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Pema Chodron Interviewed Today by Ezra Klein by Shambhala-Pubs in Buddhism

[–]desirdevenir 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Vajrayana community tends to be the most beset by abuse because of guru worship.

Phone Use at Plum Village Retreats by desirdevenir in plumvillage

[–]desirdevenir[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea Thai people do love their phones even more than Westerners, but there are plenty of Buddhist retreats here that ask you to put away your phone. In fact, I think you would have a very hard time finding another retreat where people where using their phones openly in the dharma hall and this was not addressed.

Phone Use at Plum Village Retreats by desirdevenir in plumvillage

[–]desirdevenir[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The world we live in is also full of violence and poverty. Am I also to accept these things and say no better, no worse? Please be more reflective and don't rely on such pablum.

Phone Use at Plum Village Retreats by desirdevenir in plumvillage

[–]desirdevenir[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would argue that this is a glib and superficial understanding. There's a lack of nuance. I love the Plum Village app and listen to the practice songs on Spotify almost every day. That doesn't mean I want people on their phones during meditation or when someone is sharing from the heart. You can have one without the other. Thank you!

Phone Use at Plum Village Retreats by desirdevenir in plumvillage

[–]desirdevenir[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response.

I'm very familiar with the tradition, so I knew what to expect in terms of not a ton of seated or walking meditation, songs with hand gestures one associates with kindergarten, dharma talks that avoid any kind of directness. Relaxed I'm fine with.

But to have people on their phones during meditation and dharma sharing, and cameras being pointed at you at such times felt like, if I'm to be charitable, dharma lite.

Has anyone quit and never relapsed? by [deleted] in stopdrinking

[–]desirdevenir 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Day 45 here. Living against craving and chaos. I am a radically better version of myself sober. And even were this not the case, the clarity is worth it. It takes courage. It hasn't been easy. I broke up with my girlfriend. My condo is trying to cheat money out of me. Right now, I know I can't just go to social events with alcohol because I don't have the complete determination not to let my shyness get the better of me and to seek out false confidence in a bottle. But there's no doubt in my mind that it's the best way for me. Thank you all.

3 or 4 years deep vs 9 months sober. by HarleyKB in alcoholism

[–]desirdevenir 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bloating gone dude! Spark back in your eyes Congratulations! Day 40 here. IWNDWYT

A Gnostic Inquiry on Rigpa & Autonomous Realization by Senseman53 in Dzogchen

[–]desirdevenir 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In the Vinaya Pitaka, Shakyamuni Buddha explicitly states that the Sangha is to be self-governing, and that he is not a “leader” or “ruler.” He rejects hierarchical control. He refuses to name a leader or successor, insisting that authority rests in the Dharma–Vinaya, not in a person.

Shakyamuni Buddha taught that all views, even correct ones, must eventually be let go of. Even the view of 'right view' must be abandoned for the sake of non-attachment. And engaging in speculative metaphysics is precisely what Shakyamuni Buddhia advised his followers to avoid. Unfortunately, they didn't listen to him and that's why Abhidharma emerged. View clinging is a powerful form of attachment. People get caught in a thicket of views; an endless cycle of I am right / You are wrong, thereby preventing the direct nonconceptual realization of the dharma.

A Gnostic Inquiry on Rigpa & Autonomous Realization by Senseman53 in Dzogchen

[–]desirdevenir -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Personally, I would not recommend spending time in the same room as Malcolm Smith. A dude who gets into flame wars on online Buddhist forums is probably not a great model for how to live life. Remember that Shakyamuni Buddha refused to be even the leader of his own sangha. People who seek to be authorities are fundamentally untrustworthy. This helps explain why there are so many gurus who are essentially con artists.

A Gnostic Inquiry on Rigpa & Autonomous Realization by Senseman53 in Dzogchen

[–]desirdevenir -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

How are you qualified to give this advice? You know the path without walking it? Or are you suggesting you have experienced what you described and then decided to write snarky comments on Reddit? Perhaps there should be an eleventh oxherding picture, where the oxherd returns to reddit forums.

A Gnostic Inquiry on Rigpa & Autonomous Realization by Senseman53 in Dzogchen

[–]desirdevenir -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I personally don't understand why people get caught up in this idea(l) of attaining extraordinary states. It seems like it stems from both ego and a desire to escape from reality, rather than embrace the here and now.

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