Search found 21 matches

by Mothra
Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:36 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddhism, rebirth and suicide
Replies: 61
Views: 16424

Re: Buddhism, rebirth and suicide

Greetings, If one rejects the idea of rebirth then so too does the concept of nirvana no longer make sense. This makes no sense to me. To paraphrase what Aloka said elsewhere recently... nirvana is for the enlightened, not the dead. Metta, Retro. :) Because as I understand it, nirvana is the breaki...
by Mothra
Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:33 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddhism, rebirth and suicide
Replies: 61
Views: 16424

Re: Buddhism, rebirth and suicide

I don't think one can separate belief in rebirth from Theravada Buddhism. If one rejects the idea of rebirth then so too does the concept of nirvana no longer make sense. Death by itself is not cessation of the aggregates. Only if enlightenment is realized during the lifetime is death going to be th...
by Mothra
Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:56 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Top 10 Chess players of all-time
Replies: 40
Views: 12136

Re: Top 10 Chess players of all-time

Alekhine and Capa both belong in top 10. Too many great players left out.
by Mothra
Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:57 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept
Replies: 86
Views: 24171

Re: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept

Annabel, I don't know how to answer you as you seem to think I'm belittling the suffering of the mentally ill and denying the link between mind and body, neither of which are true. I didn't think you were belittling the suffering of the mentally ill, I didn't understand this: I'm so tired of people...
by Mothra
Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:03 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept
Replies: 86
Views: 24171

Re: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept

I am not anti-psychiatry, I know many are helped by short-term use of medications. Somewhere early on in this thread, a message was given: "You are not allowed to question the utility of psychiatric medications, because then the streets would run wild with dangerous psychotics." I say hog...
by Mothra
Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:25 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: The truth about European history
Replies: 5
Views: 1331

Re: The truth about European history

That's golden. I just turned in my final paper for ancient (and medieval) history last week, and after reading this I don't feel as bad about it lol. It's because of this class that I learned what Theravada Buddhism was. Before, I thought Buddhism was only Zen, Tibetan or Shingon.
by Mothra
Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:46 am
Forum: Sīla
Topic: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept
Replies: 86
Views: 24171

Re: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept

Is it customary to be flippant and dismissive when people discuss illicit drug use too? People are quick to condemn that, and vocal about it being a hindrance to Buddhist practice. Yet these powerful psychiatric drugs, if they are prescribed by a doctor, are not considered a relevant topic of discus...
by Mothra
Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:31 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept
Replies: 86
Views: 24171

Re: psychiatric drugs and the fifth precept

I'm so tired of people using the "mental illness is like diabetes or cancer" argument. That analogy is not true. Quotes from this article say it better than I can: "For example, a defect in a person's visual field may be satisfactorily explained by correlating it with certain definite...
by Mothra
Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:44 pm
Forum: Suggestion box
Topic: mental illness
Replies: 29
Views: 9814

Re: mental illness

While I don't see how the TOS should be changed, I agree with zack on all his other points. I'm sad that the view is so widely held that what psychiatrists prescribe is "medicine", and what their patients suffer from is physical illness (it's called mental, but that's not true if they trea...
by Mothra
Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:21 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Burning Passions
Replies: 10
Views: 2719

Re: Burning Passions

Thanks for the recommendations. That audiodharma site looks great I may even sign up for the online course.
by Mothra
Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:32 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Burning Passions
Replies: 10
Views: 2719

Re: Burning Passions

There are some good meditation instructions on youtube. Search Ajahn Jayasaro meditation; and vsubhuti meditation. Also some western monasteries have dhamma talks on their webpages you may want to listen to. They are not always meditation talks but reflective talks. Zack Thanks for those, I listene...
by Mothra
Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:39 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Burning Passions
Replies: 10
Views: 2719

Re: Burning Passions

Thank you for the replies. Meditation is still completely alien to me. I've tried it on my own at various times and only felt frustrated. I'm sure working with a teacher would help, but the only Theravada I've found near me is a Vispassana retreat that costs almost $500. I might email them and ask i...
by Mothra
Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:54 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Burning Passions
Replies: 10
Views: 2719

Burning Passions

I've spent so many years following lust, anger and wrong views. Even when I read the Dhamma, still I can't sleep, still I focus on pain and discomfort, feel lust, fear and irritation all day. When in the midst of physical pain, discomfort, worry and stress, how does one still concentrate on the Dham...
by Mothra
Fri Nov 20, 2009 9:40 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Music game
Replies: 476
Views: 56731

Re: Music game

Enya
by Mothra
Fri Nov 20, 2009 3:05 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddha/Pali Tipitaka as the only Teacher?
Replies: 25
Views: 5712

Re: Buddha/Pali Tipitaka as the only Teacher?

This is a very helpful and interesting thread. I too am struggling with trying to distinguish what teaching is "authentic" and what is misguided. So far I've gone the route of trying to study the Tipitaka on my own but I would probably benefit a lot by studying with an experienced teacher....