Best Of
Re: Do not convert?
I personally disagree with HHDL. It's a definite case of "If it's broke, then fix it.!"
I was baptised a RC. But in spite of honest efforts on my part to really try to connect with what the church taught me, and what my parents tried to lead me through, nothing ever quite completely gelled.
And so it was that I discovered Buddhism.
Which, incidentally, my still-church-going mother introduced me to.
Every page of the book she sent me, sang my name, and called me thither.
And so, I went.
While my practice has definitely been an up-and-down, in-and-out adventure, I have never looked - or been tempted to go - back.
Sorry your Holiness.
You're stuck with me.
federica
Re: The Dalai Lama doing nothing about sexual abuse?
I read action was taken by individual institutions, not H.H per se. The spiritual co-ordinator of Buddhist centres have disrobed several men who have acted inappropriately and consequently have been prosecuted by the legal system in their country. This has happened in America, hopefully it will happen in other countries also.
Re: The Dalai Lama doing nothing about sexual abuse?
There should be a "tear" option between the Hugs and the LOL because this is all I can think of right now. Corruption is something absolutely normal amongst humans. I have also found this kind of rhetoric -we will investigate, then nothing- in my first Buddhist school.
All I can wish for is that the victims get the support they deserve; that the legal authorities investigate this thoroughly, and please, let us learn about the dangers of certain organisations and stay away from them.
Terrible. I rather keep the wise teachings of HH even though it seems he does not practice them fully at the end of the day.
I tell myself, "this is good to practice then with your own short-comings" even though I cannot compare my weaknesses with such scandals...still they serve as a lesson.
Also....bit of tangent...but this is one of the reasons I really like the Thai Forest Tradition and their vigorous following of the vinaya. Not handling money directly, strict celibacy, no drugs.... you close the door to a lot of demons and pseudoexplanations of why he can do it while the rest cannot. Though I know they are not free from sin. While not from the Thai Forest Tradition, an ex-girlfriend would talk to me about "bad monks" in Thailand with sunglasses, cigarettes in their mouths and young girls by their side. She was Thai by the way.
Kotishka
The energy of a holy place
I’m currently on holiday in Germany, but the weather is lousy, there’s a severe weather warning in place which means that it’s not really good for walking in the hills of the Schwarzwald, which is what I was intending to do. So I have been visiting the local churches, admiring their art and so on.
They have a very meditative energy, i like to sit quietly in the pews and soak up the feeling. I remember reading somewhere that the early Christians used to put their Churches on the holy sites of the old pagan religions, so who knows how long mankind has been worshipping in these places. The churches go back a thousand years or more.
Jeroen
Re: The energy of a holy place
The energy of a holy place
...and the energy of an 'unholy' place....
It's also interesting when one visits a place/area and for no particular reason one starts to feel uncomfortable...getting bad vibes so to speak....then you find out that in the past atrocities have taken place there ...
Shoshin1
Re: What movies are you watching?
Indigenous Tribes Push Back Against Evangelical Missionaries
It's really sad how these evilgelical missionaries are forcing their beliefs (by bribery, and brain washing) onto others, attempting to destroy the indigenous people's language, culture and traditions ... a way of life which no doubt dates back before the 'invention' of Christianity...
Shoshin1
Re: The energy of a holy place
The times I've gone, I go with some plan. I intend to experience the place. I go open to it. So when the environment to cultivate that experience is found there, I can indulge in the pleasant sensations with some emotional gravitas.
Reflecting on when I was younger and passed up such opportunities for gameboy, I was not open to it, by choice or unawareness. I was open to gameboy. So the emotional experience was of playing gameboy instead. Like a dog who chews on a bone and misses the sunset. I imagine A wise one neither weighs value of, nor takes pleasure in either. As the sun will set and the bone will wear away; the game will be beat or batteries die and equally it will be time to leave such a place for one perceived less holy. So instead, take what the holy place has shown you. Take that with you. That emotional weight of peace, calm, and tranquility and pleasant sensations and take them with you. As a kid I always used to think there could be secret treasure buried in strange places. Sometimes I think there is and I'm getting away with it when I have an opportunity to call forth that which can be taken from holy places.
It really comes from within anyway, doesn't it? They're like megaphones of spirituality or a roadmap reminding us but I mean...we make the feeling don't we? So can't we just always make it?
Re: Nugget
Your feet are always here. They have never been to the past or walked to the future. Don't believe it? Just look and touch them. Just here.
Same with your breath. Feel it.
Memories and dreams are entirely different things.
But do they appear in the past or in the future?
Nugget
If you have one foot in the past, and one foot in the future, ….. you’re pissin’ on the present.
We’re all guilty. We all need to be more mindful of the moment and not getting dragged back…or worrying yourself to death about shit that is out of our control. Life is a struggle…..life is suffering. This is some bullshit!!! . ……Whew.
Take a breath. A couple more.
Keep it movin
Adjust accordingly.
🙂
❤️
Vastmind