tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post3336776590210287585..comments2024-03-18T16:28:06.364+07:00Comments on Buddha Space: The Buddha's First SermonGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-19174589274154993262013-11-07T21:21:00.085+07:002013-11-07T21:21:00.085+07:00BUDDHA'S FIRST SPEECH WAS 'DRISHNA CHODO D...BUDDHA'S FIRST SPEECH WAS 'DRISHNA CHODO DRISHNA TOODO'<br />WHICH MEANT NOT TO BELIEVE IN ETERNAL GOD.<br /> -MUSKAAN SINGHMuskaannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-9162920223275309302010-09-22T09:57:57.979+07:002010-09-22T09:57:57.979+07:00Have taken a look at your blog, Treederwright; it ...Have taken a look at your blog, Treederwright; it looks good!<br /><br />When time permits, I may well write a guest post for it. Thank you for the invitation.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-49698912727861582792010-09-15T01:40:29.142+07:002010-09-15T01:40:29.142+07:00I started a new blog called active bodhichitta. it...I started a new blog called active bodhichitta. its based upon patrul rinpoche's instruction to practice the teachings.<br /><br />I wanted to see what would happen if i actually followed the sage's great advice. So i commited myself to a year of practice on the Bodhicharyavatara and its commentary Nectar of Manjushri's Speech<br /><br />Also i have made a new Guest Blog. Where my friends and those who are practicing similarly can write a essay and i'll publish it under guest blogs with your name and a link that you would like backlinked.<br /><br />Mine is http://activebodhichitta.blogspot.com If you'd like write me and maybe you can do a guest blog for me.treederwrighthttp://activebodhichitta.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-64776154665177701342010-07-31T18:57:25.779+07:002010-07-31T18:57:25.779+07:00Thanks for the extensive comments, 'Anonymous&...Thanks for the extensive comments, 'Anonymous'. <br />Here is a (brief) response to your main two questions:<br /><br />1) Is the Buddha compassionate?<br />Yes. His compassion is a natural expression of his wisdom, and it is not only contained in the scriptures and teachings of the masters, but also in each of us. We need to cultivate wisdom through meditation to realize the Buddha within, then his compassion will flow through us, also.<br /><br />2) If the possibility of being a Buddha is so unachievable or just a limitation to a few, how can he be a fair Buddha, where he often tell us that "ALL humans are equal"?<br />He is "fair Buddha" because he did all he could to help us help ourselves. He couldn't do more than that! It is up to each and everyone of us to sort ourselves out, not rely on someone else, even the Buddha. In this, we are all equal. Also, realizing enlightenment is not as "unachievable" as you appear to think, 'Anonymous.' Just turn your attention around and attend to the emptiness at the heart of your own being. If you find this difficult to do, then you need to practice meditation & mindfulness on a regular basis. You are an incredible being whether you realize it or not - awakening is within your grasp!Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-13222852867706440942010-07-31T11:42:01.776+07:002010-07-31T11:42:01.776+07:00it's really messing up the thinking of all Bud...it's really messing up the thinking of all Buddhist this way..... On one side, it calls for the pursue for "emptiness", but on the other hand, it says that it's already there. Why does those so-call-masters, make Buddhism in such a way that's so complicated? Buddhist followers tends to get into "evil cults" because of some twist & turns in Buddhism. The basic fundamental in Buddhism according to Buddha himself, is to tell every one of us to get out of reincarnation FIRST. Whatever abilities we need to have, is to be accomplish in his Nirvana, NOT here in this world & with this filthy, non reliable body that we are having now. Most of the things in his scriptures are mainly for information purposes only, for he knows that, we as a human, will never achieve its ultimate perfection now. Buddhist tends to walk a never ending circle with all those complicated unachievable doctrines. To cut everything short I often have 2 questions for our Buddhist followers. 1) Is Buddha compassionate? Everyone answer will definitely be a "YES", right? If he is so compassionate, will he be just passing down some scriptures without caring much, on whether we can achieve its purpose or not? 2) If the possibility of being a Buddha is so unachievable or just a limitation to a few, how can he be a fair Buddha, where he often tell us that "ALL humans are equal"?<br />There are lots more to be shared, just that people tends to look at his scriptures blindly, without accepting reality. There are 3 eras which we have to consider, where most of the teachings he made was for the generation which was about 3,000 ago. If we check carefully in his scriptures, he did mentioned that Buddhism will change form after his 1,000 years, & it'll change again after the 2nd 1,000 years. We are in its final 3rd 1,000 years now, & whatever things taught earlier cannot be use now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-902252651797962262010-07-31T11:41:09.096+07:002010-07-31T11:41:09.096+07:00Lord Buddha given a guidance of how to attain nibb...Lord Buddha given a guidance of how to attain nibbana. <<== <br />3)What is the success rate for those which follows? Who could follow 100% of his teachings today? If we failed with even a 99% score, would it be a waste for this life (AGAIN)?<br />you cannot achieve anything from one or two days.(nirvana)<<== <br />4)Do U mean that a near dying man has got no more hope~? In Buddhism, we may be practicing a million years without success, but in just a split second, we may be into Nirvana.<br />Its enough to understand the base we called it as "EMPTINESS".. <<== How do we define "emptiness"? Empty mean nothing. When we make nothing out of something, it also means that we are making something into nothing. In Buddhism, it's easy to say that we have to go into "emptiness". But in reality, who can achieve that? Take for example, when one is hungry or thirsty, can we treat it as if nothing happened? Even if we can do it now, for how long can we last? "Emptiness" also could mean that, we will not care about everything around us. We will just be ignoring everything. This is not reality, where humans should do~! Only Buddhas or Boddhisatvas can go into that dimension of "Emptiness", not humans. Buddhist followers tends to make these kind of mistake for they often mixed up between monks & home practitioners, even disguise as a Buddha themselves, forgetting that they are just a normal human being.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-67218772794544828932010-07-31T11:37:09.355+07:002010-07-31T11:37:09.355+07:00Can you give me an answer to these questions pleas...Can you give me an answer to these questions please ..Just to compare with your opinion..............following questions came from one of my friend..<br /><br />"Rebirth takes place immediately" <<=== There's no doubt about it, but to where first? The rotation or cycle of the 6 realms act upon our own karma. We may be in hell for 10 trillion years before coming back to this world, to be just an ant, or a duck. <br />The easiest way to achieve Buddha hood, is to be human again. Okay now, let's say we reincarnated into this world as a human again. 1) While being reborn as a wealthy, happy human, will we believe in Buddha again, for we have got everything & would not need any religion of gods to help us then. 2) If when reborn to be a poor, hungry beggar, will we be finding food, or have extra time to look for gods or Buddha? <br />The conclusion is that, we must grab this very opportunity to achieve Buddha Hood after this life. But how? How many life time can a person have to go thru, to attain that perfection? Do remember, life is short. Even when we start to read all the Buddhist scriptures from birth until a hundred years old, we cannot even finish reading half of it. So, by reading or knowing all of Buddha's scriptures, will bring us to nowhere. Basically in Buddhism, there are 2 ways to achieve Buddha Hood. First, is the hard or difficult way, while the second one, is the easy way. Most Buddhist followers tends to do it the hard way, by reading scriptures everyday & night, be a vegetarian, making lots of donations to charity & by going to "every" monastery they came across. Doing all these things in life ,may be just a gateway to Nirvana, for we are no really going thru it. Forever we will just be standing on the same spot. <br />Want to know the easy way? (Lots of people don't believe that, there is any easy way)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-35574588322801766082010-07-31T10:32:04.257+07:002010-07-31T10:32:04.257+07:00Well put, Isis!Well put, Isis!Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-71185510449494175982010-07-31T07:18:57.299+07:002010-07-31T07:18:57.299+07:00Great post..
It's always important to remembe...Great post..<br /><br />It's always important to remember what we musn't forget ;)isis de la nochehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17150681862405399684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-52073146268224958532010-07-28T19:07:44.677+07:002010-07-28T19:07:44.677+07:00Thank you, Albert.
Yes, I think that your apprecia...Thank you, Albert.<br />Yes, I think that your appreciation of the timeless nature of the Buddha's teachings is a reminder to us all that gratitude for his life and teachings is an important quality to cultivate. No him (the Buddha), no us (Buddhists).Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-59938605660837787972010-07-28T14:55:06.107+07:002010-07-28T14:55:06.107+07:00Reflecting on your post(thank you) and Dhammacakka...Reflecting on your post(thank you) and Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta with the Nuns last night...in English and Pali.<br /><br />I am still most amazed at Buddha's teaching or at least the Pali retelling of it. To have something that works as well as it did over 2500 years ago as it does today is just a miracle. Looking at society then and now. It is very wise and simple and the foundation of all the teachings, but I have not quite figured out the levels of devas. Probably because I have had only touched the jaunas perhaps twice in meditation, and they are probably revealed best in the higher jaunas. And I am not talking about beautiful painted versions of them. :)<br /><br />Having only moved to Theravada 1 year ago from Mahayana after becoming a novice in Thailand. I knew of the teachings more from basic dhamma talks and books instead of the actual Sutta.Was Oncehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15787588883235992471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-23143939676871614402010-07-28T10:01:49.111+07:002010-07-28T10:01:49.111+07:00Enjoyed the typo, Albert, whether it was intended ...Enjoyed the typo, Albert, whether it was intended or not. Looking for mistakes is sometimes a healthy thing to do if done in a positive mindset. Then, it becomes a kind of reflection, doesn't it? <br /><br />What are your thoughts on the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta itself, Albert; has it played an important role in your practice? Also, what is your view on how literally you take the narrative contents of the Pali Canon? It would be very interesting to read your thoughts - I sound like a telepathist now!Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-24150455009090733562010-07-28T09:11:37.846+07:002010-07-28T09:11:37.846+07:00Gary,
That what I assumed that Bhikkhu refers at ...Gary,<br /> That what I assumed that Bhikkhu refers at that time to ascetics or sadhus( sorry about the typo, but it threw some humor into it). This came about reflecting...not wanting to find mistakes.Was Oncehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15787588883235992471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-57874862557696617552010-07-27T15:43:35.774+07:002010-07-27T15:43:35.774+07:00No, he wasn't addressing 'aesthetics' ...No, he wasn't addressing 'aesthetics' because that is the appreciation of beauty! I think you meant 'ascetics', Was Once. <br /><br />Well, if you take the Pali Canon as literal historical truth - which I don't - technically you may be correct, because the five ascetics became Buddhist monks after the Buddha delivered the first sermon. <br /><br />However, in the Pali itself, even prior to their conversion, the sutra refers to the five ascetics as "pancavaggiye bhikkhu", which if my Pali is up to scratch, means 'group of five monks'. Furthermore, the Buddha himself constantly addresses them with "bhikkhave" in the sutra, which is "O Monks" in English. <br /><br />It may be that the word 'bhikkhu' had a more general meaning at the time of the Buddha and meant 'ascetic' or 'monk' rather than a specifically Buddhist monk, as it does today. Alternatively, this could be a cock-up on the part of the Tripitaka compilers, and goes to show we shouldn't take everything in it literally, but reflect wisely.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-38716499141544831592010-07-27T15:04:34.736+07:002010-07-27T15:04:34.736+07:00Gary,
Wasn't he addressing aesthetics.....not ...Gary,<br />Wasn't he addressing aesthetics.....not monks?Was Oncehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15787588883235992471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-30995119249796490152010-07-26T07:35:25.969+07:002010-07-26T07:35:25.969+07:00Thanks Jack and Jack!
Jack: Glad you enjoyed the ...Thanks Jack and Jack!<br /><br />Jack: Glad you enjoyed the post.<br /><br />Jack: Yes, our real home is the peaceful, nonjudgmental awareness that is the 'No-thing' that things to occur in. Union and disunion alike arise in it, but can never disturb its serenity: if human beings really want true peace, then it is Here that we should look for it.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-76644975503617069142010-07-26T03:56:50.332+07:002010-07-26T03:56:50.332+07:00There is a very simple little saying that I think ...There is a very simple little saying that I think totally encapsulates the very ground truth not only of Zen Buddhism but also of Christianity as well: " Love begins at home!" One may ask what exactly does that statement pretend to signify?<br /><br />Home is where one lives and a man can have any number of different types and levels of homes. However Buddhism and Christianity both have a laser like focus on a home of the most intimate kind and its name is Buddha or spirit. <br /><br />There are two basic ways that man can live at home, either in disunion or communion and the sad truth is that man is not at home with his very own self and In fact he is at war with himself.<br /><br />Modern man is evermore living life as if looking through a telescope ( far away ) instead of a microscope ( close at hand. ) Man is more and more in dire need of returning home and being in loving communion with himself for love begins at homejackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13481053654326089513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-13691357347616931392010-07-26T00:30:36.940+07:002010-07-26T00:30:36.940+07:00Hi Gary,great post.
JackHi Gary,great post. <br /><br />JackJacknoreply@blogger.com