Mahayana

[Amita]

My late Master Hsuan Hua on superficial cultivation of Mahayana way:

"In every single movement and in every single action the beings of this world

act entirely out of greed, entirely out of hatred or entirely out of stupidity. In the

methods typical of the world they use greed, hatred and stupidity as they go on

about cultivating their conduct. Now in taking up the methods for transcending

the world, they still use greed, hatred and stupidity as they go on about

cultivating their conduct. In cultivating they become greedily attached to

becoming enlightened. They sit in dhyana meditation for two and a half days and

figure that they ought to become enlightened then. They cultivate a dharma for

two and a half days and figure that they ought to have gotten spiritual powers.

They recite the Buddha's name for two and a half days and then figure that they

should gain the mindfulness-of-the-buddha samadhi! You just take a look at how

huge a mind of greed is involved in this. These are all manifestations of the ghost

of the greedy mind."

Edited July 8, 2022 by Amita

[Amita]

A valuable multi-volume series based in the teachings of the present Dalai Lama:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/series/The-Library-of-Wisdom-and-Compassion

Another series (not finished yet) of books covering Tibetan Buddhism:

https://tibetanclassics.org/index.php/library-of-tibetan-classics-lotc/

Edited July 9, 2022 by Amita

[oslove]

On 7/9/2022 at 5:33 AM, Amita said:

Rhetorical questions do not require a response.  Just get to your point, if you have one.

 

I am also at a loss to figure out what is the point of your OP:

- - - - - - - - - -

 Intermediate
Amita
Posted August 20, 2018
   
#1
 

The spiritual path essentials for aspiring to and cultivation of the Bodhisattva life for the benefit of all beings is given in this King of Mahayana Sutras.  It is titled the Avatamsaka Sutra. Thomas Cleary has a complete translation in English, which he titled the Flower Ornament Scripture.

Here is an outline of the sutras's teachings, based on Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua's commentary.

http://www.buddhistbooks.info/avatam/content.html

- - - - - - - - - -

 

My point is that I am into learning from you - assuming that you are a Buddhist, and also that Buddhism is a religion, what kinds of good works is Buddhism advocating?

[Amita]

5 hours ago, oslove said:

 

I am also at a loss to figure out what is the point of your OP:

- - - - - - - - - -

 Intermediate
Amita
Posted August 20, 2018
   
#1
 

The spiritual path essentials for aspiring to and cultivation of the Bodhisattva life for the benefit of all beings is given in this King of Mahayana Sutras.  It is titled the Avatamsaka Sutra. Thomas Cleary has a complete translation in English, which he titled the Flower Ornament Scripture.

Here is an outline of the sutras's teachings, based on Bodhisattva Hsuan Hua's commentary.

http://www.buddhistbooks.info/avatam/content.html

- - - - - - - - - -

 

My point is that I am into learning from you - assuming that you are a Buddhist, and also that Buddhism is a religion, what kinds of good works is Buddhism advocating?

The 2018 OP link is long dead, but several of my posts contain quotes or links to sutras or shastras which reveal some of the "good works" Buddha suggested. Here is a famous summation given in the Dhammapada of this buddha and previous buddhas Path: "Never be bad, always be good, purify the mind."

The intent of this thread was just to outline some aspects of buddhadharma and see what, if anything, others wish to discuss.  Yes, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha in 1979.  

[oslove]

10 hours ago, Amita said:

[ . . . . . ]

The intent of this thread was just to outline some aspects of buddhadharma and see what, if anything, others wish to discuss.  Yes, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha in 1979.  

 

I like very much to see how converted Western Buddhists i.e. not born and reaised up in the lands of Buddhism in the Far East, how they cannot look at Buddhism with some critical approach, it seems that they are all so taken up with Buddhist mystcism and asceticism.

From my part, I see Buddhism to be essentially a negative attitude to life, namely, to do away with life altogether - while all over the planet every living thing is taken up with life, in particular mankind, to live life and and live longer and if possible at all, live forever. 

 

You say: "Yes, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha in 1979."

I notice that word refuge, it is a negative word, you mean you are seeking asylum from life, what indeed is wrong with life?

That was in 1979, forgive me, but are you now having a life?

[jmccr8]

19 minutes ago, oslove said:

 

I like very much to see how converted Western Buddhists i.e. not born and reaised up in the lands of Buddhism in the Far East, how they cannot look at Buddhism with some critical approach, it seems that they are all so taken up with Buddhist mystcism and asceticism.

From my part, I see Buddhism to be essentially a negative attitude to life, namely, to do away with life altogether - while all over the planet every living thing is taken up with life, in particular mankind, to live life and and live longer and if possible at all, live forever. 

 

You say: "Yes, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha in 1979."

I notice that word refuge, it is a negative word, you mean you are seeking asylum from life, what indeed is wrong with life?

That was in 1979, forgive me, but are you now having a life?

Hi Oslove

Just thought I would point out that Amita has already told you that they are not here to defend themselves from Spaniards(inquisition types)_ like you. I read what they post and generally never say anything because it is they way they are expressing a position, something that you have not demonstrated the awareness of nor productively contribute to as a member.

All I am really required to do in the objective sense is to accept that what you believe is what you believe and have absolutely nothing to do with me or those that I interact with on a daily basis no matter what religion/race/politics/etal, they are people like and not like me.

[Amita]

1 hour ago, oslove said:

 

I like very much to see how converted Western Buddhists i.e. not born and reaised up in the lands of Buddhism in the Far East, how they cannot look at Buddhism with some critical approach, it seems that they are all so taken up with Buddhist mystcism and asceticism.

From my part, I see Buddhism to be essentially a negative attitude to life, namely, to do away with life altogether - while all over the planet every living thing is taken up with life, in particular mankind, to live life and and live longer and if possible at all, live forever. 

 

You say: "Yes, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha in 1979."

I notice that word refuge, it is a negative word, you mean you are seeking asylum from life, what indeed is wrong with life?

That was in 1979, forgive me, but are you now having a life?

Ye gods, the scales from my eyes have fallen away!  Such insights from you. I thank you.

[oslove]

15 hours ago, jmccr8 said:

Hi Oslove

Just thought I would point out that Amita has already told you that they are not here to defend themselves from . . .

[ . . . . ]

 

You are not the owner of UM.

 

Anyone who puts words in a thread whatever thread, must be ready to interact with anyone else on his thoughts whatever.

Else I am inclined to propose that he can just do a blog and write in it. 

[Piney]

16 hours ago, oslove said:

 

I like very much to see how converted Western Buddhists i.e. not born and reaised up in the lands of Buddhism in the Far East, how they cannot look at Buddhism with some critical approach, it seems that they are all so taken up with Buddhist mystcism and asceticism.

From my part, I see Buddhism to be essentially a negative attitude to life, namely, to do away with life altogether - while all over the planet every living thing is taken up with life, in particular mankind, to live life and and live longer and if possible at all, live forever. 

 

You say: "Yes, I took refuge in the Triple Jewel of Buddha, Dharma & Sangha in 1979."

I notice that word refuge, it is a negative word, you mean you are seeking asylum from life, what indeed is wrong with life?

That was in 1979, forgive me, but are you now having a life?

Then there is my stepfather's sect. Tendai, a form of "practical" Zen Buddhism influenced by Taoism which just dictates you live a simple life, aid and defend the needy. 

Read the Hua Hu Ching. Brian Walker's English translation is the most accurate.

The Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai also publishes a English language translation of Buddha's basic teaching which is really good.

You'll also understand my concept of the Creative Spirit. Which is not separate from the Universe but the Universe itself.

Your absolutely right about the gulf between Western and Eastern concepts though. I had several people here help me hash out English explanations for shared concepts of Eastern and Native American spirituality.

 

 

[Amita]

23 minutes ago, Piney said:

Read the Hua Hu Ching. Brian Walker's English translation is the most accurate

Only dipped into it, but looks radiant. 

As WANG AN-SHIH [d. 1086] says, "The sage creates but does not possess what he creates. He acts but does not presume on what he does. He succeeds but does not claim success. These three all result from selflessness. Because the sage is selfless, he does not lose his self. Because he does not lose his self, he does not lose others."

That is from Bill Porter's traditional commentary on verse two of the Taoteching.

[Piney]

1 hour ago, Amita said:

Only dipped into it, but looks radiant. 

As WANG AN-SHIH [d. 1086] says, "The sage creates but does not possess what he creates. He acts but does not presume on what he does. He succeeds but does not claim success. These three all result from selflessness. Because the sage is selfless, he does not lose his self. Because he does not lose his self, he does not lose others."

That is from Bill Porter's traditional commentary on verse two of the Taoteching.

To the Japanese Lao is known as "Lao the Child" for his completely open minded and simplistic wisdom.

I've fallen away though. Haven't done done anything in years. Even the jians I've earned just grow dust in my parlor.

[Piney]

1 hour ago, Amita said:

Only dipped into it, but looks radiant. 

As WANG AN-SHIH [d. 1086] says, "The sage creates but does not possess what he creates. He acts but does not presume on what he does. He succeeds but does not claim success. These three all result from selflessness. Because the sage is selfless, he does not lose his self. Because he does not lose his self, he does not lose others."

That is from Bill Porter's traditional commentary on verse two of the Taoteching.

One of the precepts of a Warrior Monk is to win before the conflict erupts and succeed before the challenge appears.

[jmccr8]

2 hours ago, oslove said:

 

You are not the owner of UM.

 

Anyone who puts words in a thread whatever thread, must be ready to interact with anyone else on his thoughts whatever.

Else I am inclined to propose that he can just do a blog and write in it. 

Hi Oslove

Your post was confrontational and not and invitation to a productive dialogue, Amita has already to you that they do not wish to defend themselves and if you follow the post in the thread you should see that Amita does interact well with others that are non-confrontational.

[oslove]

3 hours ago, jmccr8 said:

Hi Oslove

Your post was confrontational and not and invitation to a productive dialogue, Amita has already to you that they do not wish to defend themselves and if you follow the post in the thread you should see that Amita does interact well with others that are non-confrontational.

 

I am not confrontational at all, period.

You are the one person who is always confronting me, but you never have anything to share with me, like for example, what is existence.

And now I address this question to all Western Buddhist converts, what is existence in Buddhism?

Is that confrontational? Just inquiring in order to know what I can learn from Buddhist converts in the West, as they might have something to share about existence.

Okay, so that I will not sound confrontational, I will say:

May I please - if you will dear Western converts to Buddhism, ask what is your opinion on existence, is the fact that you are existing, is that fact welcome to you or what - not welcome to you, and why?

[Amita]

28 minutes ago, oslove said:

And now I address this question to all Western Buddhist converts, what is existence in Buddhism?

May I please - if you will dear Western converts to Buddhism, ask what is your opinion on existence, is the fact that you are existing, is that fact welcome to you or what - not welcome to you, and why?

Not speaking for all Buddhists, of which there are a wide variety.  Bhava is one word for existence, but not what you are looking for I suspect.  So here is the Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism on samsara or cyclic existence:

saṃsāra. (T. ’khor ba; C. lunhui/shengsi lunhui; J. rinne/shōjirinne; K. yunhoe/saengsa yunhoe 輪迴/生死輪迴).

 

In Sanskrit and Pāli, “wandering,” viz., the “cycle of REBIRTH.” The realms that are subject to rebirth

are typically described as composed of six rebirth destinies (GATI): divinities (DEVA), demigods or titans

(ASURA), humans (MANUṢYA), animals (TIRYAK), ghosts (PRETA), and hell denizens (NĀRAKA). These

destinies are all located within the three realms of existence (TRAIDHĀTUKA), which comprises the

entirety of our universe (see also AVACARA; LOKADHĀTU). At the bottom of the sensuous realm

(KĀMADHĀTU; kāmāvacara) are located the denizens of the hells (NĀRAKA), the lowest of which is named

the interminable (AVĪCI). This most ill-fated of existences is followed by ghosts, animals, humans,

demigods, and the divinities of the six heavens of the sensuous realm. Higher levels of the divinities

occupy the upper two realms of existence, the subtle-materiality realm (RŪPADHĀTU) and the immaterial

realm (ĀRŪPYADHĀTU). The bottom three destinies, of hell denizens, hungry ghosts, and animals, are

referred to as the three evil bournes (DURGATI); these are destinies where suffering predominates because

of the past performance of unwholesome (AKUŚALA) actions (KARMAN). In the various levels of the

divinities, happiness predominates, because of the past performance of wholesome (KUŚALA) actions. By

contrast, the human destiny is thought to be ideally suited for religious training, because it is the only

bourne where both suffering and happiness can be readily experienced, allowing the adept to recognize

more easily the true character of life as impermanent (ANITYA), suffering (DUḤKHA), and nonself

(ANĀTMAN). Saṃsāra is said to have no beginning and to come to end only for those individuals who

achieve liberation from rebirth through the practice of the path (MĀRGA) to NIRVĀṆA. Saṃsāra is depicted

iconographically as a “wheel of existence” (BHAVACAKRA), which shows the six rebirth destinies,

surrounding a pig, a rooster, and a snake, which symbolize ignorance (AVIDYĀ), desire (LOBHA), and

hatred (DVEṢA), respectively. Around the edge of the wheel are scenes representing the twelve links of

dependent origination (PRATĪTYASAMUTPĀDA).

The relation between saṃsāra and nirvāṇa is discussed at length in Buddhist texts,

with NĀGĀRJUNA famously declaring that there is not the slightest difference

between them, because the true nature of both is emptiness (ŚŪNYATĀ).

 

[oslove]

15 minutes ago, Amita said:

Not speaking for all Buddhists, of which there are a wide variety.  Bhava is one word for existence, but not what you are looking for I suspect.

[ . . . . ]

 

If I may - addressing Amita, you have not replied to my inquiry, "is the fact that you are existing, is that fact welcome to you or what - not welcome to you, and why?"

[Amita]

10 minutes ago, oslove said:

 

If I may - addressing Amita, you have not replied to my inquiry, "is the fact that you are existing, is that fact welcome to you or what - not welcome to you, and why?"

First you must show me some understanding of samsara as Buddhists see it.  Otherwise, you cannot learn; besides I am no fount of Buddhist wisdom.

[jmccr8]

1 hour ago, oslove said:

 

I am not confrontational at all, period.

You are the one person who is always confronting me, but you never have anything to share with me, like for example, what is existence.

And now I address this question to all Western Buddhist converts, what is existence in Buddhism?

Is that confrontational? Just inquiring in order to know what I can learn from Buddhist converts in the West, as they might have something to share about existence.

Okay, so that I will not sound confrontational, I will say:

May I please - if you will dear Western converts to Buddhism, ask what is your opinion on existence, is the fact that you are existing, is that fact welcome to you or what - not welcome to you, and why?

Hi Oslove

I am not going to derail this thread with you and would like to contain our discussion on your reasoning process in just one thread. I could go back to your post to Amita and show you how you were being confrontational but would rather not as this is not the thread I will engage you in any further.

[Amita]

A magnificent blessing for the English language!

Last month marked a major achievement: 25 percent of the 70,000 page Tibetan Kangur has now been translated into English and made freely available to the world by 84000 translation project.

Kangur contains the sutras of Buddha.

[Amita]

Here is the Summary of the latest sutra from the 84000 Project - Questions of Layman Viradatta:

While the Buddha is residing in Anāthapiṇḍada’s pleasure garden in
Śrāvastī with a great assembly of monks, elsewhere in Śrāvastī the eminent
householder Vīradatta hosts a meeting with five hundred householders to
discuss certain questions regarding the practice of the Great Vehicle.
Hoping to resolve these questions, Vīradatta and the householders decide to
approach the Buddha in Anāthapiṇḍada’s pleasure garden. There the
Buddha explains how bodhisattvas should engender the spirit of great
compassion while not being attached to the body or to enjoyments, and he
then instructs the householders on how bodhisattvas should examine the
impermanence and impurity of the body. This prose teaching is followed by
a set of verses that reiterate how the body is impure and impermanent and
that elucidate the process of karma and its effects. As a result of this
teaching, Vīradatta and the five hundred householders attain the acceptance
that phenomena are unborn. They then proclaim, in a well-known series of
verses, the merits of aspiring for the awakening to buddhahood. The Buddha
smiles, predicting that Vīradatta and the five hundred householders will
attain spiritual awakening. The sūtra concludes with the Buddha telling
Ānanda about the name of this Dharma discourse.

[oslove]

15 hours ago, Amita said:

First you must show me some understanding of samsara as Buddhists see it.  Otherwise, you cannot learn; besides I am no fount of Buddhist wisdom.

 

Still not answering my question, but instead into evasion, here is my question to you again:

"If I may - addressing Amita, you have not replied to my inquiry, "is the fact that you are existing, is that fact welcome to you or what - not welcome to you, and why?"

No need to understand samsara at all, just use your natural intelligence and self-examination on your conscious existence, and ask yourself: "Have I been so mesmerized by Buddhist puzzling adages of conflicting sentiments, that I should shun life altogether in order to what, reach nirvana - whatever that is, it is all negative to life, life that is the most precious gift from God in Western philosophy.

[XenoFish]

Another attempt at thread hijacking.

[Amita]

Buddha begins teaching a group of lay followers, not monks, about the importance of non-attachment & great compassion for beings:

The Blessed One then said to them, “In this regard, householders, the

bodhisattva mahāsattva who wishes to fully awaken to unsurpassable

complete and perfect awakening [F.196.a] should cultivate the spirit of great

compassion for all sentient beings. He should be respectful. He should stay

close to them. He should cultivate them. He should do a lot for them.

 

“Householders, such a bodhisattva mahāsattva should not be attached to

the body. He should not be attached to life. Likewise, he should not be

attached to wealth, grain, house, wife, sons, or daughters. He should not be

attached to food, drink, clothing, vehicles, bedding, flowers, incense,

perfumes, ointments, or garlands. He should not be attached to possessions.

 

“Why is this? Householders, it is because sentient beings usually become

attached to their body and life and thus commit evil deeds. By committing

and accumulating this evil karma, they fall headlong into evil states and bad

destinies and are reborn as hell beings. Cultivate the spirit of great

compassion for all sentient beings. When one is not attached to the body and

not attached to life, one takes birth in the happy destinies.

 

[XenoFish]

Wouldn't the highest level of non-attachment be complete apathy for all things? A total indifferent to the world?

[Amita]

14 minutes ago, XenoFish said:

Wouldn't the highest level of non-attachment be complete apathy for all things? A total indifference to the world?

Nope, that would be death or deep sleep, neither condition is helpful to self or others.