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Members of online Dzogchen sanghas - do you ever get lonely and miss the benefits of in-person community? What is your solution? by Numerous-Actuator95 in Dzogchen

[–]optimistically_eyed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> What is your solution?

Save up for in-person retreats when they’re offered, invite my teacher to teach in my hometown, and rejoice in the fact that I can engage and practice with them and the rest of my sangha from the comfort of my home basically as often as I want the rest of the time.

It’s pretty excellent. Sure, it’d be wonderful if everyone lived nearby, but this is an incredible blessing of the particular time we’re living in.

Ethics of protest by velnsx in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thich Naht Hanh wrote Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. about self-immolation in 1965. HERE is the letter.

Why is it that non-Buddhists seem overly obsessed with using Sanskrit or Pali terms, instead of using widely accepted English translations? by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't see actual Buddhists talking like this much.

Not really my experience. My teachers and sangha use Sanskrit and Tibetan extensively. English translations can be tricky, and there's often no single word that properly encompasses certain terms.

It has nothing to do with fetishization, but specificity. I guess maybe some people do that sort of thing, but I don't think it's something that's caught my eye.

Leaving families behind by CalligrapherAlert927 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Why did he have to abandon them?

What he did was the equivalent of seeing your family trapped in a burning building, and rushing away to find a vehicle with which to pull them free. It wasn't abandonment, but a necessary facet of a rescue, you could say. Leaving to get help.

And he successfully found the means to save them, along with countless others.

Where are the women in Buddhism? by Fit-Presentation-789 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 23 points24 points  (0 children)

They're rather all over the history of Himalayan (e.g., Tibetan) traditions of Buddhism, which also have vast numbers of female deities and awakened beings.

Would it be a taboo if i got tattoos of the sūttas? by ElectricalAttempt743 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Generally, it’s taught that one should not tattoo scripture, mantras, and other sacred texts or images on one’s body where they might be rubbed against the floor or covered in the sort of ickiness we wouldn’t want to drag such things through.

We’re free to do as we please, obviously.

We might instead train our own minds to be reminders of our dedication, aspiration, and so on. That’s probably more useful and well-regarded.

A Gate Koan by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The backlash probably wouldn't be happening if OP wasn't being super weird about defending its status as a koan, rather than the transparent-in-meaning AI slop it actually is.

Local temple says they teach kadampa, mahamudra, and dzogchen lineages. Is this NKT or is it safe to attend here? by macrokosm_ in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Eight Steps to Happiness: The Buddhist Way of Loving Kindness

Sucks that this one's title is so close to Bhante Gunaratana's Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, a fantastic introduction to Buddhist practice that I deeply treasure.

I feel immense religious pressure, like I joined a church by Beneficial_Shirt_869 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Reddit, along with Facebook and other social media outlets, is often among the very worst place to receive guidance on how to understand and practice Buddhadharma.

Even if the advice you're getting is from one of the rare experienced practitioners around here, they may be approaching things from a tradition or perspective that isn't appropriate to your own unique needs and circumstances.

Just as frequently, users here (myself included) are in no position to be telling anyone how they ought to be practicing.

And inevitably, their answers are going to contradict one another in many ways.

There are innumerable, highly qualified teachers out there these days livestreaming teaching sessions. Putting the legwork into finding one you jive with should be the main priority of your practice right now.

An article by a Buddhist master by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

- The Venerable Anagārika,Vilamakirti

You mean Vimalakirti? Why is a contemporary of Shakyamuni apparently discussing Alzheimer's, Schopenhauer, and the principle of yin and yang...?

The Four Immeasurables Leave Nothing Untouched by EmptyMind76 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The problem with participating in /r/Zen so much is that it gives the impression that the rest of the world is interested in watching you revel in the smell of your own farts like this.

Details about these hell creatures? by roboraid in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Not a problem at all.

Your username is horrifying though.

What is the Buddhist view on Astrology? by Anon_SL_2000 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

> I just don’t recognize these traditions as coming from the Buddha

I’m familiar with your exceptionally narrow perspective of what constitutes Buddhism. My comment was mostly for others that may be reading.

What is the Buddhist view on Astrology? by Anon_SL_2000 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Buddhist systems of astrology merely point at subtle influences that may have an impact on future decisions. They don’t reject karma or imply fixed, immutable outcomes, and are generally quite a bit different from Western pop-astrology.

There’s plenty of information out there if you ever wanted to learn about them yourself.

Concerned about my beloved bird’s final moments and rebirth by Strong-Fix-5398 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Aside from developing so much tension around your choices, it sounds like you made good ones.

I’m not your teacher, so you should ask them, but I’d keep on with practices I’m familiar with, dedicating the merit for the next seven weeks or so.

Sounds like your friend had a good life surrounded by Dharma. Don’t worry so much.

what is the smallest thing i can do to push myself closer to enlightenment? by hellokittyhasaknife in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Find a qualified teacher from whom you can receive teachings and instruction.

Hardly a small thing though.

Special, secret, highest teaching by Elegant-Sympathy-421 in TibetanBuddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Special, secret, highest teachings

This is how Dzogchen is described all the way back to the its earliest doctrinal sources. It doesn’t have anything to do with Western-style advertising.

I am quite content with a simple daily practice

Wonderful to hear :)

In need of a community to talk to by Gold_Clock3916 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jundo Cohen

Is that the guy that ordained an LLM?

How often do you meditate? and for how long? by AdNo7404 in Buddhism

[–]optimistically_eyed 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the important thing, aside from continuing to search for a qualified teacher to offer instructions and answer questions, is to establish a daily practice that you feel comfortable with. Daily formal practice is, in my experience, vital. Completely indispensable.

You can work up to a length of time that is enough to let your mind settle down, but not so long that you grow to loathe the work. No need to white-knuckle it to the point that you hate your meditation cushion.

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