I'm not being paid for this!!! Very good app to learn Thai. It teaches the alphabet, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation (with audio!!). It's very well-organised! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simyasolutions.ling Some screenshots I took from it: https://i.imgur.c...

Good perspective from retrofuturist. Is it the intention behind an action? If it is purely for pleasure, it should be avoided. In this case, the amusement I get from reading health books is subsidiary. Regarding #7: I would consider these to fall under the banner of entertainments. I would ask mysel...

I was reading our Mahāyāna sister forum and found interesting posts! Different monks take different vows depending on the tradition they ordain in. The first five precepts are generally the same throughout most traditions but after that they begin to differ. There isn't just "one set of precepts" th...

I would like to remember that Buddhism isn't Jainism.
We don't avoid pleasurable skillful things. So, there is a space for healthy entertainment, it seems.

I would like to read your thoughts.

It is important how you translate the precept. In the monastery I go to, we translate it as "I undertake the precept to refrain from going to inappropriate shows, beautification, and adornment". Beautification and adornment is easy to understand, but inappropriate shows is not so simple. I would th...

From another topic: Several of our online Bhikkhu's have mentioned reading novels in their spare time, I believe, aren't you being a bit strict, making up a rule that didn't ever exist before?? The precept doesn't explicitly warn against reading novels for the same reason it doesn't explicitly warn ...

There are some ascetics and brahmins who, while enjoying food given in faith, still engage in seeing shows. This includes such things as dancing, singing, music, performances, and storytelling; clapping, gongs, and kettle-drums; art exhibitions and acrobatic displays; battles of elephants, horses, ...

From Khuddakapāṭha 2: vii. Naccagītavāditavisūkadassanā veramaṇīsikkhāpadaṁ, I undertake the training rule of refraining from dances, songs, music, and watching shows. I'm intrigued with this watching shows. Does it mean that watching a YouTube video breaks the precept? It's a kind of remote show. :...

Hi, Thank you for this thread. Funny that in several past decades there has been no travel restrictions, and now when the most important decision of ones life is about to take place, travel restrictions appear. No wonder Buddha encouraged a sense of urgency, since conditions are prone to change. Sa...

DNS wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:47 pm

rhinoceroshorn wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 4:12 pm This would explain why the Buddha and Mahāvīra are so similar.

It's even much more similar than that. See my list of 24 major items where they are virtually the same.

Buddhism & Jainism

Thanks for sharing!!

Here's my take, from a person who just reads around and likes to ponder. The Buddha's life is a story. It is not a biography. It's a myth composed by a community very seriously being pulled towards a way of experiencing the world alien to much of human society. This would explain why the Buddha and...

I started to do OMAD yesterday. Let's see what happens!!

I combined my breakfast with the lunch into a single strange meal that I bet you have never seen in your life! It was a mess but good.

I follow the 8 precepts and sometimes break the third precept through masturbation. Generally, it's a symptom of something wrong in the practice which makes me turn to sensual pleasures. Just forgive yourself and keep going. Lately I discovered that forgiveness and contentment are powerful weapons ...

I follow the 8 precepts and sometimes break the third precept through masturbation. Generally, it's a symptom of something wrong in the practice which makes me turn to sensual pleasures. Just forgive yourself and keep going. Lately I discovered that forgiveness and contentment are powerful weapons o...

From my notes.

Part of the work in this language is deciphering each word.