Search found 119 matches

by Rakshasa
Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:29 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Moving in a rut
Replies: 13
Views: 3184

Re: Moving in a rut

Our Minds are highly programmable. Like in outer space, without much influence of gravity, whichever direction you "push" an object floating over there, it will continue on that new path, and if you push it towards another direction, it will take the new direction and continue on its way. ...
by Rakshasa
Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:17 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: The Emptiness in Form
Replies: 27
Views: 6045

Re: The Emptiness in Form

"Form is empty" simply means that this world is illusory. Just like how in your dream, you see the form of a beautiful girl, you can touch her, you can smell her fragrance, and you could probably also have sex with her and get orgasmic pleasure, in the same way this "real" world ...
by Rakshasa
Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:40 pm
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: The Distortions We Bring...
Replies: 24
Views: 6293

Re: The Distortions We Bring...

As an Asian myself, I can see lots of prejudice in that author's article (although I haven't read it completely yet). Relatively underdeveloped countries (compared to western world) tend to defend their culture and traditions as opposed to the more dominant western culture out of inferiority complex...
by Rakshasa
Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:34 am
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Hello to all
Replies: 33
Views: 12589

Re: Hello to all

Hi Jainarayan,

You look very interesting. Your name suggested that you are a Jain, but it turns out you are a Hindu who is interested in Buddhism!

If you are a Hindu, what caste do you belong to?
by Rakshasa
Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:50 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Template of the Mahayana sutras?
Replies: 8
Views: 2744

Re: Template of the Mahayana sutras?

Okay I finally found a good article explaining how to approach the Mahayana Sutras in Nan Huai Chin's site (article is by him?) http://www.lapislazulitexts.com/articles/understanding_sutras" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I like this part especially: For example, if a reader...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:14 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Template of the Mahayana sutras?
Replies: 8
Views: 2744

Template of the Mahayana sutras?

I have read quite a few Mahayana Sutra and if I were to generalize the template in which the Sutras are composed (although any generalization is bad), it would be something like: "This is the best Sutra... If you copy and recite this Sutra, such and such are the benefits... ...Such and such Bod...
by Rakshasa
Mon Dec 24, 2012 7:48 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: A Hare Krishna view of Buddhist practice in Bhutan
Replies: 17
Views: 8888

Re: A Hare Krishna view of Buddhist practice in Bhutan

On the contrary, it is more likely that the Bhagavad Gita was created based on stuff taken from Lotus Sutra and other texts. The Brahmins had very different religious ideas before BG was created as opposed to the Shramanas. Brahmins did not even believe in karma, transmigration etc, and they were cl...
by Rakshasa
Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:37 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Mahayana earliest origins ?
Replies: 12
Views: 3525

Re: Mahayana earliest origins ?

The Prajnaparamita Sutras first appeared, according to some scholars, from the Caitika sect of Early Buddhism, which was the southern branch of the Mahasamghikas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caitika" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Also, there was an early Buddhist sect call...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:18 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Why was E-Sangha controversial?
Replies: 143
Views: 40231

Why was E-Sangha controversial?

I only started browsing Buddhist forums about a year or two ago and have often read the mention of "E-Sangha" in the negative connotation. I did some google search to check out about why it was so controversial and came to know that it was hacked. Why was it hacked? And why was it not resu...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:29 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Moral discipline is the central practical teaching..?
Replies: 77
Views: 16989

Re: Moral discipline is the central practical teaching..?

Chokyi Lordron Certainly moral discipline and precepts are very important. If we view them within the context of karma, then they will create a "better future" for us. Regardless of Theravada or Mahayana scope, there's a certain necessity, even merit there, but one could argue it's not eno...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:12 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Moral discipline is the central practical teaching..?
Replies: 77
Views: 16989

Re: Moral discipline is the central practical teaching..?

Thanks for the replies! Johnny, It was not until years later that I think I am starting to "get" Diamond Sutra, Lankavatara, Heart Sutra a bit better. I remember getting really stuck on those, for those I have had to read outside commentaries or explanations, especially on emptiness. By &q...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:15 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Moral discipline is the central practical teaching..?
Replies: 77
Views: 16989

Moral discipline is the central practical teaching..?

Is moral discipline and keeping precepts the central teachings of the Buddha? I have read quite of a few Pali Suttas and Mahayana Sutras so far. And my general impression is that a great emphasis is laid on the keeping of moral precepts and the negative consequences of breaking the precepts. Sometim...
by Rakshasa
Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:03 pm
Forum: Shingon
Topic: Ninja Kuji-In Mudra from Vairocanasambodhi Sutra?
Replies: 25
Views: 13799

Re: Ninja Kuji-In Mudra from Vairocanasambodhi Sutra?

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana again gazed upon the entire great assembly and addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “Son of the Buddha, there are eight secret seals which are most secret. [When used in] the stations of the holy divinities [in the maṇḍala], their awesome div...
by Rakshasa
Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:57 am
Forum: Shingon
Topic: Ninja Kuji-In Mudra from Vairocanasambodhi Sutra?
Replies: 25
Views: 13799

Ninja Kuji-In Mudra from Vairocanasambodhi Sutra?

So I was browsing through the Vairocanasambodhi Sutra (Mahavairocana Sutra) which is one of the main texts of esoteric Buddhist sects like Shingon and came upon chapter 14 "Eight Secret Seals". And to my surprise it explains eight Mudras of Buddhist practice which appear to be quite the sa...
by Rakshasa
Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:32 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Goddess Marici and Mayajalamahatantra
Replies: 8
Views: 4311

Goddess Marici and Mayajalamahatantra

Anyone has any info about Mayajalamahatantra which is about Goddess Marici. I've heard that Goddess Marici is the goddess of military arts. Is this tantra found in Tibetan canon?
by Rakshasa
Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:15 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What is "meditation"?
Replies: 18
Views: 4866

Re: What is "meditation"?

the original term must be dhyana or sammadhi, in chinese usually traslated as "Ding", or "Chan". i don't know much about Terabada or Tibetan buddhism. but i've heard that all of buddhist meditations are consisted of 'concentration(sammadhi)" and "insight(vipashana)&quo...
by Rakshasa
Sun Dec 09, 2012 4:12 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What is "meditation"?
Replies: 18
Views: 4866

Re: What is "meditation"?

Is mindfulness a form of calming (shamatha) or insight (vipassana)? Interesting that you say Shamatha is a form of calming the mind, I like allowing all the thoughts and mental activity to calm down just by sitting in lotus posture with erect spine and trying to relax every muscle of my body so I mu...
by Rakshasa
Sun Dec 09, 2012 7:55 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: What is "meditation"?
Replies: 18
Views: 4866

What is "meditation"?

Since I am not very well versed in either Pali or Sanskrit (or Tibetan or Chinese), I read the Sutras/Suttas in English translations. The English translations of many Sutras also include terms like "meditation" which although in English may have a singular meaning (deep thought), it seems ...
by Rakshasa
Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:39 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Mindful of what in Buddhanusmriti?
Replies: 2
Views: 1387

Mindful of what in Buddhanusmriti?

I practice Buddhanusmriti while reciting "Namo Amitabha Buddha" continuously for about half an hour or while I am doing something else (like driving :mrgreen: ). Now my question is, what exactly should I be mindful of while chanting Buddha's name? Usually when I practice, I mostly try to b...
by Rakshasa
Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:29 pm
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: Chanting the name of a god?
Replies: 52
Views: 15440

Re: Chanting the name of a god?

Very insightful replies. I forgot to complete the description of that account full so I will add it here. Though I was impressed by the priest in his relentless chanting of his god's name through out the 2.5 hour journey, towards the end I was disappointed by his compassion when he briefly scolded a...

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