Best Of
Re: Buddhist View of Justice
RobinH I think you make a very good point. Most people’s sense of outrage is more developed than their actual sense of justice, and that outrage spills over into anger and violent retribution. It is well known that people individually can be kind, sensitive, good-hearted, but as a mob can be much more volatile.
I think it’s very interesting with all the information coming to light from the Epstein files, that there has been a lot of outrage but very little actual consequence. It seems that in the structure of society today it is a lot more difficult for action to manifest than in the past. Reputational damage is about as far as it seems to go — I don’t think Deepak Chopra will be selling as many books.
Jeroen
Re: The AI tsunami
Perfect example of the utter lack of common sense involved with LLMs. They don't actually know anything.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bsl46vGpMNU
person
Re: US Citizens! Thinking About Moving Overseas ?
I think about it.
But, at 78, with family here as cohabitants.....
It does not get much past "Think". 
Lionduck
On the topic of becoming more conscious
I came across a piece of writing which said something along the lines of, “if someone does not wish to meditate, he is likely reacting against some association with Eastern religion and instead you should encourage him by using other words, such as awareness, alertness, consciousness.”
This made me think, if awareness and alertness are key components of meditation, what happens when you focus? Is that also a meditative experience? For example, when you watch a really good movie, or when you are in a life-threatening situation climbing a mountain, or in an accident? You will likely be familiar with one or more of these.
Knowing that my consciousness could change, I decided to do a little experiment. I sat facing a wall, and just tried to sharpen my consciousness. I sat looking at the wall, but quickly found myself devolving into staring in an effort to “push” consciousness along. That led to less awareness, not more. So I decided to focus on my hearing, but I found I became less conscious of sight if I did that, and again became less aware, and rather sleepy. After a little more experimentation I found that in avoiding staring and in avoiding the dulling of the senses some good things happen.
Are these kind of techniques — of manipulating awareness and alertness — actually useful?
Jeroen
Re: About Thangka
Reciting Mantras is supposedly meant to have the same effect. You're not praying to a deity. Rather you are making a supplication to yourself that you manifest the desired qualities in earnest.
Om Mani Padme Hung - the six-syllable Seed Mantra - 'The Jewel is in the Lotus' - is very simplistically, a wish to Awaken. What we do, we become.
As my dear departed late father used to whimsically say, "Patience and perseverance will 'feck' a flea!!" Keep at it. The best is yet to come!
federica
Re: Funny Stuff
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/R4gvjxTkHPo
Americans don't understand statistics...
person
Re: About Thangka
You shouldn’t have complimented him, @RobinH, it has clearly gone to his head…
Jeroen
Re: Buddhist Sadhana — what is it?
You didn't listen.
I mentioned a particular tantric feast practice, being a sadhana, not "kind of", that includes consuming red meat (beef, etc.) and alcohol. You may also find the consumption of cannabis and a substance found specifically in Tibetan Buddhism, called Dutsi.
Sadhana differs from other practices in that it requires transmission to undertake the practice. This is a ceremony that includes a reading of the entire liturgy. It's also a class in how to actually perform the practice - the use mantra, mudra, mala, music and so on.
Then, you can do the practice.
What you're dealing with here is an esoteric cult. That's "cult" in the more classic sense. Not Jonestown.
There's a lot more to that can be shared, so ask away if you want, but that's a good place to stop, for now.
Buddhist Sadhana — what is it?
Wikipedia says the Sanskrit word ‘sadhana’ means a spiritual discipline or practice aimed at accomplishing a goal. So can it be any kind of practice, whatever you identify with? For example Hindu sadhus often do bathing in the Ganges as a kind of sadhana for purification.
It seems to be really varied. @IdleChater in the past talked about a tantric feast as a kind of sadhana involving alcohol and red meat.
Jeroen