If we place all responsibility on karma, then how can we be buddhist?

In reality, it is not really about encountering a good teacher or the true Dharma but its your ability to lower your ego and accept more challenging Dharma texts. There are texts that make you feel like you're targeted and it can be very painful. But it is those texts that will help you progress.

Those that i've encountered who have met the right teacher and true Dharma, are no longer interested in politics and self benefit. Those with no results are often stubborn, hard to get along with and have problems accepting all of the Buddha's teachings and can only accept those that make them happy, but totally avoid those that point out their weaknesses.

It's all about effort and willingness to give up and put effort.

Which reminds me.

Do you believe in Karma?

I don't get it how come suddenly go back to "Do you believe in Karma?"

All I know is karma bites when time comes So yeah I think I believe in it.

conversation in red

This post has been edited by soul2soul: Aug 23 2010, 11:22 AM

At the moment we all 'believe' in Kamma.

This post has been edited by soul2soul: Aug 23 2010, 11:25 AM

even if you are born in a bad condition but you work against it and create the causes to do something more, it will happen.

some people dont make it not because of karma, but because they refuse to accept or examine themselves more carefully and make necessary changes. If they did they will open up the positive karma needed to propel them into success.

Yes and to work against the limitations imposed by these tendencies and affinities for the sake of others is to hold vows. I have given up on the view to engage in politics for my own benefit but to engage in it to keep the temple in 1 piece, but as for self benefit, to be very honest not yet because i'm still not a monk yet.

wise decision. you sound like one of the committee for a temple.

观音坐莲，罗汉推车 is buddhism or taoism?
i tried google but the search engine show me some inappropriate contents..

nah i'm not. in fact i had to distance myself but now getting involved more but at a very slow rate.

the other day i went to help them do a retreat and my teacher suddenly appeared and gave a nice talk on why not to be disenchanted, and why great masters never give up despite having nasty students is that because the problem is not with the students but with samsara.

you can watch the recordings here on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW2CX4Kzxbk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS8xYQnItU0

the way he phrases it is very funny because it was quite late so he presented it in a funny way to keep everyone awake.
the gist of both talks

This post has been edited by Joey-kun: Aug 23 2010, 11:51 AM

Just to share only, in the Abdhidhamma there are listed different kind of individuals in the world today.

1. Ugghatitannu
2. Vipancitannu
3. Neyya
4. Padaparama

1+2 no longer exist in the world today.

3. Neyya - those who require guidance , and having encounter the True Dhamma with sufficient effort attain the various stages of sainthood.

4. Padaparama - those who practice the dhamma, although putting in sufficient effort and encounter true dhamma, fail to attain any stages of sainthood in this life, but will do so at the immediate next life.

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Added on August 23, 2010, 1:57 pmSo if a person practices with supreme effort, but fails to attain any stage of sainthood, it could be due to

1. Insufficient paramita (past cultivation)

2. A personal vow in past life (to be a boddisatta, or to attain enlightenment under Matteyya Buddha, or as chief disciples, etc)

3. A sure prediction by a past Buddha (to enlighten at certain time or Aeons from now)

There is another factor which will destroy the ability for enlightenment , which is obstruction by the evil veil of Kamma. in this case, an individual has committed a serious kamma (like killing of parents), even if he has sufficient paramita, he will fail to attain any sainthood stages.

This post has been edited by soul2soul: Aug 23 2010, 01:57 PM

My goal isnt to go to nivarna anyways. It's to attain Buddhahood for the sake of stopping the sufferings of as many beings as possible.

There are many, many Indian and Tibetan saints who attained enlightenment within a single lifetime, but most of them have also been very serious practitioners as well.

then again, what quantifies to you, as results from Dharma practice?

i don't get your question, can you rephrase it?

i watched thai movie, and it shows like they build buddha statue, worship, to treat ppl from illness... y? buddha is nt goddd rite? also got thai buddha temple that sell charm.... isnt that deviant from bbuddha teaching? y no one tell them thats not what buddha preach

A bit lo

What do you see as successful or unsuccessful Dharma practice? Or what do you see as results of Dharma practice?

Buddha's not a god. besides that's a movie.

some 'buddhist' monasteries are in fact of the thai native religion: the religion before Buddhism came.

I think he's trying to highlight the usage of amulets, which is not mentioned in Buddhism?

I think it depends on individuals. Each of us are so different , a success to one would seem as a shortcoming to others! But I think all buddhists want to attain cessation of suffering, it's just the matter of 'when' only.

To me, the nearer things in Dhamma , more down to earth things are like reduction in anger, hatred , and become more tolerant to differences, and to be more Calm and happy. If a person sees this happening in his life, the dhamma is working. If he becomes more angry.. then he obviously needs to re-examine his approach to dhamma.



Once the foundation is right, the rest will come naturally !

This post has been edited by soul2soul: Aug 23 2010, 03:34 PM

Why this thread, sometimes kopitiam then RWI then kopitiam then RWI then kopitiam agian?.... mod kenot make up his mind ah?

lulz.. just like our gamen,.. flip,flop, flip,flop, flip,flop,...

--------------
okay back to topic....

i use meditation to relax and release stress, i think spikemaline doing a wrong way meditation if u get stress b'cos the very moment u try too hard to relax u get anxiety, thats psychology not buddism, it kill ur every reason for meditation.. just relax with ur imperfection, it will get better with practice..

my basic:
method 1)-concentrate on single focus like an apple , pencil (anything) as long as possible..
method 2)-blank ur mind with no thought (this is a bit hard for beginner) as long as possible..
method 3)-just watch some beautiful scenary and relax
method 4)-concentrate only on breathing
method 5)-listening to nature

of course most of us wud have our mind wonder off to others things, but its just okay u can start all over again with no rush as long as u get relax, sometimes i just doze off to sleep (mostly when lying down), in scientific talking is to get ur brain wave to Alpha State (frequency range of 8–12 Hz),.. there's once or twice i got an euphoric sensation and see brights in my mind's eyes (i doubt thats enlightenment) which give me a happy mood for the rest of the day...

Benefit (not on religion view):
1)lower blood preasure
2)lower heart rate
3)better mood
4)lower cortisol level (lower stress)
5)better ur immune system

position:
sitting or lying down, i don't like those lotus cross legs (cramp my leg) normal sitting on the chair will do (not as those extreme yoga), straight spine, breath-in to the abdomen not chest and out from it,

i been not doing it for many months,.. i think i need to restart myself.. at least 30 minutes a day.. if we giving our self 30 minute exercise for our body.. why not our mind..

This post has been edited by randyhow: Aug 23 2010, 07:08 PM

Hey thanks for sharing this sounds simple enough to try

So by right if one would have done it correctly will experience euphoria?

The best I did was feeling the blood rush all over the back of my brain lol.

edit - spoilered

This post has been edited by eXPeri3nc3: Aug 24 2010, 08:48 AM

but if it depends on individuals then by right there should be many different states of enlightenment! but in reality there is only one state...

not all buddhists want to attain the cessation of suffering because mahayana and vajrayana aim to lift the suffering for others.

all beings want pleasure and happiness, and abhor pain and suffering. if we practice Dharma to avoid suffering, i dont see how it can lead us out of samsara as the intentions of practicing buddhism is not that different than getting good education and a good job so that there will be no 'suffering'. If we think like all other beings in samsara, how do we get out of it?

on the 2nd part, yes. Many great masters have said and reaffirmed that the results of Dharma practice is that people around you become more comfortable with you, there are less disagreements and all.

problem is many people would probably have to fight a huge barrage of wrong views and mental stubbornness to get there. For example would you read a text written by a tibetan master?

This post has been edited by Joey-kun: Aug 24 2010, 09:07 AM

If it is me, and I would understand what one wrote, I won't mind.

That's because I don't know what is right and what is wrong yet so reading more would help I guess?\

But what you'd said above made me puzzled for a while as if I get you correctly, to practice the Dharma it's not only for oneself it's also to help others to lift their 'suffering' then only it will lead oneself's out of samsara. Did I get you correctly?