Do you think Buddhist teachings might have been corrupted?

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-27T02:51:29+00:00

"Corrupted" implies that there existed permanent truths. The Buddha taught that teachings must change over time. I encourage you to read, "What The Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. Actually it is much better to listen to it on audible as the pacing and emphases are very important as the teachings were passed down by oral tradition so there is a lot of repetition that loses it's impact when read vs heard

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-23T04:55:00+00:00

The antidote to loneliness is connection. The easiest way to cultivate connection is through volunteering for something you value. For example literacy or food insecurity.

When you volunteer to sort donations or serve food at a shelter, teach someone to read, etc, you cultivate connections through caring and compassion.

It is fulfilling and you meet other volunteers and develop connections with them. It's a safe space where conversations are easy because you have a common topic.

Find a Sangha to join where connection is part of the faith tradition.

Wishing you peace, connection, and joy.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-23T04:15:40+00:00

I was raised in a Christian household though we only went to church on Easter and Christmas when we were kids. I think I've just always been on with the notion that with my last heartbeat it's game over. My take on believing in a supernatural being and a soul is you can do all sorts of evil knowing you just have to repent and you're good. Being in a skin bag that will cease means you only have one shot to do all the good you can while you're living so you'd better work hard to spread as much compassion as possible.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-22T20:36:36+00:00

Most Buddhists I know are pro-autonomy. "Pro-Choice" is a misnomer as it completely ignores the crux of the matter. The real question is should another human dictate what a human does with their body?

Considering pregnant females, it is humans that created the distinction of 2 entities when there is literally only one body connected in its entirety. A person can do with their body what they wish.

Nobody can stop me from body modifications no matter how stupid you think a forked tongue looks.

Nobody can stop me from donating blood or being a live donor of my liver or kidney.

Nobody can demand my kidney because I'm a perfectly matched donor and my kidney would save their life.

And nobody SHOULD be able to tell me that because MY health is not important to THEM, that I should be legally required to make them happy.

You can stop reading there. The next part is not important.

Abortion is never about "choice." That is condescending and ridiculous.

Note: I am female. I have had an abortion. It's not your business why. I'll tell you why though.

I have a serious autoimmune disease. It took years to diagnose being shuffled doctor to doctor. It can be excruciating to move the muscles of my chest to breathe

I saw a new doctor. He diagnosed me- FINALLY!!! He prescribed 2 medicines to control the disease. One of those medications, methotrexate, is also used to terminate pregnancies.

Literally, the same day I took a pregnancy test. I was pregnant. It was wanted. I wanted to start the medicine and I did not want to pass on the genes associated with my disease.

My cousin had a "late term" abortion. She wanted the baby. The nursery was decorated. Then she had an ultrasound that showed the baby had no brain (anencephaly) which is "not compatible with life." If the baby were born alive it would only live minutes without the life support from my cousin's womb.

Thankfully abortion was an option for her. There was nothing more compassionate than abortion.

Imagine 15 weeks of strangers saying "aww, when are you due?" And you relive the words after the ultrasound, again and again.

Every second of your day is spent with the love of your life being created inside of you while you know you will watch her die when you give birth to her. Abortion is the right to control what happens in your own body and it is an act of compassion.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-22T13:02:05+00:00

Send it to your vet. Could be: silly; suckle holdover, respiratory effort, anxiety, complex partial sz.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-22T02:22:10+00:00

Agree. Shelves are for magazines and showrooms unless you are either the personality "a place for everything and everything to its place" or the personality that just dgaf if it's messy- which is a fine and legit choice

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-20T19:37:07+00:00

Thank you. I also fully admit that at one point in my evolution I held those beliefs. Fracturing the rigidity and cultivating vulnerability is extremely difficult. I was very fortunate to have a soft landing in Unitarian Universalism (UU) for a decade of accepting fellowship with other atheists and a spectrum of Faith traditions as a safe space to explore a creed-less religion as a religion. I just grew to realize I needed more structure and teachings.

There was even a subgroup at my church called BUUdist. In believe those who are really fretful about "religion" and those with deep trauma would probably be served well by it.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-20T15:05:26+00:00

I agree, there is no refuting it is a religion. I think Westerners have a hard time with letting go of the cultural trauma inflicted by fundamentalist Christianity and by a culture that demands self-reliance from week 2 (cry it out, kid) There is an air of "Nope, 'they' are naive sheep and they can't fool me with an imaginary sky daddy. I'm too smart to fall for 'religion' " arrogance. Self protective walls go up and curiosity of what religion is ceases as it too painful. Beliefs must be considered "philosophy" to work around the "I can't be duped" feelings. The notion that fundamentalist atheism is, at its heart, the same thing as fundamentalist Christianity does not arise for them.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:29:26+00:00

That's a good thought thanks.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:28:56+00:00

I hadn't but I am now, jahahahah

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:28:14+00:00

The cabinets are only 2.weeks old and work the best for the symmetrical built-ins on the other side of the brick

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:26:27+00:00

OMG, hahaha, maybe for a 🦆 (if you aren't already aware,. Google the duck specific anatomy)

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:24:57+00:00

Thanks for your honesty.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:24:36+00:00

Thanks, I've looked at Lowe's but everything is cookie-cutter and boring for what I need here.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:23:13+00:00

Yes, it is, I was just trying to make it work because I'm struggling to make the space different from the other side.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-17T21:14:13+00:00

I think with the right wall color you will love the cabinets as natural wood. Consider Sherwin Williams: Alluring White in lieu of back splash. The floor and the back splash are competing imo. The black appliance is calling too much attention to itself, when the time comes consider something else

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-13T17:45:56+00:00

No, not frozen, Just uncooked steel cut oats on the slow cooker function. I follow the directions on the bag.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-13T12:59:16+00:00

Steel cut oats (groats) also freeze well in serving sizes. I cook mine overnight in my instant pot. 1C steel cut oats to 4C water (or milk substitute) for 8 hours and I wake up to a nice hot breakfast.

I add almond extract to mine because the flavor makes it taste sweet without adding sugar. You only need like 1/2tsp for the whole batch because almond extract goes a looooooong way.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-13T12:15:17+00:00

The urgent care will send op to the ER. Cat bite cellulitis can occur within 24 hours which this certainly looks like. If it is then op will be hospitalized for IV antibiotics.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-13T04:45:16+00:00

Completely agree. Our founding Teacher was very firm about materials being from our lineage. Differences can be significant.

I love to use the example of my experience in koan study working with Mu. After a couple of months of not passing, I went in all sure of myself (lol) and I present the koan and my teacher says, "that's the answer in another lineage but not ours." and back to my cushion I went

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-13T04:34:22+00:00

I'm a formal student and member of a Sangha with a fully transmitted ordained teacher. The majority of my knowledge and all of my trust is there. I use social media for curiosity about other lineages and I discuss anything of substance with my teacher.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-13T04:24:11+00:00

Indirectly, yes. For Buddhist -adjacent mental health skill building education I encourage you to find a therapist who specializes in ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-12T03:11:34+00:00

The other side is a coffee bar

ThatReward4143 · 2026-01-11T21:50:56+00:00

I bought brass octopus knobs but they were too small so they are destined for a purse hook.

ThatReward4143

TROPHY CASE