I see some people are so much engrossed with their ancestry. I am not in favour of this because people use this valuable tool to make more division than for the unification. I watched the following video and they all about how men are the major force behind the civilisation. No mention of the women. Didn’t we have a genderless society before human evolution? Why D&A can’t point to that very fact.
Anyhow at least I am happy to see the presenter end the video slamming the race discrimination. I think we can use this valuable tool to end all discrimination.
What is my ancestry? who cares.
What is my ancestry? who cares.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
Greetings Sarath,
I agree. I see little to no relevance to the ancestry of those who came before us, who we've never met.
There's an ad on TV at the moment where some company is offering insights into your ancestors. Some guy is on the ad, who was one of the customers of this service, and he is there enthusing about some precedessor who had something to do with a horse that won a horse race, which would later go on to be known as the Melbourne Cup. He says "I tell someone about this at least once every day". I couldn't help but think he must be a bit of a sad sack.
All such things do is reify identity, whereas the serious end of the Dhamma tries to do the opposite.
Metta,
Paul.
I agree. I see little to no relevance to the ancestry of those who came before us, who we've never met.
There's an ad on TV at the moment where some company is offering insights into your ancestors. Some guy is on the ad, who was one of the customers of this service, and he is there enthusing about some precedessor who had something to do with a horse that won a horse race, which would later go on to be known as the Melbourne Cup. He says "I tell someone about this at least once every day". I couldn't help but think he must be a bit of a sad sack.
All such things do is reify identity, whereas the serious end of the Dhamma tries to do the opposite.
Metta,
Paul.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
If you are from Europe in your ancestry, and you use ancestry.com & pay for their service, you will receive, after submitting your DNA, a very detailed map of ancestry based on your genetic code.
If you are East Asian, you will receive a package from the same organization informing you that you are "East Asian". Your world-map will have one big splotch over Asia that is one colour, rather than detailed multicolour splotches in various places, like the person of European ancestry got. Their coverage is less-than-across-the-globe. More work has been done on European & New World genetics than any other group.
If you are East Asian, you will receive a package from the same organization informing you that you are "East Asian". Your world-map will have one big splotch over Asia that is one colour, rather than detailed multicolour splotches in various places, like the person of European ancestry got. Their coverage is less-than-across-the-globe. More work has been done on European & New World genetics than any other group.
What is the Uncreated?
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
Sublime & free, what is that obscured Eternity?
It is the Undying, the Bright, the Isle.
It is an Ocean, a Secret: Reality.
Both life and oblivion, it is Nirvāṇa.
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
I don't disagree with any of the posts so far but will just point out that there's one way in which knowing one's ancestry may be beneficial, i.e. when it shows people who believe themselves to be 100% Caucasian that their ancestry is actually mixed. If they find, e.g., a large Asian or African component, those people are mentally switched from "other" to "us", which has to be a good thing.
It can happen to non-Caucasians as well, of course, but Caucasians seem to be most inclined to deny (or not know) any other ancestry they may have, and to assume that "other" = "inferior". I'm Caucasian myself (English and Scottish ancestry) but people in my extended family have recently been finding out about their Arabic connections three or four generations back - connections which were "politely" ignored or suppressed at the time and thus not known by their grandchildren. I don't think this is unusual.
Kim
It can happen to non-Caucasians as well, of course, but Caucasians seem to be most inclined to deny (or not know) any other ancestry they may have, and to assume that "other" = "inferior". I'm Caucasian myself (English and Scottish ancestry) but people in my extended family have recently been finding out about their Arabic connections three or four generations back - connections which were "politely" ignored or suppressed at the time and thus not known by their grandchildren. I don't think this is unusual.
Kim
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
I quite agree.I don't think this is unusual.
We are in a society we do not give a hoot about their father and mother, brother and sister let alone their ancestry.
They use all those tools only to strengthen their own self-view.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
That may be true but it wasn't the point of my statement, Sarath.
What I was getting at is that knowledge of non-European ancestry in "English" families (in England or the colonies) was actively suppressed or hidden 100 - 150 years ago, most often because it was seen as shameful, and three or four generations later the knowledge has been lost completely.
Kim
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
Agree.it was seen as shameful, and three or four generations later the knowledge has been lost completely.
What I am saying is sometimes we are shameful of our own parents and brothers and sisters.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
I had my maternal grandpa and dad do a DNA test last year. We found out a few new things about the family on both sides. I don't think this is all that helpful in practice, but I do think this kind of investigation might lead to a greater appreciation for the preciousness of your human birth, albeit in a somewhat mundane way. Think of all the improbable situations in the lives of countless ancestors that had to take place in order for you to receive this human body from your parents. It is kind of mind boggling. My research also convinced me that I have some Sephardic Jewish ancestry, which I thought was interesting. At the end of the day thought, it all kind of feels like entertainment.
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
Genetics is very useful in the study of diseases that occur in certain populations. Examples include thalassemia in Mediterranean countries; Tay Sachs disease among Ashkenazi Jews, some French Canadian, and some Cajuns; or sickle cell anemia in persons from sub-Saharan Africa, parts of India, the Arabian peninsula, and among people of African origin living in other parts of the world. Also, women who carry a certain gene are more likely to develop breast cancer.
Knowing one's ancestry can be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of these and similar gene-linked diseases.
Knowing one's ancestry can be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of these and similar gene-linked diseases.
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
A lot of the things which buddhists think of when they think of rebirth (beauty, ability, temperament, etc.) are explained by many as having a genetic component. If we accept that these things have a genetic component then it is possible/probable that dna plays a role in the transmission of kamma or its fruition. Does this make ancestry a more important issue for buddhists?
chownah
chownah
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Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
Yes, I agree with this. Many Jews believe they are the 'chosen people' and believe their race is mostly pure. A genetic test will show how much that is not true. I took that test and found out I have a large percentage of Ashkenazi background, but also Arab, North African and even some of the dreaded gentile-European blood tooKim OHara wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:48 pm I don't disagree with any of the posts so far but will just point out that there's one way in which knowing one's ancestry may be beneficial, i.e. when it shows people who believe themselves to be 100% Caucasian that their ancestry is actually mixed. If they find, e.g., a large Asian or African component, those people are mentally switched from "other" to "us", which has to be a good thing.
It just goes to show there is no 'pure' race or ethnicity and if it helps dispel that for people, I think it's good.
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
We do not need diversity among mods David. You are the entire United Nations almostDNS wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:37 amYes, I agree with this. Many Jews believe they are the 'chosen people' and believe their race is mostly pure. A genetic test will show how much that is not true. I took that test and found out I have a large percentage of Ashkenazi background, but also Arab, North African and even some of the dreaded gentile-European blood tooKim OHara wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:48 pm I don't disagree with any of the posts so far but will just point out that there's one way in which knowing one's ancestry may be beneficial, i.e. when it shows people who believe themselves to be 100% Caucasian that their ancestry is actually mixed. If they find, e.g., a large Asian or African component, those people are mentally switched from "other" to "us", which has to be a good thing.
It just goes to show there is no 'pure' race or ethnicity and if it helps dispel that for people, I think it's good.
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
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Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
read Assalāyana discourse https://suttacentral.net/en/mn93 (buddha on caste)
"Just as the ocean has a single taste — that of salt — in the same way, this Dhamma-Vinaya has a single taste: that of release."
— Ud 5.5
https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3
http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
— Ud 5.5
https://www.facebook.com/noblebuddhadha ... 34/?type=3
http://seeingthroughthenet.net/
https://sites.google.com/site/santipada ... allytaught
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
It is interesting how many religions (including Buddhism) focused on the ancestry and at the same time dismissed it as irrelevant and unimportant. If i am not mistaken, the Shakyas were perceived as a noble tribe. In the Muslim tradition, the Hashemites were also known to be a noble tribe. All of Jewish prophets shared the same ancestors/line which is also implied to be pure or superior. While Jesus is the son of God himself!
In a way, religions seem to put emphasis on ancestors/genetics, and on the other hand, they are telling us that what makes a real difference is virtue and wisdom, not ancestors.
In a way, religions seem to put emphasis on ancestors/genetics, and on the other hand, they are telling us that what makes a real difference is virtue and wisdom, not ancestors.
And the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus, saying: "Behold now, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness!"
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
This was the last word of the Tathagata.
Re: What is my ancestry? who cares.
I like to thank David's ancestors for influencing him to start DW.No_Mind wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 3:57 amWe do not need diversity among mods David. You are the entire United Nations almostDNS wrote: ↑Sat Jan 13, 2018 2:37 amYes, I agree with this. Many Jews believe they are the 'chosen people' and believe their race is mostly pure. A genetic test will show how much that is not true. I took that test and found out I have a large percentage of Ashkenazi background, but also Arab, North African and even some of the dreaded gentile-European blood tooKim OHara wrote: ↑Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:48 pm I don't disagree with any of the posts so far but will just point out that there's one way in which knowing one's ancestry may be beneficial, i.e. when it shows people who believe themselves to be 100% Caucasian that their ancestry is actually mixed. If they find, e.g., a large Asian or African component, those people are mentally switched from "other" to "us", which has to be a good thing.
It just goes to show there is no 'pure' race or ethnicity and if it helps dispel that for people, I think it's good.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”