Search found 86 matches
- Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:10 am
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: When do you think the US will have a Buddhist president?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 6451
Re: When do you think the US will have a Buddhist president?
I don't think we'll ever see a Buddhist president in the US, and I'm not sure I'd even want to. Political power corrupts, it causes one to seek wealth and power above all else. And such a lust is very hard to overcome. I wouldn't want to see one of our own go through that, although, it would make fo...
- Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:37 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Enlightened Masters
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1894
Re: Enlightened Masters
By your criteria? No. But I have met beings who were enlightened. One of my best friends, a nominal Christian, has shown more compassion and loving kindness than the next 10 people I know combined. He's taught me more about showing kindness to all people than anyone else I've ever met, or even ever ...
- Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:05 pm
- Forum: Alternative Health
- Topic: 'Buddhist' forms of alternative medicine?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 4067
'Buddhist' forms of alternative medicine?
Are there any Buddhist forms of alternative medicine? I know groups such as Chinese medicine and Tibetan medicine have Buddhist influences, but are there any based solely, or at least mostly, on Buddhist philosophy?
- Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:08 am
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Are samurai good symbols of Zen Buddhism?
- Replies: 37
- Views: 11741
Re: Are samurai good symbols of Zen Buddhism?
I was always confused about why the samurai were held up by some as examples of Zen. They practiced Zen, yes, but their practice lacked compassion, and the Buddha's teachings on loving-kindness. Warriors, even if Buddhists, are not good examples of Buddhism.
- Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:59 am
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Does Zen have ethics?
- Replies: 124
- Views: 26870
Re: Does Zen have ethics?
Let's try this: shel, can you quote Zen masters who have explicitly taught that it's ok to go against the precepts, the paramitas, etc? Or, even more specifically, quote from Zen masters who say that doing wrong/evil/etc, is actually the path? You suggest that mere words are what count and not acti...
- Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:44 pm
- Forum: Pure Land
- Topic: Mahastamaprapta Bodhisattva
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1889
- Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:19 pm
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Does Zen have ethics?
- Replies: 124
- Views: 26870
Re: Does Zen have ethics?
Let's try this: shel, can you quote Zen masters who have explicitly taught that it's ok to go against the precepts, the paramitas, etc? Or, even more specifically, quote from Zen masters who say that doing wrong/evil/etc, is actually the path?
- Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:30 pm
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Hello I am searching for the right way
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3252
Re: Hello I am searching for the right way
My name is Yvonne, I am fascinated since years about Buddhism. I finally realized it is what I am looking for in my life and now I am trying to find the right way, how to start, how to find my path to the buddhism. I know there will be some work on myself but I am confident this will work. So in ot...
- Sun Aug 18, 2013 2:13 am
- Forum: Engaged Buddhism
- Topic: Buddhist parenting
- Replies: 16
- Views: 5246
Buddhist parenting
Are there any good web resources for Buddhist parenting? I have three children, ages 7, 4, and 4 months, and the two older ones are Autistic. Me and my wife have some difficulty in attempting to teach them such things as right from wrong, kindness, listening, etc., and I feel that the ideas in Buddh...
- Sat Aug 17, 2013 6:50 pm
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: What school of Buddhism do you follow?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1764
What school of Buddhism do you follow?
Simple question: what particular school(s) of Buddhism do you follow? This is my first time setting up a poll here, so hopefully I do ok with it.
I'm interested to find out who here practices what school.
I'm interested to find out who here practices what school.
- Sat Aug 17, 2013 3:39 pm
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Does Zen have ethics?
- Replies: 124
- Views: 26870
Re: Does Zen have ethics?
I asked a question awhile back that sort of ties in with this one, here: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=13096 Here's some quotes from that thread: When great compassion is deep within you, and your wish to spiritually aid sentient beings everywhere is well seasoned, there are no...
- Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:36 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: 'Mind' in Mahayana Buddhism
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2087
Re: 'Mind' in Mahayana Buddhism
So - can the notion of 'luminous mind' be reconciled with the momentary 'bhavanga-citta' which is regarded by many as the sine qua non of Buddhist philosophy of mind? Yes, but only from a Mahayana perspective, IMO. This idea is also found, for instance, in the Lankavatara Sutra, and the Yogacara ph...
- Tue Aug 13, 2013 1:32 pm
- Forum: Prayers and Aspirations
- Topic: Asking prayers and thoughts for a friend
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1364
Asking prayers and thoughts for a friend
A few days ago, one of my best friends was at work, and got his foot crushed between his fork lift and a wall. He's been at the hospital since then, and the doctors originally said they would have to amputate a few toes. But now, he'll find out today if they'll have to amputate his whole foot. So I'...
- Sat Aug 10, 2013 11:18 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: The ego and self-esteem
- Replies: 35
- Views: 8441
Re: The ego and self-esteem
In fighting the ego, certain things come up, and certain things are let go. We learn equanimity in the process. However, I've noticed something else. I suffer from low self-esteem, and have my whole life. Leaning to deal with certain things in relation to low self-esteem, it seems that some corresp...
- Sat Aug 10, 2013 4:08 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5015
Re: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
I have another question about practice: the sutra says several times "the practice of the bodhisattvas". Does this mean those who are already bodhisattvas, or does it include those of us who are on the bodhisattva path, who practice the Mahayana, as well?
- Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:22 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: mental illness and Buddhism
- Replies: 73
- Views: 17351
Re: mental illness and Buddhism
I think there is some truth to this. Part of the reason I got back into Dharma after years of a far less committal approach was to truly try to handle my neuroses better. It's somewhat telling that Buddhist meditation is becoming such a popular treatment modality in western psychotherapy..and in ad...
- Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:09 pm
- Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
- Topic: Purification of karma
- Replies: 14
- Views: 7940
Re: Purification of karma
This is something I've always wondered about. I was actually going to make a post on this topic after work, but it slipped my mind; yet here is one already. :) Karma is the law of cause and effect, so anything done, the cause, has an effect. So how does purifying one's unwholesome karma fit in? Is o...
- Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:55 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5015
Re: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
Sure, there are many different approaches to meditating on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra (very good question, by the way). Some have already been suggested, such as chanting, copying, and contemplating the text. This is rewarding in itself, particularly in a group setting. I like to do the pract...
- Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:51 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5015
Re: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
Perhaps genuinely and intensively asking: "What is the practice of the Lotus Sutra?" is already "meditating on the Lotus Sutra". The Lotus Sutra is like a very powerful object that has a soul of its own. I don't mean this in a magical way. But sutras are not merely books. Have y...
- Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:22 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 5015
Re: Practice of the Lotus Sutra?
Can that be all there is to it? I guess with a sutra as profound as the Lotus sutra, I was expecting the practices set forth in it to be just as profound. Let's take another look at what "dude" had to say here (emphasis added): Read it, recite it, meditate on it, teach it to others, and u...