Search found 107 matches
- Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:18 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Other Aspects of the Dhamma
- Replies: 3
- Views: 851
Other Aspects of the Dhamma
Am I right that many come to the religion directly practicing meditation without a clear picture of why they practice it nor do they know the landscape of Samsara which provides more clarity as to where to move in life. Shouldn't meditation centers offer a briefing on these other things revealed in ...
- Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:31 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Dhamma As Sole Refuge Enough?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1504
Dhamma As Sole Refuge Enough?
Why is it said that "Therefore, Ananda, be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge, seeking no other refuge." (Mahaparinibbana Sutta)? We all know that we also rely on many other advice and insp...
- Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:25 am
- Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
- Topic: Does Meditation Bring Good Kamma?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1270
Does Meditation Bring Good Kamma?
Does meditation and vipassana bring good kamma?
- Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:23 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Beautiful Places and Ambience
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1753
Beautiful Places and Ambience
What kind of pleasures are enjoying beautiful scenery like a beautiful sunset and ambience like in hotels and parks? Are they lowly desires or can monks enjoy them as well?
- Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:21 am
- Forum: Vipassanā / Satipaṭṭhāna Bhāvana
- Topic: Instructions for Vipassana
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2798
Instructions for Vipassana
Anyone can provide a link for how to practice Vipassana step by step? Do you need a live instructor to learn it or can it be learned by reading instructions? It seems to be simple enough to learned by instructions. Are the 4 stages of release its only fruits or does it give good kamma and beget rebi...
- Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:55 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Maras' Lifespan
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3218
Re: Maras' Lifespan
I want come back to heaven :cry: Be careful what you wish for. Heaven isn't necessarily a bad place, though. If one has 'entered the stream', one's stay in heaven is not the same as for a worldling, so I read recently. One can even still progress in the Dhamma (depending on where one has gone, of c...
- Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:52 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Maras' Lifespan
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3218
Re: Maras' Lifespan
Dear Palletboy, Base on the information(The 31 planes of existence) (11) Devas Wielding Power over the Creation of Others (paranimmita-vasavatti deva) Which their lifespan could up to 16,000 Celestial years, 1 day = 1,600 human years Somewhere I have heard too the Buddha recollected his past life(9...
- Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:27 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Metteya Bodhisatta Tusita Second-to-Last Birth?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2049
Re: Metteya Bodhisatta Tusita Second-to-Last Birth?
WOuldn't hurt to have two options..piotr wrote:Hi,
Why do you want to meet unawakened being in heaven? It seems to me that it would be more useful to meet devas who are noble ones and ask them to teach the Dhamma.
- Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:26 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Metteya Bodhisatta Tusita Second-to-Last Birth?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2049
Re: Metteya Bodhisatta Tusita Second-to-Last Birth?
Greetings, one can only attain once-returnership in this stage of the present Sasana... Set aside these illogical/superstitious/defeatist Dharma Ending Age notions and embrace the timelessness and steadfastness of the Dhamma. Metta, Retro. :) Timlessness is not within the sphere of Samsara. Everyth...
- Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:17 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Metteya Bodhisatta Tusita Second-to-Last Birth?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2049
Metteya Bodhisatta Tusita Second-to-Last Birth?
It is said that the bodhisatta of the future Buddha Metteya is currently residing in Tusita heaven and it is also said that every bodhisatta's second to the last birth is in Tusita. Is the current Metteya bodhisatta in his second to last birth or will he fare to other births before coming back to Tu...
- Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:26 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Pleasure of Sixth Heaven
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1459
Re: Pleasure of Sixth Heaven
This isn't going to be terribly helpful but in one of the talks on this page - http://bodhimonastery.com/bm/about-buddhism/15-a-systematic-study-of-the-majjhima-nikaya.html?start=9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Bhikkhu Bodhi elaborates at length on Mara. Yes, Mara makes...
- Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:50 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Pleasure of Sixth Heaven
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1459
Pleasure of Sixth Heaven
It is said that Maras dwell in the Sixth Heaven. If this is so, isn't that a dangerous place to live in? Wouldn't this be a not-so-fortunate birth? Is it written anywhere in Scriptures that elaborate on this heaven?
- Sun Nov 13, 2011 5:46 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Maras' Lifespan
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3218
Maras' Lifespan
Hi it is said that the current Mara was the nephew of Maha Mogallana before he took hos last birth and was the head Mara at the time of the Buddha before Gotama Buddha. He went to heel after doing some evil to an arhat and his nephew replaced him and now the he is the current head Mara. Are Maras' l...
- Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:35 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Unalterable Law?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1860
Unalterable Law?
For hatred can never put an end to hatred; love alone can. This is an unalterable law. - The Dhammapada Is this really an "unalterable law?" What would happen to the Allied Forces in WWII or in any war or even in handling some hostile forces in our lives if tese verses are took seriously? ...
- Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:30 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Know Jhana, Be Brahma Automatically?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 776
Know Jhana, Be Brahma Automatically?
Does knowing how to enter jhana make you take rebirth as a brahma and the immaterial heavens in your next life automatically or do you have to enter into jhana at the moment of death to take rebirth in those realms? Also, can devas enter jhana? Please cite source on what part of the Tipitaka your an...