Search found 44 matches
- Fri Nov 22, 2013 6:50 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: What do you guys think about my understanding of kamma?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 2505
Re: What do you guys think about my understanding of kamma?
From my meditation and sutta study, all I learned that was there is nothing to gain. If I seek to improve kamma, or attain nibanna..it would just be emptiness. But also, I know, I came to the dhamma, because of being involved with a person, who burned me with the fires of infinite lifetimes in hells...
- Fri Nov 22, 2013 6:33 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Merits
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2289
Re: Merits
Thank you for such a concise response. Obviously there is a lot of deluson of a self in the author of this post..otherwise "I" would not feel the need to be on Dhammawheel. !!!!fivebells wrote:As long as you still have a concept of self, that is the self to which the merit will accrue.
- Fri Nov 22, 2013 6:24 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Merits
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2289
Merits
Friends in the dhamma, Will you please explain to me, your understanding of the concept how a being can accrue merits or give merits to other beings? I am confused about this aspect, because of anatta. I am without the ability to see how there is a self, to accrue merits. If we believe what the Budd...
- Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:17 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Building a donation based community
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2513
Re: Building a donation based community
Since you asked if we would like to join... When I began to attend various Sri Lankan communities of practice, I had such ideas. Wouldn't it be better if we dropped all the things like chanting and why do these people do prostrations to the monks and the Buddha rupa? I thought, it was corny. Now, af...
- Tue Jul 23, 2013 6:42 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Aversion from work - how to stop that
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2242
Re: Aversion from work - how to stop that
If you have aversion from meditation, I recommend that you get a copy of Ajahn Sumedho's book 'The sound of silence" and study the chapters on contemplation of the body. Also, if you research on the net, these talks are available for free in pdf under a different title that I don't remember bec...
- Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:15 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Is marriage a path to Nibbana?
- Replies: 53
- Views: 13291
Re: Is marriage a path to Nibbana?
i was married 'officially'' for a decade, and now I have been seperated for 2 years after that. So, my thoughts and experience: I think maybe, marriage and family is really the true proving ground for the realization of Anatta. Although I respect the Buddha and the Sangha immensely for the teachings...
- Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:08 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Prostration
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3887
Prostration
I'd like your thoughts on the subject of prostration. When I attend my local Buddhist center for meditation, I do the 5 point prostration 3 times to the triple gem before meditation. As a matter of respect. I learned the value and meaning of this by practicing at a Sri Lankan monastery a little bit....
- Mon Jun 10, 2013 5:14 pm
- Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
- Topic: Ordination in the US Monastery...?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2366
Re: Ordination in the US Monastery...?
With regard to Bhavana Society, there is a progression of practice to ordination. First living there as a layperson for at least a year, then becoming anagarika for an indeterminate period of time, then progressing to novice for at least a year, etc. So it's a long process to ordination. If you are ...
- Sat Jun 01, 2013 6:48 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Defilements and the old me
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2334
Re: Defilements and the old me
If you check out the website of Bhavana Society, Bhante G has given at least this talk on elimination of asavas by restraint. Maybe they have more there in the list. I find it interesting, like others said, Bhante focuses on the idea that defilements or asavas are not-self..they were cooked into &qu...
- Sat Jun 01, 2013 6:05 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: What role do "mystical experiences" play in practice?
- Replies: 18
- Views: 5274
Re: What role do "mystical experiences" play in practice?
I experienced, during breath meditation, what seemed to be going directly to the second jhana without ever passing through the first. And then later, the first jhana during another session. It was mystical to me and then I understood the idea of clinging to the jhanas being a danger, because in the ...
- Fri May 10, 2013 5:31 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Practices to find and/or eliminate clinging
- Replies: 11
- Views: 3035
Practices to find and/or eliminate clinging
What practices do you use, to eliminate clinging other than meditation? I listened to a talk of Ajahn Brahm a few months ago, wherein we visualize ourselves with 2 suitcases, one in each hand. One is the past and one is the future. We simply visualize setting both of those on the floor, and we can l...
- Fri May 10, 2013 4:04 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Why the emphasis on voidness and passing away?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 6441
Re: Why the emphasis on voidness and passing away?
I seem to sense an emphasis on the negative in alot of buddhism. The emphasis on voidness and impermanence and things passing away.... does it seem to anyone else that there is an emphasis on the negative? I suggest the book "I give you my life" by Ayya Khema. There are concrete real life...
- Fri May 10, 2013 3:40 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Finding dhamma friends?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4837
Re: Finding dhamma friends?
You could start a sutta study group on Meetup.com. Then use the following to study some suttas with people: http://leighb.com/studygid.htm http://www.shardarogell.com/rsu_docs/pressingoutpurehoney.pdf I have a Theravada center near to me, but they focus more on the ritual, as well as feel good and l...
- Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:32 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: The Benefits & Drawbacks of Pali
- Replies: 181
- Views: 35215
Re: The Problem With Pali
I've been going through Bhikkhu Bodhi's systematic study of the Majjhima Nikaya. Of course, BB has produced a translation of Majjhima Nikaya that many of us refer to. But even he states in his systematic study of his expansion and revision based on Nanamoli's translation,today known as The Middle Le...
- Sat Mar 30, 2013 6:53 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: A friend in the dhamma
- Replies: 24
- Views: 5762
Re: A friend in the dhamma
Thanks for the replies. David hit it spot-on, probably many of us are looking for mates that are a little less materialistic. I was married for a decade to someone less materialistic than those I am seeing now. But unfortunately she had anger and jealousy issues.. so, it's one thing or another.. Pil...