Search found 62 matches

by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 2:35 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Jesus is the Only Way?
Replies: 101
Views: 10793

Re: Jesus is the Only Way?

There are clearly in my estimation 2 and only 2 interpretations of Paticcasamuppada: 1. Paticcasamuppada is the name of a Creator God who created the world. Seems to be the popular one on this forum and clearly the position of the user calling himself 4GreatHeavenlyKings, although he doesn't realiz...
by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 2:23 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Jesus is the Only Way?
Replies: 101
Views: 10793

Re: Jesus is the Only Way?

If earth is impermanent why wouldnt heaven be impermanent? It would run by the same rules because it's in the same cosmos. That's like saying if impermanence holds in samsara why not in nirvana...an argument that is self-defeating. Also (speaking in general now), the argument that "a Creator G...
by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 1:22 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Paṭiccasamuppāda and idappaccayatā, as presented in the Sutta Pitaka
Replies: 54
Views: 3851

Re: The case that dependent origination in the Suttas refers to Rebirth is very strong.

Each person who reads or studies dependent origination comes to a view on it based on their understandings and expectations based on their own unique past experiences. Since the veiws they develop are based on their experiencee they hold these views in the only context they have that being past exp...
by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:37 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Gurus in Vajrayana
Replies: 41
Views: 3131

Re: Gurus in Vajrayana

Bundokji wrote: Mon Apr 19, 2021 8:22 pm Can anyone explain to me the emphasis on finding a guru in vajrayana Buddhism?

Many thanks :anjali:
...but also because gurus need money....in Tibetan version you pay for teachings. Monks (sub-lama level) even pay rent to live in the monasteries.
by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:30 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Gurus in Vajrayana
Replies: 41
Views: 3131

Re: Gurus in Vajrayana

The trouble with Vajrayana is that even if you get the books and somehow learn to practice and start getting results, without the right empowerment it is all cause to go to hell. It can be expensive to get the right empowerment. Expect your teacher to string you along for a long time and give you s...
by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:17 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: in wich ways does Mahayana contradict the suttas?
Replies: 7
Views: 727

Re: in wich ways does Mahayana contradict the suttas?

I heard that the Buddha said that he did not teach a esoteric doctrine so that would eliminate Vajrayana.in what ways does mahayana contradict the suttas?and if it does contradict the suttas what is the mahayana reply to all of this? what even is mahayana? I've never seen a coherent exposition of i...
by plabit
Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:11 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Can we accept secular Buddhism as Buddhism?
Replies: 139
Views: 14104

Re: Can we accept secular Buddhism as Buddhism?

Dr. Steve Brule on life after death. https://media1.tenor.com/images/cc2aacd77fc2bb11900cc05e55c7c4b2/tenor.gif?itemid=11799877 based on his hairdo, who cares what he says? Don't worry, he's not a real person, it's a fictional character (I didn't know either, I had to look it up). https://en.wikipe...
by plabit
Mon Apr 19, 2021 5:08 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Can we accept secular Buddhism as Buddhism?
Replies: 139
Views: 14104

Re: Can we accept secular Buddhism as Buddhism?

Pondera wrote: Sun Apr 18, 2021 2:53 am
cappuccino wrote: Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:04 pm
DNS wrote: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:57 pm Secular buddhism = who cares, there's no rebirth anyway.
also known as lying to oneself
Dr. Steve Brule on life after death.
Image
based on his hairdo, who cares what he says?
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:04 pm
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: The first verse of the Dhammapada
Replies: 20
Views: 13649

Re: The first verse of the Dhammapada

Mind precedes action. The above translation is not literally correct. "Dhamma" does not mean "action"; although "dhamma" can mean "path" or " doctrine of action ". All behaviourial doctrines are types of "dharma" therefore "dharma&quo...
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 7:06 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Abandon avijja first or eliminated at the end ?
Replies: 29
Views: 974

Re: Abandon avijja first or eliminated at the end ?

Hi Plabit, Here is the exposition according to the 12-fold version of Dependent Origination: I'm not sure it's useful to worry too much about the consistency of these different expositions (Fetters, Dependent Origination, Eight-fold path, etc). My impression is that they are used in different conte...
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:56 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Abandon avijja first or eliminated at the end ?
Replies: 29
Views: 974

Re: Abandon avijja first or eliminated at the end ?

If you dont mind tell me , thats what i want to know . Here is the exposition according to the 12-fold version of Dependent Origination: And what is ignorance? Not knowing about suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering...
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:53 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?
Replies: 11
Views: 1178

Re: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?

The Second Noble Truth says the cause of dukkha is craving, not believing there is a being or a self. No cherry-picking and choosing only parts you like to suit your interpretation. Where does it say in the suttas that the belief in a self or atta is not dukkha? In the 4 main nikaya, only the sutta...
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:17 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?
Replies: 11
Views: 1178

Re: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?

And what about this? "This is how he attends inappropriately: 'Was I in the past? Was I not in the past? What was I in the past? How was I in the past? Having been what, what was I in the past? Shall I be in the future? Shall I not be in the future? What shall I be in the future? How shall I b...
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 6:10 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?
Replies: 11
Views: 1178

Re: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?

What's the point of knowing water as water, wind as wind, and so on, if these things don't exist, or worse, if you can't say they either do or don't exist? Do beings or the self exist or not? What is your answer? Yes or no. Its enough to say the question is answerable, without answering it, and to ...
by plabit
Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:28 am
Forum: Classical Theravāda
Topic: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?
Replies: 11
Views: 1178

Re: Does Classical Theravada believe in "beings" and "selves"?

"'Everything exists': That is one extreme. 'Everything doesn't exist': That is a second extreme. Avoiding these two extremes, the Tathagata teaches the Dhamma via the middle ...." What amazes me is how someone misunderstood this statement and then changed it to saying any particular thing...