Search found 656 matches

by Serenity509
Sat Dec 05, 2015 1:16 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: The Multifacetedness of Truth in Buddhism
Replies: 1
Views: 1400

Re: The Multifacetedness of Truth in Buddhism

To be honest, guys, I am sorry for any time on this forum in which I haven't lived by the above post. A person can, at times, be so extreme about non-attachment to views that non-attachment to views itself becomes an unhealthy attachment, especially when forced on others.
by Serenity509
Sat Dec 05, 2015 1:12 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67958

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

To be blunt, "women can be Buddhas" would be like saying "the sky is blue". Obvious, and not important. As interesting as the migratory patterns of some obscure South American moth. If they can't, then I totally messed up trying to understand some of the implications of Ichinen ...
by Serenity509
Fri Dec 04, 2015 11:05 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67958

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

As far as I know, the dragon king's daughter is the only sutra story of a woman attaining Buddhahood. Even if, in the original story, she became a man in the process of attaining Buddhahood, that still would have made a radical egalitarian statement within the historical context in which it was writ...
by Serenity509
Fri Dec 04, 2015 8:01 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67958

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

I sincerely disagree with the idea that Buddhism is, overall, a sexist religion. Quan-Yin is venerated as the ideal mother of boundless compassion by millions of Buddhists in the world. As they say in China, "Amitabha in every place, Quan-Yin in every house."
by Serenity509
Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:50 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: The Multifacetedness of Truth in Buddhism
Replies: 1
Views: 1400

The Multifacetedness of Truth in Buddhism

Something I really like about Buddhism is that it's seemingly unique among the world's religions in recognizing the multifaceted, multi-layered nature of truth. This approach has allowed for many different schools and sects, which are each seen as one of 84,000 paths to enlightenment. When we post o...
by Serenity509
Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:12 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67958

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

The Lotus Sutra wasn't written down until hundreds of years after the sermon was given. So it's my personal opinion that, in the original story, the dragon queen's daughter doesn't become a man in the process of attaining Buddhahood. Shakyamuni, as a historical person, may have been such an egalitar...
by Serenity509
Fri Dec 04, 2015 12:18 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

I personally do not see Amitabha or Shakyamuni before his life on this earth as literally attaining Buddhahood in many kalpas past. I see both cases as symbolic of the eternal nature of Dharmakaya itself, and there are many academics and Dharma teachers who would agree with me on this. There's noth...
by Serenity509
Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:28 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

I personally do not see Amitabha or Shakyamuni before his life on this earth as literally attaining Buddhahood in many kalpas past. I see both cases as symbolic of the eternal nature of Dharmakaya itself, and there are many academics and Dharma teachers who would agree with me on this. There's nothi...
by Serenity509
Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:22 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

FWIW - No, I absolutely do not agree with Serenity's interpretation, nor the guy he quoted, who is pushing a pretty common Japanese materialistic view with his understanding of the Big Bang and not teaching Buddhism - plain and simple. Rev. Toshikazu Arai is Professor Emeritus of Soai University in...
by Serenity509
Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:08 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

I'd like to know what people here think is meant by 'eternal Buddha" in the context of the Lotus Sutra. I don't think we're all talking about the same thing. For instance, I trust that some allude to Shakyamuni's description of his lifespan as really, really, really inconceivably LONG (but sti...
by Serenity509
Thu Dec 03, 2015 10:33 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

I'd like to know what people here think is meant by 'eternal Buddha" in the context of the Lotus Sutra. I don't think we're all talking about the same thing. For instance, I trust that some allude to Shakyamuni's description of his lifespan as really, really, really inconceivably LONG (but sti...
by Serenity509
Thu Dec 03, 2015 10:14 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

In the Lotus Sutra, we learn that the Buddha taught in parables and used various forms of expedient means for leading others to enlightenment. As Pure Land Buddhists, we can see the story of Dharmakara Bodhisattva, describing events eons before time began, as a parable for Dharmakaya-as-compassion ...
by Serenity509
Wed Dec 02, 2015 5:52 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra
Replies: 52
Views: 14023

Re: Pure Land Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra

In the Lotus Sutra, we learn that the Buddha taught in parables and used various forms of expedient means for leading others to enlightenment. As Pure Land Buddhists, we can see the story of Dharmakara Bodhisattva, describing events eons before time began, as a parable for Dharmakaya-as-compassion a...
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 2:50 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67958

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

goldenlight wrote: These Cats by renouncing aggression and embracing vegetarianism are on their slow path towards enlightenment.
Are you saying this to suggest that women must renounce womanhood to become Buddhas?
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 6:49 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Shambhala Buddhism
Replies: 3
Views: 2239

Shambhala Buddhism

I am thinking about attending meditation classes at the local Shambhala center. Does anyone please have any comments or suggestions of what I should expect? Do they charge money for attending a meditation session? Thank you.
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 6:08 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: pure land buddhism as anachronistic concept
Replies: 13
Views: 4779

Re: pure land buddhism as anachronistic concept

Seriously, guys, who cares if exclusive Pure Land practice began in Japan or not? If you accept the concept of impermanence, doesn't that suggest that Buddhist doctrine and practice is something which can evolve over time? If one is looking to Shandao, which Shandao? Which period of his life or phas...
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:53 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: important buddhist text may have been authored by a woman
Replies: 15
Views: 4017

Re: important buddhist text may have been authored by a woma

There's a lot of messed up things in Asian cultures too, guys. Here is one example:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ya_ba

If Buddhism is a universal religion, then you don't need to demean your own culture, or any culture for that matter, in the process of becoming Buddhist.
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 5:50 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67958

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

Some make a big deal out of the dragon king's daughter becoming a Buddha in the Lotus Sutra. Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't she become a man in the process? Yes, she transforms her gender, much to the astonishment of the retinue. If so, why is it used as evidence that women can become ...
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 4:49 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: An American Buddhist on Thanksgiving
Replies: 17
Views: 3533

Re: An American Buddhist on Thanksgiving

I do happen to have a bachelor's degree in history from one of the most leftist colleges in the nation, so I do know a thing or two about American military interventions from the Indian wars to the present. At the same time, I am also aware of the immense good that America's done for the world. One...
by Serenity509
Mon Nov 30, 2015 4:46 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: important buddhist text may have been authored by a woman
Replies: 15
Views: 4017

Re: important buddhist text may have been authored by a woma

Talking from experience, we westerners are quite a narcissistic and egotistical bunch compared to our fellow practitioners in Asia. Please forgive me for asking... If Thailand's culture were so much more enlightened than the West, why was a man given all the credit for a woman's work? Just an hones...

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