Search found 1736 matches

by BlackBird
Mon Dec 18, 2023 10:39 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: New book: The Only Way to Jhāna by Ajahn Nyanamoli
Replies: 273
Views: 24522

Re: New book: The Only Way to Jhāna by Ajahn Nyanamoli

Ceisiwr wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:13 pm
BlackBird wrote: Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:04 pm
Nice to see you back.
Ty mate, good to see so many familiar faces still kickin' about also.
by BlackBird
Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:04 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: New book: The Only Way to Jhāna by Ajahn Nyanamoli
Replies: 273
Views: 24522

Re: New book: The Only Way to Jhāna by Ajahn Nyanamoli

I agree, I think I see it the same: Whoever does not want or cannot give up the lay life, for them Buddha recommended the 5 precepts, which although they do not lead to nibbana at least allow you to live a healthy life and hopefully guarantee you a good rebirth. Basically, even when fully in the do...
by BlackBird
Sat Dec 16, 2023 3:02 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: The Phenomenology of Bhikkhu Ninoslav Ñāṇamoli
Replies: 12
Views: 2800

Re: The Phenomenology of Bhikkhu Ninoslav Ñāṇamoli

Greetings, I was reading an article by Bhikkhu Ninoslav Ñāṇamoli but I’m struggling to make sense of it. I don't understand most of these teachings. I've tried to understand the NV notes but it is the same. Parts of it are agreeable but then it gets very ambiguous. I didn't study it as if my life d...
by BlackBird
Tue Dec 12, 2023 9:11 am
Forum: Family Life and Relationships
Topic: NYC is Building Anti-Homeless Streets…
Replies: 7
Views: 941

Re: NYC is Building Anti-Homeless Streets…

And yet the idea of "seeing less homeless people" is probably a pleasant and delightful notion to most people, at least implictly. They may not agree with the methods, but they probably don't enjoy seeing homeless people. Why? Because most people do not like to be confronted with that whi...
by BlackBird
Tue Dec 12, 2023 4:23 am
Forum: Family Life and Relationships
Topic: NYC is Building Anti-Homeless Streets…
Replies: 7
Views: 941

Re: NYC is Building Anti-Homeless Streets…

And yet the idea of "seeing less homeless people" is probably a pleasant and delightful notion to most people, at least implictly. They may not agree with the methods, but they probably don't enjoy seeing homeless people. Why? Because most people do not like to be confronted with that whic...
by BlackBird
Sun Dec 10, 2023 11:14 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: How to read the Pali Canon
Replies: 20
Views: 1611

Re: How to read the Pali Canon

6. Without reading the four major Nikayas from beginning to end, and correlating their accounts of the major components of the Buddha’s teachings, I don’t think one can really claim to have understood the Dharma. The rest of the Canon as supporting material may be of use here and there, but may lan...
by BlackBird
Sun Feb 20, 2022 1:26 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: No More Plastics
Replies: 23
Views: 596

Re: No More Plastics

Micro-plastic bits are found in bottled water, even more than in tap water. Worst and less worse brands listed. https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/bottled-water-twice-micro-plastic-tap/ Good research coming out now on the endocrine system disruption of plastics and plastic-like chemicals. ...
by BlackBird
Fri Dec 11, 2020 5:43 am
Forum: Family Life and Relationships
Topic: Repetitive work
Replies: 10
Views: 6749

Re: Repetitive work

It's a deeper understanding of renunciation, but most people just read it to mean renouncing pleasant stuff. We're still on topic. And let's just say I phrased it incorrectly. How would you address the issue if you saw someone talking about renouncing hard work, earning a living, studying, eating a...
by BlackBird
Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:40 am
Forum: Family Life and Relationships
Topic: Holding each other accountable in daily life
Replies: 13
Views: 13685

Re: Holding each other accountable in daily life

Hello everyone, lately in my practice I've been noticing a theme of the need to hold each other accountable, be it in the world of politics, business, family, and friendships. It seems that when we tell others not to do something, or to do something, often there is a pushback: "you can't tell ...
by BlackBird
Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:28 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Name and Form in DO from a psychology perspective
Replies: 7
Views: 3595

Re: Name and Form in DO from a psychology perspective

Why would you want psychology to interpret the Buddha's teachings? I say this as a budding psychologist. They are different domains and different styles of thinking. Psychology has little to no value in verifying or interpreting the Buddha's teachings.

Be well
Jack
by BlackBird
Fri Nov 20, 2020 8:20 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: why westerners dont beleive in after life world
Replies: 56
Views: 25279

Re: why westerners dont beleive in after life world

many westerns are offsprings of christians and they all thought about heaven and hell many times due to reading bible etc.. why cant they read buddhism with 31 planes and devas, brahmas and mara? why they try to find secular buddhism without myths? Indians were atheist from long time (charvaka foll...
by BlackBird
Wed Nov 18, 2020 1:59 am
Forum: Suggestion box
Topic: chat at the bottom of every page?
Replies: 12
Views: 12364

Re: chat at the bottom of every page?

its called the "gossip column" One thing i noticed about Buddhist population is that hardly anybody has any kind of breakthroughs in regards to understanding and there is little to no agreement i mean nobody announces this and there is no particular 'group' among theravadins on these foru...
by BlackBird
Fri Nov 13, 2020 6:09 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Advice on dealing with Christian friends who want to convert you?
Replies: 62
Views: 16479

Re: Advice on dealing with Christian friends who want to convert you?

Fair enough, but you can do much to prevent harm from coming to them. Even if it doesn't harm you as you say, it is wrong view and unskillful on their part, and that has its kamma. Clearly this issue has been somewhat stressful for you or you wouldn't ask about it. I think you are approaching it in...
by BlackBird
Thu Nov 12, 2020 8:29 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Advice on dealing with Christian friends who want to convert you?
Replies: 62
Views: 16479

Re: Advice on dealing with Christian friends who want to convert you?

However, I am also not of the nature of cutting people out of my life when their actions don't harm me. A good person should be tolerant of people's idiosyncrasies if they see good in those people. If you feel it doesn't harm you, and is simply a personal idiosyncracy on the part of this, then I am...
by BlackBird
Wed Nov 11, 2020 9:31 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Advice on dealing with Christian friends who want to convert you?
Replies: 62
Views: 16479

Re: Advice on dealing with Christian friends who want to convert you?

Remember, what they are doing is incredibly arrogant, unskillful, and disrespectful. Losing someone like this in your life is not a big problem. I don't think it's arrogant or disrespectful. I think my friend is 100% genuine and believes it has changed her life and wants to help me experience that ...