Just being exposed to Buddhism makes you a better person.

The return of Bathroom Buddha

Courtesy of PsyPost:  

Researchers from Belgium and Taiwan have found that being exposed to Buddhist concepts can lead to increased prosocial behavioral intentions and undermine prejudice towards others. 

Buddhism contains a variety of teachings and practices – such as meditation – intended to help individuals develop a more open-minded and compassionate personality. Unlike the three dominant monotheistic religions, it does not draw a sharp line between believers and unbelievers. 

In three separate experiments of 355 individuals, the researchers found that being exposed to words related to Buddhism could “automatically activate prosociality and tolerance, in particular among people with socio-cognitive open-mindedness.” 

The study adds to a growing body of research about priming, a phenomenon in which merely being exposed to certain words or concepts changes the way people think or behave. It was published in the April issue of the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

The article goes on to suggest that Westerners simply exposed to words associated with Buddhism like "Dharma" or "Nirvana" resulted in a less negative attitude towards others.

Then there's this:

Westerners with a Christian background also scored higher on measures of prosociality after being exposed to Buddhist concepts. Surprisingly, participants did not score higher on measures of prosociality after being exposed to Christian concepts.

I can't say I find this particularly surprising. 

I was exposed to Buddhist concepts as a young boy, and they had a dramatic impact on how I saw the world. Ultimately I think it had a hand in making me a better person.

It kind of makes one wonder how different the world might be if Buddhism and Taoism were the two most prominent religions.

Picture(s) of the day.

President Obama attending the 21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cambodia.

Great picture don't you think? However the last few days have been filled with great opportunities for photos.

The President also stopped by Myanmar to visit with activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Mayanmar people were, to say the least, VERY excited by his visit.

It appears that while the President is still experiencing angry blowback from the defeated Republicans in THIS country, in other parts of the world he is a virtually rock star.

(Most of these pictures are courtesy of the Obama Diary.)

It's not just Christianity.

Here is the description of this documentary from the YouTube page:

A documentary about filmmaker Vikram Gandhi who impersonates a wise Indian Guru and builds a following in Arizona. At the height of his popularity, the Guru Kumare must reveal his true identity to his disciples and unveil his greatest teaching of all.

I sometimes get accused of picking on Christianity.  But in fact it is the people who seem so determined to allow themselves to be fooled and manipulated, that I find myself so frustrated with. Though I have to admit I also feel kind of bad for these people.

I understand the desire to feel as if you are part of something bigger than just you alone, or to experience a connection to a certain spirituality, but the truth is that there are just so many people ready to take advantage of those who do not retain a healthy skepticism about the things they are asked to accept based solely on trust and faith.  Once we surrender our logic and reality based worldview we are suddenly bobbing in a sea of uncertainty, easy prey for false prophets, con artists, and faith healers who can smell our vulnerability, and desperate need to believe, like sharks attracted to the smell of blood and fear.

The words of the Budddha concerning faith.

In the interest of religious tolerance I thought I would post a rather amazing teaching from the Buddha as it pertains to faith, and whom to trust for spiritual guidance.

The people of Kalama asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who, like himself, passed through their town. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. 

The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha's reply 

• Do not believe anything on mere hearsay. 
• Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places. 
• Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a a great deal about it. 
• Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage. 
• Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being. 
• Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true. 
• Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests. But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it. 
• Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire. 

 The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings. 

You can read a more expansive version by clicking here.

As a rule I usually identify myself as an Atheist in the search for ultimate truth. However when pressed by people who simply insist I must choose a religion, I tend to label myself a Taoist, though I always stress that I am a philosophical Taoist, not a religious one.

However I also have a deep and abiding warmth in my heart for Buddhism. And after reading what is written above, I am sure that you can see why.