So, to be a Buddhist we must perfectly follow the precepts otherwise we are not a Buddhists. I pity those poor folks in the porn/masturbation threads. Every time they slip up, they are not Buddhists.Gazelle wrote:Well I think it's worth discussing. If he drinks alcohol till he dies of liver failure and has sexual relations with married women, then I would think it is a far stretch to say he is following the Buddha's teachings (as far as I know of it in the Pali Canon).But does that disqualify him from being a Buddhist? Are you the arbiter that who is and is not a Buddhist?
What makes one a Buddhist?
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Re: Super Famous Buddhists
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Re: Super Famous Buddhists
Thank you for sharing your opinion.Gazelle wrote:Well I think it's worth discussing. If he drinks alcohol till he dies of liver failure and has sexual relations with married women, then I would think it is a far stretch to say he is following the Buddha's teachings (as far as I know of it in the Pali Canon).But does that disqualify him from being a Buddhist? Are you the arbiter that who is and is not a Buddhist?
I say this because I meet people that say to me, well Trungpa drank alcohol so it must be OK to drink and be a Buddhist. I respond and say, sure drink alcohol if you want, but it's not what the Buddha taught in the Pali Canon... I think these sort of teachers corrupt the Buddha's message. But who knows.... maybe you can drink yourself to Nirvana?
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Super Famous Buddhists
I don't think porn/masturbation breaks any of the 5 precepts does it? It's probably not great to be a porn/masturbation addict, but as far as I can tell you can still masturbate and not be sacrificing the sexual misconduct precept.So, to be a Buddhist we must perfectly follow the precepts otherwise we are not a Buddhists. I pity those poor folks in the porn/masturbation threads. Every time they slip up, they are not Buddhists.
- tiltbillings
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Re: Super Famous Buddhists
That may be so about the poor porn guys. That aside, so according to you (?) we must perfectly follow the precepts to be true Buddhists. Anything less, we are not Buddhists. You might want to clarify your position, and maybe you might want to clarify why you are focusing on poor dead Trungpa who was referenced in passing for a humorous remark he made.Gazelle wrote:I don't think porn/masturbation breaks any of the 5 precepts does it? It's probably not great to be a porn/masturbation addict, but as far as I can tell you can still masturbate and not be sacrificing the sexual misconduct precept.So, to be a Buddhist we must perfectly follow the precepts otherwise we are not a Buddhists. I pity those poor folks in the porn/masturbation threads. Every time they slip up, they are not Buddhists.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: Super Famous Buddhists
I'm not saying that you have to follow the training precepts perfectly but my definition of the 1st step of calling yourself a 'Buddhist' is certainly a sincere effort to practice the 5 precepts as best you can. I use Trungpa as an example because you mentioned him and it doesn't seem like he made a sincere effort to follow the 5 precepts as far as I can gather.That may be so about the poor porn guys. That aside, so according to you (?) we must perfectly follow the precepts to be true Buddhists. Anything less, we are not Buddhists. You might want to clarify your position, and maybe you might want to clarify why you are focusing on poor dead Trungpa who was referenced in passing for a humorous remark he made.
Last edited by Gazelle on Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
- tiltbillings
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Re: Super Famous Buddhists
Thank you for sharing your opinion.Gazelle wrote:I'm not saying that you have to follow the training precepts perfectly but my definition of the 1st step of calling yourself a 'Buddhist' is certainly a sincere effort to practice the 5 precepts as best you can. I use Trungpa as an example because you mentioned him and it doesn't seem like he made a sincere effort to follow the 5 precepts.That may be so about the poor porn guys. That aside, so according to you (?) we must perfectly follow the precepts to be true Buddhists. Anything less, we are not Buddhists. You might want to clarify your position, and maybe you might want to clarify why you are focusing on poor dead Trungpa who was referenced in passing for a humorous remark he made.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
Trungpa was certainly not an exemplar of moral purity, but he actively discouraged this kind of behavior in his students and also worked very hard to spread the Dharma.
From what I've read of his writings, his teachings are a valuable application of the Buddha's teachings to the challenges facing a modern Western practitioner. I'd go so far as to say that he's done more to further the Buddha's cause than any of us here. Maybe this goes some way towards "making him a Buddhist" albeit a very imperfect one?
From what I've read of his writings, his teachings are a valuable application of the Buddha's teachings to the challenges facing a modern Western practitioner. I'd go so far as to say that he's done more to further the Buddha's cause than any of us here. Maybe this goes some way towards "making him a Buddhist" albeit a very imperfect one?
Last edited by Dan74 on Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
_/|\_
Re: Super Famous Buddhists
Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
Yes! I won!plwk wrote:
Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
So he actively discouraged this kind of behaviour while still doing it himself?Dan74 wrote:Trungpa was certainly not an exemplar of moral purity, but he actively discouraged this kind of behavior in his students and also worked very hard to spread the Dharma.
C'mon people.... let's get real!
Last edited by Gazelle on Sat Sep 01, 2012 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
Just like a doctor who is sick, can still prescribe medicine and tell patients how to get healthy again, so can an unawakened person encourage the practice that leads towards awakening.Gazelle wrote:So he actively discouraged this kind of behaviour while still doing it himself?Dan74 wrote:Trungpa was certainly not an exemplar of moral purity, but he actively discouraged this kind of behavior in his students and also worked very hard to spread the Dharma.
C'mon people.... let's get real!
Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
The doctor is sick with the same 'dis-ease', yet does not take their own recommended prescribed medicine....that'sJust like a doctor who is sick, can still prescribe medicine and tell patients how to get healthy again, so can an unawakened person encourage the practice that leads towards awakening.
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Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
I think, what makes one a Buddhist is seeing danger in saṃsāra, and aspiring to something better than endless dispute.
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Re: What makes one a Buddhist?
I agree, Bhante.Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:I think, what makes one a Buddhist is seeing danger in saṃsāra, and aspiring to something better than endless dispute.
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
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- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..