Search found 1161 matches

by christopher:::
Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:01 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: how does zen differ from theravada?
Replies: 30
Views: 9840

Re: how does zen differ from theravada?

You're most welcome Ben. We live in a very interesting time. The Dhamma teachings have only crossed over from East to West in a large scale way recently. Perhaps mirroring of the technological & economical influences crossing from West to East at the same time. The Asian cultures have been trans...
by christopher:::
Fri Jan 04, 2013 9:43 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: how does zen differ from theravada?
Replies: 30
Views: 9840

Re: how does zen differ from theravada?

so you mean that these instructions being very in depth about desire and what not and the zen idea of, as Dan74 put it, "what arises, arises" are different in this way? Maybe :tongue: I'm not really sure, as I have not practiced either Theravada or Zen formally with a teacher or sangha. B...
by christopher:::
Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:52 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: how does zen differ from theravada?
Replies: 30
Views: 9840

Re: how does zen differ from theravada?

Hi everyone. I'll just set this down here... "Having abandoned sensual desire for past sensual pleasures, lord, having done away with sensual desire for future sensual pleasures, and having thoroughly subdued perceptions of irritation with regard to internal & external events , I breathe in...
by christopher:::
Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:57 pm
Forum: Shrine Room
Topic: Prayers for SATTVA
Replies: 219
Views: 57774

Re: Prayers for SATTVA

My, you have been through such a difficult time, Sattva. May your practice help to carry you through with deeper equanimity.

Much metta.

~Chris
by christopher:::
Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:35 am
Forum: Dhammic Stories
Topic: Ajahn Chah's Life & Dhamma Teachings
Replies: 54
Views: 23742

Re: Ajahn Chah's Life & Dhamma Teachings

Traditionally the Eightfold Path is taught with eight steps such as Right Understanding, Right Speech, Right Concentration, and so forth. But the true Eightfold Path is within us-two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, a tongue, and a body. These eight doors are our entire Path and the mind is the one th...
by christopher:::
Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:38 am
Forum: Dhammic Stories
Topic: Upekkha's value in a picture
Replies: 6
Views: 2440

Re: Upekkha's value in a picture

David N. Snyder wrote:
christopher::: wrote: It's also important to balance upekkha with the 3 other brahmaviharas. When done skillfully that can help bring one to a much brighter & balanced happiness, yes?
Good point! Otherwise, one might end up with indifference, the near enemy of equanimity.
exactly!
by christopher:::
Sun Aug 07, 2011 4:03 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: U.N. Declares Famine in Somalia
Replies: 39
Views: 9043

Re: U.N. Declares Famine in Somalia

Indeed. Something I read yesterday made me think... Charity: water estimates each $US20 donation is enough to provide one person with clean drinking water for 20 years. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/from-220-to-400000-rachels-dream-becomes-a-reality-20110728-1i1cy.html#ixzz1TSl0fgxb&quo...
by christopher:::
Sun Aug 07, 2011 3:55 am
Forum: Dhammic Stories
Topic: Upekkha's value in a picture
Replies: 6
Views: 2440

Re: Upekkha's value in a picture

http://bp2.blogger.com/_t-zFMe3ahlY/SDiPTsDKBiI/AAAAAAAAARk/zyyWtXpsmZs/s320/Dana%2BFradon%2B1%2BMay%2B1965%2Btragedy%2Bcomedy%2Bpair.jpg Have you ever noticed how some people who are very jolly and funny, the life of the party, also have another side? It seems the two actor masks really do go toge...
by christopher:::
Sun Aug 07, 2011 3:46 am
Forum: Dhammic Stories
Topic: Ajahn Chah's Life & Dhamma Teachings
Replies: 54
Views: 23742

Re: Ajahn Chah's Life & Dhamma Teachings

Hi Christopher, Sorry for the late reply. The "Thamma" in "Thammachart" is the same as the the Thai word for Dhamma. Dhamma = Tham (ธรรม) - also spelt Thamma (ธรรมะ) Nature = Thammachart (ธรรมชาติ) In the talk "Thammachart" is used to refer to the natural world/nature ...
by christopher:::
Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:30 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality
Replies: 100
Views: 14692

Re: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality

tiltbillings wrote:
christopher::: wrote: Interesting!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_tree_ ... n_a_forest" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

:anjali:
It still does not qualify as a koan.
True, but its still a fine question, and does relate to this...
by christopher:::
Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:17 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality
Replies: 100
Views: 14692

Re: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality

The Zen koan "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?" gets at this nicely Thats not a Zen Koan but a question by an Irish philosopher. All sorts of things get called "Zen koans," which clearly are not. Interesting! http://en.wikipedia...
by christopher:::
Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:44 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality
Replies: 100
Views: 14692

Re: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality

Implicit in this view is that there is an objective world that exists, that trees sway, planets spin, birds fly, winds blow clouds of moisture thru the sky... What is "subjectively" fabricated by thought are the names (trees, planets, birds, wind) and how those are perceived by the senses ...
by christopher:::
Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:30 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality
Replies: 100
Views: 14692

Re: Theravdan vs Mahayana view of objective reality

Please do tell. I tried to. It's much simpler [conceptually] if we limit subjective to that which is constructed by the senses (and requires an experiencer ) and objective to that which can be measured (and experienced) by sentient beings but is happening in the world even without sentient observat...