Gratitude

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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Cittasanto
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Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

This time of year it is all to easy to forget how lucky we are.
remember
if you received more education than a primary school child
have clean water and clothes
and are not hungry 99% of the time

YOU ARE A LUCKY AND RICHER PERSON THAN 99% OF THE WORLDS POPULACE.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Cittasanto
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Ben
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Ben »

Well said, Cittasanto.
And to add,
Without the living tradition of the sangha who maintained the practice, and the study and realized the Dhamma for themselves,
we would not have the great gift of the Dhamma today.
with metta,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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Cittasanto
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

Ben wrote:Well said, Cittasanto.
And to add,
Without the living tradition of the sangha who maintained the practice, and the study and realized the Dhamma for themselves,
we would not have the great gift of the Dhamma today.
with metta,

Ben
:anjali:
it is also worth remembering that the only education available to people was through the monasteries in the not to distant past (50years) in some places.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Cittasanto
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

Also worth remembering is that many people are persecuted or have been persecuted (not the arguing against beliefs lumped in with persecution in the west) for being of another "faith".

we are lucky to of found the Dhamma, and be able to practice openly with some degree of protection to do so.

The youngest political prisoner in the world is the 11th Panchen Lama.
and there are still places in the world where offending another religion results in real death threats, violent protests and death.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Cittasanto
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

Caution video contains disturbing images

Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Khalil Bodhi
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Khalil Bodhi »

Thank you both for this reminder. We are truly fortunate to have enjoyed the riches of our societies and to have met with the Dhamma. Here is a Dhamma talk on the preciousness of our present life that has moved me and an I feel is apropos: http://www.abhayagiri.org/audio/This_Pr ... Human_Life

Sukhi hotu!
To avoid all evil, to cultivate good, and to cleanse one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
-Dhp. 183

The Stoic Buddhist: https://www.quora.com/q/dwxmcndlgmobmeu ... pOR2p0uAdH
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Cittasanto
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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Kusala
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Kusala »

Cittasanto wrote:
Thanks for the reminder, Cittasanto. From Africa to Afghanistan...

Image

Image

Image
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
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Kusala
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Kusala »

"There is no fire like passion
No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger,
And no joy like the joy of freedom."
- Dhammapada

The only true freedom from samsara is Nirvana....may all beings be free.
"He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods and men; he is Awake and Holy. "

--------------------------------------------
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise. "
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Sambojjhanga
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Sambojjhanga »

Cittasanto wrote:This time of year it is all to easy to forget how lucky we are.
remember
if you received more education than a primary school child
have clean water and clothes
and are not hungry 99% of the time

YOU ARE A LUCKY AND RICHER PERSON THAN 99% OF THE WORLDS POPULACE.
Thank you for reminding me of this great truth. I am most fortunate to live in relative riches. I'm most fortunate to have found the dhamma and I am also most fortunate to be part of this online Buddhist community.

Metta

:anjali:
Sabba rasam dhammaraso jinati
The flavor of the dhamma exceeds all other flavors
Yana
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Yana »

I am grateful :candle:
Life is preparing for Death
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Annapurna
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Annapurna »

Thank you, Cittasanto.

May we make good use of what we have. May we able to share it with those who don't have enough...
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Annapurna
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Annapurna »

YOU ARE A LUCKY AND RICHER PERSON THAN 99% OF THE WORLDS POPULACE.
Is it really these numbers...? :(
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Cittasanto
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Re: Gratitude

Post by Cittasanto »

Annapurna wrote:
YOU ARE A LUCKY AND RICHER PERSON THAN 99% OF THE WORLDS POPULACE.
Is it really these numbers...? :(
Not precisely but I don't think it is too far away from this number.
I think I heard 75% once or twice but was more using the "We Are The 99%" moto here for social reference.
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
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