Search found 3381 matches

by Dan74
Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:33 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Retreat
Replies: 14
Views: 282

Re: Retreat

Lovely, Sam. :anjali:
by Dan74
Sun Apr 07, 2024 7:32 am
Forum: Dhammaduta (Dhamma propagation)
Topic: European Buddhism
Replies: 9
Views: 277

Re: European Buddhism

I think Dhamma-based practices, such as MBSR, are increasingly found in Europe, especially given the dire state of mental health. Besides, minimalists, ecol-activists, yoga/Eastern spirituality people integrate some Buddhism into their lives. So while there may not be much of a growth of people who ...
by Dan74
Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:21 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Suddh, your post is basically an appeal to authority, which is fine. It's just that some of us take the Buddha as a guide but not the gospel, especially given that He is not here and what we have of His teachings are not directly from Him. Perhaps this is a difference in mind set between those in t...
by Dan74
Wed Apr 03, 2024 6:19 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

To me it appears counter-intutive to assert that the kamma... The laws of nature are not the result of intuition, they are all counter-intuitive. It is possible to have an intuition about a law of nature, but such an intuition is nothing more than an assumption about the law itself, an attempt to i...
by Dan74
Wed Apr 03, 2024 2:48 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

The Theravada position appears to be a moral-absolute with no exceptions. Compare to the Mahayana position: There is a Mahayana story about the buddha killing in a past life, but not in the final existence as Gotama. The Buddha, in a past life as a ship's captain named Super Compassionate, discover...
by Dan74
Wed Apr 03, 2024 11:23 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Suddh, your post is basically an appeal to authority, which is fine. It's just that some of us take the Buddha as a guide but not the gospel, especially given that He is not here and what we have of His teachings are not directly from Him. To me it appears counter-intutive to assert that the kamma o...
by Dan74
Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:03 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Getting through guilt and other emotional difficulties
Replies: 23
Views: 655

Re: Getting through guilt and other emotional difficulties

There is a Buddhist centre nearby which is offering some short instructional courses which may help. I am NOT asking anyone to criticise another tradition, I note the rule against that. However, I do like Theravada - is Kadampa a la Geshe Kelsang Gyatso hugely different to Theravada? Thanks again f...
by Dan74
Mon Apr 01, 2024 5:27 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

And if the intention is to save rather than kill, and killing is same as in self-defence, rather than hatred, is the kamma then truly the kamma of the killer? In order to kill, there must be an intention to kill. Therefore, the murderer and the saviour in this case do not differ from each other in ...
by Dan74
Mon Apr 01, 2024 1:44 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

Are people interested in delving into the reasons for the divergent views or should we confine ourselves to quoting scriptures and interpret them in the way that suits what we want to believe? For instance, If the prohibition of killing is because human life is precious and should not be taken, than...
by Dan74
Fri Mar 29, 2024 11:21 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal
Replies: 465
Views: 76251

Re: Bhikkhu Bodhi on War and Thanissaro's rebuttal

I hope that people who have strong views on this matter (and actually everybody else too) read the extended exchange between the two bhikkhus on it here https://archive.org/details/InquiringMindLettersInResponseToBhikkuBodhiFinal/page/n23/mode/2up?view=theater It provides plenty of food for thought....
by Dan74
Fri Mar 29, 2024 7:05 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Popularity of Mahāyāna
Replies: 12
Views: 468

Re: Popularity of Mahāyāna

I think the main difference that may be relevant is the need for a student-teacher relationship in many Mahayana schools. This leads to a regular schedule with sequential teachings, retreats and other activities. In comparison, Theravada centres typically offer people an opportunity to bring dana, h...
by Dan74
Fri Mar 22, 2024 2:46 pm
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: How do I become a nun?
Replies: 20
Views: 687

Re: How do I become a nun?

Hi ambapali :hello: It's wonderful that you're so passionate about practice and keep up such an impressive meditation regimen. One thing about ordaining that you may or may not have considered, is the loss of privacy and constant close contact with other nuns. They may include all kinds of people, i...
by Dan74
Sun Mar 17, 2024 9:18 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: "If we owned our body, it would obey our every command"
Replies: 88
Views: 1878

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

Like others said above, it's bout control. We have very little of it.
by Dan74
Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:35 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: Revisiting The Buddha's Ethnicity
Replies: 92
Views: 7493

Re: Revisiting The Buddha's Ethnicity

There are suttas where people meet the Buddha and don't recognise him, even those who knew of the Dhamma and followed it. If he was truly of remarkable appearance, word of that would've surely spread and that would not have happened. See, for example https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.1...
by Dan74
Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:34 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: Revisiting The Buddha's Ethnicity
Replies: 92
Views: 7493

Re: Revisiting The Buddha's Ethnicity

There are suttas where people meet the Buddha and don't recognise him, even those who knew of the Dhamma and followed it. If he was truly of remarkable appearance, word of that would've surely spread and that would not have happened. See, for example https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.1...