Search found 1392 matches

by zan
Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:41 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravada vs Mahayana
Replies: 69
Views: 4302

Re: Theravada vs Mahayana

Go on! Seeing as you know nothing about me, please tell me and the rest of the forum what I am - a “fake sage”. Have you recanted of your previous claims that you've attained Nirodha? “Fake news”? Do people still use that term? The one coined by Trump? Ohhhhh ROFL 🤣 It's a rather versatile term use...
by zan
Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:22 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravada vs Mahayana
Replies: 69
Views: 4302

Re: Theravada vs Mahayana

If one wants to practice Mahayana, if one truly understands the full extrapolation of its teachings, one has nothing to do whatsoever. If they did a Zen retreat or even just asked reputable Mahayana teachers some questions, they might learn a thing or two of how people actually practice, beyond sho...
by zan
Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:04 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravada vs Mahayana
Replies: 69
Views: 4302

Re: Theravada vs Mahayana

Further, I've done two Rinzai retreats. They were grueling. Twelve hours a day sitting with my koan, with a fifteen minute break every four hours, for three days. But, when we read the Zen texts, enlightenment is instantaneous, and transmitted immediately from master to student. Meditation leading ...
by zan
Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:22 pm
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravada vs Mahayana
Replies: 69
Views: 4302

Re: Theravada vs Mahayana

If one wants to practice Mahayana, if one truly understands the full extrapolation of its teachings, one has nothing to do whatsoever. Not really. There is a lot of work to do in Mahayana. The quotes you have from Zen masters are meant metaphorically. In the same way Ajahn Chah said something like ...
by zan
Fri Mar 24, 2023 4:13 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravada vs Mahayana
Replies: 69
Views: 4302

Re: Theravada vs Mahayana

... :toast: Between our posts I think it's been covered pretty well how self refuting Mahayana is. Yet, I'll add, to balance it out with a positive, Mahayana is a really great way to be a "Buddhist" but still do whatever you want, like Jack Kerouac demonstrated, as have countless others. ...
by zan
Fri Mar 24, 2023 3:04 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: Theravada vs Mahayana
Replies: 69
Views: 4302

Re: Theravada vs Mahayana

Theravada is where we practice the eightfold path to reach enlightenment, and follow the Buddha's rules and teachings. Mahayana, and especially Zen, is where everything is an illusion, and you're already enlightened. The historical Buddha, in the Pali suttas, taught that beings dependently originate...
by zan
Tue Mar 14, 2023 5:07 am
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Explain Namarupa
Replies: 82
Views: 3966

Re: Explain Namarupa

“It was said: ‘With consciousness as condition there is mentality-materiality.’ How that is so, Ānanda, should be understood in this way: If consciousness were not to descend into the mother’s womb, would mentality-materiality take shape in the womb?” “Certainly not, venerable sir.” “If, after desc...
by zan
Mon Feb 13, 2023 7:05 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?
Replies: 62
Views: 2615

Re: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?

As far as the Mahayana two truths resulting from their extreme interpretation and overextension of universal dependent origination goes, I'm firmly with Kumarila: Mīmāṃsā refutation of Two Truths Doctrine Chattopadhyaya notes that the eighth-century Mīmāṃsā philosopher Kumārila Bhaṭṭa rejected the T...
by zan
Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:46 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?
Replies: 62
Views: 2615

Re: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?

Sure. If we look at atoms they will last for an incredibly long time. They may possibly decay after that period, but it looks like electrons will always exist. So too will space, based on current models. Science however operates on the assumption of substance in order to do science, and it's worth ...
by zan
Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:41 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?
Replies: 62
Views: 2615

Re: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?

Thank you for your detailed reply! Cleared some things up for me. You're easily one of the smartest Buddhists I've ever spoken with, and I appreciate the stimulating conversation. Thank you for your kind words. I too have enjoyed our conversations. If universal DO is true, then there can be no eter...
by zan
Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:32 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?
Replies: 62
Views: 2615

Re: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?

Thank you for your detailed reply! Cleared some things up for me. You're easily one of the smartest Buddhists I've ever spoken with, and I appreciate the stimulating conversation. To zero in on one topic: If I'm honest, I don't see any contradictions in dependent origination at all. It makes sense t...
by zan
Fri Feb 10, 2023 8:34 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?
Replies: 62
Views: 2615

Re: Can anyone solve the issue of the mahabhutas in the commentaries without rejecting nor contradicting realism?

With that position in mind, that rupa dhammas can exist from their own side, and are not generated by mind, and can exist independently of mind, BUT earth element is just "hardness," what solution can there be? The subtlety lies in that “independence” doesn’t necessarily entail “existence...
by zan
Fri Feb 10, 2023 6:45 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: On the Abhidhamma
Replies: 73
Views: 2714

Re: On the Abhidhamma

All the components within "the all" are real ultimate realities, paramattha dhammas, nama-rupa. The sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch and mind objects that impinge the 6 internal sense bases are ultimate realities. The sensations felt at the internal sense bases are ultimate realities....
by zan
Fri Feb 10, 2023 3:59 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: On the Abhidhamma
Replies: 73
Views: 2714

Re: On the Abhidhamma

Direct realism is where we sense objects directly. Indirect, or representational realism is what you were describing, where we only get something like a closed circuit tv screen inside our heads of objects we sense. Per direct realism, we see the substances, or whatever we might call it, that the w...
by zan
Fri Feb 10, 2023 3:57 pm
Forum: General Theravāda discussion
Topic: On the Abhidhamma
Replies: 73
Views: 2714

Re: On the Abhidhamma

Jhana or the Brahma realm is governed by citta niyama. Samsara (kalpa cycles) is governed by dhamma niyama. The sensuous realm, including heaven and hell is governed by kamma niyama. The vegetation realm is governed by bija niyama. Please elaborate with sources. Sounds promising. How does this solv...