Buddhist

A Buddhist perspective on Social Action

Amaranatho — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:18:33 +0000

A Buddhist perspective

A Buddhist perspective on Church

Amaranatho — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:04:01 +0000

A Buddhist perspective on Gender

Amaranatho — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:43:45 +0000

What about the boys!

A Buddhist perspective on GOD

Amaranatho — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:33:28 +0000

Traditional views about Buddhism and God are that Buddhists do not believe in God and it is often quoted that the Buddha would not answer questions about the subject.

I am going to reflect on the subject in the light of my own personal development, using both the Buddhist framework and the integral approach of Ken Wilber.[1]

In my tradition everything is up for reflection: see how it works for you; it is not a proclamation and it's not a thinking process.

A Buddhist perspective Love

Amaranatho — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:06:49 +0000

If there is love, there is hope that one may have real families, real brotherhood, real equanimity, real peace. If the love within your mind is lost and you see other beings as enemies, then no matter how much knowledge or education or material comfort you have, only suffering and confusion will ensue.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama from The little book of Buddhism

My Buddhist World View

Amaranatho — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:04:32 +0000

My Buddhist World View

Buddhism is a collection of teachings that point to the truth, or the way things are. It is based on exploring the human condition from within, as a direct experience. Buddhism can be a complex religion of rites and rituals and can be as simple as a act of generosity. Buddha did not found Buddhism, his followers created it. The Buddha, which means the awakened one, taught the Dhamma the laws of nature. When one is awake, one sees the laws of nature.

There are many forms of Buddhism, as it developed to the country and the personality types of that country. I am a Buddhist Monk in the Thai Forest Tradition, which has its origins in a simple forest life in Thailand (watch a video here). The foundation of the practice in Thai Forest style and most forms of Buddhism, is the Four Noble Truths. Which can simple put as “there is suffering and there is a way out of it.” Where suffering is not something we create but something we recognise as core to existence in very much the same way as a body is to being human. In order to recognise this, contemplative inquiry is used. This inquiry challenges our dualistic thinking, our social, cultural, political and religious habits, which limit our world view. The core of this inquiry is based on awareness, an inherent ability to recognise ones own being without getting caught up in it and which when fully recognised gives ultimate joy, well-being, contentment and blessings.

More information about Theravadin Buddhism here
Tibetan Buddhism here

General overview here and here

Basic Buddhism Guide here

Basic Meditation guide here

A Buddhist Perspective on Care of the Earth

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:05 +0000

I entrust myself to Buddha

Buddha entrusts himself to me

I entrust myself to earth

Earth entrusts herself to me

Thich Nhat Hanh (monk and engaged Buddhist)

A Buddhist Perspective on Ritual

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:04 +0000

Buddhists use rituals to explore the key teachings of the Buddha. They can be purely devotional to uplift the heart, or they can be contemplative. They may take place in solitude or in a group, and may be conducted in either the scriptural or cultural language. The Buddha, though, made it very clear that if you attach yourself to rites and rituals, this will block you from understanding his teaching. He said the teachings are like a raft.

A Buddhist Perspective on Revelation and the Word

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:03 +0000

Words are Windows (or They're Walls)

I feel so sentenced by your words,
I feel so judged and sent away,
Before I go I've got to know
Is that what you mean to say?
Before I rise to my defence,
Before I speak in hurt or fear,
Before I build that wall of words,
Tell me, did I really hear?

A Buddhist Perspective on Sexuality

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:01 +0000

Buddhism has no issues with sex or sexuality – it's a natural function of the body. There are basic moral guidelines for householders, which are to be kind to one another, not to abuse sex or abuse somebody else: the basis is consenting partners. Then there are renunciant guidelines which are based on celibacy. For a Theravadin monastic, complete celibacy is required: sexual intercourse is a disrobing offence and masturbation is a very serious offence.

Training the mind

A Buddhist Perspective on Body, Health and Diet

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:47:00 +0000

Generally I've noticed that some people really look after their body, some don't even notice they have one, and others try to get rid of it. Through observing his body, the Buddha worked out that there are three characteristics of existence: everything changes, there is suffering, and there is no self in anything anywhere (you are not who you think you are). Many people suffer in relation to their body: it's too small, big, fat, thin; it does not meet the social or cultural norms; it needs to be some other way; we compare our bodies to those of others.

A Buddhist Perspective on Violence

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:46:52 +0000

Buddhism is widely perceived as a religion of non-violence and people often quote from the Dhammapada: 'Hate does not appease hate' and 'Do good, refrain from wrong, purify the mind'. I thought as part of this exploration I would surf the internet for some resources and then was reminded by the search outcomes of some of the Buddhist countries and their use of violence, especially Burma. With the training that I have had as a Buddhist I am reminded to reflect (a non-thinking process) [1] or contemplate (a thinking process) on the subject.

A Buddhist Perspective on Death

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:46:51 +0000

A Buddhist perspective

Death in Buddhism is recognised as a natural process. In the scriptural language of Pali, death (mara) is also the tempter: the force or energy that keeps us bound into the human form. It is also a heavenly messenger, a chance for us to awaken to the way things are.

When a person dies in the Theravadin tradition monks chant the following:-

A Buddhist Perspective on Freedom

Amaranatho — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:46:45 +0000

There is no fire like greed
No crime like hatred
No sorrow like separation
No sickness like hunger of heart
And no joy like the joy of freedom

Look within
Be still
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way

Adapted from the Dhammapada
trans. Thomas Byrom

Dissatisfaction

Malaysia Youth camps December 2011

Amaranatho — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:46:30 +0000

Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World - H.H. the Dalai Lama

Amaranatho — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:14:31 +0000

http://www.dalailama.com/book-beyond-ethics from

Buddhist Perspective on Occupy wall Street - We need a cool revolution

Amaranatho — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:50:09 +0000

http://www.evolvelovelive.com/

The spiritual side of Steve Jobs

Amaranatho — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:48:42 +0000

The name of Jobs' company is said to be inspired by the Beatles' Apple Corps, which repeatedly sued the electronics maker for trademark infringement until signing an exclusive digital distribution deal with iTunes. Like the Beatles, Jobs took a spiritual retreat to India and regularly walked around his neighborhood and the office barefoot.

World's Strictest Parents -UK teenagers with Buddhist Family in Sri lanka

Amaranatho — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:25:53 +0000

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vjl24

The rapping Lama - Gomo Tulku

Amaranatho — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:04:14 +0000

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/23/138618241/gomo-tulku-the-rapping-lama

Weekend Edition once did a story on a 6-year-old boy in Utah who was about to embark on a remarkable journey. Here's how that story began: