NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

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Aemilius
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

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"Pope Francis Says He Would Definitely Baptize Aliens If They Asked Him To

Pope Francis would absolutely baptize an alien from Mars, if one showed up at the Vatican and asked for it. During his weekly homily on Monday, Franics said that aliens — which he imagines could be "Green, with that long nose and big ears, just like children paint them" — should be baptized just like anyone else who asks for it, because it's not up to any human to decide who should receive the Holy Spirit. In other words: if God prompts some Martians to come to Earth, find the Pope, and say "we want in on this Catholicism thing." The pope would probably say "OK. cool." But probably in Latin."

from https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... it/362106/

Has there been any discussion or guide lines about aliens taking refuge in the Three Jewels?
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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Kim O'Hara
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

Post by Kim O'Hara »

Aemilius wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:21 am "Pope Francis Says He Would Definitely Baptize Aliens If They Asked Him To

Pope Francis would absolutely baptize an alien from Mars, if one showed up at the Vatican and asked for it. During his weekly homily on Monday, Franics said that aliens — which he imagines could be "Green, with that long nose and big ears, just like children paint them" — should be baptized just like anyone else who asks for it, because it's not up to any human to decide who should receive the Holy Spirit. In other words: if God prompts some Martians to come to Earth, find the Pope, and say "we want in on this Catholicism thing." The pope would probably say "OK. cool." But probably in Latin."

from https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... it/362106/

Has there been any discussion or guide lines about aliens taking refuge in the Three Jewels?
Many of us have taken refuge without admitting that we're not human. Buddhism makes far more sense than any of the other human religions, and forums like this give us a wonderful community to talk to without revealing our origins, appearance or location.

:namaste:
Kim
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Aemilius
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

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In the text of Bhikshu ordination ceremony Buddha says: “I allow you, monks, when one is being ordained to ask him about things which are stumbling-blocks for him. And thus, monks, should he be asked: Have you diseases like this: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a freeman?(i.e. not a slave) Are you without debts? Are you not in the royal service? Have you your parents’ consent? Are you full twenty years of age?"

One of the titles or epiteths of Buddha is Shasta deva manushyanam/Teacher of gods and humans.

The Brahmanet sutra says that Bodhisattva precepts can be given to all kinds of beings and persons:

"40. Discrimination in Conferring the Precepts
A disciple of the Buddha should not be selective and show preference in conferring the Bodhisattva precepts. Each and every person can receive the precepts -- kings, princes, high officials, Bhiksus, Bhiksunis, laymen, laywomen, libertines, prostitutes, the gods in the eighteen Brahma Heavens or the six Desire Heavens, asexual persons, bisexual persons, eunuchs, slaves, or demons and ghosts of all types. etc.."
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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Kim O'Hara
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

Post by Kim O'Hara »

Aemilius wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:51 am One of the titles or epiteths of Buddha is Shasta deva manushyanam/Teacher of gods and humans.

The Brahmanet sutra says that Bodhisattva precepts can be given to all kinds of beings and persons:

"40. Discrimination in Conferring the Precepts
A disciple of the Buddha should not be selective and show preference in conferring the Bodhisattva precepts. Each and every person can receive the precepts -- kings, princes, high officials, Bhiksus, Bhiksunis, laymen, laywomen, libertines, prostitutes, the gods in the eighteen Brahma Heavens or the six Desire Heavens, asexual persons, bisexual persons, eunuchs, slaves, or demons and ghosts of all types. etc.."
I think that's broad enough that we can take it as including rational non-humans such as myself.
Aemilius wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 9:51 am In the text of Bhikshu ordination ceremony Buddha says: “I allow you, monks, when one is being ordained to ask him about things which are stumbling-blocks for him. And thus, monks, should he be asked: Have you diseases like this: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a man? Are you a freeman?(i.e. not a slave) Are you without debts? Are you not in the royal service? Have you your parents’ consent? Are you full twenty years of age?"
Ordination is another thing altogether since it implies living in a community and following rules set up for the majority of that community. And I have to agree that there are some awkward stumbling blocks between me and ordination - starting with dietary rules (and no, you really don't want to know).

:namaste:
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Malcolm
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

Post by Malcolm »

Aemilius wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:21 am
Has there been any discussion or guide lines about aliens taking refuge in the Three Jewels?
Nonhuman beings cannot receive upasaka precepts. Nor, for that matter, can all humans. Chapter 4, Kishabhasya.
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Kim O'Hara
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

Post by Kim O'Hara »

Malcolm wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:35 pm
Aemilius wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 10:21 am
Has there been any discussion or guide lines about aliens taking refuge in the Three Jewels?
Nonhuman beings cannot receive upasaka precepts. Nor, for that matter, can all humans. Chapter 4, Kishabhasya.
:broke:
Goooogle can't find that reference, Malcolm.

:popcorn:
Kim
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Aemilius
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Re: NASA Is Hiring Religious Leaders To Prepare For Encounter With Aliens ?

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Acording to Vasubandhu the discipline (pratimoksha) exists also in the realms of kamaloka and rupaloka devas. Upasaka precepts are one form of discipline/pratimoksha, Vasubandhu says. Discipline continues from this life to future lives.

(Abhidharmakosha-bhashyam, Vol II, page 581 onwards)
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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