Search found 2582 matches

by justindesilva
Fri Mar 22, 2024 1:36 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Indra’s Pillar
Replies: 11
Views: 343

Re: Indra’s Pillar

Originally there was probably a religious significance, relating to the Vedic god. But the term is used in a positive sense elsewhere, not just as some kind of obstacle to be uprooted or overthrown. In Dhp's Arahantavagga, for example, we have: Undisturbed like the earth, Pathavisamo no virujjhati,...
by justindesilva
Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Simplicity
Replies: 8
Views: 204

Re: Simplicity

I find these verses to be quite inspiring, as a reminder to not get too lost in debates and discussions. “Here came Kokanada, Pajjunna’s daughter, Beautiful as the gleam of lightning. Venerating the Buddha and the Dhamma, She spoke these verses full of meaning. “Though the Dhamma is of such a natur...
by justindesilva
Mon Mar 18, 2024 9:09 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How can Annica Dukkha Annata exists with kamma vipaka?
Replies: 7
Views: 187

Re: How can Annica Dukkha Annata exists with kamma vipaka?

"Intention, I tell you, is kamma. Intending, one does kamma by way of body, speech, & intellect. " AN 6.63 Are intentions permanent or impermanent? Since they are clearly impermanent, can intentions define a person? To my knowledge, yes. One who has pure intentions are those with kusa...
by justindesilva
Mon Mar 18, 2024 4:34 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"
Replies: 41
Views: 772

Re: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"

I think the issue here is the word "owned". We own car and no matter how well we look after it we can't prevent it from deteriorating or breaking down, our body is like this. The problem is that we not only believe we own the body in the way we own a car we identify the body as me, which ...
by justindesilva
Sun Mar 17, 2024 1:04 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"
Replies: 41
Views: 772

Re: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"

When you own something you control it. You do whatever you want with it because it's yours. If you can't be in full control, you might notice that then it isn't so true that it's fully yours. To be yours seems to be more like a matter of speak, it works if we put aside the fact that you can't fully...
by justindesilva
Sun Mar 17, 2024 6:00 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path is in
Replies: 15
Views: 378

Re: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path i

The noble eightfold path is included under the skandhas. Like every path and every action. I only wish to note here about critsizing the bikkhu Seelavimala (sermoning in video) may have made a mistake or may not have. Yet after listening to the video that his sermon tallied exactly with the sinhala...
by justindesilva
Sun Mar 17, 2024 4:07 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path is in
Replies: 15
Views: 378

Re: The three aggregates are not included under the noble eightfold path, friend Visakha, but the noble eightfold path i

The noble eightfold path is included under the skandhas. Like every path and every action. I only wish to note here about critsizing the bikkhu Seelavimala (sermoning in video) may have made a mistake or may not have. Yet after listening to the video that his sermon tallied exactly with the sinhala...
by justindesilva
Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:13 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Is hair spiritual?
Replies: 8
Views: 261

Re: Is hair spiritual?

It might help if you clarified what you mean here. There are Theravadan monastic rules about hair length, but I'm not aware of any special significance for lay practitioners. It's not like Sikhism, for example, where kesh or the principle of allowing one's hair to be uncut is a religious duty. From...
by justindesilva
Tue Mar 12, 2024 12:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: When Tathagata was teaching, who was teaching?
Replies: 25
Views: 871

Re: When Tathagata was teaching, who was teaching?

There are many others in thousands at least on this earth, trying at least sotapatti , in many parts of the Buddhist world. For one to find who, when and where has achieved that kind of seeing or knowing as such, he must be a loka vidhu . It was only one and only Lord budda that existed a loka vidh...
by justindesilva
Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:40 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: When Tathagata was teaching, who was teaching?
Replies: 25
Views: 871

Re: When Tathagata was teaching, who was teaching?

There are lay people who can reach jhana(s) and samadhi. Who? I'll go and check now. Even a monk nowadays will not have Samma Samadhi. That is achieving NON RETURN at the very least. btw, I'm not talking about fake samadhi. Real Samma Samadhi. There are many others in thousands at least on this ear...
by justindesilva
Sun Mar 10, 2024 4:54 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: When Tathagata was teaching, who was teaching?
Replies: 25
Views: 871

Re: When Tathagata was teaching, who was teaching?

Joe, I wanted to ask another question somewhat related to this topic. Some Buddhist including monastics believe that the world of senses is the only reality and that there is no such thing as Absolute reality beyond the worlds of senses. What are you thoughts on this? My understanding is that the e...
by justindesilva
Thu Mar 07, 2024 4:22 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The great cappucciNO SELF debate
Replies: 760
Views: 19384

Re: The great cappucciNO SELF debate

inconstant and changes moment to moment. Without essence, empty. Inconstancy is true Views are also inconstant. We can agree, for the moment. :tongue: This is all expressed in the stanza or gatha "swakato baghavato dammo sandhittiko akaliko ehipassiko opanaiko pacchentan vedithabbo .. ... &quo...
by justindesilva
Wed Mar 06, 2024 11:42 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The great cappucciNO SELF debate
Replies: 760
Views: 19384

Re: The great cappucciNO SELF debate

pops wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:45 am It depends on how you understand the thought and conclusion ‚x exists‘ - ‚x exists not‘.
May I know any other way of existence other than with nama rupa, please.
Dependant origination has a strong emphasis on nama rupa too , nama rupa paccaya salayatana.
by justindesilva
Wed Mar 06, 2024 9:23 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The great cappucciNO SELF debate
Replies: 760
Views: 19384

Re: The great cappucciNO SELF debate

Like dinosaurs? Did they exist and perish, or they always existed and will continue existing? They still exist birds … Existence of dinosaurs in the past, birds and animals now all can be mentioned of existence. But Dinosaurs do not exist now , yet as fossils there bones exist and with a DNA that c...
by justindesilva
Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:29 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The great cappucciNO SELF debate
Replies: 760
Views: 19384

Re: The great cappucciNO SELF debate

Of course it is about you and me and others. Question is how this is understood. It's not, the problem is that we tend to think we are the main character in a story whereas it's an impersonal process and we are just along for the ride. This problem as of a self will not arise after properly underst...