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by mikenz66
Tue Mar 26, 2024 7:16 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: What is a dhammā exactly?
Replies: 33
Views: 810

Re: What is a dhammā exactly?

So, to expand on Halbfass's remarks, to describe y as x-dharma, is to say that y is something that possesses the dharma – the attribute, the quality – that is x; and in philosophical, as opposed to purely grammatical, terms, the ‘something’ that possesses an attribute (dharmin) is an underlying sub...
by mikenz66
Tue Mar 26, 2024 6:53 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: What is a dhammā exactly?
Replies: 33
Views: 810

Re: What is a dhammā exactly?

I just reading this paper by Rupert Gethin today which discusses what "dhamma" means in its different contexts. I found it very insightful, and it's quite supportive of the Classical Theravādin teaching on the subject, although disagreeing with the ontological status of the dhammas. He ma...
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 23, 2024 10:40 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"
Replies: 41
Views: 761

Re: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"

I am not sure the meaning of Anatta is "no control" What Buddha said was whether it is wise to take phenomena as myself if you do not have control over it. Take it up with Thai monastics... :tongue: Clearly no translation is perfect. One of the issues that lostitude has with the various t...
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 23, 2024 8:25 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"
Replies: 41
Views: 761

Re: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"

And is there a logical fallacy in the argument in the Anattalakkhanasutta by which we know that the non-existence of the self is a viable premise? Both are forms of modus tollens (If p then q; not q; therefore not p). I don’t know this text, sorry. It's one of the key suttas that we have been discu...
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:29 am
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation Report
Replies: 7
Views: 181

Re: Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation Report

It appears this person is overwhelmed by the five hindrances. He does not seem to practice Satipathana correctly. I would say that there is an imbalance of the five mental powers. Concentration and awareness are strong while faith, energy, and wisdom have become weak. I understand that all five nee...
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:13 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The Dhamma and Science
Replies: 10
Views: 218

Re: The Dhamma and Science

Yes these are all good analogies also. I mean however mainly with regards meditation it is an experimentation with a method and a template but one has to test it and come to ones own knowledge of how to still the mind. Just as one learns to make the right sound on an instrument, or kick a goal? Of ...
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:41 pm
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: How do I become a nun?
Replies: 19
Views: 528

Re: How do I become a nun?

Hi ambapali Hello. I am seriously considering bikkhuni ordination.... That's wonderful. :anjali: I suggest asking on the Sutta Central Forum. There are a number of Bhikkhunis active there, from Australia and elsewhere. https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/triple-bhikkhuni-ordination-in-germany/29942...
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:25 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation Report
Replies: 7
Views: 181

Re: Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation Report

Is this one of those "asking for a friend" questions? :tongue:

Do you have more context? Is this someone who has been practising alone, based on what they have read or heard, without a teacher or companions?

:heart:
Mike
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:14 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The Dhamma and Science
Replies: 10
Views: 218

Re: The Dhamma and Science

The Dhamma does have many parallels with the scientific method of experimenting to see what works. Many approaches to life involve "experimenting to see what works". Children do that all the time. "Science" as I understand it requires testable models of phenomena. That methodolo...
by mikenz66
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:53 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: sutta jhana and vipassana jhana
Replies: 20
Views: 642

Re: sutta jhana and vipassana jhana

As I said though its clear from the suttas, commentaries and meditation manuals that otherworldly mental rapture and physical bliss are involved. Everyone agrees on that. Everyone agrees that the mind will be concentrated too on the meditation, and that it will be collected and still. The best advi...
by mikenz66
Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:48 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: sutta jhana and vipassana jhana
Replies: 20
Views: 642

Re: sutta jhana and vipassana jhana

Here are some thread that may be helpful https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?p=560317#p560317 https://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?p=741898#p741898 In the last thread there is a link to a preprint version of Bhikkhu Analayo's paper: "A Brief History of Buddhist Absorption", Mind...
by mikenz66
Mon Mar 18, 2024 1:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"
Replies: 41
Views: 761

Re: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"

Hello, I keep running into this statement in Ajahn Chah's teachings. I don't understand the logic. To me this sounds like a logical fallacy, because it doesn't matter what kind of thing you own, it just does not follow that said thing will 'obey your commands', especially if it's not even a being o...
by mikenz66
Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:20 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path is in
Replies: 15
Views: 376

Re: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path i

The noble eightfold path is included under the skandhas. Like every path and every action. I only wish to note here about critsizing the bikkhu Seelavimala (sermoning in video) may have made a mistake or may not have. Yet after listening to the video that his sermon tallied exactly with the sinhala...
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:12 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path is in
Replies: 15
Views: 376

Re: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path i

I need your opinion on the answer of Ven. Dhammadinna. I have no problem with the question of Visaka. What is the translation of various people about Dhammadinna's answer? The Sujato translation I quoted above is here: https://suttacentral.net/mn44/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=sidebyside&refere...
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:00 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path is in
Replies: 15
Views: 376

Re: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path i

It's a bit confusing because khandhas here isn't the five aggregates. 11. “Lady, are the three aggregates included by the Noble Eightfold Path, or is the Noble Eightfold Path included by the three aggregates?” The word khandha here has a different meaning than in the more common context of the five ...