Dharma Wheel

weitsicht wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:06 pm

"Student: Have you ever experienced hell world?
CTR: Definitely, yes.
Student: What do you do?
CTR: I try to remain in the hell world"

from "Transcending Madness"

I don't have to try, it comes naturally.

Back-stabbing for democracy, an old tradition!

I just noticed that the producers of "Two Truths" also have Greek roots. It must be the Bactrian influence...

My wife brought me this one for a tsok offering.



Κάρμα is the Greek transliteration for karma.

boda wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 17, 2018 6:47 pm

I believe objectivity is the criterion of truth in science because science seeks factual knowledge, or observations not influenced by subjective feelings or opinions.

Good luck with that one...

I was just reading yesterday about the decline of Christian affiliation in the US, particularly amongst younger generations; I think the figures you're quoting there might be a bit dated. You wish. This data is from 2016. So in the West 'secularism' has often morphed into an attitude which is antag...

... but women covered head to toe and peaking through lace just speaks volumes that I can't relate to. If people want to live that way... I guess that's fine. I can't relate, though. I would like to. The burqa is a local dress, not an Islamic dress. Salafists have tried to export it as the correct ...

But really, the answer to the question is given in a number of teachings. The Daruka-khandha Sutta: The Log, for example.

discussionbuddhist wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 16, 2018 2:49 pm

It was actually Vachagotta that asked the Buddha if there is/isn't Atta. The Buddha actually told Ananda his reasons for being silent.

I was just being silly (don't know if you noticed).

On Making Offerings by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, May 7, 2014

There's a similar principle in Christian philosophy, based on the verse 'render unto Caesar those things that are Caesar's', which became the basis for the theory of the separation of church and state. Another interesting historical note: 'secular' originally referred to a kind of time, not to a sy...

discussionbuddhist wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:47 pm

I thought the Buddha was silent when asked if there is "No Self"

Probably because he got tired of answering the same question over-and-over and expected better from Ananda. The Sutta does not describe Buddha's expression when he remained silent, I imagine it was a bit like this:

Malcolm wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:05 pm

Well, nation states are not going anywhere anytime soon.

And that is one of the major sources of our current problems (globally).

Nothing immutable about yourself. Your present identity is only a temporary configuration of your energies. ^^^This^^^. I think the term anatman is not properly translated when it talks about no/not self. I think the term atman is closer to the term "soul", than "self". But when when it comes to re...

Malcolm wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:48 pm

Then they are not Dharma kings, just kings.

We are all just trying...

Malcolm wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:38 pm

Dharma kings don't go on military campaigns.

In samsara they do.

Abdicated his crown upon becoming a Buddhist: And afterwards, taking delight in the wisdom of the Elder, he handed over his kingdom to his son, and abandoning the household life for the houseless state, grew great in insight, and himself attained to Arahatship! The Milindapanha is not a historical ...

. As Buddhists you ought to understand that only Dharma will end the suffering. On an individual level, yes, but there is no such thing as a Dharma government. Nor could there be. Should I bring up the obvious example of Asoka? Or is it too obvious? King Menander of Bactria? pre-Chinese occupation ...