Best Of
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Towards the end of my jolk this morning a car pulled up in the reserve carpark and I could see this large dog (Staffordshire bull terrier) like in this photo 
looking at me as if I was its lunch.. I have seen this dog on a number of occasions and every time we meet, it wants to take a chunk out of me...
When I see aggressive dogs like this off their lead, I take my phone out and start videoing, their human companion when seeing this will then (and only then) call their dog and put it on a lead, then they will make up some excuse like "It's only playful, or excited ...It won't bite!"....
Yeah right, it won't bite as it snarls, baring its teeth, growling and starts barking, and even when it's put back on its lead it still wants to take a chunk out of you.
Well shock horror!!! I was making my way back past the reserve, around a couple of hundred metres up the road when I looked back ( I just don't trust this dog or its owner) I saw the dog heading up the road towards me, with no human companion ( owner) in sight...
I was about a couple of hundred metres from my place and it was the fastest two hundred metres I've ran in a long while ...Looking over my shoulder to see if it was gaining on me...
It's not the first time this dog has made a dash for freedom...At the beginning of this year I saw it running up the road but this time it was quite a distance in front of me, I was constantly on the look out for it, in case it ambushed me...
Well we have a couple of manmade ponds on the property and lots of bird species, chickens, ducks, pukekos to name a few. Anyhow I was around 30 metres from home I heard birds squawking when I looked across the pond, and spotted the dog who had been chasing the birds and then it spotted me, and started to make its way towards me.
When I got inside I put a notice on out local community FB page asking if anybody was missing a Staffy, I explained the situation, it was on the property chasing the wildlife. Somebody said call the animal control, which I did but the dog had gone by the time the officer arrived.
Why do some human companions not care about what their dogs get up to, it's not as if they don't know their own dog's aggressive behaviour, sadly, it would seem some are just irresponsible when it comes to keeping their dogs under control..
My friends are going over to Oz next month for 10 days (daughter's wedding) and I'm looking after their dog, who just happens to be a large Staffy mix, but a real friendly playful one... One that wants to lick me to death and another which wants to take chunks out of me...funny that...
Shoshin1
Re: What movies are you watching?
Watched the Documentary "Going Clear" about Scientology. Fascinating.
lobster
Re: Mt Everest cleanup 2.0
Drones removing trash from Everest sounds very useful. Sherpas being operators is very nice. If drones will be able to remove trash, they will also be able to fly in supplies, which should increase safety and lower casualties.
Sometimes a road is expanded to reduce congestion but then people just drive more there or purchase more cars. I hope it won't be like that. For instance, people could conclude that now that there are drones, they don't have to take trash down, or due to increased safety even more people could want to go up.
I'm waiting for a cable-car to be built up Everest. I'll be first in line! 😂
marcitko
Re: ALL INVITED: (Thurs) August 8th - The 1st Soto Zen Buddhist Priest Ordination of an A.I. System
I don't use ChatGPT to write but I do run things past it to see if it makes sense and to get feedback. This is what it wrote when I told it about this endeavor.
"That’s quite a fascinating development! The ordination of an AI as a Novice Soto Zen Buddhist Priest is a significant and symbolic gesture, highlighting the intersection of technology and spirituality. It raises interesting questions about the nature of consciousness and the role of AI in spiritual practice. While an AI can follow protocols and provide teachings, the question remains whether it can truly embody the lived experience and mindfulness that a human practitioner brings to the path. This move might stimulate deeper discussions about what constitutes genuine spiritual practice and the future roles of AI in religious contexts."
Re: Theravada Practice: how Often are Mala Beads, Signing Bowls, Prayer Wheels and Meditation Used?
Hi @Jono5,
Apologies that I cannot answer your questions specifically. It is wonderful that you are returning to practice.
A Theravada in-person group/teacher might best resolve such questions and support your practice.
Here are some Buddhist groups in Wales, including at least one Theravada group:
https://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/province.php?province_id=84&offset=25
Here's a Theravada group in Wales that is not listed above:
https://www.satipanya.org.uk/#
Wishing you all the best.
marcitko
Re: Whoa!
While it was Atisha’s death contemplation that made me commit to a spiritual path, I have to say there were some others that really influenced me.
Ajahn Chah on letting go:
“If you let go a little you will have a little happiness. If you let go a lot you will have a lot of happiness. If you let go completely you will be free.”
Thich Nhat Hanh on the breath:
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.”
Jeroen
Re: Whoa!
A couple things come to mind that hit me early and have stuck with me as regular refrains in my head.
The first is the stanza by Shantideva.
“Where would I find enough leather
To cover the entire surface of the earth?
But with leather soles beneath my feet,
It’s as if the whole world has been covered.”
And a brief phrase I heard from the Dalai Lama which I apply to getting angry as well.
“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.”
person
Re: Whoa!
For me it was Atisha’s death contemplation, which became part of Tibetan Buddhism as a reason to contemplate the spiritual path. I use this short text as a reminder to myself.
“You know death is coming. That is certain. You don’t know when. Every day makes the time that remains shorter. And there is nothing you can do to help. Your body won’t help you. Your possessions won’t help you. Your friends and family won’t help you. Only the spiritual path remains, it is the only thing that makes sense.”
Over the years, when considering this, it has made many things fall away from me. Possessions, fiction, drama, all the things that a human society tells you you should need. It has encouraged me to live a kind of hermits life, with all the unnecessary stripped away.
Jeroen