Search found 61 matches

by DarkDream
Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:23 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: the great rebirth debate
Replies: 7539
Views: 1327011

Re: the great rebirth debate

Here is one example of why I believe that rebirth and kamma are central themes of the Buddha's teaching and how they relate directly to our beliefs and actions in the here and now. I've noticed the "The Dog-duty Ascetic" sutta is a sutta that is mentioned commonly by those who want to say...
by DarkDream
Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:23 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Anyone can go to heaven, just be good
Replies: 62
Views: 14681

Re: Anyone can go to heaven, just be good

I haven't looked at the web site in deapth but it appear fine to me. I guess that may surprise some of you who know how I am not really convinced at all in rebirth and obviously different realms. But I did notice that it is does mention the other metaphorical aspect of it. For example, here it says:...
by DarkDream
Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:17 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Essential Right View
Replies: 23
Views: 7058

Re: Essential Right View

Yes, but remember Manapa, the discourse was for a group of people who had not taken refuge in the Buddha who had asked him a question regarding how one could determine who was a worthy teacher. The advice was very specific to the audience. Ben, I've read Bhikkhu Bodhi's argument, and did not quite ...
by DarkDream
Mon Mar 30, 2009 5:55 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?
Replies: 10
Views: 5014

Re: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?

Thanks for all you guys looking into this (especially sukhamanveti). I did the same thing by looking at the Pali from the Sixth Council and the Pali Text Society. I can concur that I have always seen "tathagata" and not "satta."

All the best.

--DarkDream
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:31 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?
Replies: 10
Views: 5014

Re: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?

Who was the translator? It doesn't say. What word is being translated? It doesn't say that either. Maybe that is a good point. I am making an assumption that the word is "satta" instead of "tathagata" which it is possible that the translator made as a sentient being if for some ...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:26 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?
Replies: 10
Views: 5014

Re: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?

Hi DD, I spoke to a monk from I believe Thailand, a few months ago about this, very shourt exchange, but relevant here. each Tipitaka is slightly different, and possibly due to translation from the scripts into the respective script of the languages. these differences are minor I believe and don't ...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:31 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?
Replies: 189
Views: 35790

Re: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?

I would be very interested to read any scholarly research which would support that remark about this particular sutta, together with links to where I can read it. Chris, I haven't done a lot of research but it is interesting in this light that Thanissaro in his comment of the sutta says the followi...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 1:09 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?
Replies: 35
Views: 12038

Re: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?

The idea of kamma does by necessity lead to a view like this even though there is evidence in the suttas that is against this. . . . The point is that it must be deterministic to work. By necessity? How come I do not hold to such an inaccurate view of kamma? How come many others here do not hold to...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:55 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?
Replies: 189
Views: 35790

Re: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?

DarkDream Do you believe that memebers of the Sangha would allow such changes and deletions? I agree that some corruptions would have crept naturaly but i doubt it would have been to any serious degree, maybe a few words or the setting etc I have read somewhere that Theravada, at least, added some ...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:39 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?
Replies: 10
Views: 5014

Differences in the Different Recensions of the Tripitaka?

I have a general question regarding the Tripitaka. From my limited understanding, please correct my if I am wrong, there seems to be different recensions in the various South East Asian countries. For example, there appears to be a Burmese, Thai and Sri Lanka recension. I also have noticed that ther...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:14 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?
Replies: 189
Views: 35790

Re: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?

In reguards to the stock passage, i agree with you that it probably wasnt spoken by the Buddha since they are the words of Ajita Kesakambali, however this misses a point i feel. The words arent important but the message it puts accross, that all is pointless and it doesnt matter what you do since t...
by DarkDream
Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:00 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?
Replies: 35
Views: 12038

Re: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?

This view of kamma is not at all surprising. The idea of kamma does by necessity lead to a view like this even though there is evidence in the suttas that is against this. The point is that kamma and rebirth from a purely conceptual point of view is by necessity deterministic. The classical view of ...
by DarkDream
Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:18 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?
Replies: 35
Views: 12038

Re: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?

The difficult question, though, is whether this "mistaken" view of kamma actually stems from the Buddha's teaching. Isn't it simply an extension of MN 135 (we're ugly because we were bad, etc.)? If not, why? I respect your wish not to comment on the Venerable's opinion. What I'm intereste...
by DarkDream
Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:07 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?
Replies: 189
Views: 35790

Re: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?

Hello all, On the topic of "To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?": To me, it's quite simple. I hold that, if, after studying the Teachings, practising sila and meditation, and discussing with other buddhists, for a long time, - you find you have proven that much of what the B...
by DarkDream
Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:52 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?
Replies: 189
Views: 35790

Re: To be Buddhist you must accept kamma and rebirth?

An extract from MN 60 - Apannaka Sutta http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.060.than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; A. "There are some brahmans & contemplatives who hold this doctrine, hold this view: 'There is nothing given, nothing offered, nothing...