Recent Posts

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General Discussion / Re: Tibetans faced religious repression: US report

« Last post by Blueupali on Today at 04:13:37 AM »

Hi Ensapa,
  I generally avoid the word 'always' when describing phenomena; most countries, despite having perhaps a generally good ideology, act in what they perceive to be their 'best interests.'  Out of ignorance and conufusion, beings and countries make mistakes.  America is having some issues with noticing the Dorje Shugden controversy, but there are other issues in other places that people are having issues noticing; a lot of people on this site seem to think it would be okay to return to Tibet/China without any insurance of democracy or basic human rights from the Chinese.  Of course, everyone can make their own choice, but if you think that Western nations such as America are motivated by politics and their own interests, would you not say this is also true of China?  I am sorry, but just because the Tibetan politicans now want to go back under communism doesn't make it a good idea.  In fact, it is a really terrible idea.
  Concerning governments, it is really good to make people aware of what is going on.  Personally I completely support the WSS's protests and books, because without them, America and other Western Nations, not being primarily Buddhists, have absolutely no idea what is going on.  Information is key; to have information, we have to have freedom of speech; I'm afraid freedom of speech is not allowed in China so I really don't think that is a helpful place to be while trying to practice the Buddhadharma.  Again, I am sure that the Chinese people are nice people, but government is making a huge mess of human rights; America is paying to much attention to cheap Chinese labor and goods rather than human rights in continuing trade with them.  So, yes, politics is, as always, an international mess; this is why it is important to stay where freedom and endowments are possible; I totally think the Dalai Lama should lift the ban, but you know, I don't know how the Tibetan community would remain as divided as to not notice that he is planning to take them into a communist oppressive state after so many of them had left on foot to escape that.

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General Buddhism / Re: Are humans superior to animals?

« Last post by dondrup on Today at 02:15:03 AM »

The only advantage that humans have over the animals is the ability to understand and practise Dharma.  Hence humans are able to accumulate merits, purify their negative karma and to transform their minds. Animals do not have this ability.  Animals’ minds are shrouded with greater ignorance than the humans.  However, within the human realm, there are humans whose behaviours are similar to the animals!  These are the humans who do not utilise or develop the full and positive potential of their minds. These humans are born handicapped.  Some humans have used their minds ignorantly to perform negative actions like killing similar to the animals.  It is said in the Buddhist scriptures that bodhisattvas residing in some Pure Lands aspire to be reborn as humans in order to practise Highest Yoga Tantra – the quick path to full enlightenment in one single lifetime compared to a longer period to accomplish full enlightenment in a Pure Land.  Of the six realms of existence, only the human body contains the necessary components to practise the Highest Yoga Tantra. Hence, humans are considered superior to animals.

I think your statement is a sweeping statement. How do you conclude that the only advantage that all Humans are able to practice dharma or understand the Dharma? There are so many humans in this world who does not understand the Dharma and practiced against the Dharma teachings which you stated. As you said precisely that some humans are like animals and some are handicapped.  You said that only the human body contains the necessary components to practice the Highest Yogo Tantra. I begged to defer. Then how about the Daka & Dakinis? How about the Yakshas or Nagas? They are not Humans but they do have the equal potential including the animals.

Please refer to the page 314 of the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand (Paperback Edition 1997) the second last paragraph which states: “The human form is also the most powerful rebirth in which to reach omniscience.  Even a beginner in this sort of rebirth can, through the secret tantric path, become enlightened in one lifetime, in the one body.  This is because one must karmically possess the six physical constituents and be born from the womb of a human of the Southern Continent.  We have received such a rebirth.”

Only the human body possesses the six physical constituents i.e skin, flesh, bone, channels, winds, and drops that are necessary for the practice of Secret Mantra.

Though sentient beings of the six realms have the same buddha nature to be enlightened, based on the above paragraph from the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, humans are superior to animals because it has the most powerful basis to reach enlightenment.

I should rephrase the phrase “The only advantage that humans have over the animals"
by saying humans have better conditions (Eight Freedoms) to practise Dharma than the animals.

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General Buddhism / Re: Thai Buddhist monks criticized for lavish behavior

« Last post by dondrup on Today at 01:00:38 AM »

Bhikkhus or monks have taken vows to live the life of a mendicant.  Monks must uphold their vows and  practise renunciation.  According to the Vinaya, strictly speaking the monks are only allowed 4 items (other than their robes): a razor, a needle, an alms bowl and a water strainer. 

Time has changed.  Nowadays monks own additional essential items e.g. a mobile phone in order for them to communicate with others.  Laptop computer is another modern gadget that we see the ordained sangha uses. 

Monks must be mindful and be aware of their actions. It is not that monks are not allowed to own and use modern and expensive gadgets.  It is how they use the gadgets.The lavish behavour of the Abbot in this case is inappropriate and unskilful. 

Monks may have been gifted with expensive and branded mobile phones from kind sponsors.  Does this mean that these monks cannot use the expensive and branded mobile phones?  No.  It is the unskilful action that attracts criticism from the others.  This action has caused others to create negative impression of Buddhist Monks.  It had also caused others to create negative speech karma towards their unskilful action.

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General Buddhism / Re: Neo Buddhists?

« Last post by yontenjamyang on June 18, 2013, 04:34:11 PM »

My opinion is that they that the stand that the only anti-biotic is the penicillin. Other anti-biotics just isn't the original.
The Buddha has given 84,000 Dharma or teachings for diverse beings to suit each types of mind. The later schools is still authentic Buddhist schools for they teach authentic Dharma. We can check it from the results of the practitioners.

To say, only the "original" teachings of the Buddha is the Buddha's teaching is a paradox because:

1) The Buddha's teaching was never recorded directly "live" but were recorded only after his passing. So how sure are we that it is the original. By definition, none is.
2) To equate the Dharma as only coming from the Buddha Shakyamuni is to deny His word itself, as the Buddha taught that he did not invent the teaching but he merely taught the "Truth". There were other Buddhas before him and there will be Buddhas after him. The whole objective of His teaching is to become a Buddha. So if the teaching is authentic, surely there will be others who will be enlightened like Nagarjuna. To deny this is to deny the Buddha "original" teachings itself.
3) If we were to accept the "original" teachings then we must not underestimate the Buddha himself. He is skillful and his methods are still unfolding even now.

So to deny and reject later teachings as not authentic or "original" contradicts the teaching itself.

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General Buddhism / Re: The Influence of Tibetan Buddhist Culture in the Western World

« Last post by Jessie Fong on June 18, 2013, 04:18:03 PM »

i think China has contributed a lot to the spreading of Tibetan Buddhism and its culture to the rest of the world when they first invaded Tibet back in the 1950s. Nearly all monks and High Lamas escaped to seek refuge in other countries due to the invasion and through this the beauty of Tibetan Buddhism and its culture reached other parts of the world.  Such masters were HH Dalai Lama himself, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Gangchen Rinpoche and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche who have thousands, if not hundres of centres around the world.

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General Buddhism / Re: Thai Buddhist monks criticized for lavish behavior

« Last post by yontenjamyang on June 18, 2013, 03:58:48 PM »

For me there are 2 ways to look at this.

On one hands there are rules in the Vinaya and in the tradition that has been established from Buddha Shakyamuni's time and has evolved within various traditions and schools. Common to this is the practice of renunciation. The general rule of thumb is not to engage in lavish behavior. In other words, lead a simple life. In this respect, the usage of private jets, branded goods and fine dining can be deemed as lavish and a no-no.

The second point of view however, is that it is debatable on what is considered lavish and if the Sangha member; in this case the abbot himself, is actually renounced internally. After all, the Sangha should accept what is offered to them.

For this case, a deeper investigation need to be done to establish the actual motivation of the abbot.

A point to note is that in the Tibetan tradition especially, there are enlightened beings known as Mahasiddha who behave in what is normally unacceptable ways to benefit beings. After all, we are all flawed and do not have true wisdom to judge.

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General Buddhism / Myanmar monks back down from law seeking to restrict interfaith marriages

« Last post by Ensapa on June 18, 2013, 03:42:50 PM »

It's great that the monks in myanmar are finally speaking up against inequality!

Myanmar monks back down from law seeking to restrict interfaith marriages - report
Source: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:46 PM

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A two-day convention of some 200 monks in Myanmar ended on Friday with a call for peace and communal harmony but with no mention of a draft law that would restrict marriages between Buddhist women and Muslim men, Burmese news website The Irrawaddy reported.

The monks on Thursday unveiled a proposed law that would require any Buddhist woman seeking to marry a Muslim man to gain permission from her parents and local government officials and any Muslim man wanting to marry a Buddhist woman to convert to Buddhism,
Those who didn't follow the new rules could face up to 10 years in prison and could have their property confiscated, it said, adding the monks planned to collect signatures to lobby parliament to adopt the law.

The monks appeared to have backed down from the proposed restrictions on Friday, however.

“To accept or not to accept the so-called restrictions on interfaith marriage will be decided in accordance with human rights [standards]. Anybody can marry at their own will,” The Irrawaddy quoted U Dhammapiya, a senior monk and a spokesman for the convention, as saying.

The new law was proposed by Wirathu, a monk best known for his fiery anti-Muslim rhetoric and a leader of the controversial 969 campaign that calls for a boycott of Muslim-run businesses, according to The Irrawaddy.

Wirathu vigorously defended the draft law on Thursday at a press conference, sitting beside U Dhammapiya and Ashin Saekeinda, the abbot of a monastery in Hmawbi Township, just outside commercial capital Yangon, where the convention was held, the news outlet said.

“But on Friday afternoon, Ashin Saekeinda said he did not know who had circulated the draft law among participants and journalists, adding that it did not represent the position of the monks’ convention,” The Irrawaddy said.

The draft law was also condemned by eight Yangon-based women’s rights groups, it added.

Myanmar, where Muslims make up about 5 percent of the 60 million population, has struggled with unrest since June last year when fighting between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya erupted in western Rakhine state.

Reuters’ investigations in two violence-hit areas showed nationalists and Buddhist monks - highly revered and often held up as icons of democracy in Myanmar - incited the violence, which was abetted at times by local security forces.

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General Buddhism / Re: Are humans superior to animals?

« Last post by yontenjamyang on June 18, 2013, 03:22:45 PM »

Within the realms of samsara, the human realm is the most precious. Why precious? Precious because it is rare and hard to acquire. Rarer than any other realms. There are almost infinitely more animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings than humans. There are more demi gods and gods than humans as well. Being born as a human is part of of the 8 freedoms of the 18 opportune conditions stated in the Lamrim.

In the Lamrim, the actual training in the 3 scopes start with the heading "How to extract the essence from your optimum human rebirth" (heading 118). This underline the importance of being a human.

So this topic of "Are human superior to animals" is really an understatement of the century. Of course it is. Just ask yourself. "Would I want to be an animal?" The answer is clear.

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General Buddhism / Dalit converted to Buddhism seeks community certificate

« Last post by Ensapa on June 18, 2013, 03:11:53 PM »

It is kinda sad to see the caste system still being implemented in india as it would mean many people wont have equal opportunity...

Chennai: The Madras High Court served notice to the district collector Salem and tahsildar for delay in issuing community certificate to a Dalit student who converted to Buddhism.

Based on the writ petition of K. Thenmozhi, 19, of Subramaniya Nagar, Salem, a MBBS course aspirant, a bench comprising Justices K. Suguna and M. Duraiswamy also served notice to secretary, selection committee, DME, Kilpauk.

Counsels for the petitioner S. Sathiya Chandran, R. Gobika and A. Raja Mohamed contended that Thenmozhi was attracted to the ideals of Dr Ambedkar and embraced Buddhism at the age of 16. Since then, she was practicing Buddhism and the conversion was notified in Tamil Nadu Government Gazette on January 2, 2013. The counsels stated that “Dalits converting to Buddhism are eligible for reservation as per Scheduled Caste Amendment Act, 1990”.

The petitioner had secured 949 marks in higher secondary examination. When Thenmozhi wished to submit an application form for MBBS course for this academic year, she approached tahsildar, Salem taluk, seeking SC certificate on April 17. The revenue officials did not issue the certificate. Her father M. Krishnan informed district collector about the inordinate delay and contacted tahsildar on several occasions. Meanwhile, Thenmozhi submitted the application form without attaching the certificate.

“The delay affects the prospect of Thenmozhi joining MBBS course”, the counsels stated. The counseling for MBBS/ BDS courses will commence on June 18. Based on a request secretary, selection committee, DME, Kilpauk issued a random number to the applicant. However, she wished to obtain the certificate from tahsildar and prayed for a suitable direction from Madras High Court.

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General Buddhism / Thai Buddhist monks criticized for lavish behavior

« Last post by Ensapa on June 18, 2013, 03:00:48 PM »

Oh wow. this is interesting. An abbot whose actions contradict what he teaches..

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Buddhism body said it is monitoring monks nationwide for any inappropriate behavior after a video showed monks using luxurious personal items while flying on a private jet.
The YouTube video showed one of the monks was wearing stylish aviator sunglasses, carrying a luxury brand travel bag and sporting a pair of modern-looking wireless headphones. It attracted criticism from Buddhists nationwide.
Office of National Buddhism director-general Nopparat Benjawatananun said Monday that the agency saw the video early this year and had warned the monks from a monastery in Thailand's northeast not to repeat the lavish behavior.

A country with the world's largest Buddhist population, Thailand has attempted to help Buddha's 2,600-year-old doctrine stand the test of time through a variety of means, including banning the sale of alcohol on religious holidays. The efforts, however, are sometimes tainted by the Buddhist monks themselves.

Last year, about 300 out of 61,416 Buddhist monks and novices in Thailand were reprimanded — and several were removed from the monkhood — because of misconduct ranging from alcohol consumption, having sex with women to extortion. The Office also received complaints about monks driving cars, and scams and false claims of black magic uses by monks.

Nopparat said the Buddhist monks in the video were acting "inappropriately, not composed and not adhering to Buddha's teachings of simplicity and self-restraint."

Monruedee Bantoengsuk, an administrative officer at Khantitham Temple in Sisaket province, confirmed to The Associated Press that the monks on the private plane lived at the temple but refused to give details about the trip.
"We can explain this, but not now," she said, saying that the abbot, who appeared in the video, is currently on a religious tour in France.

The images from the video contrasted with the abbot's message on the temple's homepage that read: "The true core of those who preach Buddha's teachings is to not to own any objects at all."

"When Lord Buddha was alive, there wasn't anything like this. There were no cars, smart phones or cameras, so the rules were much simpler," said Nopparat. "While the monks need to keep themselves abreast of new knowledge, current events and technology, they are restrained to choose the appropriate tools."

He said one way to prevent the monks from misbehaving is for followers not to spoil them with valuable objects or vices. "In many cases, it was the followers who gave the monks the luxury. Some bought them sports cars. This is by no means necessary."