Search found 19 matches

by black_tea
Mon May 06, 2013 9:27 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: are Western Buddhists complacent? article by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Replies: 22
Views: 5588

Re: are Western Buddhists complacent? article by Bhikkhu Bo

Buddhism doesn't have as long a history in the west as the other faiths mentioned. Christianity and Judaism, for example, have had lot of time to set organize huminitarian efforts. For example, the synagogue I went to for awhile set up many opportunities to volunteer in the community, but this was a...
by black_tea
Thu May 02, 2013 3:09 am
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Amitabha Sutra recitation in english video
Replies: 5
Views: 2604

Re: Amitabha Sutra recitation in english video

I'm really glad this video was posted -- it reminded me that I really like chanting sutras (when I make it to the nonsectarian dharma center near me, my fave part is when everybody chants the Heart Sutra). It just somehow didn't occur to me to try chanting the Pure Land sutras. Are there particular ...
by black_tea
Tue Apr 30, 2013 9:22 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Devas, gods, dragons on Sutras
Replies: 19
Views: 3488

Re: Devas, gods, dragons on Sutras

Personally, I believe that there is much more to this world than just the things we can see and touch and that science can measure--I've had a few odd experiences in my life that have served to strengthened this opinion. That said, when it comes to specifics, I don't know what all is out there -- wh...
by black_tea
Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:26 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Should secular Buddhism be tolerated?
Replies: 114
Views: 28666

Re: Should secular Buddhism be tolerated?

Assuming that you are actually being serious and not just trolling... I personally think that things like rebirth and karma are pretty necessary concepts, and that without them the whole system doesn't hang together as well. However, I can't force people to believe the way that I do -- people will b...
by black_tea
Tue Apr 09, 2013 5:52 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: mindfulness of the Buddha.
Replies: 10
Views: 2809

Re: mindfulness of the Buddha.

Is this the website you were trying to post? You guys in Australia are lucky to have Ven Wuling. As a kid from a family of New Yorkers who lives in Texas, I feel a bit of affinity for the path she's taken. She's got some great dharma talks available online. I downloaded 'In One Lifetime' off her we...
by black_tea
Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:31 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Doubts about Pure land
Replies: 76
Views: 21172

Re: Doubts about Pure land

I believe that Amida and his pureland exists. However, that does not mean that I take all the language in the sutras as being 100% true in the literal sense. Sometimes poetic language and fantastic descriptions are used to try and get across concepts that might be difficult to put into words. When i...
by black_tea
Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:09 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Masonry: whats the purpose? Whats the buddhist view?
Replies: 28
Views: 9789

Re: Masonry: whats the purpose? Whats the buddhist view?

Kim, they seem to be less secret, but that may also work as a "decoy"..."Ok guys, we are not secret, see? We do this and that..." but in fact they may still be doing the dirty work in the shadows. Another thing I dont like on masonry is that they say thats something opened to al...
by black_tea
Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:59 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Pure Land Study Group Thread
Replies: 305
Views: 122844

Re: Pureland study group anyone?

How about April 30th thats a good month and a half, plenty of time for people to read the shorter Amitabha Sutra and take notes to pose questions, then we can work our way through the others. Let me know if this sounds okay, :smile: Sounds good to me -- it's about time that I reread it. :shrug: plw...
by black_tea
Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:46 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Pure Land Study Group Thread
Replies: 305
Views: 122844

Re: Pureland study group anyone?

That sounds like a great idea :heart:
by black_tea
Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:52 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: How long will religious freedom last?
Replies: 14
Views: 4420

Re: How long will religious freedom last?

As a person of Jewish heritage your language really pains me, because it is the sort of thing you typically hear from hate groups. Look, Jews don't missionize, and tend to take issues such as religious freedom very seriously. Christianity is hardly monolithic -- yes there are well organized right wi...
by black_tea
Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:28 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Nightmares
Replies: 38
Views: 13094

Re: Nightmares

black_tea, when did you start your nembutsu practice? I really got more serious about it back in December -- started by silently reciting on the shuttle bus to and from work, and at other points in the day. Then in January began getting up early so that no matter what I would be sure to practice ev...
by black_tea
Tue Mar 05, 2013 9:39 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Tibetan Buddhism and Craziness/Insanity? I need some advice
Replies: 23
Views: 6330

Re: Tibetan Buddhism and Craziness/Insanity? I need some adv

I am so sorry that you are having to go through such difficulty. The thing to remember is that you can't change other people's behavior, the only one you have control over is yourself -- and you need to take care of yourself first and foremost. That may sound selfish, but if you are suffering from d...
by black_tea
Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:37 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Nightmares
Replies: 38
Views: 13094

Re: Nightmares

When I started practicing more consistantly my dreams became more vivid, I remembered more of them upon awakening, and while they were not all bad, there was a higher number of bad ones than I typically have (and they weren't my typical anxiety dreams either). I've been in the process of moving and ...
by black_tea
Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:25 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Possessions, lifestyle: what should I give up?
Replies: 25
Views: 5837

Re: Possessions, lifestyle: what should I give up?

Exchange 'antiques' for books, and its pretty much me, or at least 11 years of me. I have often given up past paths, which could be enlightening if maintained, after becoming dissatisfied or, more often, distracted (by another path). The pattern is a constant, a constant tussle between pursuing a c...
by black_tea
Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:59 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Sex Taboo's & applying Christianized thinking in Western Zen
Replies: 299
Views: 60006

Re: Sex Taboo's & applying Christianized thinking in Western

So about whom are we talking here? about victims or supposedly zen practitioners? if it is latter case then give me a break.. pressure, what pressure? who can beliefe in such things? With old roshi is problem of rape? if he would do it to me I would rape him as well, we could compete who is tougher...
by black_tea
Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:32 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Delurking
Replies: 6
Views: 2555

Re: Delurking

Thanks for the welcome, guys :namaste:
by black_tea
Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:45 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Sex Taboo's & applying Christianized thinking in Western Zen
Replies: 299
Views: 60006

Re: Sex Taboo's & applying Christianized thinking in Western

First people debates are pretty nihilistic, since they do not know what they are talking about if they claim they practice zen dharma. second why do you ask in the second person if rape is ok to me etc.? this just shows what kind of problem you have personally, nothing else. I was never Christian m...
by black_tea
Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:16 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Sex Taboo's & applying Christianized thinking in Western Zen
Replies: 299
Views: 60006

Re: Sex Taboo's & applying Christianized thinking in Western

so called 'social cohesion' is nicely filling up psychotherapy rooms... I have seen grown up kids of very pious 'buddhists'' seldom they can say anything nice about their parents. And most are not buddhists and do not feel much for the dharma, it says something about 'social cohesion'... the West h...
by black_tea
Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:54 pm
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Delurking
Replies: 6
Views: 2555

Delurking

Hi, I've been lurking around the site for awhile now and finally decided to join and post. I'm fairly new to Buddhism -- I first discovered it around 10 years ago, but was afraid it wasn't for me so I backed away from it rather quickly. I eventually did come around (only took me a decade). Anyway, I...

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