Best Of
Re: Why does Amitabha Buddha demand that people pray to him?
Except that Amida is not a higher deity that really "requests" anything. That can be seen as the "lower level" of truth. I think the second level of truth would be to understand Amida as being all beings with Buddha-nature.The_Fruit_Punch_Wizard wrote: »
A higher deity requests favors or gratitude in the form of an invocation to perform an act for their worshipers that is not granted to someone who does not perform that favor or grant that gratitude.
The concept of nembutsu was to counter what was seen as elitism in other branches of Buddhism - the need to be a monastic or meditate or donate a lot, etc. Most everyday people do not have the means to do these things.I am aware of the meaning. I speak Japanese.I read many of the sutras by the Japanese Pure Land and Jodo Shinshu in their original language. They were beautiful and poetic, but I still did not grasp or understand the purpose of the invocation if not to bestow favoritism upon some people, but not others which kind of frightened me.
Any practice can be seen as "favoritism upon some people, but not others." It just depends on who is doing the practice and who is not. Your bias is so obvious.
Well, if a person doesn't meditate or practice whatever you think is better, they won't have a chance to be Enlightened. Same thing.No I know and understand that you mean it is Nirvana, and as I said, the problem is that Nirvana from what I understand it is something one needs to meditate and work for, and upon saying the Nembutsu with a pure heart is one thing, because I actually believe that the true sincere pure heart is essential regardless of the chant, but if a person who is sincere with a pure heart doesn't recite the nembutsu, then they are not granted access to pure land, and that's what I have a misunderstanding with.
AFAIK, most Shin buddhists see their school as one path amongst many, so it's not like they're saying "PURE LAND OR GTFO"
Just stuck in Samsara, which is a living hell countlessly drifting :crazy:
Re: The Elephant in the Room
@person said:
If an invasion like this happened in your country what do you think you would do? Maybe what would you hope you'd do and what do you honestly think you'd do?
I hope I'd face the danger and avoid directly fighting if I could but assist with medical aid or support. If necessary at some point, actually pick up a weapon to help protect others and prevent the further spread of aggressive, power hungry people. As they say, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
I fear, in the face of such violence my fear would overwhelm me and I'd flee or hide.
person
Re: Buddhist quotes
"Monks, this holy life doesn't have as its reward gain, offerings, & fame, doesn't have as its reward consummation of virtue, doesn't have as its reward consummation of concentration, doesn't have as its reward knowledge & vision, but the unprovoked awareness-release: That is the purpose of this holy life, that is its heartwood, that its final end."
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.029.than.html
Re: Rules to becoming a Bodhisattva?
asking for help.
Imagine that Christmas and the New Year are just around the corner. All Christians are looking forward to this bridge to a new year and asking for their wishes and to be able to order their lives in a new beginning. But none of that happens.
The key is that everything is done with Faith and Hope.
Faith is that an external entity has the power and administers it (mysteriously?).
and Hope that that change will come and land in the front garden of the house.
For Buddhists and non-Buddhists, on the other hand, it is best to get used to changing these words for others.
With Confidence and Practice.
Confidence in one's own capacities and daily practice to increase them and their range of influence.
22 2 22...maybe doing some wiccan magic will help today too...mmh no, I don't think so.
Re: Mahayana vs Theravada Buddhism
Ajahn Sona mentions how the Bodhisattva plea is not something the Buddha actually taught people, nor incentivated. He says that not wanting enlightenment and continuing the rounds of re-birth is "wishful thinking" and points out the misery that exists in the world and the potential devastating births that could lie ahead if someone refused complete Enlightenment in the name of others.
But after reading Vimalajati's previous comment, I'm not so sure. Also, a question arises, when a Bodhissatva reaches his ultimate state, how can he remain and practice without being deluded again when he experiences re-birth? If there is no self, what then becomes Enlightened and leaves the rest behind?
Edit: I do not seek conflict. I'm myself a confused Earth.dweller between the Theravada and the Mahayana paths. I see both of them complementary to my practice but it is true that certain aspects are quite challenging to put together for the sake of harmony.
Kotishka
Re: Considering others or diminishing your light?
I think my job as an aspiring meditator is to try to live in such a way that my tendencies towards the binge feeding of my ego are not encouraged. The degree to which I can succeed in this job function seems to be the same degree to which the world of egos around me also start to restrain their engorgements.
Here, the illusions of a self, and others, can start finding some resolution along the path towards suffering's cessation.
how
Re: Considering others or diminishing your light?
When a conflict arises within me, I already know seeking others to fix it will do no lasting good. The solution must come from within. We are all observers, investigators, and scientists after all!
What use is dwelling on the end result of the experience when the result itself is a trailhead ripe with potential adventure into understanding our own psyche! Who doesn't want that? Understanding our minds more clearly allows us to see the layers in which we have yet to pull back.
When I maintain a mindset of excitement and intrigue around conflicts within me, investigating them can be as fun as my favorite hobby. In resolving them, they tend to not arise often after that.
One less distraction!
Re: The Elephant in the Room
At the beginning of the invasion Putin said he is ridding Ukraine of Nazis, "Denazifying Ukraine"... much of the Western media were quick to point out that Ukraine's president is Jewish...but no mention of the far right neo nazi groups being funded/supported by Western governments to fight against the Russian troops...
Don't get me wrong Putin is dangerous and can't be trusted, however there is some truth to his claims about the far right groups in Ukraine, not dismissing the fact that Russia like many Western countries also has its far right neo nazi groups...
Also an interesting article from Al Jazeera ...
Hence why the first causality of war is the truth...and the truth is rarely black & white....
Shoshin1
Re: Considering others or diminishing your light?
@Shoshin1 said:
...
I like this quote, I think it highlights much of my disagreeableness around this topic. When the standard is the intention of the speaker there is some sort of obligation on their part to have a good intention, and if not then its justified in calling them out or holding them accountable.
In a world where impact is the standard I'm thinking there needs to be some sort of obligation for good faith on the part of the recipient. Without it anyone is free to practice predatory listening and turn offense taking into an art form without any ability for accountability on their end.
person