Search found 5753 matches

by Mkoll
Sun May 03, 2020 12:38 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Throwing away food in water with no bacteria in it
Replies: 21
Views: 2990

Re: Throwing away food in water with no bacteria in it

Point well taken......especially considering that it seems likely that since they don't deficate then the dyspepsia would last the rest of their life.....and it seems like some devas live a very very very long time. I never get dyspepsia myself, but I gather from those who do that it often causes a...
by Mkoll
Sat Apr 25, 2020 12:52 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Memorization and the Oral Tradition
Replies: 783
Views: 86877

Re: How did historical Buddha looked like?

Wow, that sounds like a lot, especially the patimokkha - are you saying that a monk or nun would have to learn both the bhikkhu and bhikkhuni patimokkha or just their respective gender's version? And to your knowledge, are these standards commonly followed?
by Mkoll
Sat Apr 25, 2020 9:06 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Memorization and the Oral Tradition
Replies: 783
Views: 86877

Re: How did historical Buddha looked like?

[...]while those with very little mnemonic skill (e.g., men ordained in old age) would memorize only the handful of texts that a monk was required to know before he could be relieved of the obligation to live with a teacher. Hi Bhante, What is that handful of texts? I'm guessing it has to remembere...
by Mkoll
Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:14 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Darwinism and the Dhamma
Replies: 274
Views: 21703

Re: Darwinism and the Dhamma

There is a passage in the Dakkhiṇavibhaṅga Sutta comparing the value of gifts. One could use this passage to infer the relative demerit of killing an animal to killing a human-being of poor moral character (e.g. a burglar), or killing an ordinary moral person, a non-Buddhist attainer of jhāna, one ...
by Mkoll
Fri Apr 10, 2020 6:53 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: How do we know that Buddha attained Nibbana?
Replies: 68
Views: 8903

Re: How do we know that Buddha attained Nibbana?

SarathW wrote:How do we know that Buddha attained Nibbana?
We don't, until we do.
by Mkoll
Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:49 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Canki Sutta: What is meant by conviction?
Replies: 23
Views: 2426

Re: Canki Sutta: What is meant by conviction?

When one hears about someone and that person is being praised, and this awakens one's interest in that person, what else is that but going by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability? An...
by Mkoll
Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:43 am
Forum: Pāli
Topic: Ayusankhara, rupajivitindriya
Replies: 4
Views: 1823

Re: Ayusankhara, rupajivitindriya

Thank you for your reply, DooDoot. That was my impression as well. I see it as metaphorical in the sense of "life flashing before your eyes" or "life is fleeting." I'm wondering if that's it...or if there is something deeper here.... Volo, thank you for your reply. Can you expand...
by Mkoll
Thu Mar 26, 2020 3:51 am
Forum: Pāli
Topic: Ayusankhara, rupajivitindriya
Replies: 4
Views: 1823

Ayusankhara, rupajivitindriya

The sutta below is SN 20.6. Clipboard01.jpg Regarding the second to last section, Ven Bodhi's note (sorry, no diacriticals): Ayusankhara . Spk: This is said with reference to the physical life faculty ( rupajivitindriya ); for this presishes even faster than that. But it is not possible to describe ...
by Mkoll
Sat Feb 29, 2020 11:08 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Noisy surroundings
Replies: 17
Views: 4687

Re: Noisy surroundings

Even confining in a room by yourself, the outside you hear kids running and playing around. Maybe try those noise canceling headphones from Amazon.. ...and sound masking with some form of white/pink/brown(ian) noise track. YouTube has lots of examples. "Sound masking is the addition of natural...
by Mkoll
Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:48 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello, and requesting advice about wandering dhamma life practicalities
Replies: 24
Views: 5603

Re: Hello, and requesting advice about wandering dhamma life practicalities

Perhaps a significant part of any renunciate lifestyle includes surrendering personal ego and lifestyle customization for a communal discipline. It is a support, not an impediment. Going it alone is a romantic idea, but not one's best chance for spiritual development or becoming a recognizable reso...
by Mkoll
Thu Jan 30, 2020 4:16 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Help wanted: what do suttas say, about metta even for very evil people?
Replies: 27
Views: 6735

Re: Help wanted: what do suttas say, about metta even for very evil people?

There is the case where some people are impure in their bodily behavior & verbal behavior, and who do not periodically experience mental clarity & calm. Hatred for a person of this sort should also be subdued. [...] And as for a person who is impure in his bodily behavior & verbal behav...
by Mkoll
Thu Jan 30, 2020 4:01 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bad Times
Replies: 15
Views: 2797

Re: Bad Times

When things aren’t quite going your way is it wise to reflect that it might be due to past kamma, or would that be unwise speculation? My guess is that we ought to reflect that in general our current situation might be at least in part kammically determined, because of this: "'I am the owner o...
by Mkoll
Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:59 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Providing comfort to a grieving non-Buddhist
Replies: 12
Views: 4165

Re: Providing comfort to a grieving non-Buddhist

I'm not so good at this in practice, but I think that it is very important to acknowledge the other person's pain: "It's tough, isn't it? [hug]". Try to get over the feeling of having to do something - to "solve" it. Just "being there", and, in particular, listening , ...
by Mkoll
Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:54 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: How would you place your hands when bowing/saluting the shrine/showing respect to monastics
Replies: 27
Views: 7131

Re: How would you place your hands when bowing/saluting the shrine/showing respect to monastics

I don't think the vast majority of people care enough to give your hands a second thought if they're close to any of those variations. I've never thought about it myself until seeing this post.

I do what Nicolas described.

:anjali:
by Mkoll
Fri Jan 10, 2020 3:48 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: What advice would you have given yourself when you began meditating?
Replies: 9
Views: 2564

Re: What advice would you have given yourself when you began meditating?

In your newfound enthusiasm for meditation, don't contort yourself into positions (such as half or full lotus) before your body is flexible enough for them. Sometimes, pain is not something to patiently endure but a warning to move before you hurt yourself.

Great idea for a thread!