Search found 14 matches
- Wed Apr 17, 2019 3:48 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Theravada against mathematics
- Replies: 721
- Views: 101634
Re: Life is a finite sequence of combinations of a finite set of elements (dhammas).
A countable set of all possible lives (and they can be counted in the order of 1,2, 3 to infinity, without missing a single possible option) can never be greater than the set of past lives (which is also a countable set: you can count lives in the past to infinity, 1 , 2, 3 ... without missing a si...
- Wed Apr 17, 2019 3:28 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Theravada against mathematics
- Replies: 721
- Views: 101634
Re: Life is a finite sequence of combinations of a finite set of elements (dhammas).
The text of the novel is the final sequence of a finite number of elements. The monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type any given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare. This isn't a proof, it is a claim. Further...
- Wed Apr 17, 2019 3:17 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Theravada against mathematics
- Replies: 721
- Views: 101634
Re: Life is a finite sequence of combinations of a finite set of elements (dhammas).
Can an infinite sequence of finite sequences of combinations of a finite number of elements be missing one of such finite sequences? (If the rules do not prohibit such a finite sequence.) NO. http://mymathforum.com/number-theory/346226-can-infinite-sequence-missing-one-such-sequences.html It isn't ...
- Tue Apr 16, 2019 7:59 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Theravada against mathematics
- Replies: 721
- Views: 101634
Re: Re:
If all events are completely deterministic, then for an infinite number of steps in the deterministic algorithm of combinations of elements any possible combination is also realized. Nibbana should already be achieved. The path to Nibbana should have been fully formed. This is false. Even if all ev...
- Wed May 17, 2017 3:57 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Orthodox Hindu proofs of Self/critiques of Buddhist views
- Replies: 28
- Views: 6956
Re: Orthodox Hindu proofs of Self/critiques of Buddhist views
I beg to differ.davidbrainerd wrote:Freddie wrote:This is nothing more than an emotional outburst at a strawman argument
No. Its a well reasoned statement of fact.
Not at all.But accusing me of being Kevin Wheeler is a strawman and emotional outburst.
- Wed May 17, 2017 3:55 am
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Criticism of Theravada Philosophy from a Christian Perspective
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3949
Re: Criticism of Theravada Philosophy from a Christian Perspective
One question this article brings to my mind is whether or not (the law of) dependent origination is dependently originated? If it is then dependent origination is logically incoherent, but I don't think the Buddha would say that it is nor do I think that it is logically required to be according to t...
- Mon May 15, 2017 4:11 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Criticism of Theravada Philosophy from a Christian Perspective
- Replies: 18
- Views: 3949
Criticism of Theravada Philosophy from a Christian Perspective
This post isn't an endorsement of this person's arguments but it's the only rigorous attempt at a refutation of Buddhist metaphysics from a non-Hindu perspective that I could find. The main crux of his argument is that the Buddhist account of causality is incoherent and self-contradictory and that B...
- Sat May 13, 2017 8:15 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Orthodox Hindu proofs of Self/critiques of Buddhist views
- Replies: 28
- Views: 6956
Re: Orthodox Hindu proofs of Self/critiques of Buddhist views
It's my interpretation that the ultimate truth is beyond the duality of self and non-self. Nonduality is so nonsensical, and it doesn't really matter what duality its being applied to. Whether its mind/body duslism, existence/non-existence dualism, self/no-self dualism. In the end, the rejection of...
- Sat May 13, 2017 8:10 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: Orthodox Hindu proofs of Self/critiques of Buddhist views
- Replies: 28
- Views: 6956
Re: Orthodox Hindu proofs of Self/critiques of Buddhist views
That you, Ken Wheeler?davidbrainerd wrote:Rahula's book is the absolute worst book I've ever read on Buddhism, pure garbage.Santi253 wrote: Was Rev. Walpola Rahula in What the Buddha Taught non-nonsensical?
- Fri May 12, 2017 6:37 pm
- Forum: Connections to Other Paths
- Topic: What is the true cause of rebirth?
- Replies: 32
- Views: 6749
Re: What is the true cause of rebirth?
The conditions of births are the fruit of intentional action (kamma).
- Tue May 09, 2017 1:39 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Did the Buddha teach not self?
- Replies: 77
- Views: 11051
Re: Did the Buddha teach not self?
Out of the following: 1. There is nothing that can be thought of as a "self". 2. The "self" is not something that is permanent and constant. Didn't the Buddha teach number 2? The idea that the self is impermanent and therefore, attachment to it causes suffering is completely dif...
- Tue May 09, 2017 12:38 am
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Does happiness exist within samsara
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1569
Re: Does happiness exist within samsara
Greeting Freddie, The concept of "moksha" is a union or immersion with a godhead. As such, in the scheme of the Dhamma, it would probably be classified amongst the formless jhanas. As you rightly point out, nibbana is "the absence of all suffering rather than as possessing any positi...
- Mon May 08, 2017 10:56 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Does happiness exist within samsara
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1569
Re: Does happiness exist within samsara
There is an entire chapter on Happiness (Sukha) in the Dhammapada. However, one is advised to Give Up Lesser Happiness for Greater Bliss Thus there are many forms of happiness, but all happiness other than Nibbāna is impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not subject to one's wish or control. Is Nibbana ...
- Mon May 08, 2017 7:13 pm
- Forum: General Theravāda discussion
- Topic: Does happiness exist within samsara
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1569
Does happiness exist within samsara
or is the perception of what is considered "happiness" merely an illusion? If I recall correctly Nagarjuna or another early Mahayana philosopher argued that pleasure cannot actually exist but rather that it is a type of suffering in disguise. Does Theravada hold a similar view or is the ex...