Search found 154 matches

by Subharo
Fri Apr 20, 2018 2:21 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Post your original poetry here!
Replies: 105
Views: 34612

Re: Post your original poetry here!

There's a thread over at discourse.suttacentral, where you can post a haiku about your biggest pet peeve about Buddhism.
by Subharo
Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:39 am
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: why is authenticity under-valued
Replies: 44
Views: 10513

Re: why is authenticity under-valued

Hey binocular, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/putting-monsterpaint-onjordan-peterson/550859/ Please don't act like Peterson's interviewer (putting words into people's mouths). Thanks. I think I've said all I need to say in this thread. Maybe your questions might make good, new ...
by Subharo
Wed Jan 24, 2018 1:55 am
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: How do Pa-auk Sayadaw's teachings hold up to the EBTs?
Replies: 2
Views: 2143

Re: How do Pa-auk Sayadaw's teachings hold up to the EBTs?

That sound of crickets you hear in response to your question is your answer.
by Subharo
Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:14 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: why is authenticity under-valued
Replies: 44
Views: 10513

Re: Evolutionarily Stable States become "stronger" automatically

Dawkins explains an important and profound concept (relevant to the OP) in Biology, called the " Evolutionarily Stable State ", or ESS for short. /.../ The ESS that the Buddha originally built is more delicate, but optimized for enlightenment. The ESS's you often see in modern Buddhism ar...
by Subharo
Tue Jan 23, 2018 2:02 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: why is authenticity under-valued
Replies: 44
Views: 10513

Re: why is authenticity under-valued

Thanks for that, Bhante. I think Dawkins is brilliant when he's explaining what he knows well. When he strays into other areas he just makes me cringe... I recall reading basically a description of anatta in The God Delusion. Unfortunately he knows little about religion and zero about Buddhism, so ...
by Subharo
Tue Jan 23, 2018 1:09 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: why is authenticity under-valued
Replies: 44
Views: 10513

Evolutionarily Stable States become "stronger" automatically

Before I begin, I'm not out to debate! These are just my personal 2 cents. Take it or leave it. I remembered a very good book I read about half a year ago, which was Richard Dawkins' "The Selfish Gene." It was quite mind-blowing, and worth reading. Note: I feel it had much to contribute in...
by Subharo
Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:55 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

I hope none of my posts have come off as undermining your intentions of bringing forth whatever sangha-related topics you would like to discuss with fellow monastics in an open manner here. :anjali: You haven't offended me, no worries. For those who are wondering why I am "airing grievances&qu...
by Subharo
Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:19 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

5. Seniority principle (respect) is in accord with the nature law , similar to filial piety , is a kind of virtue not otherwise . That is one Dhamma topic which is not discussed very much. ...because it's primarily a Confucian idea, IMHO. Confucius coined the term "filial piety" (not to m...
by Subharo
Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:23 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

BMC 1 , Chapter 2 ("Nissaya"), pg. 36 (bottom), Section "Duties", sub-section "The pupil's duties to his mentor" (and "mentor" expands to meaning both Acariya and Preceptor), item 2 ("Assisting the mentor in any problems he may have with regard to the Dh...
by Subharo
Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:25 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

It's not just about saving face, it's about preserving one's livelihood! I've weighed the risks and decided to say something anyway. I'm a Majjhima monk (9 vassas), not a Senior monk. If I were to try to have a discussion (in the Westerner sense of that term) with a monk of, say, 20 vassas, then it...
by Subharo
Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:14 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

I don't know how to locate this within the Vinaya BMC 1 , Chapter 2 ("Nissaya"), pg. 36 (bottom), Section "Duties", sub-section "The pupil's duties to his mentor" (and "mentor" expands to meaning both Acariya and Preceptor), item 2 ("Assisting the mentor...
by Subharo
Mon Jan 15, 2018 2:12 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

- I used to take a martial art, way back when I was a teenager. I noted that the master would never spar with the students, nor compete in tournaments. His two black-belt sons did those things for him. The explanation I got as to why the Master never competed was this: "because if he ever lost...
by Subharo
Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:20 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

Dhammanando & subharo . I'm a Majjhima monk (9 vassas), not a Senior monk. If I were to try to have a discussion (in the Westerner sense of that term) with a monk of, say, 20 vassas, then it probably wouldn't really be a discussion (again, in the Westerner sense of the term). Hierarchy would pr...
by Subharo
Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:08 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?
Replies: 60
Views: 12860

Re: Which Senior Theravada monks should ideally discuss and explore with each other over which topics?

I am tantalized into asking, what do you think the long-standing controversies and sticking points are? ... let us know what you think the top 3 are... Retro's third point, below What are the prevailing ideas/views of Hinduism and Confucianism that you (the Senior monks) see as having snuck into Th...