Search found 102 matches

by Nikolay
Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:21 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

Nikokay; you seem unaware of the Huayan [Flower Garland, Kegon] school, Ven. Indrajala when I discussed this point with him, said the idea is that rocks and trees are the same suchness as everything else and pointed out to me this nice quote: There is no difference between sentient and insentient b...
by Nikolay
Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:19 am
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

Interesting discussion of Hongaku I just found it here. Actually I just posted a favourite quote from Zhanran the 6th patriarch of Tiantai in China: Zhanran 6th Patriarch of Tiantai: "Every blade of grass, tree, pebble and particle of dust is perfectly endowed with buddha nature...The practiti...
by Nikolay
Thu May 30, 2013 3:00 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Question about "location of mind"
Replies: 192
Views: 39486

Re: Question about "location of mind"

Thrangu Rinpoche hasn't restricted it in any way, since he was a direct disciple of Khenpo Ganshar I feel like that is excellent and somehow in tune with Kenpo Ganshars intentions. That said I personally got teachings on this text while at the same time receiving direct introduction/pointing-out in...
by Nikolay
Thu May 30, 2013 7:17 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Question about "location of mind"
Replies: 192
Views: 39486

Re: Question about "location of mind"

I have a somewhat related question. Is it actually a good idea to read books such as Vivid Awareness without receiving the direct introduction/pointing-out instructions first? I've heard that is can even be harmful for some.
by Nikolay
Mon May 20, 2013 4:05 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Is the attainment of Buddhahood the end of subjectivity?
Replies: 27
Views: 5791

Re: Is the attainment of Buddhahood the end of subjectivity?

Gyaltsen Tashi wrote: We form subjective opinions based on our personal history.
Ah, ok. I am more used to seeing this word used in meaning related to subject/object and such.
by Nikolay
Sun May 19, 2013 5:27 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Is the attainment of Buddhahood the end of subjectivity?
Replies: 27
Views: 5791

Re: Is the attainment of Buddhahood the end of subjectivity?

I do not think Buddhas can "disagree", but they can teach different things as skillful means.

Regarding subjectivity, I do not understand how exactly it is related to personal history.
by Nikolay
Sat May 18, 2013 4:37 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Is Buddhist "Sunya" the same as Hindu "Nirguna" ?
Replies: 7
Views: 3718

Re: Is Buddhist "Sunya" the same as Hindu "Nirguna" ?

Maybe ideas like tathagatagarbha, dharmakaya or dharmadhatu are more relevant to this question than emptiness?
by Nikolay
Thu May 16, 2013 2:45 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Soul split into multiple mosquitoes?
Replies: 101
Views: 23359

Re: Soul split into multiple mosquitoes?

Buddhist texts already accept the possibility of the simultaneous experience of multiple first-person perspectives in the case of higher-level Bodhisattvas, though I can't see why this would happen to beings with just a basic level of awareness {It sounds as if it would be more confusing than painf...
by Nikolay
Thu May 16, 2013 12:42 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Soul split into multiple mosquitoes?
Replies: 101
Views: 23359

Re: Soul split into multiple mosquitoes?

A few years ago a fashionable western philosopher (probably doing his best to convince anyone listening that he wasn't a triple oxymoron :tongue: ) made the claim that anyone who understood how a single conscious mind could literally split into several consious mind s -none of them any more continu...
by Nikolay
Tue May 14, 2013 3:22 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Are Tiantai and Huayan worldviews radically different?
Replies: 8
Views: 5515

Re: Are Tiantai and Huayan worldviews radically different?

This was also my impression. The whole "commonsense realism" thing looked a bit outlandish to me. As far as I know, one of the principal points of disagreement between Tendai and Hosso was Tendai's assertion that all beings without exception are capable of reaching Buddhahood. Not sure abo...
by Nikolay
Tue May 14, 2013 3:01 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Are Tiantai and Huayan worldviews radically different?
Replies: 8
Views: 5515

Are Tiantai and Huayan worldviews radically different?

I would like to discuss this article: http://faculty.fullerton.edu/jeelooliu/Tian-tai%20vs.%20Hua-yan.pdf Is there really such a huge gap between Tiantai and Huayan metaphysics as the author claims here? Before reading this, I assumed that they are more or less the same. In a nutshell, the author cl...
by Nikolay
Tue May 07, 2013 11:06 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Uncertain Minds: How the West Misunderstands Buddhism
Replies: 87
Views: 22970

Re: Uncertain Minds: How the West Misunderstands Buddhism

If there is no karma and rebirth then what happens to sentient beings if they do not achieve liberation within this lifetime? Suddenly death becomes a form of liberation from samsara. So every dead sentient being achieves the same state as the Buddha. Annihilation = liberation. He would probably an...
by Nikolay
Tue May 07, 2013 8:22 am
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

Still can't really make heads and tails of the hongaku theory, but I have to say that the very idea, and the feeling it conveys, are slowly growing on me. I've been reading a book on Gnosticism lately, and I see how certain forms and aspects of Buddhism can be interpreted (especially by the Western ...
by Nikolay
Sun May 05, 2013 5:16 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

I've reached the point in the article, where it talks about "a single condition for liberation": Whether we fall into the Avici Hell or are born in the Land of Utmost Bliss depends solely on our [attitude of] mind in this lifetime. We ourselves are precisely true suchness. One who does not...
by Nikolay
Sun May 05, 2013 1:20 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

It would be nice to see a book from the modern Japanese Tendai teacher on original enlightenment and Tendai philosophy in general. I am somewhat accustomed to getting such information about views first-hand. :reading:
by Nikolay
Sat May 04, 2013 1:29 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

I have a couple of questions on the "original enlightenment" theory. 1)Is there an authoritative text which explains hongaku in more or less accessible way? Right now I am quite lost: is this just common Tathagatagarbha doctrine, or something else? 2)How is hongaku not ethernalist? I mean,...
by Nikolay
Thu May 02, 2013 10:44 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: a Vajrayana paradox
Replies: 15
Views: 4242

Re: a Vajrayana paradox

One thing I have frequently heard lamas say is that we encounter Vajrayana teachings because we practiced Vajrayana in past lives. But yet, there had to be some first time which we encountered Vajrayana teachings in some past life. Why are lamas always so confident that our present lifetime isn't t...
by Nikolay
Wed May 01, 2013 4:05 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

Well, I guess I need to read more... I just wasn't much convinced by Zhiyi's use of Nagarjuna's text to support this theory. Might I ask which commentaries did you read? I assume they are sutra commentaries. Are they available? I'm not very accustomed to reading sutras, so commentaries would be very...
by Nikolay
Wed May 01, 2013 3:06 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: vows and commitments in Tendai?
Replies: 12
Views: 4310

Re: vows and commitments in Tendai?

Jikan wrote:Да.
That gave me a Zen moment :rolling:

To avoid derailing, I replied in another thread.
by Nikolay
Wed May 01, 2013 3:05 pm
Forum: Tendai
Topic: Learning about Tendai
Replies: 69
Views: 20804

Re: Learning about Tendai

From the other thread. I can't speak to what others have been asked to read. I've primarily read histories, sutras, commentaries, and some doctrinal texts such as Swanson's book T'ien-T'ai Philosophy . Oh, I know that book! Have to say, so far I was unable to wrap my head around Chih-i's threefold i...

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