Teach & tell me about buddha mind

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
White Lotus
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by White Lotus »

mzaur, you are correct to point out that emptiness has attributes, that it is infact not empty at all. talk of emptiness and nothingness goes way back, but trying to create a logical framework around the experience probably fails.

thank you for pointing this out.

my intention was to point out to Wesley, a christian, that in the Christian tradition there has been an experience of emptiness, though the language used may be somewhat different.

rgds, Tom.
in any matters of importance. dont rely on me. i may not know what i am talking about. take what i say as mere speculation. i am not ordained. nor do i have a formal training. i do believe though that if i am wrong on any point. there are those on this site who i hope will quickly point out my mistakes.
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

In the self-study of my mind, I find myself searching for other intelligence and can't seem to find anything.
krodha
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by krodha »

Wesley1982 wrote:In the self-study of my mind, I find myself searching for other intelligence and can't seem to find anything.
What other intelligence are you searching for? Or what is the nature of the other intelligence you are hoping to find?
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

asunthatneversets wrote:
Wesley1982 wrote:In the self-study of my mind, I find myself searching for other intelligence and can't seem to find anything.
What other intelligence are you searching for? Or what is the nature of the other intelligence you are hoping to find?
Generally speaking, just people that aren't on the Internet or on T.V. . .
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

asunthatneversets wrote:
Wesley1982 wrote:In the self-study of my mind, I find myself searching for other intelligence and can't seem to find anything.
What other intelligence are you searching for? Or what is the nature of the other intelligence you are hoping to find?
There isn't anyone there outside of Internet, Phone or T.V. except God or the Great Buddha.
krodha
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by krodha »

Wesley1982 wrote:
asunthatneversets wrote:
Wesley1982 wrote:In the self-study of my mind, I find myself searching for other intelligence and can't seem to find anything.
What other intelligence are you searching for? Or what is the nature of the other intelligence you are hoping to find?
There isn't anyone there outside of Internet, Phone or T.V. except God or the Great Buddha.
"There" as in realized or of sufficient realization to teach competently? Certainly... but I believe you mentioned that you are located in an area without much access to teachers or a community, is that what you mean? Have you tried seeing if there are any dharma-related groups in the area? Reading/study groups? Perhaps even a course on the dharma(or eastern religion/philosophy) at a local community college could be helpful in the time-being while you seek a qualified teacher. Granted those places wouldn't be guaranteed to have competent individuals who could truly answer questions with accuracy, but at least you could share some ideas and gain some insight. At the same time, the internet isn't a bad place to stay in the time being either, lots of access to videos, ebooks, other writings, perhaps there's communities on skype or another application like that. Just stick with it, everything will come together if you desire it to... I'm sure the resources are there somewhere even if it feels like you're searching for a needle in a haystack.
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

Yea, generally there's just not anyone there.
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kirtu
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by kirtu »

White Lotus wrote:mzaur, you are correct to point out that emptiness has attributes, that it is infact not empty at all. talk of emptiness and nothingness goes way back,
Emptiness is empty, but it's not nothing or nothingness.

Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
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kirtu
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by kirtu »

Wesley1982 wrote:Yea, generally there's just not anyone there.
But that doesn't mean that there's no one there.

Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

Technically, you could go places and find people.
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kirtu
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by kirtu »

Wesley1982 wrote:Technically, you could go places and find people.
Why only technically?

Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

kirtu wrote:
Wesley1982 wrote:Technically, you could go places and find people.
Why only technically?

Kirt
From my POV the natural & physical world doesn't have any consciousness or intelligence other than certain people who are aware of your existence.
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Bonsai Doug
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Bonsai Doug »

kirtu wrote:
White Lotus wrote:mzaur, you are correct to point out that emptiness has attributes, that it is infact not empty at all. talk of emptiness and nothingness goes way back,
Emptiness is empty, but it's not nothing or nothingness.
Reminds me of a quote from the Tao Te Ching:

Just because there is nothing,
does not mean there is no thing.
Now having obtained a precious human body,
I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path.

~ Tibetan Book of the Dead
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kirtu
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by kirtu »

Wesley1982 wrote:
kirtu wrote:
Wesley1982 wrote:Technically, you could go places and find people.
Why only technically?

Kirt
From my POV the natural & physical world doesn't have any consciousness or intelligence other than certain people who are aware of your existence.
Ok - but in reality we are living in a sea of beings all of whom have a mind and thus consciousness and some degree of intelligence. For example, you are surrounded by at least thousands (and probably millions) of insects and other animals no matter where you are. Just within a few miles of you. And unless you are very far away from others you are surrounded by at least hundreds of people at all times. All of them have a mind.

Then we can speak of the natural world as a computational process. This doesn't mean that the natural world has a consciousness but much more information flows through the natural world than people are aware of.

Then in some forms of Buddhism the natural world is explicitly the home of numerous unseen beings.

Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

kirtu wrote: Ok - but in reality we are living in a sea of beings all of whom have a mind and thus consciousness and some degree of intelligence. For example, you are surrounded by at least thousands (and probably millions) of insects and other animals no matter where you are. Just within a few miles of you. And unless you are very far away from others you are surrounded by at least hundreds of people at all times. All of them have a mind.

Then we can speak of the natural world as a computational process. This doesn't mean that the natural world has a consciousness but much more information flows through the natural world than people are aware of.

Then in some forms of Buddhism the natural world is explicitly the home of numerous unseen beings.

Kirt
Sure, if you're walking down a busy street in New York you're going to find people but not here.
krodha
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by krodha »

Wesley1982 wrote:
kirtu wrote:
Wesley1982 wrote:Technically, you could go places and find people.
Why only technically?

Kirt
From my POV the natural & physical world doesn't have any consciousness or intelligence other than certain people who are aware of your existence.
Wesley, I cordially challenge you to locate a world separate from consciousness.
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

asunthatneversets wrote: Wesley, I cordially challenge you to locate a world separate from consciousness.
The middle-center of a large concrete block? . . -or- the concrete + asphalt jungles we've created? . .
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kirtu
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by kirtu »

Wesley1982 wrote:
kirtu wrote: Ok - but in reality we are living in a sea of beings all of whom have a mind and thus consciousness and some degree of intelligence. For example, you are surrounded by at least thousands (and probably millions) of insects and other animals no matter where you are. Just within a few miles of you. And unless you are very far away from others you are surrounded by at least hundreds of people at all times. All of them have a mind.

Then we can speak of the natural world as a computational process. This doesn't mean that the natural world has a consciousness but much more information flows through the natural world than people are aware of.

Then in some forms of Buddhism the natural world is explicitly the home of numerous unseen beings.

Kirt
Sure, if you're walking down a busy street in New York you're going to find people but not here.
It looks like I misunderstood you. So you aren't saying that only some beings have a mind are you? Somehow that's what I interpreted you to have said.

So you are actually talking about the scarcity of realized people or people with knowledge of Dharma?

Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
krodha
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by krodha »

Wesley1982 wrote:
asunthatneversets wrote: Wesley, I cordially challenge you to locate a world separate from consciousness.
The middle-center of a large concrete block? . . -or- the concrete + asphalt jungles we've created? . .
And how does the concrete block appear? Take the grey color, and the cube shape; do those attributes exist separately from the seeing of them? Are the greyness and the visual shape qualities which can be accessed without vision?
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Wesley1982
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Re: Teach & tell me about buddha mind

Post by Wesley1982 »

kirtu wrote: It looks like I misunderstood you. So you aren't saying that only some beings have a mind are you? Somehow that's what I interpreted you to have said.

So you are actually talking about the scarcity of realized people or people with knowledge of Dharma?

Kirt
I think my original intention was to say that in my current location theres only few people in-between. "here and there" . .
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