guess when it's time for me to die i'll have to go some where terribly exciting and wonderful be cause for damn sure i do NOT want to be re born in the town in which i now live!!!! or may be i should move to some warm, tropical island.... with any luck a coconut will fall on my head and kill me, and then i'll get to be re born on some paradise-like island!!!! or i could move to new orleans may be.... ANY where but THIS town!!!!!
I must thank you for being a voice of dhamma here on my website. Well done! You have handled Barbara well. I had many postings with her before. I agree with what you have been writing. I agree with your last post too but I would add that for people who are not able to reach samadhi and deep insight, then it is justified for them to rely upon the suttas as the reference point of truth in a sustained act of faith, or saddha- reasoned conviction, while they develop their meditation.
Brian. Hairy is not the voice of Dhamma but the voice of unliberated superstition. Buddha taught to levels of teachings. Those mundane teachings are not the core of Buddhism. Buddha advised in the Tittha Sutta (AN 3.61) what teachings are his core.
Your reasoning is false here Brian plus self-deception. However, that two fools concur is normal. For it is you yourself who have not reached samadhi and deep insight. Thus your convoluted false view has condemned yourself. Why post a series of lectures on superstition when you yourself who have not reached samadhi and deep insight? Following your line of reasoning, your lectures are not the voice of dhamma beause you yourself have not reached samadhi and deep insight.
To be honest, we could fire scripture at each other till we are blue in the face. The only true spiritual authority is neither monk, sutta nor the Buddha himself but our own experience. Which is why the Buddha has given us a way to find out, the way of samadhi and deep insight. That we ourselves can recall our own past lives is one of the "threefold knowledges" (tevijja) leading to enlightenment. Likened in the Sekha sutta (MN 91) to the first breaking out of hen's chicks from their eggs.
You have spoken correctly here Hairy Suit. Our own experience is the authority. You have not experienced rebirth therefore you should not talk about it. However, the meaning of 'past lives' or "past dwellings' is explained in the Khajjaniya Sutta. It is each time the mind in the past clung to one of the five aggregates as "I" and "mine". This is easy for those who have experienced emptiness to comprehend. This is our spiritual authority.
But some others have the experience! What do you say? But I am so much surprized, that why people talk about only rebirth? Buddha's teaching is to cultivate our mind or karma in present!
You are right about how some people react, particularly within Zen as well, since they emphasize being in the here now and not thinking about the future. You are correct, some people don't want to face the law of karma because it is a law, and they don't want to hear it. Much metta, Brian Ruhe
Thank you for these videos. I'm trying to work towards becoming a Soto lay monk and I've heard a lot of people trying to debunk or figure out karma and it's hard to tell them to just let it be and be aware of their own actions; I guess it sounds too much like God or fate to them, and they don't want to hear it. They want something to analyze and prove or disprove. I'm glad someone took the time to put up something refutable on Buddhism. : )
I have stated that the Buddha taught that we shouldn't ponder upon karma too much because it can make one crazy as it is too complex but we should be concerned about our unwholesome acts. But this is not about worrying. It's about recognizing a mistake, and then leaving the past in the past without dwelling in regrets. There is no need to worry about stepping on an ant; that is not karma. Unintentionally stepping on an ant is not the intention of killing. No worries!
The causes of the happiness & suffering we experience in our lives is found in the here & now. Our happiness & suffering are related to our mindfulness & wisdom.
If we believe otherwise, we become stuck in a philosophy of inaction. The Buddha taught these things in the Tittha Sutta (AN 3.61), which can be read on the internet.
Pondering kamma will only make one crazy if worrying about the little things we do. For example, I step on & kill an ant & I ponder: "What is going to happen to me?"
Hi Barbarra Bay, You are the first person ever to comment on my You Tube video, thanks! In reply, in the Tittha sutta the Buddha does not teach a philosophy of inaction and he is criticizing other sects that do. I am following the Buddha on this. The causes of our happiness & suffering are in the past and the present. That's what causes are- things we did which have a result on how we feel now. How we act in the present can be skillful or unskilful so wisdom and mindfulness is important, yes.
I have encountered so many buddhist modernists in the west who take what they like of buddhism, eschewing the concept of a literal rebirth because it doesn't appear fit with a western scientific worldview.
One can disregard rebirth if one so wishes, but one cant pretend that it didn't form a central part of the buddhas teaching!
You do not understand Buddhism Hairysuit. Buddha taught two levels of teachings. Rebirth is for ordinary people. It was the pre-existing religious belief. Serious Buddhists practise the core Buddhist teachings, which are not about rebirth. In brief, your post has no basis in the Buddha's teachings.
Dear Barbarra, I ought to understand something of Buddhism, I do have a Master of arts in the subject! Although my view is not from university lecturers but from Theravada monks, which count as serious Buddhists I think!
1) Rebirth was the pre existing religion? Not so. The Bodhisattva redefined the received brahmanical concept of reincarnation of the time. He is also said to have discovered the truth of rebirth for himself by recalling his own past lives in deep meditation.
Furhter Hairy. Your view is merely and simply sectarian and idiosyncratic, like all sectarian views are. The are many monks who disagree with your position. Thus to claim some external authority has no basis for objective discussion. The Buddha has advised clearly in the Maha Cattarisaka Sutta belief in rebirth is not a factor of the path, it does not lead to liberation and simply sides with merit, becoming and mental effluents (asava).
With respect Barbarra it is actually your view which is idiosyncratic. There are many monks which disagree with my position, mainly Buddhist modernists. There are many more monks however which agree with me as my view is traditional. For example, look at youtube talks by Ajahn Brahm on rebirth. He is a Thai forest monk of remarkable insight, a disciple of the late, great Ajahn Chah. But I like how you assume that my spiritual authorities have somehow failed as monks on the basis of my views!
Dear Hairy. Do you think a man has any spiritual authority, who ordains as a monk, fails due to his lack of wisdom to attain samadhi & insight, disrobes, and then returns to the low life to have sex & children with a woman? Your university degree & the teachings you receive from monks who teach worldly dhamma to worldly people are irrelevent and meaningless. Lokiya dhamma taught to worldly people is not the actual Buddha-Dhamma. It is there to satisfy morals & the need for donations.
2) The Sutta's are full of references to rebirth and they form a central part of the Buddhist world view, being inseparable from other key Buddhist concepts, such as karma.
Futhermore, there is no evidence to suggest that the many references to rebirth are meant symbolically but rather physically, "with the break-up of the body, after death".
Crucially, this notion of a literal rebirth is actually included in the Buddha's definition of Right View, and its negation included as Wrong View
Hiary. The Buddha did not teach rebirth in his first three sermons, especially the second and third, where all listeners gained full enlightenment. An objective examination of the suttas will show many of the major discourses regarding rebirth where given to Brahmins and laypeople in response to the questions of those Brahmins and laypeople, with the Culakammavibhanga Sutta being the best example.
It is often hard to be objective when looking at the Sutta's. We tend to impose our own preconceptions onto them. When I look at the Sutta's I see they are replete with references to the truth of rebirth, In sermons to monks as much as lay people. The definitive being "Since there actually is another world (rebirth), one that says 'there is no rebirth', has wrong view [and] is opposed to those Arahants who know the other world". (MN 60) Does this not settle the matter?
it is your mind that is preconceiving Hairy. Out of fear & craving, your mind is clinging to life, wishing to reborn. A mind with hindrances cannot discern the Buddha-Dhamma.
guess when it's time for me to die i'll have to go some where terribly exciting and wonderful be cause for damn sure i do NOT want to be re born in the town in which i now live!!!! or may be i should move to some warm, tropical island.... with any luck a coconut will fall on my head and kill me, and then i'll get to be re born on some paradise-like island!!!! or i could move to new orleans may be.... ANY where but THIS town!!!!!
qwyzl 4 months ago
How is this description of karma any different from "blaming the victim?"
destructicon500 1 year ago
Buddha spoke out against the idea that one's consciousness or "mind stream" flits about after death.
SriSatchitananda 2 years ago
What is the difference between this "mind stream" you postulate and an Atman? Corn flakes are corn flakes even if you call them pine cones.
SriSatchitananda 2 years ago
@SriSatchitananda You should explore this question.
jbearden 1 month ago in playlist Karma and Rebirth in Theravada Buddhism
Hi Hairysuit,
I must thank you for being a voice of dhamma here on my website. Well done! You have handled Barbara well. I had many postings with her before. I agree with what you have been writing. I agree with your last post too but I would add that for people who are not able to reach samadhi and deep insight, then it is justified for them to rely upon the suttas as the reference point of truth in a sustained act of faith, or saddha- reasoned conviction, while they develop their meditation.
BrianRuhe 2 years ago
Brian. Hairy is not the voice of Dhamma but the voice of unliberated superstition. Buddha taught to levels of teachings. Those mundane teachings are not the core of Buddhism. Buddha advised in the Tittha Sutta (AN 3.61) what teachings are his core.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
Your reasoning is false here Brian plus self-deception. However, that two fools concur is normal. For it is you yourself who have not reached samadhi and deep insight. Thus your convoluted false view has condemned yourself. Why post a series of lectures on superstition when you yourself who have not reached samadhi and deep insight? Following your line of reasoning, your lectures are not the voice of dhamma beause you yourself have not reached samadhi and deep insight.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
To be honest, we could fire scripture at each other till we are blue in the face. The only true spiritual authority is neither monk, sutta nor the Buddha himself but our own experience. Which is why the Buddha has given us a way to find out, the way of samadhi and deep insight. That we ourselves can recall our own past lives is one of the "threefold knowledges" (tevijja) leading to enlightenment. Likened in the Sekha sutta (MN 91) to the first breaking out of hen's chicks from their eggs.
hairysuit 2 years ago
You have spoken correctly here Hairy Suit. Our own experience is the authority. You have not experienced rebirth therefore you should not talk about it. However, the meaning of 'past lives' or "past dwellings' is explained in the Khajjaniya Sutta. It is each time the mind in the past clung to one of the five aggregates as "I" and "mine". This is easy for those who have experienced emptiness to comprehend. This is our spiritual authority.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
But some others have the experience! What do you say? But I am so much surprized, that why people talk about only rebirth? Buddha's teaching is to cultivate our mind or karma in present!
RanjanLekhy 2 years ago
Thank you Zenstudent105,
You are right about how some people react, particularly within Zen as well, since they emphasize being in the here now and not thinking about the future. You are correct, some people don't want to face the law of karma because it is a law, and they don't want to hear it. Much metta, Brian Ruhe
BrianRuhe 2 years ago
Thank you for these videos. I'm trying to work towards becoming a Soto lay monk and I've heard a lot of people trying to debunk or figure out karma and it's hard to tell them to just let it be and be aware of their own actions; I guess it sounds too much like God or fate to them, and they don't want to hear it. They want something to analyze and prove or disprove. I'm glad someone took the time to put up something refutable on Buddhism. : )
Zenstudent105 2 years ago
I have stated that the Buddha taught that we shouldn't ponder upon karma too much because it can make one crazy as it is too complex but we should be concerned about our unwholesome acts. But this is not about worrying. It's about recognizing a mistake, and then leaving the past in the past without dwelling in regrets. There is no need to worry about stepping on an ant; that is not karma. Unintentionally stepping on an ant is not the intention of killing. No worries!
With metta,
Brian Ruhe
BrianRuhe 3 years ago
The causes of the happiness & suffering we experience in our lives is found in the here & now. Our happiness & suffering are related to our mindfulness & wisdom.
If we believe otherwise, we become stuck in a philosophy of inaction. The Buddha taught these things in the Tittha Sutta (AN 3.61), which can be read on the internet.
Pondering kamma will only make one crazy if worrying about the little things we do. For example, I step on & kill an ant & I ponder: "What is going to happen to me?"
BarbarraBay 3 years ago
Hi Barbarra Bay, You are the first person ever to comment on my You Tube video, thanks! In reply, in the Tittha sutta the Buddha does not teach a philosophy of inaction and he is criticizing other sects that do. I am following the Buddha on this. The causes of our happiness & suffering are in the past and the present. That's what causes are- things we did which have a result on how we feel now. How we act in the present can be skillful or unskilful so wisdom and mindfulness is important, yes.
BrianRuhe 3 years ago
Dear Brian,
I have encountered so many buddhist modernists in the west who take what they like of buddhism, eschewing the concept of a literal rebirth because it doesn't appear fit with a western scientific worldview.
One can disregard rebirth if one so wishes, but one cant pretend that it didn't form a central part of the buddhas teaching!
hairysuit 2 years ago
You do not understand Buddhism Hairysuit. Buddha taught two levels of teachings. Rebirth is for ordinary people. It was the pre-existing religious belief. Serious Buddhists practise the core Buddhist teachings, which are not about rebirth. In brief, your post has no basis in the Buddha's teachings.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
Dear Barbarra, I ought to understand something of Buddhism, I do have a Master of arts in the subject! Although my view is not from university lecturers but from Theravada monks, which count as serious Buddhists I think!
1) Rebirth was the pre existing religion? Not so. The Bodhisattva redefined the received brahmanical concept of reincarnation of the time. He is also said to have discovered the truth of rebirth for himself by recalling his own past lives in deep meditation.
hairysuit 2 years ago
Hairy. Your university degree is deluded attachment. You sound like the deluded internet poster Tiltbillings.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
Ill ignore the post about deluded attachment. You're views are also deluded attachment. Ce la vie!
hairysuit 2 years ago
Furhter Hairy. Your view is merely and simply sectarian and idiosyncratic, like all sectarian views are. The are many monks who disagree with your position. Thus to claim some external authority has no basis for objective discussion. The Buddha has advised clearly in the Maha Cattarisaka Sutta belief in rebirth is not a factor of the path, it does not lead to liberation and simply sides with merit, becoming and mental effluents (asava).
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
With respect Barbarra it is actually your view which is idiosyncratic. There are many monks which disagree with my position, mainly Buddhist modernists. There are many more monks however which agree with me as my view is traditional. For example, look at youtube talks by Ajahn Brahm on rebirth. He is a Thai forest monk of remarkable insight, a disciple of the late, great Ajahn Chah. But I like how you assume that my spiritual authorities have somehow failed as monks on the basis of my views!
hairysuit 2 years ago
Dear Hairy. Do you think a man has any spiritual authority, who ordains as a monk, fails due to his lack of wisdom to attain samadhi & insight, disrobes, and then returns to the low life to have sex & children with a woman? Your university degree & the teachings you receive from monks who teach worldly dhamma to worldly people are irrelevent and meaningless. Lokiya dhamma taught to worldly people is not the actual Buddha-Dhamma. It is there to satisfy morals & the need for donations.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
2) The Sutta's are full of references to rebirth and they form a central part of the Buddhist world view, being inseparable from other key Buddhist concepts, such as karma.
Futhermore, there is no evidence to suggest that the many references to rebirth are meant symbolically but rather physically, "with the break-up of the body, after death".
Crucially, this notion of a literal rebirth is actually included in the Buddha's definition of Right View, and its negation included as Wrong View
hairysuit 2 years ago
Hiary. The Buddha did not teach rebirth in his first three sermons, especially the second and third, where all listeners gained full enlightenment. An objective examination of the suttas will show many of the major discourses regarding rebirth where given to Brahmins and laypeople in response to the questions of those Brahmins and laypeople, with the Culakammavibhanga Sutta being the best example.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago
It is often hard to be objective when looking at the Sutta's. We tend to impose our own preconceptions onto them. When I look at the Sutta's I see they are replete with references to the truth of rebirth, In sermons to monks as much as lay people. The definitive being "Since there actually is another world (rebirth), one that says 'there is no rebirth', has wrong view [and] is opposed to those Arahants who know the other world". (MN 60) Does this not settle the matter?
hairysuit 2 years ago
it is your mind that is preconceiving Hairy. Out of fear & craving, your mind is clinging to life, wishing to reborn. A mind with hindrances cannot discern the Buddha-Dhamma.
BarbarraBay 2 years ago