Any entertaining novels not too incompatible with awakening?

[MiphamFan]

All Buddha activity is just an appearance, even teaching.

It is as follows: Mañjuśrī, imagine that this wide earth were made entirely of beryl, so that in that beryl one could see reflections of the abode of the Thirty-Three; of Śakra, lord of the gods; and of his Palace of Victory. [F.279.a] And imagine that Śakra, lord of the gods, could be seen there, playing and enjoying himself with the five divine objects of pleasure. [22]
“At that time, the gods might call out to all the men, women, boys, and girls of Jambūdvīpa, ‘Come here, men and women! Look at Śakra, lord of the gods, as he is playing, enjoying, and amusing himself with the five divine objects of pleasure in his Palace of Victory. Come, all men and women, offer gifts and make merit. Take up discipline and abide by it. Then you shall also get to play, enjoy, and amuse yourself in such Palaces of Victory. You will become like Śakra himself and will come to possess wealth like his. The lord of the gods, Śakra, has all divine enjoyments, and so shall you.’
“Then, Mañjuśrī, all those men, women, girls, and boys, who could see the abode of the Thirty-Three along with Śakra, lord of the gods, and his Palace of Victory reflected in the wide earth of beryl, would fold their hands toward this reflection. They would scatter flowers and offer perfumes toward it, saying, ‘May we also obtain such a body as that of Śakra, lord of the gods; may we also play, enjoy, and amuse ourselves in the Palace of Victory, just like Śakra, lord of the gods.’ [24]
“However, those beings would not understand that this would merely be a reflection in the wide earth of beryl, a reflection occurring due to the complete purity of the beryl, wherein the abode of the Thirty-Three, along with Śakra, lord of the gods, and his Palace of Victory, could be seen. [F.279.b]

The Ornament of the Light of Awareness

Wishing for the state of Śakra, they would then offer gifts and make merit. They would take up discipline and abide by it. They would then dedicate the roots of what is wholesome toward birth in that reflection of the abode of the Thirty-Three.
“Mañjuśrī, in that wide earth of beryl there would, of course, be no abode of the Thirty-Three, and neither would there be a Palace of Victory, or Śakra, lord of the gods. However, due to the purity of the great beryl, the abode of the Thirty-Three along with the Palace of Victory and Śakra, lord of the gods would all be visible. Non-existent, non-arisen, and non-ceased, their reflections would be seen because of the purity of the great beryl. [26]

“In the same way, Mañjuśrī, it is due to the complete purity of the mind, as well as due to proper cultivation, that sentient beings see the body of a tathāgata. Mañjuśrī, it is due to the power of the Tathāgata that sentient beings see him. And still he remains non-existent, non-arisen, and non-ceased. He is neither existence nor non-existence, neither visible nor invisible, neither worldly nor unworldly, neither an object of thinking nor not an object of thinking, neither existent nor non-existent.

“It is so, Mañjuśrī, that sentient beings focus on the reflection of the Tathāgata and offer it flowers, perfumes, garments, and jewels while making this aspiration: ‘May we also become like the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfect and Complete Buddha.’ Wishing for a buddha’s awareness, [F.280.a] they offer gifts and make merit. They take up discipline and abide by it. Then they dedicate that root of what is wholesome toward obtaining a tathāgata’s awareness. [28]

“It is as follows: Mañjuśrī, the reflection of Śakra, ruler of the gods, on that wide earth made of beryl does not move. Nor does it think, elaborate, construct, or conceptualize. It is not a construct, not a concept, inconceivable, and not a mental placement. It is peaceful and cool, non-arising, non-cessation, not seen, not heard, not smelt, not tasted, not touched, not a sign, not a cognition, and not something that can be made known.

“In the same way, Mañjuśrī, the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the Perfect and Complete Buddha does not move. Nor does he think, elaborate, construct, or conceptualize. He is not a construct, not a concept, inconceivable, not a mental placement. He is peaceful and cool, non-arising and non-cessation, not seen, not heard, not smelt, not tasted, not touched, not a sign, not a cognition, and not something that can be made known.

“Mañjuśrī, the Tathāgata is in the realm of non-arising. On the other hand, he appears in the world as a reflected image. According to the beliefs of sentient beings he displays diverse appearances and diverse lifespans. He appears among sentient beings who have become fitting receptacles for awakening thanks to their maturation and belief. These sentient beings then hear the Dharma according to their dispositions and beliefs. According to their dispositions they understand the three vehicles [F.280.b], and according to their dispositions they obtain belief.

[Lazy Monk]

Aha, now I understand where you are coming from. I'm sceptical if a spiritual teacher claims that he is so enlightened that he can own a Rolls-Royce and have a harem of women he can educate. However, if one already assumes (for the sake of argument at least) that an individual actually is a Buddha walking around on this planet, then it's clear that nothing can change his or her awakened status no matter what he or she does or appear to do in our realm.

It's probably no way to verify or falsify that a spiritual teacher has reached a level of awakening where he or she only appears to enjoy a life of worldly luxury, but if one wants to believe in the above explanation, then it's actually a logical and coherent theory.

Wow, I think the matter is finally settled now. Scientists and Socratic philosophers are like gadflies, always asking ("annoying") questions until clear answers are found, but it's bit of a relief that we can drop this part of the thread now, and meditate or read a good novel instead

[dzogchungpa]

You know, I really enjoyed the Horatio Hornblower books when I was a kid.

[Lazy Monk]

Guess the books are more or less better than the TV series?

[dzogchungpa]

I didn't even know there was a TV series.

[Lazy Monk]

Haven't seen the TV version, but it got good reviews if I remember correctly. Books are better though.

[Kim O'Hara]

You know, I really enjoyed the Horatio Hornblower books when I was a kid.

So did I, but I don't think I would like them at all now. There's another similar series which appeared in the 80s (I think) and was much better. Look up "Ramage" if you're interested.


Kim

[dzogchungpa]

You know, I really enjoyed the Horatio Hornblower books when I was a kid.

So did I, but I don't think I would like them at all now. There's another similar series which appeared in the 80s (I think) and was much better. Look up "Ramage" if you're interested.

OK, next time I'm in the mood for some nautical fiction, I'll check it out.

[Grigoris]

Another favorite by Kafka: The Metamorphosis.

I think Herr K had low self-esteem.

You mean "Pan" K, not "Herr" K. Franz Kafka was a Czech Jew, he wasn't German.

And I don't think it was merely a matter of low self-esteem. I think he was also aware of the coming maelstrom and its impact on the Jewish people.

[Ayu]

Another favorite by Kafka: The Metamorphosis.

I think Herr K had low self-esteem.

You mean "Pan" K, not "Herr" K. Franz Kafka was a Czech Jew, he wasn't German.

And I don't think it was merely a matter of low self-esteem. I think he was also aware of the coming maelstrom and its impact on the Jewish people.

Well, Kafkas language was German. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka

But "Herr K." is a fictive person in a series of short stories by Bertold Brecht, and he doesn't refer to Kafka. They are called "Stories about Herr Keuner". https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geschicht ... rrn_Keuner

[Lazy Monk]

Simon, if you read this, there is no hard feeling on my side regarding our communication. The Internet is full of insincere people, so understand that the things you wrote were based on your perception of an anonymos person with the nickname Lazy Monk. If we had met in person the conversation would naturally have been more positive.

[Grigoris]

If we had met in person the conversation would naturally have been more positive.

I wouldn't bet on it.

[Lazy Monk]

Individuals are different, with different cerebral "software", conditioned by their past, so one can never know what will happen during communication, but meeting face to face is usually a better way to create trust than to discuss things anonymously on the Internet.

In any case I personally find it self-contradictory and contra-productive to develop or hold on to negative feelings when communicating with others within a Buddhist framework.

[Grigoris]

Individuals are different, with different cerebral "software", conditioned by their past, so one can never know what will happen during communication, but meeting face to face is usually a better way to create trust than to discuss things anonymously on the Internet.

You mean you have never had an instant anitpathy for a person you have met "face-to-face"?

[Lazy Monk]

Cannot remember any cases of instant antipathy, but obviously in some situations it may not take long before scepticism and aversion are triggered. However, within a Buddhist mindset/framework in particular I will only hurt myself if holding on to negative feelings, especially when communicating with other Buddhists. There is no need for it in the Buddhist community, though negative emotions may be necessary in other contexts, in an outlaw biker club for example, just to mention an obvious example where skilful aggression can save your life.

[boda]

Another favorite by Kafka: The Metamorphosis.

I think Herr K had low self-esteem.

You mean "Pan" K, not "Herr" K. Franz Kafka was a Czech Jew, he wasn't German.

And I don't think it was merely a matter of low self-esteem. I think he was also aware of the coming maelstrom and its impact on the Jewish people.

Well, Kafkas language was German. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka

But "Herr K." is a fictive person in a series of short stories by Bertold Brecht, and he doesn't refer to Kafka. They are called "Stories about Herr Keuner". https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geschicht ... rrn_Keuner

Coincidentally, Herr K. is also a fictive person in The Trial.

I think he was also aware of the coming maelstrom and its impact on the Jewish people.

And that bugged him?

[Grigoris]

And that bugged him?

To the point of extermination.

[boda]

And that bugged him?

To the point of extermination.

Wrong again, he died of tuberculosis.

[Ayu]

And that bugged him?

To the point of extermination.

Wrong again, he died of tuberculosis.

No, wikipedia says he died of starvation, seemingly, because he couldn't swallow food anymore. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka#Death

[Lobsang Chojor]

It says he had laryngeal tuberculosis. And tuberculosis causes loss of appetite.

So everyone was right