Search found 225 matches

by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:18 pm
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Monks can create art, but not Music?
Replies: 26
Views: 7515

Re: Monks can create art, but not Music?

It seems to me that that which we usually call "art" does precisely that: it makes people who are already bound by passion focus with even more passion on things inspiring passion, it makes people who are already bound by aversion focus with even more aversion on things inspiring aversion...
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 4:00 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can we learn meditation without a teacher?
Replies: 14
Views: 4862

Re: Can we learn meditation without a teacher?

One can work without a teacher; however, working with a good, experienced teacher is a very good idea, and recommended by the Buddha. Less likely to take a walk down the garden path and less likely to hung up on road blocks. Agree. You can waste a lot of time in meditation if you don't know what yo...
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:49 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: How to find the middle way in different situations ?
Replies: 22
Views: 4126

Re: How to find the middle way in different situations ?

purple planet wrote: i did meditate for 8 hours a day for a long time at home
8 hours?! Just at home?? I mean, I don't know who these other people are on the forum, but I'd say that's way too much, especially if you're getting back pain. This isn't the meditation olympics or something.

:anjali:
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:44 pm
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Monks and shaving
Replies: 19
Views: 17547

Re: Monks and shaving

They're not supposed to shave their beards? Never knew that... So why do they all shave their beards?
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 6:31 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What does authenticity mean?
Replies: 35
Views: 7078

Re: What does authenticity mean?

kmath, The Buddha taught that it isn't and that belief in the reality of the self is one of the fundamental causes of our suffering. Both of your last two posts (above) make perfect sense if you believe that the 'self' is fixed or permanent. If you do believe that, I think you would benefit from go...
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:12 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What does authenticity mean?
Replies: 35
Views: 7078

Re: What does authenticity mean?

retrofuturist wrote: I don't see it as such. If you have Right View...
If you're an arahant?
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:08 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What does authenticity mean?
Replies: 35
Views: 7078

Re: What does authenticity mean?

Greetings, My point was just to say: if you're always true to yourself, it's likely some unwholesome behavior will follow. I don't see it as such. If you have Right View and you are true to yourself, it will be a reflection of Right Intention (samma sankappa) See: http://www.vipassana.com/resources...
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 3:05 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Monks can create art, but not Music?
Replies: 26
Views: 7515

Re: Monks can create art, but not Music?

I could be wrong but I find a lot of input to this thread to unfair, though I am biased because I've studied music and have put my eggs into that basket as far as a career goes. But as far as I knew, a large part of Buddhism is not taking yourself so seriously as to become austere, crusading agains...
by kmath
Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:27 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What does authenticity mean?
Replies: 35
Views: 7078

Re: What does authenticity mean?

But if we say: to be authentic is to be true to oneself and one's desires -- then these behaviors follow quickly. You make wrong assumption. You rightly recognize that beheviour depends on one's desires. But there are desires and desires. There are quite a lot noble desires after which will follow ...
by kmath
Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:17 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What does authenticity mean?
Replies: 35
Views: 7078

Re: What does authenticity mean?

Fantastic thread and quotes from Nanavira. Does being fully authentic necessitate a particular ethic? Can we derive Buddhist ethics from the authentic mode of being? It's easy to derive Right Speech from authenticity (at least, lying is inauthentic) but I can't - at the moment - see a way of derivi...
by kmath
Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:19 pm
Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
Topic: judgment-free awareness
Replies: 95
Views: 22015

Re: judgment-free awareness

I've appreciated what Ven. Thanissaro has said about the secular concept of mindfulness as "nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment." I think he's tried to impart the idea that samma sati does involve active memory, and some measure of active evaluation or judgment to allow the pres...
by kmath
Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:29 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: How to find the middle way in different situations ?
Replies: 22
Views: 4126

Re: How to find the middle way in different situations ?

That said, I believe the OP meant to ask more like: how do I find a balance? It's a fair question, but balance really has nothing to do with the "middle way" described in the suttas. Bhikkhus, these two extremes should not be followed by one who has gone forth into homelessness. What two?...
by kmath
Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:19 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: How to find the middle way in different situations ?
Replies: 22
Views: 4126

Re: How to find the middle way in different situations ?

I don't think "middle way" should be interpreted as just taking an average between this and that. It's much more radical than that. I was thinking that too -- the Middle Way has a very specific meaning for the Buddha. That said, I believe the OP meant to ask more like: how do I find a bal...
by kmath
Thu Dec 12, 2013 4:05 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello everyone, Yogya here
Replies: 12
Views: 4528

Re: Hello everyone, Yogya here

Hey Yogya!

:woohoo:
by kmath
Thu Dec 12, 2013 3:03 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great rebirth debate
Replies: 7548
Views: 1331245

Re: the great rebirth debate

AJungianIdeal wrote:If not, what gets "transferred" as it was?
Hence the "greatness" of the debate.