Search found 14 matches

by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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 ...
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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

davidbrainerd wrote:
Freddie wrote:This is nothing more than an emotional outburst at a strawman argument

No. Its a well reasoned statement of fact.
I beg to differ.
But accusing me of being Kevin Wheeler is a strawman and emotional outburst.
Not at all.
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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

davidbrainerd wrote:
Santi253 wrote: Was Rev. Walpola Rahula in What the Buddha Taught non-nonsensical?
Rahula's book is the absolute worst book I've ever read on Buddhism, pure garbage.
That you, Ken Wheeler?
by Freddie
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).
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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...
by Freddie
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 ...
by Freddie
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...