can a deaf person reach enlightenment?

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floatingbubbles07
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can a deaf person reach enlightenment?

Post by floatingbubbles07 »

Usually for meditation, we listen to the instructions so that we can follow them. I also remember reading somewhere that we need to be able to hear to be able to practice Buddhism or something (don't remember the source or the exact words). However, if a person is deaf (or deaf blind) can they still somehow meditate like everyone else and reach enlightenment?
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: can a deaf person reach enlightenment?

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

Yes. Communicating with people who have disabilities has improved a little bit over the last 2,600 years.
EMPTIFUL.
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Inedible
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Re: can a deaf person reach enlightenment?

Post by Inedible »

In the Surangama Sutra, Manjushri Bodhisattva tells Venerable Ananda that listening would be easiest for him. This occurs after he hears of 25 ways that an approach has led to becoming Enlightened and hearing was only one of them. The others all said that the way they used was the one which was superior to the others. So that leaves 24 of them to consider. I think the total was 25. I find it a disturbing section to read through because when they talk about their experiences it conflicts with what I learned in school. And there they are, saying they became Enlightened. Buddha does not disagree. He asked them all to describe what happened or they wouldn't have done it.
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Aemilius
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Re: can a deaf person reach enlightenment?

Post by Aemilius »

Tibetan Book of the Dead says:

"[Instructions to the Officiant]: Thus speak, and, if recognition result from that, Liberation will be obtained, without need of the wandering in the Six Lokas. If, however, through influence of bad karma, recognition is made difficult, thereupon say as follows:

"O nobly-born, again listen. 'Endowed with all sense-faculties and power of unimpeded motion' implieth [that although] thou mayst have been, when living, blind of the eye, or deaf, or lame, yet on this After-Death Plane thine eyes will see forms, and thine ears will hear sounds, and all other sense-organs of thine will be unimpaired and very keen and complete. Wherefore the Bardo-body hath been spoken of as 'endowed with all sense-faculties'. That [condition of existence, in which thou thyself now art] is an indication that thou art deceased and wandering in the Bardo. Act so as to know this. Remember the teachings; remember the teachings."
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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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: can a deaf person reach enlightenment?

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

Aemilius wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:27 am Tibetan Book of the Dead says:

"[Instructions to the Officiant]: Thus speak, and, if recognition result from that, Liberation will be obtained, without need of the wandering in the Six Lokas. If, however, through influence of bad karma, recognition is made difficult, thereupon say as follows:

"O nobly-born, again listen. 'Endowed with all sense-faculties and power of unimpeded motion' implieth [that although] thou mayst have been, when living, blind of the eye, or deaf, or lame, yet on this After-Death Plane thine eyes will see forms, and thine ears will hear sounds, and all other sense-organs of thine will be unimpaired and very keen and complete. Wherefore the Bardo-body hath been spoken of as 'endowed with all sense-faculties'. That [condition of existence, in which thou thyself now art] is an indication that thou art deceased and wandering in the Bardo. Act so as to know this. Remember the teachings; remember the teachings."
I think it is hilarious that early translators felt compelled to use old English (“thine” , “thou art”, etc) when translating Buddhist “holy” texts! It’s like the lama talking in the movie “Kim”.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
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