have you met a Streanwinner?

[DNS]

I've met a number of Awakened people. … my goal is Higher than that. I don't believe Nirvana is a true extinction.

You probably met zero

There is nothing higher than Nirvana

Of course it is extinction

Wha?? I thought you were one of the resident Atmavadins here? You have continuously posted that the Buddha never said there is no soul, that nibbana is not extinction, that Thanissaro is right . . . what happened? Did you have some sort of epiphany overnight?

[Dhamma Chameleon]

-The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 2.

Maybe you can gain some wisdom there. Hopefully you'll be okay.

Not sure quoting Mahayana scripture on a Theravada site is all that convincing to the locals.

[Mahabrahma]

What kind of Chameleon are you? That of one colour? Better be any colour you like!

[Dhamma Chameleon]

What kind of Chameleon are you? That of one colour? Better be any colour you like!

Some colours don't suit me.

Anyway, I have met teachers who I believe are stream winners. As far as I'm aware it's a requirement for a teacher and I have not come across any reasons for doubt.

[Mahabrahma]

I don't disbelieve it. I think it's natural for many people to reach the goal.

On one hand you have many people preaching that Buddhism is the highest Path.

Then these same people turn around and say the goal is too rare and the Path is rarely walked.

It seems like a bit of cognitive dissonance, but such can be healed with the medicine in the form of the Three Jewels' Renowned Dharma.

[Dhamma Chameleon]

On one hand you have many people preaching that Buddhism is the highest Path.

Then these same people turn around and say the goal is too rare and the Path is rarely walked.

I think it's always sensible to beware of people who are passionately for something, because they can become as passionately against it when they hit some obstacle they cannot resolve.

[cappuccino]

I thought you were one of the resident Atmavadins here?

Extinction is extinction


Is not annihilation


This is subtle, this is Buddhism

[DNS]

I thought you were one of the resident Atmavadins here?

Extinction is extinction
Is not annihilation
This is subtle, this is Buddhism

Oh, okay, you mean something like extinction of samsara, extinction of suffering.

[Mahabrahma]

What is that phenomena that carries the Saha World and it's inhabitants from moment to moment? Aside from it being called impermanence, understood by Jhana, what is the Source of this continuance, constantly changing?

[cappuccino]

something like … extinction of suffering.

As the Buddha says, "Both formerly and now, monks, I declare only stress and the cessation of stress."

[Mahabrahma]

Both now and forever more, monks, I will be your fluffy pillow and only your fluffy pillow!

[Pulsar]

mahabrahma wrote

Both now and forever more, monks, I will be your fluffy pillow and only your fluffy pillow!

Is fluffy pillow a metaphor for Refuge? in other words Both now and forever more, monks, I will be your refuge and only your refuge!
Is it an instance of "The Twilight language" spoken of by Roderick S Bucknell?

Your excerpt from Lotus Sutta has this

But although I preach nirvana,
this is not a true extinction.

No one ever said that Nirvana is a true extinction. An extinction amounts to annihilation?
Realization of selflessness does not mean realization of annihilation. Does it?
With love

[Mahabrahma]

mahabrahma wrote

Both now and forever more, monks, I will be your fluffy pillow and only your fluffy pillow!

Is fluffy pillow a metaphor for Refuge? in other words Both now and forever more, monks, I will be your refuge and only your refuge!
Is it an instance of "The Twilight language" spoken of by Roderick S Bucknell?
With love

I was just paraphrasing that the Buddha is here for much more than giving us easy lives.

[Pulsar]

Mahabrahma wrote

I was just paraphrasing that the Buddha is here for much more than giving us easy lives.

Your simile of fluffy pillow did not quite communicate that to me. Perhaps others understood it the way you intended.
Anyways I like fluffy pillows, but never thought of Buddha as a fluffy pillow. From now on, maybe I will. Upon the benevolence of Buddha and Dhamma I rest my head.
With love

[TRobinson465]

400 million Buddhists in the World. If Buddhism works.... they must be out there. The need for the perspective a sotāpanna would have came up in another thread.

The issue is despite believing it's possible many Buddhists are skeptical if someone tells you they are, especially on the internet where you have anonymity which tends to attract a lot of fake fabrications in any area, not just Buddhism. Conspiracy theories and bogus online rumors are the backbone of the internet. So if someone claims an attainment or having abhinna powers truthfully, they get this social backlash so it's not really encouraged. Not only that. The ppl most likely to have attainments are monks who are not supposed to reveal thier attainments to laypeople. Making it even harder.

Plus. There's apparently a huge disconnect between eBuddhism and real life Buddhism. Real life Buddhists are the most likely to have actually encountered someone with a real attainment or have an attainment themselves. But these ppl aren't that common on forums like this. This forum tends to attract eBuddhists who read the suttas and have extensive knowledge on texts but apparently don't go to temples and interact with real practitioners in real life. So this is the last place u should ask that question. Try visiting some real life temples and asking people.