discuss .

http://www.asia.msu.edu/seasia/Laos/religion.html

This is a good resource that really helped with my initial understanding of buddhism.

Ok, much of what I've read about their teachings makes sense. Tho I don't get into some of the heavy stuff, and the different terms for things, I avoid that part. So I can't get very technical.

What they say, suffering is caused by being separated from things that one wants (to want something one doesn't have), or be in the company of things one doesn't want (the desire to be away from something).

The reason we want things is cuz we're ignorant. If we were wise, we wouldn't want all these baubles, and then we would be happy. It's the constant want of things that makes us unhappy. We're never whole.

If we do get something we want, we quickly feel a new desire (like rich people, they always want more, no matter what they got) ... which means we spend much of our time trying to get the new thing ... and so on. A vicious circle.

So we are supposed to observe, and meditate and see these things for what they really are, that they are temporary and we don't need em. That's the part I like .... I also like the theory about the Ten Worlds, which is part of Nichiren Buddhism I think, I like that a lot ... it makes a lotta sense. If you want me to explain it, I will.

Thing is, I don't chant and that, Buddhists are supposed to meditate and chant, chant, chant ... and I don't do that. I have tried sometimes and get bored with it. So I must be still very ignorant.

i think someones glass is half empty

Well in Tao half empty is a pessimist ... half full is an optimist ....

A Buddhist would say that the glass and water don't exist. Heh. I read that here:

http://www.taoism.net/living/2001/200104.htm

There they also say stuff like empty is good cuz it means there's room, and u can pour in anything. A full glass can't accept another drop.

Different takes on it ...