I was just curious about your thinking.
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I was just curious about your thinking.
So which Buddhist teacher have you studied with? Or did you you follow a particular tradition, or attend a paticular school? Or did you study it as a comparative religion?Quote:
Originally Posted by ftil
Quote:
Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC
I don't have private conversations online.
I'm Christian, perhaps a bit confused, but most definitely Christian.
I wonder how you feel about me.
I know how Neely feels about me. I don't know if he's Christian due to his Oscar Wilde picture, but he warms my heart. I just wonder how you feel about me.
I didn’t follow any teaching; I just studied it. There were a number of teachers. I have only stayed for a couple of months with Nichiren Buddhism, a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism, but left. I am not a person who can follow any religious practice and Nichiren practice was mind blowing. I am reading about Kalachakra Tantra, Dalai Lama's religion, now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
Now Vonny... what's wrong about good ol' Oscar? You surely know that he was never wrong about anything?:nod:
I would also beware of judging the person posting from his or her avatar. I used to use Runens' portrait of his sister-in-law, Susanna Fourment...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6128/...0351de11_z.jpg
... until one too many members assumed I was a "she".
Now I use a lovely Roman bust of Antinoös...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/...74626039_z.jpg
... but I can assure you that I am neither a Pagan nor anybody's "pretty boy". I only chose the image because of my love of art and art history... (although member Mortal Terror might question my choice considering my known ambivalence toward Roman art) and because I actually looked quite a bit like this sculpture when I was 18... but now I'm probably far closer to Caracalla in both looks an temperament. :biggrin5:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/...ae35e9c5_z.jpg
Unfortunately, Caracalla seems to have held onto his hair better than I... then again... I've held onto my head longer than he (who lost his in a most unsavory manner). Perhaps its time for an Avatar switch... hmmmmm?
I honestly don't have an opinion (or any particular feeling) since I don't know you. What are the things that you are confused about? I myself have drifted in and out of confusion about things. I've studied and lived and tried to combine that which I have learned from both areas (studying and living). Not all things are clear cut, but I respect the notion of those who admit that they don't have all the answers, because I surely don't. I also have discovered that those who act as if they know all the answers (whether they are Christian, of other non-christian religions, atheist, agnostic, or other) are usually those who fall short in knowledge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vonny
Feel free to get o know me (in whatever way you feel comfortable), and I'll rest assured that I'll do my best not to draw conclusions about you that are not merited.
StLukes, you switching your avatar would turn my world upside down.
Ways to get people to stop fighting:Quote:
Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC
-close this thread
-censor this site
-kill, jail, or blackmail everyone
-reverse human nature
-pray to God
That's all I can think of right now.
I see. So how did you come to a clear appraisal of the Buddhist concept of consciousness?Quote:
Originally Posted by ftil
For quite a while I thought St Lukes was a she. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutatis-Mutandi
It is funny how we picture associate the random avatars.
Yes ... maybe I will try making one. edit: how is it?
I started to question it when I studied Transpersonal psychology. I look at it as another theory and I believe that any theory is useless if I can’t experience it. Secondly, when I read Stanislav Grof’s theory I seriously questioned his explanation of spiritual crises. Thank you very much for that kind of experience. :biggrin5:Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
If free thought was respected as religion is, I'd have nothing to say.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BienvenuJDC
We're not fighting. We're arguing - which is pretty harmless really.
It means to be humble. It means to recognize that at best we only have one perspective on Ultimate Being and that others will likely conceptualize this experience differently than you do. But it is much more pleasurable to know that your perception is "right."
For me, it means being assertive of your own beliefs while allowing others what to believe. Unfortunately, today's society cannot tell the difference between good-natured assertiveness and selfish aggression. And remember that free speech also exposes people as the jerks they are whether they are theistic or non-theistic.
Yes, you can laugh at others if you like (I am a fan of South Park). But keep it healthy and remember that others who believe differently are people too. (In other words, be capable of apology or sincerely explaining your intentions while being aware of the other's emotions).
If something unhealthy like murder, homophobia, and sacrifice, or other clearly violent act is involved, then intervene immediately (especially in the case of the recent shootings and terrorism attacks).
For me, no one is immune to jerkishness whether one lacks belief or has belief.
To respect another one must have a sense of humour.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by G L Wilson
There's a lot to be said for a sense of humour - so long as the other person thinks it's funny too. Then it's not a sense of humour but something else masquerading as a sense of humour.
Humourless people are a curse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkBastable
Gosh, have you read your dictionary lately?
I think this is very hard to define in abstracto. One must play the situation and person 'by ear' and then try to ascertain whether said person is feeling disrespected. The thing about restrictions on free-speech is that the person temporarily 'silenced' still holds the same views,and now you dont know that he is a bigot/racist etc.
The texts and ideas may be discussed in the same way as commentary found in comparative religion, literary analysis, history, and similar texts.