Search found 658 matches

by Laurens
Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:29 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The problem of secularised Buddhism
Replies: 59
Views: 11853

Re: The problem of secularised Buddhism

DootDoot forgive me for not quoting, as I am on my phone and my fingers are too fat to do the formatting. Perhaps my point would best be surmised in the following question. Suppose you encounter someone about to commit suicide. Using a secular Buddhist worldview how do you convince them that being a...
by Laurens
Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:34 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The problem of secularised Buddhism
Replies: 59
Views: 11853

Re: The problem of secularised Buddhism

Firstly let me clarify that I'm not at all suicidal, concern is appreciated but unwarranted. To be clear I'm not stating that secular Buddhists actually want to commit suicide. But it does raise the question. In the rebirth model suicide does not solve the problem of suffering, as one will be reborn...
by Laurens
Thu Sep 03, 2020 6:24 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The problem of secularised Buddhism
Replies: 59
Views: 11853

The problem of secularised Buddhism

If, as many Westerners do, we reject the doctrine of rebirth, what is the point of engaging in a life of difficult renunciation, strict moral discipline, meditation etc. to achieve the cessation of suffering, when suicide would end our suffering without all that effort? If there is the assumption th...
by Laurens
Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:19 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Do i always have right intention?
Replies: 12
Views: 2651

Re: Do i always have right intention?

Probably not.
by Laurens
Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:30 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Bringing the mind to stillness
Replies: 14
Views: 9769

Re: Bringing the mind to stillness

I think one of the foremost things that meditators need to understand is that the brain secretes thoughts. That's just what it does. The saliva glands secrete saliva, the stomach secretes gastric juices, the brain secretes thoughts. You cannot make the brain stop it's secretions through force of wil...
by Laurens
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:47 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: arguments against killing in self-defense
Replies: 15
Views: 2759

Re: arguments against killing in self-defense

First off there are several lines of defense prior to any kind of violence. Avoid areas where there is a risk of being attacked. Don't drink alcohol. Don't provoke people. Walk away rather than exacerbate conflict. Don't make yourself a target by displaying about your person things that someone migh...
by Laurens
Thu Jul 23, 2020 8:07 pm
Forum: Hot Topics
Topic: equanimity for non-mask wearers (personal experience)
Replies: 73
Views: 84439

Re: equanimity for non-mask wearers (personal experience)

It's just something you have to accept. Both the people not wearing masks, and how it makes you feel.
by Laurens
Sun Jul 19, 2020 6:37 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: What are the Karmic Causes for being born Intelligent?
Replies: 14
Views: 13063

Re: What are the Karmic Causes for being born Intelligent?

I don't think it's a worthwhile thing to speculate on. Intelligence itself is an abstraction and doesn't really represent the reality of being a human. I've met a lot of people who aren't very intelligent by most standards of measurement but are very streetwise. I've also met a lot of intelligent pe...
by Laurens
Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:36 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Magic tricks and lying
Replies: 12
Views: 2038

Re: Magic tricks and lying

white lies are lie Technically yes. But that doesn't mean all instances of lying are morally wrong. For example say you are waiting somewhere with a friend and to pass the time you decide to play a game where you say 2 lies and 1 truth and the game is to guess which is true. Both individuals involv...
by Laurens
Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:51 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Magic tricks and lying
Replies: 12
Views: 2038

Re: Magic tricks and lying

My thoughts: It's not morally wrong so long as one isn't passing off tricks as supernatural powers. People who go to see or agree to having a magic trick performed before them are generally knowing that they are being tricked or deceived somehow, yet they agree to it because they derive entertainmen...
by Laurens
Mon Jul 06, 2020 6:41 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Magic tricks and lying
Replies: 12
Views: 2038

Magic tricks and lying

What do you guys think about being deceptive for the purposes of entertainment?

In order to do a card trick for instance, one might have to say 'your card is lost in the pack' when in actual fact you know exactly where it is.

Would you say this is morally wrong? Why or why not?
by Laurens
Wed Jun 24, 2020 6:09 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Clinging
Replies: 30
Views: 4189

Re: Clinging

I'd say clinging is when we pick up and constantly play with the idea of something, even when we are doing something unrelated. For instance cleaning your kitchen, but spending the whole time obsessing over a new item of clothing we fancy buying. Do I want the black shirt or the blue one...? Maybe t...
by Laurens
Wed Jun 10, 2020 6:18 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Is Nirvana a suicide in the good sense of the word?
Replies: 60
Views: 5738

Re: Is Nirvana a suicide in the good sense of the word?

I don't think it is possible to describe Nirvana, so I'd say no. It's like the term 'sunrise' we know the phenomena to which that term is applied, but the sun isn't actually rising, the face of the earth that we are on currently is turning to meet the sun, it merely appears from our perspective to r...
by Laurens
Tue Jun 09, 2020 7:02 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: How many of you really tried to attain jhana?
Replies: 231
Views: 142527

Re: How many of you really tried to attain jhana?

That's not right. You should be so "fixated" and addicted to jhana that you try to become a monk to do it all the time. Everything you're saying is the opposite of what the Buddha said. 8 part path, not 7 part path. The Buddha said desire for jhana has 4 results. Stream entry, once return...
by Laurens
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:59 pm
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: How many of you really tried to attain jhana?
Replies: 231
Views: 142527

Re: How many of you really tried to attain jhana?

the worst case senario of jhana is rebirth in brahma plane, the higheest fruit is 4 stage attainment.. i dont think there is disadvantage in that.. if u can access, enjoy and call urself future brahma.. if not try hard to attain but dont give up... Again, I am not denying that samma samadhi is a pa...