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Alien's and Dharma

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Comments

  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    thickpaper wrote: »
    (Incidentally, there is more reason to believe in aliens on Earth than some of the beings contained in some Buddhist scriptures)


    The thread was asking more about the scope of dharma, rather than reality of aliens on Earth.

    But what I don't get is why Buddhists would emphatically deny the spirituality of possible alien life. A denial which suggests that the 4NT's only apply to we naked apes.

    With the blessing of eternal and universal dharma,

    namaste
    There seems to be a general view in the popular scientific literature that bioloical life is quite possible and maybe even probable throughout the universe. That makes sense to me.

    Asking about Alien Dharma is a speculative leap on so many fronts that its just a game.
    So, no real opinion.
  • thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Asking about Alien Dharma is a speculative leap on so many fronts that its just a game.
    So, no real opinion.

    Surely there is no alien dharma, only dharma?

    If the suttas say thing like all sentient beings experience dukka why would a buddhist not believe that this would apply to sentient alien beings.

    That is not speculation, that is dharma.
  • edited May 2010
    i believe

    alien_buddha.jpg
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited May 2010
    I actually quite like that picture....:)

    But apply the Kalama Sutta to this, as much as anything else that happens to come my way....
  • KundoKundo Sydney, Australia Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Actually I don't think it similar. Consider these statements: (snip)

    You read too much into my answer (again).

    My comparison to the question "Does God exist?" was to show that we have no definitive proof. While we have travelled to the Moon and sent probes to Mars, we still have no definitive proof that aliens exist. We have many people (myself included) who think it would be a strong possibility. My personal conclusion on this is that we shouldn't waste so much time and energy on the "what-if's" and more on practising the Dhamma.
    No, nor mine at all. But if it interests me nonetheless. maybe if it interestes others they may like to chat constructivly about the possibilites!

    I'm sorry, I didn't realise that having a different view from yours = pointless discussion.

    I will bow out of this discussion as I clearly have nothing more to offer it.

    Respectfully,
    Raven
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    i believe

    alien_buddha.jpg

    They are coming for you Pietro.
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Nazi aliens controlling a clone army of cookie monsters...this is where papanca inevitably leads. I officially proclaim this the "Nazi-alien-cookiemonster-papanca law". Godwin's law eat-your-heart-out.
  • thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
    edited May 2010
    My comparison to the question "Does God exist?" was to show that we have no definitive proof. While we have travelled to the Moon and sent probes to Mars, we still have no definitive proof that aliens exist.

    Ummm... right... but we have reason and can reason that it would be a very strange universe if they only existed here(us).
    We have many people (myself included) who think it would be a strong possibility.

    Yes, but that isn't true of gods existence.
    My personal conclusion on this is that we shouldn't waste so much time and energy on the "what-if's" and more on practising the Dhamma.

    That is your opinion, in which case why are you on the internet when you could be on the meditation mat or into the library?

    My opinion is that it is fun and interesting to think about such things and maybe it might add new angles to my understanding of dharma.
    I'm sorry, I didn't realise that having a different view from yours = pointless discussion.

    Its so easy to criticise anything. Whatever anyone says, pretty much, they are open for at least some criticism. But that isn't a discussion, that isnt an endeavour to progess through to some point. Its just naysaying.

    I don't get why people here criticise things in the same breath as they say "this discussion is pointless".

    I will bow out of this discussion as I clearly have nothing more to offer it.

    OK. And if you do ever come up with constructive criticisms rather than repetitive destructive criticism of the very point of the discussion....

    namaste
  • edited May 2010
    They are coming for you Pietro.
    haHA HA HA
    they'll never take my cookieoplexus ALIVE!!!

    DOES a hitler have buddha nature?
    MU
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited May 2010
    DOES a hitler have buddha nature?

    Your mother

    When your mother has grown older,
    When her dear, faithful eyes
    No longer see life as they once did,
    When her feet, grown tired,
    No longer want to carry her as she walks,
    Then lend her your arm in support, escort her with happy pleasure -
    the hour will come when, weeping, you must accompany her on her final walk.
    And if she asks you something, then give her an answer.
    And if she asks again, then speak!
    And if she asks yet again, respond to her, not impatiently, but with gentle calm.
    And if she cannot understand you properly, explain all to her happily.
    The hour will come, the bitter hour, when her mouth asks for nothing more.

    Adolf Hitler, May 1923
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Unfortunately I found the above poem on a "white pride" website.
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    GuyC wrote: »
    Your mother

    When your mother has grown older,
    When her dear, faithful eyes
    No longer see life as they once did,
    When her feet, grown tired,
    No longer want to carry her as she walks,
    Then lend her your arm in support, escort her with happy pleasure -
    the hour will come when, weeping, you must accompany her on her final walk.
    And if she asks you something, then give her an answer.
    And if she asks again, then speak!
    And if she asks yet again, respond to her, not impatiently, but with gentle calm.
    And if she cannot understand you properly, explain all to her happily.
    The hour will come, the bitter hour, when her mouth asks for nothing more.

    Adolf Hitler, May 1923
    You know Guy. Internet Hitler laws aside, this does raise some difficult questions. he was not (no pun intended) an alien, or a supernatural monster. He was a human being who along with others was ruled by terrible passions and ideas, ideas that were an entrenched part of European culture and only found their full expression with this tormented man. Sure he had "Buddha Nature" but it almost feels like a "sin" to admit it.
  • shadowleavershadowleaver Veteran
    edited May 2010
    The question sounds like a Zen koan :)
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited May 2010
    (. . .) DOES a hitler have buddha nature?
    MU

    'a hitler'....? There's more than one??
    And given that 'hitler' does not have a capital letter, is this just a noun (as opposed to a Proper Noun)?

    in which case....
    What IS a "hitler"....?

    And would it therefore also have Mara nature...?
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Federica Gompopa JOL says that 'buddha nature' just means that you are empty of self nature. So you can change into a buddha. Hitler is empty of a permanent separate 'hitler nature' and instead has buddha nature which just means he is empty of self nature. Hitler is not missing something he could not obtain to become a buddha. He would just need to enter the accumulation steps of the path and accumulate what he needs.
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Jeffrey wrote: »
    Federica Gompopa JOL says that 'buddha nature' just means that you are empty of self nature. So you can change into a buddha. Hitler is empty of a permanent separate 'hitler nature' and instead has buddha nature which just means he is empty of self nature. Hitler is not missing something he could not obtain to become a buddha. He would just need to enter the accumulation steps of the path and accumulate what he needs.
    Well since we've taken this turn. If a person, empty of inherent self-nature, is nonetheless by every cultural, ideological, and psycholological measure, a trillion miles from the beginning of a possiblity of a chance of realizing his Buddha Nature, then that Buddha Nature is for all practical purposes non-existent. What is existent is big time Mara nature.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2010
    no buddha nature is no less existent in hitler.... hitler is empty of self nature. He has a workable situation.

    In JOL it also says that even if you are in hell if you can imagine a flower and give it to the buddha you can make progress.

    When the moon comes out from behind the clouds it shines so beautiful and powerful..
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Jeffrey wrote: »
    no buddha nature is no less existent in hitler.... hitler is empty of self nature. He has a workable situation.

    In JOL it also says that even if you are in hell if you can imagine a flower and give it to the buddha you can make progress.

    When the moon comes out from behind the clouds it shines so beautiful and powerful..
    existent it aint. There are those who are nowhere near such an actualization and who's conditions on every front precludes it. Workable in theory, but then in theory I could toss a spoon over my shoulder and have it land standing on its handle.
  • aMattaMatt Veteran
    edited May 2010
    existent it aint. There are those who are nowhere near such an actualization and who's conditions on every front precludes it. Workable in theory, but then in theory I could toss a spoon over my shoulder and have it land standing on its handle.

    Let me guess... Hitler's actions were irrefutably, universally and absolutely wrong. :lol:
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    aMatt wrote: »
    Let me guess... Hitler's actions were irrefutably, universally and absolutely wrong. :lol:
    You guess wrong. Hitler like many others was by every account, irrefutably and absolutely locked down. Get it Mr. giggles? It happens, or do you think you could show him a flower and he would awaken. guffaw guffaw.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2010
    So hitler is a separate permanently existing self? Or didn't you read what I said JOL by Gampopa says that Buddha nature is..
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Jeffrey wrote: »
    So hitler is a separate permanently existing self? Or didn't you read what I said JOL by Gampopa says that Buddha nature is..
    No, I did not say that Hitler (can't believe were having a Hitler discussion) has a permanently existing self. Hilter was empty, truly, truly Empty. But being empty of self nature means dick-all if you know your not, everyone around agrees, the state agrees, The ancient warriors in Valhalla agree, and your commanding the takeover of a continent.:lol:.

    jeez enough,
  • patbbpatbb Veteran
    edited May 2010
    existent it aint. There are those who are nowhere near such an actualization and who's conditions on every front precludes it. Workable in theory, but then in theory I could toss a spoon over my shoulder and have it land standing on its handle.
    I think Hitler Buddha nature was as existant as everyone else.

    No offence but to claim anything else is simply ignorant. We are all the same mr. Herman.

    What is that story about a serial killers turned to a saints in Buddhism?

    Whatch "Dharma brothers" movie to see for yourself, killers and people dumped into the incarceration system in the united state, gaining much from Vipassana retreat, changing.
  • aMattaMatt Veteran
    edited May 2010
    (can't believe were having a Hitler discussion)

    jeez enough,

    Yes... must get back to the entirely productive and insightful communication about aliens.
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    patbb wrote: »
    I think Hitler Buddha nature was as existant as everyone else.

    No offence but to claim anything else is simply ignorant. We are all the same mr. Herman.

    What is that story about a serial killers turned to a saints in Buddhism?

    Whatch "Dharma brothers" movie to see for yourself, killers and people dumped into the incarceration system in the united state, gaining much from Vipassana retreat, changing.


    hey...... you said existant.

    Ok I'll go at this one... more..... time. His Buddha nature clearly did not stand forth. He was clearly unrealized as demontrated by his speech and behaviour, and he died by every account believing in his everlasting soul.

    Holy boingo.
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2010
    aMatt wrote: »
    Yes... must get back to the entirely productive and insightful communication about aliens.
    Good idea. Could there be a Hitler on another planet?
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Maybe hitler was one of those 'dark' aliens? And why can't in alien culture darkness be 'good' and light 'bad'?
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