Search found 119 matches

by Rakshasa
Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:49 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.
Replies: 70
Views: 21139

Re: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.

I doubt the claim the the Sakyas, and thus the Buddha, were of Saka/Iranic origin. Buddha has been described as a man of "dark skin" in the Early Buddhist texts (Pali canon mainly). He has been described as often getting discriminated by the Brahmins (Indo-Aryans) especially in matters rel...
by Rakshasa
Thu Mar 06, 2014 5:09 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Dr. Sanderson: Phowa etc. are directly from Saivism
Replies: 239
Views: 51102

Re: Dr. Sanderson: Phowa etc. are directly from Saivism

In Buddhist tantra, abhisheka and fire puja are derived from the Vedas, the mantras are similar etc. Ritual Vedicism is very different from indigenous Indian religions, it is more closer to Zoroastrianism. The 'fire puja' in Vedas is similar to fire pujas of various Shamanistic cultures all over th...
by Rakshasa
Thu Mar 06, 2014 4:57 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Dr. Sanderson: Phowa etc. are directly from Saivism
Replies: 239
Views: 51102

Re: Dr. Sanderson: Phowa etc. are directly from Saivism

This issue shouldn't even be coming right now when Dr, Bhattacharya laid it to rest almost a century ago. Shaivism is not even documented in early Buddhist sources - which means it did not exist or was practiced by insignificant population. Thus Benoytosh Bhattacharya in his Introduction to Buddhist...
by Rakshasa
Fri Feb 21, 2014 7:03 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Rajiv Malhotra: Nagarjuna, Shankara etc. in Indra's Net
Replies: 4
Views: 1823

Re: Rajiv Malhotra: Nagarjuna, Shankara etc. in Indra's Net

Rajiv Malhotra is an RSS mouthpiece (right wing Hindutva brigade). I am surprised he is even being taken seriously here. Indians never had a scholastic tradition of preserving history. In fact, many Brahmins have put great efforts to eradicate true history and put a mythical version which puts them ...
by Rakshasa
Tue Feb 18, 2014 4:40 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.
Replies: 70
Views: 21139

Re: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.

The Upanishad as well as the Vedas clearly uphold kingship as the ideal. See Dumezil Early Brahmanism, which was quite different from later Brahmanism (which mixed with native cults after several centuries) , but similar to modern Zoroastrianism, also held the "Rajan" as ideal - it was at...
by Rakshasa
Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:37 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.
Replies: 70
Views: 21139

Re: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.

Most eminent Buddhist authors in India were described as being from the Brahmin caste. This was only reasonable given the high level of Sanskrit fluency necessary for writing eloquent treatises. We have to take the caste of Buddhist monks described in Buddhist literature with a grain of salt. Espec...
by Rakshasa
Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:03 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.
Replies: 70
Views: 21139

Re: Śākyamuni's non-Indo-European heritage.

Bhuridatta Jataka talks about a Brahmin, who was a hunter by profession, finds his way to a Naga kingdom (indigenous) and boasts about the superiority of Brahmins and their religion. He preaches the trademark Brahmanic caste system of four Varnas. After listening to his boastful speeches, which actu...
by Rakshasa
Wed Dec 25, 2013 11:29 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Does Dzogchen have Persian or Zoroastrian influences?
Replies: 115
Views: 21413

Re: Does Dzogchen have Persian or Zoroastrian influences?

InvisibleDiamond, You do realize Pakistan was a part of India until quite recently right??? Pakistan was FULL of Hindus, who slowly left during the events of Independence. Your comments are quite hurtful, insensitive, and most of all historically wrong. Pakistan was NOT part of 'India'. Pakistan WA...
by Rakshasa
Wed Dec 11, 2013 6:07 pm
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: How to handle people with anger issues?
Replies: 73
Views: 17045

Re: How to handle people with anger issues?

After so many posts, may be I should add that my wife sometimes worries about things that I push under the carpet and do not care about. She has a worrying nature. Like kids, future, finances etc. One thing I can say with certainty is that she is too involved in this worldly life - finances, petty t...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:28 pm
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: How to handle people with anger issues?
Replies: 73
Views: 17045

Re: How to handle people with anger issues?

Realistic expectations are a good thing Rakshasa. We are all FHB's ( fallible human beings ) as the C.B.Therapists say. It sounds to me that you both have a lot to be grateful for. :namaste: I often wonder how an accomplished Buddhist monk would handle situations like these. Perhaps their influence...
by Rakshasa
Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:35 pm
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: How to handle people with anger issues?
Replies: 73
Views: 17045

Re: How to handle people with anger issues?

Thanks a lot for all of your replies, especially since this is supposed to be common or trivial issue in all marriages - and I was not expecting so many replies. So thanks for the advice everyone. My wife's one of the best person on Earth, and everything is very good between both of us. In fact, we ...
by Rakshasa
Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:52 am
Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
Topic: How to handle people with anger issues?
Replies: 73
Views: 17045

How to handle people with anger issues?

A few months ago i go married to a very lovely girl. She is good heart, very caring and friendly. But the only problem is her anger issues. She becomes very irrational when angry and tends to talk rudely with aggressive voice. This happens about once or twice every mnth. What i have observed is this...
by Rakshasa
Mon Nov 25, 2013 6:03 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Shikantaza
Replies: 39
Views: 8630

Re: Shikantaza

To me Shikantaza sounds like Satipatthhana of Pali canon? Or is there any difference? Looks like Shikantaza is about maintaining mindfulness. Buddha had said in Pali canon, that four frames of mindfulness are enough to lead you to enlightenment. Furthermore, the recent research shows that Mahayana e...
by Rakshasa
Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:30 pm
Forum: Help Required
Topic: Drug Addiction
Replies: 72
Views: 44200

Re: Drug Addiction

According to my understanding of Buddhism,everything we do in this life is addiction. We are addicted to be happy, we are addicted to sex, we are addicted to life. Even eating, sleeping, breathing are addictions. Buddhism is a course for de-addiction to this illusionary world and life.
by Rakshasa
Wed Nov 13, 2013 3:54 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Translations
Replies: 14
Views: 3247

Re: Translations

Not all mantras and dharanis found in Buddhist scriptures are meaningful. They are just sounds. For example, the dharani found in the chapter 21 of Lotus Sutra in Sanskrit is: iti me iti me iti me iti me iti me| nime nime nime nime nime| ruhe ruhe ruhe ruhe ruhe| stuhe stuhe stuhe stuhe stuhe svāhā|...
by Rakshasa
Sat Oct 19, 2013 4:21 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Affinity for particular Sutras is right?
Replies: 7
Views: 1831

Affinity for particular Sutras is right?

I have read it many times that different individuals have affinity with different Sutras that they can relate to (of course, after having already affiliated themselves with the Buddhist sect of their liking, which in this case is Mahayana). How do we find which Sutras we are attracted to personally?...
by Rakshasa
Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:00 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Prophecy of Buddhism's Downfall in India
Replies: 9
Views: 2973

Re: Prophecy of Buddhism's Downfall in India

Since the prophecy was known to be popular in India around 7 AD, could it be possible that by "corrupt Buddhism" the Buddhist monk and Abbotts were referring to the upcoming full fledged Tantric practices that emerged as a sect of Buddhism? Or is it just a coincidence that the time that th...
by Rakshasa
Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:52 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Early Buddhism and Mahayana
Replies: 707
Views: 133999

Re: Early Buddhism and Mahayana

Although I did not read the whole thread, but after reading the first few pages, I have come to the conclusion that most of the posters here are under the same misconception that the general Hindus posses in India with regard to Buddhist Tantra. It is a wrong conclusion that Buddhist Tantra arose af...
by Rakshasa
Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:47 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Manichaeism and Buddhism especially in China
Replies: 6
Views: 2946

Re: Manichaeism and Buddhism especially in China

Could it be that many Buddhist sects like "Pure Land" were influenced by Manichaeism? Could "Kingdom of light" be the same as Sukhavati? Or it is the other way round? Mani, the prophet, was known to have travelled to Afghanistan at one point of time, so it is pretty clear that he...
by Rakshasa
Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:37 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Manichaeism and Buddhism especially in China
Replies: 6
Views: 2946

Manichaeism and Buddhism especially in China

Manichaeism was a very widespread religion from Iran to China, almost rivaling Christianity at one point of time. I had been recently reading about this religion and was surprised how "close" to Buddhism it was, especially after adopting many Buddhist ideas and terms in China (just like ho...

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