Search found 924 matches

by Lazy_eye
Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:08 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Happy Birthday Lazy_eye!!
Replies: 5
Views: 1928

Re: Happy Birthday Lazy_eye!!

Thanks very much! That photo David posted is, ah, quite an eyeful!

All best to everyone!

Robert (Lazy Eye)
by Lazy_eye
Wed Jul 19, 2017 2:40 pm
Forum: Announcements
Topic: Ajahn Chah Facebook page
Replies: 10
Views: 8646

Re: Ajahn Chah Facebook page

Thank you for this -- it's great!
by Lazy_eye
Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:37 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?
Replies: 77
Views: 39504

Re: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?

Thanks for the video - it's great, and brought back memories of 1985! Have you seen this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5RK7DonYP8 I hadn't seen this. It's quite powerful. I take your point about the "unchanging essence" issue regarding souls, but my sticking point here is that in ...
by Lazy_eye
Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:13 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?
Replies: 77
Views: 39504

Re: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?

If the stream is of mind, would this not be the same as 2c, as well? It looked to me like they could be the same, or similar -- since the citta isn't something static. And how would they be differentiated from a soul which is individual and persists over time? As I understand it (based on some rece...
by Lazy_eye
Tue Jul 18, 2017 12:21 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?
Replies: 77
Views: 39504

Re: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?

... purisassa viññāṇasotaṃ ... ubhayato abbocchinnaṃ ... — "A man's stream-of-consciousness that is uninterrupted between both [this world and the next]." The phrase is unique to this sutta. "unbroken flux.." is simply a description of the (beginingless) stream of namarupa in my...
by Lazy_eye
Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:50 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?
Replies: 77
Views: 39504

Re: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?

The Sampasādanīya Sutta , DN 28, refers to "the unbroken flux of human consciousness," in a section on degrees of discernment. It's a difficult sutta and probably there is some context or dimension of meaning to the words that I'm not aware of. However, on the face of it, doesn't this &qu...
by Lazy_eye
Sun Jul 16, 2017 1:08 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?
Replies: 77
Views: 39504

Re: According to Classical Theravada, what is reborn?

2.a. There is no self but there is a frequency transfer of kammic energies (some interpretations) 2.b. There is no permanent self, but there is an indeterminate, inexpressible self (pudgalavada) 2.c. There is no permanent self but there is citta which never dies (some Forest traditions and other mo...
by Lazy_eye
Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:32 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does Buddhism really "resist" secularism?
Replies: 60
Views: 13632

Re: Does Buddhism really "resist" secularism?

I think we should be careful not to conflate the doctrine of annata and the idea that "no one is home so nothing matters" - in no way are these the same things. Beings experience suffering, and human beings have needs and desires, and it is kind and right that we should wish and support o...
by Lazy_eye
Sat Jul 15, 2017 5:00 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does Buddhism really "resist" secularism?
Replies: 60
Views: 13632

Re: Does Buddhism really "resist" secularism?

An implication of the theory of the struggle for survival is that one ought to embrace this struggle and maximize one's chances to win against the competition. I see a couple problems here. One is that in a world of constant competition, no one can win all the time. Inevitably we will have the expe...
by Lazy_eye
Sat Jul 15, 2017 4:43 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does Buddhism really "resist" secularism?
Replies: 60
Views: 13632

Re: Does Buddhism really "resist" secularism?

Do you believe there can be some sort of reconciliation between traditional Buddhism and the scientific-evolutionary-rationalistic mindset which doesn’t harm the former? A question I find myself asking is this: suppose the "scientific-evolutionary-rational" view is correct. Is there then ...
by Lazy_eye
Wed Jul 12, 2017 3:10 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Rebirth
Replies: 53
Views: 10981

Re: Rebirth

At 56:43, a hell so described is referred to as mahaparilaha niraya, the Hell of the Great Conflagration. Yes, but interestingly enough this other sutta, SN 56.43, presents us with another example of hell being used figuratively rather than literally. The sutta begins with the Buddha referring to &...
by Lazy_eye
Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:37 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Rebirth
Replies: 53
Views: 10981

Re: Rebirth

No, it's unequivocal. Well, we'll have to disagree then. Yes, that's certainly a different way of expressing things, but presumably this sutta could be referring to a type of rebirth in a non-material realm. Could be. Nevertheless, it's still an example of a sutta where the terms "hell" a...
by Lazy_eye
Tue Jul 11, 2017 1:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Rebirth
Replies: 53
Views: 10981

Re: Rebirth

the description of rebirth in the suttas is unequivocally about a beginningless sequence of rebirths into one form of existence or another. Primarily, perhaps, but not "unequivocally." There is at least one sutta in which the heaven and hell realms are presented as states of mind rather t...
by Lazy_eye
Thu Jul 06, 2017 2:08 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is "mind"?
Replies: 41
Views: 9596

Re: What is "mind"?

I've just begun reading Thanissaro Bhikkhu's new "On The Path." On page 17, he says: This pattern of not formally defining his central terms is a distinctive feature of the Buddha's teachings. He is basically teaching a course for training the mind to end suffering and achieve true happin...
by Lazy_eye
Wed Jul 05, 2017 7:40 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is "mind"?
Replies: 41
Views: 9596

Re: What is "mind"?

Some replies in this thread seem to be suggesting the question posed is inappropriate because it is too philosophical and not practical enough. I acknowledge this is a conceptual/philosophical question. The reason I am asking is that I have been studying various models/theories of "mind" a...