Search found 15084 matches

by mikenz66
Sat Mar 09, 2024 9:53 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Safe place during war
Replies: 29
Views: 653

Re: Safe place during war

Hello mahabrahma do you think Australia is safe? :namaste: It's kind of out there. Lots of empty space. Doesn't like wars. :namaste: Unfortunately, isolation didn't save Australia, New Zealand, and Canada losing a similar proportion of their population as the UK in the pointless slaughter of World ...
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 09, 2024 8:26 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Safe place during war
Replies: 29
Views: 653

Re: Safe place during war

Hi Mario, Nowhere is safe... Taking Up Arms Peril stems from those who take up arms— just look at people in conflict! I shall extol how I came to be stirred with a sense of urgency. I saw this population flounder, like a fish in a little puddle. Seeing them fight each other, fear came upon me. The w...
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 09, 2024 1:56 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Jhana and the factors of awakening
Replies: 46
Views: 1545

Re: Jhana and the factors of awakening

'Just follow the suttas'... what terrible advice 😅 Everyone here thinks that they "are just following the suttas". They just have different interpretations. If you would care to give a few more details about how you implement your particular interpretation, that might be worth discussing....
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 08, 2024 8:03 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Jhana and the factors of awakening
Replies: 46
Views: 1545

Re: Jhana and the factors of awakening

I think you presume too much... it's a pretty lame argument. Either the Buddha was the Supreme Teacher or he wasn't. Just because you think the Buddha left things out doesn't mean he did. On the contrary, he was an excellent teacher. As I indicated, the Buddha taught a variety of practices to suit ...
by mikenz66
Fri Mar 08, 2024 6:09 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Jhana and the factors of awakening
Replies: 46
Views: 1545

Re: Jhana and the factors of awakening

I don't get the point you're trying to make, of course sila, attention, mindfulness, thought, joy etc. are required for jhana to develop. It's good that we agree on something. Now to develop such things as attention and mindfulness requires deciding to pay attention to something or other. As to wha...
by mikenz66
Thu Mar 07, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Jhana and the factors of awakening
Replies: 46
Views: 1545

Re: Jhana and the factors of awakening

Nowhere in the suttas is an exercise of concentrating on one spot, light or any other object given as a way into jhana. The development of jhana is the development of the seven factors and not some Vedic exercise in 'Oneness'. I'm not famililar with "Vedic exercise in 'Oneness'" but from ...
by mikenz66
Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:49 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Jhana and the factors of awakening
Replies: 46
Views: 1545

Re: Jhana and the factors of awakening

Other factors may well be present but it's all down to how jhana is developed. Through concentration exercises or through discernment & wisdom. Sutta jhana arises naturally by such cultivation; concentration jhana is 'attained' with little wisdom and no discernment. Personally I don't think any...
by mikenz66
Tue Mar 05, 2024 6:50 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Jhana and the factors of awakening
Replies: 46
Views: 1545

Re: Jhana and the factors of awakening

Without Right View the jhana produced would not be Right jhana. The four jhanas taught by the Buddha were unique to his teaching. Obviously Right View is crucial to liberation. But there are many important aspects of the path that are shared with other paths. Sila for example. Could you articulate ...
by mikenz66
Sun Mar 03, 2024 6:19 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Candana Bhikkhu "Who" Am I Suffering "For"?
Replies: 8
Views: 394

Re: Candana Bhikkhu "Who" Am I Suffering "For"?

confusedlayman wrote: Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:52 pm Who am I suffering for is something to ponder after eradicating self view only .. not before
Did you listen to the talk? It's actually a very interesting practical talk about relationships, among other issues...

:heart:
Mike
by mikenz66
Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:57 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2098

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

justindesilva wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 8:30 am Zen meditation was first introduced by Nagarjuna who travelled from India to China ...
Wasn't it Bodhidharma who is said to have introduced Chan to China?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma

:heart:
Mike
by mikenz66
Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:54 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Path of "Right Endurance" of Ven. Nyanamoli (from Hillside Hermitage) incompatible with the Noble Eightfold Path
Replies: 102
Views: 6886

Re: Path of "Right Endurance" of Ven. Nyanamoli (from Hillside Hermitage) incompatible with the Noble Eightfold Path

One way is to suppress greed. Another is to understand it. I think that's the point. I personally to find Ven. Nyanamoli a bit one-dimensional in his approach to practice, but he does make some good points. This issue is definitely something to beware of and Ven. Nyanamoli and his followers are by ...
by mikenz66
Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:42 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Access concentration
Replies: 5
Views: 316

Re: Access concentration

V. I am wondering about the use of the term "access" in the teachings, and whether this term is being used only in terms of translation or discussion, or does it have any special significance in the teachings. Access concentration upacāra-samādhi is terminology from the Commentaries. See,...
by mikenz66
Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:33 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: And why is it called “perception”?
Replies: 12
Views: 459

Re: And why is it called “perception”?

I'm not sure it's sensible to take that sutta particularly as a definitive explanation of the aggregates. That particular line seems unique. There is a lot of wordplay in the Pali, such as the Ruppatīti/rūpan here: It’s deformed; that’s why it’s called ‘form’. Ruppatīti kho, bhikkhave, tasmā ‘rūpan’...
by mikenz66
Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:02 pm
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: Phenomenological Buddhism and Element Meditation
Replies: 14
Views: 604

Re: Phenomenological Buddhism and Element Meditation

Here is my take. Close your eyes and try not to conceptualize a "body". What sensations are being felt through the "body" as experienced? Hardness (of "teeth', "nails"), warmth, motion (breathing, heart beat, flowing), and wetness (mouth, tears, snot). How else ca...
by mikenz66
Wed Feb 28, 2024 6:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Practices around Dependant Origination
Replies: 56
Views: 2098

Re: Practices around Dependant Origination

All I’m trying to caution against is the idea that jhana is a practice divorced from a lifestyle. If that's the case, we have no disagreement. :clap: What I have been arguing against is the idea of a single, purely linear, development model. That the development of lifestyle and so on is gradual an...