Search found 3379 matches
- Tue May 03, 2016 10:46 pm
- Forum: Academic Discussion
- Topic: Historical Buddhist economic thought
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4465
Re: Historical Buddhist economic thought
Anyway, some might see it as an ethical problem with monks managing finances but I don't think so at all. It just means that monastic institutions made themselves economically viable not only through ritual work and merit-making but in terms of actually providing services like loans and investments...
- Tue May 03, 2016 3:08 am
- Forum: Academic Discussion
- Topic: Historical Buddhist economic thought
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4465
Re: Historical Buddhist economic thought
This might be of interest (my article): http://huayanzang.blogspot.com/2013/07/rome-persia-china-and-indian-buddhism.html In addition to Schopen's work, I recommend the following: Jacques Gernet, Buddhism in Chinese society : an economic history from the fifth to the tenth centuries , translated by ...
- Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:22 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4075
Re: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
I don't disagree, but I notice that you didn't really address my second question: do you think maintaining a sexless marriage--or any other kind of emotional tie--corresponds to a systematic practice of renunciation? What do you mean by renunciation exactly? If you mean abstaining from physical and...
- Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:03 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4075
Re: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
Sure, but do you think this is in keeping with the spirit of the vinaya? The 'spirit of the vinaya' is an expression that gets tossed around a lot, especially in modern works by authors trying to justify being firm on some rules while being relaxed about others. Some think the spirit of the vinaya ...
- Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:56 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4075
Re: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
I'm trying to get at this question of whether it makes sense for someone to be simultaneously a renunciant and married. Technically speaking you can have bhikṣu precepts and be married. You're just not supposed to have any sex or touch the opposite sex. As long as you maintain celibacy the status o...
- Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:53 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
- Replies: 19
- Views: 4075
Re: Marriage in Buddhist Cultures
Historically in most Asian cultures polygamy was the norm (one man and one or more wives and/or female partners). Married men were under no obligation to be faithful to one wife. Prostitution was quite normal in India, China and Japan. Sexual misconduct in one instance (I think Tsong Khapa even cite...
- Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:32 pm
- Forum: Shrine Room
- Topic: Gandharan Sculptures
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2623
Gandharan Sculptures
Some photos of sculptures from Gandhara (Pakistan) dating to the 1st to 3rd centuries on display at the Tokyo National Museum. http://i.imgur.com/UruRMKg.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/OQHkFEf.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/PBSrdg3.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/jOHY7AE.jpg?1 http://i.imgur.com/UyAcWov.jpg?1
Re: Zazen
The saying in Japan is, I am told, that Rinzai is 'warrior Zen' and Soto is 'farmer Zen'. This is based on the fact that Rinzai is associated much more with martial arts training, the 'way of the warrior', the practice of koans and the forceful and even alarming character of its founder. Soto, by c...
- Sat Feb 20, 2016 7:18 am
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Nalanda on Google Streetview
- Replies: 0
- Views: 706
Nalanda on Google Streetview
You can now move around Nalanda in 360 degrees in Google Streetview:
See here.
You can also move around some of the areas normally off limits to visitors.
See here.
You can also move around some of the areas normally off limits to visitors.
- Sun Feb 14, 2016 1:25 pm
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Places to visit near Osaka and Kyoto?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 2821
Re: Places to visit near Osaka and Kyoto?
Nara and nearby Horyu-ji: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dry%C5%AB-ji Horyu-ji is my favorite temple in Japan. The museum attached to it is one of a kind in the world, hosting authentic art and other pieces from the Asuka period (around the year 600 CE). It also has a few major specimens of Pae...
- Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:19 pm
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Hello from Japan
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4438
Re: Hello from Japan
I haven't attended any Dharma events in Tokyo lately. I know there's zazenkai at Ryuun-ji near Komazawa University, but that was a number of years ago when I attended. There's also Ajikan (Shingon) at the Shingon Betsuin near Shinagawa (or at least there was several years ago). Yes, Tokyo is lovely....
- Sun Feb 07, 2016 10:59 am
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Hello from Japan
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4438
Re: Hello from Japan
Hi Marcus, Have you seen the Tamagawa Daishi 玉川大師? It is near Futakotamagawa station on the Den'entoshi-sen. It is a Shingon temple, on the surface, but beneath is a long labyrinth of Buddhist images. It isn't so well known, but quite worth visiting. I'm in Tokyo too until later next month (at unive...
- Sat Nov 28, 2015 5:56 pm
- Forum: Academic Discussion
- Topic: Mahayana origins and provenance of Mayahana sutras
- Replies: 40
- Views: 13051
Re: Mahayana origins and provenance of Mayahana sutras
You almost wonder if this is the same figure, if this is a symbolic representation of an interpretation influenced by the Upanishads (esp the Brihadaranyaka), or if this symbolizes something else entirely that I'm just not aware of. Have you come across any mention of ideas like this? I don't think...
- Sat Nov 28, 2015 5:56 pm
- Forum: Academic Discussion
- Topic: Mahayana origins and provenance of Mayahana sutras
- Replies: 40
- Views: 13051
- Thu Nov 26, 2015 6:05 am
- Forum: Academic Discussion
- Topic: Mahayana origins and provenance of Mayahana sutras
- Replies: 40
- Views: 13051
Re: Mahayana origins and provenance of Mayahana sutras
I'm curious to know, however, if there are any academic scholars who argue that some or all of the Mahayana sutras actually date from the time of the historical Buddha, and if so, what is the basis for their argument? Nobody in present academia in the Anglosphere or East Asia would argue this. For ...
- Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:32 pm
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Non-human primates burying dead.
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1437
Re: Non-human primates burying dead.
I stand corrected.
Yes, it is quite remarkable. I hope they can date the skeletons and site soon. If they buried their dead they presumably engaged in other learned symbolic acts.
Yes, it is quite remarkable. I hope they can date the skeletons and site soon. If they buried their dead they presumably engaged in other learned symbolic acts.
- Thu Sep 10, 2015 1:38 pm
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Non-human primates burying dead.
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1437
Non-human primates burying dead.
A new species has been discovered that apparently buried its dead:
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34192447
Fascinating to consider how in the past there were other species capable of symbolic behavior.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34192447
Fascinating to consider how in the past there were other species capable of symbolic behavior.
- Tue Sep 01, 2015 9:26 am
- Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
- Topic: Why Buddhism over Vedanta?
- Replies: 122
- Views: 25862
Re: Why Buddhism over Vedanta?
Interesting, why do you say 90%. Why if its 'outside my control' Why not 99% or 100%. Indeed it's a fascinating, philosophical line of insight into the nature of 'how come' and life itself. It is just a figurative number. We don't have any direct control over most of what we experience in daily lif...
- Tue Sep 01, 2015 1:04 am
- Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
- Topic: Why Buddhism over Vedanta?
- Replies: 122
- Views: 25862
Re: Why Buddhism over Vedanta?
This struck a cord and its really the way I feel. In addition the only way out of the tyranny of the mind is to let go. Just drop it. Stop the brooding, stop the I should have done this or I could have done that and LET GO! To let go of something you need to understand the nature of it. To understa...
- Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:00 pm
- Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
- Topic: Why Buddhism over Vedanta?
- Replies: 122
- Views: 25862
Re: Why Buddhism over Vedanta?
Liberation, in Buddhadharma, is strictly the elimination of afflictions that cause rebirth in the three realms. It really does not matter what school one belongs to. Chan and Zen can often be nebulous with respect to what liberation is and what happens afterwards (the laundry?). There's also Pure L...