Search found 12 matches
- Sat Jun 25, 2011 5:51 am
- Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
- Topic: Can people be reborn in hell as a demon?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 3463
Can people be reborn in hell as a demon?
I was reading some of the gruesome depictions of hell in the suttas - usually I would have thought, the idea is that if you act really badly you are going to end up suffering in hell. However presumably in this set-up some kinds of people end up instead as the demons that torment people in hell? Wha...
- Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:42 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Should I buy a copy of the Majjhima Nikaya?
- Replies: 68
- Views: 14532
Re: Should I buy a copy of the Majjhima Nikaya?
I just noticed that MN 129 and 130 are among those left out on Access to Insight, and, as I saw when I found them on another site eventually, they contain extremely gruesome descriptions of hell and rather voluptuous ones of heaven. I wondered if Thanissaro Bhikku found them a bit embarrassing?... o...
- Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:42 pm
- Forum: Hot Topics
- Topic: masturbation what's wrong?
- Replies: 615
- Views: 277239
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
I am beginning to like Ajahn Brahmavamso less and less the more I read of him. His “rejoinder” failed to mention that much of texts he quoted are addressed to monastics, not laity. That is a significant distinction. He said that he was talking about what is necessary to achieve enlightenment. Most ...
- Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:59 pm
- Forum: Shrine Room
- Topic: Buddha Statues: Hairstyle?
- Replies: 24
- Views: 17118
Re: Buddha Statues: Hairstyle?
According to some traditions it is an actual physical bump on his head, meant to be a sign of enlighenment, called an ushnisha. However I read that in the earliest representations it was probably simply a topknot, and that is later got interpreted as something else. Does anyone know about that? Re, ...
- Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:37 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: What do Buddhists think of Jesus Christ?
- Replies: 182
- Views: 33955
Re: What do Buddhists think of Jesus Christ?
In the interest of accuracy - Jesus specifically stated "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). The historical Jesus might or might not have said that, and if he did who is to say what he meant by it? The general consensus of scholars is that John was the last gospel written, arou...
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:43 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: What do Buddhists think of Jesus Christ?
- Replies: 182
- Views: 33955
Re: What do Buddhists think of Jesus Christ?
Not sure if you were referring to my post, but I have read around Christianity pretty extensively, and it seems to me very likely a lot has been put into Jesus's mouth that he didn't say, however there seems to me a reasonable amount of evidence he believed in hell and plenty of evidence he believed...
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:13 pm
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Hello from Nice
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1075
Re: Hello from Nice
Right, thanks, it's coming back to me now, from what I've read before. And thanks to everyone for the welcome.beeblebrox wrote:Welcome, Orlando.
The Theravada texts are in the Pali language, while the Mahayana texts seem to be based on Sanskrit, for some reason.
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:28 pm
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Hello from Nice
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1075
Hello from Nice
I have read up a bit on Buddhism in the past and done a little meditation, as part of my spiritual meanderings. Have been mainly humanistic and skeptical lately, but am investigating Buddhism again. I am looking for more inner peace basically, less anger about things that have gone wrong, or unfairl...
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:17 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: What do Buddhists think of Jesus Christ?
- Replies: 182
- Views: 33955
Re: What do Buddhists think of Jesus Christ?
I admire some sayings attributed to Jesus, but don't believe he was God incarnate or died for humanity's sins. I also find some of his teachings objectionable or very improbable, like the existence of eternal hell or the idea that at some point humans who have died will be miraculously given back ne...
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:57 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: the great Nibbana = annihilation, eternal, or something else thread
- Replies: 2423
- Views: 600653
Re: Nibbana is Freedom Not Extinction
Not my interpretation at all....but perhaps that of many Thais and Thai monks. Personally I think that once having reached Arahant and died from this final existence in Samsara then perhaps it is like entering a new dimension. This would be unexplainable to us, stuck in our little three dimensional...
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:51 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: the great Nibbana = annihilation, eternal, or something else thread
- Replies: 2423
- Views: 600653
Re: Nibbana is Freedom Not Extinction
Here in Thailand I would imagine the majority of lay people hope for rebirth in the heaven realms, perhaps because they are afraid of Nibbana. Heaven can be imagined but Nibbana cannot. They do not want to stop existing and suspect that that is what Nibbana is. Certainly Nibbana is no more rebirth ...
- Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:33 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: A quote from Ajahn Brahm
- Replies: 65
- Views: 14074
Re: A quote from Ajahn Brahm
On the other hand evolution comes under biology, theoretical physics has nothing to do with it, so maybe he is as uninformed on it as anyone else? I also found this remark by him jarred a bit with me. However I also agree with the poster who said why ignore 55 minutes of wise and insightful words an...