Search found 11 matches

by tuchopotila
Thu Dec 10, 2015 2:04 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Is visiting a Sangha still useful?
Replies: 9
Views: 1587

Is visiting a Sangha still useful?

Sanghas used to be a source of knowledge on the Dhamma, but with the invention of the internet, the Dhamma is easily accessible to everyone. So lay people visit Sanghas less and less as a result. In the west there is less interaction between lay people and monastics. Is this a bad thing? Should lay ...
by tuchopotila
Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:50 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Theravada Meditation Bell?
Replies: 1
Views: 733

Theravada Meditation Bell?

Many schools of Buddhism have meditation bells that signal the start and end of meditation. Does the school of Theravada tend to use a specific type/kind of bell or is there no standard? When starting a meditation session how many times does one hit the bell? When ending a meditation session how man...
by tuchopotila
Mon Oct 19, 2015 10:39 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Samatha/concentration focused retreat centers in Asia?
Replies: 4
Views: 2334

Re: Samatha/concentration focused retreat centers in Asia?

Thanks for the info! Ah yes, it seems like the Pa-Auk camp has been prolific in establishing monasteries. Has anyone practiced in this tradition and care to offer some opinions about it? I stayed a a Pa-Auk branch monstary in Sri Lanka for three months. I enjoyed the emphasis they placed on Samanth...
by tuchopotila
Mon Oct 19, 2015 10:34 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: Please help about the first jhana
Replies: 25
Views: 6343

Re: Please help about the first jhana

I would like to read about quotes from teachers or suttas. Or your own experience. Thanks a lot. If we focus on the breathing and the nimitta appears and stays for minutes and the mind is focused on the nimitta but we the mind is not totally silent in every minutes and we get thoughts sometimes the...
by tuchopotila
Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:13 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Right speech
Replies: 3
Views: 1050

Re: Right speech

My guess (and it is only a guess) is words that if spoken one would feel remorse/guilt/shame. Words that one would feel bad about again and again (mental self-torment). That's how the Theragāthā commentary explains it, as well as the commentaries to parallel passages in the Saṃyutta Nikāya and Sutt...
by tuchopotila
Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:20 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Guardian Devas?
Replies: 3
Views: 1049

Re: Guardian Devas?

Are they not just as real and unreal as anything else in Samsara?
by tuchopotila
Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:19 pm
Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
Topic: Why one meal a day?
Replies: 705
Views: 363198

Re: 1 or 2 meals a day ?

I stayed in a monastery in Sri Lanka for 3 months. I can say even when one eats as much as possible before noon it is rarely enough to stay sated for the rest of the day. You start to get hungry by sunset, and have to suffer until the next morning. I lost a lot a weight while I was there even when I...
by tuchopotila
Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:13 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Inquiry of the shadow of Dhamma(education,employment,etc.)
Replies: 3
Views: 894

Re: Inquiry of the shadow of Dhamma(education,employment,etc.)

I thank you for your respectful tone. I feel at times you are correct. How important are these questions we are asking? Does it truly matter how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Does it really help our practice to know these things? Or are asking these questions in some way distracting us...
by tuchopotila
Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:03 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Right speech
Replies: 3
Views: 1050

Re: Right speech

My guess (and it is only a guess) is words that if spoken one would feel remorse/guilt/shame. Words that one would feel bad about again and again (mental self-torment).
by tuchopotila
Sun Aug 23, 2015 4:18 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Transsexualism and Anatta?
Replies: 6
Views: 1314

Re: Transsexualism and Anatta?

Thank you everyone for all your answers! :anjali:
by tuchopotila
Sun Aug 23, 2015 6:14 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Transsexualism and Anatta?
Replies: 6
Views: 1314

Transsexualism and Anatta?

Would it be proper for a person who identifies as Buddhist, but identifies as a transsexual, to go through with Hormone Replacement Therapy? By transitioning, and living as their target gender, would that not ease the spiritual journey by reducing feelings of anger, self-hatred, angst, etc? Allowing...