You know what? I think I will now. Thank you. I hope this day is equally nice for you. Maybe tomorrow too. But that's it.

It's called Buddha in Your Backpack.

It's focused on teen life so it gets irrelevant sometimes (I'm almost 20), but it's really a fabulous book. Super easy to understand and he does well in connecting it to your life.

Much appreciated!

I'm assuming it'll correlate to my age well, saying that I'm only 15. I just wanted to know, because for being Buddhist myself, I just feel uneducated in philosophy or some of the smaller things. Man, being Buddhist is the bomb.

Again, thank you, friend!

Any time :)

Pretty sweet that you're a Buddhist.

RIGHT?

And the best thing is that, I almost feel, you know, sort of atheist. And not saying atheism is the best way to go, but I just don't feel confined to a religion. Just how open it is to learning, leaving, returning, etc. I just see it as philosophy really. If that's completely appropriate to say. I don't mean to conflict with anyone, but I think that it's just great.

I know what you mean! The one thing I really liked about this book is that it said "There is no right religion". I love that interpretation is up to you. I don't go for anything spiritual really, but the philosophy behind the entire religion is awesome.

Growing up in Buddhism is fantastic. I mean it gives you time to really think of how you act in public or how you treat other people. Majority of the people in my school need to grow up. Almost every guy is a real scum bag Steve to everyone, including their friends. It's frustrating. It's either that or Laotian customers drag on. Either one, I'm proud of the way I grew up.

I forgot to ask! Were/are you in any religion?

That sounds awesome. But no. I have no religion. I tried Christianity once but I just can't believe in anything spiritual, especially a concept like God.

And that's perfectly fine! I'm actually pretty jelly of you right now, because I wasn't in a religion. I really respect their teachings, but it doesn't really make me the proudest person to admit I'm in a religion. And sometimes it starts havoc with people who are firm believers in Christianity or judaism. Something about religion pisses me off. I think it's the inability for others to say "Hey, my beliefs conflict yours, but quite frankly, I don't care." Though, I am being unfair by grouping a mass amount of people, but it's a peeeve and you know how that goes, anything eve relative to it is blown out of proportion. Sorry I talk si much, I haven't had a conversation regarding religion in awhile. You seem like a really cool person, or it's just because Inhave an easier time bonding to people way older than me. Either way, you're cool. Is your family in any type of religion or are you just experimenting by yourself?

Okay good now I can really talk. I don't like airing my views on politics or religion because I am REALLY AFRAID of conflict but you seem to be cool with my beliefs.

My mom was raised Catholic and wanted to be a nun, but then she just kind of grew out of it. My dad was raised Methodist and he still believes in God, but we were never forced to have any religion (except a few years of vacation bible school. lawlz) so we could choose for ourselves. My little brother is really into church, and the rest of us are cool with it but we're just like, "whatever".

I'm really turned off from organized religion because 1) all the judgement it implies and 2) how it's a source of "morality". I absolutely hate how each religion believes it is the one true religion. How the hell do they know that? Why are there so many millions of others who believe differently? And then I hate the amount of people who need to have a priest/rabbi/whatever telling them how to be a good person. We should be able to figure that out on our own; not being bribed with a promise of a happy afterlife.

So yeah all in all, I am not the type for organized religion. Sometimes I like to sit and think about what I believe, but most of it centers around Earth, nature, and humanity. Not larger things than that.

Woo that's a lot of words.

Also, you write very well for 15. I would have never guessed you were that young.

That's really respectable! Honestly, I've never had a problem with others expressing their opinion on bigger topics or whatnot. I just let people say what they want to say.

That's cool that you don't mind someone in your family being more involved in religion that yourself, or not being forced into a religion by anyone.

I know what you mean by organized religion. Especially if you really aren't particularly fond of religion, or you don't find anything you can prosper from within a current religion. I personally think religion is what you can learn from it, as opposed to believing you can get something by simply praying, or ask for forgiveness. Not to contradict anyone, but "Born Again Christians" really catch my attention, because in real life, who's going to protect you from your sins that have already been caused?

That's why I have a lot of faith in Karma, but not so much the "resurrection" side of it. I just believe that, if you do something good, enough amount of times, that good will come out of it. If something bad happens, then something bad happens. Maybe you have bad luck or something. There's no way in this world that you can prevent something bad from happening. But you can find happiness in the good you do. Even if it's not something you feel so great in doing. If you do it enough times, then you'll find happiness in the small things you do for people. Personally, I like to volunteer for kids centers, runs, whatever you can think of, because I really do enjoy seeing a smile run across a kid's face and seeing that a parent get to go home with a satisfied kid, or something!

It really is the small things you can come to appreciate, that makes your life great.

How I got there, is more than me. I tend to rant, and if you do by chance decide to friend me, that's what I do. Soooooo. Lol...

Oh and that's admirable that you don't really look for more than the underlying messages, like philosophy and nature, that's how a lot of people should live, IMO

Karma is a weird situation for me. I believe in it in a very logical way, since I don't believe in fortune being an attainable thing. I believe that if you do enough good, it gets around to you; simply because that's how the world works. Like if you hold a door open for someone, it starts a chain of people holding open doors, until you walk into a building, someone else holding the door. ---That's a terrible example, but you get the point.

You seem to be the type of person I aspire to be in that your sense of Karma is that you find happiness in giving happiness. If there were more people out there like you, the world would be a perfect place.

Were you raised Buddhist? Or did you study it on your own? And not to profile or anything, but are you from an Asian country?

I am attending university, Miami University (of Ohio). I love it there. College life is truly an incredible experience. So much freedom and self-discover. And I agree with what you said on writing. I was always a strong writer in school (not to sound pretentious) and I loved that by putting words on page, you could be anything, say whatever you wanted. I want to enroll in some creative writing courses if I manage to ever find the time.

Whoa, sorry for the long awaited response, I've been getting caught up with other things, sorry!

I understand what you're talking about with karma. I don't believe that things in life can be handed to you just by doing something positive, but I do believe that happiness can be given, nothing material, nothing purchasable, but just a fill of happiness from just doing something good. But i do understand where you stand your ground on that.

Also, sadly, we're far from a "perfect place". Speaking the truth, I'm not entirely blaming it on rap, jersey shore, and new hit culture that, maybe, recently sprouted, but it really has only lead up to misogyny or maybe fiscal irresponsibility.

Right now, I don't think it can be helped much, but, like your example you used for Karma, "Paying it forward", maybe if we help someone do something, they'll help someone do something else to their best extent, so far, that's the only thing I can think of, to make it even close to even remotely a "perfect place".

Actually, I was raised Buddhist starting very very little. I may not be as involved as I use to be, but I still understand the basics of every ritual and stuff like that, I still pay my respects to the monks, yes but, like I said, I'm not as involved anymore.

I was actually born in the United States, but my parents were already here for a good 10-20 years, because my oldest sister, born here, is about 6 years older than me.

College life seems like something great, and for some reason, I just can't wait for it, not to get out, not to grow up, but just to experience it, you know? Are you focusing on any area in particular, such as majors and minors?

ALSO!

Seeing as you're 20, are you attending any college or university, or am I getting personal?

AND THANK YOU! On the compliment that is.

That's why I really like writing, it doesn't really express age well, and I think that's great. The face on some of the seniors' faces when they find out, I'm only going to be a sophomore next year.

Thank you, thank you. :)

Did I ever reply to this? Because I distinctly remember writing a reply but I don't see it here...

Haha, you posted the reply elsewhere, you replied to a different comment and so did I, my reply to your reply is right above the one you just replied to, it's all scattered lol.

Ohhhh okay I see now. Sorry for the very late reply; I just went back to school and I've never been so freaking busy in my life.
I can see what you're saying about the state of the world, and I agree that it can be much helped; I'm just an idealist and probably pretty naiive.
It's pretty cool you were raised Buddhist. I've never met a Buddhist that wasn't a white college hipster XD

College seems like just your thing if you're looking for the experience of it. It's what you make it, so you'll probably love it. I am studying mechanical engineering with minors in Spanish and mathematics. I'm in the Naval ROTC program (which is why I've had no time to reply) to become an officer in the Navy when I graduate.