Search found 1885 matches

by kirk5a
Fri Nov 06, 2015 1:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Death or annihilation as the end point
Replies: 72
Views: 12008

Re: Death or annihilation as the end point

Perhaps the modernists and the traditionalists are not as far apart as they might seem. In both cases the end is annihilation. The modernists just have the annihilation come earlier... They are miles apart. The "tradition" says things I've never heard from a "modernist" - for ex...
by kirk5a
Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:50 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Evidence of reincarnation
Replies: 118
Views: 18345

Re: Evidence of reincarnation

Can those who insist there is "no evidence" of rebirth provide a hypothetical example of something they would consider "evidence"? Sir A. J. Ayer, the logical positivist guy, had a pretty good one. He argued that it would be sufficient for the truth of the belief that the man st...
by kirk5a
Mon Nov 02, 2015 12:57 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Evidence of reincarnation
Replies: 118
Views: 18345

Re: Evidence of reincarnation

Can those who insist there is "no evidence" of rebirth provide a hypothetical example of something they would consider "evidence"?
by kirk5a
Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:23 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Why the emphasis on mindfulness in the body?
Replies: 10
Views: 2000

Re: Why the emphasis on mindfulness in the body?

The strong tendency for self-identification in relation to the body is probably one reason. Also, it's good to ground mindfulness in the body, it spreads the energy around and has a balancing and grounding effect.
by kirk5a
Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:48 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Evidence of reincarnation
Replies: 118
Views: 18345

Re: Evidence of reincarnation

if only we could read the Brahmajala Sutta to learn about foundations for views... I'm looking at the Brahmajala Sutta, it talks about the foundations for certain views being rooted in prior lives, as well as the direct meditative recollection of prior lives. How does that make evidence for rebirth...
by kirk5a
Tue Oct 27, 2015 7:01 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Evidence of reincarnation
Replies: 118
Views: 18345

Re: Evidence of reincarnation

The facts as present are as Ben put them: There is no credible scientific evidence of rebirth or reincarnation. People either take it a metaphor or take it on faith. Kind regards, Ben Since there have been those, from ancient as well as in modern times, who say they have seen the truth of rebirth f...
by kirk5a
Tue Oct 27, 2015 1:07 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Evidence of reincarnation
Replies: 118
Views: 18345

Re: Evidence of reincarnation

Ben wrote:
daverupa wrote:Or they remove views altogether... :tongue:
Well yes, eventually.
No they don't.
by kirk5a
Fri Oct 02, 2015 2:03 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great Nibbana = annihilation, eternal, or something else thread
Replies: 2423
Views: 597399

Re: Continuation of conciousness / awareness

Myotai wrote:And very 'Zen' like.....nothing wrong in that though - just not what we're looking for
Right, because you're trying to grasp non-grasping.
by kirk5a
Fri Oct 02, 2015 1:05 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great Nibbana = annihilation, eternal, or something else thread
Replies: 2423
Views: 597399

Re: Continuation of conciousness / awareness

The problem with what is normally considered an "answer" - "objectifies non-objectification" as Ven. Sariputta said. In other words, what we're talking about isn't graspable by thought . It gets to the heart of non-grasping itself. Total non-grasping cannot be put into terms whic...
by kirk5a
Fri Oct 02, 2015 12:03 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great Nibbana = annihilation, eternal, or something else thread
Replies: 2423
Views: 597399

Re: Continuation of conciousness / awareness

The Buddha did answer this question actually. He said exists after death, does not exist, both or neither - "do not apply" - and used the metaphor of the ocean to explain why. the Tathagata is deep, boundless, hard to fathom, like the ocean http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn44/s...
by kirk5a
Thu Oct 01, 2015 1:07 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great Nibbana = annihilation, eternal, or something else thread
Replies: 2423
Views: 597399

Re: Continuation of conciousness / awareness

When A Buddha dies 'he/she' possesses no state and there for consciousness ceases as do an awareness of self and other leaving nothing behind? The mind is unable to grasp a satisfactory answer to that. "nothing" is not accurate, nor any other description revolving around nothing, somethin...
by kirk5a
Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:00 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Can experienced meditators help ?
Replies: 32
Views: 7351

Re: Can experienced meditators help ?

There are 11 doors to the Deathless, formless jhanas included. "Then again, a monk — with the complete transcending of perceptions of [physical] form, with the disappearance of perceptions of resistance, and not heeding perceptions of diversity, [perceiving,] 'Infinite space' — enters & rem...
by kirk5a
Wed Sep 16, 2015 12:12 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Can experienced meditators help ?
Replies: 32
Views: 7351

Re: Can experienced meditators help ?

I feel absolutely FREE , EMPTY , like there is nothing there , no body sensations no nothing This part is interesting - I'd find a high quality teacher and investigate this further if I were you. And yeah, perhaps becoming a monk is the right thing for you. Something to consider, you're still young...
by kirk5a
Tue Sep 15, 2015 6:17 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Did the Buddha contradict himself?
Replies: 62
Views: 10489

Re: Did the Buddha contradict himself?

Although the Buddha taught that there is no permanent, eternal, immutable, independently-existing core “self” (attā), he also taught that there is “action” or “doing”, and that it is therefore meaningful to speak of one who intends, initiates, sustains and completes actions and deeds, and who is th...
by kirk5a
Sat Sep 12, 2015 12:13 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Core teaching of the Buddha
Replies: 71
Views: 12478

Re: Core teaching of the Buddha

I'm not sure you will find any great difference between one bod and another. We all have sankharas arising and passing. See yourself and you see others inc the Buddha, who also operates in the same way. Though well done Kirk5a Either you have attained or have gained psychic powers. May I offer my c...