Search found 20 matches

by dspiewak
Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:27 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: HYPOTHETICAL: The Buddha and a Bully
Replies: 6
Views: 2304

Re: HYPOTHETICAL: The Buddha and a Bully

I have always loved the Akkoso Sutta, and I guess I had never thought of it side by side with samma vayama. Good thread.
by dspiewak
Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:37 pm
Forum: Dhammic Stories
Topic: A touching story
Replies: 6
Views: 2765

Re: A touching story

This moved me greatly. I am always interested in hearing about the Dhamma being practiced in prison, and this was a wonderful story. May Jay receive blessings and achieve the ultimate happiness.
by dspiewak
Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:25 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: the great vegetarian debate
Replies: 5693
Views: 970257

Re: I'm a new vegetarian! Some questions...

I heard a Dhamma talk once in which the monk warned about vegetarianism - that it could lead to self-righteous behavior (e.g. looking down on non-vegetarians). I find it interesting that so many Theravada practitioners, who are not urged to give up meat, have done so anyway. I wonder if it's just a ...
by dspiewak
Mon Jan 25, 2010 4:49 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Time: Q&A: Is there life after death?
Replies: 17
Views: 4501

Re: Time: Q&A: Is there life after death?

what i dont understand is how a near death experience tells us anything about what happens after death. these people obviously didnt die, they didnt experience death or what happens after, rather they just experienced a rather traumatic event in and of life. I think that point of view has an unnece...
by dspiewak
Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:05 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Generalization About Buddhist Relations with Hindus?
Replies: 17
Views: 3285

Re: Generalization About Buddhist Relations with Hindus?

I have Hindu friends. Our friendship has been very peaceful. Not only does it help me to (slightly) bridge the language gap, it also helps that I share some knowledge of South Asian history and culture that allows me to relate to them better. Plus, interacting with Sinhalese people seems to have giv...
by dspiewak
Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:34 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Anyone here....
Replies: 5
Views: 1430

Re: Anyone here....

I went to college for music, for a little while. Most of my energies from ages 11-27 were spent on music. I was a double-bass performance major. I was fighting a losing battle, honestly. I was pretty good, but my level of mental maturity and my biology (I have webbed fingers) limited my potential de...
by dspiewak
Tue Jan 19, 2010 2:46 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Ven. Dhammika's review of Buddha to Jesus
Replies: 44
Views: 11737

Re: Ven. Dhammika's review of Buddha to Jesus

Frankly, ever since I've become a Buddhist, I don't mind it at all when Christians try to convert me..I don't get irritated. They seem to have good intentions and do it to "save me"... .:thinking: There are some very nice people of faith in every religion and I've had the pleasure of talk...
by dspiewak
Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:45 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Word Association Game
Replies: 11976
Views: 1541173

Re: Word Association Game

Blood
by dspiewak
Fri Jan 15, 2010 9:55 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Word Association Game
Replies: 11976
Views: 1541173

Re: Word Association Game

Punishment
by dspiewak
Thu Jan 14, 2010 7:14 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: No comment
Replies: 33
Views: 6203

Re: No comment

I've seen this story passed around a lot over the last 24 hours, and heard a lot of moral outrage released over it. We had a discussion about this last night with my fellow lay practitioners. I really didn't want to take part in the discussion, because for many people stories like this are an occasi...
by dspiewak
Thu Jan 14, 2010 5:27 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Drug use--the harm minimization approach
Replies: 11
Views: 3781

Re: Drug use--the harm minimization approach

While I am firmly in favor of the "harm reduction" idea (what better way to describe Buddhist ethics?) I have a hard time seeing the drug-substitution aspect of it as anything other than a very short-term solution. There are many addicts out there in desperate need of a short-term solution...
by dspiewak
Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:21 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Teaching kids...!
Replies: 10
Views: 3079

Re: Teaching kids...!

Many thanks, Bhante. I remember relating one of those stories in a previous class, but it never occurred to me to investigate them on their own for source material.
by dspiewak
Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:12 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: The Earliest Evidence for Buddhism
Replies: 9
Views: 5092

Re: The Earliest Evidence for Buddhism

As shown above, the Edicts of Ashoka are the best physical, archeological evidence we have; written on stone pillars, engraved in the Pali language using the Brahmi script and dating to the 3rd century BC, very close to the time of the Buddha's parinibbana. Also there are the British Museum Scrolls...
by dspiewak
Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:02 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Why did you choose Theravada?
Replies: 228
Views: 46572

Re: Why did you choose Theravada?

I first learned about Buddhism through non-Theravada sources (books, magazines, etc.) and I always found the Zen approach appealing. When I met my first monk, however, he was in the Theravada tradition, and the type of meditation he taught was both totally workable and genuinely produced results. I ...
by dspiewak
Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:21 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Saying "I am a Buddhist"
Replies: 46
Views: 11280

Re: Saying "I am a Buddhist"

Perhaps re-christen the statue as a monument to kalyanamittata? I think the intention was a very noble one, and I would be touched if someone did that for me. FYI I actually know a Theravada bhante who displays a Hotei statue in an office at the monks' residence. It inspired a good discussion on Bud...