Arahants have reached Nibbana, the state of Nibbana, but they are not Buddhas. If I reached the state of Arahant whilst in this human lifetime, I would have attained to the state of Nibbana. I would still be the same Phra Fred physically but according to the Buddha I would have completed my task, d...

Better to check out what it is that erects your scaffolding! :stirthepot: to be honest, I agree with you... But it's fascinating to see just what some of our skandas are made up of... and really, if some seek miracles, they need never seek or extend beyond who they are.... I merely posted it to giv...

Dearest Sattva,

Well....

....You know.

I really don't know where to begin with this, except that I just can't run with it....

But if it works for you, I'm happy for you, that you have found it.

goofaholix thanks for burning up some of my wrong speech karma for me.... befriend, Trust me - Goofaholix was absolutely in no way harsh. I've seen harsh. Heck I've been harsh. - I've even been 'harsh-deleted' - ! Really, you have to understand that for a Buddhist, the concept of somebody who decla...

I thought this was simply mesmerising... it brings everything into perspective! http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_berry_animations_of_unseeable_biology.html?awesm=on.ted.com_Berry&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=on.ted.com-static&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=awesm-publisher" onclick...

Thich Nhat Hanh is worthy of deep respect. :bow: I would have never become a "Buddhist" let alone a "Theravada Buddhist" if it was not for Nhat Hahns writings. :bow: :anjali: Given that he is Mahayana/Zen, could you explain how that would be? many thanks! :smile: :namaste:

I do not support smoking. I support freedom. Why is the the gov't responsible to ban every potentially dealdly activity? No beer, no sex, no beef, no swimming, no skydiving, no driving in a car (at any speed), no giving birth, no hiking in the forest, no manual labor, .... I own a gun. When did I s...

Oh, yes, they educate the public ok. they have gruesome photos on cigarette packets, written warnings, and adverts on tv showing children affected by passive smoking, with smoke coming out of their mouths and noses as they speak, eat or play - all digitally created, I might add - to drive the point ...

It's not just a question of inhaling others' smoke. Passive smoking is highly dangerous, and not a situation non-smokers are either comfortable or happy to find themselves in. http://heartdisease.about.com/od/smokingandheartdisease/a/2ndhandsmoke.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return...

..... If I have a friend in Switzerand download something legally and then send my brother (in the USofA) a copy is that breaking the 2nd precept? If my brother(in the USofA) uses a proxy server located in Switzerland to download something at his home (in the USofA) is that breaking the 2nd precept...

I'm British, by the way, but as discussion seems to be hinging on USA Government legislation, don't let that impede you. But to outlaw cigarettes is an infringement on my rights. One might argue that banning cannabis is an infringement of your personal rights, but people are divided as to whether th...

ok.

And leave mom to raise a child by herself because you want to escape the burden? That seems like a fairly cowardly thing to do. ever hear of a guy called Siddharta Gautama? I think he did much the same thing a few years back..... ;) Fede, 1. Different time, place and culture 2. Different depth of m...

I think it makes it easier to know that cigarette companies actually include chemical, synthetic ingredients in their tobacco products which are deliberately addictive. Nicotine is a noxious and harmful substance, but is in and of itself, not extremely addictive. So different chemicals are added jus...