'the root of samsara'

[Wesley1982]

How does a student of Buddhism begin to learn to recognize the 'root of samsara'..?

[dharmagoat]

How does a student of Buddhism begin to learn to recognize the 'root of samsara'..?

By 'root of saṃsāra' do you mean 'i-ness', clinging to a concept of self?

[Wesley1982]

I think the 'root of samsara' is probably clinging to your "I" of the self in the fundamental causes of existence.

[Ogyen]

isn't the root - ignorance (Avijja or Avidya)?? 1st link in the 12 links of dependent arising... for any beginner, I found that samsara's cycle can be learned about extensively in the 12 links.

Dependent Origination in a nutshell

[Wesley1982]

The word avijja came from the What the Buddha taught online PDF. (Which I use as the introductory reading)

[Wesley1982]

In this book I'm reading it says that the 'root of samsara' is the habit of impure perception. Or the accumulation of bad habits

[tomamundsen]

In this book I'm reading it says that the 'root of samsara' is the habit of impure perception. Or the accumulation of bad habits

I believe impure perception is ignorance.

Also, what is this book you are reading? Impure perception sounds tantric and is probably relevant to Vajrayana.

[dharmagoat]

How does a student of Buddhism begin to learn to recognize the 'root of samsara'..?

In this book I'm reading it says that the 'root of samsara' is the habit of impure perception. Or the accumulation of bad habits

I believe impure perception is ignorance.

So the question is, "how do we recognise our own ignorance"? A tough one.

[Wesley1982]

Also, what is this book you are reading? Impure perception sounds tantric and is probably relevant to Vajrayana.

Medicine Buddha Teachings by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and the other The Awakened One, a Life of Buddha by Sherab Chodzim Kohn

It gets real mystical and spiritual from that point . .

[tomamundsen]

How does a student of Buddhism begin to learn to recognize the 'root of samsara'..?

In this book I'm reading it says that the 'root of samsara' is the habit of impure perception. Or the accumulation of bad habits

I believe impure perception is ignorance.

So the question is, "how do we recognise our own ignorance"? A tough one.

Luckily we have the enlightened ones to show us.

[Wesley1982]

So the question is, "how do we recognise our own ignorance"? A tough one.

Maybe the buddhanature is learning to solve your own "problems" and not to refer to someone else.

[dharmagoat]

So the question is, "how do we recognise our own ignorance"? A tough one.

Maybe the buddhanature is learning to solve your own "problems" and not to refer to someone else.

I agree that practicing the Dharma is about discovering things for ourselves. But when it comes to pointing out our own ignorance, it would seem that someone skilled needs to help us do that.

[jeeprs]

In terms of cross-cultural comparisons, 'ignorance' has a great deal in common with the Christian conception of 'man's fallen nature'. Obviously the major difference is that the Buddhist approach to the problem teaches self-reliance instead of simple faith in a saviour. But there's a lot more in common between the two than a lot of people are willing to admit (IMO).

[Wesley1982]

To ask Rinpoche about the meaning of 'the root of samsara' and how to avoid it also requires study of correct practice and teaching.

[muni]

"In your world to be respected, men have to show to be great in as much ways as possible, in this world men are highly respected when they defeat the ego concept; the root of all confusion".

A nangpa woman.

[tomamundsen]

"In your world to be respected, men have to show to be great in as much ways as possible, in this world men are highly respected when they defeat the ego concept; the root of all confusion".

A nangpa woman.

Isn't that from 7 Years in Tibet?

[muni]

"In your world to be respected, men have to show to be great in as much ways as possible, in this world men are highly respected when they defeat the ego concept; the root of all confusion".

A nangpa woman.

Isn't that from 7 Years in Tibet?

Yes. Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlEvERAbFI0

The poor yellow head, always suffering from selffishness, no generosity while his friend gives the only watch of his father, yellow head suffers of jealousy, depression, steals dog food and become sick, is very busy by showing all his great artificial arts.....while his friend, simple and naturally is much more comfortable and peaceful.

A nice teaching movie.

[muni]

I think the 'root of samsara' is probably clinging to your "I" .

Like you say so, Wesley.

http://www.lamayeshe.com/?sect=article&id=726

[Andrew108]

How does a student of Buddhism begin to learn to recognize the 'root of samsara'..?

Hi Wesley. A big thing I want you to consider is that one is only a student of Buddhism when one has a teacher. Books are not a teacher. Dharma forums are not a teacher. Only when you have a real flesh and blood teacher can you then take books and forums as teachers. Books and forums are in NO way a substitute for flesh and blood teachers.
Becoming a student of buddhism isn't about working it out intellectually - it's more the shock of meeting someone in flesh and blood who has worked it out and being inspired by that. At the moment you are constructing Buddhism as knowledge and not really contemplating the meaning. I've noticed you post quite a lot here and I think generally it's good that you ask questions, but if your interest is genuine then you will need to meet and talk with a teacher. This is the key for a genuine understanding to come about. You should ask a teacher what is the root of samsara and you might receive an interesting answer that relates to your circumstances directly.

[gregkavarnos]

isn't the root - ignorance (Avijja or Avidya)?? 1st link in the 12 links of dependent arising... for any beginner, I found that samsara's cycle can be learned about extensively in the 12 links.

Dependent Origination in a nutshell

Quite right, it is ignorance of the dependently originating nature of phenomena. That's what grasping to an truly independently existing self is based on. So one could say it is ignorance of the dependently originating nature of what we refer to as a self. It's a chicken and egg deal.