Search found 460 matches

by mettafuture
Fri Aug 04, 2023 10:32 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 mettafuture
Thu Aug 03, 2023 12:16 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

I dabbled in it. I was a Theravada Buddhist for 12 years. What does this mean? What did your practice look like in those 12 years? I had a pretty consistent meditation routine in the mornings and evenings. I studied the suttas, read study guides and commentaries, listened to Dhamma talks, and went ...
by mettafuture
Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:56 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

Wouldn't the more compassionate response be to try and understand why someone is being sensitive? Maybe they've had a hard life. There's nothing wrong with some understanding. But it'd actually be quite cruel to continue to encourage such sensitivity. I usually don't. I remember seeing a flowchart ...
by mettafuture
Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:32 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

It's harder and harder nowadays to just come up with the excuse that Theravada is too complicated or that one doesn't have a support group in one's home town. Combing through endless online resources and dealing with passive-aggressive moderators isn’t enjoyable. We take our knowledge for granted s...
by mettafuture
Wed Aug 02, 2023 1:59 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

It's harder and harder nowadays to just come up with the excuse that Theravada is too complicated or that one doesn't have a support group in one's home town. Combing through endless online resources and dealing with passive-aggressive moderators isn’t enjoyable. We take our knowledge for granted s...
by mettafuture
Wed Aug 02, 2023 1:17 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

Theravada being bogged down by lists Surely lists make things simpler, at least easier to remember if not easier to understand. I would have thought the Buddhas use of lists makes his teaching more accessible, it beats those teachers that ramble on about metaphysics anyway. I agree. Allow me to giv...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 11:39 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

Buddhadhamma at its heart is not that complicated, it gains complexity over time as people find it easier to be distracted by complexity rather than be with their own minds. I've noticed this as well. I raised a similar question in the past based on a dhamma talk i listened to by Ajahn Brahm, where...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:13 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

It would be interesting to hear from Theravada practitioners who practice with a Sangha what their daily practice looks like. I'd like to hear from them as well. Many of the people I've spoken with online and offline relied on books and infrequent retreats. For me, as a Westerner who practiced Kore...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 3:52 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

I'm not advocating a strict division between laity and monasticism, but rather that more of the suttas should be taught, and that consideration should be taken for where someone is on the path. You seem to be basing your conclusions about where one is on the path... No, I'm basing them on all the c...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:54 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

A strict division between laity and monasticism sounds puritanical, possibly influenced by Catholicism. There is nothing that prevent laity to take or train in higher precepts. I'm not advocating a strict division between laity and monasticism, but rather that more of the suttas should be taught, a...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:19 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

"Staying at Savatthi. 'Monks... I'm not a monk. This is partly my point. When engaging with lay followers, why do we so often cite discourses given to monks, despite the existence of numerous discourses specifically intended for lay followers? That's not to say there's no benefit in reading or...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:05 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

Sam Vara wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 2:00 pm Welcome back, mettafuture! It's good to see you here again. :anjali:
Thank you, Sam! I hope you've been well. :namaste:
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 1:50 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Re: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

I wouldn't say Jataka tales (in Pali canon) and Bodhisatta striving is an easier or "less advanced" topic. Of course, all of the Buddha's teachings bear some level of complexity, but some teachings may be easier to implement if they're compatible with the lifestyle you wish to live. Tryin...
by mettafuture
Tue Aug 01, 2023 12:47 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism
Replies: 95
Views: 4720

Overcomplicating Lay Buddhism

Hello! It’s been a while. I hope everyone is at peace. I've had quite a crazy ride these past few years. In short, I converted to Catholicism, and now I'm looking back at Buddhism for ways to reincorporate the practices that helped me (the four brahmaviharas were immensely helpful). In looking throu...
by mettafuture
Sun May 12, 2019 11:19 am
Forum: Ordination and Monastic Life
Topic: Should nuns and monks be political?
Replies: 54
Views: 65526

Re: Should nuns and monks be political?

Further, if we ignore politics, bad people can take control of our societies, and those bad people can increase the suffering of others. You're clearly shifting the goalpoasts here... what has "we" got to do with the question of "should nuns and monks be political?" Because monk...