The Self is just an Expedient Means, so is the Soul, so is everything including even form and even Emptiness is an Expedient Means. That is why people say that Expedient Means is the Ultimate. But then what do we have left? Only Compassion, and since I was told to focus most on Compassion that is what I am trying to focus on. I am not concerned with what exists and what doesn’t! Because I already know, and that is no hefty claim, all beings and phenomena know, they simply may not always access that knowledge. But if you think I aught to focus on something other than Compassion, let me know, and I will follow your Advice. Thank you SilenceMonkey. Namaste. Om.SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:09 pmThen if you want to progress, you’ll want to let go of all of your self-cherishing. It’s very simple. The more you hold on to a sense of self, the more you will suffer.
And this sort of suffering is not progress, it is holding you back as it is based in delusion.
Prayers for healing of myself.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
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Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
I have some thoughts about what would be good to focus on... but first maybe we should examine what you believe is meant by "expedient means." Perhaps you could elaborate?Budai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:21 pmThe Self is just an Expedient Means, so is the Soul, so is everything including even form and even Emptiness is an Expedient Means. That is why people say that Expedient Means is the Ultimate. But then what do we have left? Only Compassion, and since I was told to focus most on Compassion that is what I am trying to focus on. I am not concerned with what exists and what doesn’t! Because I already know, and that is no hefty claim, all beings and phenomena know, they simply may not always access that knowledge. But if you think I aught to focus on something other than Compassion, let me know, and I will follow your Advice. Thank you SilenceMonkey. Namaste. Om.SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:09 pmThen if you want to progress, you’ll want to let go of all of your self-cherishing. It’s very simple. The more you hold on to a sense of self, the more you will suffer.
And this sort of suffering is not progress, it is holding you back as it is based in delusion.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
He could not, and made it quite clear he could not.
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Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
You can...but that’s more self harm...It’s insanity and it’s real. Please say no. Maybe when you are at the level of Avalokiteshvara you can.Budai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:02 pmIt’s not that He couldn’t, I just think that it is a Path of insanity to attempt it. At it’s most congurent, Avalokakitesvara, when He was a follower of Caitanya in a Vedic text, asked Caitanya if He, Avalokakitesvara, could take on the karma of all living entities upon His own head because He could not bear to see them suffer anymore. But Caitanya wouldn’t allow it and said that the Universe would be vacated and there would be no loss for it if it were so, so there was no reason to lament, and because of such Compassion in the request even shown once, all beings would become Buddhas. This is in a Vedic text of the Bhagavatam Purana, but for this reason many Vaishnavas hail that form of Avalokakitesvara as more merciful than even Jesus Christ because He was willing to take on the karma of all beings, not just of His followers. But this is a complicated matter. But as you know, even Tibetan Masters take on the karma of their disciples when requested in order to help them progress in a lighter sense. Powerful Buddhists don’t let others suffer alone, and in a sense we are all sharing some karma here in this world.
But what I am asking anyone here to pray for me for is that I stay out of the affairs of karma. My Guru has told me directly, three times, many years ago to stay out of the affairs of karma. And I have not always listened. So I ask for the prayers of the Buddhists that are so wonderful here to put me on the Path where I stay out of the affairs of karma. And also, I ask Avalokakitesvara to Force me to stay out of the affairs of karma the Way my Guru asked of me to many years ago, three times He asked, so please Avalokakitesvara make sure I follow His request regardless of whether I want to or not. This is my deepest request of you, Chenrezig. Om.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
My best advice to you Budai is to stick with one Buddhist tradition under the instruction of one teacher and practice that for the rest of your life. Do not attempt to mix Vajrayana and Nichiren for example. Pick one and stand.
And forget about other people for a while. Caring about them will start up on its own as you practise.
Lay down your burdens.
And forget about other people for a while. Caring about them will start up on its own as you practise.
Lay down your burdens.
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Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
Well, anyway... You mentioned Thich Nhat Hanh. His book teaching the Diamond Sutra is wonderful. I also recommend Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. I think reading all the way through may give a good sense of authentic buddhist view. I think these two will help with the things we were talking about earlier in the thread.Budai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:21 pmThe Self is just an Expedient Means, so is the Soul, so is everything including even form and even Emptiness is an Expedient Means. That is why people say that Expedient Means is the Ultimate. But then what do we have left? Only Compassion, and since I was told to focus most on Compassion that is what I am trying to focus on. I am not concerned with what exists and what doesn’t! Because I already know, and that is no hefty claim, all beings and phenomena know, they simply may not always access that knowledge. But if you think I aught to focus on something other than Compassion, let me know, and I will follow your Advice. Thank you SilenceMonkey. Namaste. Om.SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:09 pmThen if you want to progress, you’ll want to let go of all of your self-cherishing. It’s very simple. The more you hold on to a sense of self, the more you will suffer.
And this sort of suffering is not progress, it is holding you back as it is based in delusion.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
Thank you. I have read the Diamond Sutra as Thich Nhat Hanh instructs to understand it. And I have heard my friend talk often about Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. I will look into those. Thank you very much, SilenceMonkey!SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:40 pmWell, anyway... You mentioned Thich Nhat Hanh. His book teaching the Diamond Sutra is wonderful. I also recommend Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. I think reading all the way through may give a good sense of authentic buddhist view. I think these two will help with the things we were talking about earlier in the thread.Budai wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 7:21 pmThe Self is just an Expedient Means, so is the Soul, so is everything including even form and even Emptiness is an Expedient Means. That is why people say that Expedient Means is the Ultimate. But then what do we have left? Only Compassion, and since I was told to focus most on Compassion that is what I am trying to focus on. I am not concerned with what exists and what doesn’t! Because I already know, and that is no hefty claim, all beings and phenomena know, they simply may not always access that knowledge. But if you think I aught to focus on something other than Compassion, let me know, and I will follow your Advice. Thank you SilenceMonkey. Namaste. Om.SilenceMonkey wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 2:09 pm
Then if you want to progress, you’ll want to let go of all of your self-cherishing. It’s very simple. The more you hold on to a sense of self, the more you will suffer.
And this sort of suffering is not progress, it is holding you back as it is based in delusion.
Om.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
Giovanni wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 8:29 am My best advice to you Budai is to stick with one Buddhist tradition under the instruction of one teacher and practice that for the rest of your life. Do not attempt to mix Vajrayana and Nichiren for example. Pick one and stand.
And forget about other people for a while. Caring about them will start up on its own as you practise.
Lay down your burdens.
Namu Amida Butsu
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
Namaste, my friend ,
I will pray for you
I will pray for you
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
Malcolm told you what you are asking to be freed of is not even possible. So no need to ask for help with it. You are fine. Maybe study more buddhist philosophy or go to a mental health counselor. How do you think you were taking on peoples karma btw? I wonder how you did that in practice.
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Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
Yes, and what does this actually require of you?Only Compassion, and since I was told to focus most on Compassion that is what I am trying to focus on.
The other day I encountered a beetle that was on its back. It couldn't get up. So I found a leaf and got him back on his feet. It's easy to save beetles.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
It’s not like any of the pain I ever felt was my own karma. So don’t insult me, I don’t deserve to be raped abused or tortured for many years, I knew what I was doing to save others and I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t allow anyone else to do what I did, at all, and yes I was taking on other people’s karma and that is why innocent people suffer—when they do that. You can throw your action reaction theories out the window and past life misunderstanding nonsense straight back to mara where you got it from, lol. I saved billions of people from suffering, and made many people into Buddhas, even more than that. I am the Hero of the World as Nichiren puts it. If you’re too scared to respect that, devote yourself and the rest of your Buddhist Practice to Nichiren Buddhism to understand who I am and where I came from. It’s the more you learn about yourself dear one.Toenail wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:30 pm Malcolm told you what you are asking to be freed of is not even possible. So no need to ask for help with it. You are fine. Maybe study more buddhist philosophy or go to a mental health counselor. How do you think you were taking on peoples karma btw? I wonder how you did that in practice.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
Om Mani Padme Hum.
Namu Amida Butsu.
I am just sick of doing it, that is why I made this thread, for Buddhist mental health help. If you can’t help a Buddhist like that, then you are not one and need to go pray to Jesus to learn Compassion or something like that.
Anyway, I Love you, good Doctor.
Re: Prayers for healing of myself.
You have a very vivid fantasy. Even if you believe in this very strongly, nothing of it is likely to be true.Budai wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 6:46 amIt’s not like any of the pain I ever felt was my own karma. So don’t insult me, I don’t deserve to be raped abused or tortured for many years, I knew what I was doing to save others and I’m not an idiot. I wouldn’t allow anyone else to do what I did, at all, and yes I was taking on other people’s karma and that is why innocent people suffer—when they do that. You can throw your action reaction theories out the window and past life misunderstanding nonsense straight back to mara where you got it from, lol. I saved billions of people from suffering, and made many people into Buddhas, even more than that. I am the Hero of the World as Nichiren puts it. If you’re too scared to respect that, devote yourself and the rest of your Buddhist Practice to Nichiren Buddhism to understand who I am and where I came from. It’s the more you learn about yourself dear one.Toenail wrote: ↑Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:30 pm Malcolm told you what you are asking to be freed of is not even possible. So no need to ask for help with it. You are fine. Maybe study more buddhist philosophy or go to a mental health counselor. How do you think you were taking on peoples karma btw? I wonder how you did that in practice.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
Om Mani Padme Hum.
Namu Amida Butsu.
I am just sick of doing it, that is why I made this thread, for Buddhist mental health help. If you can’t help a Buddhist like that, then you are not one and need to go pray to Jesus to learn Compassion or something like that.
Anyway, I Love you, good Doctor.
I believe, it would be very important and helpful for you to find some help in meatspace (non-digital realm, social contacts or professional help in flesh & blood.)