Why are you in this forum?

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism

Why are you in this forum?

1 Attain any stages of Nibbana
20
18%
2 Attain higher consciousness
7
6%
3 Seeking peace in the mind
10
9%
4 General interest in religion
8
7%
5 Comparative study of religion
1
1%
6 Prove Buddhism is wrong
0
No votes
7 Socialising
5
4%
8 Pass time
9
8%
9 Learn and share
41
36%
10 Other specify
13
11%
 
Total votes: 114

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dylanj
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Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by dylanj »

Bundokji wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 9:25 pm I choose 1,2,3,4,7,8 and 9 :juggling:

I believe that the best thing that can happen to a human being is to realize the Buddha Dhamma, but as someone who is not realized and at the same time holds this belief, this puts me in a dilemma in the sense that every thing becomes a waste of time. For example, i have to go to work to make a living, and i have duties towards my family which i can justify to myself that these are worldly duties which i have to do, but other than that, what else to do?

One of the few guilty pleasure that remain which i can rationalize is spending time on this forum. At least talking about the Dhamma or read what others say about it becomes the least harmful activity, but even this does not go without the sting of guilt.
what does your bio say? r u doing taqqiya
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
Bundokji
Posts: 6481
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:57 pm

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by Bundokji »

dylanj wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:49 pm what does your bio say? r u doing taqqiya
Your questions are not clear. Care to elaborate?
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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dylanj
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Location: San Francisco
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Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by dylanj »

Bundokji wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 7:43 am
dylanj wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:49 pm what does your bio say? r u doing taqqiya
Your questions are not clear. Care to elaborate?
What does the Arabic text under your posts say?
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
Bundokji
Posts: 6481
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:57 pm

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by Bundokji »

dylanj wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 8:12 am
Bundokji wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 7:43 am
dylanj wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 11:49 pm what does your bio say? r u doing taqqiya
Your questions are not clear. Care to elaborate?
What does the Arabic text under your posts say?
Its difficult to translate poetry, but it talks about patience and how when things really get worse it is usually the beginning of them starting to get better. Or as they say, everything starts small and gets bigger except problems which start big and become smaller.

But why? and how this is relevant?
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"

This was the last word of the Tathagata.
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No_Mind
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Location: India

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by No_Mind »

4, 7, 9, 10

The reason I am here is not listed. I believe that both Dhammic faiths (Hinduism and Buddhism) studied together provide better understanding than when studied in isolation. They complete each other.
SarathW wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:47 pm The results so far are very close to the result of SC.
I surprised why so few want to attain Nibbana.
Although I theoretically believe in Nibbana, I believe in this day and age it is not very possible because of lack of good teachers. Most one can hope for is to have a well rounded idea of Dhamma, lead a Dhammic life, be a decent and good person.

I have tried all three and see little scope for further progress unless my circumstances change dramatically.

Let me explain .. assume it is 1992, and I live in Maldives, I am a married man .. an illiterate Muslim fisherman .. with five kids. There is no internet (it being 1992), no Buddhist monastery, no Hindu temples, no college or university courses on religion, no library .. my scope for learning about the Dhamma would have been nil.

But I live in India .. where a Dhammic religion is predominant, it is 2018, I have limitless access to internet, large number of free pdfs and YouTube videos and podcasts describe what is Buddhism; I am single, a middle aged person with very little interest in shopping malls and accepted definition of socialising and have at least 500 hours a year to spare to learn Buddhism/meditate etc .. my scope for learning about the Dhamma is enormous and I have utilized it fully.

If I was born in early 20th century Thailand and was a student of Ajahn Sao Kantasilo I would have aimed at Nibbana. Similarly in India there were great yogis till about 1940s or so.

What a person can attain is limited by the era he is born in and his circumstances.

:namaste:
Last edited by No_Mind on Tue Jan 23, 2018 1:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
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dylanj
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Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by dylanj »

Bundokji wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 8:46 am
dylanj wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 8:12 am
Bundokji wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 7:43 am

Your questions are not clear. Care to elaborate?
What does the Arabic text under your posts say?
Its difficult to translate poetry, but it talks about patience and how when things really get worse it is usually the beginning of them starting to get better. Or as they say, everything starts small and gets bigger except problems which start big and become smaller.

But why? and how this is relevant?
Ok thanks.

It's not. Just wondering.
Born, become, arisen – made, prepared, short-lived
Bonded by decay and death – a nest for sickness, perishable
Produced by seeking nutriment – not fit to take delight in


Departure from this is peaceful – beyond reasoning and enduring
Unborn, unarisen – free from sorrow and stain
Ceasing of all factors of suffering – stilling of all preparations is bliss
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xofz
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 11:29 pm
Location: WA, USA
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Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by xofz »

I'm a creeper. Here to see liberated consciousnesses spread dhamma and keep the veil of ignorance that grows stronger in ordinary discourse at bay.
becoming aware!
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by SarathW »

No mind said:
it is not very possible because of lack of good teachers.
I agree with a certain point.
However, you can't expect to find a good teacher on the net except finding a lot of knowledgeable teachers.
I believe you can attain Nibbana in this life at least the Sotapanna.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
binocular
Posts: 8292
Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:13 pm

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by binocular »

SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:19 pmI believe you can attain Nibbana in this life at least the Sotapanna.
Yay!
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Crazy cloud
Posts: 930
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 8:55 am

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by Crazy cloud »

I'm using this place for practice, and especially testing the force of one's attachments to this fleeting world.
If you didn't care
What happened to me
And I didn't care for you

We would zig-zag our way
Through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain

Wondering which of the
Buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing
- Roger Waters
Upeksha
Posts: 119
Joined: Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:23 am

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by Upeksha »

I went for 'other' so I guess I should explain.

Just joined. Have been on online Buddhist forums before - found them useful for learning and clarifying the Dhamma. And also: getting some kind of picture of where Buddhism is at (socially and culturally) in the 21st century, which frankly has been a little depressing.

I left a few years ago because I wanted to get away from too much conceptual-discursive thought, and especially forms of unwholesome or neutral speech. I think speech is extremely important and precious, and we tend to waste it especially in the digital age.

I'm trained as a philosopher, so I do enjoy a good argument - but I realised this medium is not often conducive for open minded and respectful debate.

So, why have I returned after a few years of absence?

Well, I guess the truth is I saw a thread and wanted to PM someone about it. So I joined and now here I am. 12 posts in and I've already been drawn into a silly argument......
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by SarathW »

wanted to PM someone about it.
Sorry I did not receive it.
;)
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
Posts: 21184
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by SarathW »

Bump.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Polar Bear
Posts: 1348
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:39 am

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by Polar Bear »

I chose Learn & Share and Pass Time.

:anjali:
"I don't envision a single thing that, when developed & cultivated, leads to such great benefit as the mind. The mind, when developed & cultivated, leads to great benefit."

"I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress."
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StormBorn
Posts: 199
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:31 pm

Re: Why are you in this forum?

Post by StormBorn »

9 Learn and share
&
10 Other

The "Other" reason is similar to the below post by Crazy cloud:
Crazy cloud wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:45 pm I'm using this place for practice, and especially testing the force of one's attachments to this fleeting world.
SarathW wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2018 9:19 pm No mind said:
it is not very possible because of lack of good teachers.
I agree with a certain point.
However, you can't expect to find a good teacher on the net except finding a lot of knowledgeable teachers.
Recently, I tried to drag one venerable to participate in this forum thinking he can be of great help for meditators and also regarding some Dhamma knots. I personally believe he most likely comprehended at least the minimum level of the Dhamma (sotapanna). But he so easily refused, saying, "These days, Buddhism is mostly about arguments. And, many are arguing to prove that their view is the correct one. There's no reason for me to join that mess of knots." :shrug:

With a good doze of humour, he said, "You know. If by some 'mistake' one realized someday and see 'this' Buddhism with a new perspective. He might silently tell himself, 'I better be a fool and keep a silence about 'the Dhamma'." :lol:

Having given some thought, I tend to agree with him now. :smile:
Last edited by StormBorn on Sat Sep 29, 2018 9:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
“Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men, is he who would conquer just one—himself.”
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