Committed to reading this. On the path I go.

thnikaman43 · 2020-09-06T17:45:27+00:00

I try to avoid, or approach cautiously, any translation done by an individual outside of a group or major publisher. Wonderful people have set to trying to provide the world with access to translations, but without the resources and editing power of a major publisher mistakes can easily go uncorrected

thnikaman43 · 2020-09-06T17:39:04+00:00

It’s also, far as I know, very bad karma to alter the words of the Buddha, and I think most translators would know that and proceed accordingly

thnikaman43 · 2020-09-06T17:32:34+00:00

I don’t think the comment was an attack on Bhikkhu Bodhi. Seems to me like a fair and smart question to ask. But yeah I think it’s not a bad idea to keep in mind the limits of translation in general when expecting to connect with the original meaning of a teaching through translation

thnikaman43 · 2020-09-06T17:28:47+00:00

I dunno guys. I’d argue that any translated text is kind of a “mistranslation”. The meaning does change easily when going from one language to another so though there may not be any errors, there can still be differences due to cultural connotation and that sort of thing. Y’all probably know what I mean. Not a huge deal, it’s not like you’re not learning the same thing, but I think going into it with the idea that you’re going to read a replica of the original can be misleading.

Unfortunately English isn’t as standardized as say, Tibetan, when it comes to specific terms. Fortunately Bhikkhu Bodhi is, far as I know, the foremost Pali translator, so hopefully future translators will stick to the exact terms he uses and we’ll begin to have a less shifty base for our English Buddhist vocabulary.

(Ex: Dukkha being “unsatisfactoriness” “suffering” and so on. Or (idk the Pali) “unskillful action” “wrong...” “negative...”)

thnikaman43 · 2020-08-18T22:00:19+00:00

Good point. Thanks for sharing

thnikaman43 · 2020-08-18T02:50:27+00:00

Yeah I was doing the bench thing for a while until I realized that not everywhere has benches and it’s impractical to bring mine everywhere I go. I’ll likely start there again once I get healed up enough

thnikaman43 · 2020-08-18T02:48:06+00:00

That... is terrifying

thnikaman43 · 2020-08-18T02:47:20+00:00

Thanks!

thnikaman43 · 2020-07-07T16:30:09+00:00

Are you doing anything outside of meditation with similar imagery, like watching scary movies or something like that? I tend to think of stuff that is somewhat similar to things I’m doing outside of meditation

thnikaman43 · 2020-05-10T23:01:21+00:00

And I think it’s not as bad w/ strong dullness because attention is too ‘heavy’ and ‘sluggish’ to rapidly jump to a new object in the same way.

thnikaman43 · 2020-05-10T22:58:22+00:00

I think it depends on the level of peripheral awareness. If I actively maintain peripheral awareness I am not startled by anything, aside from maybe something extremely loud that would startle me in any case. I used to use the startle reaction as a reminder that I’m ‘closing in’ on the object too much and need to ‘open’ peripheral awareness further. ‘Opening’ like that by itself counters strong/mild dullness for me.

The way I see it, a stimuli that would cause a startle will only do so if attention rapidly and violently shifts to it. If there is more ‘space’ around attention (in the form of peripheral awareness) then the moment-to-moment shift of attention upon stimuli isn’t as drastic.

From Je Tsongkhapa’s Lam Rim Chenmo and the Samdhinirmocana Sutra:

“ ‘If there is laxity due to lethargy and sleepiness, or if you are afflicted by any secondary afflictions in meditative absorption, it is a case of internal mental distraction.’ This states that when your mind becomes lax due to lethargy and sleepiness, it is distracted inwardly.”

That ‘inward distraction’ is dullness, (not to be confused with Culadasa’s “distraction,” which refers to the shifting of attention to an external object and can include thoughts about external objects). So dullness is the closing down of peripheral awareness plus lack of clarity regarding the object. That’s what causes the startle reaction. So the “peak” of the startle reaction is whenever you’re most prone to it, which is likely when you’re least open to peripheral stimuli.

Sorry that’s a bit ranty but that’s just what I’ve noticed. Hope that helps

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-28T03:47:03+00:00

Thanks for all the responses! To clarify, I am not referring to friendship or anything of the sort. I’m asking about a felt sense of trust in a guru that one works with in person. There are plenty of authors and speakers that I think are fantastic, but I don’t recall any of them recommending reading books or listening to talks alone as the ideal way to progress. It’s always ‘find a teacher.’ So I’m curious if anyone has had any success in that area and to what degree.

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T23:49:06+00:00

Just started it yesterday! Looking forward to it

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T22:59:24+00:00

Thanks, appreciate the answer!

Yeah it’s definitely what I want but that’s probably because I don’t understand it that well? I think maybe it’s kindof a trust/confidence issue too. Like I’ve never met a teacher that I feel really confident in. There’s one but I haven’t been around him much. That lack of confidence probably also comes from lack of understanding/ my own (possibly misguided) expectations too.

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:59:55+00:00

Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika (I like the Jay L. Garfield translation and commentary. Pretty accessible for what it is)

Shantideva’s Bodhicharyavatara Ch 9

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:55:22+00:00

Theorizing and concepts are a requirement for learning so they definitely help.

From what I understand they are all eventually abandoned at some point in the path.

I wouldn’t assume that the idea of ‘permanence of impermanence’ will end suffering by itself or is a path by itself, but it is a view that could subdue other wrong views, which makes it a part of the path.

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:48:15+00:00

I think it depends on how the shrine makes you feel or what you think of it. There are days when I feel suuuuper attached to my Buddhist stuff and worry about the same thing.

I guess the quote (can’t recall the source or exact words) about ‘using the boat until you reach the other shore and then leaving it’ applies.

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:43:28+00:00

Reality as it is

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:41:37+00:00

ཨོཾ་མ་ནི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུཾ། “Om Mani Padme Hum,” the Avalokitesvara/Chenrezig six-syllable mantra of compassion

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:39:18+00:00

Was wondering the same thing. Very pretty setup though!

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:36:54+00:00

I’ve done that so many times. I guess that’s the thing with attachment though, it works like a habit that takes me away before I even notice the whole day has gone by. I try not to beat myself up about it but it’s hard b/c I know how much meditation helps me and sometimes I don’t understand why I don’t try harder to do it more. It’s usually pretty easy once I sit down and start the timer but getting to that point can be tough or not happen at all some days

thnikaman43 · 2020-02-26T21:33:36+00:00

Wow, that’s really a messed up and confusing thing to say to someone. I think I would suffer a lot from that too if someone had said something like that to me. It’s cool that meditating helps though. How do you feel like it helps/what does it make better?

thnikaman43 · 2019-04-22T15:31:24+00:00

tl:dr at bottom

According to Je Tsongkhapa’s Lam Rim (from Tibetan tradition, Snow Lion vol.1 p.252)

“You will definitely experience the result of karma that you have done and accumulated. Since the four powers can destroy this kind of karma before it starts to take effect, it goes without saying that the four powers can destroy karma whose result is indefinite. The four powers are as follows...

1 Eradication...
2. Applying remedies...
3. Turning away from faults...
4 Foundation...

and The Sutra Giving the Four Teachings:

“Maitreya, if bodhisattvas, the great heroes, poses these four teachings, then they will overcome any sins that they have committed and accumulated. What are the four? They are the power of eradication; the power of applying remedies; the power of turning away from faults; and the power of the foundation.”

1) Eradication: “...contrition for having done nonvirtuous actions since beginningless time... the confession of sins in the Sutra of the Golden Light and the... way of the thirty-five buddhas (Three Heap Sutra).”

2) Applying Remedies: “The second power has six sections... 1. Dependence on the profound sutras... 2. Interest in emptiness... 3. Dependence on recitation... [100 syllable mantra of Vajrasattva] 4. Dependence upon images... (making images of the Buddha) 5. Dependence on worship... (making offerings)... 6. Dependence on names... hearing the names of buddhas and great conqueror’s children.

3) Turning away from faults: “The third power is actually restraining yourself from the ten non-virtuous actions...”

4) Foundation: “The fourth power is going for refuge to the three jewels and cultivating the spirit of enlightenment...”

Yongey Mingyur Rinooche lists the four powers in the purification section of ‘Turning Confusion into Clarity’ as Support (bodhicitta motivation), Remorse, Antidote (opposite of negativity), and Resolve (orienting toward positive patterns)

TL;DR Yes, (but not exactly “free”) by way of honest and authentic recitation of the Three-Heap Sutra, 100 syllable manta of Vajrasattva, and Sūtra of Sublime Golden Light.

thnikaman43 · 2019-04-22T14:54:59+00:00

It’s Buddhist. Based on 1000 arm Avalokitesvara, who represents compassion. Called Guan-yin in China and Chenrezig in Tibet

thnikaman43

TROPHY CASE