Search found 57 matches

by Mexicali
Tue May 12, 2009 4:31 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Unfair Criticism?
Replies: 41
Views: 10504

Re: Unfair Criticism?

I didn't agree with all of his conclusions, but it's a very powerful and challenging indictment of what entrenched Buddhism can become. To dismiss it lightly would be, I think, a huge mistake. Like Brian Victoria's "Zen at War" or Michael Parenti's works on Tibet, it's an honest look at a ...
by Mexicali
Mon May 11, 2009 3:24 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Former Abbot sentanced to 50 years jail for rape
Replies: 8
Views: 2982

Re: Former Abbot sentanced to 50 years jail for rape

Whether or not a man is guilty of a crime is little of our concern, except that it brings the Sangha at large into disrepute which is never good. Alas while there's greed, hatred and ignorance there are always going to be problems like this. Metta Jack Imo, what brings the Sangha into disrepute is ...
by Mexicali
Mon May 11, 2009 2:14 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Former Abbot sentanced to 50 years jail for rape
Replies: 8
Views: 2982

Re: Former Abbot sentanced to 50 years jail for rape

Whether or not a man is guilty of a crime is little of our concern Why not? It's in everybody's interest that children aren't sexually abused and conversely that innocent people don't go to jail for non-existent abuse. except that it brings the Sangha at large into disrepute which is never good Wel...
by Mexicali
Mon May 11, 2009 1:21 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Uposatha -- How do you observe precepts 7 and 8?
Replies: 20
Views: 10035

Re: Uposatha -- How do you observe precepts 7 and 8?

To me, it's really hard drawing a line between recreation------everything else, because I enjoy most of what I do. When I cook, weight train, read news, garden, etc it's all generally engaging to me but I'm not doing any of it for fun, per se. If/when I start doing 8 precept days I'll probably just ...
by Mexicali
Fri May 08, 2009 6:16 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Kamma and child prostitution -- blaming the victim?
Replies: 35
Views: 12040

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

I don't get the impression that the Buddha was "omniscient" in the godlike, western sense. For several weeks after attaining Buddhahood, he was not sure what to do with the insights he'd gained and had not gone out to teach the dhamma. Omniscience would mean he could have begun, instantly....
by Mexicali
Fri May 08, 2009 5:32 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.
Replies: 80
Views: 19250

Re: Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.

The Buddha specifically rejected what most people consider the "spiritual", essentially saying that if one finds a different "all" than the one that exists, it didn't make any sense. The world has enough "spiritual" jive talk, it means nothing to "speak as spiritua...
by Mexicali
Fri May 08, 2009 5:39 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Misquote of the Buddha?
Replies: 19
Views: 4714

Re: Misquote of the Buddha?

Ngawang Drolma wrote:It happens so much I felt compelled to make a smiley for it:

Image
I tip my hat to you, sir. This is awesome.
by Mexicali
Fri May 08, 2009 3:56 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.
Replies: 80
Views: 19250

Re: Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.

Mention to the shrink that you've come to believe that you've been universally awakened and have magic healing powers and I think you'll get a different answer. I'm really not trying to be a jerk here but you clearly need to talk to somebody. I have seen this happen before in real life and it's neve...
by Mexicali
Thu May 07, 2009 8:44 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.
Replies: 80
Views: 19250

Re: Yikes! People are noticing the change in me.

If you think you're an awakened being whose aura is healing people, I think it's very possible you may want to seek psychiatric help. This is not meant as an insult; such claims in my experience have often preceded delusions of grandeur and breakdowns.
by Mexicali
Thu May 07, 2009 4:53 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Is Mahayana perspective useful for Theravada practitioners?
Replies: 98
Views: 25634

Re: Is Mahayana perspective useful for Theravada practitioners?

Really? Yes. Where? Many and various places. Are you a Western Zen practitioner? Was. I'm not Your skeptical tone seems ill-advised to me, then. I lived around the corner from the San Francisco Zen Center for many years, sat there regularly, attended ceremonies, and socialized extensively with the ...
by Mexicali
Thu May 07, 2009 1:31 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Is It Possible to Be a Lay Theravada Buddhist?
Replies: 52
Views: 17782

Re: Is It Possible to Be a Lay Theravada Buddhist?

I would think that there have always been more lay Buddhists than monks.
by Mexicali
Thu May 07, 2009 1:21 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Uposatha -- How do you observe precepts 7 and 8?
Replies: 20
Views: 10035

Re: Uposatha -- How do you observe precepts 7 and 8?

I spent a couple years sleeping on floors, it really doesn't seem like that big of a thing to me. That aside, I'm curious about the answers as well. I haven't done any uposatha days yet.
by Mexicali
Tue May 05, 2009 5:31 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: The consequence for using intoxicants
Replies: 24
Views: 9391

Re: The consequence for using intoxicants

I've used a lot of what I call "desert drugs" like weed, mescaline, and mushrooms, and drank a lot. Never tried the harder stuff except opiate pills a couple times. It could be fun, but certainly was not conducive to any kind of honest look at life. People who claim that there are enlighte...
by Mexicali
Tue May 05, 2009 12:23 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Is Mahayana perspective useful for Theravada practitioners?
Replies: 98
Views: 25634

Re: Is Mahayana perspective useful for Theravada practitioners?

My approach is to try to be thoughtful and respectful and tone the language down for the purpose of having a productive discussion. Which seems to translate to silliness, phoney compassion, sanctimoniousness and being passive-agressive with some people. You do not know me, and making these hasty pe...
by Mexicali
Mon May 04, 2009 10:18 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Tattoos in Buddhism, Acceptable or not???
Replies: 44
Views: 41487

Re: Tattoos in Buddhism, Acceptable or not???

Fair enough, I withdraw my statement.