Question & Answer
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Questions include: the ethics of choosing an easy death; mindfulness of breathing; self and no self in an ancient text; renunciation of gender identity in a different ancient text; why people don’t follow five precepts; the karma of saints with bad parents; unconscientious monks; conspiracies; non-Buddhist images on Buddhist altars; a counter-argument to idealism; Brahma in Buddhism; brahmaviharas in Buddhism; sexual misconduct; Brian Ruhe’s Buddhist teachings; Facebook; Tibet vs. China; strange Sri Lankan ideas; associating with the wise; enlightened amorality; delusion with no self; Nagarjuna and David Hume; radical skeptics; experience with jhana; do I regret having been a monk for thirty years; health advice; Mahayanist heresy; reality as point-instants; how I am; Jim Carrey; the fashion of Tibetan Buddhism; feeling a strong urge as a sign; The Thirteenth Floor; Lincoln and Kennedy; and a girlfriend of Ram Dass.
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![Ram Dass | The Predicament of Modern Humanity | 90s | [Black Screen / No Music / Full Lecture]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kWaivnI3nnc/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the central themes I find in your Q&As is the importance of one's mental state in generating the right momentum to carry you through this life and towards the next. With this in mind, my question pertains to how to mindfully be aware of current events in the conventional, samsaric world when it objectively seems to be going to hell in a handbasket.
I say this as an admitted, yet conflicted, news junkie who feels the need to keep abreast of what's going on in the world; even though doing so often brings me down. Every now and then I try to go on a "news fast" but it doesn't usually last for very long. They say ignorance is bliss but I honestly don't see sticking my head in the sand and tuning out what's going on in the world as an option for me.
One of the things I like about your Q&As is that you balance the pursuit of universal truths while still being grounded in conventional, samsaric everyday reality. You seem to be able to strike the right balance between cultivating and maintaining a pure, positive mental state while at the same time being aware of current events and the negativity often found in them. Any suggestions on how I can strike this balance as well?
Thanks,
Romeo
Greetings Panno,
While reading back the above question I sent to you for your next Q&A, I realized I made a wrong choice of word. In the last paragraph of my question setup, I used the word 'universal' when I really meant 'ultimate' when describing the truths that I say you strike the right balance with. Probably not that big a deal, but I thought I'd clarify.
Thanks,
Romeo
Happy Samhain ❤😊🎉
I once lived in a Buddhist temple where many monks were quite miserable. They were extremely unhappy. I never imagined monks could suffer so much. It honestly felt like prisoners doing time. It didn't feel like holy men striving for any kind of liberation.
Is this normal? Are monks supposed to be like this? Ate they supposed to live tortured existences with no joy whatsoever or are they supposed to live the holy life joyfully and happily?
Is a miserable/joyful monk a sign that he's practicing incorrectly/correctly?
What are your thoughts? Thanks.
What is the Buddhist teaching on close friendships - are they just a form of clinging?
Do you think friendships can last a lifetime and stay genuine?
Many people seem to desperately desire these types of friendships (close long term friendships with members of the same sex) and yet struggle to achieve anything that’s not shallow, which usually just ends up hurting them even more. Is it even worth it?
Nice pumpkins. Especialy the white one 😊
Hello Pañño, how much value would you place on rebirth by aspiration?
Do you believe that the idea of the Bodhisattva has no credibility at all? I am a big fan of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Do you think the concept of his return to help humanity lacks wisdom and that there is no validity to his rebirths?
I am in Thailand and monks are lax. Digging in the ground handling money selling amulets etc.
Hey, Pañño. My question for next time is....explain the Pali Canon. The various texts and their significance in Theravada teachings. A lot of westerners only know the Dhamapada and a few famous quotes by the Buddha.....or think that all Buddhists worship the same things and read the same texts. Obviously they do not, as there are various schools and I've noticed so many don't understand or appreciate these differences and distinctions.
I know so many well intentioned seekers who have a hodge podge understanding of what Buddhism is and that various Buddhists have significantly different canons and vary from one another. For example Zen, Chan, Shingon, Nicherin etc....are all classified as Buddhist but are they? They all worship the Buddha, but through different texts or even radically different interpretations. So maybe this has two questions....what is the Pali Canon and it's constituents and what makes it different from the other forms of Buddhism. I like your long rambling answers, because they show your vast knowledge of the subjects and if you don't know, you'll admit that. Ok, have a great weekend and.....Thanks, per usual.
Q: Lets say I am in Burma and I tell people that I am NOT a monk and everybody know this. And now I shave bald and wear monk robes and bowl and everything and I walk from Town to Town just for fun of it. Would I be arrested?
I have a 2 questions .
1. Mogok Sayadaw. Did you attend a retreat in his tradition of Vipassana, or do you know anyone in Burma who did? If so, what's your opinion about the system? I heard his Vipassana is very popular in Burma.
2. Arahant Relics? After Mogook Sayadaw was cremated, apparently they found some sort of relics in his ash, Including an eyeball, an intact tooth, and these pearly things that look like gemstones that's said to appear only in the case of Arahants. Do you know if there is any support in the suttas that link these relics to the attainment of arahantship or it's purely Burmese folklore?
If you have watched the Joe Rogan podcast with Trump by the time you answer this, what was your thoughts of so?
the shirt and the umbrella in your drink... are you a lumberjack?