Search found 1058 matches

by zavk
Sat Oct 13, 2012 1:25 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Being spiritual but not religious is a cop-out
Replies: 41
Views: 10673

Re: Being spiritual but not religious is a cop-out

Hi all Part of my current research (I'm working academically in the area of cultural research) involves the investigation of the ethical, social, and political implications of contemporary understandings and approaches to spirituality and to explore the extent to which 'spirituality' may be thought ...
by zavk
Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:05 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Happy birthday Winny!!
Replies: 7
Views: 2190

Re: Happy birthday Winny!!

Happy birthday!

(I visit DW irregularly these days, so a belated wishes to those whose birthdays I've missed.)
by zavk
Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:04 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Happy Birthday rowyourboat!!
Replies: 7
Views: 2155

Re: Happy Birthday rowyourboat!!

Happy birthday!

(I visit DW irregularly these days, so belated wishes to those whose birthdays I've missed.)
by zavk
Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:02 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening
Replies: 6
Views: 2108

Re: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Thanks for your suggestions! :smile: Dan: Yeah, of course, I should look into Trungpa's Spiritual Materialism. Have read excerpts but not the book. Can you further recall any other pithy sayings, by Linji or others (sigh, I wish my Chinese wasn't so pathetic so that I could read the writings of Ch'a...
by zavk
Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:36 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening
Replies: 6
Views: 2108

Advice against expectations about practice or Awakening

Hi all I'd like to ask for your help. I'm guessing that you'd have come across various advice about not bringing expectations to one's practice or harbouring stubborn preconceived notions about Awakening. I know I've encountered such advice in books, essays, and talks but never made a point to note ...
by zavk
Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:27 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Borobudur, Buddhabrot fractals & non-linear chaotic systems
Replies: 12
Views: 4836

Re: Borobudur, Buddhabrot fractals & non-linear chaotic systems

Hi Mike, Bhante, and others I too find the way in which Thanissaro Bhikkhu evokes the terminology of complexity/systems theory as a kind of poetic language to explicate Buddhist ideas insightful. Early this year I read a book called A World of Becoming by William E. Connolly, political philosopher a...
by zavk
Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:18 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Buddhist Meditation Centres in Melbourne?
Replies: 16
Views: 5841

Re: Buddhist Meditation Centres in Melbourne?

:smile: Yup as it turns out that's exactly what I'm planning to do. For the past couple of years I've been flying up north for week long retreats in QLD with Bhante Dhammasiha at Dhammagiri where Cooran attends. Sounds like the environment at Bodhivana is quite similar. Bhante Dhammasiha has suggest...
by zavk
Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:04 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Buddhist Meditation Centres in Melbourne?
Replies: 16
Views: 5841

Re: Buddhist Meditation Centres in Melbourne?

Hi Yana Definitely check out the BSV http://bsv.net.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; They have regular activities and every now and then that would have visiting Bhikkhus. Also, there is Bodhivana Monastery of the Thai Forest tradition in Warburton. The abbot is Ajahn Kal...
by zavk
Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:12 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Burma's mass lay meditation movement
Replies: 5
Views: 2561

Re: Burma's mass lay meditation movement

Hi Ben I wrote the following comments on this post on Facebook by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship: Racist Nationalist Buddhism: A Challenge for Aung San Suu Kyi . I was going to mention it to you on Facebook but was reminded of this thread. So I'll share it here instead: I think rather than be too qui...
by zavk
Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:07 pm
Forum: Dhammaduta (Dhamma propagation)
Topic: Annual talk to students on Buddhism
Replies: 15
Views: 5619

Re: Annual talk to students on Buddhism

Hi Ben Would you share your experience of Burma (I still prefer this name over the one chosen by the ruling regime)? Perhaps give them a glimpse of how 'Buddhism' is enacted there, how it suffuses the everyday activities of Burmese culture? Perhaps even highlight aspects of Buddhist understandings a...
by zavk
Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:43 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What's at stake as the Dharma goes modern
Replies: 55
Views: 9042

Re: What's at stake as the Dharma goes modern

Hi all It's always a bit of a risk to quote an excerpt from any text. Rather than read the bit I quoted in isolation, please also look into the entire essay. In any event, to pick up on some of the points raised so far. The essay does NOT (nor would I) suggest that science or the Buddhism-science di...
by zavk
Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:53 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Porn Free for 90 Days
Replies: 326
Views: 72729

Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

HI dhammapal and anyone else who is seeking to understand the attraction of porn... I'm not suggesting that you actively seek out porn to test this out. But if and whenever you find yourself engaging with porn, perhaps you could inquire into how you are relating to it. Rather than only assume a cert...
by zavk
Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:40 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What's at stake as the Dharma goes modern
Replies: 55
Views: 9042

What's at stake as the Dharma goes modern

An essay that reflects on the key questions facing the development of the Dhamma in contemporary times by situating these questions within the analytical framework articulated by sociologist Charles Taylor, whose work represents an important voice in current scholarly debates about our 'secular age'...
by zavk
Wed May 30, 2012 5:00 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Buddhism and science: talking past each other? (Podcast)
Replies: 5
Views: 1119

Re: Buddhism and science: talking past each other? (Podcast)

Yup, I agree that the intention behind what one chooses to perform is a key factor. Because whether one engages with communal ritual practices or solitary meditative exercises, both are performative —not in the sense that one is playing-acting or staging a performance, but in the sense whatever sign...
by zavk
Wed May 30, 2012 3:36 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Buddhism and science: talking past each other? (Podcast)
Replies: 5
Views: 1119

Buddhism and science: talking past each other? (Podcast)

Hi friends This a topic that always comes up here. So thought it might be of interest (transcript available if you don't wish to listen): http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/buddhism-and-science3a-talking-past-each-other3f/4030828" onclick="window.open(this.href);...