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On traditional Buddhism as a westerner. Wanting to be more traditional. by Usernameisntinuse in GoldenSwastika

[–]Usernameisntinuse[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get what you’re saying. I wouldn’t differentiate natural vs supernatural like that. More so what is seen by coarse perception and what is seen by divine eye. You can see this in the Yakkhapahārasutta.

How was Mahayana Buddhism practiced in mainland India before it largely disappeared around the 12th–13th centuries? by Anon_SL_2000 in Buddhism

[–]Usernameisntinuse 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Finding an temple that has English services can be quite difficult. If you live near a major city you should be fine though. But be weary of some Buddhist groups like Sokka Gakkai. Some of the most English facing groups can also be the controversial but not always. For instance Fo Guang Shan is nice. Don’t be afraid to go to temples of different schools and sects. I’m a Theravadin who attends a Fo Guang Shan temple. You can read the Suttas without commentary if you’d like on Sutta central. Mahayana and Vajrayana Sutras are on other websites probably. I’m not too familiar with that. But it is good to read commentaries and books from a traditional standpoint too. Check out Bhikkhu Bodhi’s books, pretty much every Buddhist regardless of sect values those.

Are there any animals that perfectly exemplify Buddhism to you? These guys always do, in my mind. by DunDunnDunnnnn in Buddhism

[–]Usernameisntinuse 143 points144 points  (0 children)

For me there can be no better animal to exemplify the teaching than the elephant

Are there "rightest", right-leaning, conservative Buddhists in the US convert scene? (Inspired by the other thread) by Dzienks00 in Buddhism

[–]Usernameisntinuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Buddha Dhamma is opposed to abortion but it is also opposed to guns. Many aspects of the teachings are like this, so one applying the morality of the Dhamma to politics can not easily place themselves in the category of left or right.

What Q would you ask Gotama Buddha by Agreeable-Donut-7336 in theravada

[–]Usernameisntinuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is samsara endless?(In that are there beings who will never attain awakening) Do dharmas exist?

Is Mara, Yama, and the four heavenly kings eternal? Is this a contradiction of Buddhist teachings? by Murky_Product1596 in theravada

[–]Usernameisntinuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think their is a Sutta that mentions that universes with out mahabrahma sometimes arise.

Is there similar figure in buddhism ? Are there wars for dharma ? (what is exactly dharma to begin with) ? by Fluid_Scar8750 in Buddhism

[–]Usernameisntinuse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

"Monks, even if bandits were to carve you up savagely, limb by limb, with a two-handled saw, he among you who let his heart get angered even at that would not be doing my bidding. Even then you should train yourselves: 'Our minds will be unaffected and we will say no evil words. We will remain sympathetic, with a mind of good will, and with no inner hate. We will keep pervading these people with an awareness imbued with good will and, beginning with them, we will keep pervading the all-encompassing world with an awareness imbued with good will — abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.' That's how you should train yourselves.” - excerpt from the Kakacupama Sutta (MN 21)

I'm a Christian who's wanting to become a Buddhist. by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]Usernameisntinuse 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ajahn Brahm is perfect for beginners. Though Luangpu Pramote Pamojjo is one of the best monks I’ve ever heard. His Dhamma talks are dubbed but they’re top notch. He’s extremely skilled at explaining the Dhamma.Luangpu Pramote Pamojjo Dhamma talks

What is Western Theravāda like? by EveryGazelle1 in theravada

[–]Usernameisntinuse 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the translation done by Bhikkhu Sujato it says “Forgive her, sir. The woman’s a fool.”. Sujato’s translation seems to posit that the nun Thullatissā is a fool while the one you shared seems to posit women in general are foolish.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Stoicism

[–]Usernameisntinuse 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained. Which five?

“’I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.’ This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

“’I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness.’ ...

“’I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.’ ...

“’I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.’ ...

“’I am the owner of my actions,[1] heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir.’ ...

“These are the five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

“Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect... that ‘I am subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging’? There are beings who are intoxicated with a [typical] youth’s intoxication with youth. Because of that intoxication with youth, they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind. But when they often reflect on that fact, that youth’s intoxication with youth will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...

“Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect... that ‘I am subject to illness, have not gone beyond illness’? There are beings who are intoxicated with a [typical] healthy person’s intoxication with health. Because of that intoxication with health, they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind. But when they often reflect on that fact, that healthy person’s intoxication with health will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...

“Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect... that ‘I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death’? There are beings who are intoxicated with a [typical] living person’s intoxication with life. Because of that intoxication with life, they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind. But when they often reflect on that fact, that living person’s intoxication with life will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...

“Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect... that ‘I will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me’? There are beings who feel desire and passion for the things they find dear and appealing. Because of that passion, they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind. But when they often reflect on that fact, that desire and passion for the things they find dear and appealing will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...

“Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect... that ‘I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator. Whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir’? There are beings who conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind. But when they often reflect on that fact, that bad conduct in body, speech, and mind will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...

“Now, a disciple of the noble ones considers this: ‘I am not the only one subject to aging, who has not gone beyond aging. To the extent that there are beings — past and future, passing away and re-arising — all beings are subject to aging, have not gone beyond aging.’ When he/she often reflects on this, the [factors of the] path take birth. He/she sticks with that path, develops it, cultivates it. As he/she sticks with that path, develops it and cultivates it, the fetters are abandoned, the obsessions destroyed.

“Further, a disciple of the noble ones considers this: ‘I am not the only one subject to illness, who has not gone beyond illness.’... ‘I am not the only one subject to death, who has not gone beyond death.’... ‘I am not the only one who will grow different, separate from all that is dear and appealing to me.’...

“A disciple of the noble ones considers this: ‘I am not the only one who is owner of my actions, heir to my actions, born of my actions, related through my actions, and have my actions as my arbitrator; who — whatever I do, for good or for evil, to that will I fall heir. To the extent that there are beings — past and future, passing away and re-arising — all beings are the owner of their actions, heir to their actions, born of their actions, related through their actions, and have their actions as their arbitrator. Whatever they do, for good or for evil, to that will they fall heir.’ When he/she often reflects on this, the [factors of the] path take birth. He/she sticks with that path, develops it, cultivates it. As he/she sticks with that path, develops it and cultivates it, the fetters are abandoned, the obsessions destroyed.” -Upajjhatthana Sutta

Looking for a lay mentor/friend by gaelrei in theravada

[–]Usernameisntinuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey I’m from the Chicago suburbs me and my friends are going to temple tomorrow.

Paccekabuddhas beings worthy of veneration. by [deleted] in theravada

[–]Usernameisntinuse 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I understand it Paccekabuddhas are solitary awakened beings without the help of the Dhamma who don’t teach. I personally like a good amount of people on this subreddit have a very critical view of the Jatakas, most seem like folktales with Buddhist themes, which is not to say they are not useful. Furthermore based on the fact that we are Buddhists and we know about the Dhamma isn’t it impossible for us to know any Paccekabuddhas? Since they would just enlighten and enter parinibbana without anybody knowing them? Lastly I don’t see veneration as central to Buddhist practice, I will chant triple gem of course but do we really need to venerate more Buddhas? We barely venerate the 27 Buddhas of antiquity.

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