Search found 18 matches

by tattoogunman
Wed Nov 28, 2012 3:58 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: what's the fundamental difference?
Replies: 40
Views: 9426

Re: what's the fundamental difference?

I found this link and it puts together (rather well in my opinion) the differences between Mahayana and Theravada. It's assembled as a chart, so it's incredibly easy to read and understand: http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/snapshot02.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; An...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:57 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Collective karma
Replies: 62
Views: 15823

Re: Collective karma

For what it's worth, my visit to the local Mahayana temple this past weekend for their English language class actually covered killing/murder. They (monk/teacher) stated that the person who aids, abets, or orders a violent act (such as killing) was just as guilty of the murder as the person who act...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:21 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Anxiety meds
Replies: 19
Views: 9269

Re: Anxiety meds

I was just put on two different medications for manic depression & paranoia within the last week. It's definitely helped to quite my "mental noise" and problems that I've had with sleeping. I'm also trying to start doing some meditation as well and hope that between the two of them, it...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:03 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Collective karma
Replies: 62
Views: 15823

Re: Collective karma

For what it's worth, my visit to the local Mahayana temple this past weekend for their English language class actually covered killing/murder. They (monk/teacher) stated that the person who aids, abets, or orders a violent act (such as killing) was just as guilty of the murder as the person who actu...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 7:38 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why not Theravada
Replies: 99
Views: 27700

Re: Why not Theravada

Even better would be a comprehensive documentary covering EVERYTHING so that people like me wouldn't be so confuddled :twothumbsup:
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:33 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: what's the fundamental difference?
Replies: 40
Views: 9426

Re: what's the fundamental difference?

Original Buddhism doesn't exist anymore. The closest one could get would be to read just the Pali Canon, but a lot of the Sutras have been added or interpreted by the Theravada sect. The 'core' beliefs generally are considered to be: 1. All phenomena are impermanent. 2. All phenomena are suffering....
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:46 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why not Theravada
Replies: 99
Views: 27700

Re: Why not Theravada

You've got a large section very implicitly saying that Buddha is not a god and basically nothing special (regular guy who obtained enlightenment). I dunno, pretty much by definition, someone who achieves enlightenment is not "nothing special". I don't think you will find any kind of Buddh...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 5:33 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: what's the fundamental difference?
Replies: 40
Views: 9426

Re: what's the fundamental difference?

Even Early Buddhism taught the following: the word for Buddhism in Sanskrit is Dharma. Dharma means 'Natural Law'. Buddhism is a description of how the universe exists and what the nature of human beings are. Therefore, the core of the Dharma never changes and is eternal. . That is one of the thing...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 4:20 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Accepting Attachments/Household Life
Replies: 48
Views: 13379

Re: Accepting Attachments/Household Life

Why are most spiritual seekers alone on the path to Enlightenment and Liberation? Because the karma of other unenlightened beings will present themselves as obstacles on seekers' paths especially your family, spouse and children which represent the rocks in a backpack while climbing a mountain. One...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:58 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why not Theravada
Replies: 99
Views: 27700

Re: Why not Theravada

Or if you don't like this mystical stuff, study Madhyamaka's 'vajra sliver' reasoning which is most powerful atheism on the planet. "Center of the Sunlit Sky" is the best book on that. I haven't gotten around to getting into Madhyamaka yet, but I did check out that book (sounds interestin...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 3:40 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: what's the fundamental difference?
Replies: 40
Views: 9426

Re: what's the fundamental difference?

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong way (will fix that if so) - when I think "Buddha/Buddhism", I think of Siddhartha Gautama as the one who became the Buddha and started the ball rolling so to speak. I understand that throughout history, there seem to be others in the historical records that o...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 2:02 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why not Theravada
Replies: 99
Views: 27700

Re: Why not Theravada

It *seems* that the vast majority of what I am finding does NOT elevate him to the godhood role, I'm just trying to make sure that Mahayana is one of them and not a sect/faction (whatever) that deems him to be a god. Again, I think that is where this base question comes from and that's what I am tr...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 1:51 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Accepting Attachments/Household Life
Replies: 48
Views: 13379

Re: Accepting Attachments/Household Life

I have struggled with this idea as well, so I really appreciate this thread. I do have a family (a wife and two kids), and I am in the same place as many of you. I see this life I am living as an important way to further my practice. I've heard it said that, "Nirvana is happening right now all...
by tattoogunman
Tue Nov 27, 2012 1:29 am
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why not Theravada
Replies: 99
Views: 27700

Re: Why not Theravada

The way it was explained to me at the Mahayana temple this weekend was that Mahayana goes hand in hand with Theravada, that they basically exist hand in hand. But again, I'm reading stuff on here and other places saying that is not the case. For example, that lecture series that I'm listening to at ...
by tattoogunman
Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:13 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: what's the fundamental difference?
Replies: 40
Views: 9426

Re: what's the fundamental difference?

I've also been trying to figure out what the major difference is. The Mahayana temple that I visited this weekend takes the stance that Mahayana and Theavada go hand in hand. The way the monk explained it to me was that Theravada is like getting your college degree and that Mahayana is like getting ...
by tattoogunman
Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:00 pm
Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
Topic: Why not Theravada
Replies: 99
Views: 27700

Re: Why not Theravada

Bringing this one back to the front as I had the same question. I've been reading about Buddhism for about a year, but only recently really started keying in on the fact that there are different schools/paths (or whatever the appropriate term is). I as drawn to Buddhism mainly because it really wasn...
by tattoogunman
Mon Nov 26, 2012 8:24 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: when asked for ... "evidence" ... ideas, please ?
Replies: 117
Views: 24706

Re: when asked for ... "evidence" ... ideas, please ?

A good friend likes to tease me about the lack of evidence for "God", by which he means not only the sky father of the Abrahamic faiths, but any transcendental, non-material factor, state, entity, archetype or "Being". This would include Mahayanist claims of bodhisattvas, Jodo S...

Go to advanced search