Dharma Wheel

Mind is mind, brain is form, human identity is based on mind AND form. Hello Greg, I just wanted to say that I am very interested to hear why you think this research is dubious. If you are interested I would be very happy if you could either PM me or open up another topic if you are so inclined. I ...

There is not really so much a mind in the singular. Four of the five aggregates are mental: sensation (vedanā), discernment (saṃjñā), saṃskāra and consciousness (vijñāna). "Mind" is the sum of these mental components. When you say that the mind is not singular you mean in terms of the pri...

This has been discussed many times before and everyone has their own take on it. My own view is that ordinary mind and the brain are so deeply connected that we may as well call them the same thing. But then that is ordinary mind. What about enlightenment or realization? Is reality more than the br...

One of the more difficult concepts in Buddhism for me is the formal dichotomy of mind vs brain. It is posited that the two are substantively different and that they have a different basis and are composed of different 'substances'. I remember hearing the Dalai Lama say something like the mind and br...

Thankyou all. Im currently reading: introduction to buddhism, geshe gyatso. Im trying to find a book that will have instructions on meditations, nobel truths, 8 fold paths. And such. I havent a clue which books to read. I have a few local temples near me. But i want to read up before i go to a temp...

Madhyamaka doesn't establish discrete moments. yes it does. discrete moments a validly cognizable. what they dont establish are partless moments, partless particles, etc. I understand what you are saying regarding particles being unbreakable and yet having parts, but I am not sure I understand the ...

Madhyamaka doesn't establish discrete moments. It doesn't establish impermanence as a fact or otherwise. The cup appears to break but there is never a moment of 'break'. Students who study Madhyamaka should always start with what Madhyamaka says about time. Then it's easier not to make claims or be...

Reminds me a lot of zeno's paradox. But I will play... I say that in the moment of breakage the cup is not there. This is what I was referring to: "In the arrow paradox (also known as the fletcher's paradox), Zeno states that for motion to occur, an object must change the position which it occ...

my guess is that the cup ceases to exist for you (ie non-inherently - if there is such a word!) at the moment it breaks. thanks for answering the question my question is about this final moment when it breaks.......is the cup there when it breaks? if its there, doesnt that means its not broken? Thi...

At least that is how I currently understand things. Being a baby Buddhist I could be very wrong though. I guess I should add that I know very little about Zen since this is a Zen forum. My own understanding is from a Tibetan Buddhist FPMT background and no doubt from my own obscurations so please t...

That is denying personal responsibility for one's thoughts. Karma is one's own action, not some external force. No doubt that for me, free will i just ignorant concept that cannot be explained in any ground. Beside this fact, it perfectly fits the rest without even enforcing it. If a person is illu...

If nirvāṇa is understood as the absence of causes for further involuntary rebirth, then "impermanence" does not really apply because nirvāṇa is not a thing , nor is it really caused . Causes are for phenomena that arise. Nirvāṇa is the absence of causes for rebirth. If those causes have b...

... Jikan, The Buddha was Ananda's Master. He was his agreed-upon, and consented-to, trusted spiritual Teacher. Ananda was his loving and trusting student and desciple. In the context of the above, in the Shurangama Sutra, Ananda was asking Him for advice. He was opening himself up to criticism fro...

I'm a baby buddhist so I'm posting this so others can let me know where I have gone wrong, but it seems to me after reading this thread and Progressive Stages Of Meditation On Emptiness that the positions are some what like this: Sravaka Practitioner: "Investigate! Can you identify any lasting,...

I just wanted to add one point to this discussion. There is one example of western Tibetan buddhist monasticism thriving: Srvasti Abbey in Washington State. Due to Venerable Thubten Chodron's incredible stockpile of merit a living and breathing example of monasticism is flourishing in upper Washingt...

The first book I read when I began to take Buddhism seriously was, 'In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon' by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

Hello, I am looking for any information on Tibetan monastic debate. In particular, I am looking for information on the mechanics of the debate and the rules and procedures as well as the rituals involved. In other words, if one were a complete novice to this and needed to learn how to debate in the ...

These are some tough questions for sure. I can't claim to know the answers, but I do think I can point to some answers that others have given. I'm going to defer here to Alexander Berzin, because some of his answers have helped my mind in dealing with these types of questions and because I like the ...

I am wondering what is the origin of these commitments? The Refuge Commitments 1. Not to go for refuge to teachers who contradict Buddha’s view, or to samsaric gods 2. To regard any image of Buddha as an actual Buddha 3. Not to harm other sentient beings 4. To regard any Dharma scripture as an actu...

I am wondering what is the origin of these commitments? The Refuge Commitments 1. Not to go for refuge to teachers who contradict Buddha’s view, or to samsaric gods 2. To regard any image of Buddha as an actual Buddha 3. Not to harm other sentient beings 4. To regard any Dharma scripture as an actua...