TNH hugged everyone. His monks were as unenlightened as him, when I saw him and some of them. His books are superb. He was a pure being.
https://plumvillage.org/live
'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying' was mainly written by one of Sogyal Rinpoche's disciples. The silly bits are his contributions between molesting students.
Llama Surya Daz and his brainwashed are still whitewashing his activities? Ah well, a waste of time? Or do we have to offer discernment?
Tee Hee welcome to the Hell-o Realms... (I'll bring sand witches)
The Buddha does not 'belong' to people, places, trees or temples 🤔
Seems like we are all Beginners again...
lobster
Not so long ago in the Dutch parliament there was a request that was debated about a new right which some of the political parties were sponsoring to be put into the constitution. This was a right to die at a completed life, so basically euthanasia for people who felt their life was ‘complete’ and what remained would only detract from it.
A lot of the people sponsoring it were elderly, and were thinking about a possible dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Some were mental health patients. Some were sufferers from other illnesses. There were quite a few groups whose needs would have been addressed by this.
But in the end the debate in parliament failed to gain the needed majority.
Jeroen
My mother (93) is against voluntary euthanasia, or assisted dying. Yet she wants DNR on her medical records, should the question arise, and hopes to be able to pass away 'free of pain'. So she's not above some kind of medical application. I personally consider it to be an acceptable premise, for reasons already stated eloquently by others.
federica
I think TNH was a rare example of someone who never became embroiled in carnal complications...
federica
I'm reminded of this quote by D. T. Suzuki
“Zen always aims at grasping the central fact of life, which can never be brought to the dissecting table of the intellect”
Shoshin1
@Jeroen said:
I’d like to be one of those older folk who still have a sense of lightness, kindness, fun.
>
Think you'd enjoy listening to Bob Harwood. Says that throughout his life he just did what sounded like fun
Celebrated his 80th birthday by hiking up a Colorado 14k-er. Businessman, construction/contractor, family guy... widely considered to be enlightened, and I see no evidence to the contrary. Current hobby: trading stocks
No Thai hermitness necessary apparently 
@Jeroen said:
I’ve noticed that selling advertising on FB seems to be an effort to categorise people’s echo chambers and give them those ads that are likely to bring a reaction. It is a mechanism, paid of course, outside the echo chamber.
Nothing new. The tech has been in the field since the late 90s. Facebook? Twitter? Reddit? They're all collecting data, that you provide free of charge. Amazon is a data gold mine.
@marcitko said:
the lesser value of women
In many ways the suppression of the feminine in patriarchal agricultural cultures has been amongst the great tragedies of history.
Jeroen
I’ve noticed that selling advertising on FB seems to be an effort to categorise people’s echo chambers and give them those ads that are likely to bring a reaction. It is a mechanism, paid of course, outside the echo chamber.
Jeroen
There I was in another echo chamber WHEN:
Just imagine if I listened to others echoing and could burst their bubbles and talk to them. I have a theory that this might be possible. 
I knew there was a plan
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2113246-how-can-facebook-and-its-users-burst-the-filter-bubble/
lobster