Search found 946 matches

by Caodemarte
Sat Oct 31, 2020 6:47 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Piya Tan's Teaching above Teacher
Replies: 39
Views: 11973

Re: Piya Tan's Teaching above Teacher

I would not worry about it. Many books are and have historically been written down by students from lectures. There is certainly no trace of cultishness or even sectarianism in TNH. TNH, coming from the specific Vietnamese Zen tradition, is highly educated in the Buddhist traditions, which he explic...
by Caodemarte
Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:10 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Theravadan Shikantaza?
Replies: 19
Views: 10247

Re: Theravadan Shikantaza?

I found this; different, but connecting Wat Pah Nanachat with Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind : .... But when I went there and asked the monks about Buddhism, to explain things a little bit for me so that I could get a feel for what their life was about, the first thing one of them did was to give me a c...
by Caodemarte
Wed Oct 28, 2020 4:14 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Theravadan Shikantaza?
Replies: 19
Views: 10247

Re: Theravadan Shikantaza?

Ajahn Chan had Soto teacher Shunryiu Suzuki’s “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” translated into Thai and would pass it out to visitors as an introduction to meditation. His talks and advice on meditation sound very similar to Soto shikantaza. The superficial forms are different, but both methods are about...
by Caodemarte
Wed Oct 14, 2020 11:49 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Fake news and The Dhamma....
Replies: 10
Views: 2183

Re: Fake news and The Dhamma....

@ Doodot... I appreciate the links, I have watched some of the video but to be honest, I was talking about much more than covid... I am not always the best at conveying my point and this was the reason why I stopped posting on here so much in the past. This is another example of it. I'll likely sta...
by Caodemarte
Sat Oct 10, 2020 2:03 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What is this debate thing in Mahayana?
Replies: 12
Views: 4839

Re: What is this debate thing in Mahayana?

Coëmgenu wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:54 pm...
The clapping is likely cultural and not meant to be "aggressive." That was just my charactization.
It is part of the fun entertainment part of the debate, a theatrical gesture.
by Caodemarte
Sat Oct 10, 2020 1:59 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Piya Tan's Teaching above Teacher
Replies: 39
Views: 11973

Re: Piya Tan's Teaching above Teacher

I doubt that sincere followers of Thich Nhst Hahn will fade away after his death or that he is leading a cult of personality. He is rock solid in his sophisticated understanding of Buddhism, something often misunderstood because of the gentle and simple language he uses.
by Caodemarte
Fri Oct 09, 2020 3:57 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What is this debate thing in Mahayana?
Replies: 12
Views: 4839

Re: What is this debate thing in Mahayana?

It is a tradition from old India where debates were public performances. All sects and religions participated. Debates both trained participants in reason (its primary function in monasteries) and was a major source of entertainment for all. The tradition in this specific Indian form survived in Tib...
by Caodemarte
Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:36 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Against Nāgārjuna
Replies: 95
Views: 27231

Re: Against Nāgārjuna

The name is still commonly used in India 🇮🇳 and there is at least one very popular actor and singer who has the same name. Nagas are also supposed to be beautiful as well as wise so I guess they are going for the handsome connotation.
by Caodemarte
Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:25 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Against Nāgārjuna
Replies: 95
Views: 27231

Re: Against Nāgārjuna

Seriously. Is noone bothered by the man's name? There is no exact Western equivalent, but calling oneself "Lucifer" is similar enough. I would be careful about anything said by someone who calls himself Lucifer, or Trickster, and such. ???? Assuming you are referring to Nagarjuna, do you ...
by Caodemarte
Thu Oct 01, 2020 6:12 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Abortion
Replies: 149
Views: 45354

Re: Abortion

Buddhist countries practice capital punishment and allow abortion. I oppose capital punishment on moral grounds, but recognize that Buddhists have historically interpreted the precepts differently. It may be worth noting that one of the reasons abortion is legally practiced in poor Buddhist countrie...
by Caodemarte
Tue Sep 29, 2020 5:07 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: mindfulness of death on FNC
Replies: 10
Views: 9546

Re: mindfulness of death on FNC

RBG and her reputation for morality, integrity, and brilliance are so well established, even with those who argued against her, they do not need defense against these bizarre internet attacks. It might be be more useful to silently reflect on the karmic consequences of spreading lies and falsely def...
by Caodemarte
Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:40 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Yogācāra and Abhidhamma
Replies: 13
Views: 7907

Re: Yogācāra and Abhidhamma

You can use or adapt some one else’s ideas to formulate your own philosophy as long as acknowledge what you are doing. It is usually best to first understand those ideas in their own context. Separating any Buddhist philosophy from its soteriological purpose misses the point, distorts the thought in...
by Caodemarte
Mon Sep 21, 2020 3:38 am
Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
Topic: what are the downsides of getting a flu shot
Replies: 20
Views: 25862

Re: what are the downsides of getting a flu shot

Get your shots. Avoid the flu or passing on the flu. The odds of a negative reaction are so much less than that that there are no good arguments against it.
by Caodemarte
Mon Sep 21, 2020 1:39 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Yogācāra and Abhidhamma
Replies: 13
Views: 7907

Re: Yogācāra and Abhidhamma

Theravada probably did not exist then as a school and was never influential or apparently even known in northern India until after the extinction of Buddhism in India so I can only assume you are referring to the common heritage of Buddhist ideas and, of course, all Buddhists use these. AFAIK, I'm ...