Search found 45 matches

by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 12, 2013 11:31 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Abortion
Replies: 149
Views: 45359

Re: Abortion

As I've mentioned around here before, there is reason to believe some teachings are deliberately vaguely put (e.g. right livelihood or sexual misconduct)... Are the teachings vague or is our understanding vague? The teachings about these matters seem quite straightforward. :alien: Vague was a poor ...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 12, 2013 11:10 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Abortion
Replies: 149
Views: 45359

Re: Abortion

Perhaps if the mods would move this post to Classical Theravada the subject of abortion could be discussed exclusively from the classic Dhamma texts. While I understand your desire to get at "what the Buddha taught" here, trying to form an opinion on abortion in today's world based on the...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sat May 11, 2013 10:30 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Abortion
Replies: 149
Views: 45359

Re: Abortion

Will wrote:Sure is difficult to focus on what Buddha taught - evidently.
Yes :) And isn't that just a good thing? It forces us to think and contemplate for ourselves, which is in my opinion precisely the point :anjali:
by Dennenappelmoes
Sat May 11, 2013 5:19 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Abortion
Replies: 149
Views: 45359

Re: Abortion

A less conservative approach to the Dhamma, also touches on abortion:

phpBB [video]
by Dennenappelmoes
Tue May 07, 2013 10:23 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great rebirth debate
Replies: 7539
Views: 1327098

Re: the great rebirth debate

Thanks for your reply 5heaps. :anjali: What I understand from what you're saying is that death doesn't cause birth, but is a prerequisite for birth. It is something that needs to be in place. This would mean that a mind could be "on the bench" for a moment before a new birth is ready to ta...
by Dennenappelmoes
Mon May 06, 2013 11:46 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great rebirth debate
Replies: 7539
Views: 1327098

Re: the great rebirth debate

If something dies, something will have to be born in order to have that mind reborn. So, if I kill something, that implies that causes a birth, and if I have a baby, I'm killing something else. Isn't this a violation of the law of cause and effect? Let's say for the sake of the argument we'd start ...
by Dennenappelmoes
Mon May 06, 2013 11:30 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Serious back pain when sitting
Replies: 7
Views: 2885

Re: Serious back pain when sitting

marc108 wrote: don't bother putting the effort into training your body into lotus. :shrug:
In my case it's just because I plan to ordain and so it'll be useful to be able to sit without any aids :P Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered :thumbsup:
by Dennenappelmoes
Mon May 06, 2013 9:06 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Serious back pain when sitting
Replies: 7
Views: 2885

Re: Serious back pain when sitting

Thank you Kevin for those videos. I have some back troubles as well so they will definitely benefit me as well :anjali: I am currently also working on sitting cross legged while still having a straight spine (can't do that yet). Sadge, have you tried a meditation bench? Or a cusion? You don't have t...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 05, 2013 10:23 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The 1st precept
Replies: 16
Views: 4006

Re: The 1st precept

To anyone interested in the point of view that I described, here is Ajahn Brahm defending it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlvYJK0NXOM Ajahn Brahm argues that in some cases, intentional killing can be the most wholesome thing to do whereas hiding from the situation, playing safe and not interveni...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 05, 2013 7:51 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The 1st precept
Replies: 16
Views: 4006

Re: The 1st precept

Well, I guess it hinges on whether you believe any good can come out of it. This is difficult to prove so it'll probably remain open for debate. Apart from this aspect I am with you completely. Of course in real life rather than in theory there are always going to be multiple layers and factors goin...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 05, 2013 6:33 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The 1st precept
Replies: 16
Views: 4006

Re: The 1st precept

But why would it necessarily be unwholesome? (see my post above) Killing is an inherently unwholesome act, if done with knowledge and intent. That is all there is to it. From my POV there can be no if, ands or buts about this as I think it is quite clear from the Theravada teachings. Some actions c...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 05, 2013 6:11 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The 1st precept
Replies: 16
Views: 4006

Re: The 1st precept

So, encouraging a woman to get an abortion and them going through with it as a result would constitute a violation of the precept, even though you personally did not carry out the deed yourself. It all comes down to your intent. So then, what if you encourage this with good intentions? The idea is ...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 05, 2013 6:03 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The 1st precept
Replies: 16
Views: 4006

Re: The 1st precept

Indrajala wrote: So, encouraging a woman to get an abortion and them going through with it as a result would constitute a violation of the precept, even though you personally did not carry out the deed yourself.

It all comes down to your intent.
So then, what if you encourage this with good intentions?
by Dennenappelmoes
Sun May 05, 2013 2:22 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The 1st precept
Replies: 16
Views: 4006

Re: The 1st precept

To me it isn't, but that's me. I don't believe in precepts as a rulebook or think in terms of violation as a yes-no matter. Sometimes we have clear and simple choices, sometimes lifes pushes us down dark paths where we are faced with dilemmas. The way I see it, the point of the precepts is not to be...
by Dennenappelmoes
Sat May 04, 2013 9:11 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Putting your wealth in context
Replies: 24
Views: 5347

Re: Putting your wealth in context

First World Problems For even more perspective. :D These are true, and they are funny, but I do think we should watch out and not rob people from their right to feel bad about something. Many people in the 1st world have terrible amounts of suffering and on top of that feel guilty because they thin...