What does spirit mean in Buddhism?

[chownah]

May benevolent Devas rejoice and share in all of our merits, and may they protect us and help us to succeed in our lives and in our practice.

I have no problem whatsoever mentally reciting this kind of "prayer", and I don't think anyone else should either!

If one sees reciting this prayer as being an empty ritual should they have no problem whatsoever mentally reciting it?
chownah

[Garrib]

May benevolent Devas rejoice and share in all of our merits, and may they protect us and help us to succeed in our lives and in our practice.

I have no problem whatsoever mentally reciting this kind of "prayer", and I don't think anyone else should either!

If one sees reciting this prayer as being an empty ritual should they have no problem whatsoever mentally reciting it?
chownah

I don't know, chownah, what do you think?

[chownah]

May benevolent Devas rejoice and share in all of our merits, and may they protect us and help us to succeed in our lives and in our practice.

I have no problem whatsoever mentally reciting this kind of "prayer", and I don't think anyone else should either!

If one sees reciting this prayer as being an empty ritual should they have no problem whatsoever mentally reciting it?
chownah

I don't know, chownah, what do you think?

It is of no concern to me in that when I see a ritual as being empty I do not perform it. I see all rituals as being empty....I can recite the words if I want....I can recite the words every day if I want.....but doing so would not be a ritual.
I mentioned this to you because you seem to think you know what anyone else's attitude should be towards this so I thought that what I said might help you with understanding your ideas possible application.
chownah

[Garrib]

Ok,

I'm not really interested in fruitless online confrontations, and I honestly am not sure I understand what it is you're trying to express to me. I apologize if my comment offended you in some way.

Be well.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings No_Mind,

There are six cases when the pārājika 1 is not committed:

When the bhikkhu is sleeping or in all other cases when he is not aware of the sexual intercourse when it takes place.
When the bhikkhu is not consenting.
When the bhikkhu has fallen into unconsciousness or is in a state of insanity.
When the bhikkhu, being possessed by another spirit, can no longer control himself.
When the bhikkhu is afflicted by an unbearable pain.
When the bhikkhu has committed this action before the rules have been established.

http://en.dhammadana.org/sangha/vinaya/227/4pk.htm

What is meant by spirit?

Is it possible that this was the contemporary explanation for what we might now commonly attribute to "mental health issues"?

Metta,
Paul.

[Lucas Oliveira]

Greetings No_Mind,

There are six cases when the pārājika 1 is not committed:

When the bhikkhu is sleeping or in all other cases when he is not aware of the sexual intercourse when it takes place.
When the bhikkhu is not consenting.
When the bhikkhu has fallen into unconsciousness or is in a state of insanity.
When the bhikkhu, being possessed by another spirit, can no longer control himself.
When the bhikkhu is afflicted by an unbearable pain.
When the bhikkhu has committed this action before the rules have been established.

http://en.dhammadana.org/sangha/vinaya/227/4pk.htm

What is meant by spirit?

Is it possible that this was the contemporary explanation for what we might now commonly attribute to "mental health issues"?

Metta,
Paul.

Spirit possession
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_po ... ific_views

[Lucas Oliveira]

Can human be possessed by another spirit?
https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/ca ... pirit/7817