Search found 72 matches

by kannada
Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:54 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: "Nothing exists", or (how) does it?
Replies: 66
Views: 12546

Re: "Nothing exists", or (how) does it?

Hi Anna, We seem to be stuck on the word 'existence'. As I understand it you are saying that things always exist and that names are superimposed on those existing things and that we are independent of those things. My point is that things are a product of mind and that naming asserts their identity ...
by kannada
Wed Jun 16, 2010 12:18 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: "Nothing exists", or (how) does it?
Replies: 66
Views: 12546

Re: "Nothing exists", or (how) does it?

Hi Anna, What is (nama(h))? Namah (or Nama) means 'Naming' or more simply 'nouns'. That's again one of the things I can't warp my mind around. A tree does exist, whether I assert that it is or not, right? There's nothing complicated to understand. 'It' cannot be un-named, for naming 'it' establishes...
by kannada
Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:48 am
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: "Nothing exists", or (how) does it?
Replies: 66
Views: 12546

Re: "Nothing exists", or (how) does it?

When some spiritual dudes explained to me, in my beginner's days: "Nothing exists." --I thought: B$. :shock: Obviously I exist, especially when my body is aching I know it for sure. Back then, -and I still see it happening to others today, "nothing exists", is the ONE sentence t...
by kannada
Sun Nov 29, 2009 5:53 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What is right view?
Replies: 127
Views: 25761

Re: What is right view?

What is right view?
Open eyes...
by kannada
Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:20 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: the great vegetarian debate
Replies: 5693
Views: 971758

Re: Poll: Are you vegetarian/vegan?

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want He makes me down to lie Through pastures green He leadeth me the silent waters by. With bright knives He releaseth my soul. He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places. He converteth me to lamb cutlets, For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger. When c...
by kannada
Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:33 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: What are the qualities of Nibbana?
Replies: 13
Views: 3846

Re: What are the qualities of Nibbana?

http://www.srimadbhagavatam.org/downloads/SanskritDictionary.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; nirvaNa* = m. or n. a country without forests L.; mfn. = {-vana}; ({-Ne}) ind. in the open country Pân. vi, 2, 178; viii, 4, 5 Kâs'. nirvana* = mfn. having no wood, being out of...
by kannada
Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:46 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

I wouldn't try to force the Dharma into some formal logical structure, simply because I see it as much more of a practical guide than a statement of some ultimate truth. Also annata is not quite "A is not A". I think what a lot of people do is confuse the conventional and ultimate categor...
by kannada
Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: What are the qualities of Nibbana?
Replies: 13
Views: 3846

Re: What are the qualities of Nibbana?

So as I said in the title, what qualities does nibbana possess? And is niabbana a state that you don't experience the world but a trascendental state? Hi Sundara, Nibbana / Nirvana is a postulate - an assertion. It points to the quality-less, the attribute-less, the unconditioned. nirvanaH (nirvaNa...
by kannada
Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:31 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

In Mathematical Logic, there is a precise definition of "truth". You need a system of axioms (a priori assumptions) and logical rules for deriving new statements from these axioms (like "if A, then B" and "if B, then C" implies "if A then C"), then a statemen...
by kannada
Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:17 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

Greetings, Can truth simply be that which is not false? Perhaps defining what is false may be easier than defining what is true? Metta, Retro. :) Hi Retro, Falsehoods are directly in relation to truth. How would we know 'x' is false unless we compared it to a standard named 'truth'? Falsehood would...
by kannada
Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:13 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

For a realist the truth or falsity of the statement "the earth is flat" is ulitmately true or false even if we dont know. Now we have maths and the visual of the earth being round which gives weight to Realism in this case. Of course one could argue for scepticism since, for scepticism, c...
by kannada
Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:40 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

Seeing as it is tells us... 'Seeing as is' doesn't tell us anything. Assertions are formed based on that seeing. Interesting to note though that Buddhism seems to side more with empiricism than rationalism via seeing as it is and sense experience. So its not Realist, so is it then Anti-realist or m...
by kannada
Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:17 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

The earth is flat = X is flat This can be affirmed or denied = Realism It may well be that the earth is flat, round or pointy however these are not the 'purest element of Buddhist perspective' which is a 'seeing-as-is'. The common sense (common to the senses) view is based on perspective and touted...
by kannada
Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:00 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

Hi clw, The general dilemma is that once a postulate 'x' has been asserted then it cannot be denied. Is 'x' real? contains no room for denial. It must be real for it has been asserted - as 'x' - and its 'reality' lies fully within its assertion. The purest element of the Buddhist perspective is neit...
by kannada
Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:40 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: What is Truth?
Replies: 41
Views: 8736

Re: What is Truth?

Hi folks... The truths of the 'raft' - ultimately to be abandoned, are noble truths, not ultimate truths. Other than this there are no truths in Buddhism, for all explanations of a dream - whilst dreaming - are part of the dream. The dream from which Buddha Awakened contains only dream 'truths'... R...