Seeing would seem to simply be eye-consciousness (cakkhu viññāṇa) which arises and ceases. The notion that a consciousness arising in old age is the same consciousness as one arising previously in youth seems rather similar to the statement that "As I understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed...

We tried diplomacy before WW2, it didnt work and so violence was used (albiet with some necessary apologies afterwards). This depends what is meant by "tried diplomacy" and "before WW2": The comments on this of the German Financial Commission at Versailles were hardly an exagger...

Normally I just tend to get completely lost when I try to sit in scenarios like this. How do I mantain clarity of mind amidst the disorienting sensations? How is this different from being healthy? In what way is the mind "lost" when this happens? Perhaps following the advice of SN 46.53 i...

Buddha nature is a teaching that belongs to the greater vehicle. This suggests another way to understand the difference via the history of the term. Nibbāna is a part of the teachings in the early Buddhist texts, which appears to indicate it was a part of the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha around 50...

Freedom From Buddha Nature by Ven. Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu might be an interesting read in this context.

Do we really create external happenings with our mind or even our kamma to the point where it effects decision's made by other people. To assert that our own mind effects decisions made by other people seems to deny agency of other individuals. Such an idea seems to assume that there is exactly one...

The five techniques in MN 20: Vitakka­saṇṭhāna Sutta might be useful.

How do we do that though? Fanatics aren't generally receptive to reason. Cunda, that one who is himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is impossible; that one who is not himself sinking in the mud should pull out another who is sinking in the mud is possible. T...

And what would you say causes Islamic fanaticism? Now what is unskillful? Taking life is unskillful, taking what is not given... sexual misconduct... lying... abusive speech... divisive tale-bearing... idle chatter is unskillful. Covetousness... ill will... wrong views are unskillful. These things ...

Another useful way to consider the question is in terms of career path and growth. What do you hope to learn and how do you hope to improve as an employee in that job? What's the next promotion you might be able to achieve? The ways that you can grow and develop your abilities on the job are current...

Buddhists say: You can achieve liberative insight (cessation of suffering) before all your kamma is exhausted (and only after that it is actually possible to be exhausted, because you don't add anything to the heap anymore that would cause further suffering after you have eliminated its cause (igno...

But I get the impression that through practice as described we can accelerate the ripening of old kamma and face the consequences, boldened up through mental purification so that "an action to be experienced in the future" would be turned into "an action to be experienced here and no...

What I was thinking is this. Blank mind doesn't have to always be expression of Wisdom. On the contrary, a stupid person might not know about what to think. Or person under-the-influence of powerful sedatives might not think. These circumstances are neither pleasant nor enlightening. Then Pañcakang...

But do our brains function and process information the same way information is "processed" at the quantum level? "The brain is definitely a macroscopic physical system operating on the scales (of time, space, temperature) which differ crucially from the corresponding quantum scales. ...

In the last three weeks Thay has gradually emerged into wakefulness, and has his eyes open for much of the day, to the point where the doctors can now say that he is no longer in a coma. In his current state, Thay is able to recognize familiar faces. He is very responsive to verbal stimuli and has ...