Best Of
Re: Tonglen
Oh dear, that sounds like you encountered some of the ‘strict brigade’. NewBuddhist is very much the other direction (the strict people gather at Dharma Wheel). I’d even say if meditation doesn’t feel at least neutral, then you’re doing something wrong.
For me, the early stages of Buddhism were about purification and watching things drop away. I don’t play computer games anymore, I watch vastly less television, I read a lot less fiction, I drink very little alcohol these days, among other changes which seemed to happen by themselves. So I won’t say Buddhism won’t change your life but you will likely be happier for it.
As far as a direction is concerned, you can’t really go wrong, each tradition has good teachers and less good ones. But even from a poor teacher much can be learned, in the end learning to tune in to your own inner compass is the most important skill.
Jeroen
Re: Tonglen
Thank you. Could be when I get there. I'm not really driven to do that just yet. Perhaps if I properly practice and I find that these emotions make progressing difficult.
RobinH
Re: The AI tsunami
A realistic horror story of the next few years of AI development based on the AI 2027 report. Something similar to the metaphor of very early covid and how its growth exploded exponentially. Use of non human language to help speed up AI programming development leads to AI that can't be understood. The rush to be first leads to AI that doesn't share humanities concerns (misalignment). Other potential scenario that leads to a safer AI, but also a totally transformed world. Others disagree about how soon a scenario like this could happen, but only by a few years.
My hope is that awareness and thought about the pitfalls leads to different possibilities.
person
Re: New? Introduce Yourself to NB Members!
I think you'll find we're all a bunch of imperfect Buddhists here, with plenty of attachments we don't want to let go of.
Most of the regulars left have been practicing a while so don't seem to ask many explicitly Buddhist questions anymore. So if you're wondering about something, that isn't being talked about feel free to ask.
person
Re: Deep ecology
I saw some news pieces about this…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_in_insect_populations
And came across this in the article:
Ecologist Dave Goulson told The Guardian in 2017: "We appear to be making vast tracts of land inhospitable to most forms of life, and are currently on course for ecological Armageddon."
It makes me so sad. Things like pesticides and insecticides leach into the soil and are terrible for the little beetles and creatures at the bottom of the food chain, but these do essential work for the ecology. It’s a poisoning of the planet.
Jeroen
Re: Tonglen
I've yet to properly practice Tonglen, I'm looking forward to it, but I take my sweet time like with pretty much everything. I did just write a prayer though in the spirit of Tonglen. A very personal one and it had a deep emotional effect on me as well (similarly, when I wrote some poems, I sometimes teared up over them, I preferred it that way). I feel like some things are starting to make sense to me emotionally as well, not just intellectually. Like vegetarianism for example or what I've read about the Bodhisattva path. Without mistaking emotional impacts for actual progress on letting go of some attachments, I am glad I'm somehow getting in synch with aspects of Tonglen.
RobinH
Re: Blessings
Blessing for All new non-bots and members, lurkers etc.
May you find what you need, not satisfy your wants.
May you become a teacher to every blade of sentient grass.
May you clarify.
May you become the three or more jewels...
https://newbuddhist.com/discussion/24989/blessing-now-available
lobster
Re: Jubilee Surrounded : 1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives (ft. Mehdi Hasan)
@IdleChater said:
I thought that most of the "arguments" presented by the right, didn't attempt to debate Hasan's points, and what they did offer was merely some juvenile notion about owning a Lib.Even the way they took turns ... everybody rushing the chair to see who gets there first? And that mad rush comes after the previous occupant got voted off the island. Very Darwinian.
I think that's a pretty good summary of my feelings on the format. I don't think its very constructive.
person
Re: Jubilee Surrounded : 1 Progressive vs 20 Far-Right Conservatives (ft. Mehdi Hasan)
No offence taken @Jeroen. Yes, it’s not what one would call ‘good content,’ but for me, observing this aspect of human nature on display is somewhat intriguing.
Different strokes for different folks
Shoshin1
Re: What documentary are you watching?
Not a documentary, but some food for thought.
Peter Beinart sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his book "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning."
Together, they reflect on what it means to speak out against Israel’s actions, from a Jewish perspective.
They explore how Jewish history can guide us to be saviours, not oppressors; the failure of the U.S. and U.N. to hold Netanyahu accountable; the importance of critical discourse within the Jewish community; and how truly listening to Palestinian stories reveals the depth of dehumanisation they face.
Peter Beinart - "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning" | The Daily Show
At our Saturday market stall, where we collect donations for Medical Aid for Palestinians, we're sometimes joined by a local Israeli woman. She has supported Palestinian self-determination for many years, both here and back in Israel.
What’s happening in Gaza has been hard for her to come to terms with. It causes her real anxiety and distress. And yet she continues to help out.
Her presence is a quiet reminder that this is not about religion or ethnicity, it’s about standing with others in their struggle for justice, even when it’s personally painful.
Shoshin1