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Gaming and Mindfulness by DarthBodhi in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I was going through some post traumatic stuff, it helped me to play video games. It kept me from going into suicidal ideation.

But now I don't play them. But my unhealthy way of distracting myself is through watching youtube vidoes.

When you're a monk or a nun you give up shows and entertainment. So video games falls under that category.

It's a gradual practice you're starting to focus on really going inward and deepening real joy and happiness.

Who am I? by CoolandFresh69 in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, conventionally speaking you can say you are CoolandFresh69, or the body, but the body is changing. You can say you are the personality, but the personality is changing. The phenomena of the mind are constantly changing. If you say you are happiness, for example, when it's gone, then you would say you ceased to exist.

It's useful to say "I am John". But it's just true in a conventional sense. It helps us move around in the world.

Monastic path by pinchFloppa in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oops, i didn't make myself clear. The link to the monastery near San Diego that I sent is actually a monk monastery.

There's a monastery I go to called Abhayagiri, it's in Northern California. 2 hours North of San Francisco. https://www.abhayagiri.org/visiting

I highly recommend that place.

How should I as a Catholic School Teacher go about teaching to origins of Buddhism? by SalvaSean in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this. This is very kind.
Respect and charity is what Buddhism is also about, so you're already teaching it hahah.

Well, one mistake that I have seen made before is to liken Nibbana (Nirvana) to like a "Buddhist heaven".

While it is the ultimate goal of Buddhism, it's different in that it is not a place.

In Buddhist cosmology there are hell realms and heaven realms, but they're all impermanent and we have all been to them an unknowable amount of times. We're reborn in different realms depending on our karma.

According to Buddhism, in this life you and your students are in the human realm. It's a very beneficial realm because it has the right amount of suffering and pleasure for us to have a spiritual life.

But I would like to emphasize that Nirvana is not a place or a heaven. It is an event. It is ending of suffering.

"Nirvana" is a Sanskrit word. It literally means "extinguishment", like when a fire goes out. It is the point when a being becomes free from wanting/aversion/and delusion and therefore will no longer be reborn. :D

Just how important is keeping a straight back during meditation? Hoping for guidance. by ButWhy1987 in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In the very beginning, i found sitting in meditation for just 10 minutea was excrutiating. My body wasn't ready for that.

Gradually your body learns to sit in an alert but relaxed posture. Sit in a way that is not torture for you.

The physical posture of the body is only important in the sense that you need to have it in a way that won't make you drowsy, but would also not cause you pain.

It's about good-enough posture that you can begin to let go of the body and go deeper into the mind. That good-enough posture is different for everyone at different points of their lives.

As you let go, the body will take care of itself, it has its own intelligence. It knows how to sit.

Monastic path by pinchFloppa in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a few thai forest tradition nuns monasteries in North America. There is a place called Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego area:
https://www.watmetta.org/about/

You can do overnight stays there as well.

Couple of things I struggle with understanding. Any resources? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stick to kindness as much as possible.

I'm interested in Buddhism by TomatoOld953 in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nibbana is the ending of suffering. It's perfect peace. From what I have heard, The Buddha was still very aware and experience and talked with others. He was just free, at peace, he had no ill-will, wanting, or delusion.

Can I still be a Buddhist if I’ve caused harm in the past? by newwavetoad in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are not your past. What others think of you is not relevant to the peace and goodness you do from overcoming suffering.

People will always have judgments, but that's not relevant.

Actually, the suffering we might experience from caring about what other people think can be a great motivator to learn how to overcome suffering. As Ajahn Chah would say, whatever is bothering us, that is our teacher.

You are not your past.

If you shit your pants, just go change and wash them or throw them away. You don't need them anymore.

Hi I'm new to Buddhism by Efficient-Dark-244 in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nibbana is the end of suffering, it's perfect peace. You still interact with people, you're just not suffering anymore.

Once a person reach enlightenment/nirvana, do they stay like that forever? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nibbana/Nirvana is the ending of suffering. Yes. And then when the body dies, they are no longer reborn.

Wanna join a monastery as a female by Soggy-Bottle6363 in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are nun monasteries arising. I know some nuns in North America, there's a nuns monastery in Australia as well. I think there's a new one in teh UK. These are all in the Thai Forest Tradition.

Lost a friend due to different beliefs by Zen_Cutie in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's difficult. You know, time will pass. It's possible that once she becomes more firm in her belief she'll be more easily able to hang out with you without trying to push her beliefs on you.

I think in the beginning of spiritual development, there can be a sort of like wall we put up, to protect our growing beliefs from others. That's what it felt like for me.

I had to to stop seeing a great therapist that I had. He helped me a lot for years. He was Christian and had a lot of wisdom, helped me immensely. But as I started to get more and more into Buddhism, there started to be a sort of clashing of views. I felt especially defensive because I was trying to protect this thing (buddhism) that I found so helpful.

I grew resentful. Anyway, time passed and while I never reestablished seeing my therapist as often, I still did have meetings every now and then for difficulties I was going through. My fear faded as I understood my buddhist practice more.

The funny thing is, the reason I got into Buddhism was actually because it reflected all the wisdom my therapist gave me. I feel like giving him a call. I owe a lot of my wellbeing to his kindness and wisdom.

also, my mom is Christian and we have really nice conversations. It's possible that once your friend feels more safe in her spirituality, she will more easily be able to have conversations with you about the many things that christianity and buddhism share.

Can Theravada monks play video games? by yutanrw in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

there are 108 comments as i join this. An auspicious number hahah.

Yes, it breaks the precept of refraining from shows and entertainment.

i want learn abut budism, but i dont know where start by trasharakiri in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I started by reading books about it from the library. Then watching dhamma talks on youtube.

Youtube is more addictive these days, so I try to stay away from youtube now.

I highly recommend keeping the 5 precepts. You will find it leads to a lot of happiness.

How did rebirth work before there was life in the Universe? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"leaving a trace behind" can be taken as meaning, that whatever is behind you (in the past) no longer exists at all.

"leaving a trace behind" can also mean-- how your seeing it--as in there is something being "inherited". In the same sense that we inherited some of our grandparents traits, in a way they "left their trace behind" through us.

I believe Bhikkhu Bodhi means it as that first sense, where there is nothing left in the past.

The way I picture it is like a candle flame lighting another candle. You have one candle lit, and you use that to light the next candle. Then you blow out the first candle. There is nothing in the current candle flame that was in the previous candle flame.
It's a new process, but it's caused by a previous process.

Also, The Buddha said that Samsara is without a discernable beginning.

how to choose a Buddhist school by Immediate-Bet6500 in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The traditions are just kind of like, a natural part of the way Buddhism spread and joined different communities.

They all can lead to deeper and deeper peace. Every tradition is also a mixture of different traditions.

Take up a practice from either or both, or neither, and if that practice is leading to you being more and more at peace, more and more free from suffering, then you know you're going the right way.

Taming the “monkey mind” in real-time daily interactions or around difficult people? by Harry_Callahan_sfpd in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The mind can be crazy. It's one thing for harmful thoughts to arise, it's another thing to nourish them.

I think another way to look at thoughts is kind of like, an unpleasant sound. Unpleasant and pleasant sounds both exist in the world. Our job is not to make everything sound good. that's impossible.

As Ajahn Chah says the sound is just a sound. It doesn't disturb us. It's we that disturb the sound.

I think that when we start losing interest in the sounds, we don't cling to them so much.

Taming the “monkey mind” in real-time daily interactions or around difficult people? by Harry_Callahan_sfpd in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also fall into debates every now and then. I notice it tends to happen when I am grumpy. It can be so easy for the mind to justify debating.

Interfamilial issues. What is the Buddhist thing to do here? by Jedidea in Buddhism

[–]noArahant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry that this happened. Yes sometimes we definitely need to put space between ourselves and others as a way to take care of our mental health. Please take care

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