Dharma Wheel

I'd expect the question of how to handle or view satori/kensho depends a lot on the teacher. Off the top of my head I don't think anyone would claim satori is irrelevant, but considerable variation might be seen on its importance eg is it a goal or not, and to what extent such experiences are to be ...

The point of that last instruction is that emptiness is characteristic of the dependently originated, not that there is no existence. As far as existence or not, the instruction there is that definite statements of existence vs non-existence are both incorrect.

PadmaVonSamba wrote: ↑Wed Jan 20, 2021 3:46 am It is often said that just seeing Dharma now images brings benefit.
...even on zoom.

Definitely not on Teams, however

If you'll pardon a minor off-topic tangent- I notice the term "absorption" showing up here and there; eg illusory absorption, universal gateway- perhaps many others. I have the impression it is referring to awareness "absorbed" in some subject eg sense, desire, thought and so on- but am curious if t...

Back in the day in Nichiren Shoshu I particpated in streetcorner campaigns introducing people to the practice, handing out leaflets, talking about how the practice helps- all the usual lines. Some of the Nichiren schools are fairly notorious for this, at least in the past. In SGI these days the stre...

Sorry. I am not interested much in stories on the reduction of suffering. I would like to see actual evidence. Not much, so far You mean actual evidence in your life- not stories about the experience of others? If you claim you have reached the end of suffering, maybe you should be able to put your...

Pascal2 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 16, 2021 1:39 am

narhwal90 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 15, 2021 3:33 pm If you're not interested in reduction of suffering, what motivates your practice?

Sorry.
I am not interested much in stories on the reduction of suffering.
I would like to see actual evidence.
Not much, so far

You mean actual evidence in your life- not stories about the experience of others?

One method that would help, I'm sure, is to go out and find a food pantry or something like, and volunteer. Anything related to "surrender" is not how I would characterize the the lady who runs the pantry where I volunteer. I would say more like "fearless" and "determined". It is a privilege to work...

to what degree can that suffering be successfully managed by any of the philosophies, all of which are of course made of thought? It can't be, which is why Buddhism is a set of practices that you actually do and don't do, rather than a mere philosophy. I like the idea of practices, as opposed to ju...

If you're not interested in reduction of suffering, what motivates your practice?

It seems the ones that are doing are not inclined to be spending much time talking about it. I met those types when I started volunteering alongside them. The talkers don't tend to stay around long.

I run into a fair number of Christians of various demoninations, including some fire and brimstone types, who are all about service to others. A good friend of mine is one of the latter, he helps out quite a few people lots of different ways- asks for nothing and expects nothing in return. He sends ...

mayhem - "violent or damaging disorder; chaos." meaning the frequent conflict raised between Nichiren schools, and its built-in judgement of superiority to other schools - all too often seen here on dharmawheel. I don't mind the classification either but I think it may be counterproductive when adop...

Yet this isn't an imposition of the three truths outside of the Nichiren forums which is why I don't see the mayhem. It also conflates the position of the sutras with the necessity to propagate the lotus based on the times and conditions of the peoples. It can be simply argued that if Japan was not...

Point of order; the title of the topic was due to me splitting from the "Reply to Padmasambava" thread. It is due my interpretation under time crunch of the OP's posting. tk, please correct me if the title of this topic is not the question you are trying to address. I beg your pardon if you had a d...

The comparative method of evaluating sutras is a backbone of EA Buddhism. Out of that context your statement is not only inappropriate and unreasonably disparaging to this tradition. To what end and benefit does it serve? If I understood the benefit then perhaps I would become enlightened to such. ...

but I thought we were doing OK.. the knives are usually out by the 3rd page

Well, sure, thats what the sutra says. BND's conduct is to be modelled, no argument there. As to the LS, many sutras make many claims, not sure I am in a position to judge supremacy, or even if doing so is a good idea. Frankly I don't see why I need to adopt Nichiren's view without giving the quest...