Search found 166 matches

by mikenz66
Wed Mar 06, 2024 7:56 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Stagnant sanghas, teachers not teaching
Replies: 126
Views: 5587

Re: Stagnant sanghas, teachers not teaching

Pedagogical method has come a long way since Ms. Crabapple wrote the lessons on the board and the students just copied. I am sure many of those theories and methods could find beneficial expression in Dharma Halls. I agree, and a key shift is emphasis on learning, rather than teaching. But actually...
by mikenz66
Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:53 am
Forum: Media
Topic: Decoding the Gurus - Sam Harris
Replies: 14
Views: 755

Re: Decoding the Gurus - Sam Harris

It’s fascinating because both the hosts are very intelligent and well-educated, but they fundamentally cannot grasp what Harris is saying in terms of experience, I think largely because they don’t meditate. One of them (the psychologist, funnily enough) doesn’t seem to understand 1the difference be...
by mikenz66
Fri Feb 23, 2024 9:22 pm
Forum: Media
Topic: Decoding the Gurus - Sam Harris
Replies: 14
Views: 755

Re: Decoding the Gurus - Sam Harris

It’s definitely true that both have views of spirituality colored by their materialist views… but that is a big chunk of society, so to me this difference is helpful, because I’m getting a detailed explanation of how most of my (non-Dharma) friends and family see the world. Yes, I've listened to a ...
by mikenz66
Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:52 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Politics in dharma center - article
Replies: 202
Views: 7703

Re: Politics in dharma center - article

Queequeg wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:46 pm Then... Buddha didn't say it either?
:rolling:

However, thanks for reminding me about it. Some interesting quotes and references in the links I gave above...
by mikenz66
Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:40 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Politics in dharma center - article
Replies: 202
Views: 7703

Re: Politics in dharma center - article

To borrow Malcolm X's quote, "The Revolution will not be televised." Slightly off topic, but I can't find a Malcolm X quote that matches the line in Gil Scott-Heron's song, though obviously it's connected: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Revolution_Will_Not_Be_Televised https://faroutma...
by mikenz66
Sun Nov 12, 2023 9:57 am
Forum: Dying and Death
Topic: Reincarnation cases not following the Buddhist model
Replies: 230
Views: 13399

Re: Reincarnation cases not following the Buddhist model

Bhante Dhammika writes: "While Theravàda Buddhism denies the reality of the in-between state, the Pàli texts imply that there is an interval between death and rebirth. The Buddha spoke of the situation `when one has laid down the body (i.e. died) but has not yet been reborn' (S.IV,400). On sev...
by mikenz66
Tue Apr 18, 2023 8:23 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Buddhist missionaries in Africa
Replies: 51
Views: 2870

Re: Buddhist missionaries in Africa

I wonder how old the programme is? Do you know? I ask because I have dim memories of a former DW member, Ven Huifeng, mentioning working in Afria as (I think) part of his training with a highly respected Taiwanese Buddhist group. Their (relatively new) tradition was known as Humanist Buddhism, if I...
by mikenz66
Sun Apr 02, 2023 1:24 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Keeping AIs honest
Replies: 83
Views: 7575

Re: Keeping AIs honest

Ha, yes. Various musicians unions tried to ban mellotrons and synthesisers too. I recall some UK rock bands having difficulties on US tours in the late 60s/ early 70s. (Groups like The Moody Blues, Yes, etc).
by mikenz66
Tue Feb 14, 2023 10:51 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Because the Dharma cannot be owned, it cannot be sold
Replies: 174
Views: 6756

Re: Because the Dharma cannot be owned, it cannot be sold

My point is that "customer" is the wrong word to use, because it is not used for students. Why? If you pay a regulated product, be it a good or a service, you are a customer, no? Unfortunately, educational institutions have drifted towards the "customer" terminology. I find this...
by mikenz66
Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:47 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Because the Dharma cannot be owned, it cannot be sold
Replies: 174
Views: 6756

Re: Because the Dharma cannot be owned, it cannot be sold

Dharma has never been free in any real sense. For example, in a traditional Dharma oriented culture, even if Dharma is freely given to the public, the locals still must support that monastery. ... This is something that is often overlooked by the Theravada-oriented people linked in the OP. Furtherm...
by mikenz66
Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:35 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Google Panics Over ChatGPT
Replies: 41
Views: 2299

Re: Google Panics Over ChatGPT

Couldn't help myself Chat GPT explaining Bodhicitta in the style of Donald Trump Well let me tell you, folks, Bodhicitta is tremendous, really tremendous. It's the Buddhist concept of an enlightened mind that's filled with compassion for all living beings. You know, it's like having a heart of gold...
by mikenz66
Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:08 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Google Panics Over ChatGPT
Replies: 41
Views: 2299

Re: Google Panics Over ChatGPT

Ayu wrote: Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:14 am I'm surprised, that the text makes sense. (I could only criticize one line in buddhist context: "But in my soul, I find release".)
The line
With every step, I leave a trace
is also a bit off.
With every step, I leave no trace
would resonate with quite a few texts...

Mike
by mikenz66
Sat Nov 26, 2022 12:12 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: World Cup 2022
Replies: 333
Views: 13039

Re: World Cup 2022

Can I make a suggestion? Next time you are watching a football match and a striker is running towards goal, switch your attention away from her/him and focus on the defence players particularly the goalkeeper. Watch their skill in impeding the striker without incurring a penalty and the saves made ...
by mikenz66
Sun Oct 09, 2022 7:45 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: World Cup 2022
Replies: 333
Views: 13039

Re: World Cup 2022

Yeah, that's why it's best to stick with rugby league, where money counts for nothing and one can enjoy the sight of the world's last superpower routinely getting annihilated by the likes of New Zealand, Papua and New Guinea, and even Tonga. Or the Women's Rubgy World Cup, which started here yester...
by mikenz66
Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:27 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Any ideas on Carlos Castaneda?
Replies: 44
Views: 4154

Re: Any ideas on Carlos Castaneda?

It seems #7 is the favoured choice among posters to this thread. Personally I lean more towards #6, though replacing "science-fiction" with the "magical realism" suggested by Namdrol. Steve Armstrong, who was a monk in Burma for several years back in the 80s occasionally reads f...
by mikenz66
Mon Jul 18, 2022 10:58 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: What types of meditation did Shakyamuni teach in the sravaka canons?
Replies: 7
Views: 750

Re: What types of meditation did Shakyamuni teach in the sravaka canons?

Hi Nalanda, This Wikipedia article may be a place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamma%E1%B9%AD%E1%B9%ADh%C4%81na The classification of these 40 meditation subjects is from the Visuddhimagga, a later Commentary, rather than the suttas themselves. These subjects are in the early suttas, but ...
by mikenz66
Thu Jul 14, 2022 10:16 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Corporate Buddhism
Replies: 37
Views: 2343

Re: Corporate Buddhism

Also - I really dislike the term “mindfulness”. Does it mean we are full of mind? Mind is full of something? We are attentive to something? For such a widely-used term, it is remarkably unhelpful. Heh, a lot of newer mental health stuff has moved towards simply not using the term because of its pop...
by mikenz66
Sat May 14, 2022 10:54 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Reference from a quote of W. Rahula
Replies: 11
Views: 821

Re: Reference from a quote of W. Rahula

the idea of momentariness is post-canonical. What is the source of this idea, then, please? :reading: While there are some passages in the suttas/sutras and abhidhamma/abhidharma that can be interpreted as momentariness, there is nothing explicit, unlike the Commentaries. Unfortunately, the term &q...
by mikenz66
Mon Apr 25, 2022 7:32 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: another question about rebirth
Replies: 194
Views: 11171

Re: another question about rebirth

Batchelor is clear and explicit that the Buddha taught rebirth. Yes, but I suggest listening to Batchelor and Bhikkhu Sujato in the video I posted earlier. He's rather negative about rebirth, to say the least. I included some specific times in this post: https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?p=...

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