Search found 1270 matches

by tobes
Mon Mar 09, 2020 9:29 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Selling the dharma
Replies: 117
Views: 23211

Re: Selling the dharma

I'm not precisely sure what tkp67 is saying, but I think that considering the nature of opportunity cost/utility/instrumental rationality against altruism is exactly the point, and strikes at the heart of this thread. Asserting that things are inherently more valuable if and only if we can ascribe a...
by tobes
Sat Mar 07, 2020 1:28 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Foucault's "discourse"
Replies: 14
Views: 3333

Re: Foucault's "discourse"

Also: as the only way out of the culture wars which are like an inflamed boil, one should try and read everything from liberalism to conservatism to marxism to post-modernism. By read, I mean the great thinkers in all those traditions. Then you can see for sure that all the crap flying around betwee...
by tobes
Sat Mar 07, 2020 1:20 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Foucault's "discourse"
Replies: 14
Views: 3333

Re: Foucault's "discourse"

Tyvm again. Is there a good online resource which discusses the kind of Marxist critique of capitalism while avoiding all of this critical theory kind of thing? David Harvey is the best Anglo Marxist, and he offers a free course 'reading capital Vol 1.' https://davidharvey.org/ As for Foucault, he ...
by tobes
Fri Mar 06, 2020 12:33 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Accepting a guru you haven’t personally met?
Replies: 39
Views: 8629

Re: Accepting a guru you haven’t personally met?

I think there's also something else in the mix: you sort of have to discover that somehow or other, despite all of your idiocies and conceits, they have taken personal responsibility for your liberation. It can take a good deal of time to see that, but once that is seen all the other questions quick...
by tobes
Thu Mar 05, 2020 2:29 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Accepting a guru you haven’t personally met?
Replies: 39
Views: 8629

Re: Accepting a guru you haven’t personally met?

I find this to be so strange. Realistically how much inspiration can one receive from a teacher that you don't know? Without some kind of personal connection, an empowerment is going to be a person in a funny hat saying words you don't understand over you. Commitment to a teacher should be a natura...
by tobes
Thu Mar 05, 2020 2:23 am
Forum: Dharma Events
Topic: Guru Rinpoche empowerment from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche - March 13 2020
Replies: 32
Views: 10159

Re: Guru Rinpoche empowerment from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche - March 13 2020

How odd getting clobbered for expressing concern for others. Why give advice here in this thread, or indeed on this forum if we need have no concern? The logic is: ' I am concerned enough to advise you it is not for you to be concerned'. Lol :) For the record and for those who don't read threads be...
by tobes
Wed Mar 04, 2020 11:24 pm
Forum: Dharma Events
Topic: Guru Rinpoche empowerment from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche - March 13 2020
Replies: 32
Views: 10159

Re: Guru Rinpoche empowerment from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche - March 13 2020

Guru Rinpoche Mantra Accumulation Retreat: March 13 – March 15, 2020 From March 13th – 15th, 2020, we will practice this powerful devotional sadhana to relieve the suffering of beings through elimination of self-grasping and generation of bodhichitta (the intent to benefit all sentient beings). And...
by tobes
Wed Mar 04, 2020 3:07 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: The role of truth in Buddhism?
Replies: 278
Views: 41851

Re: The role of truth in Buddhism?

Sure, and this needs to be pointed out.

But, water boarding, discussing the two (or three) truths on Dharmawheel: equivalent, in terms of torture level.

All the best everyone, in your discussions!

:anjali:
by tobes
Wed Mar 04, 2020 1:30 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: The role of truth in Buddhism?
Replies: 278
Views: 41851

Re: The role of truth in Buddhism?

This will be my only post on this, because it always becomes so tedious. But: it is disingenuous for anyone to suggest that there is only one way of interpreting the two truths. This question of what samvrti-satya means is at the heart of the very real contestations within Madhyamaka. Whatever posit...
by tobes
Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:24 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Selling the dharma
Replies: 117
Views: 23211

Re: Selling the dharma

84,000 pays $250 per folio side. People pay, are getting paid, etc. Nothing is free. In this case, since the main donor for this project is a millionaire several times over, it is no sweat of his or her back since most of those millions were donations anyway, to begin with. Someone always pays. The...
by tobes
Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:38 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Selling the dharma
Replies: 117
Views: 23211

Re: Selling the dharma

Can you not see the difference between "pay for sutra translation, charge for sutra" and "donate for sutra translation, make sutras freely available to all"? 84,000 pays $250 per folio side. People pay, are getting paid, etc. Nothing is free. In this case, since the main donor f...
by tobes
Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:20 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: The role of truth in Buddhism?
Replies: 278
Views: 41851

Re: The role of truth in Buddhism?

Satya sometimes has the sense of 'truth' and sometimes of 'reality' and very often, the two combined. So, what role? 100%. Buddhists are aiming to find/uncover/awaken to paramatya-satya: the ultimate truth/reality. It couldn't be any more important. And samvrti-satya (conventional truths) can help u...
by tobes
Thu Feb 27, 2020 11:52 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Selling the dharma
Replies: 117
Views: 23211

Re: Selling the dharma

I think this is the right response. Thing like this are happening from the Mahayana POV: https://84000.co/ Yes, because someone paid. Do we actually believe in danaparamita or not? Yes, which is why one should be prepared to give away your family members to anyone who wants them, like the Bodhisatt...
by tobes
Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:00 am
Forum: Dzogchen
Topic: Decreased interest in Tantric practice
Replies: 88
Views: 21501

Re: Decreased interest in Tantric practice

Indeed, and generation stage is always a contrivance.

But it is also true that the humblest, mostly lowly, most relative/conventional Dharma can have extraordinary potency if it is treated with great diligence and respect.
by tobes
Thu Feb 27, 2020 3:17 am
Forum: Dzogchen
Topic: Decreased interest in Tantric practice
Replies: 88
Views: 21501

Re: Decreased interest in Tantric practice

I have found my interest in new Tantric practices waning over time. Prior to taking teachings from ChNN I received a lot of initiations, and generally took attending them quite seriously. Since this time I have the reoccurring feeling that I have enough of them, and find it harder to get all ginned...
by tobes
Thu Feb 27, 2020 2:59 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Selling the dharma
Replies: 117
Views: 23211

Re: Selling the dharma

I would just like to say that I am really appreciative of the way Theravada Buddhism has embraced the concept of "open-source". More than any other Buddhist tradition, I find that Theravada goes out of their way to make books and instructional materials available free of charge. This is o...
by tobes
Sun Feb 23, 2020 11:26 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Getting the MOST out of ngondro
Replies: 26
Views: 6296

Re: Getting the MOST out of ngondro

Be less ambitious. Give away your goals. Enjoy your practice. Don't use it to get from A to B. Treat each practice as complete in itself. this advice feels light and natural, but should I not look for an opportunity for Dzogchen instructions? Togal's hard enough to come by, given from a teacher in ...
by tobes
Sun Feb 23, 2020 5:14 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Getting the MOST out of ngondro
Replies: 26
Views: 6296

Re: Getting the MOST out of ngondro

Be less ambitious.

Give away your goals.

Enjoy your practice.

Don't use it to get from A to B.

Treat each practice as complete in itself.
by tobes
Sat Feb 22, 2020 12:56 am
Forum: Kagyu
Topic: All or nothing?
Replies: 10
Views: 2973

Re: All or nothing?

Sounds strange, but I aspire to this. If we take 'casual' to mean 'relaxed, natural and trusting your relationship with both sacred and mundane worlds.' As opposed to: flippant, careless, arrogant and superficial. Well, I think what I mean is, for example, most Christians that I know, that’s just s...
by tobes
Fri Feb 21, 2020 4:05 am
Forum: Kagyu
Topic: All or nothing?
Replies: 10
Views: 2973

Re: All or nothing?

Sounds strange, but I aspire to this.

If we take 'casual' to mean 'relaxed, natural and trusting your relationship with both sacred and mundane worlds.'

As opposed to: flippant, careless, arrogant and superficial.

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