Buddhists to Brit Hume: We forgive you

[G_j]

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/01/buddhism-brit-hume-tiger-woods-forgiveness/1


Buddhists to Brit Hume: We forgive you

Ex-Fox newsman Brit Hume is getting a drubbing -- a gentle, peaceful drubbing -- on the blogs today from Buddhists who take issue with his slam on their beliefs.

In case you missed it, Hume called on Tiger Woods to turn away from Buddhism toward Christianity for forgiveness and a chance to rehabilitate his reputation in the world -- as if conversion were a get-out-of-scandal-jail free pass.

Webmonkees tweeted: " It is less useful to contemplate the hypocrisy of Fox News, as collecting the dew from beneath each grain of sand."

Kyle Lovett, blogging as The Reformed Buddhist, writes:

Could Hume get away with saying something like this about Jewish people or Black People or the Muslim Faith? You betcha he couldn't. Why should he be able to skate away scott free when speaking about Buddhists?

Buddhist and journalist Barbara Hoetsu O'Brien gets down to dharma. She writes:

I don't like to point out others' faults, but given the record I would think Christians would show a little more humility about offering advice to the sexually wayward. As Jesus once said, let those who have never sinned throw the first stones (John 8:7).

However, Mr. Hume is right, in a sense, that Buddhism doesn't offer redemption and forgiveness in the same way Christianity does. Buddhism has no concept of sin; therefore, redemption and forgiveness in the Christian sense is meaningless in Buddhism. Forgiveness is important, but it is approached differently in Buddhism...

She points out:

... the practice of metta, loving kindness, is essential in Buddhism. Metta is extended to all beings, including those who have wronged us -- even Brit Hume -- and also to ourselves.

..more..

[Lucy Goosey]

1. ...awesome.

Hume is an idiot. Does he honestly believe that Jesus invented the idea of forgiveness?

[happy_liberal]

2. ahhh, precisely one of the people who need to be confronted

it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7404906

[Sunnyshine]

3. K&R - Glad to see this.

Thanks for posting.

[lunatica]

4. The Tiger Woods story has taken a turn into Weird

[AspenRose]

5. GOOD.

[FBaggins]

6. "Buddhism has no concept of sin"

Sounds like that's exactly where Tiger needs to be.

[Guilded Lilly]

7. The quiet grace

of Buddhism speaks volumes.

[liberal_at_heart]

8. This is true

I think the reason Buddhists stay away from negative critisism is because they don't see the practicality of it. What good other than generating more hostility does being mean spirited towards Brit Hume or Tiger Woods accomplish? Not much. Buddhists like to concentrate on what they believe will increase positive energy in the universe such as compassion, and loving kindness. That's why I like to study Buddhism. I don't like to call myself Buddhist although sometimes I do because I don't have a good place to study Buddhism and becuase I don't get the ongoing teaching and practice that someone who is being taught by a master has. I know I fall short of showing the world on a day to day basis the behavior a true Buddhist exhibits. I try to exhibit patience, and kindness but I can be impatient and quick to anger when confronted on some issues. But I do try to wish all sentient beings love and compassion even if they exhibit behavior in which some believe they don't deserve compassion.

[G_j]

11. +1

[Blue Owl]

9. I'll bet nothing gets under Brit's thin skin

like being forgiven by a Buddhist! Ha!

[dmr]

10. Hume & all the rest of 'them' need to leave Tiger alone to find his own peace

He doesn't need advice from the dime a dozen asshats on TV.

I hate that Tiger cheated and broke his vows. That said, I think the man's hurting and should be left alone to sort out his troubles and decide where and how he goes from here.

[grahamhgreen]

12. Tigers stalk, Wood burns.

[G_j]

13. --