Search found 106 matches
- Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:28 am
- Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
- Topic: Can I start practising on my own?
- Replies: 50
- Views: 12638
Re: Can I start practising on my own?
Hello, I am not a buddhist (yet) but I was wondering if this journey could be started on one's own. There is no theravada center near where I live, so is it ok to start practising (not just reading books) alone, without personal guidance? or is it likely I will make mistakes and go down the wrong p...
- Sun Aug 02, 2015 1:32 am
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Social Isolation and The Dhamma As A Lay Person
- Replies: 37
- Views: 7124
Re: Social Isolation and The Dhamma As A Lay Person
Here and on other Buddhist forums I have seen a number of people bring up emotional health issues such anxiety, panic attacks, unhealthy cravings for attention, self esteem issues, anger, etc. I've suffered from some of those myself. My opinion is that human beings are social animals and that inter...
- Tue Jun 23, 2015 1:07 am
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Mindfulness has lost its Buddhist roots, and it may not be doing you good
- Replies: 67
- Views: 10436
Re: Mindfulness has lost its Buddhist roots, and it may not be doing you good
I don't get it. How can mindfulness be bad? Isn't a mind in the state of mindfulness alert, neutral, and concentrated on the flow of reality in a real time? Aside from the theory has anyone experienced harmful effects of mindfulness themselves?
- Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:35 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Feeling like a neutered dog while following Buddhism
- Replies: 106
- Views: 21249
Re: Feeling like a neutered dog while following Buddhism
The "neutered dog" feeling is just a mind game, ignore it and stay on the path. But then the question is here how do you define the path for the lay person? The noble Eightfold Path is the path, but that's not what you mean I'm guessing. Should've written the path, not a path, my bad. As ...
- Sun Feb 22, 2015 4:45 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Feeling like a neutered dog while following Buddhism
- Replies: 106
- Views: 21249
Re: Feeling like a neutered dog while following Buddhism
I don't get that feeling any more, on the contrary not following the path I know I'm doing the wrong thing. The certainty I have is not based on any belief, or a feeling, I can see the consequences of following the path, and veering off of it. It's really a no-brainer. Following the path keeps me ou...
- Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:28 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Respect for parents - my struggle
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3887
Re: Respect for parents - my struggle
Respect is something that must be earned never given to anyone who hasn't earned it. Being civil, compassionate, kind, gentle, forgiving, understanding etc is one thing, respect implies approval. Taking care of your parents no matter who they are is the right thing to do. You can still do everything...
- Sun Feb 15, 2015 10:03 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Bunch of personal anaylsizing + Does true compassion really exist? Isn't everything egocentric?
- Replies: 70
- Views: 13639
Re: Does true compassion really exist? Isn't everything egocentric?
Hi understanding 27, If there is one thing one needs to understand it is the instruction that you have to do it yourself, no one can do it for you. Asking others if this or that really exists will not clear your doubt up. You may believe it, but you won't really know it, the only way to know is to f...
- Sat Feb 07, 2015 5:25 am
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Relationship problem, please help?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1295
Re: Relationship problem, please help?
This is confusing. Why post this on a Buddhist site? In short all existence is suffering, untrained mind sees undesirable as desirable. Seriously though try relationship help related site, Buddhists are not romantic relationships specialists. Give up sex, and live in solitude, these two minor adjust...
- Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:46 pm
- Forum: Family Life and Relationships
- Topic: Desire for Relationship and for Lack of Relationship
- Replies: 47
- Views: 13395
Re: Desire for Relationship and for Lack of Relationship
Hapiness is overrated, equanimity is far superior. Romantic "love" is just lust, and ignorance, and so are romantic relationships. Look at sex with a neutral mind, it's one of the silliest activities one can engage in. Craving intimacy is ignorance no matter how you cut it. Idealizing the ...
- Thu Jan 15, 2015 2:25 pm
- Forum: Sīla
- Topic: Is selling fattening food a Right Livelihood?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1594
Is selling fattening food a Right Livelihood?
This thread was inspired by a similar thread "Is selling cigarettes a right livelhood?". At first glance this may seem like a ludicrous question, but keep an open mind, obesity causes even more health issues than smoking tobacco does. So, is selling bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pasta, ...
- Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:53 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
- Topic: The difference between samatha and vipassana?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 10678
Re: The difference between samatha and vipassana?
Thanks for taking the time to answer this, your answers have been a great help. MIkenz66, your point about vipassana and samatha being results rather than meditative methods, and the method which emphasises each is usually called by either samatha or vipassana, clarifies things. Samatha develops co...
- Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:37 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Survival of the Arhat: mixing ultimate and conventional.
- Replies: 29
- Views: 6085
Re: Survival of the Arhat: mixing ultimate and conventional.
What I think is that time is limited. I think it comes down to priorities. This issue doesn't register on my radar. Not worried about it in the least.
- Wed Dec 24, 2014 8:00 am
- Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
- Topic: The difference between samatha and vipassana?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 10678
Re: The difference between samatha and vipassana?
Hi Dan, Here is how I understand the difference. Samatha, you train concentration to the exclusion of everything else, you gather the mind, fix it on the object, and stick to it, and that's all there is to it. Sounds easy, it isn't. Vipassana, you still keep your mind focused on an object (breath, o...
- Sun Dec 21, 2014 8:59 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Benefits of being a lay person
- Replies: 46
- Views: 9171
Re: Benefits of being a lay person
Dhamma is always there, since Dhamma is the reality of the present moment. Dhamma is the way it is, the hard facts of existence. However the noble eightfold path that leads to vision of Dhamma (the way it is) can become muddled/ignored/distorted or fogotten over time. The importance of preserving t...
- Sat Dec 20, 2014 8:42 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Benefits of being a lay person
- Replies: 46
- Views: 9171
Re: Benefits of being a lay person
Thank you Anagarika. :bow: Buddhism is available in it's pristine condition for 2500 years thanks to those dedicated monks. Sometimes we pay too much attention to rubbles than the gems hidden within those rubbles. Lay people also play a major role in protecting Buddha's teaching. Only benefit I can...