Search found 76 matches

by fragrant herbs
Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:21 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: How Do Theravadins View Hell?
Replies: 14
Views: 4803

Re: How Do Theravadins View Hell?

Wholesome action is it's own reward. if somebody has to have the threat of hell before cleaning up his/her act then his/her heart is not in it. My thoughts as well. It has always bothered me when I heard people saying that they "do good so they won't go to hell." that is immoral in itself.
by fragrant herbs
Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:55 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Rituals in Theravada
Replies: 10
Views: 1836

Re: Rituals in Theravada

Thanks for all the information. It is greatly appreciated.
by fragrant herbs
Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:09 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: We don't want to renounce. We want to have fun.
Replies: 83
Views: 19765

Re: We don't want to renounce. We want to have fun.

Maybe it depends on what you constitute as having fun. My teacher loves to garden and to play with a certain type of board game that the monks use. He also takes monks on trips to get them away from the monastery.
by fragrant herbs
Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:20 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: What to make of such a statement of a Bhikkhu?
Replies: 10
Views: 2219

Re: What to make of such a statement of a Bhikkhu?

Personally, I think he is to be admired and this doesn't seem to me to imply that he is an arahat. It could imply just what he said, nothing more.
by fragrant herbs
Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:28 pm
Forum: Theravāda for Beginners
Topic: How Do Theravadins View Hell?
Replies: 14
Views: 4803

How Do Theravadins View Hell?

Not sure if I ever asked this in the past, but do Theravadins view hell as a real place where you suffer until you die, or is it like this earthplane where you have moments of suffering, some more than others, due to their karma?
by fragrant herbs
Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:36 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Rituals in Theravada
Replies: 10
Views: 1836

Re: Rituals in Theravada

Thanks. That is exactly what I needed.
by fragrant herbs
Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Rituals in Theravada
Replies: 10
Views: 1836

Rituals in Theravada

Not to mention the person's name, but a scholar wrote about Tantra in early Buddhism. Does anyone know about this? I asked if this implied tantric sex, and he wrote back: "I used the word in a more technical sense, as referring to the use of rituals aimed at worldly benefits (which would fall u...
by fragrant herbs
Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:56 pm
Forum: Sīla
Topic: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?
Replies: 492
Views: 129040

Re: Does illegal downloading violate the 2nd precept?

I have to agree with Metta-4, copying prevents those who made the material to not be able to make the money they deserve, and therefore it feels to me like stealing. If I made a movie and put it out, and everyone then copied it, I would have lost a lot of money on making the movie and would actually...
by fragrant herbs
Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:02 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: The US of A owns you.
Replies: 42
Views: 6597

Re: The US of A owns you.

On TV last night they read a section, but it was only for Americans, that said that they have to give them a trial. I see a potential for a lot of abuse. Thanks for the article. “I want to clarify that my administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American c...
by fragrant herbs
Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:44 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: The US of A owns you.
Replies: 42
Views: 6597

Re: The US of A owns you.

The stipulation is this: Not without a trial. Still, I am alarmed. Such as, will this someday apply to protestors? Where will it stop?
by fragrant herbs
Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:31 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Did Buddha Teach Mantra Meditation?
Replies: 44
Views: 14370

Re: Did Buddha Teach Mantra Meditation?

I find it very hard when I come to a Theravada forum and get answers that are from Mahayana. It is so confusing. I only want the Theravada view since I am learning and trying to see which teaching best represents Buddha's teachings. My understand of mantra would also be the chanting that Pure Lander...
by fragrant herbs
Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:14 pm
Forum: Early Buddhism
Topic: The great Abhidhamma Pitaka authenticity debate
Replies: 333
Views: 307637

The great Abhidhamma Pitaka authenticity debate

I am reading the book, Buddhist Warfare . The use of the Abhidharma has been used by Thai monks to support the belief that they can kill. My question is, if Buddha in other texts says that it is wrong to go to war, such as this one below, can we then say that perhaps the Abhidharma is not Buddha'sf ...
by fragrant herbs
Mon Oct 10, 2011 7:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Did Buddha Teach Mantra Meditation?
Replies: 44
Views: 14370

Re: Did Buddha Teach Mantra Meditation?

Thanks Sylvester. That certainly is not a mantra.
by fragrant herbs
Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:08 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Did Buddha Teach Mantra Meditation?
Replies: 44
Views: 14370

Re: Did Buddha Teach Mantra Meditation?

"'There's no need for you to give up', said the Buddha. 'You should not abandon your search for liberation just because you seem to yourself to be thick witted. You can drop all philosophy you've been given and repeat a mantra instead – one that I will now give you.' [Majjhima Nikaya, in Bancro...
by fragrant herbs
Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:53 pm
Forum: Wellness, Diet & Fitness
Topic: Depression
Replies: 51
Views: 14589

Re: Depression

Yes, outdoor aerobic exercises would definitely help. Jogging, biking, hiking, or brisk walking are all good. If you've never done them before, make sure to start out slowly and gradually build up the speed and duration. Eventually if you could maintain 1hr-jogging 3 times a week, that'd be great. ...