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by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 16, 2017 8:32 pm
Forum: Dharma Events
Topic: Garchen rinpoche Yamantaka Empowerment Livestream
Replies: 59
Views: 15651

Re: Garchen rinpoche Yamantaka Empowerment Livestream

If a teacher I trust enough to take teachings from thinks it is sufficient, that is enough for me. I would and do go in person to anything I can, but I am glad that some teachers make themselves available in this way, and consider it quite a fortunate circumstance.
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 16, 2017 8:17 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?
Replies: 70
Views: 10322

Re: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?

Still, it shows you are misunderstanding it's function, the purpose is not to prove "there is no self", but to exhaust the limits of the conceptual search. Then it is simply to be understood as a teaching device, not as a metaphysical claim? I'd take issue with your categorizations, it is...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 16, 2017 7:27 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?
Replies: 70
Views: 10322

Re: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?

Also note, that there is absolutely no proof given from my side that actually the analysis performed by both sides really is the same, I just claim for the moment that it is. What would prove or disprove a self, outside of a search via personal experience? Even if you had instruments that could mea...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:51 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?
Replies: 70
Views: 10322

Re: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?

Of course your are only coming to the conclusion that no-self is a true doctrine because you already presume that there is no self doing the analysis. No, you search for the self doing the analysis. In fact, that's common meditation in various Buddhist systems. In systems that claim to have found a...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:23 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?
Replies: 70
Views: 10322

Re: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?

What contrasts an actual process with a metaphysical truth? Empirical evidence vs belief, I imagine. Emptiness/no self is empirically verifiable in a significant way. Exercises such as this will show it in a basic sense: -Find five things that your believe define "yourself", and witness h...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:05 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?
Replies: 70
Views: 10322

Re: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?

Still unclear on what a "metaphysical truth" is in terms of this question. Is rebirth metaphysics or is it an actual process? What's an actual process? What contrasts an actual process with a metaphysical truth? What is the usefulness of either concept in Buddhist terms? This whole questi...
by Johnny Dangerous
Wed Feb 15, 2017 10:50 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?
Replies: 70
Views: 10322

Re: The doctrine of no-self - teaching device or metaphysical truth?

Still unclear on what a "metaphysical truth" is in terms of this question.
by Johnny Dangerous
Wed Feb 15, 2017 7:03 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Need help from highly realised or very perceptive practitioner
Replies: 19
Views: 4367

Re: Need help from highly realised or very perceptive practitioner

Not a remotely realized anything but Malcolm's advice makes a lot of sense to me. I had a very similar experience as a teenager, only it wasn't due to trying to take a spiritual substance or anything, but smoking pot laced with PCP. It prompted a similar spiritual crisis as what you are describing t...
by Johnny Dangerous
Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:35 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What you let into your mind
Replies: 26
Views: 4989

Re: What you let into your mind

Johnny I understood you, and I agreed with you. Muni is also making this point. And furthermore, I have felt it for a long time: the wisdom of sameness (natural transformation of pride). I actually believe that no one is any better or worse, smarter or dummer. And I actually believe and see in all ...
by Johnny Dangerous
Tue Feb 14, 2017 5:06 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What you let into your mind
Replies: 26
Views: 4989

Re: What you let into your mind

I agree with Johnny D. that this is really a question of capability (in generosity, discipline, patience, moral strength, meditation and wisdom). And as for those bubbling volcano "minds", I agree, a warm hug is not workable. But still, they can be "lifted from underneath " and ...
by Johnny Dangerous
Tue Feb 14, 2017 2:12 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Chanting in English
Replies: 21
Views: 4946

Re: Chanting in English

Couple things come to mind: One, some translations of Tibetan words kind of suck. I don't even know much Tibetan at all and I can tell this just because I know the breakdown of a few terms. Some sadhana shortcut terms into weird, only borderline acceptable English variations etc. In that sense, For ...
by Johnny Dangerous
Mon Feb 13, 2017 11:36 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What you let into your mind
Replies: 26
Views: 4989

Re: What you let into your mind

Hello brothers and sisters, Monasteries and Universities all over the world keep people out. Buddhists are advised not to associate with degenerate people. And most people lock the door to their home, to separate and isolate themselves from other people. Understood. But then, many of those monks an...
by Johnny Dangerous
Fri Feb 10, 2017 5:24 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Question about processes
Replies: 139
Views: 22516

Re: Question about processes

What I was trying to say is that the four events I described do NOT constitute a process, since they are causally unlinked: the caw does not stop the car 100 miles away, etc. Any single one of the events is a process, sure: a crow cawing, a car stopping, etc. But the set of four events (each separa...
by Johnny Dangerous
Fri Feb 10, 2017 1:25 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Question about processes
Replies: 139
Views: 22516

Re: Question about processes

A car is not a casually unlinked event, nothing is, since all things arise due to causes and conditions. Why do you think a crow or a car is casually unlinked? not trying to be mean, but that is a nonsensical assertion. You can look at a car and see that it is made up of, among other things: Happeni...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 09, 2017 10:51 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Engaged Buddhism comes in many political stripes
Replies: 95
Views: 14312

Re: Engaged Buddhism comes in many political stripes

While I definitely don't agree with capitulating or being gentle with Nazis, there is a point to be made about not letting our own afflictions consume us in times like these. However, that comes down to one's management of emotions, and doesn't have that much to do with tactics employed at all, or a...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 09, 2017 3:01 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Question about processes
Replies: 139
Views: 22516

Re: Question about processes

JD, sorry but you wore me out for today! I've reached my RL = ratiocination limit. I'll dive back in tomorrow when I'm a bit more up to the challenge. :twothumbsup: Cool, I'm not being facetious though, it's worthwhile exercise to actually do what i'm asking - figure out if you can find a changeles...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 09, 2017 12:53 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Question about processes
Replies: 139
Views: 22516

Re: Question about processes

Wha? But I just suggested (above) how some phenomena might NOT fit the three descriptors. Am I misunderstanding you? Can you explain what phenomena would not fit these descriptions? the only one that wouldn't is you "changeless substance", but there is no such thing. Again, I suggested th...
by Johnny Dangerous
Thu Feb 09, 2017 12:27 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Question about processes
Replies: 139
Views: 22516

Re: Question about processes

Once again, can you please define something which does NOT fit into this category? Well let's use the three descriptors of process in my working definition as a starting point to find non-processes: set of causally linked events – a set of causally un-linked events would be a non-process. For examp...

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