# What do Buddhists think of other Buddhists? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 29, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101 "2003-06-29T04:49:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/1 "2003-06-29T04:49:11Z")
I’m thinking that I’d like to explore Buddhism. Back in university, I had taken a few religion courses and found the general ideas presented to be very attractive to me. There are different kinds of Buddhism, and I guess one of the first things I have to do is learn about each one and decide which one is most attractive to me. However, this lead me to a question. What do Buddhists of one school of thought think of those from other schools? Do they think they are wrong or are following the wrong path? Is there competition amongst them? Also, if I wanted to practice Buddhism, would I have to become vegetarian (I hope not, 'cause that would be a deal-killer right there). ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/2 "2003-06-29T04:59:25Z")
Nothing. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/3 "2003-06-29T05:00:30Z")
Nothing. Nothingness. Nothing less. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/4 "2003-06-29T05:30:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Morkfromork \* > Also, if I wanted to practice Buddhism, would I have to become vegetarian (I hope not, 'cause that would be a deal-killer right there). Depends on whether you follow it in the sense of philosophy or religion. It is advised to be come a vegetarian though. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/5 "2003-06-29T06:14:51Z")
Buddhists generally speaking are very accepting of other views, and most are up for a good healthy debate. Of course, you’ve always got some that are not open, but generally it’s pretty dang open. You may wish to look into Tibetan buddhism. The Dalai Lama’s books are a good start. Tibetan buddhists generally are not vegetarians. They also live in one of the few countries where buddhism is a way of life for the majority of Tibetans. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/6 "2003-06-29T06:46:53Z")
When hanging out with other Buddhists, they often feel all third eyes are upon them. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-buddhists-think-of-other-buddhists/185101/7 "2003-06-29T15:50:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Morkfromork \* > \*\*Also, if I wanted to practice Buddhism, would I have to become vegetarian (I hope not, 'cause that would be a deal-killer right there). \*\* You might find interesting to note that the Lord Buddha assended into parinibbana (died) after eating bad pork. I noticed that the monks around here, _always_ ask for extra roast pork in their ramen. Whatever that means. (And of course there was this monk who bought a hot dog in New York…) Opinions about other sects vary from “we’re essentially saying the same thing” to “they’re going to burn in hell for forty thousand aeons.”