Search found 998 matches

by SamKR
Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:39 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: He directly knows X as X : what does that mean?
Replies: 18
Views: 3343

Re: He directly knows X as X : what does that mean?

Does anyone have an edifying explanation of what phrases like those used in MN 1 "He directly knows X as X" even mean? In line with what SDC posted above, in my understanding, this means knowing X as it is, bereft of all additional superposition of conceiving, ideas, views, inclinations. ...
by SamKR
Sat Dec 07, 2019 6:05 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Either Buddhism is pure nihilism or dependent origination must be reinterpreted?
Replies: 65
Views: 9457

Re: Either Buddhism is pure nihilism or dependent origination must be reinterpreted?

If everything, without exception, is dependently originated, nothing has any independent existence, there is no single thing. Everything depends on something else to exist. If there is no single thing then obviously there cannot be many things. In my opinion, this premise is correct (depending upon...
by SamKR
Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:16 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Bahiya sutras - what's the significance?
Replies: 40
Views: 5134

Re: Bahiya sutras - what's the significance?

:namaste: When it's repeatedly said, 'With respect to the seen, there's only the seen etc.', what does this mean to you? I mean your insight, experience. Is this just a teaching device used by the Buddha so you'd avoid the self, or is it much more? Or does this point to nonduality? Discuss. :anjali...
by SamKR
Wed Aug 07, 2019 4:22 pm
Forum: Pāli
Topic: Pali term: samsāra
Replies: 27
Views: 7309

Re: Pali term: samsāra

Samsara = sequence of Lokas one after another (a virtually non-stoppable flow/river with no apparent beginning - and beings are embedded in and carried away by this flow/river due to avijja).
by SamKR
Wed Jul 31, 2019 2:01 am
Forum: Pāli
Topic: sakkāya-diṭṭhi
Replies: 27
Views: 5358

Re: sakkāya-diṭṭhi

thomaslaw wrote: Sun Jul 28, 2019 12:53 am
It is incorrect to translate directly the Pali term, sakkāya-diṭṭhi, as "a condition for the arising of self-view".
That's not a translation but my interpretation or my understanding as of now, and of course it is possible that this is wrong.
by SamKR
Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:57 pm
Forum: Pāli
Topic: sakkāya-diṭṭhi
Replies: 27
Views: 5358

Re: sakkāya-diṭṭhi

In my opinion, sakkāya-diṭṭhi means the view that body exists independently and inherently (= 'really') -- which is an exact opposite of the view that the body dependently appears to arise, is empty, fabricated and imputed due to ignorance. This view that the body exists independently and inherently...
by SamKR
Sun Jul 21, 2019 4:46 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Suffering is not a satisfactory translation for the Pali word "Dukkha"?
Replies: 66
Views: 8934

Re: Suffering is not a satisfactory translation for the Pali word "Dukkha"?

To say that "dukkha" in a modern language means "suffering" really has no bearing on what "dukkha" meant at the time of the buddha. chownah I disagree. Having observed that too many words have the same or similar meanings (modern compared to ancient), it is reasonable ...
by SamKR
Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:14 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Suffering is not a satisfactory translation for the Pali word "Dukkha"?
Replies: 66
Views: 8934

Re: Suffering is not a satisfactory translation for the Pali word "Dukkha"?

Dukkha, and its variations (Du:kha, दुःख), in current south asian languages like Hindi and Nepali (which are related to Sanskrit and Pali) is a very common word. It is the opposite of sukha, another common word. As a native Nepali speaker I use these two words in day to day conversations. In these l...
by SamKR
Thu Jun 27, 2019 9:30 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Help! Meaning of sankhara
Replies: 34
Views: 8066

Re: Help! Meaning of sankhara

Sankhara is anything that appears to arise with the presence of avijja , and anything with the arising of which vinnana arises. --- Avijja is ignorance of what is actually going on. Sankhara is any apparent thing or activity or felt sense that arises dependent on such ignorance. So what what would ...
by SamKR
Sun Jun 23, 2019 3:18 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Idealism
Replies: 141
Views: 15848

Re: Idealism

Hi Ceisiwr, Your views presented in your posts in this thread are mostly compatible with the Dhamma, IMO. I understand your views and agree with you. However, it is a very very difficult task to convince others or argue about why this view is closer to actuality than materialism. As the Buddha says ...
by SamKR
Sun Feb 10, 2019 3:14 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does karma affect our consciousness?
Replies: 3
Views: 985

Re: Does karma affect our consciousness?

Does this apply to both the outside world and our inner life? Once it is seen that in the direct experience there is only this direct experience (and that the distinction of "outside world" and "inner life" is a cognition arising in this ), then it may be seen that this (includi...
by SamKR
Sat Feb 09, 2019 5:53 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does consciousness exist?
Replies: 95
Views: 14366

Re: Does consciousness exist?

If nirvana is the cessation of consciousness, then how is it different from a stone-like existence? Isn't it like saying we will be like inert objects once we attain nirvana? Phrases like "we will be", "inert objects", and "attain" does not apply to nirvana. It is beca...
by SamKR
Sat Feb 09, 2019 5:38 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does consciousness exist?
Replies: 95
Views: 14366

Re: Does consciousness exist?

Translating vinnana as "consciousness" is causing a lot of confusion. Is there a better English word for vinnana? I would prefer "dualistic knowing" or "discriminative knowing" (based on the meaning of vinnana) though it sounds clumsy and I am not a native English spea...
by SamKR
Sat Feb 09, 2019 5:37 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Ontology vs Soteriology
Replies: 19
Views: 2976

Re: Ontology vs Soteriology

alfa wrote: Tue Jan 15, 2019 2:39 am
Therefore, the question is: is practice more important than knowledge?
Knowledge (knowledge that is relevant to awakening) is an aspect of practice, and practice may lead to more clear knowledge. Practice is not some mechanical activity - it starts and ends with knowledge.
by SamKR
Thu Feb 07, 2019 6:31 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Does consciousness exist?
Replies: 95
Views: 14366

Re: Does consciousness exist?

Translating vinnana as "consciousness" is causing a lot of confusion. Is there a better English word for vinnana? I would prefer "dualistic knowing" or "discriminative knowing" (based on the meaning of vinnana) though it sounds clumsy and I am not a native English speak...