Search found 25 matches

by duckfiasco
Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:06 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Devotion to the Buddha?
Replies: 10
Views: 2569

Re: Devotion to the Buddha?

Thank you all! The sutta references are very helpful, as well as the article on ATI. Sometimes, when fetters are very strong, all you can do is bow to the Buddha, over and over. It's not a matter of personality cult but of learning to trust in something more worthwhile than endless samsaric sufferin...
by duckfiasco
Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:37 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Devotion to the Buddha?
Replies: 10
Views: 2569

Devotion to the Buddha?

How have you cultivated or found devotion to the Buddha, especially in times of suffering? Are there suttas that inspire you? Are there experiences in your life or practice that rouse a sense of devotion or gratitude towards the Buddha? Is such a feeling even important in your practice? I ask becaus...
by duckfiasco
Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:52 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: The law of attraction
Replies: 13
Views: 3366

Re: The law of attraction

Seems like any attempt to further entrench a "me getting mine" worldview can only lead further into delusion and the suffering borne of any kind of ego-clinging :thinking: What I've seen doesn't start from the sort of similar viewpoint of kamma, for the purpose of understanding our situati...
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:53 pm
Forum: Pāli
Topic: Samadhi (best English translation?)
Replies: 140
Views: 115901

Re: Samadhi (best English translation?)

Ajahn Pasanno referred to "continued attention" during a dhamma talk yesterday. I think it helps remove some of the willful, strenuous quality that "concentration" has. I think "concentration" also sounds more black and white: you're concentrated or you're not. "Co...
by duckfiasco
Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:27 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: From the Pacific Northwest
Replies: 5
Views: 1937

Re: From the Pacific Northwest

Greetings from Oregon :buddha1:
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:50 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?
Replies: 492
Views: 129036

Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

A minor example compared to some being discussed here. My partner is an electronic musician. The moment a new album of his comes out, sometimes before, people have already started sharing it illegally online. Would every single one of these people have paid for the music? Unlikely. Would some have, ...
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Share meditation tips here
Replies: 26
Views: 7012

Re: Share meditation tips here

A big factor in practice for me has been reluctance to practice :tongue: For this, several things have been helpful: * sitting even when you don't want to . It helps to look at the mind as a patient mother soothing her child. There's really no issue you can't handle, just have to stay calm and do wh...
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:23 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How common is stream entry?
Replies: 527
Views: 130698

Re: How common is stream entry?

How I have had it explained is that the steam-entrant has eliminated self-view with regard to the aggregates, so he/she sees that form, feeling ect. are without self. But there is a lingering sense of "I" with regard to the being as a whole until arahantship. Thank you for this. This whol...
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:58 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Breath as object: focus area?
Replies: 17
Views: 4066

Re: Breath as object: focus area?

Thank you, thank you :toast: I'll give Ajahn Brahm's book a look :) I tried reflection's advice and had a new sort of experience of the breath, at least. My normal approach is to start every session with five minutes of metta. Maybe the very active mental approach I take to metta is complicating con...
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:31 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Breath as object: focus area?
Replies: 17
Views: 4066

Re: Breath as object: focus area?

Thank you all :) I should have been more specific. I'm looking to develop concentration, since walking meditation has proven to be fruitful as an insight practice. Are there other popular ways of practicing concentration aside from nostril-focusing? :P I came across the "buddho" thread ear...
by duckfiasco
Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:58 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Cynicism, "realistic pessimism"
Replies: 15
Views: 4297

Re: Cynicism, "realistic pessimism"

Thank you everyone for the great replies. I found especially helpful the sutta on universal love regardless of how others speak to us. I wasn't however making the case for cynicism or pessimism, neither would I say cynicism and pessimism are the same. The connection I make is that those I know who a...
by duckfiasco
Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:40 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge
Replies: 433
Views: 153623

Re: The Dhamma Wheel Meditation Challenge

Eight members strong :)
by duckfiasco
Sat Jun 22, 2013 9:16 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Insight Timer's countdown to 5m sessions
Replies: 2
Views: 1421

Re: Insight Timer's countdown to 5m sessions

I didn't know there was a free version :)
It's really interesting to see the map with the people currently meditating.
I'll give it a shot!
Thank you for the link. :toast:
by duckfiasco
Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:29 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Breath as object: focus area?
Replies: 17
Views: 4066

Breath as object: focus area?

Silly question. I've read the recommendation to focus on the sensation of the breath coming in and out of the nostrils. My nose seems to be just the right shape for there to be almost no sensation at all. It takes an enormous amount of concentration to find it, and it disappears quickly. And not as ...
by duckfiasco
Sat Jun 22, 2013 3:42 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Post your original poetry here!
Replies: 105
Views: 34611

Re: Post your original poetry here!

Wonderful thread and wonderful poems to find just browsing :) Poetry has been a wonderful way to explore the Dhamma. my hand is that of an old man already the flesh shrinks away. I have a pile of ashes for a hand yet they are well hidden red and smooth and moving. a corpse writes these lines but not...