and less about the opinions of others and to share the pain and the joy of other human beings. He has learned patience, openness and generosity. It has helped him from been an impatient man to a more tolerant person. Many Westerners are now turning towards learning Buddhism because Buddha’s Teachings are logical and can be applied to anyone to resolve whatever situations and their practice will increase when they experience the results.