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by Sherab
Sun May 12, 2019 12:43 am
Forum: Language
Topic: Ratnamegha - intrinsic nature
Replies: 4
Views: 1825

Re: Ratnamegha - intrinsic nature

Nicholas Weeks wrote: Fri May 10, 2019 4:10 pm Thanks to the 84,000 translation group this magnificent sutra is now in English.

For those who can read the Tibetan original of this sutra, what is the Sanskrit equivalent of 'intrinsic nature' ?

The sutra seems to make it a synonym for suchness or reality etc.
chos nyid (dharmata)
by Sherab
Sat May 11, 2019 10:27 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

The cessation achieved by arhats is from following a causal path. That is why the Buddha has to awaken them subsequently from their temporary cessation and lead them to buddhahood. Analytical cessation applies to both sravakas and bodhisattvas. If analytical cessation is all that is needed, then th...
by Sherab
Fri May 10, 2019 11:36 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

The path to permanent liberation is non-causal. Among the three unconditioned dharmas (AKB I.5-6, vol 1, p 59-61) there are two types of cessation: with and without analysis, of which the former means nirvana, and the latter just ordinary cessation of things. So liberation has not only a cause in g...
by Sherab
Thu May 09, 2019 10:47 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

In samadhi, the "conditioned" and "unconditioned" don't look any different at their source. That's why it's called samadhi. "Conditioned" and "unconditioned" are merely labels, conventions for communication in the relative via language. The state of buddhahoo...
by Sherab
Thu May 09, 2019 10:45 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

there is a path to temporary liberation and a path to permanent liberation. So, there is agreement on the matter of there being a path one needs to follow in order to become liberated. The path for temporary liberation is causal. The path to permanent liberation is non-causal. That is how I look at...
by Sherab
Wed May 08, 2019 10:49 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

Yes, but why should this imply that the relative is all there is? No such implication was made. The point is that there is no unconditioned apart from the conditioned, furthermore, that there is a path to liberation. It is actually the other way round, there is no conditioned without the unconditio...
by Sherab
Tue May 07, 2019 10:36 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

As I mentioned before, logically speaking, there is no path that can take a practitioner from the conditioned to the unconditioned. This is because what is conditioned and what is unconditioned are mutually exclusive. That is an erroneous logic that fails to take account of what conditioned and wha...
by Sherab
Mon May 06, 2019 11:16 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

Accumulation of merit and wisdom is not denied. then it is very much a relative and causal path to buddhahood Without the unconditioned there is no liberation from the conditioned. Udana 8.3 'Good son, the term 'unconditioned' is also a word provisionally invented by the First Teacher. Now, if the ...
by Sherab
Mon May 06, 2019 11:11 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

Accumulation of merit and wisdom is not denied. then it is very much a relative and causal path to buddhahood Without the unconditioned there is no liberation from the conditioned. Udana 8.3 'Good son, the term 'unconditioned' is also a word provisionally invented by the First Teacher. Now, if the ...
by Sherab
Mon May 06, 2019 9:26 am
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

There is a path to cessation/liberation and there is a 'path' to buddhahood. Only if you do not accept the ekayana doctrine is there three paths. Not if the path of liberation must be travelled before the path to buddhahood. The former path is a path in the relative. The latter path is a 'path' in ...
by Sherab
Sun May 05, 2019 11:34 pm
Forum: Sūtra Studies
Topic: Are there such phrases in the canon?
Replies: 58
Views: 9646

Re: Are there such phrases in the canon?

I think Viach is right. There is a path to cessation/liberation and there is a 'path' to buddhahood. The former path is a path in the relative. The latter path is a 'path' in the absolute. The former path is causal; the latter path is not. Logically speaking, there is no path that can take a practit...
by Sherab
Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:44 pm
Forum: Lounge
Topic: One truth?
Replies: 126
Views: 15550

Re: One truth?

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your takes. So do different traditions point to the same one truth? My provisional conclusion ... it's an interesting question <for those who like to think about things like this>, but not worth putting too much energy into, as it risks prapanca. And I doubt it could e...
by Sherab
Sat Mar 09, 2019 8:38 am
Forum: Lounge
Topic: One truth?
Replies: 126
Views: 15550

Re: One truth?

Consciousness is seeking a home, a basis to abide on, i.e. a truth, therefore the non-abiding and homelessness teachings of prajnaparamita Dharma may be frustrating for an I that acquires consciousness as 'mine' and this frustration may undermine motivation to pursue the path from the outset. That ...
by Sherab
Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:37 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Theravada against mathematics
Replies: 30
Views: 6947

Re: Theravada against mathematics

(This contradiction is not removed by the "Two Truths". If the Dhamma is about the true reality (about the given here-and-now), then the logical law of the excluded is valid. True, either "A" or "Not A", the third is not given It is impossible to say at the same time t...
by Sherab
Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:52 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Consciousness - is it really ever ‘switched-off’
Replies: 20
Views: 2653

Re: Consciousness - is it really ever ‘switched-off’

Consciousness is momentary, mental states rapidly occur and cease. To conceive the mind as continuous is one of the common basis of believing in an enduring existence. I never know what momentary really means. When a consciousness cease, does it cease into utter nothingness? If it does, how come ou...
by Sherab
Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:44 pm
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Consciousness - is it really ever ‘switched-off’
Replies: 20
Views: 2653

Re: Consciousness - is it really ever ‘switched-off’

I think, with anesthesia consciousness ceases. So, we may believe consciousness was a kind of everlasting state but it isn't. Even consciousness is an impermanent phenomenon. Under anesthesia, awareness of externally-generated sensory stimulation is blocked. So, I'm not disagreeing with your main p...
by Sherab
Sun Mar 03, 2019 11:35 pm
Forum: Academic Discussion
Topic: Theravada against mathematics
Replies: 30
Views: 6947

Re: Theravada against mathematics

Theravada proposes to take on faith the mathematically impossible model of reality: its school Abhidhamma contradicts the theory of probability. The concept of "satta" in the Theravadin Abhidhamma is the concept of not-existent (satta-pannatti is the avijjamana-pannatti). There was no one...
by Sherab
Sat Mar 02, 2019 12:29 am
Forum: Discovering Mahayana Buddhism
Topic: The Experience of Buddhism Sliding into Nihilism
Replies: 14
Views: 3532

Re: The Experience of Buddhism Sliding into Nihilism

Hello to everyone. I'm new to the forum and look forwarded to participating. I am currently experiencing some challenge in my practice. As some backstory, I was raised in a Christian tradition and slowly gravitated away from it. When I started to explore Buddhism I found the idea that there is no p...
by Sherab
Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:15 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Why is consciousness seen as something impermanent?
Replies: 299
Views: 39277

Re: Why is consciousness seen as something impermanent?

I never said that the consciousness beyond the all is unchanging/permanent, or changing/impermanent. This is because whatever is beyond the all is necessary beyond the range of words and concepts. Word and concepts arise from and within the all. If it is beyond the six sensory areas, that means it ...
by Sherab
Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:04 am
Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
Topic: Why is consciousness seen as something impermanent?
Replies: 299
Views: 39277

Re: Why is consciousness seen as something impermanent?

<deleted : double post >

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