Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
I think that I may just get this book for my Kindle and read it, since someone said it's more than just a book against beliefs. It'll give me something to do while I fix up this old computer, which I accidentally deleted the Windows partition on while I was setting up Ubuntu (too tired maybe).
I think that I may just get this book for my Kindle and read it, since someone said it's more than just a book against beliefs. It'll give me something to do while I fix up this old computer, which I accidentally deleted the Windows partition on while I was setting up Ubuntu (too tired maybe).
Cloud, see my earlier comment about the book. I don't find it negative, or "anti"- anything. See what you think.
I didn't find it anti, but I thought he generalized a little too much. For example he made a sweeping statement that the traditions believed in a transendental mystical realization. Yet if you listen to Pema Chodrons CD Pure Meditation, the five qualities of meditation are clear seeing, forgot , sitting with difficult states, being in the present, and no big deal. Look at the last one. She also specifically mentions that meditation does not transend anything but rather you go deeply into what you are experiencing. Finally she stated that the purpose of meditation is not to feel good at the beginning of her talk, which she said she could imagine the shockwaves going out the room and into the hallway.
I found some other observations of Batchelor that were sweeping, not thought out, or that I didn't agree with.
I liked his explanation of the 12 interdependent links. He translated each link in a way that I could understand it better, which might eventually form a bridge to the more traditional formulation. Included was an excellent kitchen sink everyday story of how these links function in a person much like me in their life.
I'm listening to the audio version now, which I think is actually read by Stephen Batchelor. Have made it through the first two "chapters" so far, pretty interesting.
I found some other observations of Batchelor that were sweeping, not thought out, or that I didn't agree with.
I liked his explanation of the 12 interdependent links. He translated each link in a way that I could understand it better, which might eventually form a bridge to the more traditional formulation. Included was an excellent kitchen sink everyday story of how these links function in a person much like me in their life.
That was my impression. Great nuts and bolts exegesis combined with claims that we're expected to take on faith.
Great nuts and bolts exegesis combined with claims that we're expected to take on faith.
It would be good to hear a list of the specific claims you're expected to take on faith. (Or maybe we should wait for the 15th to start the discussion.) Pema Chodron is Karma Kagyu, which is a very meditation-oriented, cosmologically liberal school of Tibetan Buddhism (my own teacher was trained in the Karma Kagyu lineage.) If you look at the Gelug school, which I think was Batchelor's, you get a lot more of the transcendental mystical stuff. (See Batchelor's more recent book Confession for examples.)
i'm in. bought the book about a year back, started it, then back-burnered it. it would be useful -- and great fun, i think -- to apply some group mind to it. :-)
Just got it in the mail (sucks I had to buy it again... If only people would return books when they borrowed them instead of moving away and taking them)
Awww just checked the library, they dont stock it. I may have to give this reading a miss but hopefully will be able to participate in the next one(tight budget at the moment).
The bookclub is an awesome idea, I have been looking for something like this for a while, thank you for starting it!
Comments
I found some other observations of Batchelor that were sweeping, not thought out, or that I didn't agree with.
I liked his explanation of the 12 interdependent links. He translated each link in a way that I could understand it better, which might eventually form a bridge to the more traditional formulation. Included was an excellent kitchen sink everyday story of how these links function in a person much like me in their life.
Should be ready by 15th
if it weren't for them i'd consider taking the vows of Boddhisatvahood.
The bookclub is an awesome idea, I have been looking for something like this for a while, thank you for starting it!
there is a dhamma book (sort of DIY) which has written by an author who got the Right View
Author is not saying author has the Right View, but the reader can see the book surely guide a person towards the Right View
current publisher is ready to publish the translation too
translator can translate and get the translating cost or can translate it as a dhamma gift
the book will be at very low cost because author do not take a single cent from it
the book is available at 'sarasavi bookshop' (under sinhala books, Buddha charithaya) internet
the title is 'thama thama nena pamanin'