Why are llamas significant?
Why are llamas significant?
Hello everyone, I'm having a very hard time finding the reason llamas are a significant symbol in Buddhism. Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Re: Why are llamas significant?
They are a significant symbol in tibetan buddhism, not in theravada buddhism. In theravada, the importance is given to admirable friends, companions in the holy life.
'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' - Jhana Sutta
Re: Why are llamas significant?
Thanks! Well since I've already posted in a Theravada discussion forum does anyone have knowledge pertaining to why llamas are significant in Tibetan Buddhism?
Re: Why are llamas significant?
Llamas aren't indigenous to Tibet...
- "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.
"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.
- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
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Re: Why are llamas significant?
Which lama are you referring to? This one:
Or this one:
Or this one:
Re: Why are llamas significant?
Here's a photo of a very important high llama.
Re: Why are llamas significant?
The one-l lama,
He's a priest.
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.
-Ogden Nash
(Nash added as a footnote, *The author's attention has been called to a type of conflagration known as a three-alarmer. Pooh.)
He's a priest.
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.
-Ogden Nash
(Nash added as a footnote, *The author's attention has been called to a type of conflagration known as a three-alarmer. Pooh.)
- "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.
"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.
- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
- DNS
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Re: Why are llamas significant?
And with that note, let's move this to the lounge.
Re: Why are llamas significant?
Hi, Seth,Seth19930 wrote:Thanks! Well since I've already posted in a Theravada discussion forum does anyone have knowledge pertaining to why llamas are significant in Tibetan Buddhism?
Lamas are highly trained priests. That's one reason they are respected.
For most of Tibet's history, hardly anyone except the lamas got much of an education in anything, so lamas were also respected for their other kinds of expertise.
Finally, Tibetan Buddhism gives teachers - lamas - far more spiritual authority than other Buddhist schools give to monks.
Hope this helps,
Kim
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Re: Why are llamas significant?
Man I step out to get groceries and all the good llama puns are taken by the time I get back...
Just my luck!
Anyway a Lama is just a term for a highly respected teacher of Tibetan Buddhism - and as Tibetan Buddhism focuses heavily on student-teacher relationships and Dharma transmission, they form an integral part of the lineage chain that defines their school.
Just my luck!
Anyway a Lama is just a term for a highly respected teacher of Tibetan Buddhism - and as Tibetan Buddhism focuses heavily on student-teacher relationships and Dharma transmission, they form an integral part of the lineage chain that defines their school.
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.
Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.
His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta
Stuff I write about things.
Re: Why are llamas significant?
I'm gonna ride my llama
From Peru to Texarcana
I'm gonna ride him good
In my old neighbourhood.
-- Ride my llama, Neil Young
“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
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- 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]..
Re: Why are llamas significant?
So the animal has no relation to the title in any symbolic way?
Re: Why are llamas significant?
Unlikely, since the term lama originated in South America:Seth19930 wrote:So the animal has no relation to the title in any symbolic way?
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definitio ... lish/llama" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mike
Re: Why are llamas significant?
Oh, but there is!mikenz66 wrote:Unlikely, since the term lama originated in South America:Seth19930 wrote:So the animal has no relation to the title in any symbolic way?
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definitio ... lish/llama" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Mike
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Re: Why are llamas significant?
Lama in Tibetan means weighty! I figured it out! Because the dharma is weighty!