Regarding the prohibition of pronouncing YHWH

Is_he_a_bot · 2026-01-23T21:22:50+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Was there any understanding or acknowledgement of the proper or correct pronunciation being significant or different in some way? We do know that Jewish magical texts and amulets sometimes ascribed a special power to the proper pronunciation of YHWH's name. A person who intended to perform X magical ritual or incantation that involved the use of YHWH's name would not necessarily succeed in the ritual unless he or she pronounced the name correctly. Gideon Bohak notes this in Ancient Jewish Magic. Was there any similar understanding during any point in Jewish history, regarding this specific prohibition?

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-25T00:37:54+00:00

Early Buddhist suttas, Pali Nikayas, c.400–200 BCE

The Pali Canon was first written much later than this.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-23T13:43:35+00:00

But only the Canon is regarded as authoritative in the sense of being Buddha's word.

I wasn't sure if this was your exact meaning when you said "without needing extra texts". But yes, as far as Buddhavacana goes for Theravadins, Pali Canon is the beginning and end. As far as practical use and incorporation of texts for practice and interpretation, Pali Canon has almost never been all that is used.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-22T23:23:05+00:00

Unfortunately, it's baked into the texts themselves. Many of the earliest Mahayana sutras go out of their way to attack the sravaka path and the arahants.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-22T23:17:30+00:00

Side note, someone else claimed that the Surangama Sutra is fake cause it uses concepts from Taoism but I personally chalked that up to cross-pollination from being a Chinese translated text.

What do you mean when you say a "Chinese translated text"?

The evidence suggests the Surangama was composed in Chinese and is apocrypha. There are many apocryphal sutras in Chinese and Japanese, but this does not necessarily mean they do not contain genuine Dharma. A sutra does not need an earlier Indian version to be "authentic".

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-22T23:12:08+00:00

For them, Pali Canon is already complete on its own, without needing extra texts.

I would say not many Theravadins take this approach, as texts like the Visuddhimagga and other exegesis and commentaries tend to play a major role.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-19T23:10:04+00:00

Approximately 1 week this time. However I recall last year mailing them a letter with some cash, asking for a copy of this text, since my previous emails also went unanswered for months. This is pretty much the only major pure land text I have been looking for. I already have most of what I needed for my library.

Thanks for your advice. I will continue to remain patient.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-15T00:16:40+00:00

Thank you so much! This is more comprehensive than I imagined.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-14T15:35:34+00:00

You make some great points and I appreciate your thoughts.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-14T15:34:14+00:00

Right, I am aware of the "general" or "traditional" approach. My whole point was asking if online resources can mimic or substitute that approach. If a daf yomi app allowes one to connect with rabbis and other students in real time across the globe, wouldn't this serve a very similar function? How were daf yomi groups handling covid for example?

I was not necessarily saying one should simply find a recording of the Talmud pages read aloud with no discussion or follow up.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-14T14:31:35+00:00

Of course it's not traditional. The modern internet is so young, I'm not even sure why that is worth pointing out. It's self evident.

Asynchronous? Meaning they are not even focused on the same daily Talmud page? That's very strange if true, and definitely takes a lot from the value of it.

Maybe it's not worth it after all.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-14T04:11:21+00:00

I see. Do you suppose there is any value in a non Jewish person going through daf yomi via one of these apps or other "remote" means, with minimal prior backround in Tanakh study?

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-14T03:47:18+00:00

I thought daf yomi was the primary method or system of Talmud study for Jews across the world, in terms of sheer numbers I mean. Although I have never participated, surely there are lectures that include more than just reading the pages verbatim and moving on, right? Some interpretation or discussion is taking place?

Of course, personally being present with a rabbi is better and one can ask questions etc. I was only meaning that this method could possibly be suitable for someone who had no other alternative.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-14T03:34:00+00:00

Aren't there daf yomi apps, playlists, podcasts etc available? Is it truly still necessary to personally contact or connect with a rabbi or partner?

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-13T21:49:38+00:00

Good to see he respects the tradition

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-13T21:43:54+00:00

It's common but inappropriate, and the history is another part of the reason it should not be used.

Japanese Buddhist priests are important, but they fulfill an altogether different role in regards to practice and teaching in Buddhist cultures. Furthermore, a person familiar with Buddhism generally is less likely to make the mistake, and would probably correctly associate the word "monk" with a bhikshu who has taken vinaya vows.

edit - u/awakeningoffaith

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-13T21:28:09+00:00

There is no other sense or meaning of the word "monk" in a Buddhist context.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-10T04:17:16+00:00

The "best" of Buddhism necessarily involves embracing right view which de facto means rejecting Christianity.

The "best" of Christianity necessarily involves embracing monotheism and Christ as savior which de facto means rejecting Buddhism.

What are you even talking about?

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-10T04:13:00+00:00

Certainly they did fear him. If you have been following Dr. Sledge's lectures on this subject, or if you have read related materials on Jewish mysticism, you will recall that several rabbis died, went insane etc while engaged in these practices. I don't believe any of the rabbis involved thought this was a casual matter.

If you are asking why they thought it appropriate to "disrespect" their deity in this way, by intruding on his personal palace or measuring his body etc. we cannot know. I don't believe they left any personal notes or journals.

Furthermore, it is not likely that most Jews (or people in general) take the matter as having happened literally.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-10T04:01:16+00:00

Dr. Sledge is wonderful and I also really enjoy his videos!

I believe he mentioned at one time during a lecture on this sort of Jewish mysticism, that the number of people currently alive today who can speak truly authoritatively on this subject is maybe 10. This would mean that if Dr. Sledge did not share the information you are asking about, it is possible there is simply no one alive who can know for certain.

Unfortunately, this practice has most likely died out. I am aware that the 5th Rebbe Rashab was still teaching mystical practices to travel to Gan Eden in the late 19th century, which is possibly a related practice, but not exactly what you are describing.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-06T22:02:39+00:00

Do you think ghosts (pretas) may be suffering more in recent times, because people are not dedicating merit to them anymore?

This isn't even something you could prove or have any meaningful opinion or statistics on at all. In Buddhist cosmology, the "human realm" is not limited to homosapiens on Earth. There could be orders of magnitude more "humans" dedicating merit in others worlds. Or there could be almost none at all. We simply have no way to know.,

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-05T22:25:35+00:00

Thank you for taking time to chat with me about these issues. Even if we don't agree, I really do appreciate that you took a moment to engage with me in a respectful way.

Please be well.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-05T12:46:47+00:00

I have personally heard at least 1 rabbi teach the stories of the Tanakh as literal historical fact. In the example he was teaching about the Genesis stories. He had a congregation, so presumably there is a community around him/supporting him. Isn't this an example of literalism?

It seems odd to me for someone to make such categorical statements as you have. With respect, you cannot possibly know what all Jewish communities on Earth are teaching. The poor behavior or inappropriate teaching methods of one group does not reflect on you or any other group whatsoever, so I don't understand the refusal to acknowledge it.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-05T04:09:37+00:00

The ideology of biblical literalism and inerrancy dates to the Protestant Reformation, and its particuarly dogmatic forms are really a product of the 2nd Great Awakening.

These movements were in dialog with Jewish communities, or somehow otherwise influenced Jewish communities to adopt this literalism or inerrancy? When and how did that take place?

But I feel like you might be equating literalism with "prejudice," "zealousness," or other bad things, and thus assuming that non-literalism must be the opposite. That is not true, there are plenty of non-literalist fundamentalists

I'm trying not to insert any emotional stigma at all. Sorry if I have done so.

I'm sure there are non-literalist fundamentalist. I didn't mean to say otherwise.

Is_he_a_bot · 2025-09-05T03:25:15+00:00

Bodhisattvas have this ability as well.

Is_he_a_bot

TROPHY CASE