My first thought was, “does he think that any
British-made film is good?
But then I remembered, he is an excellent film director himself.
My first thought was, “does he think that any
Well...he's interesting, but he's not Christopher Nolan.PadmaVonSamba wrote: ↑Thu Aug 04, 2022 5:13 am But then I remembered, he is an excellent film director himself.
Richard Strauss. Very talented. Very foolish.Archie2009 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 03, 2022 10:42 amenough musicians, conductors, ... willingly cooperated to gain or maintain standing.
His talk on the Lotus Sūtra was a hot mess. At one point, he got out his phone and started reading from the Wikipedia article on it. I legitimately wonder to this day if he's ever read it.PeterC wrote: ↑Wed Aug 03, 2022 3:01 pmThe first thing I read of his was his book (really a compilation of an oral teaching series) on the Uttaratantrashastra, which was excellent, and very helpful when I was studying it. So I’ve never questioned his abilities as a Dharma teacher. I wish he would stick to that.Archie2009 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:33 am I have no opinion of DJKR outside of his writings, mostly on social media.
Not sure why one would ask a Tibetan lama for an exegesis on that particular sutra.Caoimhghín wrote: ↑Thu Aug 04, 2022 11:05 pm His talk on the Lotus Sūtra was a hot mess. At one point, he got out his phone and started reading from the Wikipedia article on it. I legitimately wonder to this day if he's ever read it.
Complex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
An easy thing to say. But what guidance does it give us?Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pmComplex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
PeterC wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:55 pmAn easy thing to say. But what guidance does it give us?Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pmComplex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
There’s a simpler explanation, that he has a huge chip on his shoulder about “the west”, and all this posturing is him just pushing that on his overly credulous sycophants.Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:58 pmPeterC wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:55 pmAn easy thing to say. But what guidance does it give us?Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pm
Complex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
That one can understand where DJKR is coming from with this. Sure his history and presentation might be subpar but one can at least understand his intent.
He, at least I think....is trying to get his followers (students?) not to blindly lap up whatever any media feeds them and join the "slay the evil nation/group of people and the world will be magically alright" bandwagon. Are his examples and communication bad? Well yeah....but the intention is one that is sorely needed these days
Despite its flaws, do you really want to live in a world where America steps back and lets the rest of the world go to hell? Just look at the chaos Trump unleashed with the brief period of isolationism he indulged in. In any case, American isolationism is bad for democracy internationally. This was acutely demonstrable during the Hoover Administration, and later, during the Trump administration.Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:58 pmPeterC wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:55 pmAn easy thing to say. But what guidance does it give us?Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pm
Complex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
That one can understand where DJKR is coming from with this. Sure his history and presentation might be subpar but one can at least understand his intent.
He, at least I think....is trying to get his followers (students?) not to blindly lap up whatever any media feeds them and join the "slay the evil nation/group of people and the world will be magically alright" bandwagon. Are his examples and communication bad? Well yeah....but the intention is one that is sorely needed these days
The Golden Light Sutra promotes absolute monarchy and Buddhist history promotes it as well, e.g. Ashoka and the Dharma Emperors.
Aṣoka was hardly a virtuous king. After he converted to Buddhadharma, he had 18,000 Jains executed on the basis of a cartoon. He placed a price on the heads of Jain mendicants, until his own brother was killed by a farmer and his wife for the bounty. They mistook Ashoka's brother for a Jain mendicant, and brought his head to Ashoka for payment.Konchog1 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 5:47 pmThe Golden Light Sutra promotes absolute monarchy and Buddhist history promotes it as well, e.g. Ashoka and the Dharma Emperors.
https://studybuddhism.com/en/tibetan-bu ... vine-kings
On this point, Aryadeva rejects the divine right of kings, p. 127:Blessed by divine kings they enter into their mother’s womb; being first blessed by gods, afterwards, they enter her womb.
Once born in the human world, they become kings of humans. From gods they are born; thus they are called ‘divine son.’
Yes, being a leader of humans is a certain type of ignorance. So what though, this is nothing new. We still have to make ethical judgements in imperfect situations.Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pmComplex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
I say it as someone living right on the frontlines of where this will go off if shit hits the fan. The artificial hostility the media stokes, the numbing of peoples' humanity.....absolute poison. The way they try to tear relationships between people on opposing sides apart....The worst kind of poison indeed
I don't agree with bolded, but don't strongly disagree.Malcolm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 4:29 pm It's not really his fault-- there is no sustained discourse in Buddhism on governance and democracy, or for that matter, ethics. Nor should there be. But when your whole world view revolves around the idea that a religion has all the answers for the secular problems of health care, international relations, social justice, etc., you are bound to come up short in your understanding of the world around you and its issues.
Yes, as a matter of personal conduct it is fine. But Dharma was not taught to resolve major social issues, etc., it is for personal evolution.Queequeg wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:42 pmI don't agree with bolded, but don't strongly disagree.Malcolm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 4:29 pm It's not really his fault-- there is no sustained discourse in Buddhism on governance and democracy, or for that matter, ethics. Nor should there be. But when your whole world view revolves around the idea that a religion has all the answers for the secular problems of health care, international relations, social justice, etc., you are bound to come up short in your understanding of the world around you and its issues.
I believe that Dharma is applicable to everyday life, including civic life.
Buddhist ethical discourse up till now has been rather stunted by its long term association with absolute monarchs. What's the point of writing about ethics when it is as likely to get you murdered by an angry king as listened to by a kindly one?Nagarjuna I think hit the right tenor in his Jeweled Garland. Nagasena's distance from King Milinda is also instructive. Of course, Buddha's relationship with Bimbisara and Udayana, and his approval of the democratic Vajjians is also instructive. Many other sages have navigated the relationship with rulers well.
The century old polemics produced by tibetan schools have had wide ranging ramifications at the societal level. This raises the question whether some of these conceptual wars were pursued with the subtext of controlling the masses with the view to amass wealth, partisans and riches and ultimately power and influence.Malcolm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:49 pmYes, as a matter of personal conduct it is fine. But Dharma was not taught to resolve major social issues, etc., it is for personal evolution.Queequeg wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 6:42 pmI don't agree with bolded, but don't strongly disagree.Malcolm wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 4:29 pm It's not really his fault-- there is no sustained discourse in Buddhism on governance and democracy, or for that matter, ethics. Nor should there be. But when your whole world view revolves around the idea that a religion has all the answers for the secular problems of health care, international relations, social justice, etc., you are bound to come up short in your understanding of the world around you and its issues.
I believe that Dharma is applicable to everyday life, including civic life.
Buddhist ethical discourse up till now has been rather stunted by its long term association with absolute monarchs. What's the point of writing about ethics when it is as likely to get you murdered by an angry king as listened to by a kindly one?Nagarjuna I think hit the right tenor in his Jeweled Garland. Nagasena's distance from King Milinda is also instructive. Of course, Buddha's relationship with Bimbisara and Udayana, and his approval of the democratic Vajjians is also instructive. Many other sages have navigated the relationship with rulers well.
Anyway, no text like the Nicomachean Ethics was ever produced in Buddhist circles in India, probably because Kautiliya's Arthaśastra was sufficient.
What is the problem with Pelosi visiting Taiwan and saying she and the US supports their democracy? Why is that even a threat to China? We do enough business with the CCP, we clearly aren’t interested in regime change over there. If the CCP doesn’t respect Taiwan’s independence, that’s their problem. Obviously, the Taiwanese want to remain independent of China and are happy to have US support. It’s like we are supposed to fear the violent gang lord, kowtow to their demands and pay the mafia protection money. DJKR should be thankful there’s other countries like the US balancing power in the world.Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pmComplex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
I say it as someone living right on the frontlines of where this will go off if shit hits the fan. The artificial hostility the media stokes, the numbing of peoples' humanity.....absolute poison. The way they try to tear relationships between people on opposing sides apart....The worst kind of poison indeed
These kinds of things, Pelosi’s visit, as well as China launching weapons into the water, are all a means of communication to each other. Not exactly sword-rattling per se. And not provocation either. More like the way dogs establish who is the alpha. Everybody wants to trade with each other and make money, and it doesn’t really matter who is the most powerful as long as the world keeps turning. Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan was a message to China not to mess up the current balance of things or the pecking order. China’s message back was, “okay, but we will comply because we choose to, not because we are afraid of you.”KristenM wrote: ↑Sun Aug 07, 2022 3:10 amWhat is the problem with Pelosi visiting Taiwan and saying she and the US supports their democracy? Why is that even a threat to China? We do enough business with the CCP, we clearly aren’t interested in regime change over there. If the CCP doesn’t respect Taiwan’s independence, that’s their problem. Obviously, the Taiwanese want to remain independent of China and are happy to have US support. It’s like we are supposed to fear the violent gang lord, kowtow to their demands and pay the mafia protection money. DJKR should be thankful there’s other countries like the US balancing power in the world.Passing By wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 2:51 pm
Complex or not, let's not kid ourselves that any of these so called "leaders" and warmongers on any side give two f***s about you, me, or any of the lives they wreck in all nations involved as well as the generational hatreds they entrench once the shooting starts.
I say it as someone living right on the frontlines of where this will go off if shit hits the fan. The artificial hostility the media stokes, the numbing of peoples' humanity.....absolute poison. The way they try to tear relationships between people on opposing sides apart....The worst kind of poison indeed