Search found 727 matches

by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:29 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum
Replies: 66
Views: 13487

Re: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum

Alan, what are you talking about? By my recollection we haven't had an official "debunker" here since Contemplans. i see debunking going on left and right, which is fine, just steeply balanced in favor of debunking. very little non debunking talk. not sure how to prove this. just look aro...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:27 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum
Replies: 66
Views: 13487

Re: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum

but i think we all know this whole "buddha never existed. canon is a hodge podge of different authors and presents an inconsistent, confused whole. jhana is not possible except to a select few. no one has ever reached nibbana." attitude will prevail forever. there will never be balance an...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:22 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: zen masters...
Replies: 54
Views: 16127

Re: zen masters...

Have you actually asked any Zen practitioners about this and gotten this answer? I can't think of one who would say that. Also don't confuse the very few and far in between "crazy wisdom" characters with the predatory sex and money scandals of today. They are completely different things. ...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:48 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum
Replies: 66
Views: 13487

Re: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum

It's a good idea Alan, but nobody ever Ever reads the Read This First bit. well if it was a section clearly about the anti debunking of the dhamma and the buddha then those who were thinking about that having just read about it would read it. so perhaps i should have suggested naming it something a...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:47 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: difference between samadhi, jhana, vipassana, samatha, etc.
Replies: 25
Views: 11086

Re: difference between samadhi, jhana, vipassana, samatha, etc.

My answers below is based on the method taught to me which uses Samatha as a base, shallow Jahanas as a intermediary practise to achieve deep Samadhi. are jhana and samadhi one and the same? No they are not the same. For a start, one uses Jhanas to achieve Samadhi. But after some time, you do not r...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:32 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum
Replies: 66
Views: 13487

Re: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum

Greetings Alan... We do have a "discovering theravada" forum which is set for moderator approval meaning that threads and posts can only be published following approval by a moderator. The guidelines of the DT forum are strict and posts in that forum are only usually approved if they repr...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:10 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: zen masters...
Replies: 54
Views: 16127

Re: zen masters...

In that section you are less likely to a bunch of bombastic bombast. ?? i don't want to ask on a zen forum as i imagine i will get a bunch of smooth over zen answers that border on non sense or answers from specific sects that simply say that their sect doesn't do these things, i'm looking for an o...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:06 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: zen masters...
Replies: 54
Views: 16127

Re: zen masters...

asking a zen person this will get a reply such as: "that's just zen. all things are one, non dual, so sleeping with women is zen, so is beating people up." Have you actually asked any Zen practitioners about this and gotten this answer? I can't think of one who would say that. Also don't ...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:53 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum
Replies: 66
Views: 13487

on the constant debunking of the dhamma on this forum

i believe it would be a good idea to create a separate section on the literal workings of the dhamma and how they do not rely on historicity of texts or peoples. perhaps a faq sheet or just a closed section typed out by someone who can explain it or even a new forum section that promotes this kind o...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:36 am
Forum: General Theravāda Meditation
Topic: difference between samadhi, jhana, vipassana, samatha, etc.
Replies: 25
Views: 11086

difference between samadhi, jhana, vipassana, samatha, etc.

are jhana and samadhi one and the same? jhana being absorptions and samadhi meaning "concentration" is there any time samadhi means it's own separate thing? vipassana i believe is insight which is looking at things with the mind and developing insight into them. samatha is calm? so a jhani...
by alan...
Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:14 am
Forum: Connections to Other Paths
Topic: zen masters...
Replies: 54
Views: 16127

zen masters...

i don't doubt that many of these masters deeply understood buddhism and possibly were even enlightened. i really dig zen and have read a LOT of zen literature, from tang dynasty masters works to dogen all the way up to shunryu suzuki and dt suzuki. i have trained zen at a zen temple and gone to retr...
by alan...
Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:50 pm
Forum: Pāli
Topic: droid tipitaka app!
Replies: 4
Views: 2063

droid tipitaka app!

You can download the entire tipitaka and all commentaries for free. Its in pali with a full download of accesstoinsight included which has, at a wild guess, 30% of what the pali has. Just search google play store for "tipitaka"
by alan...
Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:12 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: how do you enter jhana?
Replies: 71
Views: 20005

Re: how do you enter jhana?

IMO, these things are better kept to ourselves and our teachers. i agree with this... but i would just add that between good friends it's ok too. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: i have no teacher, and no buddhist friends. glad you are all so lucky to have these things. shame you all have to slam me for...
by alan...
Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:10 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: how do you enter jhana?
Replies: 71
Views: 20005

Re: how do you enter jhana?

IMO, these things are better kept to ourselves and our teachers. I agree. If your jhana experience is genuine, you are likely to receive scrutiny and/or ridicule from beginners. If your jhana experience is not genuine, you are likely to receive scrutiny and examination from more advanced practition...
by alan...
Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:07 am
Forum: Samatha Bhāvana
Topic: how do you enter jhana?
Replies: 71
Views: 20005

Re: how do you enter jhana?

what is your step by step process? what does it feel like? what do you do during? afterwards? how many jhanas can you enter? have you mastered any of them? used them for specific purposes? what are your goals? IMO, these things are better kept to ourselves and our teachers. It's too easy to be misu...