“Turn Down for What?” & Buddhism – an intro for the modern world

[mikenz66]

“Turn Down for What?” & Buddhism – an intro for the modern world
February 28, 2016 by Justin Whitaker

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/americanbu ... world.html

This is from a while ago, but as I was in India when it came out and Montana for most of the time since, I hope I can be forgiven for missing it. It’s a short, pretty accurate introduction to Buddhism that might appeal to, say, college freshmen.
I especially appreciated the Buddha’s early life as being described in terms of having the ultimate “helicopter parents.” Also useful was his use of a tablet gift to demonstrate the pervasive nature of suffering*. Either you
don’t get it – and suffer
you get it, love it, and drop it and break the screen – and suffer
you get it, love it, don’t drop it and it lasts a long time but eventually it’s no longer adequate or up to date…. you suffer.
As he points out, it turns out that the mindfulness and meditation practices taught in Buddhism have been shown to be beneficial for dealing with a variety of life’s stresses. However, as he also rightly states, the principles upon which these practices are based are often contrary to the principles of contemporary society (e.g. consumerism/productivity): “I mean, the American Dream isn’t to learn how to be satisfied with what you have and seek happiness from within.”

phpBB .

Mike



[SarathW]

Good video.
However it covers only the Kama Thanha.
It does not cover Bhava Tanha and Vibhava Thanha, which many of us will never understand.
Re-birth in a woeful state is the next hardest thing to understand.
Most modern mindfulness meditation is just another way to relax or new type of entertainment.

[Spiny Norman]

I'm often aware of a large advertising industry which specialises in creating dissatisfaction.

[The Thinker]

The point missed by the video is that overindulgence and excess of pleasures can lead to further craving and greed, which ultimately can never be satisfied, therefore, the familiar pattern of disappointments becomes the cause of depression, addictions and unhappiness. Unfortunately in the west, this pattern of excess is the given norm and most fail to recognise the imbalance.

[The Thinker]

Thus have I heard. Once the Exalted One was dwelling at Anathapindika's monastery, in the Jeta Grove, near Savatthi.

Now when the night was far spent a certain deity whose surpassing splendor illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Exalted One and, drawing near, respectfully saluted Him and stood at one side. Standing thus, he addressed the Exalted One in verse:

The Deity:
Having come here with our questions to the Exalted One, we ask thee, O Gotama, about man's decline. Pray, tell us the cause of downfall!

The Buddha:
Easily known is the progressive one, easily known he who declines. He who loves Dhamma progresses; he who is averse to it, declines.

The Deity:
Thus much do we see: this is the first cause of one's downfall. Pray, tell us the second cause.[1]

The Buddha:
The wicked are dear to him, with the virtuous he finds no delight, he prefers the creed of the wicked — this is a cause of one's downfall.

Being fond of sleep, fond of company, indolent, lazy and irritable — this is a cause of one's downfall.

Though being well-to-do, not to support father and mother who are old and past their youth — this is a cause of one's downfall.

To deceive by falsehood a brahman or ascetic or any other mendicant — this is a cause of one's downfall.

To have much wealth and ample gold and food, but to enjoy one's luxuries alone — this is a cause of one's downfall.

To be proud of birth, of wealth or clan, and to despise one's own kinsmen — this is a cause of one's downfall.

To be a rake, a drunkard, a gambler, and to squander all one earns — this is a cause of one's downfall.

Not to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others — this is a cause of one's downfall.

Being past one's youth, to take a young wife and to be unable to sleep for jealousy of her — this is a cause of one's downfall.

To place in authority a woman given to drink and squandering, or a man of a like behavior — this is a cause of one's downfall.

To be of noble birth, with vast ambition and of slender means, and to crave for rulership — this is a cause of one's downfall.

Knowing well these causes of downfall in the world, the noble sage endowed with insight shares a happy realm.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .nara.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cappuccino]

Nothing is full of potential (and grace).

[justindesilva]

The purpose of buddhist meditation is not for short termed purposes and not to get high and high again.
It is either to release one of mental anxieties gradually or to relieve one from total suffering.
I remember early in 1960s transcendental meditation became just a style. But those who took it correctly even in America adopted it to boost their industries like "Apple "
We have to be careful in what we get from advertisements today as we are not initially aware of the ambitions of such advertisements.
With mettha