Search found 580 matches

by Jason
Mon Aug 07, 2023 10:43 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: God in the pali cannon
Replies: 67
Views: 6403

Re: God in the pali cannon

As others have mentioned, the Pali Canon doesn't address the idea of God much. It does have suttas that are critical of views about a beginning point, though, and of a creator God in that sense. Suttas mention that a beginning point to our experience of the world and the rounds of rebirth aren't evi...
by Jason
Mon Aug 07, 2023 2:44 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Can you believe in more than 1 religion at the same time?
Replies: 17
Views: 1539

Re: Can you believe in more than 1 religion at the same time?

People believe a lot of different things, I don't think it should make a difference whether the source if those beliefs is two different world religions or from some other source. If you are progressing on the path your beliefs will evolve over time, you'll probably find cases where two beliefs you...
by Jason
Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:44 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Can you believe in more than 1 religion at the same time?
Replies: 17
Views: 1539

Re: Can you believe in more than 1 religion at the same time?

You certainly can, especially if you see similarities between them and find them complementery to your practice. Many people will discourage this, usually because they believe only one religion or teacher is correct and everything else is delusion or blasphemy and will ultimately lead you to a bad d...
by Jason
Fri Aug 04, 2023 11:08 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

But eventually, it got more about gaining the knowledge and arguing about it rather than practicing, so I left most forums and just started with the basics again, precepts, generosity, mindfulness of breathing, etc. This happened to me, too. After I filled my head with reams of doctrine, I had to s...
by Jason
Fri Aug 04, 2023 9:48 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Countering nihilism
Replies: 77
Views: 5087

Re: Countering nihilism

It's an interesting question, and the answer really depends on why kind of nihilism your talking about. For example, there's the nihilism that says all things are inconstant and therefore with inherent meaning, which can lead to all kinds of results, such as those who lack morality of any sort becau...
by Jason
Fri Aug 04, 2023 9:24 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: View On Vajrayana
Replies: 16
Views: 1993

Re: View On Vajrayana

I am a Vajrayana practitioner, but have recently grown a lot more sympathetic towards the Theravada. However I am still a little confused about compassion not being central in the forest tradition. Of course compassion can be an ego trick, leading to all kinds of inverted tantrism. Nonetheless it s...
by Jason
Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:44 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Can I get rid of bad karma by way of Jesus Christ?
Replies: 34
Views: 2231

Re: Can I get rid of bad karma by way of Jesus Christ?

As a side note, for those who think the Catholic spiritual tradition has little-to-nothing in common with Theravada According to Catholicism, most Theravadans will most likely burn in hell for all eternity (like most people anyway). That's it, end of story, no commonalities. That's not really true....
by Jason
Thu Aug 03, 2023 12:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

From personal experience, I think one can definitely over-complicate things. When I started out, it was fairly simple, chanting and sitting in meditation at a local Thai Buddhist temple in the evenings because I was curious if meditation could help deal with some difficult things going on. Once I wa...
by Jason
Mon Jul 31, 2023 3:18 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Is intention really all that matters?
Replies: 102
Views: 5206

Re: Is intention really all that matters?

It's a complicated topic, but I'd say generally speaking intention is important but not the only thing that matters. The effects of those intentions, good or bad, supportive or harmful, also matter. And there's so much focus on intention because it gives an action much of its weight, and it's the as...
by Jason
Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:20 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Replies: 34
Views: 2655

Re: 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

I think France has a good shot at winning it this year. They're looking really good.
by Jason
Sun Jul 30, 2023 8:45 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Why do women not involve in war?
Replies: 43
Views: 2284

Re: Why do women not involve in war?

I find it hard to believe even though there are reports of it, just as much as I find it hard to believe that DN 22 was concocted by the Buddha. Scholars such as VBB has said "Few are the words of Buddha in the MN and DN" In the SN maybe more? Does SN say that Buddha blocked the entry of ...
by Jason
Sun Jul 30, 2023 4:56 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Why do women not involve in war?
Replies: 43
Views: 2284

Re: Why do women not involve in war?

... Can't there be elements of truth in all of these viewpoints? From a dhammic point of view of course, none of them are true. Yes, I'd agree that there are multiple reasons and supporting conditions. However, in contradistinction to the arguments offered here, I'm focusing on what I see as the pr...
by Jason
Sun Jul 30, 2023 4:55 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Why do women not involve in war?
Replies: 43
Views: 2284

Re: Why do women not involve in war?

But as any of those people stopped to consider that perhaps women have just as much ambition, desires, and capabilities as men but have simply been forcibly kept out of certain fields and spheres of life? And who raised those men who "forcibly keep women out of certain fields and spheres of li...
by Jason
Sun Jul 30, 2023 2:31 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Why do women not involve in war?
Replies: 43
Views: 2284

Re: Why do women not involve in war?

I find it concerning that there is seemingly so many problematic topics of discussion here It's great that you're back! Now you can challenge the posts you find troublesome directly and provide an alternative viewpoint, for others' development. And practice right speech for your own development. Th...
by Jason
Sun Jul 30, 2023 1:19 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Why do women not involve in war?
Replies: 43
Views: 2284

Re: Why do women not involve in war?

As a general comment on a couple of somewhat related threads, I find it concerning that there is seemingly so many problematic topics of discussion here for a Buddhist forum that likes to distance itself from 'politics,' yet in the last couple of week since I've been back, I've seen threads where pe...