well think about it....if everyone else in samsara just want happiness and want to avoid suffering and that is their sole focus, and the reason to practice Buddhism is for that, what makes you break the cycle of acquiring happiness and avoid suffering? it's the same thing just that the target object is different....

in that case, the Buddha shouldnt have spent his time explaining to people on how to achieve enlightenment because he is also using intellectual argument. He has also used that before against a few people before in the suttas. Most notable was the guy who wanted to debate with the Buddha. So are you saying that the Buddha should have done differently?

so how is saying that mahayanists and vajrayanists focus more on helping others intellectual?

so i'd like to ask, how is this an intellectual argument? I am just presenting my points, if you disagree or you find something wrong feel free to point it out

have you not notice that this entire thread is nothing but intellectual postings and ramblings? so in reality we shouldnt be having this thread, but the reason why i do explanations like this is so that people can read and they might just benefit from it.

This post has been edited by Joey-kun: Aug 24 2010, 02:26 PM

fate dosent exist in Buddhism because everything can change depending on how much effort you put to displacing the conditions that cause you to be in such a way.

i dont see it as an argument but just want to know your point of view clearer. i dont get anything if i win you know so why would i want to?

i might have sound a little too aggressive with the way i presented my viewpoints so i'd like to apologize.

I did not mean to put you down or challenge you.

but also all the same if you dont wish to see my postings, just say it and i will stop posting here.

since what i write dosent help people to understand Buddhism better, but on the other hand seem to have offended certain people might as well stop it.

This post has been edited by Joey-kun: Aug 24 2010, 03:37 PM

oh this thread's still here. hmmm

maybe can try and post here more often to see if i still tick people off (by accident)

is i ignored

hey guys hows the buddhists of LYN doing?

doing great as well

hey joe, what are you angry about?

i wonder how many of the people here are Mahayana or Vajrayana?

yeah i wonder what happened to everyone. suddenly quiet lol

do post here once in a while. im working too

I'm working as IT support and im a Tibetan Buddhist I work in a company in Bandar Utama and has been Buddhist since young and i have always been attracted to Tibetan Buddhism since i was young. My parents are Theravarda with a bit of Mahayana.

yep how did you know? what do you think about him?

He is very strict when it comes to actual practice tho. And very direct.

which flavor of buddhism do you subscribe to?

sounds like Buddhist Gem fellowship member

but its good to explore your options

but if you practice them all its gonna be confusing at the end, each path is the right path but you cant take more than one at the same time.

thats what Tibetan Buddhism says anyway, its pretty much serious and heavy when it comes to Dharma

in tibetan buddhism its more like you focus and put all your energies in one method. the past sages have always been saying that having too many practices and not focusing in any will result in nothing in the end.

yep going serious in the Dharma requires conviction, maturity and commitment. It's pretty scary but im working towards there.

Yep all mantras are the same and all the Buddhas and deities are the manifestation of the Buddha himself but due to our delusions and needs we see him as different things. But the usages of Mantras, Sadhanas (practices/methods) differ in Tibetan Buddhism a little. Meditation on a deity or using the mantra is to plant seeds in our minds and also shape our minds to be that of the meditation deity and not to just attain calm and absorption. You can take on the qualities of the particular Buddha you focus on when done correctly and over a period of time.

If the Buddha was not adamant in finding the answers and after 6 years he said "forget it, im going back to the palace" or if he said "im done with hinduism, lets try jainism next", we wont have anything at all

I agree with this fully