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This thread is discuss about various Sutras in Buddhism.
Come and ask questions if you wish.
Keep an open-mind and accept other people's opinions.
Voice yours with soft but firm voice.
Thank You.  |
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My favorite Sutra : The Heart Sutra. :love:
The Heart of the Prajna Paramita Sutra
The free seeing Bodhisattva of compassion, while in profound contemplation of Prajna Paramita, beheld five skandhas as empty in their being and thus crossed over all sufferings.
O-oh Sariputra, what is seen does not differ from what is empty, nor does what is empty differ from what is seen; what is seen is empty, what is empty is seen.
It is the same for sense perception, imagination, mental function and judgement.
O-oh Sariputra, all the empty forms of these dharmas neither come to be nor pass away and are not created or annihilated, not impure or pure, and cannot be increased or decreased.
Since in emptiness nothing can be seen, there is no perception, imagination, mental function or judgement.
There is no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or consciousness. Nor are there sights, sounds, odors, tastes, objects or dharmas.There is no visu-al world, world of consciousness or other world.
There is no ignorance or extinction of ignorance and so forth down to no aging and death and also no extinction of aging and death. There is neither suffering, causation, annihilation nor path.
There is no knowing or unknowing. Since nothing can be known, Bodhisattvas rely upon Prajna Paramita and so their minds are unhindered.
Because there is no hindrance, no fear exists and they are far from inverted and illusory thought and thereby attain nirvana.
All the Buddhas in the three per-i-ods of time fully accomplish the an-nut-ta-ra-sam-yak sambod-hi by relying upon Prajna Paramita.
Therefore, Prajna Paramita is known as the most divine mantra, the great enlightening mantra, the utmost mantra, the in-com-pa-ra-ble mantra, destroyer of all suffering! Since what is true is not in vain, listen to the mantra of the Prajna Paramita--it goes like this:
GATE GATE PA-RA GATE PARASAM GATE BOD-HI SVA-HA!
( Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, Bodhi, rejoice ! ) |
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Vijaya This user has been deleted
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Originally posted by Sephiroth at 16-5-2005 10:02 AM:
My favorite Sutra : The Heart Sutra. :love:
The Heart of the Prajna Paramita Sutra
The free seeing Bodhisattva of compassion, while in profound contemplation of Prajna Paramita, behe ...
Something bout d translation of the Sutta.
There's no the word "compassion" in the original text.
When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he illuminated the Five Skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.
Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all Dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or Dharmas; no field of the eyes up to and including no field of mind consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no attaining.
Because nothing is attained, the Bodhisattva through reliance on Prajna Paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana! All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi through reliance on Prajna Paramita. Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the Mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this:
Gat |
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So what do you understand from this Sutra? :hmm: |
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Vijaya This user has been deleted
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Originally posted by Sephiroth at 17-5-2005 08:18 AM:
So what do you understand from this Sutra? :hmm:
This is a great sutta......
From my understanding, the sutta message are sunyata and anatta.
some scholar translate the word sunyata into "blank essence". What do you think. |
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by Vijaya
This is a great sutta......
From my understanding, the sutta message are sunyata and anatta.
I have no idea what Sunyata or Anatta is.
some scholar translate the word sunyata into "blank essence". What do you think.
What the Sutra speaks, to me anyway, is the content of the Heart. :hmm:
I think the Sutra means to empty the Heart of emotions etc so Man will not a form. Forms is taken by Man when he takes (negavite or positive) actions toward the world, so the Sutra tells you to empty it.
Hmm ... something like the plot in Kingdom Hearts. When you are in the darkness, there you will find the True Light. |
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Avatamsaka (or Hua Yen or Flower Ornament) Sutra
Source : the site from pervious (above) post.
Book One: The Wonderful Adornments of the Leaders of the World
THUS HAVE I HEARD. At one time the Buddha was in the land of Magadha, in a state of purity, at the site of enlightenment, having just realized true awareness. The ground was solid and firm, made of diamond, adorned with exquisite jewel disks and myriad precious flowers, with pure clear crystals. The ocean of characteristics of the various colors appeared over an infinite extent.
There were banners of precious stones, constantly emitting shining light and producing beautiful sounds. Nets of myriad gems and garlands of exquisitely scented flowers hung all around. The finest jewels appeared spontaneously, raining inexhaustible quantities of gems and beautiful flowers all over the earth. There were rows of jewel trees, their branches and foliage lustrous and luxuriant. By the Buddha's spiritual power, he caused all the adornments of this enlightenment site to be reflected therein.
Why could Buddha (just after reaching enlightnment) see sights which normal people couldn't understand? Some ignorant one can say he is seeing things. Actually, the sight he behold makes more sense than you could understand.
Have you ever seen children lying on the ground and point to the clouds in the sky and saying this (cloud) looks like this and that?
Have you ever just lied on your back, so troubled in live? You look up into the sky and just will yourself to let go of all your problems? That time, the sky will look beautiful blue, like the ocean, the clouds like some majestic ivory buildings in the sky and small, line-shaped clouds like some people walking in the distant.
I believe Buddha saw the World as an enlightened person could - with no attachment, no needs, no emotions of anger and negavity toward the world. His mind was in peace and he sees the World in Peace.
The tree of enlightenment was tall and outstanding. Its trunk was diamond, its main boughs were lapiz lazuli, its branches and twigs were of various precious elements. The leaves, spreading in all directions, provided shade, like clouds. The precious blossoms were of various colors, the branching twigs spread out their shadows. Also the fruits were jewels containing a blazing radiance. They were together with the flowers in great arrays. The entire circumference of the tree emanated light; within the light there rained precious stones, and within each gem were enlightening beings, in great hosts like clouds, simultaneously appearing.
The English mystical poet William Blake believed that, if sufficiently inspired, you could see
... a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.
And a remarkably similar idea was expressed by the Chinese Ch'an (Zen) Master Huang Po, who also connects the 'One in All' (or 'All in All') idea with the earlier Mahayana theme of Emptiness:
When your glance falls on a grain of dust, what you see is identical with all the vast world-systems with their great rivers and mighty hills. To gaze upon a drop of water is to behold the nature of all the waters of the universe. Moreover, in thus contemplating the totality of phenomena, you are contemplating the totality of Mind. All these phenomena are intrinsically void and yet this Mind to which they are identical is no mere nothingness. By this I mean that it does exist, but in a way too marvelous for us to comprehend. It is an existence that is no existence, a non-existence which is nevertheless existence. So this true Void does in some marvelous way 'exist'. (The Zen Teachings of Huang Po, P. 108)
Also, by virtue of the awesome spiritual power of the Buddha, the tree of enlightenment constantly gave forth sublime sounds speaking various truths without end.
Even Science admit that everything in the Universe makes a certain "sound" as atoms within vibrates due to their energy levels. So the above verse holds truth that the Buddha could hear sublime sounds "speaking" without end.
The palace chamber in which the Buddha was situated was spacious and beautifully adorned. It extended throughout the ten directions. It was made of jewels of various colors and was decorated with all kinds of precious flowers. The various adornments emanated lights like clouds; the masses of their reflections from within the palace formed banners.
A boundless host of enlightening beings, the congregation at the site of enlightenment, were all gathered there: by means of the ability to manifest the lights and inconceivable sounds of the Buddhas, they fashioned nets of the finest jewels, from which came forth all the realms of action of the spiritual powers of the Buddhas, and in which were reflected images of the abodes of all beings.
Also, by virtue of the aid of the spiritual power of the Buddha, they embraced the entire cosmos in a single thought.
Their lion seats were high, wide, and beautiful. The bases were made of jewels, their nets of lotus blossoms, their tableaus of pure, exquisite gemstones. They were adorned with various flowers of all colors. Their roofs, chambers, steps, and doors were adorned by the images of all things. The branches and fruits of jewel trees surrounded them, arrayed at intervals.
Clouds of radiance of jewels reflected each other: the Buddhas of the ten directions conjured regal pearls, and exquisite jewels in the topknots of all the enlightening beings all emanated light, which came and illuminated them.
Furthermore, sustained by the spiritual powers of the Buddhas, they expounded the vast perspective of the Enlightened Ones, their subtle tones extending afar, there being no place they did not reach.
At that time, the Buddha, the World Honored One, in this setting, attained to the supreme, correct awareness of all things. His knowledge entered into all times with complete equanimity; his body filled all worlds; his voice universally accorded with all lands in the ten directions. Like space, which contains all forms, he made no discrimination among all objects. And, as space extends everywhere, he entered all lands with equanimity. His body forever sat omnipresent in all sites of enlightenment. Among the hosts of enlightening beings, his awesome light shone clearly, like the sun emerging, illumining the world. The ocean of myriad virtues which he practiced in all times was thoroughly pure, and he constantly demonstrated the production of all the buddha-lands, their boundless forms and spheres of light extending throughout the entire cosmos, equally and impartially.
He expounded all truths, like spreading great clouds. Each of his hairtips was able to contain all worlds without interference, in each manifesting immeasurable spiritual powers, teaching and civilizing all spiritual beings. His body extended throughout the ten directions, yet without coming or going. His knowledge entered into all forms and realized the emptiness of all things. All the miraculous displays of the Buddhas of past, present, and future, were all seen in his light, and all the adornments of inconceivable eons were revealed.
There were great enlightenment beings numerous as the atoms in ten buddha-worlds surrounding him. Their names were: Universally Good (Samantabhadra), Light of the Supreme Lamp of Universal Virtue, Lion Banner of Universal Light, Subtle Light of Flames of Universal Jewels, Banner of Oceans of Qualities of Universal Sounds, Realm of Enlightenment of Radiance of Universal Knowledge, Banner of Flowers of a Topknot of Universal Jewels, Pleasing Voice of Universal Awareness, Light of Inexhaustible Virtue of Universal Purity, Mark of Universal Light, Great Brilliance of the Light of the Moon Reflected in the Ocean, Undefiled Treasury of Light of Oceans of Cloudlike Sounds, Born of Wisdom and Adorned with Virtue, Great Light of Sovereign Virtue, Brave Lotus Topknot, Sun Banner of Clouds of Universal Knowledge, Greatly Persevering with Indestructible Courage, Light Banner of Fragrant Flames, Deep Beautiful Sound of Great Enlightened Virtue, Born of Wisdom with the Light of Great Virtue. These and others were the leaders - there were as many as there are atoms in ten buddha-worlds. |
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Book Two : Appearance of the Buddha
The Buddha's body fills the cosmos,
Appearing before all beings everywhere-
In all conditions, wherever sensed, reaching everywhere,
Yet always on this seat of enlightenment.
In each of the Buddha's pores
Sit Buddhas as many as atoms in all the lands,
Surrounded by masses of enlightening beings
Expounding the supreme practice of the universally good.
Buddha, sitting at rest on the enlightenment seat,
Displays in one hair oceans of fields;
The same is true of every single hair,
Thus pervading the cosmos.
He sits in each and every land,
Pervading the lands one and all;
Enlightening beings from everywhere gather,
All coming to the enlightening scene. p. 162
The profound knowledge of the Buddha
Enters everywhere in the cosmos:
Able to operate in accord with all times,
It is a clear guide for the world.
The Buddhas have the same reality-body -
It depends on nothing, is without distinction;
It causes beings to see Buddha in physical form
According to their intellects.
Replete with all knowledge,
Buddha knows all things:
In all lands,
Everything is evident.
Buddha's bodies, lights, and physical forms
Are all inconceivable.
Sentient beings who believe
He causes to see them according to potential.
In one Buddha-body
He produces infinite Buddhas,
Thunderous sound pervading all lands
Expounding the teaching, the deep ocean of thusness.
In each hair pore
Are webs of light pervading all quarters,
Intoning the sublime voices of Buddha,
Taming the hard to tame.
From the Buddha's light
Issues deep and wondrous sound
Extolling the Buddha's ocean of virtues
And the practices of enlightening beings. p. 163-164
Buddha's body is always apparent,
Filling the entire cosmos,
Always intoning far-reaching sound
Shaking all lands in all quarters.
Buddha manifests bodily everywhere,
Entering into all worlds,
Revealing occult spiritual power
According to the inclinations of beings.
Buddha appears before all beings
In accordance with their minds;
What the sentient beings see
Is the Buddha's mystic power.
His radiance has no bounds
And his teaching too is infinite;
Buddha children enter and observe
According to their knowledge.
The Buddha's body has no birth
Yet can appear to be born.
The nature of reality is like space:
Therein do the Buddhas dwell.
No abiding, yet no departing:
Everywhere the Buddha's seen;
His light reaches everywhere,
His fame is heard afar.
No substance, no abode,
And no origin that can be found;
No signs, no form:
What appears is like reflections. p. 164-165
Source : Above mentioned Site. |
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muchomike This user has been deleted
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What the Sutra speaks, to me anyway, is the content of the Heart.
I think the Sutra means to empty the Heart of emotions etc so Man will not a form. Forms is taken by Man when he takes (negavite or positive) actions toward the world, so the Sutra tells you to empty it.
Here is another view.
From what i understand, the Heart Sutra do not have a direct link to the human physical or emotional heart, maybe indirectly from a distance.
Actually, i gather it meant,
"The full title of this sutra is The Heart of Prajnaparamita Sutra."
http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/heartsutra.html
I agree with Vijaya that the main purpose of the Heart Sutra is about 'Sunyata' or 'Anata', or "Emptiness".
************quote
Paramita is a Sanskrit term meaning virtue perfected to the level of transcendence. In the context of Buddhist practice it means to traverse the sea of Samsara, or the sea of birth and death, and reach Nirvana. The words "coursing in the deep Prajnaparamita" attest to the Bodhisattva's practice of all three kinds of wisdom, i.e., listening, thinking and practice; thus he attained the radiant wisdom, or the Ultimate. This paragraph offers description of correct Dharma practice and its purpose is to provide guidance for the assembly, including those who have attained partial understanding and insight.
**********unquote
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/heartl02.htm
*********
During his practice of contemplation and illumination the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara attained Truth. By means of his minutely subtle Dharma practice he penetrated the five skandhas, perceiving them as empty.
*********
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/heartl03.htm
The path taken is to transcend the 5 skandhas and take one's consciousness to "emptiness".
This concept is similar with Taoism, Hinduism, Sufism, Kabbalah, an other mysticism, etc.
The only difference is in forms, symbols and words.
********quote
As the three primary qualities of phenomenal nature (prakriti) and of embodied consciousness, the concept of the three gunas has had great influence, becaming a basic concept running through Hindu culture.
An analogy can be made with the gunas and the yin-yang polarity of Chinese thought. Sattwa clearly represents Yang, Tamas Yin, and Rajas has qualities of both. The three pillars or columns of the Kabbalistic tree is another example, although the correspondence is less clear. Both the central column of Balance and the right-hand column of Mercy would represent Sattwa, while the column of Severity on the left combines Rajas and Tamas.
********unquote
http://www.kheper.net/topics/Samkhya/gunas.htm
Imprortant note to Sephiroth;
since i voice a different opinion, hope you do not get angry and start attacking.
It is just a view, i am not enforcing it on anyone. |
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Book Thirty Three: Inconceivable Qualities of Buddhas
This chapter is about Qualities which possessed by Buddhas (those who reach Enlightnment). Source : The site I stated above.
The buddhas have ten things that pervade the infinite cosmos. What are these ten? All buddhas have unbounded bodies, with pure forms, entering into all states of being without defilement or attachment. All buddhas have unbounded, unobstructed eyes that can clearly see all things. All buddhas have unbounded, unobstructed ears that can understand all sounds and utterances. All buddhas have unbounded, unobstructed noses that can reach the other shore of freedom of the buddhas. All buddhas have universal tongues that utter sublime sounds pervading the cosmos. All buddhas have unbounded bodies that appear to sentient beings in accord with their minds. All buddhas have unbounded minds that dwell on the unobstructed impartial body of reality. All buddhas have unbounded, unobstructed liberation, manifesting inexhaustible great spiritual powers. All buddhas have unbounded pure worlds, manifesting buddha-lands according to the pleasures of sentient beings, replete with infinite adornments, yet without giving rise to any obsession or attachment to them. All buddhas have unbounded practical undertakings of enlightening beings, having complete knowledge, spiritual freedom, and ability to master all elements of buddhahood. These are the ten phenomena of buddhahood that pervade the cosmos without bound, which are in the perfectly enlightened ones. p. 909
Meaning :- Buddha(s) have unbounded sensors (5 normal senses + the Mind) which is unbounded by anything in the Reality.
The buddhas have ten kinds of instantly creative knowledge. What are these ten? All buddhas can, in a single instant, appear to descend from heaven in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest birth as enlightening beings in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest renunciation of the mundane and study of the way to liberation in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest attainment of true enlightenment under enlightenment trees in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest turning the wheel of Teaching in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest education of sentient beings and service of the enlightened in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest untold variety of buddha-bodies in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest all kinds of adornments in infinite worlds, innumerable adornments, the freedoms of the enlightened, and the treasury of omniscience. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest countless pure beings in infinite worlds. All buddhas can, in a single instant, manifest the buddhas of past, present, and future in infinite worlds, with various faculties and characters, various energies, and various practical understandings, attaining true enlightenment in the past, present and future. p. 909
Meaning :- The Buddha(s) is unbounded (seemingly) by time we know it. There is no past, present or future, as the way we know it which effects the Buddha(s). :hmm:
The buddhas have ten peerless inconceivable realms. What are they? All buddhas, once sitting, pervade infinite worlds in the ten directions. All buddhas, uttering one logical statement, can express all Buddha teachings. All Buddhas, emanating one light, can illumine all worlds. All buddhas, in one body, can manifest all bodies. All buddhas can show all worlds in one place. All buddhas can ascertain all things within one knowledge without any impediment. All buddhas can travel to all worlds in the ten directions in a single moment of thought. All buddhas can manifest the infinite spiritual powers of the enlightened in a single instant. All buddhas can focus on all the buddhas and sentient beings of past, present and future in a single instant without confusion of mind. All buddhas are in one instant essentially the same as all buddhas of past, future and present. p. 910
Meaning :- The Buddha(s) is unbounded by Space as we know it. The Buddha(s) can work in and around the space we knows as Reality for sake of enlightnment of the Sentient Beings within it.
The buddhas can produce ten kinds of knowledge. What are they? All buddhas know all things have no aim, yet they can produce knowledge of dedicated undertaking. All buddhas know all things have no body, yet they can produce knowledge of pure bodies. All buddhas know all things are fundamentally nondual, yet they can produce knowledge capable of awareness and understanding. All buddhas know all things have no self and no being, yet they can produce knowledge to civilize beings. All buddhas know all things fundamentally have no marks, yet they can produce knowledge of all marks. All buddhas know all worlds have no becoming or decay, yet they can produce knowledge of becoming and decay. All buddhas know all things have no creation, yet they can produce knowledge of the effects of action. All buddhas know all things have no verbal explanation, yet they can produce knowledge of verbal explanation. All buddhas know all things have no defilement or purity, yet they can produce knowledge of defilement and purity. All buddhas know all things have no birth or extinction, yet they can produce knowledge of birth and extinction. p. 910
Meaning :- The Buddha(s) can produce (give knowledge) of matters in Realm of the Sentient Beings without actually suffering through it.
Men come to know about their Reality through state of experience, test and logic. By this experiences, Men can formulate logical deductions which situates his understanding. Then, that understanding becomes HIS reality.
Like what an atheist in this forum mentioned - He choose to believe in a Lie, thus his Lie is his reality.
Buddha(s) in the otherhand, however, do not need to generate His or Her own Reality to help the Sentient Beings, He or She could understand and produce knowledge about the Reality without actually generating it (experiencing it bt state of Suffering like Men do).
The buddhas have ten kinds of ways of entry into universality. What are they? All buddhas have immaculate bodies that penetrate past, present and future. All buddhas are endowed with three kinds of mastery - of diagnosis, prescription and occult powers - by which they edify beings everywhere. All buddhas are endowed with mnemonic powers able to receive and hold all Buddha teachings. All buddhas are endowed with four special knowledges - of principles, meanings, expressions, and elocution - and operate all cycles of pure teaching everywhere. All buddhas have impartial great compassion and never abandon all sentient beings. All buddhas have profound meditation concentration and always observe all sentient beings everywhere. All buddhas have roots of goodness beneficial to others, and civilize sentient beings unceasingly. All buddhas have unobstructed minds, able to abide calmly in all universes. All buddhas have unimpeded spiritual powers and are able to manifest the buddhas of past, present and future in one instant. All buddhas have unobstructed intellect, in a single instant defining sets of ages of past, present and future. pp. 910-911
Meaning :- It speaks of Intellectual (Mental) Qualities of the Buddha(s). Easy to understand without adding my meaning into it.
Buddhas have ten great qualities that are hard to believe in. What are they? All buddhas can destroy all demons. All buddhas can overcome all false teachers. All buddhas can tame all sentient beings and make them all happy. All buddhas can go to all worlds and guide the myriad types of beings there. All buddhas can knowingly experience the most profound realm of reality. All buddhas can, by means of a nondual body, manifest various bodies, filling the world. All buddhas can, with pure voices, produce the special knowledges of principle, meaning, expression, and elocution, and expound truths endlessly, to the unfailing benefit of those who accept. All buddhas can manifest buddhas as numerous as atoms in all worlds in a single pore, without end. All buddhas can manifest in a single atom as many lands as atoms in all worlds, replete with all kinds of fine adornments, and continuously turning the wheel of sublime Teaching therein for the edification of sentient beings - yet the atom is not enlarged and the worlds are not small; they always abide in the realm of reality by realizational knowledge. All buddhas arrive at the pure realm of reality, shatter the darkness of ignorance of the world by means of the light of knowledge, cause all to gain understanding of the Buddha teachings, follow the enlightened, and dwell in the ten powers. pp. 911
Meaning :- Buddha's teachings speaks logic and truth thus it can overcome all false teaching of others (non Buddha(s)) which generates from personal experience or even delusion and deceive nature of Man.
[ Last edited by Sephiroth on 31-5-2005 at 08:29 AM ] |
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muchomike This user has been deleted
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He choose to believe in a Lie, thus his Lie is his reality.
Sephiroth,
This is a serious accusation that you make of others without proper understanding of logic. e.g.
To me, believing in god is a mental lie, a psychological comfort, which i agree with Reverend Dhamananda and Nyanaponika Thera.
see: http://forum.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?tid=162216&fpage=1
Those who believe in god, therefore believe in a useful and good psychological lie.
Atheists and Buddhists (who are also atheists) do not acccept this type of lie. i.e. that God exists which is similar to the lie like 'Santa exists' for a small kid. |
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muchomike This user has been deleted
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When reading on the Avatamsaka, i would prefer to focus primarily on the core basic message, i.e.
Basically, the Avatamsaka retains the principle of emptiness that we have already encountered in the Prajnaparamita literature and adds a key new idea: the fundamental unity and 'interpenetration' of all things. Everything is literally 'contained' in everything else.http://www.sunyaprajna.com/Buddhism/Avatamsaka.html#Book33
This message as expressed in terms of inter-being by Thich Nhat Hann emphasizes that we are all connected and inter-dependent on each other. Therefore we should extend care and positive feelings for everyone and everything in this universe.
We should put secondary importance on the magical parts and super properties of Buddha
Also, note that the enjoyment of sense delights does not agree with any ascetic evaluation of Samsara (the everyday world of perception). The purpose of the Buddhist emphasis on 'detachment' from Samsara is to achieve purity of consciousness (enlightenment), one of whose effects is exquisite sensitivity to the beauty of all Samsara, without clinging to anything of a transient nature. It becomes a magical show that flows past unimpeded by any mental grasping arising from ego and desire. So Samsara is Nirvana, a key assertion of the Mahayana.
However, the enlightened state may sometimes also produce visions, perhaps containing some spiritual message. Furthermore, the enlightened mind may spontaneously produce visions, as a kind of creative play, without any message, not unlike some psychotropic drugs (which I do NOT advocate).http://www.sunyaprajna.com/Buddhism/Avatamsaka.html#Book33
It would appear that many of the visions in the Avatamsaka Sutra can also be reproduced by drugs, epilepsy and people with mental illness.
Thus someone with mental illness could say, look i have similar experiences as stated in the Avatamsaka, therefore i am the Matrieya. Many mad man have tried to be the new Christ or Buddha or Muhammad.
Focussing on the properties of Buddha's properties without a proper teacher and going through the relevant spiritual evolution can be dangerous and misleading.
Note:
This is just my view.
For others, please apply the teachings from the Kalama Sutra. |
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Hm.. I have something to say of the *illusions*.
Many sceptics said that these illusions came from hallucinatory drugs, wines, and so on.
But in many religions, these experiences are quoted as real as you and me. Hindu's Sadhu, Buddhist monk, Muslims' Tariqat and Christians Mystics.
I think, when we are concentrating much, we INDEED go to a higher realm, unexplainable. |
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by KaiserPheonix
Hm.. I have something to say of the *illusions*.
Many sceptics said that these illusions came from hallucinatory drugs, wines, and so on.
But in many religions, these experiences are quoted as real as you and me. Hindu's Sadhu, Buddhist monk, Muslims' Tariqat and Christians Mystics.
And by omiting Islam from your statement, I will conclude you are a Muslim.
I think, when we are concentrating much, we INDEED go to a higher realm, unexplainable.
Explain to me who is this "we"?
Which part of "us" which goes to the higher realm?
If you say the body - then it equals to say the body spread wings and flew ... no sighting of winged man around.
If you say the mind - then it is an illusion for the mind do not exist.
If you say the soul - then you are in an uphill battle (with atheist AND some Buddhists alike) about existence of such being.
And this is not even touching the part of higher realm.
So, instead of concentrating in what you may or may not feel, just concentrate in living your life properly. Whatever comes, comes. |
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alphone This user has been deleted
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Post time 16-5-2005 09:54 AM
变色卡
Author
