This is a denial of Buddhist doctrine — FrancisRay
I'd rather you stayed, as a useful voice of scepticism — FrancisRay
The unconventional views expressed in this topic, with the exception of Wayfarer and TLCD1996, may not be well tolerated.
— praxis
Thanks Praxis. Perhaps that's part of what I was wondering. You know, on a philosophy forum everything is up for challenge. Not always so on sites dedicated to particular disciplines. — Hippyhead
I am not a Buddhist — FrancisRay
The middle way, eh? — Hippyhead
Ok, good point, yea, that would help. For the sake of discussion I'm willing to assume such experts exist. Mozart was real. But can Mozart teach me to be a Mozart too? That's less clear. But if you meet models who have succeeded in taking their students where you wish to go, ok, that surely helps. — Hippyhead
Even interpretation need cause no problems since it is only the knowledge acquired in our own experience that allows us to interpret correctly, and if it is sufficient no interpretation is necessary. . My view is that we have found the correct interpretation when we see that all the mystics are saying the same thing. If they seem to disagree then this would indicate a fault in our interpretation. In the end the doctrine is uninterpretable without the knowledge required to understand it, which can only be self-knowledge. — FrancisRay
Resident teacher, Lama Losang, leads our weekly meetings. A fully ordained monk, Lama Losang completed the traditional Kagyu three-year retreat at Karme Ling in 2004. In addition to being a Karma Kagyu lineage teacher, Lama Losang (David Bole) is also an Acupuncture Physician with a Doctorate in Psychology, and teaches, lectures, and conducts workshops around the country. In honor of Lama’s 70th birthday, July 26, 2019, Mayor Lauren Poe and the City of Gainesville proclaimed Dr. David Bole (Lama Losang): Health, Happiness, and Liberation Day.
The Buddha's emphasis, over and over, is on the four noble truths, and it is under this framework that all classifications of "self" or "ultimate" are presumably abandoned and done away with. — TLCD1996
So are those the good Buddhists or the bad Buddhists? :-) Of course I have no idea, as I'm doing good to know they are Buddhists. — Hippyhead
Metaphysically they are identical. It would astonishing if those who went in search of truth all found something different. Of course they all find the same truth. If they did not mysticism would be implausible. — FrancisRay
No comment on good or bad Buddhists, but it seems that his lineage is part of a controversy around the issue of genuine reincarnation lineages. An issue found lately in Tibetan Buddhism — TLCD1996
that's why I'm not one to say that all other religions are wrong, but I will not hesitate to say I'm skeptical that they all lead to the same place. — TLCD1996
To the degree one isn't thinking in any given moment, all classifications of every flavor are abandoned and done away with. — Hippyhead
Ok, thanks. As a follow up question, what flavor(s) of Buddhism would be the least likely to get drawn in to such controversies? — Hippyhead
In any case, whatever it is or isn't, we are presumably all going there, probably no matter what we do or don't do. — Hippyhead
I abandoned Christianity as tosh at the age of twelve. Decades later I discovered Buddhism and helped by a study of it suddenly began to understand Christianity. I learn a great deal about Buddhism from Taoism, about Catholicism from Sufism, and about Hermeticism from Advaita.
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I feel that to suggest these traditions are all significantly different in their core teachings is suppose religion is a lot of nonsense. — FrancisRay
when a tradition enables us to kill because there is no self in the body therefore there is no killer or killed? Yeah, no. Stick with the precept, please! — TLCD1996
I'd be interested in hearing what you find misleading about it, if you don't mind elaborating on that. — TLCD1996
Hyperbole to make a point? Which leads me to... — praxis
Hyperbole to make a point? Which leads me to...
— praxis
It's not a hyperbole at all! I've actually heard or seen people say this. Are they speaking in line with their tradition? I don't know — TLCD1996
I'd also like to hear what basis you have for thinking the romantic "era" is over if people still struggle with meaningless and still advocate that we create whatever meaning we want and it's okay. If it isn't romanticism, what is it? — TLCD1996
Ajahn Geoff references some quotes that indicate oneness or non-separateness to be an important aspect of Romanticism, if not a goal of sorts. E.g. Emerson — TLCD1996
And if Nirvana is undefinable and beyond conceptualizations, why not point toward it by saying what it isn't? — TLCD1996
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