Search found 2136 matches

by Zhen Li
Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:07 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Confused about teachings of Mahayana.
Replies: 3
Views: 205

Re: Confused about teachings of Mahayana.

How to understand confusing language in Vajrayana/Mahayana? :namaste: Most of the terminology is explained in resources like encyclopedias of Buddhism or even Wikipedia. For Vajrayana, there is terminology that can only be explained by a teacher. Thanks, I probably should’ve used encyclopedias to u...
by Zhen Li
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:43 am
Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
Topic: Confused about teachings of Mahayana.
Replies: 3
Views: 205

Re: Confused about teachings of Mahayana.

Muddy343 wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:20 am How to understand confusing language in Vajrayana/Mahayana? :namaste:
Most of the terminology is explained in resources like encyclopedias of Buddhism or even Wikipedia. For Vajrayana, there is terminology that can only be explained by a teacher.
by Zhen Li
Mon Mar 04, 2024 2:43 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Five-Colored Cord Rituals?
Replies: 6
Views: 687

Re: Five-Colored Cord Rituals?

This really is interesting, since both these sutras much predate the Five Buddhas tradition in esoteric Buddhism, at least according to our current understanding. I guess it just illustrates that the themes that esoteric Buddhism as we know it may have had roots going very far back. Of course, it i...
by Zhen Li
Thu Feb 29, 2024 3:47 am
Forum: Pure Land
Topic: How did Nagarjuna find out about Pure Land?
Replies: 5
Views: 612

Re: How did Nagarjuna find out about Pure Land?

I remember reading that it was Nagarjuna who mentioned Pure Land the first time. How did he find this out? Does Nagarjuna have some kind of a lineage that traces back (we know little of his life, so this is unlikely IMO) or did he realize this on his own when he became a bodhisattva in some traditi...
by Zhen Li
Thu Feb 29, 2024 1:10 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Five-Colored Cord Rituals?
Replies: 6
Views: 687

Re: Five-Colored Cord Rituals?

This thread is called a pañcasūtra. Based on what I've seen in Newar Buddhism, they are present in nearly 100% of rituals there and frequently appear in typical ritual manuals in Sanskrit. Some rituals call for additional thicker cords, like a red or green one, based on the deity focused on in the r...
by Zhen Li
Mon Feb 26, 2024 2:36 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: Negative energy
Replies: 32
Views: 1423

Re: Negative energy

İf I come across a/any negative energy, what should ı do? since it is not easy to turn out people this characteristic to positive, turn out and go could be an option? could choose to stay always in positive way or side in any position could be a Buddhist life style? what are your thoughts? thnks, D...
by Zhen Li
Fri Feb 23, 2024 5:09 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: English translation collection of basic sutras that has had its language adapted for modern readers
Replies: 29
Views: 1097

Re: English translation collection of basic sutras that has had its language adapted for modern readers

What? I actually LOVE studying, especially metaphysics and philosophy (that's why my profile picture is Nagarjuna), I just hate reading weird and boring texts!! It reminds me too much of the Bible like I said (Leviticus and Numbers ahhhhhhh)!! You contradict yourself. Immanuel Kant's Kritik der rei...
by Zhen Li
Tue Feb 20, 2024 3:41 am
Forum: Language
Topic: Amazing language translation with Google Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT
Replies: 8
Views: 862

Re: Amazing language translation with Google Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT

I use these LLM tools on a daily basis for various tasks. One has to know "how" and "when" to use them as a tool, but never as an authority. These are not more intelligent than humans, only faster at retrieving information it has in its LLM. Any translator worth their salt would ...
by Zhen Li
Tue Feb 20, 2024 3:27 am
Forum: Language
Topic: Translator Apps Tibetan English
Replies: 3
Views: 199

Re: Translator Apps Tibetan English

White Sakura wrote: Sat Feb 17, 2024 2:07 pm Is there a translator app Tibetan English, that translates sentences?
Yes, Monlam AI (https://monlam.ai/) does sentence/paragraph level translation, text to speech, speech to text, and OCR.
I believe it handles both classical and modern Tibetan, but I have only used it for classical stuff so far.
by Zhen Li
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:29 am
Forum: Jodo Shin Shu
Topic: Amida Buddha’s Saving Love by Richard St. Clair (Shaku Egen)
Replies: 11
Views: 1002

Re: Amida Buddha’s Saving Love by Richard St. Clair (Shaku Egen)

The absence of suffering and state of perfect peace permits the attainment of Buddhahood for those who are incapable of attaining enlightenment while amidst the suffering of the Sahā world; hence, the bliss of the Pure Land is a means to this end, not exactly an end-in-itself. It isn't like paradis...
by Zhen Li
Thu Feb 08, 2024 2:08 am
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Looking for a genealogy of scripture / lineages
Replies: 7
Views: 528

Re: Looking for a genealogy of scripture / lineages

I believe the scholarship is out there for someone to piece together a good genealogy. While I think Yinshun's work on this topic is some of the best, it is only available in Chinese for now. In terms of English language studies of Buddhist history, you can find decent explanations on potential aven...
by Zhen Li
Sat Feb 03, 2024 8:10 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Is there a chinese tripitaka in english?
Replies: 19
Views: 6711

Re: Is there a chinese tripitaka in english?

Marcus Bingenheimer's bibliography is useful, but it is not complete and even old translations are sometimes missing. Also, even though it says last updated 2022-01-10, there is a lot that isn't included and it isn't clear what criteria are used for inclusion. There are some BDK translations missin...
by Zhen Li
Thu Jan 25, 2024 5:43 pm
Forum: Jodo Shin Shu
Topic: Shinjin and insight into non-origination
Replies: 5
Views: 327

Re: Shinjin and insight into non-origination

I'm also a little confused about Shinran's view of buddha-nature. I've heard from several Shin teachers that shinjin = buddha-nature. This is stated like a dictum, with the apparent implication that sentient beings do not possess a preexisting buddha-nature until they have received shinjin. However...
by Zhen Li
Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:52 am
Forum: Jodo Shin Shu
Topic: Shinjin and insight into non-origination
Replies: 5
Views: 327

Re: Shinjin and insight into non-origination

So this insight is part and parcel of the mind of Buddha which is received as shinjin. There is a Shin dictum that shinjin is buddha-nature, but we wouldn't say that a person who has received shinjin is already a buddha. It is more like a seed which will unfailingly develop into buddhahood after th...
by Zhen Li
Thu Jan 25, 2024 1:21 am
Forum: Jodo Shin Shu
Topic: Shinjin and insight into non-origination
Replies: 5
Views: 327

Re: Shinjin and insight into non-origination

Yes, I have noticed a major issue with CWS: they tend to make points without any references or clarifications when needed. I feel like it needed a careful peer review from people outside of the translation committee. Also, the translation is not standard. It should be "insight into the non-orig...
by Zhen Li
Mon Jan 22, 2024 7:30 pm
Forum: Ethical Conduct
Topic: Which of the following activities do you consider sexual misconduct? (continued)
Replies: 33
Views: 2567

Re: Which of the following activities do you consider sexual misconduct? (continued)

This is true, but not everyone is a textual absolutist. How the third precept is discussed/interpreted in contemporary circles seems to incorporate some culturally/temporally specific attitudes and views. I might be missing something here - like the contemporary interpretations - but the basic form...
by Zhen Li
Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:12 pm
Forum: Ethical Conduct
Topic: Which of the following activities do you consider sexual misconduct? (continued)
Replies: 33
Views: 2567

Re: Which of the following activities do you consider sexual misconduct? (continued)

The lay precept is deliberately vague: just don't commit sexual misconduct. But then, what constitutes sexual misconduct? It is not that vague. Sexual misconduct (kāmesumicchācāra/kāmamithyācāra) has a standard definition (e.g. MN 41, MN 114; The Application of Mindfulness of the Sacred Dharma 4.C....
by Zhen Li
Sat Jan 13, 2024 11:47 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Ok to read a Sadhana without Empowerment?
Replies: 24
Views: 1920

Re: Ok to read a Sadhana without Empowerment?

I didn't realize it was in the subforum Mahayana. I moved the topic to Tibetan Buddhism now. Off topic: Are there empowerments elsewhere than Vajrayana at all? Depends on what term you are referring to by empowerment, is it dīkṣā or abhiṣekha. If the former, then no, if the latter, then yes, it's f...
by Zhen Li
Wed Jan 10, 2024 12:55 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Ok to read a Sadhana without Empowerment?
Replies: 24
Views: 1920

Re: Ok to read a Sadhana without Empowerment?

Hey I am wondering if it is ok to read (not practice!) a Sadhana without Empowerment from a teacher? ... If not if ok to read without empowerment that’s cool as well, I and just wondering is all I'm wondering why this is in Mahayana Buddhism and not Vajrayana. (...) I didn't realize it was in the s...
by Zhen Li
Tue Jan 09, 2024 6:17 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Best current translation of the Lankavatara
Replies: 18
Views: 1944

Re: Best current translation of the Lankavatara

Ah, thank you for clarifying that. I believe librs had it at one point -- or maybe not, maybe the unlinked title on their page was just a placeholder? If you or some could digitize it, that would be a blessing. I like Red Pine, but I did immediately notice some issues when reading his translation. ...

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