shanyin wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 7:27 am
I think I got a glimpse of jhana during Samatha meditation, unless I was experiencing the first jhana or the state of samadhi. I was very happy and peaceful.
I like the tradition that I took refuge in, and am reading "Teachings in Chinese Mahayana Buddhism." I took vows to acheive enlightenment as fast as I can and to keep precepts. I do not remember my vows.
Does enlightenment have something to do with emptiness? Sometimes when I think of the concept of emptiness in Buddhism I think of a connection to nature.
It's more important for you to connect to your teacher, and ask him/her these questions.
Do you have a teacher ?
It's their job to teach you.
1Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek? 2If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing. 3Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata. 4With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
PadmaVonSamba wrote: ↑Sun May 20, 2018 12:08 am
Is the question, "what makes Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana... how is it different from Theravada?"
There are a few points of distinction.
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.
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Yes I think that that was the question vs Theravada. My mental state is a mess right now and I feel I have fallen off the eight fold path. I am trying to be more careful with my posts online because I often get shut down.
Sorry for not posting and answering the questions. I think that Theravada may be a more fitting school for me, because I like focusing my life around the 4 noble truths if that makes sense and I don't think about emptiness alot outside of my psychology or actions and I don't feel I have much compassion right now because the people around me are mysterious and cause me anger and frustration.
shanyin wrote: ↑Wed May 16, 2018 4:50 am
How do you attain enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism?
Initially there is faith because without faith you wouldn't even listen to the teachings.
Ideally this faith is getting imperturbable when following the teachings.
