Search found 11 matches

by inyenzi
Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:33 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Is Buddhism a death cult?
Replies: 35
Views: 5830

Re: Is Buddhism a death cult?

Do you see Buddhism as a religion that worships death? I would say Buddhism does not worship death, but rather the opposite. It recognizes just how terrible it is that greed, delusion, hatred, dukkha and that death itself even exists at all. Fundamentally, the Buddhist view on Samsara is an incredi...
by inyenzi
Tue Oct 08, 2019 11:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Would Buddhism be better witbout 'devas', 'hell realms' and 'hungry ghosts'?
Replies: 65
Views: 8102

Re: Would Buddhism be better witbout 'devas', 'hell realms' and 'hungry ghosts'?

While I respect and am exhilarated by Buddhism (particularly Theravada), I am also alienated by the fact that supernatural beings feature so prominently in Buddhist scripture. Surely the sole focus should be on liberation from incurring karmic debt, eschewing every form of superstition as extraneou...
by inyenzi
Fri Aug 30, 2019 7:44 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Nirvana is the Cessation of Consciousness
Replies: 51
Views: 7719

Re: Nirvana is the Cessation of Consciousness

Iti 44: The Nibbāna-element This was said by the Lord… “Bhikkhus, there are these two Nibbāna-elements. What are the two? The Nibbāna-element with residue left and the Nibbāna-element with no residue left. “What, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with residue left? Here a bhikkhu is an arahant, one w...
by inyenzi
Mon Aug 26, 2019 12:28 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: I don’t understand rejecting life’s pleasures
Replies: 43
Views: 11274

Re: I don’t understand rejecting life’s pleasures

In my view, for the lay person and practitioner, it’s all about the Middle Path and being present for all of life- leaning in to pain, physical difficulties, a tasty sandwich or a beautiful song- it’s all part of the integrated experience of life, good and bad. All conditioned phenomena are dukkha ...
by inyenzi
Sat Aug 24, 2019 5:13 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Buddhism and What it Offers
Replies: 73
Views: 10757

Re: Buddhism and What it Offers

The illusory self is just a process of chemical and electrical signals interacting with stimuli, the illusory self is an emergent phenomenon and once the chemical and electrical signals stop, the self or the illusion that is called self also stops. This process happens in all humans, from the crack...
by inyenzi
Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:41 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is nirvana/heaven?
Replies: 48
Views: 10119

Re: What is nirvana/heaven?

The problem with this is that, regardless of your belief, if there is indeed "rebirth", then parinibbana will not be reached by inducing brain death in an unawakened one. The Buddha did not teach suicide for a reason, specifically because according to his teachings, there is "rebirth...
by inyenzi
Fri Aug 16, 2019 8:42 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is nirvana/heaven?
Replies: 48
Views: 10119

Re: What is nirvana/heaven?

What, exactly, is the difference between the way in which an atheist materialist views brain death, and parinibbana? Functionally, they are identical, no? The ending of this life, with no new rebirth. You don't go anywhere beyond death because there was no substantial "you" to begin with (...
by inyenzi
Mon Aug 12, 2019 7:46 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is nirvana/heaven?
Replies: 48
Views: 10119

Re: What is nirvana/heaven?

unchanging self is extreme no self is extreme between extremes, is the middle way Which involves what, exactly? A changing self, that nevertheless persists on after death in an unconditioned heavenly realm? Sounds like a craving for further existence. On my reading of the suttas, it seems clear tha...
by inyenzi
Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:16 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is nirvana/heaven?
Replies: 48
Views: 10119

Re: What is nirvana/heaven?

cappuccino wrote:that's called annihilation ism
Annihilationism is the belief that there exists an atman, which is destroyed at death. The cessation of an experience which is annata, is not annihilationism, since there exists nothing to be annihilated.
by inyenzi
Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:03 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: What is nirvana/heaven?
Replies: 48
Views: 10119

Re: What is nirvana/heaven?

It is the end of this life, with no new becoming. Parinibbana is indistinguishable from the way an atheist, scientific materialist views biological death. This life is over, all that remains is the body. There is nothing further for your consciousness (i.e. it doesn't go into some heavenly or euphor...
by inyenzi
Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:32 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Skeptical of Samsara
Replies: 34
Views: 4033

Skeptical of Samsara

Firstly, I should note that I am not myself a Buddhist, but have developed a keen interest in the teachings. However, time and time again a major issue keeps popping up, which is that it seems to me that overall Dhamma rests on the reality of Samsara. That is, without Samsara actually being the case...