Search found 134 matches

by Arjan Dirkse
Tue Jul 20, 2021 7:31 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Non-attachment, non-craving, that attitude of detachment from the world in general....
Replies: 26
Views: 1534

Re: Non-attachment, non-craving, that attitude of detachment from the world in general....

The view I have of renunciation is simply that going after sensual pleasures all the time will not bring ultimate fulfilment, it doesn't mean you have to abstain from all pleasures, the point is to take a broader view of it. Your salvation does not lie in sex or chocolate or vacations.
by Arjan Dirkse
Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:33 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: How To Deal with Homeless People?
Replies: 33
Views: 8119

Re: How To Deal with Homeless People?

Smile at them and have a chat.
by Arjan Dirkse
Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:00 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: tibetan art books
Replies: 9
Views: 4331

Re: tibetan art books

Thanks for those suggestions.
by Arjan Dirkse
Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:50 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: tibetan art books
Replies: 9
Views: 4331

tibetan art books

Hello, This is not really about the subject matter of Buddhism but more some of the art it has produced. I am looking to buy some art books and I want something with Tibetan, or maybe other Buddhist art treasures, like paintings, murals, temple architecture etc. Big, brightly coloured pictures of ar...
by Arjan Dirkse
Thu Jan 30, 2020 7:45 pm
Forum: Nichiren
Topic: Why is Buddhism so elitist and cliquey?
Replies: 176
Views: 22277

Re: Why is Buddhism so elitist and cliquey?

Honestly I think most religious groups have their elitist and cliquey aspects, but also aspects - or people - who are more open to making connections across traditions. Most religious teachings claim to be the "one true teaching". Rare is the preacher who says to the flock, sure, you can g...
by Arjan Dirkse
Fri Nov 01, 2019 12:50 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Anyone know this “rinpoche”
Replies: 20
Views: 5297

Re: Anyone know this “rinpoche”

Hah...yes this seems fishy as hell. He calls himself an ajahn and teaches Dzogchen...isn't ajahn a title from the Theravada tradition?

"Samvara radiates love, compassion, humor and light. " Yeah I bet.
by Arjan Dirkse
Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:38 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Greta Thunberg
Replies: 93
Views: 16212

Re: Greta Thunberg

Tlalok wrote: Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:30 pmI cannot understand why anyone would think that the USA is in any way close to a left wing "tyranny" in any way.
I know.
by Arjan Dirkse
Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:20 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Greta Thunberg
Replies: 93
Views: 16212

Re: Greta Thunberg

It makes me sad. She is just a tool used by ideologues. This world is heading towards barbarism. :D It's clear that you have never had a child and don't remember being one. Children are people and many of them are more capable of self-determination - making their own choices - than many adults. Cet...
by Arjan Dirkse
Thu Sep 26, 2019 1:14 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Greta Thunberg
Replies: 93
Views: 16212

Re: Greta Thunberg

It makes me sad. She is just a tool used by ideologues. This world is heading towards barbarism.
by Arjan Dirkse
Sun May 05, 2019 4:59 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: The desire to stop suffering
Replies: 16
Views: 3314

Re: The desire to stop suffering

Thanks for the answers. I've not quite figured it out yet but it's very helpful.
by Arjan Dirkse
Fri May 03, 2019 3:41 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: The desire to stop suffering
Replies: 16
Views: 3314

The desire to stop suffering

I struggle with this point. Desire is the root of all suffering, but is it bad to have a desire to stop samsara? For instance, I feel bad when I realize some awful things are happening. And I feel a desire to help people, to stop them suffering. Is feeling this desire a bad thing? If so, is it bette...
by Arjan Dirkse
Sat Oct 28, 2017 9:22 pm
Forum: Ethical Conduct
Topic: Is suicide OK?
Replies: 87
Views: 25873

Re: Is suicide OK?

This is admittedly where I don't agree with the Buddhist standpoint, I think suicide is allowed, and under certain circumstances an understandable choice. If the house is on fire, you get out of the house. However many people who feel suicidal may just be in need of help or medication.
by Arjan Dirkse
Sat Jul 23, 2016 7:52 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Victims of Communism
Replies: 194
Views: 36111

Re: Victims of Communism

People are bad, or at least some of them are. Perhaps everybody is to some degree. The authoritarian systems which guide life in some geographical areas and some eras reflect that. Stalinism was as bad as nazism. It was a horrific slavery of the mind, yet some people still long for that kind of madn...
by Arjan Dirkse
Mon May 09, 2016 9:16 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Can women become Buddhas?
Replies: 333
Views: 67962

Re: Can women become Buddhas?

Hey, if a man can become Buddha, then everyone and everything can.
by Arjan Dirkse
Sun Mar 20, 2016 6:54 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Buddha is an Ordinary Fellow
Replies: 333
Views: 60502

Re: Buddha is an Ordinary Fellow

The point is that unlike poor schmucks like us, Buddha does not take rebirth in samsara [i.e. buddhas do not take afflicted birth]. Somehow, what is lost in this discussion is the existential purpose of the Dharma, ending birth in samsara, and aiding other sentient beings to do the same. Without th...
by Arjan Dirkse
Sun Mar 20, 2016 6:06 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Buddha is an Ordinary Fellow
Replies: 333
Views: 60502

Re: Buddha is an Ordinary Fellow

What is ordinary, what is extra-ordinary? In the end they're just subjective categories we make up to create divisions. Everything is just the way it is.

I don't believe Buddha is extraordinary, but I am not sure wether he is ordinary.
by Arjan Dirkse
Wed Dec 02, 2015 9:42 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: do I have to be a nice guy to be a buddhist?
Replies: 113
Views: 25113

Re: do I have to be a nice guy to be a buddhist?

"Nice" is not the same as being a good person.

I'd rather be a good person and a bad Buddhist than a bad person and a good Buddhist.
by Arjan Dirkse
Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:10 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: The Sacred in Buddhism [from Dharma Decline]
Replies: 270
Views: 36270

Re: The Sacred in Buddhism [from Dharma Decline]

Mr. Dirkse, Yes, that opinion shines through your posts on other threads. Did you read the contributions of the other posters? Do you see what they are saying, or is it just babble to you? Also, let me ask you outright: do you consider yourself a Buddhist? If so, why? Not babble, just a different v...
by Arjan Dirkse
Mon Nov 09, 2015 1:21 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: The Sacred in Buddhism [from Dharma Decline]
Replies: 270
Views: 36270

Re: The Sacred in Buddhism [from Dharma Decline]

Sacred is meaningless to me. I think it's just a desire for "something special", something extra.
by Arjan Dirkse
Tue Nov 03, 2015 3:54 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Buddism without buddism
Replies: 143
Views: 20970

Re: Buddism without buddism

Buddhism like any ism can become problematic. But I do think a lot of what Buddhism is about is just ethics, or being a good person. The core of Buddhism is more than just that though, it's also overcoming suffering and recognizing sunyata, but it's all linked.

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