Search found 97 matches

by EmptyShadow
Fri Jan 14, 2022 9:15 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Kamma and intention
Replies: 9
Views: 439

Kamma and intention

Hi, in one talk by Ajahn Anan he relates a story from the suttas that seem to contradict our common understanding that kamma is dependant on our intention. The example of this is set in one of the suttas, is the story of a monk sewing a robe, then he accidentally kills an insect with the needle. He ...
by EmptyShadow
Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:42 pm
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Venerable Nanavira - Sotapanna or Arahant?
Replies: 52
Views: 4654

Re: Venerable Nanavira - Sotapanna or Arahant?

A Sotapanna can't bring himself/herself to deprive a life knowingly. If he/she did so, then definitely not a Sotapanna. Taking someone else's life is not the same as taking your own life. There are examples in the suttas about enlightened ones, including arahants, who ended their own lives. For exa...
by EmptyShadow
Sun Oct 03, 2021 9:37 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Books by Venerable Ledi Sayādaw
Replies: 42
Views: 14580

Re: Books by Venerable Ledi Sayādaw

Is there any english translation of Venerable Ledi Sayādaw's Punnovāda Dīpanī?
by EmptyShadow
Mon Sep 20, 2021 7:11 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Camgirls
Replies: 21
Views: 3217

Re: Camgirls

You guys act like you are better than camgirls :tongue:
by EmptyShadow
Fri Sep 03, 2021 2:22 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Bill Gates vs Mahavihara Buddhists
Replies: 7
Views: 705

Re: Bill Gates vs Mahavihara Buddhists

Good post Sam Vara, but in my opinion the topic should also be locked. It's obvious that the speaker is not Bill Gates and all the propaganda about him injecting microchips with vaccines is baseless and ridiculous. I don't think this is the place to be spinning QAnon conspiracy theories.
by EmptyShadow
Fri Jun 25, 2021 12:15 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Learner/Sekha Arhats
Replies: 19
Views: 2430

Re: Learner/Sekha Arhats

Even during the time of the Buddha people had different ideas about things. For example, Devadatta had different ideas how the Sangha should be run when causing a schism. In the end when things contradict with the suttas factually or morally you have to chose which one to believe, the suttas or late...
by EmptyShadow
Thu Jun 24, 2021 9:30 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Learner/Sekha Arhats
Replies: 19
Views: 2430

Re: Learner/Sekha Arhats

It is a Mahayana thing that an Arhat still has work to do because there are remaining cognitive afflictions. Years ago I read a story about a Non-returner who was only moments from becoming an Arhat when a Bodhisattva broke his meditation. Naturally, he told the Bodhisattva that he had been right o...
by EmptyShadow
Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:04 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Is it breaking of Vinaya if a monastery set up an endowment fund?
Replies: 15
Views: 1232

Is it breaking of Vinaya if a monastery set up an endowment fund?

Hi, a while ago Birken Forest Monastery added option for donors to donate towards Endowment Fund and I was wandering if this is in line with the monastic code. From their site: Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery is pleased to announce the establishment of an endowment fund which will allow stable supp...
by EmptyShadow
Tue Mar 09, 2021 2:12 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: I'll review every Thai monastery I visit in this thread
Replies: 41
Views: 7481

Re: I'll review every Thai monastery I visit in this thread

Why do you prefer thai people over westerners tho? Sounds very prejudicial.
—Wat Marp Jan (Mahā Nikāya):

cons:
-absurd form to join the monastery
Can you elaborate on that, just curious. :anjali:
by EmptyShadow
Sat Jan 23, 2021 7:51 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Using Lite Jhana to enter Deep Jhana?
Replies: 122
Views: 12006

Re: Using Lite Jhana to enter Deep Jhana?

Here's interesting intrview with Leigh Brasington, who is a well known teacher of 'light' jhanas. I think it's relevant to the topic. One thing I’ve discovered along the way is that the level of concentration that I get to on a ten-day course or a month-long course or that my students get to is prob...
by EmptyShadow
Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:02 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Walking Meditation Sutta
Replies: 10
Views: 3426

Re: Walking Meditation Sutta

Thank you for the video, Bhante. I never realised that you can do walking meditation backwards. In confined space it feels wrong doing regular walking meditation with the constant turning around. I get dizzy/motion sickness and also it feels bad for the joints. Going forward and beckward in a small ...
by EmptyShadow
Sat Feb 15, 2020 10:28 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: How would you place your hands when bowing/saluting the shrine/showing respect to monastics
Replies: 27
Views: 7118

Re: How would you place your hands when bowing/saluting the shrine/showing respect to monastics

Reading about the cultural differences reminds me of a story from Ajahn Chah and his observations of differences between Thai customs and the West. If we invest things with our views and beliefs, then they immediately gain value – they can become sacred or holy objects. But without our projections, ...
by EmptyShadow
Mon Feb 10, 2020 6:58 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Number of bhikkhus attaining Sotapatti after a discourse
Replies: 6
Views: 2518

Number of bhikkhus attaining Sotapatti after a discourse

Hi, According to wiki the population of India at the time of the Buddha (500ish b.c.) was 1mil people. Yet, some of the suttas declare that after a discourse a big number of bhikkhus attain enlightenment. For example in Dhammapada Verse 1 Cakkhupalatthera Vatthu it ends with: "At the end of the...
by EmptyShadow
Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:39 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Re: Monks are allowed to keep pets?
Replies: 9
Views: 3449

Re: Monks are allowed to keep pets?

Are monks allowed to play with pets or pet/hug them? For example in rule 52. "Tickling" with the fingers is to be confessed. Can petting be seen in similar way as tickling? Also in rule 53. The act of playing in the water is to be confessed. Is playing with animals seen in similar way as p...
by EmptyShadow
Tue Dec 17, 2019 1:18 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Permission of parents in Sri Lanka ordination
Replies: 26
Views: 6820

Re: Permission of parents in Sri Lanka ordination

I wonder is it immoral if you bribe your parent with money to give his concent. In the story with Rattaphala he is basically threatening to kill himself if thay dont give consent and for comparison offering some money to get it seems tamer.