﻿Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 7:31 PM
Title: Re: Enlightenment in a Pure Land
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
You can’t fit an infinite Buddha within a finite space.

Malcolm wrote:
Correct.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 7:29 PM
Title: Re: Enlightenment in a Pure Land
Content:



Aryjna said:
The necessity for sexual organs seems to apply only in the context of particular classes of tantra and/or schools.

Malcolm wrote:
Gender differentiation applies In all four classes of tantra.

AmidaB said:
How it is interpreted in the case of pure lands?

Malcolm wrote:
Some buddhafiekds have gender differentiation, some don’t.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 7:27 PM
Title: Re: Enlightenment in a Pure Land
Content:



Aryjna said:
The necessity for sexual organs seems to apply only in the context of particular classes of tantra and/or schools.

Malcolm wrote:
Gender differentiation applies In all four classes of tantra.

Aryjna said:
Are sexual organs needed to practice tantra in all systems? I thought it was the case only in Anuttarayogatantra in particular schools.

Malcolm wrote:
Gendered bliss arousal is needed in all four systems whether by gazing, holding hands, embracing, or intercourse, in that order.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 7:21 PM
Title: Re: Academic critiques and slandering the dharma
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
All Buddhist sūtras and tantras are apocryphal, all of them, including the Pali Canon, etc., from a western scholastic point of view.

Astus said:
If the scriptures are viewed in a

Malcolm wrote:
Western, settler-colonialist,  historical perspective... I prefer the indigenous perspectives, which are many, varied, and don’t necessarily accept this idea of “earlier“ and “later” texts.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 7:49 AM
Title: Re: Enlightenment in a Pure Land
Content:
Zhen Li said:
The Amitābha sūtras do not specify a limit to methods practiced by bodhisattvas in Sukhāvatī, nor is there specified that they need to practice to attain the thirty-two marks, infinite dhāraṇīs, or all the supernatural powers—they have them naturally and inherently by the power of Amitābha's vows. Practicing or not practicing vajrayāna or sūtrayāna is not really a question, since "practice" Sukhāvatī is essentially just ekayāna—you are learning from the Dharmakāya itself, it is instantaneous and beyond the need for methods that can be calculated in the normal sense of duration and ascension.

Varis said:
We can reasonably assume Vajrayana is not practiced in Dewachen because the sentient beings that are born there lack sex organs.

Aryjna said:
The necessity for sexual organs seems to apply only in the context of particular classes of tantra and/or schools.

Malcolm wrote:
Gender differentiation applies In all four classes of tantra.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 1:42 AM
Title: Re: Academic critiques and slandering the dharma
Content:



FiveSkandhas said:
What I find somewhat challenging is the question of "apocryphal" texts...

Malcolm wrote:
All Buddhist sūtras and tantras are apocryphal, all of them, including the Pali Canon, etc., from a western scholastic point of view.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 12:23 AM
Title: Re: Enlightenment in a Pure Land
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
This isn't possible. Only buddhas can perceive the dharmakāya. Not even tenth stage bodhisattvas can perceive the dharmakāya. And, Amitabha's buddhafield is most certainly a nirmāṇakāya buddhafield. This means that the Buddha's statement in the Lanka about buddhas attaining buddhahood only in Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyūha should be observed:

Zhen Li said:
Apologies, because this is where East Asian Pure Land differs from the Indo-Tibetan tradition (in fact I initially responded to this thread without noticing it is in the Tibetan Buddhism forum, so excuse my butting in), in that the dharmakāya is considered to have two aspects:


Tanluan said:
All Buddhas and bodhisattvas have dharma-bodies of two dimensions; dharma-body as suchness and dharma-body as compassionate means. Dharma-body as compassionate means arises from the dharma-body as suchness, and dharma-body as suchness emerges out of dharma-body as compassionate means. These two dimensions of dharma-body differ but are not separable; they are one but cannot be regarded as identical.

Zhen Li said:
The other bodies are considered to be part of dharma-body as compassionate means:

Shinran, Kyogyoshinsho said:
The dharma-body is like the sun, and the light of accommodated and transformed bodies pervades all the worlds. Sun is inadequate for expressing immovability; hence, it is further said, like Mount Sumeru abide [immovable].

Zhen Li said:
In East Asian Pure Land thought, there are nirmāṇakāya aspects to Sukhāvatī but it is inseparable from dharmakāya. Of course, it goes without saying that Amitābha is regarded as a dharmakāya, which has these aspects of compassionate means.

Malcolm wrote:
Your objection is not really valid. Why? Because there is only one dharmakāya, and only one teacher, the dharmakāya, since the dharmakāya of all buddhas is the same, that is, the dharmakāya of Amitabha is not different than the dharmakāya of Śakyamuni, etc. But it is nevertheless the case that no one can see the dharmakāya other than a buddha, since the dharmakāya of the buddhas is just their complete realization of buddhahood.

Because of the compassionate nature of buddhahood, different sentient beings experience different nirmāṇakāyas, but only bodhisattvas on the pure stages, 8-10, are able to perceive the sambhogakāya, since the sambhogakāya cannot be perceived by any person who is tainted with afflictive obscurations.

As for the dharmakāya having two aspects, this is a distinction without a difference. The dharmakāya emanates the sambhogakāya, and the sambhogakāya emanates various buddhas such as Amitabha, Śākyamuni, and the other of the 1002 buddhas of the fortunate eon.

But rather than be distracted by buddhology of Amitabha Buddha, we ought to be focusing rather on the nature of Sukhāvati. 1) Sukhāvati is compounded because it was formed out of the Bodhisattva Dipaṃkāra's cultivation of a buddhafield. This is an undeniable fact. 2) Sukhāvati may be regarded as permanent, because it is sustained by Bodhisattva Dipaṃkāra's aspiration, which is limitless, given that he was an āryabodhisattva who perfected the perfections, one of which cultivating a buddhafield, however, Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyūha is uncompounded. The http://databases.aibs.columbia.edu/index.php?id=4c80390678a9883498b73fd877664edb&enc=sanskrit_romanized_title_4_search&coll=kangyur

Zhen Li said:
The buddhas abiding in that place
praise Ghanavyūha.
Ghanavyūha has existed from beginningless time.
A self-originated emanation is there,
the stainless Buddha.
Dwelling beyond the three elements,
That place is without grasping to bliss,
it is free from the experience of I and mine,
it is unchanging, ultimately permanent, and stable.
Ghanavyūha is unconditioned.
The perfect buddhas awaken [there]
but without buddhahood in the supreme place, Akaniṣṭha,
the deeds of the buddha will not be performed in the desire realm.
Once they depart Ghanavyūha
ten million emanations of the Buddha
will always remain in yogic equipoise.

Malcolm wrote:
Thus, Amitabha also actually attains buddhahood in Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyūha. Further, unlike Sukhāvati, Ghanavyūha has no śrāvakas, since even arhats have afflictive obscurations. There is a great deal more that could be said about this.

But to summarize, there is no justification at all in commonly accepted scriptures for your two central claims: 1) "[Y]ou are learning from the Dharmakāya itself;" 2)"[It] is instantaneous and beyond the need for methods that can be calculated in the normal sense of duration and ascension."

As to your comment on your two citation, "In East Asian Pure Land thought, there are nirmāṇakāya aspects to Sukhāvatī but it is inseparable from dharmakāya."

This is unsupportable as well: the first contradiction is that if Sukhāvati is nondual with the dharmakāya, then the dharmakāya must be compounded, because beings take birth there. The second contradition is that If Sukhavāti is nondual with the dharmakāya, then it is impossible for sentient beings to attain birth there, and the aspirations of Bodhisattva Dipaṃkāra cannot be fulfilled. Both of these negative consequences arise from asserting that Sukhāvati something more than a nirmāṇakāya buddhafield. In fact, that whole point of Sukhāvati is that it is a nirmāṇakāya buddhafield, because 1) all learned people understand that even noble bodhisattvas from the seventh stage on down cannot see the sambhogakāya, must less those of us on the paths of accumulation and application, and because 2) not even bodhisattvas on the pure stages can perceive the dharmakāya since they have remaining knowledge obscurations. Since Dipaṃkāra's vows are specifically aimed at ordinary sentient beings, it is simply an exaggeration to make the two claims you have made, since they lack a basis in scripture and they cannot be defended with reason.

These rebuttals should not be seen as a negation of Bodhisattva Dipaṃkāra's vows, nor should they be seen as a rebuttal of the aspiration to attain rebirth in Sukhāvati. Rather, they are merely proffered in order to correct misconceptions that birth in Sukhāvati is somehow a short cut to buddhahood—it is not—or that birth in Sukhāvati relieves one of having gather accumulations and perfect the perfections, and so on, the normal duties of a bodhisattva on the path. In fact, as it is well known and as you admit above, some who are born in Sukhāvti do not hear the voice or see the face of Amitabha for five hundred years. This is crucial because the http://databases.aibs.columbia.edu/index.php?id=4c80390678a9883498b73fd877664edb&enc=sanskrit_romanized_title_4_search&coll=kangyur states that a single day in Sukhavāti equals a kalpa in the Sahā world. This means that those who are stuck in lotuses in Sukhavāti must remain there for the equivalent of 182,500 kalpas (500 * 365) in human time. Of course they don't suffer, but still they are trapped, cannot hear the dharma, see the Buddha and so on. This is an unimaginable amount of time.

Further, this assertion of yours that the Large Sūtra is the last remaining sutra after the Buddha's doctrine is questionable, and lacks scriptural support, despite the Chinese translation of this text.

What is known as the http://databases.aibs.columbia.edu/index.php?id=ae49b016746c95489e8507a6f8a9ee4a&enc=tibetan_wylie_title&coll=kangyur in the Tibetan canon does not affirm this, It merely states, "In the future, until the sublime Dharma utterly perishes, this great Dharmapariyaya will be truly praised by all the buddhas, extolled by all the buddhas, and conferred by all the buddhas." But there is no mention at all of it being the last surviving sūtra at the end of Śākyamūni's dispensation, as the Sanskrit (See Gomez, Land of Bliss: Hawaii, 1996, pg. 108: section 150) also bears out.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 7:16 AM
Title: Re: Enlightenment in a Pure Land
Content:
Zhen Li said:
you are learning from the Dharmakāya itself...

Malcolm wrote:
This isn't possible. Only buddhas can perceive the dharmakāya. Not even tenth stage bodhisattvas can perceive the dharmakāya. And, Amitabha's buddhafield is most certainly a nirmāṇakāya buddhafield. This means that the Buddha's statement in the Lanka about buddhas attaining buddhahood only in Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyūha should be observed:

"Perfect buddhahood is attained there,
the emanated ones attain buddhahood here."

Jñānaśrībhadra comments, "The exhibition of the nirmāṇakāya's buddhahood lacks the fortune and the conditions of exhibiting the sambhogakāya, but if the nirmāṇakāya's buddhahood is not exhibited, sentient beings of the desire realm will lack confidence."

Further, the great Tibetan Buddhist master, Tāranātha (as well as other masters) clearly identifies Sukhāvati as a nirmāṇakāya buddhafield in his reply to one Geshe Paldan Śākya, "The Kusmalatagarbha buddhafield mentioned in the ninetieth chapter of the Avatamska Sūtra is the nirmāṇakāya buddhafield of Buddha Vairocana, not Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyūha, because it is explained that the buddhafield of Buddha of Vairocana has definite dimensions and is newly made, like Sukhāvati." In other words, Sukhāvati is a conditioned buddhafield, unlike the sambhogakāya buddhafield of Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyūha.

In the context of birth in Sukhāvati, no one there directly receives teachings from the dharmakāya, other than in the sense that they hear the words from the tongue of Buddha Amitabha. And of course, many beings there are not so blessed, since they reside inside of lotuses which block their sight of Amitabha Buddha for what are in human terms, eons. So while your enthusiasm for Amitabha and Sukhāvati are indeed laudable, it is misconception to claim, as you do, "you are learning from the Dharmakāya itself, it is instantaneous and beyond the need for methods that can be calculated in the normal sense of duration and ascension." Sukhavati is a pure buddhafield, but it is a nirmāṇakāya buddhafield only, it is not beyond time.

You are correct in asserting however, that from the vantage point of Sukhāvati one may obtain teachings from other nirmāṇakāya buddhafields with more ease.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 5:14 AM
Title: Re: Question on rebirth - point of no recollection
Content:
Karatzo said:
Consciousness is compound and thus not self, so it is not this that transmigrates. So what is it? And what is Rigpa? Rigpa is not a part of the 5 aggregates. But the buddha declared that a being consists of the 5 aggregates and nothing more. That there is no-self in absolute reality...then how transmigration works?

Malcolm wrote:
One, whoever told you rig pa is not part of the five aggregates? Rig pa is knowledge of your own state. In its impure form one's own state manifests as the five aggregates; in its pure form, it manifests as the five buddha families.

Nagārjuna resolves this issue through using the eight examples. There is no substantial transmission, but there is serial continuity, like lighting a fire from another fire, impressing a seal on a document and so on. See his verses on dependent origination:
All migrating beings are causes and results.
but here there are no sentient beings at all;
just empty phenomena entirely produced
from phenomena that are only empty,
phenomena without a self and what belongs to a self,
[like] utterances, lamps, mirrors, seals,
lenses, seeds, sourness and echoes.
Although the aggregates are serially connected,
the wise are understand that nothing transfers.
Also, the one who imputes annihilation
upon extremely subtle existents,
is not wise,
and will not see the meaning of ‘arising from conditions’.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 4:59 AM
Title: Re: Question on rebirth - point of no recollection
Content:
Dharmasherab said:
After the death, the sensory consciousness (vijnana) goes into the antarabhava (bardo) before taking the form of another sentient being in the form of aggregates. My question is at one point does the being no longer recollects his past life? All memories, sense of identity etc, at which point does the being no longer able to remember before the next life begins?

Malcolm wrote:
After the third week, or 21 days.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 3:56 AM
Title: Re: How Emperor Ashoka Invented Indian Buddhism
Content:


Johnny Dangerous said:
It's always interesting to me how much this sort of theory crafting seems to move away from actual practice and into ..well..prapanca.

Malcolm wrote:
You know with professors, it is "publish or die."


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 3:50 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



heart said:
Not really, ChNNR was a fully qualified lama and tulku when he left Tibet. No doubt did his teachers encourage him to teach. Even the 16th Karmapa begged him to teach in the west.

Malcolm wrote:
That's over stating it. What happened was that a Karma Kagyu Lama who was living in Italy and had a center passed away, and the 16th Karmapa asked ChNN to look after those students. ChNN agreed, but told the 16th Karmapa he was not going to teach them a Kagyu curriculum. The rest is history.

heart said:
The way I remember the story Karmapa offered Rinpoche a very valuable terma statue (that he just received from Tulku Urgyen that also was present) from the Chokling Tersar in order to make Rinpoche change his mind about not teaching.

/magnus

Malcolm wrote:
Myaybe, that's not the way I heard it from Rinpoche. It is true that when they were in Sikkim prior to ChNN's departure to the West, the 16th Karmapa was disappointed that ChNN refused ordination, and he gave the latter a small statue of Śakyamuni Buddha to remind ChNN of his wishes that ChNN ordain. I have seen that statue in Rinpoche's house.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 11:11 PM
Title: Re: Moneyr with images of Buddhist saints?
Content:



Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 11:09 PM
Title: Re: Moneyr with images of Buddhist saints?
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/orient1960/10/0/10_0_31/_pdf


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Danny said:
Folks here openly discussing issues my root guru, Master Norbu, kept firmly outside his teaching mandala...None of the above is the correct way to present yourselves as a correct vessel to approach dzogchen.

Malcolm wrote:
Nonsense. Rinpoche discussed these very issues during teachings time and again, since the very first teaching I attended in 1992, the first US SMS base level retreat.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 8:05 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


Tata1 said:
Of course there is a point. The inviting other teachers is no to continue rimpoches linage but to keep the community active. Without a central head of the community things have to change if we want to survive. This doesnt mean neglecting rimpoches legacy but to open up, something like what shang shung is doing

Malcolm wrote:
Shang Shung has a different project than the DC.

There is no DC without continuing CHNN’s lineage.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 2:13 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
javier.espinoza.t said:
yeah, because idc ppl is so compassive.

Malcolm wrote:
Depends on the person. Some people are more compassionate than others.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
javier.espinoza.t said:
bah, in any case, point is that he wasn't traditional.

PeterC said:
He was very traditional. Just not a tradition that is common in mainstream Nyingma lineages these days.  They typically follow the scheme of preliminaries, three roots, etc.  That wasn’t always how Dzogchen was presented, and indeed isn’t always how it’s presented today. But it was in no way an innovation by him.

javier.espinoza.t said:
that, and not putting enphasis on boddhicita isn't traditional at all.

Malcolm wrote:
There are sufficient teachings on relative and ultimate bodhicitta in the Precious Vase, but he was not about to spend months explaining the 22 forms of bodhicitta mentioned in the Abhisamayaalmkara and so on. And he taught on the three sublime principles many times.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 12:07 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



heart said:
Not really, ChNNR was a fully qualified lama and tulku when he left Tibet. No doubt did his teachers encourage him to teach. Even the 16th Karmapa begged him to teach in the west.

Malcolm wrote:
That's over stating it. What happened was that a Karma Kagyu Lama who was living in Italy and had a center passed away, and the 16th Karmapa asked ChNN to look after those students. ChNN agreed, but told the 16th Karmapa he was not going to teach them a Kagyu curriculum. The rest is history.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Aryjna said:
"Other traditions" in the quote meaning other Dzogchen teachers, not necessarily teachers to teach different kinds of teachings. For example, I remember that sometimes they had invited Tsoknyi Rinpoche, why not do it again.

Malcolm wrote:
He is not a student of ChNN. He can’t pass on longsal teachings or SMS. In his wisdom, ChNN left no viable successor. Perhaps he took it as a sign that his family lineage was effectively a dry tree.

Aryjna said:
Yes, of course they would not be teaching in ChNNR's lineage but they could teach their own, which may be better than nothing.

Malcolm wrote:
If people want to take teachings from Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Migyur RInpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and so on, it is not difficult for them to do this. There s no need to invite them to the community to give teachings. There is nothing wrong with it of course. But you will see that pretty soon if we do this, then the DC will just become an adjunct of the Nyingma school, something which I don't think was ChNN's idea ever.

Aryjna said:
Rigpa sangha for example, regardless of all their craptastic drama, have been inviting teachers constantly and having good events apparently since years ago. Many teachings with Khenpo Namdrol for example.

Malcolm wrote:
Rigpa is a lam rim style place. Also, it is an Nyingma establishment place. This is not bad, but the DC was never the kind of top-down organization that Rigpa is. I don't think the cultures would blend very well, but maybe that's just me.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Aryjna said:
"Other traditions" in the quote meaning other Dzogchen teachers, not necessarily teachers to teach different kinds of teachings. For example, I remember that sometimes they had invited Tsoknyi Rinpoche, why not do it again.

Malcolm wrote:
He is not a student of ChNN. He can’t pass on longsal teachings or SMS. In his wisdom, ChNN left no viable successor. Perhaps he took it as a sign that his family lineage was effectively a dry tree.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
PeterC said:
In fairness, I did say that I thought M.O.P. was full of shit.  But I then went on to explain, with reasons and references, why I believed that.  Since 'full of shit' is a well-understood term in common usage, and not particularly offensive, I'm not apologizing for using it.

I suspect that what happybuddha is unhappy about is that we disagreed with his friend and challenged their view of the Dharma as this comforting world of rainbows, love and world peace.  Again I don't think we should apologize for that in the slightest.  The starting point for serious practice of the Dharma is wanting to do something about suffering. If you think there's no (conventional) suffering, why even practice?

I agree with Ayu's comment earlier that a discussion of the view vs. conduct question is helpful.  Using statements about a very high view to dismiss the importance of conduct It is a very common misunderstanding, and should be challenged.

You seem very angry about all of this

Do you have any actual arguments beyond bemoaning our apparent lack of civility?


master of puppets said:
Don't know what it means of "full of shit"

Don't be silly.

Do not insult people
abuse, offence, affront, outrage, contempt, slur or
invective

I don't need to discuss your holocaust.

nor even need to answer your questions.




stop acting like a virus.

Malcolm wrote:
I guess you do not actually believe  “whatever happens, it is good.”


The insults, abuse, outrage, contempt, affronts, offenses, abuse, slurs, and invectives are being hurled by “Happybuddha.” Why he or she hasn’t been disciplined yet for their appalling tirades is beyond me, but I am sure it is being discussed. So please keep it up, and get yourselves banned. So far, neither of you have offered anything of substance, much less Dharma.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 8:22 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Tata1 said:
The comminity should become more open and invite teachers from other traditions also

Aryjna said:
That seems to me to be the best idea. There is already infrastructure and buildings allover the world. It should be easy to organize retreats with other teachers all the time, and there are many good teachers that can be invited. Also, it seems this used to happen anyway even when ChNNR was alive, though not that often, so there shouldn't be any problem.

Malcolm wrote:
It didn’t happen often because people would get confused.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 9:49 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
PeterC said:
That’s the real priority. All the hand-wringing about yeshi, the DC leadership, etc is frankly a distraction.

Malcolm wrote:
Yup.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 8:49 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
I do think it would be a big shame however if the transmission itself dies out.

Malcolm wrote:
It won’t, the organization may not survive.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 7:03 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
It looks like a real identity crisis.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed. It can’t continue this way.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 7:02 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


javier.espinoza.t said:
i suspect people want a ChNN_v2.0 for running the idc, but that won't happen and is sign that in general we are still in grief.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, there will be no ChNN 2.0.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 5:35 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
simply start and get DI at a later date.

Malcolm wrote:
That does not work in Vajrayāna, of which Dzogchen is a part.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 5:05 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


javier.espinoza.t said:
i don't think initiations work like a vendor machine. transmission ain't a money purse.

treehuggingoctopus said:
No one has suggested anything of the sort.

The thing is, we have experienced, learned, qualified and properly trained practitioners (Malcolm being one of them). Either they take the helm (or helms), or the whole things becomes a museum trip. A long one, if the IDG allows inviting other teachers. A short one, if it does not.

javier.espinoza.t said:
the lineage can't get broaken because someone appointed "says" that is not going to uphold it, eventually someone else will, be it now, in a year, in ten, whatever, so that is no problem.

now the problem is organizational, it is financial to be precise, and so the "new" people means freah money.

if practitioners are good soil, the seed of transmission will rippen.

Malcolm wrote:
Lineage seem to be one thing, organization is another thing. These two things are not separate in Dzogchen Community, If for some reason the DC decides that is does not care to live on as an organization, I can accept that. But it has really serious consqeuences.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 4:13 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


treehuggingoctopus said:
Yeshi was going to give DI in Merigar in April...

Malcolm wrote:
Supposedly he walked this back too, saying this idea was a misunderstanding.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 4:11 AM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
HappyBuddha21 said:
The only mindless comments are yours.

Malcolm wrote:
Just couldn't help yourself, could you?

HappyBuddha21 said:
Last post on this thread by me.

Malcolm wrote:
Sure.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 3:08 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


Johnny Dangerous said:
The DC has no effective centralized method of communication, and has like 30 messages about a given subject going on at any time from a range of sources. I'm not saying it should be different, there are some distinct built in advantages to the decentralized way the DC does things. However, clear communication is never going to be one of those advantages, unless the model changes. Gossip and factions go along with organizations period, even moreso with organizations that do not a centralized form of messaging and communication with their members.

Malcolm wrote:
its too late. Unless the DC senior teachers decide to suck it up and start giving empowerments so that new people may join the Dzogchen Community, its just a retirement community now.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 1:23 AM
Title: Re: HH Sakya Trichen Virus Advice
Content:
kunle said:
Oṃ piśaci parnaśavari sarva jvara praśamanaye svāhā.

The syllable YE, indicating the dative case, was missing in the previous post

Malcolm wrote:
Thanks, and in case anyone is curious, Palden Lhamo is Parnaśavari's wrathful form.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 17th, 2020 at 1:21 AM
Title: Re: 600, 900 kalpas
Content:


Queequeg said:
Did not realize that this was an issue in Tibet, and throughout the Buddhist world. I thought this was a uniquely East Asian concern.

Malcolm wrote:
Sure, also in India, for example, the Chakrasamvara tantra proclaims that in the degenerate age of the last 500 years, it is only through the practice of Heruka that one can attain awakening.YMMV.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 11:25 PM
Title: Re: 600, 900 kalpas
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
We are in the Bhadrakalpa over all, and there are still 998 buddhas to come before it ends

Caoimhghín said:
That is a good candidate for the ~900 number in my head certainly. I thought it had to do with lifespan though. What is the maximum lifespan of a supreme nirmanakaya? I know that there is a debate as to if a Buddha can extend their lifespan indefinitely, but I don't know what the maximum lifespans postulated are.

Malcolm wrote:
There are different lifespans, depending on what epoch a Buddha is born into. We are in the Kaliyuga, locally speaking, and so Śākyamuni only had an 80 year lifespan. Maitreya will be born in a golden age, and will have a lifespan of 80,000 years. All supreme nirmāṇakāyas have life spans that are in line with the lifespan of humans in the age into which they are born, just as they are born into either brahmin, kṣatriya, or vaisya families depending on which are more respected at the time.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 11:08 PM
Title: Re: 600, 900 kalpas
Content:
Caoimhghín said:
So I recently made a faux pas and voiced an erroneous belief that in Tibetan Buddhism a dharmakaya has a discreet finite lifespan. Now I am in the process of trying to figure out what I was misremembering. I have a suspicion what it is I might have misunderstood, and it has to-do with an expiry limit on when a supreme nirmanakaya is the supreme nirmanakaya of that world, to-do with Dharma-decline and the ending of their particular dispensation of said Dharma. Anyone have any ideas what this poor frazzled mind is remembering? I distinctly remember the number 900 or 600 kalpas related to this length of time.

Malcolm wrote:
https://encyclopediaofbuddhism.org/wiki/Kalpa

We are in the Bhadrakalpa over all, and there are still 998 buddhas to come before it ends. The next Buddha is Buddha Maitreya, as we commonly know who whose advent will be either 5.6 billion or million years hence.

One tradition, seemingly based on the Maitreya Sūtra, maintains that Sākyamuni's dispensation last for 5000 years, which was halved by the admission of bhikṣunis into the Sangha, and is broken into five distinct periods—this being the last five hundred years of the Dharma. So depending on when one considers Buddha's parnirvana to have occurred, we are already beyond the date when Buddha's teaching begins to completely degenerate. However, in some Tibetan Buddhist circles it is maintained that this only applies to sūtra teachings, that Vajrayāna teachings and Dzogchen teachings in particular have a longer "shelflife."

This article summarizes various positions: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/decline-dharma

The calculation of the length of the doctrine is a major concern, and in Tibet, almost every major scholar as tackled it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 10:11 PM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #4 (revised)
Content:



Minobu said:
without both playing their role....rot occurs.

Malcolm wrote:
The GOP lost that privilege. They have no legitimacy anymore. The sane republicans will join the dems, and eventually the Social Dems like me will form our own party as everything shifts left.

Minobu said:
Well i hope for this...it is about time ...

but we too have ultra conservative and socialist governments...one makes the other stronger over time it seems...we learn from conservatives how not to live and they double down.

Malcolm wrote:
You have parliamentary system, it has its advantages, but it really isn’t the same.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 9:48 PM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:
Minobu said:
Take up the Banner of The Bodhisattva in modern times...

Malcolm wrote:
I am, by pointing out these kinds of polemics may be entertaining, but they are never convincing to anyway who is firmly grounded in another tradition.

All these arguments boil down to “it’s true because my teacher said it or interpreted a scripture this way rather than that way.”

Minobu said:
you did not read my post about actual proof in one's daily life.

lack of any result from years of practice brought you to this .

you might be right in other sections of Buddhism but not this one..

this one gives actual proof in ones daily life.

We don't wait for some promised land after you die..

Malcolm wrote:
The only result that matters to me is that one has less desire, hatred, and ignorance, and that one is more compassionate.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 9:42 PM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #4 (revised)
Content:



DNS said:
Yeah, I don't see how Trump can win, but he did surprise most of us in 2016.

Georgia going blue is a real possibility (Abrams barely lost the governor race), as is Florida and North Carolina. Once Texas goes blue, then it's over for the GOP. I don't see any way Republicans could win the White House anymore once Texas becomes a blue state. That could happen this year or perhaps in 2024 or 2028 at the latest.

Texas is currently 38 electoral votes and that might go up once the 2020 census is completed.

Malcolm wrote:
In my ideal world, we have one party rule for next 50 years.

Minobu said:
without both playing their role....rot occurs.

Malcolm wrote:
The GOP lost that privilege. They have no legitimacy anymore. The sane republicans will join the dems, and eventually the Social Dems like me will form our own party as everything shifts left.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 9:41 PM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:


Minobu said:
it's because you are waiting to die for results from your practice.

Malcolm wrote:
Now, now, Minobu, no need to get personal, not to mention your assertion is false.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 9:39 PM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:
Minobu said:
Take up the Banner of The Bodhisattva in modern times...

Malcolm wrote:
I am, by pointing out these kinds of polemics may be entertaining, but they are never convincing to anyone who is firmly grounded in another tradition.

All these arguments boil down to “it’s true because my teacher said it or interpreted a scripture this way rather than that way.”


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 9:34 PM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:
Minobu said:
I think you might be projecting yourself unto Buddhism and your understanding of Lotus Buddhism Malcolm

Malcolm wrote:
Nope, simply commenting on the limits of sectarian polemics. They always Amount to preaching to the choir.

Minobu said:
So how did you overcome this?

Malcolm wrote:
By arguing a lot with other Buddhists outside my school.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:
Ayu said:
Moderation decided to remove nothing. But everybody should be aware: you are not discussing Tibetan buddhist view in this section.

Malcolm wrote:
Correct. I am not discussing Tibetan Buddhism.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


Aloke said:
But people do keep saying things that don't make any sense, and don't correspond to the truth...why keep saying things like this?


Malcolm wrote:
People are confused by mixed signals they have been receiving from the DC since the boss passed on.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 7:58 PM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Well, it is definitely a mindless comment spoken thoughtlessly, I’ll give you that.

master of puppets said:
There is one thing that I coudn't be able to explain.

I'll try to repeat.

That "Whatever happens it is good" statement
have being said with no-mind by nonthinking thought.
or whatever.
Trying to explain it with mind, mental, logic or first brain (which I call) is useless.

Otherwise it becomes like apples and pears trying to explain the other as in.

This is true for many zen statements



HappyBuddha21 said:
There was no evil in m.o.p.'s posts.

Malcolm wrote:
Nope, but it is an absurd position that the Buddha would certainly not support, since the Buddha spent a lot of time trying to convince people that karmic ripening could be pretty horrible, and that they ought to do their best to avoid being born in lower realms and so on. So I think that we can conclude that there is no pervasion in MOP's statement:

"Whatever happens, it is good"

To break this down:

All events are good;
The holocaust is an event:
Therefore, the holocaust is good.

You can try this at home:

All events are good;
The ______ is an event:
Therefore, the ____ is good.

For example:

All events are good;
The war is an event:
Therefore, the war is good.

As opposed to say:

All events are good;
The birthday party is an event:
Therefore, the birthday is good.

The above shows that the pervasion or concomitance does not apply in the minor premise; this means the major premise, "all events are good" is flawed and refuted. I merely showed through a consequence that the premise was flawed. It is not my fault his proposition is untenable as written.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 7:55 PM
Title: Re: Why is everything which is a product - impermanent ?
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
Every “moment” of a stream (of water, of smoke, of consciousness) does cease.

samr said:
First, let's agree on a common definition of what it means "to cease". Is "come to an end" acceptible?

PadmaVonSamba said:
Before even that, let’s first come to an agreement about exactly what is arising, occurring, ceasing, or “coming to an end”.
Also, please note that there is no disputing that conventionally we can say that a stream (of something) has a beginning, a period of duration, and an end. Conventionally, we can say that a stream exists. We can even name streams of things, such as rivers. But moment to moment, as the saying goes, “you can’t stand in the same river twice.” The stream that existed a moment ago no longer exists. The movement may be continuous, but what is moving has already come and gone. “Gone” is what is meant by “ceased” or “come to an end”.

But when we are talking about the nature of composite phenomena, we are going beyond conventional appearances. Conventionally, you can look at a newly built house and it appears solid and unchanging. But over the course of time, that house will begin to shift and settle, the roof will sag, the walls will crack, and eventually it will collapse.
While it is standing, one can literally “take refuge” in it. One can rely on it as a source of shelter. But eventually, this will not be the case, because the house is made of components which are gradually, themselves, becoming unreliable.

What The Buddha is saying is that beings are always  looking for something that will be a constant source of satisfaction (“happiness”) and so we pursue this object or that object. That thing, or that person or whatever.
But because those objects are composites, the conditions upon which they arise are always subject to change and cessation.
Not everything in one’s lifetime is temporary. The Sun, for example, although it will burn out some day, for us it is permanent. So, there is of course a relative aspect to this.

Malcolm wrote:
You can’t stand in the same river even once.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 12:31 PM
Title: Re: Why is everything which is a product - impermanent ?
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
Every “moment” of a stream (of water, of smoke, of consciousness) does cease.

samr said:
First, let's agree on a common definition of what it means "to cease". Is "come to an end" acceptible?

Malcolm wrote:
No, “to cease” means there is an absence of a cause. That’s it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 12:28 PM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:
Minobu said:
I think you might be projecting yourself unto Buddhism and your understanding of Lotus Buddhism Malcolm

Malcolm wrote:
Nope, simply commenting on the limits of sectarian polemics. They always Amount to preaching to the choir.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 8:25 AM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
From a Dzogchen view, what is imperfect?

Malcolm wrote:
Being in a state of ignorance.

Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
And what does perfect and imperfect mean?

Malcolm wrote:
Knowledge vs. ignorance.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 6:48 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #4 (revised)
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Fivethirtyeight shows Biden winning 87 percent of the time.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/

Georgia may tip over into blue...
"So there are certainly no sure things for Democrats in Georgia. But the fact that a formerly red state has become perhaps the most competitive battleground in the country is a bad sign for Republicans."
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/will-georgia-turn-blue/

DNS said:
Yeah, I don't see how Trump can win, but he did surprise most of us in 2016.

Georgia going blue is a real possibility (Abrams barely lost the governor race), as is Florida and North Carolina. Once Texas goes blue, then it's over for the GOP. I don't see any way Republicans could win the White House anymore once Texas becomes a blue state. That could happen this year or perhaps in 2024 or 2028 at the latest.

Texas is currently 38 electoral votes and that might go up once the 2020 census is completed.

Malcolm wrote:
In my ideal world, we have one party rule for next 50 years.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 4:50 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #4 (revised)
Content:
PeterC said:
Rallies really mean nothing in this election.  First, there's the pandemic. Second, both campaigns are all about turnout in their own base, and trying to lower turnout in the other's base - Biden by highlighting Trump's unfitness for office, and Trump by voter suppression.  Of these, the single most important factor is turnout in the democrat base.  That's why HRC lost in 2016, and really she lost by a tiny margin, Trump's margin of victory was fewer than 100k votes in three counties: and even before that, post-Comey's attack on her, Nate Silver was giving Trump a 1/3 chance of winning. With those odds, Trump winning was not an upset at all.

DNS said:
I think Biden is using the pandemic excuse for not holding rallies. He's afraid not many will show up. Or he'll get some crowds, but in lesser numbers than Trump. Biden doesn't have a fervent base of supporters who literally love him, the way Trump does. At Trump rallies they are literally chanting "we love Trump." However, you're probably right, it probably doesn't matter this time around. I think Biden will win, but not because people are voting for him; but rather voting for "anybody but Trump." And let's face it, even here at DW, most of us who live in the U.S. are probably voting for Biden for the same reason: "anybody but Trump" (lesser of two evils).

The current predictions at 270towin show Biden with 290 electoral votes and 163 for Trump. If those polls are correct, even if Trump wins every toss-up state still in play, he still loses since only 270 is needed to win.

https://www.270towin.com/

Malcolm wrote:
Fivethirtyeight shows Biden winning 87 percent of the time.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2020-election-forecast/

Georgia may tip over into blue...

DNS said:
"So there are certainly no sure things for Democrats in Georgia. But the fact that a formerly red state has become perhaps the most competitive battleground in the country is a bad sign for Republicans."

Malcolm wrote:
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/will-georgia-turn-blue/


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 4:46 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Tata1 said:
I dont even know why we keep talking about yeshi.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed, that ship has sailed.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 4:45 AM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
HappyBuddha21 said:
You think bullying and cursing others out is Buddhist? Your actions led to that.

Malcolm wrote:
I am not responsible for what others do.

HappyBuddha21 said:
You have nothing to add by trying to hurt others.

Malcolm wrote:
I didn't hurt anyone. But, according to your friend (double nick maybe?), "whatever happens, it is good."


HappyBuddha21 said:
Last post on this thread by me.

Malcolm wrote:
Sure.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 2:50 AM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:


illarraza said:
I believe that I can prove my assertions through the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren. Either way, this is a good topic for discussion, I believe.

Malcolm wrote:
One can always prove one's own assertions by relying on the accepted texts of one's own tradition. Your effort just amounts to an exercise in self-confirming tenets, but do not have the force to actually convince anyone outside your own school of anything. Such is the nature of religious polemics.

Minobu said:
But in our schools of Lotus Buddhism every sentient in the universe is being taught by Lord Sakyamuni Buddha.
According to their capacity.

Malcolm wrote:
As I said, self-confirming tenets...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 2:34 AM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
HappyBuddha21 said:
Everything has been extremely chaotic since the Holocaust was brought in...

Malcolm wrote:
I guess that proves you do not agree with your friend's proposition after all, otherwise, you would think it was good, since it happened.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 2:28 AM
Title: Re: Words
Content:


HappyBuddha21 said:
There was no evil in m.o.p.'s posts.

Malcolm wrote:
Nope, but it is an absurd position that the Buddha would certainly not support, since the Buddha spent a lot of time trying to convince people that karmic ripening could be pretty horrible, and that they ought to do their best to avoid being born in lower realms and so on. So I think that we can conclude that there is no pervasion in MOP's statement:

"Whatever happens, it is good"

To break this down:

All events are good;
The holocaust is an event:
Therefore, the holocaust is good.

You can try this at home:

All events are good;
The ______ is an event:
Therefore, the ____ is good.

For example:

All events are good;
The war is an event:
Therefore, the war is good.

As opposed to say:

All events are good;
The birthday party is an event:
Therefore, the birthday is good.

The above shows that the pervasion or concomitance does not apply in the minor premise; this means the major premise, "all events are good" is flawed and refuted. I merely showed through a consequence that the premise was flawed. It is not my fault his proposition is untenable as written.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 2:14 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



Tata1 said:
Every gar got the information because every gar and ling participated in the meeting

Malcolm wrote:
There are a lot of people who are in total denial about what real situation is in the DC.

Aloke said:
Totally agree! Sad situation!

Now, a russian friend just told me that there was no article with that kind of information in the Russian Mirror, but confirmed that one girl from Saint Petersburg shared the info in the Community's russian mail list. She asked to please don't mention Russian or English Mirror as doing any post about the meeting with Yeshe Silvano Namkhai, "russian propaganda" she said.

Malcolm wrote:
I was told by a Russian friend it was on the Russian Mirror website—, however, the ultimate source was the notes of the secretary from the Russian gar. These notes are totally legitimate and are a fair record of the present situation.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 12:37 AM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:


Caoimhghín said:
This reminds me of when Tibetans say things like "a Dharmakaya has a lifespan of X aeons." The Dharmakaya obviously has no lifespan as far as I can see.

Malcolm wrote:
The Tibetans never say things like "the dharmakāya has a lifespan of x years." Where did you pick up this notion? There is only one dharmakāya, no matter what name one chooses to call it; it is the realization of the true nature of things that all samyaksambuddhas possess, nothing else.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 12:36 AM
Title: Re: Who or what is the Eternal Buddha?
Content:


illarraza said:
I believe that I can prove my assertions through the Lotus Sutra and writings of Nichiren. Either way, this is a good topic for discussion, I believe.

Malcolm wrote:
One can always prove one's own assertions by relying on the accepted texts of one's own tradition. Your effort just amounts to an exercise in self-confirming tenets, but do not have the force to actually convince anyone outside your own school of anything. Such is the nature of religious polemics.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 16th, 2020 at 12:23 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #4 (revised)
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
I hope BIden packs the court.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 15th, 2020 at 6:58 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



javier.espinoza.t said:
i guess we have to wait another year, to complete the 3 years setted as the mourning period.

Aloke said:
I'm sorry but, are you serious? C'mon, what the purpose of these meetings then? And why some Gars, like the Russian are getting some information and others don't? It doesn't make any sense, and I think it has nothing to do with mourning anymore.

Tata1 said:
Every gar got the information because every gar and ling participated in the meeting

Malcolm wrote:
There are a lot of people who are in total denial about what real situation is in the DC.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 15th, 2020 at 2:19 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #4 (revised)
Content:
DNS said:
I'm usually pretty good at predicting POTUS outcomes, but this one's got me stumped. Biden is leading in most polls, but Trump is the one getting 20,000 + at rallies, so not sure.

On most of the past elections, my predictions were correct within about 10 electoral votes, almost getting the exact number of electoral votes per candidate. That all came to an end in 2016 where like most people, I was way off (I predicted a HRC landslide).

Johnny Dangerous said:
Most of the pollsters have adjusted since 2016. Right now the polls are pretty heavily in Biden's favor, moreso than 2016. It's not about Biden's popularity IMO, as much as it is Trumps unpopularity.

Malcolm wrote:
Trump, hands down, is doing an awesome job of defeating himself in this election.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 at 4:22 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:


Dan74 said:
QQ, I don't know about shunning people. I don't have a platform to give someone or not to give, but I have my time. I've given it to murderers and sex offenders, when I served as a chaplain and I give it to just about anyone who genuinely seeks contact. Even if their views (or even deeds) are absolutely reprehensible.

Malcolm wrote:
Hey Dan, guess what, bulletin—this just isn't about you. Sheesh.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 at 4:21 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
While there is a lot of uncertainty about the exact effect of masks,

Malcolm wrote:
No, there isn't. Masks + plus social distancing + staying home unless one needs to go out for food, work, etc. = reducing mortality rate exponentially the longer we do so until we can get to a place where we can do proper contact tracing, quarantining, and treatment where needed.

There is nothing to argue about here. The math of virus infection rates is inexorable and consistent. The fact that so many governments in the world resorted to criminal levels of negligence does not change the science on this.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 at 4:16 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:


Dan74 said:
Yes, if you're the government. Are you?

Malcolm wrote:
I'm a taxpayer and I vote, so yes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 at 3:01 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:


Dan74 said:
This culture of jumping to conclusions, the reflexive black-and-white thinking, rather than pausing and mulling things over a little, inquiring, with an open curious mind and a generous heart... all this makes for a very unpleasant discussion at times, even with very intelligent and well-meaning people.

Malcolm wrote:
When your house is burning down, or when there are thousands of people dying from a preventable illness everyday, you don't "pause and mull things over a bit." You take swift and decisive action to limit the spread of the disease. If you don't, you are simply being irresponsible.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 14th, 2020 at 2:34 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
heart said:
Perhaps with this we can discuss what really happened and what the situation actually is.
On Friday, August 14, an online meeting of the Gakyil and instructors of the International Dzogchen Community took place with Yeshi Namkhai, the son of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. This was the second meeting, the first took place on August 9, attended by international gakyil and SMS instructors, and after that additional clarifications were required for a wider audience.

At the meeting, Yeshi Namkhai answered questions about the Dzogchen Community, transmission, etc. Here is a short summary of what we heard (all mistakes are on the narrator's conscience):

1) He helped the community for many years at the request of his father - until 2014, when he left the community. He no longer intends to have anything to do with it, other than tracking the correct use of the name Chögyal Namkhai Norbu.

2) He does not consider himself obligated to support the transmission of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in line with the traditions of the community. Doesn't want to teach within the framework and context of the community.

3) He does not believe that he is the holder of the Longsal cycle and has the right to give Direct Introduction and lungs to community practices. He believes that no one is authorized to give Direct Introduction in the Chögyal Namkhai Norbu lineage.

4) In April 2020, he was going to give an explanation of the principles of Dzogchen (not Direct Introduction) in Merigar West to specially selected novices who wanted to study Rinpoche's teachings so that they could read literature for the community. But the event was canceled due to the epidemic, and Yeshi also found that the participants had little idea that they were going to study who Chögyal Namkhai Norbu was, etc.

5) He is not religious, not traditional, does not believe in reincarnation. Buddhist traditional lineages and methods of explanation do not interest him and he does not intend to support them. This is not his life, he is a Western man.

6) Regarding the history of the Dzogchen Community, The Blue Book was written personally by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and he [Yeshi] considered it very important. While much of it is outdated, it is still the starting point for community issues.

7) He does not intend to make any official announcements for the community, since he does not consider himself bound by any obligations to it.

Yeshi Namkhai insisted that the meeting should not be recorded in any way, therefore, unfortunately, we cannot provide you with a recording, but can only summarize what we heard.
/magnus

Aloke said:
Could you please tell us the source for this? A friend of mine was very concerned about the situation and I sent her this, she asked me the source and I said it probably was sent in Norbunet. As I have unsubscribe from Norbunet (after receiving those cryptic confusing e-mails) I can't check this by my own. Thank you very much!

Malcolm wrote:
The source for this is the Russian Mirror. It is accurate, as I have checked it with senior members of the community who were present.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 7:36 PM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:



Malcolm wrote:
It’s actually just math. Viruses don’t care about demographics.

Johnny Dangerous said:
Responses and public policy sure do.

Dan74 said:
NZ is tucked away in the furthest corner of the world, two islands with low arrivals who can be easily controlled and very low population densities, especially compared to NYC. It bears no comparison.

Seoul could be compared. Nearly 10 million people, high pop density.

Masks are no panacea, the studies are not very clear except to say there is some benefit. People still sometimes get infected when everyone wears masks. Just less. How much less we are not sure yet. But yes, wear masks. For sure. It's just not going to be enough in areas where people congregate a lot.

Malcolm wrote:
97 percent less likely, actually, if everyone wears masks.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 9:32 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Short term pain = long term gain. New Zealand proved this.

Johnny Dangerous said:
I think the entire population of New Zealand is smaller than NYC...it's hard to use as an example for larger countries with far different demographics, though sure some general things can be learned.

Malcolm wrote:
It’s actually just math. Viruses don’t care about demographics.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 7:12 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Short term pain = long term gain. New Zealand proved this.

Johnny Dangerous said:
Which, if this theory is right means that masks are kind of the -the- way to prevent further lockdowns, and to live with as much "normalcy" as possible as we go through this.. because they greatly decrease hospitalization and case severity in infected people, along with the other obvious benefits.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, but with the QAnon people and Trumpistas in general, another serious lockdown is the only way we are going to be able to bring infection rates down to a manageable level rapidly, so we can institute testing, quarantine, and treatment of infections. In the mean time, anyone with any sense is staying home as much as possible and wearing masks wherever they go in public.

Johnny Dangerous said:
I am nearly sure there will not be another full lockdown in most places, maybe some localized ones, but that's it. As far as what's sensible, there are levels. Just the improvement in treatment protocols and plummeting death rate I think makes it less likely that officials will go straight to severe restrictions.

I mask any time I'm near other people, and I have my "bubble" of people I have contact with. Personally, I am not just hanging out at home all the time, living my life entirely by Zoom, and don't ever plan on doing that. Why? Because you can leave your house and do stuff with reasonable safety levels. Like anything, it's a calculated risk. When I had possible Covid I more than followed the quarantine recommendations to keep others safe. The testing here is such a joke, you kind of have to.

Generally, I think people being judgemental and "Covid shaming" others is unscientific lifestyle politics, and not an evidence-based practice. When individuals do it, it's one thing, but public health officials should not be engaging in it. Basically, if someone is masking when they should, distancing when they should, the rest is nobody's business. The worst is when people blame others for catching Covid, assuming that they must have been negligent, or aren't following protocols.

This is different from criticizing the people who out and out refuse masks etc., criticizing Trump (he's idiotic) they are behaving stupidly and I'm fine with pointing that out. Beyond that though, I have noticed a very white, upper-middle class tendency to shame anyone who doesn't wanna (or can't) sit around their house and live through Zoom all day, and that is nonsense, and that is a class-based expectation, frankly. It's gross and people should stop doing it. It's especially shameful to see a bunch of supposed "liberals" getting mad at poor people who have to work. I have actually seen this kind of thing in my community.

As this guy says, the people who are saying "no big deal" to lockdowns tend to be 1) people with no kids 2) people with money who can basically live their lives from their home. 3) People who -can- social distance.. That isn't everyone by any stretch, and behaving as if it is is ignorant to what a large portion of the population has to go through with severe restrictions. Perhaps another lockdown means little to those people, but to some people it is quite a dire prospect. this is especially true in the US, just watch what will happen if there is another round of "non essential" business closure(again, thankfully I think it's unlikely) and things like eviction moratoriums end, more business close, etc. The social shitstorm of another round of severe restrictions can't be overstated, that needs to be balanced with safety from Covid, period.

Anyway, a lot of interesting stuff related to Covid and these questions comes up in the interview, it's worth watching. The guest Monica Ghandi also makes a very good point about how fear of Covid is changing social dynamics. I've found this to be very true in my own social life, so wherever people fall on this question, again, it's an interesting interview.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 4:15 AM
Title: Re: Words
Content:
master of puppets said:
Whatever happens it is good.

Malcolm wrote:
Such as the holocaust?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 4:11 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
Which, if this theory is right means that masks are kind of the -the- way to prevent further lockdowns, and to live with as much "normalcy" as possible as we go through this.. because they greatly decrease hospitalization and case severity in infected people, along with the other obvious benefits.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, but with the QAnon people and Trumpistas in general, another serious lockdown is the only way we are going to be able to bring infection rates down to a manageable level rapidly, so we can institute testing, quarantine, and treatment of infections. In the mean time, anyone with any sense is staying home as much as possible and wearing masks wherever they go in public.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 at 1:10 AM
Title: Re: Coming to terms with Homosexuality
Content:
BlackCircle said:
Honestly the biggest thing that scares me about Buddhism is becoming some robot. I know that's not how it works but it just feels like that to me and I have a habit of warping the teachings into something that no longer resembles them. I'm also scared of not being gay anymore even though I don't think Buddhism will do that to me.

Malcolm wrote:
Buddhism is not going to affect your sexual preferences at all, since they are biologically driven.

The only thing Buddhism will do is release you from desire, hatred, and ignorance.

On that point, you might want to listen to Lama Rod Owens, a black, gay Buddhist Lama.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 10:22 PM
Title: Re: Question Regarding Samaya Pollution
Content:
Cinnabar said:
I mean, let’s be real. We’re all samaya corruptors. Just one instant of not holding phenomena as primordially pure and one has broken one’s samaya.

Malcolm wrote:
There is s difference between being unable to maintain pure vision, which is an issue of capacity, and deliberately ignoring and transgressing samaya.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 10:01 PM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Dan74 said:
Italy, France and Germany have been very good at wearing masks and they are in the thick of the Second Wave now.

Malcolm wrote:
Italy, France, and Germany all have very stupid people who defy mask-wearing. They all have growing Fascist movements as well. Hmmmm....


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 9:59 PM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Queequeg said:
Whatever this guy says, lockdowns become necessary when the spread gets out of control - I've read that 5% infection rate is the tipping point at which masks, social distancing and contact tracing become futile. Up to that point, people need to be conscientious and cooperative, wearing masks,  social distancing, contact tracing. Murcans can't do this. Other countries - particularly in East Asia - are able to do this.

DNS said:
Taiwan appears to have pretty much knocked it out or at least flattened it, fairly early due to mass cooperation with wearing masks, limited travel, and no lockdown.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, because they got nailed by SARS. They learned their lesson. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2762689

S. Korea instituted rigorous testing and contact tracing immediately.

New Zealand shut down and engaged in contact tracing. etc.

Since the US refuses to support contact tracing and massive testing, lockdown is the sane alternative, the other being the "herd mentality" demonstrated by Trumpistas, which caused a 50 percent spike in cases in the US as of today, as well as turning the White House into a major hotspot. In other news, the Handmaiden is being interviewed today by the Senate.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 6:44 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:


tobes said:
I'll have a good think about this Malcolm, but in the meantime let me say: an excellent response. I think it shows why this question is worth pursuing. It might seem trivial or prapanca, but it is actually very profound and necessary to contemplate.

Malcolm wrote:
It’s not trivial at all. In the West, we have this idea of logos, The Word, so we are not inclined to question the deeply embedded realism which colors our ideas of language, even going back to the Septaguent:
By the word (logos) of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the host of them by the spirit (pneuma) of his mouth
— Psalm 33:6


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 6:26 AM
Title: Re: Breaking news! WHO now against lockdowns
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Fact: the only countries that have managed this pandemic correctly have totally locked down. Lockdowns are not working here because our gvt. gives money to the Fortune 500 rather than people.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 12th, 2020 at 4:22 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
I'll offer an argument:

I walk outside and see a tree. The tree is physical, and I apprehend it (partly) through my physical senses.

Then at night time I go to sleep. I dream of the same tree. Being (now) only an appearance in my mind, it does not depend on my physical senses or the physical tree.

Malcolm wrote:
It is a trace impressed upon you mind because of a physical apprehension of an earlier tree. Without that tree, no dream tree for you.


tobes said:
Language can be thought of the same way. I grant that each nominal word was originally an empirical sound. However just because the first time someone said 'apple' it was a physical sound that depended upon that person's physical throat, voice, breath etc, does not mean that 200 years later, the word apple is similarly physical. It has over time become something which does not depend purely on rupa, just as the dreamt tree doesn't.

Malcolm wrote:
The word "apple" is only a vocalization, which depends upon the rūpa of two people agreeing, whether in print or in conversation, that the word "apple" refers to fruit of Malus domestica, and not a potato, the tuber known as Solanum tuberosum—though both in French are called "pomme." Hence, pomme frites refers to what we called French Fries, but literally, means "fried apple."

You are confusing concept and language, because subjectively, we have a hard time distinguishing the two. But the point that you are missing, consistently here, is that it is because of the physical structure of the nāḍīs in the body that we have a body at all, and those nāḍīs contain shapes, called akṣara, syllables, which are responsible for giving rise to speech as well as our experience of the six realms.

What you are referring to as language is termed, in the sutras and so on, as "verbal conceptuality," this means that among the trio of body, voice, and mind, speech belongs to voice, it remains physical. Verbal conceptuality on the other hand, derives from learning which sounds correspond to which objects.

To return to the Buddhist perspective, the Buddha states in the Lankāvatara Sūtra that words and concepts can be neither the same nor different. The Buddha points out that if mental conceptuality and words are the same, then concepts cannot be the cause of words, because concepts are the cause of words and words are the result of concepts (though conventional agreement, of course), and it is a standard principle that causes and their effects cannot be identical. If concepts and words are different, than the same fault applies, because there is no way a word will arise from a concept in this case. But here the Buddha never varies from his presentation that composition of words are physical, based on syllables, which emerge from eight locations: chest, throat, head, the tongue, teeth, nose, lips, and palate, and so on. And this ties right in with the distinction between karma, volition, and verbal and bodily actions, which are both physical.

The entire discussion on verbal conceptuality in this sūtra is extremely interesting, because it is also taken up the Caryāmelapakaprādipa by Āryadeva II, but these texts never present a substantially different view from Abhidharma, which regards speech and language as fundamentally physical phenomena. And of course the whole point of the discussion is to show how the personally known gnosis (pratyatmyavedanajñāna) is completely beyond expression and not within the range of words and concepts. The discussion begins with how the notion of nonbuddhist permanence is a mere verbal conception, pointing out that like the horns of a rabbit, their permanent and inconceivable entity can have no cause and no characteristic, being a mere imputation. However, when contrasted with the personal knowledge of āryas, since it has a cause, and is free from the extremes of existence and nonexistence, our permanence and inconceivability is validly established, and therefore, it is not a mere verbal conception; its is a product of noble realization.

Which gets us to the real point of why the nāḍīs are physical structures in the body. The Buddha states in the Lanka, "For as long as there is engagement with verbal conceptuality, there will be permanence and annihilation. By exhausting thoughts of verbal conceptuality, the childish views of permanence and annihilation are averted, and due to the mind being free of them, it is no more."

The purpose of elucidating the formation of the body is to elucidate the formation of the nadis, etc. Vajrayāna theory in general holds that by eliminating the eighty course conceptual thoughts—specifically in the practice related to purifying the nāḍī syllables, which are the root of all verbal conceptuality in the Vajrayāna scheme of things—this makes it more possible for us to identify personally known gnosis and have that knowledge. This is why is is important to understand why verbal conceptuality and language are not the same thing. In addition the fact, to, as I pointed out before, that language barriers are as physical as walls.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 11th, 2020 at 9:09 AM
Title: Re: Tenzin Palmo
Content:
pemachophel said:
They are from a Chinese Bodhisatva ordination ceremony where cones of incense are burned on the skin of the head, thus leaving life-time scars. It has to do with taking on the suffering of all sentient beings.

Malcolm wrote:
Actually, it’s from her bhikshuni ordination in the dharmaguptaka tradition. The incense scars descend from an imperial Chinese decree mandating that legitimately ordained sangha bear these marks as witness to their officially sanctioned ordination, as such, it’s a Chinese tradition found no where else.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 11th, 2020 at 7:13 AM
Title: Re: Plants Acquiring Sentience
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
From a buddhist perspective, they alter the brain, which is the organ which processes sensory input. Not so different than western medicine.

jake said:
Plants are considered part of the container world (bhājanaloka), correct? (In case container world is an unusual translation, Princeton dictionary lists the Tibetan for Container world as snod ky i ’jig rten).

Malcolm wrote:
Yes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 11th, 2020 at 2:50 AM
Title: Re: Plants Acquiring Sentience
Content:
tkp67 said:
How does entheogens influence on consciousness factor in? I don't think one needs to experience this interaction to understand the reality of it. The cause and effect of opiates abuse comes to mind.

Malcolm wrote:
From a buddhist perspective, they alter the brain, which is the organ which processes sensory input. Not so different than western medicine.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2020 at 9:25 PM
Title: Re: Plants Acquiring Sentience
Content:
Jingtoo2 said:
Surely what distinguishes our actions from the action of plants is intention? A plant has no intention of turning towards the light. It is a mechanical/ chemical process. It is intention that creates karma. So a plant cannot create karma. Therefore it’s energy cannot fuel the birth of a being driven by karma?

Malcolm wrote:
Physicalists such as Dennet argue our “mind” is just a mechanical/chemical process.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2020 at 6:46 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
I'm just saying: if we explore the nature of those linguistic cultural conventions, we find an interdependence between the mental and physical, and therefore, language and speech contains elements of both.

Malcolm wrote:
Not from a classical Buddhist point of view, and certainly not from the point of view of the formation of the body, which is what this thread is concerned with.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 3:38 AM
Title: Re: Poll: Is consciousness/mind/related terms (vinnana/citta/manas/nama/etc.)...
Content:


Dgj said:
They are discrete terms because if all is mind and mind exists, it is not temporary and not likely to be dependent either. If all is mind and mind does not exist then it is some unique state beyond normal logic and reason as stating "all is mind, mind does not exist" is technically stating "all is non existent" since the mind becomes synonymous with "non existence". If nothing exists whatsoever, including mind, then it cannot be said to be dependent, nor temporary, as these words have no meaning in reference to something that does not exist at all. This is why I made the different poll options. Option 1 cannot be the same as options 5, nor 6.

Malcolm wrote:
Yogacāra asserts the mind is impermanent, momentary, and dependent.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 3:28 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Speech is physical.

PadmaVonSamba said:
The causes of events which produce vibrations on the ear drum is physical. It doesn’t matter whether it’s by a person talking or a tree falling in the forest.

And the neurological process of converting vibrations of the ear drum into electrical impulses traveling through the brain is physical.

But the experience, or interpretation of the neural activity
as speech, Identifiable sounds, as concepts is an activity of mind, of awareness.

A tree falling in the woods makes no sound if nobody hears it. It only produces vibrations of air molecules. Those vibrations can even be recorded by digital or analog means. But does any sound exist within the recorder or the CD or whatever means by which the information is stored? No. It only becomes “sound” when those signals are intercepted by the awareness of mind.

“Speech” itself is itself an abstract concept simply referring to the conveyance of information. Sign language is speech, using the hands instead of the mouth, and eyes instead of ears.

Speech is only physical when physical means are used to convey information (which is probably always) but speech itself is not physical. Otherwise, by your logic, the mouth would always be conveying information even when it is not moving and no sound is coming from it.


Malcolm wrote:
You really ought to read what classical buddhist authors say on the subject.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 3:23 AM
Title: Re: Right speech, right mind...right politics
Content:


FiveSkandhas said:
I guess I just want people to take a deep breath and a step back and ask themelves if their relationship with politics is healthy. If your answer is an honest "yes," than no problem

Malcolm wrote:
Is your relationship with politics healthy? That's a question for yourself, not others.

We are in the grip of an incipient fascism in the US. The next 27 days will determine whether there is a complete collapse of American democracy as a result of four more years of Trump, or a period of restoration. As far as I am concerned, the GOP has lost all legitimacy, and I hope to never see another GOP presidency in this lifetime or any other.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 3:18 AM
Title: Re: Right speech, right mind...right politics
Content:



FiveSkandhas said:
It has been said that no-one can avoid politics; that non-action is a form of acquiesence to the current order. This is a powerful argument. Nevertheless, I think it leads to both individual and social sickness to "politicize everything," or to insist that all individuals must be politically active. It gives rise to a feverishness that is characteristic of the totalitarian mind (either on the right or on the left). In actual practice there should be space for both disengaged and engaged Buddhism, and a detachment to the political as samsaric and conditioned reality should be respected.

Malcolm wrote:
If anyone was seeking an excuse spiritual bypassing, they've found it.

FiveSkandhas said:
Please elaborate. I am not sure what you mean by "spiritual bypassing," and whether you think it is positive or negative.

Malcolm wrote:
It's quite negative. It means using one's spirituality as an excuse to ignore the problems of the world in which one lives. There is no such thing as a disengaged bodhisattva, not even when they are in retreat.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 8th, 2020 at 3:16 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:


shankara said:
And in what respect do other religions reject dependent origination?

Malcolm wrote:
By positing first causes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 10:27 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
avatamsaka3 said:
i.e. Who/what am I? The material parts + the linguistic imputation 'tobes'.
You're saying all that you are is material...?

tobes said:
No - I'm saying there are material and mental parts, and language is connected more with the mental. i.e. it is my name imputed on my form.

Malcolm wrote:
If you wish to understand the classical position on this point, according to the Sautrantika school, refer to the discussion on Nāmakāya in chapter 2 of the Abhidharmakosha, verse 47ab. They say, "A nāman (word) is a sound upon which persons have come to agreement that it is signifies certain things."

Your argument is realist, i.e. that there is something underlying speech called "language." But the Buddhist position is nominalist—language comes from agreement that certain sounds are agreed to represent certain things. For example, if language was in the mind, then all creatures with minds should have language, and the same language as well. But this is not the case, since formless realm beings have no language and engage in no communication at all, even though they have concepts, such as "limitless emptiness" and so on. Your name is imputed onto your body a posteriori, not a priori. There is an appearance—the nonconceptual engagement of a sense object—and then that appearance is conventionally designated; not the other way round.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 10:14 PM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:


shankara said:
Anyway, I found this quote by the Dalai Lama which really helped me, actually brought me back to practicing Buddhism after some time following Hindu teachings. It pretty much encapsulates both the essential difference and essential unity with the eternalist traditions. Italics are my own.

Malcolm wrote:
HHDL is not saying that Buddha taught anyone there is a creator. He is saying that different people believe different things. Eternalism is a wrong view in Buddhadharma. Buddhadharma and Santanadharma are philosophically irreconcilable.

shankara said:
Yeah sure I'm not saying that Buddha taught Eternalism. But concepts are provisional, whatever concept a person is following is a representation of reality, or some aspects of it. Buddhism simply rejects that any particular concept encapsulates or captures Reality exactly as it is in its totality, including the concepts of Buddhism itself.

Malcolm wrote:
No, this is mistaken. There are two kind of right view: mundane and transcendent. They both hinge on dependent origination as being the correct understanding of things. The Buddha has said, "whoever sees dependent origination sees the dharma; whoever sees the dharma sees me." So your thesis that all concepts are merely provisional expedients with no more or less value that any other concept is actually rejected by the Buddha himself, as well as Nāgārjuna, etc.


shankara said:
I'm also not entirely convinced that the Sanatana position is entirely irreconcilable with the Buddhist one. For example in the Dvaita (Krishna Consciousness) thing there is the idea that liberation consists not in some peace of extinction but in becoming a "servant of Krishna". I'd say that's a kind of theistic way of saying "Bodhisattva".

Malcolm wrote:
Hardly.

shankara said:
In this video HHDL says that Buddhism and Hinduism are like "brother and sister"... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iLJ8ueOTQ8. While one might be more philosophically developed than the other, the spirit is not so different I'd say.

Malcolm wrote:
Hinduism, in its entirety, is part of the vehicle of devas and humans, that is, it only leads to birth in higher samsaric realms. The same goes with the other theistic religions. But of course, birth as "a servant of Krishna" in Krishna's abode, Vaikuntha, is samsaric and when one's merit runs out there, one falls into lower realms.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 10:09 PM
Title: Re: Right speech, right mind...right politics
Content:



FiveSkandhas said:
It has been said that no-one can avoid politics; that non-action is a form of acquiesence to the current order. This is a powerful argument. Nevertheless, I think it leads to both individual and social sickness to "politicize everything," or to insist that all individuals must be politically active. It gives rise to a feverishness that is characteristic of the totalitarian mind (either on the right or on the left). In actual practice there should be space for both disengaged and engaged Buddhism, and a detachment to the political as samsaric and conditioned reality should be respected.

Malcolm wrote:
If anyone was seeking an excuse spiritual bypassing, they've found it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 10:07 PM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
PeterC said:
Update on the trump superspreader list.  30 so far.

Donald Trump - President
Melania Trump - First Lady
Hope Hicks - Trump Senior Council, former Trump WH communications director
Ronna McDaniel - RNC chair
Mike Lee (R, UT)
Rev. John Jenkins - president of the University of Notre Dame (attended SCOTUS nomination at Rose Garden)
Two unnamed journalists and one unnamed WH staffer
Michael D. Shear - WH correspondent for NYT, and his wife
Thom Tillis (R, NC) - At WH on Sat
Kellyanne Conway - Former White House counselor, attended Rose Garden event
Kellyanne Conway's Daughter
Bill Stepien - Trump Campaign Manager
Ron Johnson (R, WI)
Chris Christie - Former Republican NJ Gov. Helped prepare Trump for debate.
Nick Luna - Trump Aide
Kayleigh McEnany - WH Press Secretary
Chad Gilmartin - Deputy to Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt - Deputy to Press Secretary
Greg Laurie - Pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship, attended Rose Garden event
Jayna McCarron - Trump's military aid for Coast Guard
Unnamed - Active duty military valet to the president
Salud Carbajal (D-CA) - After exposed to COVID-positive senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
Al Drago - Photojournalist at Rose Garden event
Charles W. Ray - U.S. Coast Guard admiral
Harrison W. Fields - Assistant Press Secretary
Jalen Drummond - Assistant Press Secretary
Stephen Miller - WH senior adviser

Malcolm wrote:
George Conway was also infected by Kellyanne...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 10:06 PM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
PeterC said:
Kellyanne Conway's Daughter

Malcolm wrote:
This is a must see:


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 8:36 PM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:


shankara said:
Anyway, I found this quote by the Dalai Lama which really helped me, actually brought me back to practicing Buddhism after some time following Hindu teachings. It pretty much encapsulates both the essential difference and essential unity with the eternalist traditions. Italics are my own.

Malcolm wrote:
HHDL is not saying that Buddha taught anyone there is a creator. He is saying that different people believe different things. Eternalism is a wrong view in Buddhadharma. Buddhadharma and Santanadharma are philosophically irreconcilable.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 11:01 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
avatamsaka3 said:
*if we consider the very basic division of the skandhas into namah and rupa, this clearly situates language and speech with the namah side of the equation.
I suppose if we're looking at speech as sound waves coming out of my mouth and going into your ears, then it's clearly physical. If we're talking about the cognitive processes that initiate that process, they're not in the rupa category.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, this was all covered above in the statement about the nature of karma.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 4:39 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:


Brunelleschi said:
Hmm, have to agree here. From a West European perspective - I don't know that many practicing Christians. I do however, know a few practicing Muslims and I have to say we definitely have more in common with (devout) Muslims than secular atheists.

Malcolm wrote:
No. they are theists. We are atheists. We do not believe a creator deity, etc. We believe in dependent origination.

Brunelleschi said:
I believe that's what Malcolm is referring to?

Malcolm wrote:
I was referring to all theists.

But not pagans. We are definitely in the pagan sphere, from the point of view of accepting a broad range of types of beings.

But even here, we don't believe in any kind of divine cosmogony. We believe in karma.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 4:05 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
I am unaware of anybody having reasoned their way to realization.

Malcolm wrote:
The Buddha did. In fact, when he was accused of this, he turned it into a compliment.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 12:28 AM
Title: Re: Source of presentation of the path as view, meditation, conduct
Content:
Könchok Thrinley said:
Hi,

I am looking for a source of the presentation of the path as view, meditation and conduct. Is it mostly a dzogchen thing? I mostly heard it from ChNN and other dzogchen teachers. Also Garchen Rinpoche uses it. It seems to be mostly tibetan thing. Is there some textual resource for it, or idea when and where it appeared first? Can anyone tell me some details concerning this form of presenting the path?

Malcolm wrote:
It is a common framework coming from Vajrayāna in general.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 7:38 PM
Title: Re: Work is Necessary! No, its not! Split from "I was a Trump Supporter"
Content:



Aemilius said:
Firstly,  Sramana is a different word from Sramanera (novice monk). For the meaning of Sramana see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87a.

Secondly, I would like to add that all the schools (in India), that were able to teach people a method to attain the four Dhyanas, were advanced schools and possessed spiritual knowleledge or spiritual knowhow. This is not denied in Tripitaka, (that there is practice and attainment of dhyana outside of the Buddhist Sangha.)

When Siddhartha was fasting, he was not only fasting, he was also meditating or practicing dhyana.

Malcolm wrote:
Your point is still trivial.

Aemilius said:
I think it is profound, at least it is unknown to many people.

Malcolm wrote:
To those who are not educated in the history of the Dharma, perhaps.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 7:35 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:



tobes said:
Thanks, typically cogent.

Nonetheless, this only explains 'vocal actions' - the actual sounds of speech. Do you regard language itself as purely physical?

If so, then there is no inconsistency. But if not, we're left with a physical account of something that contains non-physical content.

i.e. what moves between people is not merely sounds, but also conceptual and symbolic content.

Malcolm wrote:
Meaning is not transmitted directly, mind to mind, but through the physical media of sound, physically created images, and gestures. In other words, pada, words, are the medium for artha, meaning.

Vak—voice, speech, and language, are purely physical. The word “language,” has, as its etymon, lingua: tongue/speech/language.

Likewise Vak is a direct cognate of vox, which is the nominative of vocem, “voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word.”

Speech likewise comes from proto Germanic *sprek, etc, utterance, etc.

For example, if I only know Tibetan, and you only know English, it is impossible for the meaning of Dharma to be conveyed, because of a physical language barrier. And language barriers are as physical as a wall.

To out it another way, meaning (dharmakaya) is conveyed physically (rupakaya), by means  of symbols (sambhogkaya) and words (nirmanakaya).

tobes said:
I still find this a bit unconvincing, mainly because it induces us to conceive of concepts themselves as merely physical.

So, there is a physical apple, which is represented by the concept and word 'apple' or 'khu-shu'. To say both the physical, fleshy sweet thing and the representation of it in a symbolic-conceptual order are equally physical misses something important about the symbolic-conceptual order, doesn't it?

What does it miss? Namely that that entire order can be abstracted from physical reality; one can have discursive thoughts containing the word 'apple' which are purely mental, and which can induce us into obtaining and biting into one. Or into a conversation about where to find and obtain one.

So it seems to me that speech mediates between namah and rupa, depending on whether one is merely involved in conceptual proliferation or whether this spills out into verbal action.

Malcolm wrote:
You are overthinking this. I’ve given you the classical Buddhist answer. Not much more I can do, I am afraid. If you want to continue to speculate, well, I can’t help you. Speech is physical.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 8:51 AM
Title: Re: Question Regarding Samaya Pollution
Content:


Malcolm wrote:
I shun samaya breakers, you should too. A samaya breaker is someone who hates their guru, hates their vajra siblings, lacks bodhicitta, etc.  We also have a samaya to avoid such people.

Danny said:
With all that said, it sounds harsh, but actually not really. You simply would have no connection to such an individual. However, there is nothing to say that such an individual would not be an expression of Buddha activity. Compassion for their actions, not a revenge or motivated by negativity towards the person. That would be something very bad no?
Hitting a bad dog, doesn’t make the dog good, just makes it badder.

Malcolm wrote:
Shunning such people is compassionate.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 8:04 AM
Title: Re: What is one to do with the deep and abiding pain of unrequited love?
Content:
bcol01 said:
If a person is unable to love us, (such as a family member), how do we resist the natural tendency to internalize it?

Malcolm wrote:
All afflicted phenomena are suffering.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 8:00 AM
Title: Re: Sanskrit Names of Buddhas in Mipham’s Tashi Prayer
Content:
Seeker12 said:
Does anyone know the Sanskrit names for the Buddhas listed in the Tashi Prayer?

Tibetan and English found here - https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/mipham/verses-eight-noble-auspicious-ones

Thank you.

Charlie123 said:
http://lamakathy.net/resources/pdf/tashi_prayer.pdf

Malcolm wrote:
These are reconstructions and are not certain.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 4:44 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
My understanding is that the writer meant “cause and effect” to mean scientific materialism and,

To mean things like karma and reincarnation.

Malcolm wrote:
Karma and rebirth are part of cause and effect, not magic.

Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Seems like you’ve drunk the Kool-Aid too.

Try telling that to an atheist.

Malcolm wrote:
I am an atheist. Just not a materialist one.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 4:24 AM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
Genjo Conan said:
I have qualms about aspects of deep ecology--or, probably more accurately, with some of the beliefs of some of its adherents.  I recognize and appreciate that Naess advocated for a gradual depopulation rather than, y'know, genocide.  But at least some professed followers of deep ecology--your Earth Firsters, etc.--seem a little less discerning on that front, and at least some of the modern ecofascists seem to be co-opting some of the language of deep ecology.

Malcolm wrote:
One cannot be an ecofascist and a practitioner of deep ecology—the two are mututally exclusive. Ecofascists are people, like Abbey, the ultimate NIMBY, who martial ecological arguments as a proxy for their racism, etc. Ecofascists do not understand Naess or Ecosophy, the basis of Deep Ecology.

Genjo Conan said:
But yes, I believe strongly that, if I believe in interdependence (and I do), then my politics ought to reflect and enact that.  The modern politics of expropriation, extraction, and exploitation reflect the delusion that human beings are separate from the world.

Malcolm wrote:
Strongly agree. You might find Regarding Nature of significant interest: https://www.sunypress.edu/p-1570-regarding-nature.aspx

Bristollad said:
Just checked it out on Amazon: one review, 5 stars by....  Malcom Smith

Malcolm wrote:
It’s a rather obscure book.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 4:21 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
You also have to keep in mind context here. I fully believe in post mortem rebirth and Karma, but I don't want to live in a society where we craft policy on them, and then force everyone to follow said policy.

Malcolm wrote:
Correct. Me either. We have more in common with scientific materialists than we do Christians, etc.

I am in full favor of a secular order based on ecological, democratic, and social welfare principles.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 4:13 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
I doubt it. Chris Hedges is not a Buddhist or anything...

Malcolm wrote:
Hedges is a former seminarian, a devout Christian in fact, perhaps not by the standards of the handmaiden crew.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 4:11 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
My understanding is that the writer meant “cause and effect” to mean scientific materialism and, replace it with a world of magic.
To mean things like karma and reincarnation.

Malcolm wrote:
Karma and rebirth are part of cause and effect, not magic.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 2:27 AM
Title: Re: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Too late. I drank the Kool-Aid.

Malcolm wrote:
If one abandons cause and effect, one abandons dependent origination and karma, and then effectively, one abandons Dharma.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 2:25 AM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
Genjo Conan said:
I have qualms about aspects of deep ecology--or, probably more accurately, with some of the beliefs of some of its adherents.  I recognize and appreciate that Naess advocated for a gradual depopulation rather than, y'know, genocide.  But at least some professed followers of deep ecology--your Earth Firsters, etc.--seem a little less discerning on that front, and at least some of the modern ecofascists seem to be co-opting some of the language of deep ecology.

Malcolm wrote:
One cannot be an ecofascist and a practitioner of deep ecology—the two are mututally exclusive. Ecofascists are people, like Abbey, the ultimate NIMBY, who martial ecological arguments as a proxy for their racism, etc. Ecofascists do not understand Naess or Ecosophy, the basis of Deep Ecology.

Genjo Conan said:
But yes, I believe strongly that, if I believe in interdependence (and I do), then my politics ought to reflect and enact that.  The modern politics of expropriation, extraction, and exploitation reflect the delusion that human beings are separate from the world.

Malcolm wrote:
Strongly agree. You might find Regarding Nature of significant interest: https://www.sunypress.edu/p-1570-regarding-nature.aspx


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 12:39 AM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Deep ecology.

Queequeg said:
This resonates with me. But the last time I seriously considered the idea, I was at that stage in life where I could seriously consider spiking trees and sitting in tree houses.

How does one live this?

Malcolm wrote:
Edward Abbey was not a deep ecologist. He was a racist who today would probably vote for Trump.

We live this by practicing Buddhism. Buddhism is already deep ecological. It is not human-centered, and never has been. Christianity, etc., even Taoism, are all human-centered religions. Only in Buddhism does there exist the notion that our liberation and the libration of all sentient beings are intimately connected.

Practically speaking, we start voting for ecological candidates, and promote democratic socialism.

M


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 at 12:29 AM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:


Queequeg said:
But in all fairness, "I got mine" is the real creed of the United States, Republican or Democrat. Democrats just believe in using lube. It really ought to replace the farcical, "In God we Trust" on our currency.

Genjo Conan said:
Oh, for sure.  I'm a socialist; I think the kindest thing one can say about the vast majority of Democratic politicians is that they mean well, but are too indebted to the status quo of money and empire to really help, and are too unimaginative and feckless to break free.  And that's me being kind.

Malcolm wrote:
Deep ecology.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 11:25 PM
Title: On Christian Fascism—Chris Hedges
Content:
Unknown said:
The Christian fascists, like all fascist movements, creates its own truth. It discredits verifiable fact, science, law and rationality. It promises a new, glorious world of moral renewal and prosperity. It promises a creator who will carry out miracles for believers and for America. It calls on followers to abandon the world of cause and effect and replace it with a world of magic. The reality-based world, as in all totalitarian movements, is snuffed out.

Malcolm wrote:
https://scheerpost.com/2020/10/05/trumps-barrett-nomination-another-step-toward-christian-facism/


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 10:46 PM
Title: Re: Eastern Enlightenment Vs. Western Psychopathology
Content:


DiabloRojo said:
What makes no-self not like depersonalization?

Malcolm wrote:
Loving kindness.

DiabloRojo said:
What makes emptiness not like derealization?

Malcolm wrote:
Compassion.

DiabloRojo said:
What makes detachment not like dissociation?

Malcolm wrote:
Bodhicitta.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 9:03 PM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:


PeterC said:
But on Nemo, and others.  With the exception of a few people, I tend to believe that people on here are generally on the side of the good guys.  Occasionally the way they talk may seem annoying, but I"m pretty sure I annoy people from time to time too. One of the reasons that groups like the Republicans manage to maintain power in the pursuit of what is essentially evil, is that they stick together. Right now that's what we need to do, too.

Malcolm wrote:
Nemo’s ok. A bit extreme sometimes, but so am I.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 8:42 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
I look forward to it Malcolm. I'm sure you'll offer good reasons.

Malcolm wrote:
Vocal actions, speech, is part of the rūpaskandha. You are confusing mind with body.

The sambhogakāya belongs to the rūpakāya, the material kāya.

Karma is cetana (namaḥ), and what proceeds from cetana: verbal and physical actions (rūpa). Generally, nāmaḥ, mind, corresponds to the dharmakāya; where as the rūpa, matter, corresponds to the two rūpakāyas, speech and body.

Nāḍīs, bindus, and vāyus are all exclusively physical structures in the human body, as anyone who has studied the process of gestation described in Kālacakra, the Cakrasamvara Tantras, and the 17 Dzogchen tantras will rapidly understand.

In Buddhism, there are no entities that exists outside the six dhātus: earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness. Whatever is the limit of samsara, that is the limit of nirvana, and vice versa.

tobes said:
Thanks, typically cogent.

Nonetheless, this only explains 'vocal actions' - the actual sounds of speech. Do you regard language itself as purely physical?

If so, then there is no inconsistency. But if not, we're left with a physical account of something that contains non-physical content.

i.e. what moves between people is not merely sounds, but also conceptual and symbolic content.

Malcolm wrote:
Meaning is not transmitted directly, mind to mind, but through the physical media of sound, physically created images, and gestures. In other words, pada, words, are the medium for artha, meaning.

Vak—voice, speech, and language, are purely physical. The word “language,” has, as its etymon, lingua: tongue/speech/language.

Likewise Vak is a direct cognate of vox, which is the nominative of vocem, “voice, sound, utterance, cry, call, speech, sentence, language, word.”

Speech likewise comes from proto Germanic *sprek, etc, utterance, etc.

For example, if I only know Tibetan, and you only know English, it is impossible for the meaning of Dharma to be conveyed, because of a physical language barrier. And language barriers are as physical as a wall.

To out it another way, meaning (dharmakaya) is conveyed physically (rupakaya), by means  of symbols (sambhogkaya) and words (nirmanakaya).


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 7:57 PM
Title: Re: Question Regarding Samaya Pollution
Content:
Tenma said:
So, I’ve been noticing people here being concerned about not using things used by samaya breakers and some texts explicitly stating to not drink the same water from them. I wanted to ask, if someone is a samaya breaker, does that mean that they will pollute whatever environments and objects they encounter? With people who aren’t even Buddhists or those who aren’t aware that such a person is a samaya breaker, what affect does this “pollution” have, if any? How is it that whatever a person such as a samaya breaker does must be avoided as though it’s harmful? Why avoid them? Aren’t they sentient beings? This entire idea of not associating with “breakers”/“deserters” sounds awfully like a cult, especially the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Malcolm wrote:
I shun samaya breakers, you should too. A samaya breaker is someone who hates their guru, hates their vajra siblings, lacks bodhicitta, etc.  We also have a samaya to avoid such people.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 7:25 PM
Title: Re: Work is Necessary! No, its not! Split from "I was a Trump Supporter"
Content:



Aemilius said:
The point is that there are many things that he had learned and accepted from the tradition of sramanas,  teachings and principles that his movement had in common with the sramanas and brahmanas of other denominations. Like meditation and logical thinking and epistemological views, as an example. The language and theory of a spiritual practice  existed before Shakyamuni, and it existed in other schools of thought of his time and era.

Malcolm wrote:
This is trivial.

Aemilius said:
Firstly,  Sramana is a different word from Sramanera (novice monk). For the meaning of Sramana see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9Arama%E1%B9%87a.

Secondly, I would like to add that all the schools (in India), that were able to teach people a method to attain the four Dhyanas, were advanced schools and possessed spiritual knowleledge or spiritual knowhow. This is not denied in Tripitaka, (that there is practice and attainment of dhyana outside of the Buddhist Sangha.)

When Siddhartha was fasting, he was not only fasting, he was also meditating or practicing dhyana.

Malcolm wrote:
Your point is still trivial.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, October 5th, 2020 at 1:14 AM
Title: Re: Rules are rules. Vinaya and Norms. Split from "Work is Necessary! No it's not!"
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
It’s a DW sacred cow that Buddha Dharma have absolutely nothing in common with any other spiritual tradition.

Malcolm wrote:
This is not a correct assessment.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 7:59 PM
Title: Re: Work is Necessary! No, its not! Split from "I was a Trump Supporter"
Content:


Aemilius said:
There is also the knowhow of the life of an ascetic. You are just trying to play it down, that Gautama and other ascetics had learned the ascetic life from the tradition of asceticism that existed in India at the time. This is being true to the facts. Prince Siddhartha had not known that there are Sramanas in the world, before he saw one and was explained by his charioteer what a sramana is.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, but the Buddha rejected the extremes of ascetism advocated by other śrāmaneras, since he had personal experience that they did not lead to the expected results. He offered a middle way in what was, by all accounts, a movement dominated by śrāmaneras of different sects who all advocated different kinds of self-mortification as a means to escape samsara.

Aemilius said:
The point is that there are many things that he had learned and accepted from the tradition of sramanas,  teachings and principles that his movement had in common with the sramanas and brahmanas of other denominations. Like meditation and logical thinking and epistemological views, as an example. The language and theory of a spiritual practice  existed before Shakyamuni, and it existed in other schools of thought of his time and era.

Malcolm wrote:
This is trivial.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 6:22 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
I look forward to it Malcolm. I'm sure you'll offer good reasons.

Malcolm wrote:
Vocal actions, speech, is part of the rūpaskandha. You are confusing mind with body.

The sambhogakāya belongs to the rūpakāya, the material kāya.

Karma is cetana (namaḥ), and what proceeds from cetana: verbal and physical actions (rūpa). Generally, nāmaḥ, mind, corresponds to the dharmakāya; where as the rūpa, matter, corresponds to the two rūpakāyas, speech and body.

Nāḍīs, bindus, and vāyus are all exclusively physical structures in the human body, as anyone who has studied the process of gestation described in Kālacakra, the Cakrasamvara Tantras, and the 17 Dzogchen tantras will rapidly understand.

In Buddhism, there are no entities that exists outside the six dhātus: earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness. Whatever is the limit of samsara, that is the limit of nirvana, and vice versa.

Charlie123 said:
Is it correct to say that speech is nothing more than the gyengyu lung?

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, udanavayu is speech,  along with tongue, lips, teeth, nasal cavity, and throat.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 6:15 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:



tkp67 said:
Natural life, absolutely. My commentary is most definitely describing the realm of mankind from cities to internet.

In my formative youth I struggled with the modulation from a natural world to this man made world since I felt the natural world was perfect and frankly still do.

Malcolm wrote:
even with respect to technology, it has made our lives less complex, actually, not more. Just think of all the things we, especially urban dwellers, do not do. They don't fetch water, shit in outhouses, bath in woodtubs that have to have water heated manually, we don't have to use kerosine or oil for lamps, tryp on typewriters, or worse, write with pen and ink, the list really does go on and on. Our interconnected world is certainly more fragile and complicated in terms of its dependencies, but more complicated to live in? No, not at all.

Dan74 said:
I think the point got lost. Bundokji's point was that the modern voter has to parse very subtle issues that require a lot more than common sense, an imposition that premodern people were not put under. I am not so sure, but democracy certainly makes a lot of assumptions...

Malcolm wrote:
No, I don’t agree with your idea.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 3:26 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:



tkp67 said:
Earlier times where exponentially more laborious but the sphere of influence smaller. The nature of things less complex.

In the information age returning to lifestyles that mimic earlier times are trending because the simplicity. This does not imply ease but rather a lack of complexity effected by a greater matrix of societal interdependence/interactions.

Malcolm wrote:
With species reductions and habitat destruction, I would say life was richer and more complex even 100 years ago compared with the present.

tkp67 said:
Natural life, absolutely. My commentary is most definitely describing the realm of mankind from cities to internet.

In my formative youth I struggled with the modulation from a natural world to this man made world since I felt the natural world was perfect and frankly still do.

Malcolm wrote:
even with respect to technology, it has made our lives less complex, actually, not more. Just think of all the things we, especially urban dwellers, do not do. They don't fetch water, shit in outhouses, bath in woodtubs that have to have water heated manually, we don't have to use kerosine or oil for lamps, tryp on typewriters, or worse, write with pen and ink, the list really does go on and on. Our interconnected world is certainly more fragile and complicated in terms of its dependencies, but more complicated to live in? No, not at all.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 2:50 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
With species reductions and habitat destruction, I would say life was richer and more complex even 100 years ago compared with the present.
1920s were party time.
1930s desperation time.
1940s war time
1950s good time
1960s well....it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Malcolm wrote:
I wasn’t really using an androcentric view here....


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 2:33 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
Dan74 said:
I think it can be argued that the challenges modern society presents are over and above what people 500, 300 or even 100 years ago had to concern themselves with. Or so it seems to me.

Malcolm wrote:
Nah, every thing was harder to do and more complicated.

tkp67 said:
Earlier times where exponentially more laborious but the sphere of influence smaller. The nature of things less complex.

In the information age returning to lifestyles that mimic earlier times are trending because the simplicity. This does not imply ease but rather a lack of complexity effected by a greater matrix of societal interdependence/interactions.

Malcolm wrote:
With species reductions and habitat destruction, I would say life was richer and more complex even 100 years ago compared with the present.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 2:18 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
Dan74 said:
I think it can be argued that the challenges modern society presents are over and above what people 500, 300 or even 100 years ago had to concern themselves with. Or so it seems to me.

Malcolm wrote:
Nah, every thing was harder to do and more complicated.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2020 at 12:21 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
PeterC said:
Running list of who has tested positive in the current outbreak;

Hope Hicks - Trump Senior Council, former Trump WH communications director
Donald Trump - President
Melania Trump - First Lady
Ronna McDaniel - RNC chair
Mike Lee - Republican Senator, UT
Rev. John Jenkins - president of the University of Notre Dame (attended SCOTUS nomination at Rose Garden)
Three unnamed journalists and one unnamed WH staffer
Thom Tillis - Republican Senator, North Carolina was at WH on Sat
Kellyanne Conway - Former White House counselor, attended Rose Garden event
Bill Stepien - Trump Campaign Manager
Ron Johnson - Republican Senator, Wisconsin
Chris Christie - Former Republican NJ Gov. Helped prepare Trump for debate


Trying to compile a similar list for the Biden campaign but can’t find any names.  Must be a deep state coverup.

Malcolm wrote:
Waiting for Bill Barr to show up on that list.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 10:22 PM
Title: Re: Work is Necessary! No, its not! Split from "I was a Trump Supporter"
Content:


Aemilius said:
There is also the knowhow of the life of an ascetic. You are just trying to play it down, that Gautama and other ascetics had learned the ascetic life from the tradition of asceticism that existed in India at the time. This is being true to the facts. Prince Siddhartha had not known that there are Sramanas in the world, before he saw one and was explained by his charioteer what a sramana is.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, but the Buddha rejected the extremes of ascetism advocated by other śrāmaneras, since he had personal experience that they did not lead to the expected results. He offered a middle way in what was, by all accounts, a movement dominated by śrāmaneras of different sects who all advocated different kinds of self-mortification as a means to escape samsara.

Hence, Buddha's vinaya, contextual and not assembled all at once time, bears little relationship to the speculative asceticism current in the Buddha's day. For example, note his five ascetic companions were initially shocked and dismayed that the Buddha had put on weight and was eating food again.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 10:06 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
I look forward to it Malcolm. I'm sure you'll offer good reasons.

Malcolm wrote:
Vocal actions, speech, is part of the rūpaskandha. You are confusing mind with body.

The sambhogakāya belongs to the rūpakāya, the material kāya.

Karma is cetana (namaḥ), and what proceeds from cetana: verbal and physical actions (rūpa). Generally, nāmaḥ, mind, corresponds to the dharmakāya; where as the rūpa, matter, corresponds to the two rūpakāyas, speech and body.

Nāḍīs, bindus, and vāyus are all exclusively physical structures in the human body, as anyone who has studied the process of gestation described in Kālacakra, the Cakrasamvara Tantras, and the 17 Dzogchen tantras will rapidly understand.

In Buddhism, there are no entities that exists outside the six dhātus: earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness. Whatever is the limit of samsara, that is the limit of nirvana, and vice versa.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 10:13 AM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Yeah? So what. He killed 200k people and counting through his incompetence. Not impressed. May he recover and face the jail time he so richly deserves.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 7:46 AM
Title: Re: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Karma is a bitch.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 7:44 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
Maybe we need to distinguish between speech as a physical-verbal articulation of sound, and the wider sense of the term in the Buddhist tradition, which is clearly more subtle.

Body body and mind.

OM OM HUM......

Something is clearly missing right?

Johnny Dangerous said:
Interesting question, I can think of a couple of sadhana text that refer to the "two bodies" instead of three for just this reason - that Nirmanakaya and Sambogakaya are both Rupakaya. I mean, it seems like this is almost Theravadin...but there must be some other explanation.

Malcolm wrote:
There isn’t, but i will explain this tomorrow.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 7:36 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
Maybe we need to distinguish between speech as a physical-verbal articulation of sound, and the wider sense of the term in the Buddhist tradition, which is clearly more subtle.

Body body and mind.

OM OM HUM......

Something is clearly missing right?

Malcolm wrote:
No, actually. More later.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 5:27 AM
Title: 5:25 PM——Trump to be taken to Walter Reed.
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
as it says


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 5:22 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:


Bundokji said:
I think Biden did the right thing by wishing the president and his wife speedy recovery. When i checked my FB earlier today, i encountered posts wishing him to die, mockery that finally something positive came out of him, and that he deserves it because he denied how deadly the virus is.

Malcolm wrote:
"Karma, sometimes it ripens sooner rather than later."
-- Namdrol


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 5:19 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:


Danny said:
Ok sir, within context, politics is local, grass roots not National or global, if you can’t fix what’s outside the front door, why bother yourself with what happens elsewhere?

Genjo Conan said:
Because what happens elsewhere affects what's outside the front door.  I work for a state government; I can assure you that national politics trickles down.

Danny said:
Nah sorry, states begging for federal bailouts for poor run states is a states problem, broken local politics. Own it.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, this is why prosperous blue states support the ne'er-do-well red states. Look it up if you don't believe me. If votes were distributed by the amounts of money paid in taxes, the Republicans would never win again, ever. And to the bargain, their shitty political fantasies would vanish.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 4:26 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:


Brunelleschi said:
Sure, I understand. My point is that Biden is a pretty despicable person (in my opinion). However, he's not a complete narcississt authoritarian a**hole like the current POTUS.

Malcolm wrote:
We are not voting for a person, we are voting for a platform.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 4:24 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:
Brunelleschi said:
Anyway, if the choice is between lessening the damage Trump has done or punish the Democrats, I can understand why one would choose to vote for Biden.

Malcolm wrote:
The choice is between sanity and a political death cult.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 2:09 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:


tkp67 said:
Bullying is something I am quite adept at compassionately challenging wherever it exists, relentlessly and without regard for consequences.

Malcolm wrote:
there, fixed it for you.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 2:07 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
tkp67 said:
Trump purposely took office to disrupt the government (drain the swamp).

This was intentional bait and switch. Selling the notion of lean government when he was targeting laws and resources that throttled corporate freedom to profiteer without accountability.

Malcolm wrote:
Actually, he had no intention of winning, he was just looking for PR. Then he was elected, and decided he would drain the swamp, meaning all the money sloshing around DC looking for a crook to swindle it:

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/10/can-trump-pay-off-his-billion-in-debt


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 1:12 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:


Minobu said:
I don't know how America will take to someone telling the President of the United States to shut up.. And then to call him a clown in public...

Malcolm wrote:
I thought it was perfectly appropriate. If Trump were a dog, someone would have put him down a long time ago. Just saying...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 at 12:05 AM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
DNS said:
I imagine he'll definitely have to miss round 2 of the debates, but might be well for the final round 3.

Malcolm wrote:
Where”s the MMS when you need it?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 8:24 PM
Title: Re: Breaking News!
Content:
Bristollad said:
If it's a cynical ploy, he's probably hoping for the increased sympathy vote.  Even Boris Johnson was perceived as being a more reasonable person after his brush with the virus.  It didn't last of course as he went back to his old ways pretty quickly.

PeterC said:
I agree.  If this is fake then he avoids the debates, looks more sympathetic, then when he “recovers” he looks strong and healthy, an can tell everyone that it’s no big deal.  It’s a win all round for him. He loses out by not holding more rallies and doing TV etc but frankly he’s not going to achieve much with that right now.  Anything more dramatic his government can do while he’s incapacitated.

Malcolm wrote:
I don’t think this is fake news. He was on Hannity last night and he sounded unusually excited. Trump met Wednesday with Mnuchin, who met with Pelosi, putting the House leadership in question, so, this is just chaos as usual in the Trump era.

As for him looking strong and healthy, he hasn’t looked strong and healthy for years.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 7:38 PM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:



Genjo Conan said:
I mean, I guess it depends on how you define https://dharmawheel.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5442 https://dharmawheel.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5080 https://dharmawheel.org/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=51.

Johnny Dangerous said:
Exactly.

I respectfully disagree on not that bad David. It feels more like someone's Facebook wall than a forum.

At any rate, I think that I can speak here for the other members of the mod team and say that DW:E is an example at this point of exactly the kind of acrimonious circular political "conversations" that we are trying to limit on DW:M.

To be clear, I respect the experiment, I'm just not into by the results personally. Everyone's take on it will vary and people should look and decide for themselves. I did.

Ayu said:
JD, okay, we agree DWE is too exhausting and senseless to engage with for us as individuals.
But if we are honest, as moderators we cannot say DWE shouldn't exist. As someone mentioned before, it is good right now that DWE exists at all. It's an incredible job DNS is doing there. Because it makes our job here much easier. We can tell any person who is not interested in mahayana dharma discussions to vent their political opinion over at DWE.
If we think DWE was 'that bad' we shouldn't recommend it.
(I'm not talking about abusive, mysantrophic or conspiracy trolls here. They shouldn't have any place anywhere, I think.)

Malcolm wrote:
Sure, as a kind of Lord of the Flies Island where Piggy gets killed over and over again, it’s great. Better there than here.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 7:36 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
But if channels, pranas etc are purely rupa, then why the association with sambogakaya (eg in the speech empowerment)?

Malcolm wrote:
Speech is part of rupa skandha; likewise the sambhogakaya is part of the rupakaya.

tobes said:
Surely speech entails samjnaskandha and samskaraskandha too. It has both rupa and namah components.

Malcolm wrote:
No, it’s a purely physical action. See the Kosha.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 10:25 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
tobes said:
But if channels, pranas etc are purely rupa, then why the association with sambogakaya (eg in the speech empowerment)?

Malcolm wrote:
Speech is part of rupa skandha; likewise the sambhogakaya is part of the rupakaya.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 9:53 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Hardly, it’s retro’s MAGA tailgate party. Which is odd, since he’s Australian.

DNS said:
It may not be much of a "party" in 32 days. We'll see.

Here's what's could happen:
Neither party concedes and each declares the other of cheating, mail fraud, etc.

The Dems come to their senses and put Tulsi Gabbard as Speaker of the House.

No result by inauguration date, so Tulsi becomes president.


I know, I'm dreaming.

*edit, actually she's ineligible since she's not running for re-election in her district in Hawaii, so she won't be in the new Congress.

Malcolm wrote:
She’s not running because she is very unpopular in HI.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 7:50 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:
Caoimhghín said:
American Democrats were "sure" Trump was going to lose back when he won as well. Actually, something often forgotten by Trumpistas is that Trump himself quite obviously didn't think he was going to win. He called the election "rigged" literally the night before the votes were counted. Arguably, he doesn't think he'll win again, hence his comments already about this one allegedly being rigged too.

Rigged as much as the last one, one wonders?

Sadly, Trumpistas do not seem to notice these things. "I won! I won!"
"No, Donald. We need to recount. It's rigged, remember?"
(Definitely a conversation that actually happened.)

Malcolm wrote:
It’s different this time:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trumps-chances-are-dwindling-that-could-make-him-dangerous/

His only option is refusing to step down, once he loses.

Burisma is not Benghazi.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 7:36 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:
Dan74 said:
the US is now faced with a prospect of the second Trump presidency...

Malcolm wrote:
Only if he stages a military coup, at this point.


Biden leads by enough to withstand a polling misfire.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/presidential-polls-trump-biden/biden-leads-by-enough-to-withstand-a-polling-misfire?referringSource=articleShare


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 7:13 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:


DNS said:
DWE is not an engaged buddhist forum in the practice of TNH. It is 'engaged' in the sense of applying the Dharma to everyday life; from the tagline at the top:
Engaged Buddhism forum, a nonsectarian community discussing the application of the Dharma to social, environmental, news and political issues.

Malcolm wrote:
Hardly, it’s retro’s MAGA tailgate party. Which is odd, since he’s Australian.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 7:12 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
, I've got no time for those folks, the level of political "discourse" on DW:E is ghastly from my point of view and I am happy to keep it away from here...even if that makes us biased, or whatever.

Malcolm wrote:
Should be called MAGAwheel.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 4:20 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
It seems universal in the Buddhist schemes that physical processes (even subtle ones) are a result of the mind, and not the other way around. If you know a bit about the channels in the Tibetan scheme for instance, this is inescapable.

Malcolm wrote:
Vajrayāna does not accept substance dualism. Mind and body are inseparable, divorced from each other for convenience, but not an actual duality.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 4:18 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:


Brunelleschi said:
Certain things should definitely be removed. You can debate different economic policies, but debating things like "qanon"/associated MAGA/authoriarian stuff is pointless.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, because these are political death cults, not rational positions. But they are valid topics for discussion, like Jim Jones or Charles Manson.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, October 2nd, 2020 at 4:15 AM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:



Caoimhghín said:
I mean, I'm not spinning doom and gloom for here. We have a long way to go until we are another DhammaWheel/DWE, but if this forum becomes "officially" left-leaning, that is going to cause a lot more problems than it solves IMO.

Malcolm wrote:
Dharmawheel is left-leaning because Mahāyānīs in the west tend to be compassionate people interested in improving the lives of all sentient beings, rather than seeking oblivion in nirvana.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at 9:22 PM
Title: Re: Banning political discussions on DharmaWheel
Content:
mikenz66 said:
That's what I said, David. The new leadership's attitude towards social issues, including a virulent antagonism to any kind of "Engaged Buddhism" lead to the acrimony, which, thankfully, was exported elsewhere where it can be ignored.

DNS said:
Okay, but there was a 2 year gap between the two events. I guess you could say it was "brewing" in that time.

Malcolm wrote:
It’s the dumbest forum ever. it’s embarrassing that it is called Dharmawheel Engaged. Instead, it should be called Dharmawheel MAGA.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at 9:10 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
avatamsaka3 said:
I think this hits the nail on the head. Our self sense includes the mind borne sensations associated with the skandhas. The subtle body is our detection of the more refined aspects of the workings of the skhandas. This does not make them any more “real” in an ontological sense.
This is an interesting perspective to consider. If that's true, this would mean that anything that has an effect on the skandhas could be subtle body work... Normal shamatha, exercising, etc.

Daniel Kenny said:
Except that the “subtle body” is a construct after the event. Maybe useful as a conceptual tool, but ultimately simply a by product..like a phantom limb. It is an attempt to make sense of what in the end is a series of ephemera.
The skandhas arise in emptiness constantly and dissolve constantly.

Malcolm wrote:
In fact, the explanation of vayus, bindus, and nadis exists to explain the gestation of the human body in the womb, and is not some quasi physical system in parallel with physical body.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at 9:08 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Dan74 said:
As for China...

PeterC said:
Just read this, I’d recommend it strongly, I agree with almost all of it.  It’s the most succinct and accurate statement of the broader US-China situation that I’ve read from an American.

https://chasfreeman.net/the-struggle-with-china-is-not-a-replay-of-the-cold-war/

Malcolm wrote:
Yup.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at 9:02 PM
Title: Re: QAnon - more than you ever wanted to know
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Thus is old news.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at 3:52 AM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:



Johnny Dangerous said:
My take:

Does the nervous system exist conventionally? What about the cardiovascular system? There are both abstractions taken from viewing the body from outside, they exist in a conventional senseonly as categories of phenomena. Even  if you take a basic AP&P class you will see they don't really exist, they are just delimiters placed on larger systems to make sense of things. The difference is the Western anatomy comes at it purely from an external viewpoint, whereas  subtle body concepts (which Astus mentions are not remotely unique to Buddhism) comes in part from "inner" experience of what we would term the body.

Malcolm wrote:
The notion of chakras, nadis, vayus, etc., comes from Ayurveda, actually, so also a medical view of the body. The term “subtle body” does not have a true correlate in Sanskrit or Tibetan. The new age idea comes from 1) the Upanishadic idea of the five koshas 2) the theosophical interpretation of the cakras. That idea is not applicable to Buddhist notions of human anatomy.

Johnny Dangerous said:
I don’t see how this relates to theosophy or the Upanishads, I was just talking about contextualizing the notion of a ‘subtle body’ -or- the physical body according to Western anatomy  as a discrete entity. My point was that even in Western anatomy, there is no discrete body.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, and I was pointing out that the term is flawed, from a buddhist perspective.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 at 11:13 PM
Title: Re: Dudjom Tersar Ngondro
Content:


Malcolm wrote:
they have those sample basic structure, the verses for recitation in the KT and throma are four line, but not two line. But one really ought not be negotiating the number of syllables. One should just do whatever practice ones teacher asks one to do.

sicklicchavi said:
Got it, thanks! Agreed on number of syllables, was just curious as to the differences between the practices. I will defer to the teacher as to which is most appropriate.

Malcolm wrote:
Also, for the Khandro Thugthig and Throma Ngondros, one will have to receive the empowerment. The short Dudjom Ngondro is often give to beginners with any empowerment.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 at 9:40 PM
Title: Re: Dudjom Tersar Ngondro
Content:


Malcolm wrote:
Pema Osel Ling is Dudjom Yangsi Pema Shepa Dorje’s NA seat. Many people begin with Khandro thugtik or Throma Ngondro directly.

sicklicchavi said:
Thanks for the response! Am I correct in understanding that all three ngondros have the same underlying practices, but that those two are more extensive in the number of repetitions required and the length of the recitations themselves?

Malcolm wrote:
they have those sample basic structure, the verses for recitation in the KT and throma are four line, but not two line. But one really ought not be negotiating the number of syllables. One should just do whatever practice ones teacher asks one to do.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 at 7:21 PM
Title: Re: Dudjom Tersar Ngondro
Content:
sicklicchavi said:
Hi, I hope that you are all doing well. I am interested to hear about any experiences that anyone here has had with the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro and/or with Pema Osel Ling/Vajrayana Foundation. I've listened to some of the teachings from Lama Sonam Rinpoche and others, and I find the concise nature of the Dudjom Tersar Ngondro extremely attractive as a jumping off point to deepen my practice.

For those that have done this ngondro or developed a relationship with the teachers at POL/Vajrayana Foundation, what were your experiences like? Did you go on to do either of the more extensive ngondro's through this lineage (Khandro Tuktik or Troma Nakmo)?

Malcolm wrote:
Pema Osel Ling is Dudjom Yangsi Pema Shepa Dorje’s NA seat. Many people begin with Khandro thugtik or Throma Ngondro directly.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 at 7:12 PM
Title: Re: Subtle body
Content:
avatamsaka3 said:
1. Does the subtle body exist conventionally? Or is it just a way to work with with our anatomy and physiology?

Johnny Dangerous said:
My take:

Does the nervous system exist conventionally? What about the cardiovascular system? There are both abstractions taken from viewing the body from outside, they exist in a conventional senseonly as categories of phenomena. Even  if you take a basic AP&P class you will see they don't really exist, they are just delimiters placed on larger systems to make sense of things. The difference is the Western anatomy comes at it purely from an external viewpoint, whereas  subtle body concepts (which Astus mentions are not remotely unique to Buddhism) comes in part from "inner" experience of what we would term the body.

Malcolm wrote:
The notion of chakras, nadis, vayus, etc., comes from Ayurveda, actually, so also a medical view of the body. The term “subtle body” does not have a true correlate in Sanskrit or Tibetan. The new age idea comes from 1) the Upanishadic idea of the five koshas 2) the theosophical interpretation of the cakras. That idea is not applicable to Buddhist notions of human anatomy.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 at 4:08 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Dan74 said:
A pseudo-Warsaw Pact buffer of vassals around the empire? Given the opportunity to push this agenda, they will.

Malcolm wrote:
With GOP encouragement. The GOP has been Russia positive in the US for a long, long, time.

Dan74 said:
As for China, well, it has been waging an active campaign both infiltrating major Australian institutions, grooming politicians, hacking, building Centres with a definite agenda. A massive overt and covert PR campaign. Buying up assets, leasing ports, a major Belt and Roads initiative with Victoria. It is in many ways a boon for Australia, well, as long as it is prepared to cede some sovereignty in exchange for wealth. It is a trade many people are not yet ready to make.

Malcolm wrote:
It is called "capitalism." It is what powers with imperial ambition do. Nothing surprising there.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 at 8:42 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Dan74 said:
Extremely meaningful comparisons of humanity's worst butchers notwithstanding, I don't think this proves anything for the question of whether the US failing would be a good thing. As JD said some pages ago, the US failing may lead to unprecedented turmoil, as failing empires death throes may bring us all under in the world that is already rather unstable.

Geez, we just like to chinwag over anything... and in the meantime, the roof's still on fire..

Malcolm wrote:
Trumps taxes show he is likely to do serious jail time after he loses.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 28th, 2020 at 9:35 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
6 million Jews + 11 gentiles = 17 million, in less than a decade.
Body counts are difficult for Stalin. Estimates are nothing more than educated guesses. But the low estimate I’ve see is 20 million. High estimates run several times that.

Malcolm wrote:
From the Wiki page above:
"Australian historian Stephen G. Wheatcroft asserts that prior to the opening of the archives for historical research,"our understanding of the scale and the nature of Soviet repression has been extremely poor" and that some specialists who wish to maintain earlier high estimates of the Stalinist death toll are "finding it difficult to adapt to the new circumstances when the archives are open and when there are plenty of irrefutable data" and instead "hang on to their old Sovietological methods with round-about calculations based on odd statements from emigres and other informants who are supposed to have superior knowledge"
So, I think your figures are highly exaggerated, and not based on good data. I prefer evidence-based history, again:
"The Stalinist regime was consequently responsible for about a million purposive killings, and through its criminal neglect and irresponsibility it was probably responsible for the premature deaths of about another two million more victims amongst the repressed population, i.e. in the camps, colonies, prisons, exile, in transit and in the POW camps for Germans. These are clearly much lower figures than those for whom Hitler's regime was responsible. "
http://sovietinfo.tripod.com/WCR-German_Soviet.pdf


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 28th, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Killing ones own people is not “interfering in foreign governments.” Stalin died in 1953.
Believing that the greatest mass murderer of the 20th Century...

Malcolm wrote:
That really depends on which historian of the period you happen to believe:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excess_mortality_in_the_Soviet_Union_under_Joseph_Stalin.

Also, it borders on holocaust denial to assert that Stalin’s crimes outweigh the crimes of Hitler:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust...

6 million Jews + 11 gentiles = 17 million, in less than a decade.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 28th, 2020 at 7:39 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Think we have now gone completely off topic...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 28th, 2020 at 6:37 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Actuallly, Peter is quite right. Stalin advocated “Socialism in one country,” contra Trotskyism. The USSR was too busy recovering from WWII to engage in much of any expansionist activities before Stalin’s death in 1953.
The Iron Curtain, including the Berlin Wall. The White Terror. Tens of millions of his own people killed, putting Hitler’s body count to shame. And you don’t think Stalin was the antagonist?
I’m not sure I can think of any examples of when a democratically elected government flirted with US-style capitalism and the Soviet Union sponsored a coup.
Hungary’56, Czechoslovakia ‘68. Admittedly they were invasions, not coups.

Malcolm wrote:
Killing ones own people is not “interfering in foreign governments.” Stalin died in 1953.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 28th, 2020 at 11:16 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Just going by the basic facts, the aggressor in the Cold War was the US.
I suggest you read up on Stalin at some point.

Malcolm wrote:
Actuallly, Peter is quite right. Stalin advocated “Socialism in one country,” contra Trotskyism. The USSR was too busy recovering from WWII to engage in much of any expansionist activities before Stalin’s death in 1953. Soviet expansionism beyond Eastern Europe and Central Asia was largely the program of Krushchev, but it was largely defensive, not aggressive. Even the Cuban Missile Crisis fomented by the USSR was largely a response to CIA plots to assassinate Castro and the failed Bay of Pigs fiasco.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 28th, 2020 at 8:04 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:



tobes said:
There were a lot of "good Germans". You need to think about the early 30's - fascists were in a big struggle with social democrats, Marxists etc.

Why did they prevail? Why did so many 'good' Germans ultimately get converted to that cause?

Answer: friend-enemy politics. The key political philosopher of the Nazi's, Carl Schmitt, coined this term. It's also a bit Stars Wars: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." If you're not X, you must be Y.

Humans are inherently more messy and inconsistent than this, but they can be pushed into that friend-enemy politics all too easily. What usually follows are genocides, civil wars and all the rest.

So it follows, and I think Buddhists really get this point: if that is the cause, we must resist it. i.e. we must resist that conception of politics.

Malcolm wrote:
Neville Chamberlin proved that appeasement of fascists does not work.

tobes said:
There is a very big difference between how one nation-state responds to another fascist nation-state committed to world domination, and, the struggle within that fascist nation-state a decade or so earlier. i.e. before it actually became fascist.

The practical point is simply: the best thing for Trump at the moment is more division, not less. He's been sowing that from day one, and the more it flowers, the more he succeeds. He can win if there is a sense of chaos, disorder etc. He can't if there isn't.

Nonetheless, it is easy to make these kinds of statements from the relative distance of Australia......maybe you're already past the point of no return?

Malcolm wrote:
He either loses the election and is frog-marched out of the Whitehouse by the Secret Service, or what passes for democracy is finished in the US and there will eventually be a civil war.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 8:35 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
I’m a liberal, but I’m old. So my idea is that nobody has a guaranteed monopoly on what is right. Therefore suppressing speech you don’t agree with is, over time, itself a guaranteed mistake.

In other words, all movements succumb to the Animal Farm trap if there’s no dissent and pushback. The Founding Fathrrs knew that. The modern left has rejected the idea. That’s not good.

Malcolm wrote:
Your memory of the post-revolutionary war period is a little flimsy. The sedition act is still on the books. Barr is threatening to sue the mayor Seattle under this act.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 8:04 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Dan74 said:
I don't claim to have the finger on the pulse of the US polity...

Malcolm wrote:
Yeah, you really don’t.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 8:01 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:


tobes said:
The problem with your approach is that it assumes that all people caught up in the webs of misinformation, conspiracy theories etc are ontological white nationalists/fascists etc. Whereas I think that for every such person (who is ontologically committed to fascist politics), there are at least a dozen who are simply overwhelmed with confusion and tiredness, drenched in targeted social media politics, being drawn into tribalism with every click of the mouse/touch of the screen.

If this is the case, then it follows that the answer to the aforementioned question is a widening of the sphere of information. A widening of the internet bubble. A widening into a more pluralistic frame.

Malcolm wrote:
I see, so you think there are a lot of “good germans.”

If you support racists, you are a racist. If you support fascists, you are a fascist, case closed.

tobes said:
There were a lot of "good Germans". You need to think about the early 30's - fascists were in a big struggle with social democrats, Marxists etc.

Why did they prevail? Why did so many 'good' Germans ultimately get converted to that cause?

Answer: friend-enemy politics. The key political philosopher of the Nazi's, Carl Schmitt, coined this term. It's also a bit Stars Wars: "Only a Sith deals in absolutes." If you're not X, you must be Y.

Humans are inherently more messy and inconsistent than this, but they can be pushed into that friend-enemy politics all too easily. What usually follows are genocides, civil wars and all the rest.

So it follows, and I think Buddhists really get this point: if that is the cause, we must resist it. i.e. we must resist that conception of politics.

Malcolm wrote:
Neville Chamberlin proved that appeasement of fascists does not work.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 9:52 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:


Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
That’s why I came up with the term “contra-constitutional”, against the spirit of the Constitution, as opposed to “unconstitutional”, against the letter of the law. Maybe I should have been more clear on that. Sloppy posting on my part.

Malcolm wrote:
False, for example, free speech laws do not apply in businesses, etc., and never have.

Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
But Malcolm, you just said, Free speech applies only to public speech, such as newspapers, books, magazines., etc.
This thread is becoming comedic for the inept level of posting by people that should know better—starting with my unclear post.

Malcolm wrote:
The press is included in the constitution. Businesses are not. The constitution guarantees the right of free speech for _the press_, which includes publishers. It does not guarantee that right within the precincts of Microsoft, Apple, Harvard, Stanford, etc., or the Pentagon, or for Federal employees, etc


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 9:11 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Genjo Conan said:
Re: colleges-- depends on if it's a public or private college.  Public colleges/universities are government actors that generally may not discriminate on the basis of content.  They may refuse to host speakers on public safety grounds (eg to refuse to host speakers who will incite violence), but not based on their message per se.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed. But Harvard, Yale, etc., are all private schools. UC Berkeley, public,


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 9:08 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:


Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Correct. So limits in excess of those set in court cases are unconstitutional, or maybe contra-constitutional, by definition. Such as not allowing conservatives to speak on college campuses because they would say things that were not politically correct.

Malcolm wrote:
Free speech applies only to public speech, such as newspapers, books, magazines., etc. Colleges are private forums. Free speech laws are not applicable in these cases.

Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
That’s why I came up with the term “contra-constitutional”, against the spirit of the Constitution, as opposed to “unconstitutional”, against the letter of the law. Maybe I should have been more clear on that. Sloppy posting on my part.

Malcolm wrote:
False, for example, free speech laws do not apply in businesses, etc., and never have.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2020 at 7:19 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:


Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
The problem is, if those limits become “anything I disagree with” then by definition it is no longer free speech.
The limits to free speech are clearly outlined by various court cases.
Correct. So limits in excess of those set in court cases are unconstitutional, or maybe contra-constitutional, by definition. Such as not allowing conservatives to speak on college campuses because they would say things that were not politically correct.

Malcolm wrote:
Free speech applies only to public speech, such as newspapers, books, magazines., etc. Colleges are private forums. Free speech laws are not applicable in these cases.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 11:13 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Free speech has clear limits.
The problem is, if those limits become “anything I disagree with” then by definition it is no longer free speech.

Malcolm wrote:
The limits to free speech are clearly outlined by various court cases.

Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
I believe that over the summer a gay liberal NYT reporter was let go because he did not accept some new element of political correctness. I can’t remember his name.

Malcolm wrote:
What does Bari Weiss (a woman) have to do with it? And, for the record, she resigned voluntarily, she was not "let go." And she was a LINO, Liberal in Name Only.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 8:02 PM
Title: Re: Receiving pointing out without knowing
Content:
florin said:
I am of the opinion that pointing out occasions should always be clearly indicated. If they are not, then we might have situations like these where there is doubt as to whether something happened or not.

Johnny Dangerous said:
The opposite should also be true though, that someone believes they have recognized etc. when they did not, simply due to the fact that the importance of the occasion was pointed out.

Malcolm wrote:
You should revisit song of the vajra book. This is all clearly explained by ChNN there.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 8:00 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:


tobes said:
The problem with your approach is that it assumes that all people caught up in the webs of misinformation, conspiracy theories etc are ontological white nationalists/fascists etc. Whereas I think that for every such person (who is ontologically committed to fascist politics), there are at least a dozen who are simply overwhelmed with confusion and tiredness, drenched in targeted social media politics, being drawn into tribalism with every click of the mouse/touch of the screen.

If this is the case, then it follows that the answer to the aforementioned question is a widening of the sphere of information. A widening of the internet bubble. A widening into a more pluralistic frame.

Malcolm wrote:
I see, so you think there are a lot of “good germans.”

If you support racists, you are a racist. If you support fascists, you are a fascist, case closed.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 7:57 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Young adults tend to be self-righteous. On the other hand, if they are intolerant of racism and sexism, good for them
There are intolerant of free speech. They believe anybody that doesn’t agree with them should be silenced.

Apparently they also believe that the US Constitution is so racist (well, can’t argue too much with the 1787 version) and privilege protecting, (again..) that they need not respect what it says. Their ‘enlightened’ views supersede the Constitution.

Malcolm wrote:
Free speech has clear limits.

As for your other claims, I can’t speak to them as they are purely anecdotal.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 10:32 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
The myth of the “intolerant” left is a lie
I don’t have kids, but my friends do. What I’m hearing about their kids in their 20s-30s is that they are very self righteous and intolerant of anything less than the politically correct view.

Malcolm wrote:
Young adults tend to be self-righteous. On the other hand, if they are intolerant of racism and sexism, good for them


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:



Dan74 said:
What happened to this Malcolm?

malcolm.jpg

Malcolm wrote:
“Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.—In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”

Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies

“Justice does not require that men must stand idly by while others destroy the basis of their existence. Since it can never be to men’s advantage, from a general point of view, to forgo the right of self-protection, the only question, then, is whether the tolerant have a right to curb the intolerant when they are of no immediate danger to the equal liberties of others...while an intolerant sect does not itself have title to complain of intolerance, its freedom should be restricted only when the tolerant sincerely and with reason believe that their own security and that of the institutions of liberty are in danger. The tolerant should curb the intolerant only in this case.”

John Rawls, A Theory of Justice

We have arrived at this point in both Europe and the United States.

tobes said:
I don't this is true of Europe, but it clearly is for the US.

The issue is: those very same quotations/arguments can and are being used by the right. The implication of both sides thinking in this way can only be force, violence, and hard power to obtain the necessary victory. Civil war is certainly conceivable from here.

I think there is still a possibility to avoid this, and this hinges entirely on finding a way to discourse which loosens the deep desire to vanquish the other side; to find some way of listening - which does not entail agreeing.

Maybe Habermas is the relevant thinker here. With Kant standing behind all three.

Malcolm wrote:
The difference, Tobes, is that the politics of white grievance that are driving right politics in Europe and the US have always driven fascism. The myth of the “intolerant” left is a lie. So, I must reject your assertion that these arguments are being used by the right and left alike. They are not being used alike.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 5:43 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
DNS said:
He said he...now supports Trump in 2020.

Malcolm wrote:
I take it back, he is a goddamned fascist.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 5:41 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:



Dan74 said:
What happened to this Malcolm?

malcolm.jpg

Malcolm wrote:
“Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.—In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”

Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies

“Justice does not require that men must stand idly by while others destroy the basis of their existence. Since it can never be to men’s advantage, from a general point of view, to forgo the right of self-protection, the only question, then, is whether the tolerant have a right to curb the intolerant when they are of no immediate danger to the equal liberties of others...while an intolerant sect does not itself have title to complain of intolerance, its freedom should be restricted only when the tolerant sincerely and with reason believe that their own security and that of the institutions of liberty are in danger. The tolerant should curb the intolerant only in this case.”

John Rawls, A Theory of Justice

We have arrived at this point in both Europe and the United States.

Dan74 said:
Have we? And you speak confidently not just for the USA but for the whole of Europe? On what basis?

If one goes along with Popper, who was writing in the shadow of Nazism, wasn't he, he qualifies his statement heavily. If someone is prepared to discuss and debate, as long as they don't denounce all argument and just harangue, by Popper's standard, this isn't the time to suppress.

I have little experience and mixed feeling about Rogan. The last show I saw with him was when he had that conservative congressman with an eye-patch on. The guy blathered lies about Biden denouncing Trump for the ban on Chinese arrivals and arguing how much worse Biden would've been at handling the pandemic. Rogan did not challenge him. I thought that was appalling.. But I get it that he has good moments and is a lot less partisan and predictable than many other left-leaning hosts.

Malcolm wrote:
I didn’t say Rogan was a fascist. I said I was not interested in watching the fascists he hosts to drive clicks to his show, or anyone else for that matter. He is just someone who largely blabbers on the internet to make money.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 4:51 AM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:



Malcolm wrote:
Tolerance of fascists leads to fascist takeovers.

Dan74 said:
What happened to this Malcolm?

malcolm.jpg

Malcolm wrote:
“Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.—In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”

Karl Popper, The Open Society and Its Enemies

“Justice does not require that men must stand idly by while others destroy the basis of their existence. Since it can never be to men’s advantage, from a general point of view, to forgo the right of self-protection, the only question, then, is whether the tolerant have a right to curb the intolerant when they are of no immediate danger to the equal liberties of others...while an intolerant sect does not itself have title to complain of intolerance, its freedom should be restricted only when the tolerant sincerely and with reason believe that their own security and that of the institutions of liberty are in danger. The tolerant should curb the intolerant only in this case.”

John Rawls, A Theory of Justice

We have arrived at this point in both Europe and the United States.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 26th, 2020 at 4:20 AM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Buddha Nature and Dzogchen

Malcolm wrote:
There are some unforced errors in this presentation.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 10:41 PM
Title: Re: Receiving pointing out without knowing
Content:
florin said:
I am of the opinion that pointing out occasions should always be clearly indicated. If they are not, then we might have situations like these where there is doubt as to whether something happened or not.

Malcolm wrote:
Ditto.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 10:40 PM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Abstract by Alex Gardrner:
Tibetans received the teaching first in the eighth century with the translations of the sūtras, but it only began to have an impact in the eleventh century with the translation of the Ratnagotravibhāga. Conforming to neither Madhyamaka nor Yogācāra, buddha-nature has been incorporated somewhat uneasily into both, although as a positivistic theory of reality it has been more easily accepted by Yogācārin traditions.
https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Articles/A_History_of_Buddha-Nature_Theory:_The_Literature_and_Traditions
...and... Although over the centuries Chinese and Tibetan scholiasts have categorized the concept of buddha-nature as either Yogācāra or Madhyamaka, there is sufficient reason to believe that the tathāgatagarbha theory developed independently:

Malcolm wrote:
Ummm....I have been pointing this out for decades.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 9:11 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
tobes said:
I've only seen a bit of Rogan, but given where the US and many other places are right now, I think that this style of political discourse is tremendously important.

Listening across the spectrum. A pluralistic attitude. Getting people out of their algorithm bubbles, engaging with ideas they may not assent to. It's maybe the only way back.

Malcolm wrote:
Tolerance of fascists leads to fascist takeovers.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 8:45 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
tobes said:
I've only seen a bit of Rogan, but given where the US and many other places are right now, I think that this style of political discourse is tremendously important.

Listening across the spectrum. A pluralistic attitude. Getting people out of their algorithm bubbles, engaging with ideas they may not assent to. It's maybe the only way back.

Malcolm wrote:
It’s just more blah blah blah. Read newspapers of record. And, I have no interest in listening to fascists like Gavin McInnes. Life is too short. And yes, he interviews Bernie. But smart people already listen to Bernie, so no value add there.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 7:18 PM
Title: Re: Receiving pointing out without knowing
Content:
Daniel Kenny said:
“Real nature”?

Malcolm wrote:
One’s dharmata.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 6:59 PM
Title: Re: Interesting article on media backlash and Joe Rogan
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Joe Rogan doesn't matter at all. He’s just a dude making money off bored people on commuter trains. He wouldn’t exist with the iPhone.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 25th, 2020 at 9:23 AM
Title: Re: Work is Necessary! No, its not! Split from "I was a Trump Supporter"
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
3E67B557-0F4E-4014-8B78-732BC1F23D1F.png (541.68 KiB) Viewed 121 times


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at 8:33 PM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Therefore, it is said to be an object of faith for people like us, but not something we can ascertain directly. We can only infer it through reasoning.
I thought our good intentions and good sense were indicators of Buddha Nature’s presence in us. However it is on a greatly diminished scale and contaminated by defilements. It’s like a giant redwood can be traced back to a seedling.

That, and our not wanting to suffer.

Anyway i heard that somewhere.

Malcolm wrote:
That’s not how it is presented in the uttaratantra.YMMV.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at 7:55 PM
Title: Re: Work is Necessary! No, its not! Split from "I was a Trump Supporter"
Content:


Fa Dao said:
As to illegals...theyre illegals..they shouldnt be here anyways

Malcolm wrote:
Whose gonna pick your fruit and vegetables?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at 9:09 AM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
. Since Buddha Nature cannot be an object of consciousness, it is not subject to the same deconstructions as other objects.

Malcolm wrote:
Buddha nature is in fact an “object“ of a Buddha’s omniscience. It’s the dharmakaya “encased” in afflictions. This is why only Buddhas can perceive it, according to sutrayana. It cannot  be perceived even by tenth stage bodhisattvas, since they retain a diaphanous knowledge obscuration. Therefore, it is said to be an object of faith for people like us, but not something we can ascertain directly. We can only infer it through reasoning. Nevertheless, if that reasoning leads one to assert there is something permanent etc., this is automatically a wrong view since it is based on a concept, rather than gnosis.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 at 4:12 AM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
yeshegyaltsen said:
This link will bring to you to the home page https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Main_Page

Enjoy!

Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
Thanks.
*****
Everybody that visits the website should relax their dependence on Nagarjuna’s philosophy a bit. Trying to squeeze many interpretations of Buddha Nature into Madhyamaka is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

Malcolm wrote:
Longchenpa had no problem reconciling Prasanga Madhyamaka, which he maintains is the definitive view, with tathāgatagarbha sūtras, which he maintains are the definitive sūtras. Likewise Gorampa asserts that properly understood the tathāgatagarbha doctrine is definitive and does not contradict Madhyamaka, but wrongly understood leads to a wrong view. Thus, these are not examples of squeezing tathāgatagarbha into Madhyamaka, if anyone is doing any squeezing, it is the gzhan stong pas who try to squeeze Madhyamaka, Yogacāra and tathātagatagarbha all into the same box, without much success, frankly.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 21st, 2020 at 12:46 AM
Title: Re: I was a Trump supporter but am increasingly becoming progressive
Content:
Artziebetter1 said:
I disagree with abortion but that’s about it.I also think that viewing pornography should be banned.But I feel that progressive values are the only political values in common with a compassionate will towards sentient beings.feminism,veganism,animal rights,reparations for blacks,promoting organic food and a host of other leftist social issues are most in line with Buddhist teachings.

Malcolm wrote:
Congratulations. Just a couple of comments.


Artziebetter1 said:
We also need to ban guns as I think the crime rate is out of control in the USA.

Malcolm wrote:
While in principle we should severely restrict guns, but actually, the rate of crimes committed in the US has steadily been dropping for decades, some facts are in order:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/17/facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/

Crime is not nearly as bad as Faux News would have one believe.

Artziebetter1 said:
I also think that work can and should be abolished.I follow the anti work subreddit and am convinced this is possible.

Malcolm wrote:
Everyone would like to get rid of work, but I would settle for universal healthcare, education, and public transportation.

Artziebetter1 said:
I basically am undergoing a conversion and I think that we shouldn’t have borders between nations like we have now where we don’t allow refugees to come as they like.

Malcolm wrote:
Correct.

Artziebetter1 said:
I’m also very worried about the climate.I follow guy McPherson and though he is often dismissed as an alarmist he has good points.

Malcolm wrote:
Alarmist have their place.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 20th, 2020 at 3:04 AM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
In short, Brunnhölzl’s presentation of Buddha Nature as it existed in India was more or less compatible to Malcolm’s position.

Malcolm wrote:
Well, Karl is a good scholar, so that is not surprising.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 18th, 2020 at 4:27 AM
Title: Re: Qualifications for Wrathful Activity
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
zhing bcu - ten defects or the ten objects are: 1) The enemy of the Three Jewels, 2) the enemy of the master, 3) The samaya violator, 4) the perverted one, 6. the hostile one, 7. The samaya enemy with a wicked character, 8. The one arriving to the congregation, 9. the harmer of everyone, 10. the three lower realms. The enemies and obstructers are one's own and other's ignorance. In the liberation offering the ignorance is liberated into awareness [ry]

Cinnabar said:
This is what I don't get. I am a samaya violator.

Malcolm wrote:
No, this means someone who turns their back on the Dharma.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 18th, 2020 at 4:25 AM
Title: Re: Looking for suggested reading on privilege
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
A bunch of  basically well-off white people lecturing on another on how to be better anti-racists is an abject waste of time,

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed, the only way one can be antiracist is, well, be antiracist.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 at 11:27 PM
Title: Re: Why is everything which is a product - impermanent ?
Content:



Aemilius said:
The context is that the fact that composite things are impermanent is not a sufficient cause for their parts to be impermanent. I am not saying that the parts are permanent, I am saying that their possible impermanence does not follow from the fact that they are parts in a larger whole (which is impermanent).
"

Malcolm wrote:
Permanent parts cannot compose impermanent entity.

Aemilius said:
Why not ?

Malcolm wrote:
There is no way permanent entities can interact with impermanent entities, due to a simple difference in kind. Permanent entities doe not arise from causes and conditions. Impermanent entities arise from causes and conditions.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 at 9:23 PM
Title: Re: Tsadra Foundation website rollout on Buddha Nature
Content:
Schrödinger’s Yidam said:
I think a lot of DW proclamations of “no forM of Buddhism believes X” type of statements will be disproven.

Malcolm wrote:
Buddhist beliefs are N+1. The question is whether or not such beliefs are Buddhist in Name Only [BINO], for example, the Pudgalavādin position.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 15th, 2020 at 10:38 PM
Title: Re: Why is everything which is a product - impermanent ?
Content:



Aemilius said:
The context is that the fact that composite things are impermanent is not a sufficient cause for their parts to be impermanent. I am not saying that the parts are permanent, I am saying that their possible impermanence does not follow from the fact that they are parts in a larger whole (which is impermanent).
"

Malcolm wrote:
Permanent parts cannot compose impermanent entity. It follows then that any part of an impermanent entity must itself be impermanent because a permanent entity cannot have parts or be a part of any entity but itself.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 15th, 2020 at 9:54 PM
Title: Re: Qualifications for Wrathful Activity
Content:
Mantrik said:
Did people misread the post, or am I ?

Seeker12 said:
Either you misread it or I wrote it poorly, probably more the latter than the former.

My question was basically this - in order to use wrathful means to 'forcefully liberate' a being, I believe there are certain criteria in place that the being-to-be-liberated needs to meet. That is, you wouldn't 'forcefully liberate' a being just because you don't like the look of their face, or they smell funny, or even because they get angry at you in an unreasonable way. It's only in particularly severe cases that this would be done, and there are clarifying qualifications or.. like there is a list of criteria that would need to be met, more or less.

Malcolm wrote:
zhing bcu - ten defects or the ten objects are: 1) The enemy of the Three Jewels, 2) the enemy of the master, 3) The samaya violator, 4) the perverted one, 6. the hostile one, 7. The samaya enemy with a wicked character, 8. The one arriving to the congregation, 9. the harmer of everyone, 10. the three lower realms. The enemies and obstructers are one's own and other's ignorance. In the liberation offering the ignorance is liberated into awareness [ry]


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 12th, 2020 at 8:53 PM
Title: Re: "heart of enlightenment"
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
Twice in Khunu Lama's Praise of Bodhicitta - verses 29 & 271 - these words appear.

What do they refer to - buddhahood or great compassion or ???

Malcolm wrote:
It is a mistranslation of BodhimaNDa (byang chub snying po) which actually refers to the seat (maNDa) of awakening.

Nicholas Weeks said:
Thank you Malcolm
So bodhimanda means a place in awareness very close to buddhahood, for high bodhisattvas, 8-10 stages are seated there too, in addition to Buddhas?

Malcolm wrote:
It means may I never lose bodhicitta until I am seated on the seat of buddhahood. Only a buddha can sit on the bodhimanda.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 12th, 2020 at 9:28 AM
Title: Re: "heart of enlightenment"
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
Twice in Khunu Lama's Praise of Bodhicitta - verses 29 & 271 - these words appear.

What do they refer to - buddhahood or great compassion or ???

Malcolm wrote:
It is a mistranslation of BodhimaNDa (byang chub snying po) which actually refers to the seat (maNDa) of awakening.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 12th, 2020 at 7:36 AM
Title: Re: Prophecy of Padmasambhava in the Nirvana Sutra
Content:
pemachophel said:
The fact that tshog chang is amrit and no longer chang/alcohol is the reason why layperson's holding the five vows can drink the tshog chang without breaking their vow. I was taught this by a Khenchen, Konchog Gyamtsho.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, this one interpretation. There are others, for example. ChNN.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 11:13 PM
Title: Re: Prophecy of Padmasambhava in the Nirvana Sutra
Content:
pemachophel said:
Just as the tshog chang in a ganachakra is not alcohol.

Malcolm wrote:
That depends on whether you are Catholic Tibetan Buddhist, in which case you believe in actual transubstantiation, or a Protestant Tibetan Buddhist, in which case you believe they are merely symbols.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 10:42 PM
Title: Re: Prophecy of Padmasambhava in the Nirvana Sutra
Content:
Varis said:
That's true, but to kill is to kill.

Malcolm wrote:
Well, sometimes "killing" is "liberating."


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 9:03 PM
Title: Re: Prophecy of Padmasambhava in the Nirvana Sutra
Content:
Brahma said:
There's no way that someone like Padmasambhava would kill someone just to attain the path of Enlightenment, unless that person he were to "kill" in wrath was a mara or demon who needed to be slain, yet transcendentally not slain simultaniously, given a new life or sent to a place of punishment by Transcendental powers. With that being said. Padmasambhava or any Buddha would never kill an innocent person or even a very sinful person as a so-called provisory act, because that would become incredibly selfish and go against the precept, and set Him back, being impossible, as He has reached the state of no regression as a Buddha. A Buddha cannot commit any falsehood, no matter what.

Varis said:
Those motivated by bodhicitta sometimes kill, Ra Lotsawa killed a ton of people because they defamed Vajrabhairava.

Malcolm wrote:
He claimed to have done so through sorcery. There is no evidence he ever killed anyone by his own hand.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 8:25 PM
Title: Re: What exactly is systemic racism anyway?
Content:



Kim O'Hara said:
Here's a fresh starting point -

Malcolm wrote:
I don’t think there is much disagreement here about this point. And people who disagree that there is systemic racism under settler colonialism are just blind.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 8:13 PM
Title: Re: What exactly is systemic racism anyway?
Content:
Kim O'Hara said:
From the OP -
PeterC said:
... (The one thing I didn't like about it was it's use of the nonsensical term "latinx", which definitely is a politically correct millennial invention.  But that's a topic for another day.)

Kim O'Hara said:
So why is everyone wasting time on it here and now instead of talking about the thread topic, which is far more important???



Kim

Malcolm wrote:
Squirrel!


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 8:12 PM
Title: Re: What exactly is systemic racism anyway?
Content:



PeterC said:
If we're talking about collective plurals - the masculine gender is used in romance languages to refer to mixed gender or unspecified gender groups.

Malcolm wrote:
Correct, and therefore judged sexist and nonrepresentative.

PeterC said:
I’m just wondering at what point native English speakers decided it was up to them to correct aspects of other languages that they didn’t like.  That seems like a particularly futile exercise

Malcolm wrote:
The word seems to have emerged among Mexican American LGTBQ folks.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 7:46 PM
Title: Re: Practice advice please
Content:


Rangdrol01 said:
The Pali Canon is still the foundation of Buddhism

Malcolm wrote:
No. It is not.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 7:35 PM
Title: Re: What exactly is systemic racism anyway?
Content:


PeterC said:
he one thing I didn't like about it was it's use of the nonsensical term "latinx", which definitely is a politically correct millennial invention.  But that's a topic for another day.)

Malcolm wrote:
Latino actually only refers to men, just as Latina only refers to women. But in fact,  the term Latinx erasers the identity of the many hundreds if not thousands of groups of Native American peoples in “Latin America”.

PeterC said:
. So in social justice terms, it's essentially a white american imposition on non-white language and culture. Outside the distorted world of US social media and universities I seriously doubt that a measurable proportion of the half a billion or so spanish speakers will ever use the term.

Malcolm wrote:
How is Spanish a nonwhite language? Anyway, here is an article about the term, it’s possible origins, etc. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338551331_The_Complexity_of_the_x_in_Latinx_How_Latinxao_Students_Relate_to_Identify_With_and_Understand_the_Term_Latinx

For the TLDR crew, the author sums it up:
It is essential to recognize that the term Latinx is not commonly used among people of Latin American origin and diaspora, and that the term Latinx is caught between gender, sexual identity, ethnicity, and Spanish and English languages. Therefore, the term Latinx has now become ambiguous and convoluted in academic and activist spaces, subsuming various forms of social identities.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 7:24 PM
Title: Re: What exactly is systemic racism anyway?
Content:


PeterC said:
(The one thing I didn't like about it was it's use of the nonsensical term "latinx", which definitely is a politically correct millennial invention.  But that's a topic for another day.)

Malcolm wrote:
Latino actually only refers to men, just as Latina only refers to women. But in fact,  the term Latinx erasers the identity of the many hundreds if not thousands of groups of Native American peoples in “Latin America”.

PeterC said:
If we're talking about collective plurals - the masculine gender is used in romance languages to refer to mixed gender or unspecified gender groups.

Malcolm wrote:
Correct, and therefore judged sexist and nonrepresentative.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 11th, 2020 at 10:41 AM
Title: Re: What exactly is systemic racism anyway?
Content:


PeterC said:
(The one thing I didn't like about it was it's use of the nonsensical term "latinx", which definitely is a politically correct millennial invention.  But that's a topic for another day.)

Malcolm wrote:
Latino actually only refers to men, just as Latina only refers to women. But in fact,  the term Latinx erasers the identity of the many hundreds if not thousands of groups of Native American peoples in “Latin America”.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, September 10th, 2020 at 1:29 AM
Title: Re: Fire Destroys Most of Europe’s Largest Refugee Camp, on Greek Island of Lesbos
Content:
Queequeg said:
Tragic.

Malcolm wrote:
It's where Grigoris works.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 at 12:29 AM
Title: Re: Dharma Gems
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
Therefore, Ānanda, do not be judgmental regarding people. Do not pass judgment on people. Those who pass judgment on people harm themselves. I alone, or one like me, may pass judgment on people.
AN 6:44

Malcolm wrote:
Great advice, you should follow it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, September 7th, 2020 at 1:59 AM
Title: Re: The Great Abortion Debate
Content:
Brahma said:
it is possible to suffer greatly in the womb while being a fully Enlightened Buddha from a past life because of demons that desire to do evil to such a Buddha.

Malcolm wrote:
No. This is absolutely and completely incorrect.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, September 6th, 2020 at 2:48 AM
Title: Re: NMHRK is a mantra or not
Content:


Minobu said:
it's way more than praise...Gakki used to say it meant devotion...which is not the same as taking refuge in something.

Malcolm wrote:
More or less, devotion and refuge are the same thing.

Minobu said:
actually there is a subtle difference...devotion can be blind where as taking refuge is an act.

Malcolm wrote:
Refuge can also be blind, for example, taking sacred groves as a refuge and so on. So, there really is no difference.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 11:40 PM
Title: Re: NMHRK is a mantra or not
Content:


Minobu said:
it's way more than praise...Gakki used to say it meant devotion...which is not the same as taking refuge in something.

Malcolm wrote:
More or less, devotion and refuge are the same thing.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 11:39 PM
Title: Re: NMHRK is a mantra or not
Content:



PadmaVonSamba said:
Here, I would disagree with you, based on the position that something becomes mantra by way of function, rather than by way of containing some essential quality of “mantra ness ”.

Malcolm wrote:
There two kinds of mantras,  vidya mantras, I.e. knowledge mantras, and guhya mantras, or secret mantras. The former are used for developing prajna, the latter are for method. Other than these two, in Buddhism there are no other kinds of mantras. These mantras are taught in the tantras, and some sutras, where they are clearly defined as mantras, like “om gate gate...” etc. the latter mantra from the heart sutra is a vidya mantra.They all begin with om, and end with either svaha or hum, and sometimes phat. Nembutsu and Daimoku do not qualify as mantras. This has nothing to do with whether they are valid practices. These two practices are Buddha anusmrti, like “Namo Buddha” recitation in Theravada.

Minobu said:
Well my first mantra i received from TM was just , for me anyway, a two syllable word. no Om...

Malcolm wrote:
I specified Buddhism.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 10:29 PM
Title: Re: NMHRK is a mantra or not
Content:
mansurhirbi87 said:
I know it was posedt here long ago, but it's not clear to me yet

_/\_

Malcolm wrote:
It is not a mantra. There is a dharani in the Lotus Sutra, but chanting an homage to the Japanese title of a text does not qualify that homage as a mantra.

Mantras are something very precise and specific, defined in tantras.

PadmaVonSamba said:
Here, I would disagree with you, based on the position that something becomes mantra by way of function, rather than by way of containing some essential quality of “mantra ness ”.

Malcolm wrote:
There two kinds of mantras,  vidya mantras, I.e. knowledge mantras, and guhya mantras, or secret mantras. The former are used for developing prajna, the latter are for method. Other than these two, in Buddhism there are no other kinds of mantras. These mantras are taught in the tantras, and some sutras, where they are clearly defined as mantras, like “om gate gate...” etc. the latter mantra from the heart sutra is a vidya mantra.They all begin with om, and end with either svaha or hum, and sometimes phat. Nembutsu and Daimoku do not qualify as mantras. This has nothing to do with whether they are valid practices. These two practices are Buddha anusmrti, like “Namo Buddha” recitation in Theravada.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 8:32 PM
Title: Re: NMHRK is a mantra or not
Content:
mansurhirbi87 said:
I know it was posedt here long ago, but it's not clear to me yet

_/\_

Malcolm wrote:
It is not a mantra. There is a dharani in the Lotus Sutra, but chanting an homage to the Japanese title of a text does not qualify that homage as a mantra.

Mantras are something very precise and specific, defined in tantras.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 1:25 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:


PadmaVonSamba said:
Everybody is becoming asura realm.

Malcolm wrote:
The fact is that the colonization of the Americas took place on a foundation of European white supremacist ideology. In our country, genocide and slavery were the cause of all of the wealth we enjoy today. We've been the asuras all along. It does not take much imagination to understand this.

PadmaVonSamba said:
Well Duuuuuuuuuuhhhh!!!

Malcolm wrote:
Then don't be surprised when people burn shit down and act indignant about it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, September 5th, 2020 at 1:02 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:


PadmaVonSamba said:
Everybody is becoming asura realm.

Malcolm wrote:
The fact is that the colonization of the Americas took place on a foundation of European white supremacist ideology. In our country, genocide and slavery were the cause of all of the wealth we enjoy today. We've been the asuras all along. It does not take much imagination to understand this.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 10:50 PM
Title: Re: are Dang, rTsal, and Rol pa different "densities" of the same reality?
Content:
RiceCake said:
Hey all,

I've been getting more into dzogchen,  and now I'm coming across terms about the three kayas, as well as dang, tsal & rol pa.

I'm trying figure out the relationship between these things because.

Malcolm wrote:
Its not something one can figure out, it is something one must realize.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 10:49 PM
Title: Re: Why is everything which is a product - impermanent ?
Content:
samr said:
The reason I take issue with such an interpretation is because it seems to me to contradict reality (and other Buddhist ideas).

The mindstream is a product; it is created from causes and conditions.  As far as I understand, the substantial cause for the mind is the previous moment of mind; the conditions are the external phenomena (such as the things we see) and the body (such as the brain).

However, according to Mahayana Buddhism (and to reason), the mind is eternal. It is not subject to gross impermanence. It changes moment by moment, but remains eternally.

Malcolm wrote:
There is a difference between "eternal" and "permanent." Nirvana, for example, is permanent, but it is not eternal. Mind streams are permanent in the sense only that they are a ceaseless continuum of moments. Space is eternal, since it was never created. All eternal phenomena are permanent as well, but not all permanent phenomena are eternal.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 2:45 AM
Title: Re: 6 Reasons so Many Spiritual People Have Been Fooled by Qanon
Content:
TsultimNamdak said:
Interesting article on the intersecting worlds og spirituality and right wing conspiracy theories.

https://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/6-reasons-so-many-spiritual-people-have-been-fooled-by-qanon/

Malcolm wrote:
"Spiritual" does not mean anything. It's a pity if Buddhists believe any of this bullshit though.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 1:33 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
Unknown said:
The civil rights movement was not purely non-violent. Some of its bravest, most inspiring activists worked within the framework of disciplined non-violence. Many of its bravest, most inspiring activists did not. It took months of largely non-violent campaigning in Birmingham, Alabama to force JFK to give his speech calling for a civil rights act. But in the month before he did so, the campaign in Birmingham had become decidedly not-non-violent:

protesters had started fighting back against the police and Eugene “Bull” Conner, throwing rocks, and breaking windows. Robert Kennedy, afraid that the increasingly riotous atmosphere in Birmingham would spread across Alabama and the South, convinced John to deliver the famous speech and begin moving towards civil rights legislation.

This would have been impossible without the previous months of courageous and tireless non-violent activism. But it is also the emergent threat of rioting that forced JFK’s hand. Both Malcolm X and MLK had armed bodyguards. Throughout the civil rights era, massive non-violent civil disobedience campaigns were matched with massive riots. The most famous of these was the Watts rebellion of 1965 but they occurred in dozens of cities across the country. To argue that the movement achieved what it did in spite of rather than as a result of the mixture of not-non-violent and non-violent action is spurious at best. And, lest we forget, Martin Luther King Jr., the man who embodied the respectable non-violent voice that the white power structure claims they would listen to today, was murdered by that same white power structure anyway.

Though the Civil Rights movement won many battles, it lost the war. Mass incarceration, the fact that black wealth and black-white inequality are at the same place they were at the start of the civil rights movement, that many US cities are more segregated now than they were in the sixties: no matter what “colorblind” liberals would say, racial justice has not been won, white supremacy has not been overturned, racism is not over. In fact, anti-black racism remains the foundational organizing principle of this country. That is because this country is built on the right to property, and there is no property, no wealth in the USA without the exploitation, appropriation, murder, and enslavement of black people.

Malcolm wrote:
https://thenewinquiry.com/in-defense-of-looting/


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 1:29 AM
Title: Re: Trump.
Content:
Minobu said:
they hand you a Ballot slip with lil black circles and the names of who is running and with a pencil you place your X in the circle ..fold it once... hand it to the guy at the poll who then folds it again hands it back to you and you put it in the ballot box..

Bristollad said:
Why would you hand it to the guy at the poll?!  In the UK, they hand you your ballot paper, you go to a booth and cast your vote.  You then fold and put it in the ballot box.  The point is no-one knows how you've cast your vote unless you choose to tell them.  No-one inside the polling station is even allowed to ask who you might vote for.

Malcolm wrote:
In my town, you go to the polling place, our town hall. You check in, ask for your ballot, you go to a booth. You mark it, you check out, and feed your ballot into our 100+ year old ballot marking machine, which accepts your ballot by the poll worker pulling a handle on it, and when your ballot is pulled into the machine, the machine rings. Then you leave.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 1:21 AM
Title: Re: Why is everything which is a product - impermanent ?
Content:
samr said:
Hi,

It is often asserted that "sound is impermanent because it is a product".

The implication is that whatever is a product is impermanent.
Why is it true?

Logical reasonings, and references are both welcome.

P.S. I believe that the meaning here is subtle impermanence - change moment by moment.

Malcolm wrote:
Simply put, because all products are compounded phenomena.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 1:10 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
The person I mentioned is not imaginary, and is a victim of domestic violence, and that is her point of view. Within the context of violence against women, which of course is related to systematic sexism in society, is the context from which she takes that position.

Malcolm wrote:
Sure, and she could take matters into her own hands, and kill her abuser. But she would still be arrested, taken to trial, and a jury of her peers, ideally, would decide whether she was justified in killing her abuser. But the police ought not have the power to extrajudicially murder anyone. Of course, these days, the police always use the excuse of personal safety for unloading seven rounds into the back of anyone they deem a threat. And most cops who murder people are exonerated; and this means we are allowing a consistent percentage of sociopaths in uniforms to police our streets, often poorly trained, and often not very educated.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2020 at 12:12 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
If you are a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence, then if a person killed by police has a history of committing domestic violence, then you very well might applaud with the police action for reasons, emotional, rational, whatever, have nothing to do with the issue of race.

Malcolm wrote:
This is still extrajudicial violence, and deprives that man the right to defend himself in court. It really doesn't matter how the alleged victim feels.

Our system of justice depends on due process. Our system of democracy depends upon people's rights being protected from police violence, just as much it depends on people's rights to be protected from mob violence, such as the Tulsa and Rosewood massacres, and more recently, the public lynchings of Floyd and so many other black and brown people who are victims of racist violence, whether they are criminals or not, or the recent murder of the Trump supporter in downtown Portland, who clearly provoked his own death by spraying people with mace.

However, at the moment, law and order has been deliberately undermined by the "Law and Order" president, who himself has broken more laws than anyone can count. It is therefore not at all surprising that disenfranchised people are going to burn shit down since they have been targets of racial violence, economic violence, and state-mandated brutality in this country since 1619, and 1492, if we include native people.

Happy people do not destroy their own neighborhoods without cause or reason.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at 3:27 AM
Title: Re: Practicing dzogchen without tantric vows? Do i need them?
Content:


florin said:
Will that person have any samaya to uphold when not in the natural state ?

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, the 22 common root and branch samayas as well as the twenty-seven samayas specific to the great perfection.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at 3:23 AM
Title: Re: Practicing dzogchen without tantric vows? Do i need them?
Content:



florin said:
Right.
Then in the future, whenever you feel the need to interject, dont forget to remind us not to pay too much attention to your opinion.

Malcolm wrote:
This is unnecessarily antagonistic. I understand that you believe the kun byed rgyal po to be the be-all and end-all of Dzogchen, and that's fine; but my opinions are not derived from some theory of my own making. I base myself on my gurus and the authoritative texts of our tradition. Vimalamitra states in Buddhahood in This Life (pg. 128):
If it is asked from which tantra those empowerments with their samaya originate, the Self-Originated Perfection Tantra, Mind Mirror of Vajrasattva Tantra, Powerful Lion Tantra, and Self-Arisen Vidyā Tantra state [the empowerments with samayas] exist to be conferred. [52b] The Inlaid Jewels Tantra and so on state both positions: the empowerments with samayas exist and do not exist to be conferred. Though it is claimed that the Realms and Transformations of Sound Tantra, String of Pearls Tantra, and Heap of Jewels Tantra show that the empowerments with samayas do not exist to be conferred, all four are shown in the Realms and Transformations of Sound Tantra. Nevertheless, the very unelaborate empowerment that illustrates the symbol of the mind is therefore primarily explained. Further, the result of buddhahood arises without impediment from the conjunction of a qualified guru, a disciple who possesses samaya, and the blessings of the empowerment. For example, like grain ripening after a seed is planted in fertile soil, well-tended with water, and so on, the result ripens based on not damaging samaya after the empowerment has been conferred upon one’s pure continuum. It is not enough to leave grain such as barley and so on in their ripened state; they must be harvested. Like grain being suitable to eat after it has been harvested, the crop milled, and so on, having ripened that result of the mind, it is also necessary for the guru to correctly teach the instructions. If it is asked what the purpose is of ripening and liberation, just as ripened grain will be of no benefit if it is not harvested, even if one’s continuum is completely ripened through purification, it is wasted if one does not practice the liberating intimate instructions of the guru. That demonstrates the four empowerments that ripen the practitioner, the special support along with samaya.
Longchenpa points out in the Lama Yangthig: "Now then, although there is nothing to damage or transgress, the natural great perfection being beyond a boundary to protect, it is necessary for yogins on the path of practice to abide in commitments."

florin said:
The samayas of dzogchen are implicit in the natural state and can never be broken.

Malcolm wrote:
Those four samayas can never be broken because they relate to the basis (aka natural state), and not the path.

florin said:
And in my view when Longchenpa says to abide by commitments, given that he is addressing dzogchenpas, he appears to mean to rest in the state. Because by doing so everything is fulfilled.

Malcolm wrote:
No, that is not what he is saying at all. He is following what the seventeen tantras says about samayas, not what florin says about samayas, because we are not always resting in the state of the basis. When we are not, which is most of the time, then we have something to observe and protect while we are on the path. This text by Longchenpa does not even discussion the four great samayas, it discusses only the 27 samayas of body, voice, and mind, to which all Dzogchen practitioners are subject. He says in the same text:
As such, protect these twenty seven commitments well, and moreover, the appropriate secrets, entrusted, and the accepted secrets must necessarily be guarded like one’s eyes.
Thus to boast that Dzogchen practitioners have no samayas to protect is very damaging both to the person making the claim, and the others that follow their mistaken guidance.

florin said:
And if you think he means tantric commitments and as a side note, do you think he followed the commitments when he disparaged yantra yoga practitioners and yogis who practice with channels and winds while attempting to introduce the winds into the central channel?

Malcolm wrote:
Longchenpa never disparaged yantra, etc., he made fun of people who were obsessed with karmamudra practice, and stated it was for people with excess lust, who needed to get it out of their system before they were ready for serious practice.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at 3:13 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Your question presupposes that it is ok for the state to destroy property, but not civilians.

PadmaVonSamba said:
No, that’s a quality that you are imputing.
Would I protest Oil drilling by creating an oil spill?
No. But that doesn’t automatically mean I am okay with the construction of a pipeline by an oil company, simply because I wouldn’t cause an oil spill myself.
I already answered that neither is acceptable, but that it happens. In the case of the former, it is considered allowable and understandable, but in the case of the latter it is met with pearl-clutching indignant cries about lawlessness and anarchy. Hence, you keep asking the wrong question.
Wrong question or not, I thank you very much for  answering it, even if in a roundabout way, that you would regard it allowable and understandable for angry people to destroy your home (if their anger was over a just cause, I assume).
You are indeed both generous and noble, and with much less attachment than myself.
...

Malcolm wrote:
If one's home is destroyed, what can one do? Are you going to stand out in front of a crowd of protestors pointing weapons at them? Are you going to get into a pitched gun battle with the state, ala Ruby Ridge? In both cases the result will be the same. This is why your question is the wrong question. If my home were to be destroyed by either the state or a mob, whether I am "ok" with it or not is irrelevant, my home is destroyed in either instance. My being upset about it isn't going to change the outcome one way or another. It's like asking whether or not someone is ok with the fact that that they lost their house in Napa. Their house is gone, no matter how they feel about it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 11:19 PM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:


PadmaVonSamba said:
I’m not disagreeing with MLK in context.
But I still want to know if destroying property also happened include your house, if you’d be okay with that.
Otherwise, it’s all hypothetical bullshit.

Malcolm wrote:
You are asking me the wrong question, as I keep telling you.

PadmaVonSamba said:
Sorry, I didn’t realize you were homeless.

Malcolm wrote:
Your question presupposes that it is ok for the state to destroy property, but not civilians. I already answered that neither is acceptable, but that it happens. In the case of the former, it is considered allowable and understandable, but in the case of the latter it is met with pearl-clutching indignant cries about lawlessness and anarchy. Hence, you keep asking the wrong question.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 10:21 PM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:


PadmaVonSamba said:
I’m not disagreeing with MLK in context.
But I still want to know if destroying property also happened include your house, if you’d be okay with that.
Otherwise, it’s all hypothetical bullshit.

Malcolm wrote:
You are asking me the wrong question, as I keep telling you.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 9:51 PM
Title: Re: Practicing dzogchen without tantric vows? Do i need them?
Content:



florin said:
I was under the impression that the 17 tantras are a much later development than originally thought according to some more recent scholarship.
If i recall correctly even you yourself at one point expressed doubts with regards to their supposed origins.

Malcolm wrote:
Our teacher considered the sgra thal gyur to be the most important of these tantras. I dont’t pay much heed to opinions of western scholars, they warp people’s views of our tradition, and the Jaxes of the world follow them, misleading themselves and taking others with them.

florin said:
Right.
Then in the future, whenever you feel the need to interject, dont forget to remind us not to pay too much attention to your opinion.

Malcolm wrote:
This is unnecessarily antagonistic. I understand that you believe the kun byed rgyal po to be the be-all and end-all of Dzogchen, and that's fine; but my opinions are not derived from some theory of my own making. I base myself on my gurus and the authoritative texts of our tradition. Vimalamitra states in Buddhahood in This Life (pg. 128):
If it is asked from which tantra those empowerments with their samaya originate, the Self-Originated Perfection Tantra, Mind Mirror of Vajrasattva Tantra, Powerful Lion Tantra, and Self-Arisen Vidyā Tantra state [the empowerments with samayas] exist to be conferred. [52b] The Inlaid Jewels Tantra and so on state both positions: the empowerments with samayas exist and do not exist to be conferred. Though it is claimed that the Realms and Transformations of Sound Tantra, String of Pearls Tantra, and Heap of Jewels Tantra show that the empowerments with samayas do not exist to be conferred, all four are shown in the Realms and Transformations of Sound Tantra. Nevertheless, the very unelaborate empowerment that illustrates the symbol of the mind is therefore primarily explained. Further, the result of buddhahood arises without impediment from the conjunction of a qualified guru, a disciple who possesses samaya, and the blessings of the empowerment. For example, like grain ripening after a seed is planted in fertile soil, well-tended with water, and so on, the result ripens based on not damaging samaya after the empowerment has been conferred upon one’s pure continuum. It is not enough to leave grain such as barley and so on in their ripened state; they must be harvested. Like grain being suitable to eat after it has been harvested, the crop milled, and so on, having ripened that result of the mind, it is also necessary for the guru to correctly teach the instructions. If it is asked what the purpose is of ripening and liberation, just as ripened grain will be of no benefit if it is not harvested, even if one’s continuum is completely ripened through purification, it is wasted if one does not practice the liberating intimate instructions of the guru. That demonstrates the four empowerments that ripen the practitioner, the special support along with samaya.
Longchenpa points out in the Lama Yangthig: "Now then, although there is nothing to damage or transgress, the natural great perfection being beyond a boundary to protect, it is necessary for yogins on the path of practice to abide in commitments."


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 8:52 PM
Title: Re: Practicing dzogchen without tantric vows? Do i need them?
Content:



florin said:
Actually dzogchen transcends the 10 natures of tantra.

Malcolm wrote:
The nature of the mind does, but not the mind. It’s important to make a distinction between these two. When we see the ten principles of tantra being rejected in dzogcheb texts, they being rejected from the point of view of the basis, but not necessarily the path, which is why the Rigpa rangshar, the sgra thal gyur, and other tantras teach the necessity of empowerment, samaya, mandalas, and so on. The root tantra of dzogchen is not the kun byed rgyal po, but rather, the sgra thal gyur.

florin said:
I was under the impression that the 17 tantras are a much later development than originally thought according to some more recent scholarship.
If i recall correctly even you yourself at one point expressed doubts with regards to their supposed origins.

Malcolm wrote:
Our teacher considered the sgra thal gyur to be the most important of these tantras. I dont’t pay much heed to opinions of western scholars, they warp people’s views of our tradition, and the Jaxes of the world follow them, misleading themselves and taking others with them.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 4:30 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:



PadmaVonSamba said:
Most of the protesters are peaceful. But there’s no responsible organizational leadership that can claim to represent that, that can denounce non-peaceful demo crashes as agent provocateurs, testosterone-driven Che Guevara wannabes, and RCP-type adventurists who think the American public is on the brink of Proletarian revolution.

Malcolm wrote:
You means in the same way MLK did NOT denounce rioters?

PadmaVonSamba said:
I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.

Malcolm wrote:
Seems MLK was spot on then, and he is spot on now. #BLM


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 4:27 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:



PadmaVonSamba said:
So, you agree then, if I destroy Malcolm’s house, say, to protest offshore drilling for oil, or police brutality, or perhaps factor farming, or U.S. military actions,  that makes complete sense, and you are okay with that.

Malcolm wrote:
You missed the point. We regularly excuse the actions of our government officials when they involve damaging property and life, but clutch our pearls when civilians get angry and start burning shit. I didn't indicate that either was acceptable. Merely that one is tolerated, the other is not.

PadmaVonSamba said:
No, I totally get that. I’m not that dense. And I’ve been involved fighting against both overt racism and systematic racism for nearly 50 years. I get the argument.
My question is whether it’s also okay to destroy your house as part of the protesting Process.
A simple yes or no will suffice.

Malcolm wrote:
The question is irrelevant to the discussion.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 2:18 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
If someone is justifiably angry at “the system”
and as an expression of protest, they burn down your house and destroy everything you have, you’re okay with that, as long as nobody got hurt.

Johnny Dangerous said:
This isn't what's happening though. Relatively small groups of people are committing acts like these against the backdrop of a large protest movement, most of the participants in said movement aren't destroying proptery. So, it may be wrong, but constantly talking about that - instead of what's being protested- is a problem.

It's a problem precisely because the people who don't want the circumstances being protested to change would very much like for you to focus on property destruction, rather than the elephant in the room.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, represented above byu MLK as the personification of #BLM.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2020 at 2:17 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen without deity yoga/two stages?
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
But generally, if you want mundane siddhis, then you need to practice some creation stage practice, like Tara, Kilaya, Amitayus, etc. depending on one needs.

yagmort said:
no, not really, i m not after mundane siddhis honestly. all i aspire is to see true nature of things, but that's a common. i was just curious if there is any particular dzogchen cycle were you refering to, as all major cycles i know about - longchen nyingtig, chetsün nyingthig, chokling tersar, dudjom tersar, yangti nagpo, rigdzin sögdrup.. - all have deity sadhanas as part of their paths. so when you say "dzogchen community" am i correct assuming you talk about Namkhai Norbu's approach to dzogchen rather than any specific cycle?

Malcolm wrote:
Sadhanas can be a part of the path, as a secondary practice. Same is true in the DC. But it is not the main point.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 11:55 PM
Title: Re: Dudjom Drollo
Content:
merilingpa said:
Hi!
I am kind of confused over Drollo in the Dudjom tradition.
There is the "Dudjom Traktung Pema Sokdrub" and also "Düddul Wangdrak Dorje Drolö".
As I understand it, they were both revealed by Dudjom Rinpoche.
Are there 2 cycles or are there only different sadhanas ?
Are there 2 different empowerments ?
Any more information on this would be most appreciated.
Thank you !

Malcolm wrote:
Outer and inner practices, same cycle.

treehuggingoctopus said:
Malcolm, isn't Pema Sokdrub the inner one?

Does their belonging to the same cycle mean that receiving one Dudjom Tersar Drollo wang lets one practice either (provided one has the lung)?

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, Pema Srogdrup is the inner one, more anuyoga. Duddul Wangdrak is more mahayoga.

There are two separate empowerments, but they are frequently combined into one. I have received this that way twice now. They both come from the same cycle. Then there is the pure vision profound Hūṃ practice...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 11:53 PM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
If someone is justifiably angry at “the system”
and as an expression of protest, they burn down your house and destroy everything you have, you’re okay with that, as long as nobody got hurt.

Malcolm wrote:
In military jargon, it’s called “collateral damage,” and guess what, when the police destroy your property, you have to be ok with it, even if someone gets hurt, just like you have to be ok with it when a LOE “chokes” and kills someone. After all, under Trump, policing is kinda like golf, only with guns.

PadmaVonSamba said:
So, you agree then, if I destroy Malcolm’s house, say, to protest offshore drilling for oil, or police brutality, or perhaps factor farming, or U.S. military actions,  that makes complete sense, and you are okay with that.

Malcolm wrote:
You missed the point. We regularly excuse the actions of our government officials when they involve damaging property and life, but clutch our pearls when civilians get angry and start burning shit. I didn't indicate that either was acceptable. Merely that one is tolerated, the other is not.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 11:51 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen without deity yoga/two stages?
Content:
yagmort said:
thanks

Malcolm wrote:
But generally, if you want mundane siddhis, then you need to practice some creation stage practice, like Tara, Kilaya, Amitayus, etc. depending on one needs.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 9:29 PM
Title: Re: Vajrakilaya Empowerment
Content:
namtose said:
Jigme Lingpa was born in 1730. His phurba practice is part of the Longchen Nyingthig terma.

Malcolm wrote:
Jigling rgyud lugs phurba is part of Kama.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 9:26 PM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
If someone is justifiably angry at “the system”
and as an expression of protest, they burn down your house and destroy everything you have, you’re okay with that, as long as nobody got hurt.

Malcolm wrote:
In military jargon, it’s called “collateral damage,” and guess what, when the police destroy your property, you have to be ok with it, even if someone gets hurt, just like you have to be ok with it when a LOE “chokes” and kills someone. After all, under Trump, policing is kinda like golf, only with guns.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 9:21 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen without deity yoga/two stages?
Content:
yagmort said:
these are 2 quotes by Malcolm Smith taken from 2 topics, both locked.


Malcolm wrote:
...It may be the case that in modern Tibetan Buddhism Dzogchen has become mixed with anuyoga teachings, especially at the level of empowerments. For example, the Longchen Nyinthig is mostly deity practices. The Dzogchen section of it is very short, only a few very short texts (Yeshe Lama is not part of the Longchen Nyinthig, though it is included in the supporting text material)...
...
...We are talking about Dzogchen as it is presented within the Dzogchen tantras themselves and their related instructions such as the Vima Nyinthig, which have zero deity yoga practices as part of the path...

yagmort said:
taken from https://dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?t=21990&start=160



Malcolm wrote:
...Finally, just because some sadhana has really pretty Dzogchen words like "ka dag," "lhun grub," etc., does not mean that sadhana actually belongs to Dzogchen teachings. A case in point is the Chetsun Nyingthig. The Chetsun Nyingthig's actual Dzogchen instructions are included only in a very short section at the very end of the root text. The rest of it is devoted to discussing the empowerment, the ngondro practice, the sadhana of Chetsun, and so on. It is a wonderful practice, excellent in every way. But when you are practicing some sadhana reciting mantras, you are practicing the two stages, not Dzogchen. This does not mean the Chetsun Nyinthig sucks, does not have blessings (whatever that means) and so on. It means that in that system, when you have finished the two stages connected with the practice of Chetsun, then you move on to actual Dzogchen preliminaries and the main practice of Dzogchen. The main emphasis of the Chetsun Nyingthig is the Guru Yoga of Vimalamitra. It is very profound. But the main practice of Dzogchen is more profound, as Vimalamitra would agree...
...
...Some people like to follow the modern Nyingma system. I prefer to follow Garab Dorje. We are all free to do as we like...

yagmort said:
taken from https://dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?start=180&t=25216&sid=fde6e99aa84851af8af8312313f85fdd



what i am curious about is are there any Dzogchen lineages/cycles which reflect Malcolm's POV? honestly i thought there are no cycles nowadays which has little to no deity yoga. i mean even if one would like to follow such an approach it's not possible to practice say Vima Nyingthig?

Malcolm wrote:
Dzogchen Community.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 8:02 PM
Title: Re: Dudjom Drollo
Content:
merilingpa said:
Hi!
I am kind of confused over Drollo in the Dudjom tradition.
There is the "Dudjom Traktung Pema Sokdrub" and also "Düddul Wangdrak Dorje Drolö".
As I understand it, they were both revealed by Dudjom Rinpoche.
Are there 2 cycles or are there only different sadhanas ?
Are there 2 different empowerments ?
Any more information on this would be most appreciated.
Thank you !

Malcolm wrote:
Outer and inner practices, same cycle.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 8:24 AM
Title: CDC update Is fake news
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
CDC has not reduced the death count related to COVID-19
Some widely shared social media posts suggest the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “backpedaled” on the number of deaths caused by COVID-19, but an AP Fact Check finds that’s not true

Read in ABC News: https://apple.news/AwIZXaFzyR0q28M4A9ggMpQ


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 at 1:44 AM
Title: Re: CDC update
Content:



Dan74 said:
When those shocking numbers were coming out of Italy, we did see that the vast majority were elderly with preexisting conditions. The early 3%'-5% mortality estimates were way too high too. Looks like it's under 0.5%. Still high and very contagious but not the disaster we initially feared.

Malcolm wrote:
It depends where one is. In Mexico, for example the covid case mortality rate is 10+%. In the US it is 2.1%. In the UK, 12.4 percent. In Italy, 13.2%.

Figures taken from here. The CDC is not a reliable source of information. It has been compromised by radical Christians.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 31st, 2020 at 8:18 PM
Title: Re: Practicing dzogchen without tantric vows? Do i need them?
Content:
Danny said:
You don’t need tantric vows to practice dzogchen. What you need is direct introduction from a teacher that meets all the qualifications, I.e. a teacher that teaches in perfect harmony with Garab Dorjes three statements.
Then later if your interested, you can discover the differences between initiation, empowerment, blessings, vows, samayas etc of the tantric system.

heart said:
Actually there are samayas in Dzogchen. https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Samaya

/magnus

florin said:
Actually dzogchen transcends the 10 natures of tantra.

Malcolm wrote:
The nature of the mind does, but not the mind. It’s important to make a distinction between these two. When we see the ten principles of tantra being rejected in dzogcheb texts, they being rejected from the point of view of the basis, but not necessarily the path, which is why the Rigpa rangshar, the sgra thal gyur, and other tantras teach the necessity of empowerment, samaya, mandalas, and so on. The root tantra of dzogchen is not the kun byed rgyal po, but rather, the sgra thal gyur.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 31st, 2020 at 7:32 AM
Title: Re: The Woke Supremacy
Content:
Matt J said:
Now the right wingers are regularly shooting BLM protestors. So much for the antifa conspiracy.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/us/portland-trump-rally-shooting.html

Malcolm wrote:
This was  Trump supporter that was shot. But not at a protest.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 31st, 2020 at 2:10 AM
Title: Re: The Dharmadatu Palace of Omin
Content:
JimO said:
Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help me. I have a small question about the Guru Yoga portion of the Ngondro text "The Chariot that takes the Path of the Realised".

On page 22b of my (Samye Ling) translation, it says:
From the dharmadatu palace of Omin, the one who is the very essence of the buddhas of the three times shows me clearly that my mind is the dharmakaya...
Can anyone tell me which buddha / diety this refers to? I have done some Google searches but nothing enlightening comes up!

Jim.

Malcolm wrote:
Buddha Vajradhara, Omin is phonetic rendering of "og min, which is a translation of Akaniṣṭha, which means "nothing higher" and refers to the buddhafield of the Sambhogakāya. Sometimes, Akaniṣṭha is treated as the dharmakāya buddhafield.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 31st, 2020 at 12:41 AM
Title: Re: Greetings and Request for Guidance
Content:


cd347 said:
Are you suggesting that it's impossible to recognise the primordial state without assistance?

Malcolm wrote:
Yes. In fact, the reason we are in samsara now is that we did not recognize the primordial state, the ye gzhi, aka the primordial basis, to begin with. If we have not recognized it on our own yet, how are we going to recognize it now? Dzogchen tantras are univocal in asserting that one must rely in a guru, and without one, we cannot recognize our own basis independently. There is no such thing as a self-arising Dzogchen teacher, other than Garab Dorje, and he was an emanation of the Buddha.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 5:07 AM
Title: Re: Practicing dzogchen without tantric vows? Do i need them?
Content:
Danny said:
You don’t need tantric vows to practice dzogchen. What you need is direct introduction from a teacher that meets all the qualifications, I.e. a teacher that teaches in perfect harmony with Garab Dorjes three statements.
Then later if your interested, you can discover the differences between initiation, empowerment, blessings, vows, samayas etc of the tantric system.

heart said:
Actually there are samayas in Dzogchen. https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Samaya

/magnus

Malcolm wrote:
Sort of, yes. But they all basically boil down to: don't be a dick.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 5:05 AM
Title: Re: Pegyal Lingpa's Seven-line Prayer Sadhana
Content:
pemachophel said:
I am looking for a digital version of Pegyal Lingpa's Seven-line Prayer sadhana. I received the lung from Gochen Tulku Sang-ngak Rinpoche. My regular email address mailto:13pemachophel@gmail.com if you'd be willing to share it with me.

Thanks

Malcolm wrote:
sent

Sherab Rigdrol said:
Malcolm, could you please send me a copy as well?  Thank you!

Malcolm wrote:
http://tbrc.org/link?RID=W20869

http://tbrc.org/link?RID=O2DB72891%7CO2DB728912DB73350$W20869


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 4:21 AM
Title: Re: Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Soho Forum Debate
Content:
Matt J said:
I think this is the point everyone misses. In theory, this should be the key that unites not only the left, but the left and right (since most people, period, are not oligarchs). But the oligarchs will never let that happen, will they? If anything, the rich just keep getting richer.

Queequeg said:
Right now, power lies in the oligarchs. That needs to shift. That will require a broad agenda that must be implemented democratically.

Malcolm wrote:
Libertarianism is ideology of the oligarchs. That's why the Kochs, people like Theil and Musk, etc., are all fans of it. This is why the right has sold libertarianism to the American working class—it keeps them reach and the working class in blinkers.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 4:18 AM
Title: Re: The Great Abortion Debate
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
The effect of killing a future human stops their chances to improve merit or good karma.  Who knows how many sages or virtuous people are not here because of the butchery.  If bad folk are trying to be born, then their chance for lessening their bad karma is also stopped.

Malcolm wrote:
Being aborted, like being murdered, can be a result of karma one committed in a past life. For example, your karmavipaka sucks so bad you were conceived in the womb of a women who does not want to be pregnant with you. There are no "innocents" in the web of samsara. The idea that fetuses are "innocent" is an entirely Christian idea, based on creationist ideology.

Also, since all sentient beings are predicted to full buddhahood, being aborted now and again is hardly going impeded the force of the Buddha's prediction in this respect. After all, since there is no beginning to samsara, we've all been aborted countless times, and our mind streams still keep coming back for more. Of course, if one is a Christian, its a one shot deal, so more serious for then, because somehow their pitiless god does not automatically conduct aborted souls to heaven.

Nicholas Weeks said:
So is human intervention required to fulfill bad karma?  I think not.  My mother lost a child from a natural (or karmic if you wish) miscarriage.

Malcolm wrote:
Sometimes one's negative karma results in one being reborn in a place where one's life will be taken in an untimely way: there are three causes of death: lack of merit, exhaustion of life force, and karmavipaka, such as being murdered.

One can reasonably assume that aborted human fetuses either lack the merit to take birth in a suitable womb or that their karmavipaka causes them to meet death before they have been born at the hands of abortionist.

After all, karma is unerring, and killing human beings is killing human beings. But it does not stop the police from killing suspects, criminals from killing the police, nor soldiers from shooting each other, etc., all causes and results of karma.

You know what they say: Karma's a bitch.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 4:12 AM
Title: Re: Pegyal Lingpa's Seven-line Prayer Sadhana
Content:
pemachophel said:
I am looking for a digital version of Pegyal Lingpa's Seven-line Prayer sadhana. I received the lung from Gochen Tulku Sang-ngak Rinpoche. My regular email address mailto:13pemachophel@gmail.com if you'd be willing to share it with me.

Thanks

Malcolm wrote:
sent


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 3:55 AM
Title: Re: Capitalism vs. Socialism: A Soho Forum Debate
Content:
Fa Dao said:
So the one dude was actually a libertarian? Hmm..interesting...I kinda liked the way he presented things

Malcolm wrote:
Libertarianism has it roots in the philosophy of a guy named John C. Calhoun.

Fa Dao said:
Hang around libertarians long enough and eventually one of them will start talking about "public choice theory" (I last heard it raised by a prominent libertarian scholar to justify corporations imposing adhesion contracts on their customers to force them to buy expensive consumables and service). It's a kind of catch-all theory that can handwave away any negative outcome from unregulated capitalism, the "freedom" of which is key to a kind of libertarian thought, above freedoms like "the freedom not to starve to death".

The theory has its origin in John C. Calhoun, a proponent of slavery, and James M. Buchanan, an opponent of the civil rights movement. Both used the language of oppression and freedom to defend elitism, characterizing any kind of redistributive movement as a form of oppressive control exercised by the majority (poor people, which, in America, overwhelmingly means racialized people) against a downtrodden, endangered minority (the one percent, again, overwhelmingly white people).

The connection between the libertarian right and white supremacy is forcefully made in Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America, Nancy MacLean's 2017 book, which attracted such a vitriolic response from the genteel face of oligarch-apologism that it bears scrutiny for that fact alone — anything that pricks those consciences so thoroughly must be pretty interesting!

Malcolm wrote:
https://boingboing.net/2017/12/10/freedom-is-slavery.html

And:
In marking Calhoun’s political philosophy as the crucial antecedent of public choice theory, Tabarrok and Cowen unwittingly confirmed what critics have long maintained: libertarianism is a political philosophy shot through with white supremacy. Public choice theory, a technical language nominally about human behavior and incentives, helps ensure that blacks remain shackled.
https://thebaffler.com/salvos/master-class-on-the-make-hartman

And because inevitably someone will accuse Nancy MacLean of being a bad historian:

https://medium.com/@jpjjr1961/was-james-buchanan-a-racist-libertarians-and-historical-research-60997da93834

Fa Dao said:
Today’s libertarians face a similar problem that Morley faced half a decade ago. Morley obviously adored Calhoun’s anti-democratic political philosophy, but obviously could not defend slavery; thus slavery simply disappears as a topic in his treatment of Calhoun’s thought. Today’s libertarians admire Calhoun and Buchanan, but they cannot possibly admit that those figures were involved in racial segregation; thus segregation disappears as a topic. We saw the same thing with Constitutional originalists: That the theory was used for decades to defend racial segregation is simply ignored. MacLean has shown how Buchanan did work in an alliance with segregationists. Public choice theorists must face up to this fact as a flaw in their system of thought or admit that they have no answer to her case. They have not yet done so.

Malcolm wrote:
And:
When making your case, libertarians, please spare us the Freidmanesque “It would have worked if they hadn’t given up!” None of that counterfactual stuff. We want a good, positive, libertarian-approved history of massive resistance that places the libertarians on the side of racial justice. Good luck.
https://altrightorigins.com/2017/08/11/arguing-with-libertarians/

And:
Rand’s essay typifies two problems we have encountered before in this space. First, that the thing that united (and unites) right wing thinking is its commitment to inegalitarianism: right wing thought simply rejects equality as an important value or embraces inequality as a positive good. Second, that the libertarian reduction of all rights to property rights makes them unable to adequately respond to white supremacy. Both of these aspects of Rand’s thinking are evident in her essay and in some of her subsequent writings.
https://altrightorigins.com/2018/01/03/ayn-rand-on-racism/#more-8740


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 30th, 2020 at 3:33 AM
Title: Re: The Great Abortion Debate
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
The effect of killing a future human stops their chances to improve merit or good karma.  Who knows how many sages or virtuous people are not here because of the butchery.  If bad folk are trying to be born, then their chance for lessening their bad karma is also stopped.

Malcolm wrote:
Being aborted, like being murdered, can be a result of karma one committed in a past life. For example, your karmavipaka sucks so bad you were conceived in the womb of a women who does not want to be pregnant with you. There are no "innocents" in the web of samsara. The idea that fetuses are "innocent" is an entirely Christian idea, based on creationist ideology.

Also, since all sentient beings are predicted to full buddhahood, being aborted now and again is hardly going impeded the force of the Buddha's prediction in this respect. After all, since there is no beginning to samsara, we've all been aborted countless times, and our mind streams still keep coming back for more. Of course, if one is a Christian, its a one shot deal, so more serious for then, because somehow their pitiless god does not automatically conduct aborted souls to heaven.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 9:52 PM
Title: Re: The Great Abortion Debate
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
A bhikṣu etc., only commits parajika, a complete defeat, if he causes an abortion after the 19th week. Prior to that, causing an abortion is not considered killing a human being.

Presto Kensho said:
Please cite where that can be found in the Vinaya.

Malcolm wrote:
I spoke in error. I conflated the issue with the fact that it is held in Tibetan and Ayurveda, medicine that fetuses suffer no pain prior to 19 weeks since their sense organs are not formed. In the Sarvāstivadin Vinaya, the nineteenth week is when a fetus is not longer called a "human embryo" and now termed a "human." Bhikṣus, etc., who encourage abortions do suffer monastic defeats. Unlike some people around here, when I make a mistake, I admit it.

All of the arguments against abortion hinge on religious beliefs.
According to medical and biological science, when does life begin?
Here is a summary of various views. In short, there is no consensus:

https://science.jburroughs.org/mbahe/BioEthics/Articles/Whendoeshumanlifebegin.pdf
Therefore, they violate the establishment clause of the first amendment.
If the government should stay out of abortion, why should there be public funding of abortion?
In the United States, abortion is a legal medical procedure, and women who seek it should not be be penalized by being refused financial relief if they are unable to afford the procedure.

Ideally, people should try to avoid having abortions. Realistically, unwanted pregnancies will happen. It is far better for abortions to be safe and legal, than for them to be illegal, forcing women to resort to unsafe measures to end pregnancies. I personally do not favor abortion; however, I am totally against legislating religious principles into law.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 8:31 PM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #3
Content:
Fortyeightvows said:
21% of the people who did the poll prefer Trump...
That’s a pretty sizable minority

Malcolm wrote:
I wonder how many of the people who voted here for Trump actually live under the shitshow called the “Trump Administration.” Not many, I’d wager.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 8:20 PM
Title: Re: Why am I a socialist
Content:



Danny said:
Power is a means not an end.

Malcolm wrote:
Sadly, for most it is an end, not a means.

Danny said:
True,
Power only respects power.

Malcolm wrote:
The problem is that, as Aryadeva points, kings are fools because they believe themselves to be the source of their power.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 7:54 PM
Title: Re: Why am I a socialist
Content:
Kim O'Hara said:
The only other alternative I can think of is a benevolent dictatorship - whether of a person, a committee, or a computer - and then you have the well-known difficulty of making sure it remains benevolent.


Kim


PeterC said:
There’s nothing magical about democracy, dictatorship, monarchy or any other political system. They’re simply tools. They can be used and designed well, badly, skilfully or incompetently.  Though bad design and incompetent use seem to be the norm these days.

Danny said:
Power is a means not an end.

Malcolm wrote:
Sadly, for most it is an end, not a means.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 9:57 AM
Title: Re: Why am I a socialist
Content:
PeterC said:
...evidence-based government.

Malcolm wrote:
Something we are sorely in need of.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 9:56 AM
Title: Re: Thoughts from a social philosopher
Content:
shaunc said:
I'm a union member and have been since I started working at 15 years old. At one job I had I was the union delegate about 20 years ago. There is a problem with young people not wanting to be members mainly because they think why should I pay $20/week to the union when the guys not paying get exactly the same wages and benefits. Completely oblivious to the fact that it was the union that forced the hand of the employer to pay those wages and benefits originally.
Even in my own family I had to have this argument with my oldest son a few years ago. He said if I ever get a problem I'll join then. I told him that they may or may not take him on then, after all, you can't insure your car after you've had an accident.

Malcolm wrote:
Isn't socialism great!

shaunc said:
I'd hardly call myself a socialist. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the employer profiting off their employees, after all they're the ones who took the gamble on starting the business, most likely borrowed money from the bank and had to put their home on the line to get it.
Not all business ventures are successful. My wife runs a small business and believe me it's not all roses

Malcolm wrote:
The fact that you are in a Union is one of the great successes of socialism, along with weekends, health care, etc.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 6:48 AM
Title: Re: Thoughts from a social philosopher
Content:
shaunc said:
I'm a union member and have been since I started working at 15 years old. At one job I had I was the union delegate about 20 years ago. There is a problem with young people not wanting to be members mainly because they think why should I pay $20/week to the union when the guys not paying get exactly the same wages and benefits. Completely oblivious to the fact that it was the union that forced the hand of the employer to pay those wages and benefits originally.
Even in my own family I had to have this argument with my oldest son a few years ago. He said if I ever get a problem I'll join then. I told him that they may or may not take him on then, after all, you can't insure your car after you've had an accident.

Malcolm wrote:
Isn't socialism great!


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 3:50 AM
Title: Re: Trump.
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/blueleaks-law-enforcement-blm/


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 3:09 AM
Title: Re: Trump.
Content:
gendun said:
The gaps is narrowing.
He’s going to win again isn’t he?

Malcolm wrote:
Only if people do not get out and vote.

Minobu said:
but the numbers of the populist movement are insane...the Dems have to appeal to these people somehow , even a little would help.

you cannot rely on the intelligent crowd of America ...there are only so many people that were in the peace corp ...
anyway..itsa nightmare scenario being played out...

the dems remind me of the Liberals in Canada..i've talked to some of them that run for election federally...provincial liberals are asswipe..
they would rather lose an election than lower their standards..they stay true to their standards

Malcolm wrote:
You know that Biden is leading by 9 points, right?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 3:08 AM
Title: Re: Why am I a socialist
Content:
Grigoris said:
"...mixed market democratic-socialist systems are the fairest and most functional societies (politically, economically and socially) that currently exist.

Malcolm wrote:
Yup.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 1:08 AM
Title: Re: Trump.
Content:
gendun said:
The gaps is narrowing.
He’s going to win again isn’t he?

Malcolm wrote:
Only if people do not get out and vote.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 29th, 2020 at 1:07 AM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:



Fortyeightvows said:
People receive the consequences of what they do to others whether they are buddhist or not.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed, which is something the police, and the main boosters of racist violence like Fox News, should pay attention to, since the police have killed vastly many more people in extrajudicial killings than have the rioters. But somehow, you seem to overlook this, and seem to believe that right wing state-sponsored violence is "protecting law and order" and is therefore karmically neutral, whereas destroying some property elicits from you pearl-clutching condemnations and warnings about birth in lower realms.

Fortyeightvows said:
The thread is about damaging property only. Not about killings

Malcolm wrote:
Do you have any idea the amount of property which has been damaged and stolen by the police from people suspected, but proven innocent of crimes under the civil forfeiture program?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/10/01/most-americans-dont-realize-its-this-easy-for-police-to-take-your-cash/

Then there is the wanton property damage caused by the police.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2019/12/03/innocent-property-owners-deserve-compensation-when-the-police-cause-destruction/#1821c2195030

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/the-price-of-pursuit-police-chases-can-lead-to-lawsuits-property-damage

Your arguments are hollow, and smack of support for authoritarianism.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 11:34 PM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
I hate to point out the obvious, but the rioters are not buddhists, thus they have no precepts to break.

Fortyeightvows said:
People receive the consequences of what they do to others whether they are buddhist or not.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed, which is something the police, and the main boosters of racist violence like Fox News, should pay attention to, since the police have killed vastly many more people in extrajudicial killings than have the rioters. But somehow, you seem to overlook this, and seem to believe that right wing state-sponsored violence is "protecting law and order" and is therefore karmically neutral, whereas destroying some property elicits from you pearl-clutching condemnations and warnings about birth in lower realms.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 7:57 PM
Title: Re: Ability to Control the Weather
Content:
fckw said:
If anyone is willing to look into practices used by Sakta-sects, there is a fascinating read on this topic by Alexis Sanderson: https://www.tantrictraditions.com/s/garudika_materials_in_jy-e4ey.pdf. Of course, reading comes at your own risk. After all, as a devout Buddhist practitioner you might end up in hell for peeping into Hindu tantric traditions if you are not careful.

Malcolm wrote:
No, Buddhists can make use of Hindu rites.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 7:54 PM
Title: Re: Why Damaging Property Isn’t The Same As “Violence”
Content:
Grigoris said:
Yes, I mean the Buddha spelled it out very clearly in the "Private Ownership is Sacrosanct" Sutra that breaking shit leads to rebirth in the Hell realms...

Fortyeightvows said:
No stealing is one of the five precepts, usually that is called 'not other people's things against their will'. By burning, smashing, stealing, ect, a person is breaking that precept.

Malcolm wrote:
I hate to point out the obvious, but the rioters are not buddhists, thus they have no precepts to break.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 6:26 AM
Title: Re: Thoughts from a social philosopher
Content:
Grigoris said:
I wonder, if he [Hoffer] was alive now, what he would have to say about fanatical capitalists?


Malcolm wrote:
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/09/the-rights-working-class-philosopher

Grigoris said:
The man lived a rich life of the mind — reading on the job during breaks, taking half-day walks to ponder particular intellectual conundrums, journaling fastidiously, and writing for publications. However, he never changed his views that politicians like Nixon and, especially, Reagan (first as governor, later as president) were noble and his union leaders dupes, “true believers” of false idols who demonstrated their own lack of self-confidence by joining a mass movement. Based on the limited record, Hoffer never spoke at meetings, never ran for any union office, and never volunteered in the union to help his fellow workers.

Ironically, the best-known working-class American of the Cold War era was a conservative who was lucky enough to find a job represented by the most powerful leftist union in postwar America. As such, his life represents the cognitive dissonance of many working Americans today: profiting from — albeit less so than in the past — the great gains of the labor movement yet unwilling to become union advocates.

As for Hoffer’s legacy, history can be cruel even to those who appreciate its fickleness. Today, few people know of Hoffer and fewer read him (though the term “true believer” still carries some rhetorical weight). The “longshoremen philosopher” was a powerful thinker, and the fact that he was a literary celebrity during the Cold War and consistently identified as “working class” is noteworthy.

While historians commonly associate the conservative ascendancy with Nixon and Reagan, they rarely note that the influential writings of the slightly older Hoffer predicted and praised the rise of the New Right. Scholars of Hoffer (generally conservatives themselves) inevitably note his working-class bonafides, but they don’t mention or analyze the irony of his membership in the leftist ILWU. In that way, they’re similar to all those, Hoffer included, who forgot that the labor movement brought us the weekend and much more.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 6:22 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
amanitamusc said:
Four Awarenesses for Those who Doubt Reincarnation
"  Because any narrative always belongs to the domain of mind while the knowledge of Dzogchen is beyond mind."

The teachings and study of Dzogchen without DI is not of very much use.

Malcolm wrote:
Actually,  none at all. Complete waste of time better spent practicing a sadhana, etc.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 6:20 AM
Title: Re: Clarification on terms
Content:
Yeshe Dorje said:
Thank you Malcolm, very helpful indeed. In my Gelug studies bodhicitta is referred to as 'the mind of enlightenment'. Is there any readings you would recommend in order to begin to understand the differences between the gelug presentation of bodhicitta and the dzogchen presentation that you are referring to?

Malcolm wrote:
The term "bodhicitta" is used differently in Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, and within Vajrayāna, it is used differently in mahāyoga and anuyoga (so called highest yoga tantra) and Atiyoga, where the term is sort of equivalent to the state of mahāmudra—with the caveat being that mahāmudra describes the result, whereas bodhicitta describes the basis, when arranged on the trio of basis, path, and result.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 4:16 AM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Grigoris said:
Now I understand why the Republicans are not really making an effort to win the next election.

Malcolm wrote:
No, they actually want to win. They believe that by inciting violence, people will vote for "law and order." It's the Nixon '68 gambit.

Grigoris said:
And we all know how that worked out.  No, I think they are more cunning than you give them credit for.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, Nixon won. They don't need to be cunning. It is basically going to boil down to whether a) people choose something resembling democracy or b) go all in for American Fascism.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 28th, 2020 at 4:13 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


LhakpaT said:
And the logical reasoning provided by traditional Buddhist teachers is hardly persuasive for modern educated people well familiar with logic and critical thinking.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, because we are so much smarter than the Buddha.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at 11:47 PM
Title: Re: Clarification on terms
Content:
Yeshe Dorje said:
I am wondering if anyone, in this context, could guess at what the Tibetan terms could be that are being translated as 'pure' and 'perfect' and if so, are there connotations that come with the English terms that don't really equate to the Tibetan words?

Malcolm wrote:
Byang is what is being rendered as "pure," "chub" is what is being rendered as "perfect." What they are squabbling about is what is termed "the basis," which in one class of Dzogchen teachings is called "byang chub sems," or "bodhicitta." They are taking this terminology from Adriano Clemente.

Byang means "purified," as is the past tense of 'byang ba, to purify or pacify. Chub pa means "culmination, realization, or understanding," hence in Adriano's lexicon, he translates it as "perfect." "Sems" usually means mind, but not here, he is translating it as "presence."

There is a very useful explanation of this term in the long Vajra Bridge commentary:
Now the, “pure from the beginning” (gdod nas dag pa) means that without the reality of the mind essence there is not an iota of a concept established within one’s continuum. Since neither faults nor taints are established nor exist in that which has never been made nor fabricated by anyone from the beginning, it is pure from the beginning.

Pure (byang ba) means that reality of the mind essence is not adulterated by any positive or negative traces. Since transient concepts of subject and object are exhausted without remainder, it is pure.

Comprehension means (chub pa) means [6/b] 1) the comprehensions imbued with the five poisons when there is ignorance or delusion about the reality of the mind essence and 2) it means the comprehension imbued with the five pristine consciousnesses when there is knowledge and realization of that reality.

The five pristine consciousnesses: since that mind essence is recognized as the dhātu that has always in inseparable in the three times, it is the pristine consciousness of the dharmadhātu that is known as one’s mind essence. Since clarity is known as the mind essence, it is the mirror-like pristine consciousness. Since one knows the meaning of samsara and nirvana having always been uniformly permeated by the sugatagarbha, it it is the pristine consciousness of uniformity. That reality exists in the continuum of all sentient beings. This being so, all phenomena of appearance and sound are distinct and bright. Since they can be discriminated as distinct and separate in ones continuum without the need to search elsewhere, it is the individually discriminating pristine consciousness. As such, as soon as one realizes, just as it is, the meaning of how that has always been, since one understands that all objects, however they exist, have always been established in one’s continuum, this is the pristine consciousness of successful activities.

That is the five pristine consciousnesses. Furthermore, the Secret Pristine Consciousness explains:

Pristine consciousness is the consciousness
of the meaning of intrinsic clarity that has never been fabricated.

[7/a] Therefore, this is the meaning of a comprehension endowed five pristine consciousnesses.

Next, because so-called “mind” (sems) is not the mind, it is the mind essence (sems nyid). The temporary concepts of mental processes arise from conditions and perish because of conditions. Being conditioned and relative, since [the mind] cannot endure and is transformed by conditions, [mind] is not ultimate.

The mind essence has always been unconditioned. The meaning of not being destroyed by conditions and never changing in the three times is that reality which clear and nonconceptual.
A slightly better translation of bodhicitta, byang chub sems, would be, "The mind essence comprehended as pure."

The group that claims that we should maintain a conceptual view that everything is pure are fools, very far away from the meaning of Dzogchen. They do not understand that this term, bodhicitta, is a description the realization of the pure nature of the mind, the basis, as being pure. Of course, if one is completely integrated with the knowledge of bodhicitta, then for you there is no karma and you will act spontaneously to benefit beings. But as long as one is distracted, one subject to affliction and action and its results, as is explained in the definition provided by the author of that text, Kunzang Dorje.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at 11:26 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Grigoris said:
Now I understand why the Republicans are not really making an effort to win the next election.

Malcolm wrote:
No, they actually want to win. They believe that by inciting violence, people will vote for "law and order." It's the Nixon '68 gambit.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at 11:24 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Fa Dao said:
I really do want to try and understand all of this a little better as I will be trying to retire on social security in a couple of years

Malcolm wrote:
Well, you should understand that you should get your head out of the sand and vote for Biden. You didn't vote for Hillary last time, and look where that landed you.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Title: Re: The Woke Supremacy
Content:
Grigoris said:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-lives-matter-protester-shot-pennsylvania_n_5f45441dc5b60c7ec416ce79?utm_source=main_fb&section=politics&utm_medium=facebook&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063&utm_campaign=hp_fb_pages&fbclid=IwAR0z4i4NZwfsRH3qOpbIveeWBW13BTgtEGx-kzXadQqBO8rhgSqv18LcRvM
Black Lives Matter Protester Shot While Marching Through Pennsylvania
A witness stated that a white man shot at the marchers, who are on a weekslong hike from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. Police are investigating.
Anybody still not understand where the problem lies?

Malcolm wrote:
This is old news. The new news is:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kyle-rittenhouse-kenosha-shooting-suspect-arrested-illinois/


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at 6:54 AM
Title: Re: The Woke Supremacy
Content:
Sādhaka said:
There are instances of instigation of violence from both sides; so that’s where the problem lies.

People on this forum like to deride ‘conspiracy theorists’, yet many ‘conspiracy theorists’ at least seem to make an effort to see past the false left vs right paradigm presented to us by mainstream media (cnn, fox, msnbc, etc.).

Malcolm wrote:
So, let me get this straight— you are saying there are good people on both sides?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 27th, 2020 at 3:34 AM
Title: Re: Latest 84K Sutra
Content:
mutsuk said:
Vikranta is the past participle of vikrama [vi-kram] whose first meaning is that of step, march, stride, as well as pace (not sure of this last one but it seems the meaning is also that in chinese). In this dharani, the infinite stride is to be counted as among the auspicious signs, qualities, or capacities of the Buddha. For instance, his stride (in French  one would say: “son allure”, "son pas", “son enjambée”) is like the sauntering stride of an elephant, causing the earth to tremble (“Asceticism and the Glorification of the Buddha’s Body”, p. 14). Or it can be the strides of a lion (op.cit., p. 16; "Indian Buddhism through a Chinese Lens", p. 98-99):
gajapatigatigāmī siṃhavikrāntagāmī Sauntering with the gait of the lord of elephants, with the strides* of a lion

* vikrānta विक्रान्त.

Nicholas Weeks said:
Thanks, but with the qualifier boundless or infinite, step or stride make no sense.  I prefer to think of each & every movement (in thought or beyond) of Amita Buddha as bold, courageous & providential.

Malcolm wrote:
I think Mutsuk is correct bere.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 9:35 PM
Title: Re: Agar 35
Content:
mutsuk said:
Siddhi Energetics is directed by Joe Wagner. He is a Nyingma practitioner and a very nice individual (also quite knowledgeable in the field of tibetan medical products, etc.). His Siddhi Energetics and his sister site "Futre Alchemy" are totally trustworthy.

Ignorant_Fool said:
Thanks, mutsuk. Think I'll try to get in touch and talk to him about my situation. I've got so many things that are out of whack.

Malcolm wrote:
Joe, a personal friend, is not qualified to give such advice. You would need to contact Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo, Or some other Tibetan physician for guidance. As fir myself, I have discontinued seeing patients.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 9:22 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Gedun said:
Rinpoche literally pleaded with us constantly to treat each other well, to have pure vision and give the benefit of the doubt.  I certainly don't see this when people are quick to indict Yeshi based on a few things they've heard second hand.  This will have absolutely no effect on him or the situation on the ground, but it can certainly have an effect on us and our realization.

Malcolm wrote:
No one indicted Yeshi of anything. All that has been pointed out is that Yeshi totally severed his ties with a community his father spent 42 years building. He is free, as we all are. But it has caused a leadership crisis in the community.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 9:19 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #3
Content:



DNS said:
Apparently, he also got the 2016 election wrong.


Malcolm wrote:
No, he got it right.

DNS said:
Half right, at best, because Trump did not win the popular vote like he predicted; the outcome, yes, with Electoral Vote.

Malcolm wrote:
It still does not sway the results in favor of your primary watcher dude.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 8:10 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #3
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Alan Lichtman has also got every election right, apart from the Gore-Bush election, he predicts a Biden win:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/opinion/2020-election-prediction-allan-lichtman.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keys_to_the_White_House

DNS said:
Apparently, he also got the 2016 election wrong.
Lichtman’s model has successfully predicted the winner of the popular vote in every presidential election from 1984 to present, with the exception of 2016. In the contested election of 2000, the system predicted the popular vote winner, although not actual winners. As a result in 2000, he predicted using his system that Gore would be the next president; Gore won the popular vote but lost the electoral college.[3] In September 2016, the Keys forecast that Donald Trump would win the popular vote in the 2016 election, whereas he lost the popular vote, but won the electoral college.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keys_to_the_White_House

Malcolm wrote:
No, he got it right.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 6:42 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #3
Content:
DNS said:
Professor predicts Trump will win in a landslide.
https://news.stonybrook.edu/facultystaff/maverick-modeller-helmut-norpoth-predicts-another-win-for-trump/
Norpoth, a professor in Stony Brook’s Department of Political Science, has enjoyed notable success forecasting elections based on his Primary Model, a statistical representation of U.S. presidential races based on data going back more than a century.

The Primary Model has correctly predicted five of the past six presidential elections, and when applied to previous elections, correctly predicts an impressive 25 of the last 27, missing only the 2000 election in which George W. Bush defeated Al Gore and the 1960 election in which John F. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon — two extremely close and contested votes marred by allegations of voting inaccuracies.
The model appears to have good success, but how can he put Trump so likely to win based on his primary wins? He was basically running unopposed for the GOP nomination, as an incumbent. Tradition has it that no one runs against the incumbent from the same Party (with only a few exceptions; Ted Kennedy in 1980 and maybe a couple of others).

One thing I do like about this model:
Unlike many other projections, Norpoth’s equation ignores approval ratings.
Surveys on approval ratings are very subjective and change too quickly.

Malcolm wrote:
Alan Lichtman has also got every election right, apart from the Gore-Bush election, he predicts a Biden win:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/05/opinion/2020-election-prediction-allan-lichtman.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keys_to_the_White_House


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 3:30 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
schubertian said:
gossiping, backbiting, complaining, plotting and scheming and intestine feuding i
I think -  I hope - you mean internecine feuding?

treehuggingoctopus said:
Damn you autocorrect! (On second thoughts,  thank you,  autocorrect,  for lightening up the mood.  I rest in the safety of knowing you will do it again. And again. And again.)

Malcolm wrote:
intestinal feuding definitely happens when fed a diet of bullshit.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 12:57 AM
Title: Re: Latest 84K Sutra
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
Here is a translation of the dharani from the above tiny sutra:
I pay homage to the Three Jewels. I pay homage to the thus-gone, worthy, perfect buddha—the blessed Amitābha with the following: Oṃ infinite one who arises from the infinite, whose nature is infinite, whose stride is infinite, whose range is infinite, who grants renown vast as the sky, who brings an end to all the afflictions, svāhā.
I am unclear as to what 'stride' means, it sounds so similar to 'range' ?

Malcolm wrote:
Means "step," but probably means more like courage, etc.


1	vikrAnta	mfn. stepped beyond , taking wide strides &c. ; courageous , bold , strong , mighty , victorious (with %{dhanuSi} , skilled in archery) MBh. ; m. a warrior L. ; a lion L. ; `" passed over "'N. of a kind of Sam2dhi which leaves Visarga unchanged RPra1t. ; N. of a Praja1-pati VP. ; of a son of Kuvalaya7s3va and Mada7lasa1 Ma1rkP. ; (%{A}) f. N. of various plants (Cocculus Cordifolius , Clitoria Ternatea , Cissus Pedata &c.) L. ; n. a step , stride VS. TBr. ; manner of walking , gait MBh. R. ; bold advance , courage , might ib. ; a sham diamond L. ; a kind of intoxicating drink L. ; %{-gati} m. a man with a portly gait MW. ; %{-bhIma}N. of a drama ; %{-yodhin} m. an excellent warrior MBh. ; %{-zUdraka}N. of a drama Sarasv.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 12:40 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Harimoo said:
Rinpoche should have died at 56.

Malcolm wrote:
According to a prediction he received from his teacher, yes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 12:39 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



DechenDave said:
Did Rinpoche say that’s why he had cancer? If not, who did? Is this a commonly agreed upon thing in the DC?

Malcolm wrote:
All compounded things are impermanent, including the physical bodies of famous teachers, including the body of Śākyamuni Buddha. Some people have the idea that if people break their samaya, it will shorten the life of a teacher, or cause health problems for the teacher. But in ChNN's case, he lived a full 80 years, the same age as the Buddha. If breaking samaya was really a cause for a teacher's early demise, I think the life span of teachers would be shorter than the battlefield life of a tank, about one week.

Tata1 said:
He did stated, several times, that when he was sick it was better to do purification practice than long life tho.

Malcolm wrote:
To understand this we have to understand two things: 1) the cause of longevity: merit, and lifeforce (this is why most longevity mantras contain "ayuḥpunya"; and 2) the object of purification: the obscurations of affliction and knowledge, to which sometimes also karma is added as an obscuration. So now you can understand the real reason teachers recommend purification practices to their students when they become ill. It certainly isn't for their own benefit in order to live longer.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 12:29 AM
Title: Re: How has being a Buddhist changed you?
Content:


SilenceMonkey said:
You are saying that nobody is really practicing Dharma until they realize emptiness?


Malcolm wrote:
Dharma sets out to solve one existential problem and one only: rebirth in samsara due to afflictions. If you are practicing ethics, meditation, etc.  with any view in mind other than ceasing to take rebirth in samsara, you may be engaged in this or that practice, but you are not practicing Dharma. As Mañjuśrī said, "If one has clinging to this life, one is not a Dharma person."


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 10:57 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Grigoris said:
When it comes to capitalism, it is always the poorest that pay.

Malcolm wrote:
That's point, right?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 10:56 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Aryjna said:
I rewatched the movie yesterday, as I was reminded of it by the latest posts, it's nice. It does not really bring up people creating problems though, as far as I could tell, It focuses on Yeshi's relationship with his father and his struggle with being a tulku.

javier.espinoza.t said:
ChNN's cancer was directly related to people creating peoblems. and afaik he had it a 2nd time in his last years, causing his death.

or well, maybe is just my karmic vision, and he died due to natural causes...

DechenDave said:
Did Rinpoche say that’s why he had cancer? If not, who did? Is this a commonly agreed upon thing in the DC?

Malcolm wrote:
All compounded things are impermanent, including the physical bodies of famous teachers, including the body of Śākyamuni Buddha. Some people have the idea that if people break their samaya, it will shorten the life of a teacher, or cause health problems for the teacher. But in ChNN's case, he lived a full 80 years, the same age as the Buddha. If breaking samaya was really a cause for a teacher's early demise, I think the life span of teachers would be shorter than the battlefield life of a tank, about one week.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 10:04 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
No, actually they don’t. Most people have no idea what they are invested in because most people’s money is not in Individual stocks.

Bundokji said:
If you mean pension and superannuation, then those are usually managed by other corporates that hire financial advisors and analysts who invest on behalf of people. The logic of supply and demand persists in the sense that if those funds incur losses on behalf of pensioners, they would lose their customers, so its in their best interest to act with due diligence.

It goes without saying that i am parroting how the system is usually explained. I do not pretend to know exactly how it works.

Malcolm wrote:
Once the gvt. Introduced pension instability by allowing pension funds to invest in securities as well as bonds, the writing was on the wall for many people.  But again, this is not a free market, thus is a rigged market. Rigged market are not free.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:58 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
What has changed recently though is the notion that the share market (which is the market value of corporate America) is a measure of the general health of the economy.

Malcolm wrote:
No one who understands anything believes the present gvt. funded bubble represents the economy.

Bundokji said:
Investors who bought the shares expecting future returns obviously believe that the current price reflects the future value of the corporations they invested in, unless the majority are short-selling, which would be difficult to imagine.

Malcolm wrote:
No, actually they don’t. Most people have no idea what they are invested in because most people’s money is not in Individual stocks.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:55 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:



Bundokji said:
In the context i was presenting, a free market is more regulated by market forces (supply and demand) than by government regulations.

Malcolm wrote:
Such markets don’t actually exist.

Bundokji said:
Maybe, but it speaks to human logic and appears to be predictable. It can be easily habituated and understood hence its appeal.

Malcolm wrote:
Appearances are deceiving.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:54 PM
Title: Re: How has being a Buddhist changed you?
Content:


SilenceMonkey said:
I agree... It sounds like Malcolm is denying anything less than the view of nonduality is Dharma.

Malcolm wrote:
Nondual views also are not the Dharma.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:52 PM
Title: Re: How has being a Buddhist changed you?
Content:


PadmaVonSamba said:
The purpose of dharma is the cessation of suffering
And suffering manifests as experience of feeling.

Malcolm wrote:
This is only one of the three kinds of suffering.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:48 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
PadmaVonSamba said:
“Under socialism the state owns the means of production“
...and under socialism the state functions for what economic class?

Grigoris said:
The proletariat.

entrepreneur
/ˌɒntrəprəˈnəː/
noun
a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.

This is not what happens under communism.

PadmaVonSamba said:
I’m quite familiar. I studied it quite a lot when I was young.
All I’m saying is that under socialism, in effect, since
1. The proletariat controls the state
2. State owns and invests in production, assumes risks, losses, profits,
3. Therefore the proletariat collectively Via the state, owns, and invests in production, assumes risks, losses, profits.
Therefore, it is for all intents and purposes
collective entrepreneurship.

Under capitalism, the bank And the state becomes the tool by which the capitalist owns the means of production.

Malcolm wrote:
What you are describing is State Capitalism.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:48 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
What has changed recently though is the notion that the share market (which is the market value of corporate America) is a measure of the general health of the economy.

Malcolm wrote:
No one who understands anything believes the present gvt. funded bubble represents the economy.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:43 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
Taxing assets rather than annual income is a slippery slope as it puts a cap on the concentration of capital, profits and future tax revenue to the federal budget. The dynamic nature of a free market economy is what allows the likes of Eisenhower to impose higher taxes, for a while, then change.

Malcolm wrote:
Capital should not be allowed to concentrate in private hands beyond a certain level. There is no such thing as a “free market.” All markets are protected and regulated.

Bundokji said:
In the context i was presenting, a free market is more regulated by market forces (supply and demand) than by government regulations.

Malcolm wrote:
Such markets don’t actually exist.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
so, the lineage of ChNN will continue, regardless of whether Yeshi is in or out.

Harimoo said:
For me, the lineage is not the problem. The problem is the organization. People immigrated to work for a Gar, other bought house nearby for their old days, some have jobs related to DC etc.

If the party is over...

Malcolm wrote:
That party is over...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 7:54 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
Taxing assets rather than annual income is a slippery slope as it puts a cap on the concentration of capital, profits and future tax revenue to the federal budget. The dynamic nature of a free market economy is what allows the likes of Eisenhower to impose higher taxes, for a while, then change.

Malcolm wrote:
Capital should not be allowed to concentrate in private hands beyond a certain level. There is no such thing as a “free market.” All markets are protected and regulated.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 7:49 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Aryjna said:
I rewatched the movie yesterday, as I was reminded of it by the latest posts, it's nice. It does not really bring up people creating problems though, as far as I could tell, It focuses on Yeshi's relationship with his father and his struggle with being a tulku.

javier.espinoza.t said:
ChNN's cancer was directly related to people creating peoblems. and afaik he had it a 2nd time in his last years, causing his death.

or well, maybe is just my karmic vision, and he died due to natural causes...

Malcolm wrote:
This is just superstition, I am afraid. ChNN lived to the same age as the Buddha.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 at 7:46 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:


Harimoo said:
I like Adriano very much but, for me, this message, specifically,  is problematic :
1st part: we've got to be responsible for ourselves, each of us following his own path
2nd part : the Community must remain together
Dzogchen teaching means that each of us can be Rinpoche’s successor if we apply and realize his teaching, like sowing many seeds in a field as Rinpoche did for thousands of people in this world. Then it depends how the secondary causes are, the weather, the water and these kinds of things

Malcolm wrote:
so, the lineage of ChNN will continue, regardless of whether Yeshi is in or out.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 10:57 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



PeterC said:
ChNNr wanted all his students to read this book.  After reading it I could understand why.  The fact that his son was recognized by HH41ST as the reincarnation of the subject of the book makes the whole situation quite sad.

Tata1 said:
Im not sure i understand what you mean

PeterC said:
Which part - why he wanted us to read it, or why it’s sad when viewed in context?

Malcolm wrote:
Khyentse Chokyi Wangchuk was a casualty of Derge Tulku politics, and still is, as one can see from Orgyen Thobgyal's less than kind remarks about him and the manner in which the retainers of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodo actively obstructed Norbu Rinpoche's access to the latter in Sikkim. Norbu Rinpoche wanted people to understand these circumstances because they explain a lot about the way Norbu Rinpoche's own career and teaching progressed, as well as the legacy that Yeshi was to inherit.

There are many instructive lessons here concerning the vicissitudes of the the tulku system, especially when incarnations are recognized outside of the Tibetan cultural sphere. It is well know that my personal opinion is that the practice of recognizing incarnations does not port particularly well in non-Tibetan cultural spheres.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 4:12 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Matt J said:
I have been surprised that people have been thinking Yeshi would take over. Am I the only one who watched My Reincarnation?

Malcolm wrote:
No, but many people missed the statement where Rinpoche stated the DC would splinter.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 2:34 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Mantrik said:
Only a new head could speak for the DC.

Malcolm wrote:
Yeshi has abdicated this role completely. So, the DC is headless. Even then, not everyone would have followed Yeshi.

Mantrik said:
Yes, at risk of a Hydra-headed existence rather than a tree with branches bearing fruit.

Malcolm wrote:
Oh, it won't be like that. It will be just the same as any other Dzogchen lineage, not a tree, but more rhizomatic, all connected to the original rhizome. Hierarchy has no place in this scheme, other than to administer property and collect dues. But Garab Dorje never said, "start and organization and collect dues; set up copy right infringement protocols; trademark names;..."


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 2:30 AM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #3
Content:
Fa Dao said:
yeah..all warm and fuzzy with no real content...
So disappointed with the DNC that Joe Biden was the best they could come up with all because they didnt want to give Bernie a shot.
Trump is so going to tear him a new one during the debates..it will be quite saddening for him to go out like that

Malcolm wrote:
You might as well declare yourself a trump supporter right here.

Fa Dao said:
no..Im still a democrat..and like a lot of us we were all very disappointed in the DNC's choice in 2016 as well as 2020

Malcolm wrote:
Bernie has gotten major things onto the DNC platform: free college, medicare for all, etc.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/wesleywhistle/2020/07/08/biden-sanders-unity-task-force-free-college-student-debt-forgiveness-and-crack-down-on-for-profit-colleges/#5f0305d4111a

https://joebiden.com/healthcare/ #

Bernie won by losing. 2016 showed the Dems that if they ignore the Progressives, they lose the election.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 24th, 2020 at 2:22 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Mantrik said:
Only a new head could speak for the DC.

Malcolm wrote:
Yeshi has abdicated this role completely. So, the DC is headless. Even then, not everyone would have followed Yeshi.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Title: Re: POTUS poll #3
Content:
Fa Dao said:
yeah..all warm and fuzzy with no real content...
So disappointed with the DNC that Joe Biden was the best they could come up with all because they didnt want to give Bernie a shot.
Trump is so going to tear him a new one during the debates..it will be quite saddening for him to go out like that

Malcolm wrote:
You might as well declare yourself a trump supporter right here.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 10:24 PM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:
Minobu said:
So i don't get the big hub bub about postal voting...now that it is obvious that it is  a mess , why not just go to a poll and vote...

Malcolm wrote:
Because of covid.


Minobu said:
all i can say it's scary...i recall when bush won i and others could not believe the American people...then those people voted in Trump...so like they never fail to completely surprise us.

Malcolm wrote:
Bush did not win in Florida, he did what Republicans always do these days, he cheated.

As for Trump, he lost the popular vote by 4 million, and won on the slimmest of margins, on a technicality of 77,000 votes, 0.055797101449275%, of the 138 million votes cast in the 2016 election.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 10:17 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
javier.espinoza.t said:
the gakyil sent an email, there will be an official letter (not just one individual's perception) and a bigger meeting. patience so this arrives at the right time.

Malcolm wrote:
As far as I am concerned, since Rinpoche left no instructions, no one can speak for Rinpoche.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 10:14 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
In the article which i quoted, he reflects on the drawbacks of the state taking over many of the functions previously performed by charities and the overemphasis on notions such as rights and justice (which often come about with a sense of entitlement). It was meant to be a continuation on arguments i made on previous paragraphs about how to motivate the rich to contribute more to society while minimizing the role of government.  I personally give no weight to what he does in his personal life.

Malcolm wrote:
We should not minimize the role of government. That is ridiculous. The job of the government, according to Nozik's Anarchy, State, and Utopia, is primarily to provide security and protect markets. However, when business itself is the main threat to healthy markets, business needs to be regulated, and governments enlarged to make sure these regulations are properly enforced.

The best way to motivate rich people do beneficial things with their money is to tax them on all assets in excess of say 15 million. If one cannot lead a decent life with 15 million, one is just a selfish prick. But let's say you have 100 million of personal assets, and you are faced with a choice of either give 85 to the feds, reinvesting it in a business, or setting up a charitable foundation (but not like say, Build the Wall), etc., then of course, make as much as you want, but anything above a certain number really isn't yours. You know, like during the Eisenhower years.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Title: Re: Annals of Communism
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
Another gem from Yale giving evidence that communism infiltrated the USA.

https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300068559/secret-world-american-communism

A second volume provides more evidence:

https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300071504/soviet-world-american-communism

PeterC said:
So it’s communism that’s f*cking up the US, and not the Republican Party?  How do you figure that?

Malcolm wrote:
We don’t realize it, Peter,  but the deep state is the CPUSA, and Nicholas is Q.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 4:03 AM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Nicholas Weeks said:
If you really think that buddhadharma can only be destroyed from within,

Malcolm wrote:
I think the Buddha stated this quite clearly. Buddha statues are not Buddhadharma. Shantideva dismisses the destruction of buddha images of being any real concern. It's annoying, wasteful, and rude, certainly, but in reality Buddha statues do not suffer any more than statues of Jesus.

Nicholas Weeks said:
I was thinking more of temples razed, monastics murdered & tortured etc. (but you knew that)

Malcolm wrote:
apparently you don’t give a rats ass about Muslims though...just saying...where’s the outrage about the Uighers?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 4:01 AM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
If you believe in God, a creator being, etc., you are a Buddhist in name only, but not in view.

Grigoris said:
I don't understand this hard-on that Nicholas has for fundamentalist Christians either.  Seems he believes that eternalism is preferable to nihilism.

That Christians are somehow natural allies with Buddhists, against materialists.

He seems to overlook the damage that Christians have inflicted on Buddhism during European colonial expansion into Asia.

Malcolm wrote:
It’s the US prolife thing.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 12:02 AM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:



Nicholas Weeks said:
Here is the first of snips from Kengor's Guide - this one on religion in general:
The Communist Manifesto said that, “Communism abolishes eternal truths,
it abolishes all religion, and all morality.” Marx and Engels envisioned a new morality without God, one
based on “the most radical rupture with traditional ideas.” The things that communism promises are
entirely unnatural, completely contrary to what human beings had believed before, and even to their very
humanity itself. It was intended to transform human nature.

Malcolm wrote:
If you believe in God, a creator being, etc., you are a Buddhist in name only, but not in view.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 at 12:00 AM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Nicholas Weeks said:
If you really think that buddhadharma can only be destroyed from within,

Malcolm wrote:
I think the Buddha stated this quite clearly. Buddha statues are not Buddhadharma. Shantideva dismisses the destruction of buddha images of being any real concern. It's annoying, wasteful, and rude, certainly, but in reality Buddha statues do not suffer any more than statues of Jesus.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 10:13 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Marx is just an inversion of Plato’s Republic.

Bundokji said:
Do you mean the aristocracy of those who believe in his interpretations?

Malcolm wrote:
Marx does not go beyond Judeo-Christian eschatology, as you already observed. He just inverts the kingdom heaven on earth.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 10:10 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
TsultimNamdak said:
This is utterly baffling. This site is called "Dharma Wheel - A Buddhist discussion forum on Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism" so I would have supposed that even in a politics subforum there ought to be a Buddhist angle or at least a non-religious one, being about politics. Nicholas, you keep posting articles and book reviews from an extreme rightwing Christian viewpoint - Why do you do that here? Is it just trolling? Does it give you a warm, cuddly sense of "that will really show those leftwing, Satanic, Marxist, Commie types"?

It is utterly pathetic and it serves no other purpose than feeding your own sense of rightiousness.

Nicholas Weeks said:
Are you devoid an historical sense?  Does the obliteration of the Dharma in Asia by communists move you?  If not, why not?

Ignoring communism's destructive effects is just speeding up this Dharma-ending age.

Malcolm wrote:
Nicholas, you have apparently neglected to read the Buddha’s assertion that Dharma can not be destroyed from without,  only from within. The PRC’s recent actions are wholesale, aimed at erecting the cult of Xi, replacing all religion in the PRC with it. It’s not really about religion. They don’t care about religion beyond the fact that religious groups tend to be more resistant to mundane authorities. The PRC is acting no differently than any other entity seeking to control a market.  Your focus on ideology misses the point entirely. Ideology is not the cause here, it’s the excuse.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:59 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
Could you please elaborate on the difference between a humanist/secular utopia and the older religious notions of heaven and hell?

Or to put it differently, why communism is not a religion where faith in the state or progress replaces faith in the God of the Abrahamic religions?

Here, Marx's views on religion might be relevant:.

PeterC said:
I would hesitate to get into analysis of that work of Marx’s because the meaning is not obvious.  The work he’s discussing - Hegel’s elements of the philosophy of right - is really, really difficult. Not many people really understand it. And that essay that Marx wrote, he never published, we don’t know if it’s because he wasn’t sure about it or because he didn’t get around to it.  That part you’re quoting is heavily debated, and there are multiple different interpretations of it.

If you want to understand the ideas of Marx on religion that aren’t contested, you need to go back to Capital. It’s clear that he wasn’t very interested in metaphysical questions - the truth of the *claims* of religion weren’t very important to him, what he was interested in was the *function* of religion.  He saw it as both part of the ideological control mechanism that the ruling class created, and also as a means for the proletariat to express their unhappiness in a way that didn’t threaten the relations of production.  It was part of the dominant ideology in his theory.  That functional view of religion was actually a pretty fair representation of its role in society for centuries, and you could argue it still explains quite well the role of religion in society today.

He was primarily concerned with the role of the dominant religion. He didn’t have much to say about conflicts of beliefs, minority religions or pluralistic societies.

The thing to understand with Marx is, as Malcolm said, that for him the communist society was the end-point. He actually said very little about what it looked like. He spent most of the time analyzing where we are now, how we got here, what makes the current society persist, and what will eventually change it. (The answer to that last question is: development of technology.)  He was an extraordinarily insightful writer, and said a lot that was very relevant to understanding the failures of society today.

Bundokji said:
Hegel's work itself is known to be notoriously difficult to read, hence Marx's reflections on aspects of his philosophy would be equally difficult to understand.

More than 20 years ago, i bought "Capital" which was divided into five parts. The copy i bought was in Arabic, and i am not sure if it was bad translation or that the work itself is difficult. I remember after reading some 30 pages, i began to encounter mathematical formulas, so i gave up! This is why, i have sympathy with people who do not refer to primary sources.

I agree that his description on the role of religion in society is largely accurate, but i also see the drawbacks of linking it to the ruling class. My main issue with this approach is that it somehow excludes the ruling class from being equally deluded by the weaknesses of the human condition (greed, fear and ignorance), or that if the proliferates came to rule they will be radically different.

Malcolm wrote:
Marx is just an inversion of Plato’s Republic.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:33 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:


Bundokji said:
Or to put it differently, why communism is not a religion where faith in the state or progress replaces faith in the God of the Abrahamic religions?

Malcolm wrote:
Communism is clearly a religious movement, in just the same way as Trumpian “Conservatism.”


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:17 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
They would need to be able to read Tibetan and give the lung in that language.

PeterC said:
If after all these years the DC can’t pull together a group of students who can read Tibetan, then the writing really is on the wall

Malcolm wrote:
The question is not can they, the question is, will they?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 8:19 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Fa Dao said:
ok...so..I am just going to toss this out there and see where it goes..I am not good at organizing things so if someone wants to try and run with this, be my guest..
As people here know Rinpoche gave a transmission for Vajra Bridge of Longde which he said is the essentials of it. From my research there are 2 volumes in the Nyingma Kama that are devoted to the Vajra Bridge teachings/practices, and commentaries. Volumes 18 and 19 in one version and 32 and 33 in another.
So what I was thinking is 2 pronged...maybe a group of us could find a Nyinma Lama willing to give us the transmission for these 2 volumes..perhaps over skype or zoom (or something like that) and do it over time..for example: 1 hour a week or so until it is completed. And then we could try and find a translator that would be willing to translate it all into English..I would be willing to chip in whatever I could for a project like this to donate to a Lama and pay a translator...just want to see if there would be any interest from any of Rinpoches students for this....
Thoughts?

PeterC said:
Fa Dao - I think if you wanted to practice Longde in ChNNr’s lineage then you’d want the lung of the first volume of the Longsal terma cycle, which contains ChNNr’s upadesha on the vajra bridge.  (Correct me if I’m wrong about the content of that.)

Could I suggest a slight variation on your plan. We track down members of the DC who have received the lungs of each of the Longsal teachings - and since they were given at different times in different places, that means a group of people, it’s highly unlikely one person will have received them all - and we organize a mass lung of the whole lot.  People can seek out explanations afterwards, but we ensure that the reading transmissions have been given.  The only requirement to give a lung of a text is that you’ve received it from someone who has received it.  So we don’t get into the contentious question of DI, but we do what we can to ensure the termas are propagated.

I would also be willing to contribute to the costs of this.

Malcolm wrote:
They would need to be able to read Tibetan and give the lung in that language.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 8:14 PM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Bundokji said:
It is a natural progression.  Marx was a Hegelian so it was always:  thesis / antithesis ---> synthesis.

Grigoris said:
Which coincided with a more fluid interpretation of man, time, history and the nature of reality during that era, and preceded by a gradual shift towards a more scientific and objective mindset. The faith in human progress seems to be justified by rapid scientific and technological advancements associated with deconstructing the old and limiting belief system.
I remember reading that communism necessitates feudalism and capitalism as historical conditions for its applicability.
That is the historical materialist paradigm which was part of Marx's theory.  The neo-Marxists believed that communism could be reached without going through this process, by relying on peasant class (in less industrialised societies) instead of the industrial working class as the motor for change.

Bundokji said:
It is unclear though how the state does not simply replace the old capitalists class from the neo-Marxists point of view.

Malcolm wrote:
Communism is the end point, the socialist state, the transitional phase. All quite utopian.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 7:34 PM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



PeterC said:
Malcolm, when you say following the klong sal, do you mean working through rushens semdzins trekchod etc according to his termas, or was he talking about some more specific sequence of practising his termas?

Malcolm wrote:
He meant the klong gsal teachings  in general.

climb-up said:
But unfortunately most of those teachings are closed to many of us. For someone as bad of a practitioner as myself it probably doesn’t make a difference, I think the previous vase and ancillary could keep me busy for a lifetime, but do you see a path forward to the Longsal teachings who didn’t receive them while ChNN was alive?

I’m certainly not trying to call you out but as a Lama who gives wang and DI yourself, wouldn’t you (or someone with similar training and experience to you) be qualified to pass on Longsal practices? (Apologies if my heads sonfar up my ass about authority that I’ve missed the Dzogchen point!)

Malcolm wrote:
My job is the 17 tantras.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 11:55 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



Adamantine said:
Have you?

Malcolm wrote:
Myself and many others.

Adamantine said:
Yes though not many others are actively teaching and offering lungs...

Malcolm wrote:
That will change. Klong sde is important, but by no means indispensable.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 11:25 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



Malcolm wrote:
There are two parts to this: Kongtrul’s gdams sngag mdzod klong sde instructions, Rinpoche’s own visionary teachings. It’s not hard to find people who received both from the boss.

Adamantine said:
Have you?

Malcolm wrote:
Myself and many others.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 10:41 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Fa Dao said:
ok...so..I am just going to toss this out there and see where it goes..I am not good at organizing things so if someone wants to try and run with this, be my guest..
As people here know Rinpoche gave a transmission for Vajra Bridge of Longde which he said is the essentials of it. From my research there are 2 volumes in the Nyingma Kama that are devoted to the Vajra Bridge teachings/practices, and commentaries. Volumes 18 and 19 in one version and 32 and 33 in another.
So what I was thinking is 2 pronged...maybe a group of us could find a Nyinma Lama willing to give us the transmission for these 2 volumes..perhaps over skype or zoom (or something like that) and do it over time..for example: 1 hour a week or so until it is completed. And then we could try and find a translator that would be willing to translate it all into English..I would be willing to chip in whatever I could for a project like this to donate to a Lama and pay a translator...just want to see if there would be any interest from any of Rinpoches students for this....
Thoughts?

PeterC said:
Fa Dao - I think if you wanted to practice Longde in ChNNr’s lineage then you’d want the lung of the first volume of the Longsal terma cycle, which contains ChNNr’s upadesha on the vajra bridge.  (Correct me if I’m wrong about the content of that.)

Could I suggest a slight variation on your plan. We track down members of the DC who have received the lungs of each of the Longsal teachings - and since they were given at different times in different places, that means a group of people, it’s highly unlikely one person will have received them all - and we organize a mass lung of the whole lot.  People can seek out explanations afterwards, but we ensure that the reading transmissions have been given.  The only requirement to give a lung of a text is that you’ve received it from someone who has received it.  So we don’t get into the contentious question of DI, but we do what we can to ensure the termas are propagated.

I would also be willing to contribute to the costs of this.

Malcolm wrote:
There are two parts to this: Kongtrul’s gdams sngag mdzod klong sde instructions, Rinpoche’s own visionary teachings. It’s not hard to find people who received both from the boss.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
It was always to create teachers, take a level, teach a level was original idea, but about 6 years in the boss was dissatisfied. His original idea was that people who passed level four would be equipped to give introduction. He also stated in one SMS training that people following klong goal were making better progress than SMS people. For years I have watched people extolling sms teachers, but it really has not been as people have led themselves to believe.

PeterC said:
Malcolm, when you say following the klong sal, do you mean working through rushens semdzins trekchod etc according to his termas, or was he talking about some more specific sequence of practising his termas?

Malcolm wrote:
He meant the klong gsal teachings  in general.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Just a general comment: Frankly, some people have their heads so stuck up the ass of “authority” and “authorization” they have forgotten the real meaning of dzogchen teachings.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:46 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Fa Dao said:
ok...so..I am just going to toss this out there and see where it goes..I am not good at organizing things so if someone wants to try and run with this, be my guest..
As people here know Rinpoche gave a transmission for Vajra Bridge of Longde which he said is the essentials of it. From my research there are 2 volumes in the Nyingma Kama that are devoted to the Vajra Bridge teachings/practices, and commentaries. Volumes 18 and 19 in one version and 32 and 33 in another.
So what I was thinking is 2 pronged...maybe a group of us could find a Nyinma Lama willing to give us the transmission for these 2 volumes..perhaps over skype or zoom (or something like that) and do it over time..for example: 1 hour a week or so until it is completed. And then we could try and find a translator that would be willing to translate it all into English..I would be willing to chip in whatever I could for a project like this to donate to a Lama and pay a translator...just want to see if there would be any interest from any of Rinpoches students for this....
Thoughts?

Malcolm wrote:
Your better off moving on to man ngag sde. Rinpoche advised people at 2015 yang ti retreat not to remain stuck in klong sde.

I’ve already translated a goodly portion of the long vajra bridge. It’s not what people imagine. The first volume is three histories, written by Kunzang Dorje, called vajra bridge. Second volume is various  practices no one practices anymore, though there is a lot of interesting material there.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
people really don’t understand history of SMS, and why rinpoche originally created it.

climb-up said:
Oh, fair enough.
I use it base outline to help develop my ...well, base, for my practice and it’s so wonderful; by I was under the impression that it was for teachers and continuing the tradition.
Is that wrong?
What is the history and original intent?

Malcolm wrote:
It was always to create teachers, take a level, teach a level was original idea, but about 6 years in the boss was dissatisfied. His original idea was that people who passed level four would be equipped to give introduction. He also stated in one SMS training that people following klong goal were making better progress than SMS people. For years I have watched people extolling sms teachers, but it really has not been as people have led themselves to believe.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:30 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



climb-up said:
What level have folks gotten to?
If no one got as far as level 4, are the steps to that point fully outlined?
[/quotte]

Several people are on level four. Of course this is also arbitrary, since this level
Of klong sde does not imply third vision.

Malcolm wrote:
Oh wow, that still kind seems like a big deal if the original intent was for people at level four to give DI.
It means that there was at least a plan for this particular lineage to continue (it’s just seemed odd to me that ChNN didn’t seem to have one, or at least didn’t spell it out for us) and ...maaaayybeeee these good people are the ones who could do it!
Right?
...maybe?

climb-up said:
people really don’t understand history of SMS, and why rinpoche created it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:30 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
people really don’t understand history of SMS, and why rinpoche originally created it. It didn’t work out as he originally planned.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:27 AM
Title: Re: Guide to Communism
Content:
Norwegian said:
Have you ever been engaged in any primary study of Marx? As in, have you read his own works, like Grundrisse? Capital? Communist Manifesto?

tingdzin said:
By their fruits you shall know them.

Fortyeightvows said:
so true. and very buddhist

Malcolm wrote:
Ummm, actually Jesus.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:22 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:



climb-up said:
What level have folks gotten to?
If no one got as far as level 4, are the steps to that point fully outlined?

Malcolm wrote:
Several people are on level four. Of course this is also arbitrary, since this level of klong sde does not imply third vision.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 9:21 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Fa Dao said:
Pang Mipham Gonpo was an 85 year old monk when he received the Longde teachings from Vairocana. He and 7 of his successors achieved Rainbow body. Whose to say that someone in the DC wont get to the third level of visions and then be willing to step up?
In other words..it aint over till its over!

Malcolm wrote:
Third vision is an iideal,  it is not really a requirement. Good thing too, cause if it were, ChNN would have waited too long to begin.  ChNNs original plan had people giving introduction after level 4.

climb-up said:
What level have folks gotten to?
If no one got as far as level 4, are the steps to that point fully outlined?

Malcolm wrote:
Several people are on level four. Of course this is also arbitrary, since this level
Of klong sde does not imply third vision.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 7:45 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Fa Dao said:
Pang Mipham Gonpo was an 85 year old monk when he received the Longde teachings from Vairocana. He and 7 of his successors achieved Rainbow body. Whose to say that someone in the DC wont get to the third level of visions and then be willing to step up?
In other words..it aint over till its over!

Malcolm wrote:
Third vision is an iideal,  it is not really a requirement. Good thing too, cause if it were, ChNN would have waited too long to begin.  ChNNs original plan had people giving introduction after level 4.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 5:27 AM
Title: Re: Annals of Communism
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
Thanks to many years of scholarship Yale University Press had given us many seminal works on communism.  The latest one is Stalin's Master Narrative, a critical edition of the standard manual giving the Party line for communists.

https://yalebooks.yale.edu/series/annals-of-communism-series

Malcolm wrote:
Now your cooking with gas. If you continued to present this kind of scholarship rather some of the ridiculous authors you previously have presented...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at 1:02 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Norwegian said:
The ball is entirely in the court of the Dzogchen Community as an official body. They have to make clear and must make clear what their vision is, what the way forward is. No more waiting. No more keeping things within the four walls of tired bureaucracy.

treehuggingoctopus said:
Well, yes, if there are any directives. If there are none -- as seems to be the case -- then we need to decide the direction together. To do so, we need absolute clarity and transparency, plus as much respectful and well-informed discussing and debating as possible. And I do not mean gossiping or conspiring in the shadows. We need to do it the proper way.

Malcolm wrote:
We will evolve past the present situation. No one knows what that will look like.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 21st, 2020 at 6:37 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
tingdzin said:
Well, if "Buddhists" are able to justify, even rejoice in, shining lasers in peoples' eyes, trying to burn cops alive, beating up complete strangers, etc. then there's no hope for the Dharma in the West. I know this will invite a lot of vituperation and slander, so I have nothing more to say right now. These are rough times in America, but we should all be able to stand back, take a deep breath, and look at our own assumptions.

Malcolm wrote:
You justified denying medical care to refugees...People in glass houses as the saying goes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 21st, 2020 at 2:42 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Dan74 said:
But rather than engage in the complexity of it, or even provide some actual content, it is easier to shout down a disembodied guy from Switzerland (not).

Malcolm wrote:
Disembodied white guys from Switzerland have time, in their alpine retreats, to contemplate such issues with the dispassion of a 19th century biologist dissecting a bug they've just snuffed with ether.

But you don't understand identity politics, you don't even seem to know where the term comes from. You think everything is quantified in some data set. It isn't.



Dan74 said:
You are a truly lovable guy, Malcolm! Made my day with this mental picture.

I hope one day to have the honour of buying you a beer or whatever is your beverage of choice in your favourite establishment. I bet a lot of disagreements will silently dissolve with no effort whatsoever.

Malcolm wrote:
Glad you see my real face.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 21st, 2020 at 1:12 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Dan74 said:
But rather than engage in the complexity of it, or even provide some actual content, it is easier to shout down a disembodied guy from Switzerland (not).

Malcolm wrote:
Disembodied white guys from Switzerland have time, in their alpine retreats, to contemplate such issues with the dispassion of a 19th century biologist dissecting a bug they've just snuffed with ether.

But you don't understand identity politics, you don't even seem to know where the term comes from. You think everything is quantified in some data set. It isn't.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 21st, 2020 at 1:04 AM
Title: Re: quote origin the world is made of karma
Content:
Toenail said:
Hey, I am looking for the origin of above sentence. I remember some scholar/famous past yogi said that, but I cant find the exact quote. I want to rip it off for my thesis

Malcolm wrote:
Abhidharmakosha, chapter 4, in the beginning. “The variety of the world arises from karma.”

Tenma said:
Where does karma originate from? Or is it an endless cycle without beginning nor end?

Malcolm wrote:
Actions arise from afflictions, resulting in suffering. There is no beginning.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 9:30 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Crazywisdom said:
It is also not for a more powerful group member to say, race is nothing. If one is actively benefitting from higher caste privileges then to say there is no caste is ridiculous.

Malcolm wrote:
CW:

Precisely. And this is what Dan's whole narrative supposes, "The problem isn't racism, per se., the problem is poverty, etc."

Tell that to my Haitian son in law. France and the US screwed Haiti because the Haitians rose up and kicked out the slavers.

Tell that the Navaho, etc., who still cannot get a fair shake from America; the indigenous people of Central America who are fleeing repressive regimes in Central America who have American-trained death squads and American-prison educated gangs. I maintain close contacts with many such people. I know their stories, their fears, and their pain.

Seeing some disembodied white guy from Switzerland cluelessly pontificate to us, who were raised in the US, about what is "really going on" in the US is well, words.

Dan:

America is a deeply racist country, Dan. Take it from me, I descend from OG Invader stock, Mayflower and all that. I know this much better than you.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 9:21 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Kim O'Hara said:
That's unnecessarily unkind and quite unhelpful, Malcolm.

Malcolm wrote:
It is very kind and very helpful. Dan has been around for years, and he continues to act as if he just woke up from a long nap.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 7:46 PM
Title: Re: quote origin the world is made of karma
Content:
Toenail said:
Hey, I am looking for the origin of above sentence. I remember some scholar/famous past yogi said that, but I cant find the exact quote. I want to rip it off for my thesis

Malcolm wrote:
Abhidharmakosha, chapter 4, in the beginning. “The variety of the world arises from karma.”


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 7:44 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


Dan74 said:
What interests me in the current conversation is whether the claims of wide-spread racial discrimination are true and whether they add up to be a significant impact on the welfare of the Black and other minority communities, or whether it is largely entrenched poverty and disadvantage, as I've said. Because, if it's the latter, then the conversation about race should not hog all the oxygen, and rather people should talk about removing the obstacles kids in disadvantaged communities face, rather than rambling on about racist white people. It's not the same thing and it doesn't lead to the same results, I think.

Malcolm wrote:
Dumb and dumber.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 7:42 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Dan74 said:
I don't put much stock in identity grievance issues and other individualist laments, like identity issues.

Malcolm wrote:
That’s because you don’t know the origin of the term “identity politics.” You are unaware of how it came to be, why it is important.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 8:45 AM
Title: Re: Dzogchen Community of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
500 people participated in the second meeting. Contact gakyils, gars, lings, sms instructors, dance instructors, yantra instructors, etc. they were all there. Demand an explanation.


Johnny Dangerous said:
Maybe that's an ok thing that things go in a smaller direction.

Russell said:
Yes, the organisation is there to support the teachers and the students, not the other way around, so if it needs to shrink a little we adapt to that.

I think this is the point, it takes time for the DC as a whole to recognise and give up their expectations, and when one does that one can see there really wasn't much fault in how things were handled. I'm not telling you to shut up or relax, just what worked for me.

Johnny Dangerous said:
It's not about fault, but about where to go from here, and not pretending things are something they aren't. Presenting an honest assessment of the situation to the membership at large. Basically it looks like it's going to be  a bunch of smaller groups with nothing left to unite them -if indeed there is no heir and no further transmission. Why would it go otherwise?

Speaking for myself, why would I be interested in that if I don't live near a gar or ling and have connection there? Other than the lightning bolt spiritual experience that was regular  DI and participation through webcast with Rinpoche, I know the DC members on this site more than I know anyone else in the DC, by far. There is no real mechanism for that to change. I imagine I am not the only DC member at large in this sort of situation. If things go this way, what is even the purpose of a general membership model, without a central transmission or teaching?

Without transmission being the thing that holds people together, nothing will look the same, and people like me will have little reason to remain members, without some major attempt at new ways of doing things. Yet, the communication tends to always emphasize the transmission we share, even emphasizing paying dues as a part of the responsibility of sharing that transmission! You can't on the one hand celebrate us all being unified through the transmission we were fortunate enough to receive from Rinpoche while also saying it's done with, and everyone is going to do their own thing, but that we should still support it the same as before. That's just crazy. That's the Head In The Sand approach I was talking about.

Some of this is just logisitical. For instance, if long time SMS teachers offer a class on Rushens or something, if it happens in a centralized location, accessible to DC members generally, this is a different than the more conditional offerings which seem to have gone on so far. The Webcast page has offered some interesting stuff, but simply trying to sort it is a task. If they want to go to a membership mode where transmission is no longer central, reorganization like this should be central to it. There are some real strengths too. I've personally had SMS teachers answer my questions through email over the years, and their help was vital to me - that sort of thing is serious juju. So I don't mean to sound purely discouraging, just realistic.

I don't want to blame anyone, I'm sure everyone is trying their best and no one means anything but their best intentions, but someone needs to seriously fix their messaging. It may be bitter medicine to hear that, but sorry, it's how I see it. I feel these are valid and somewhat obvious points that get shot down out of "being respectful" "being calm" "not assigning blame" etc. But this is kind of where the rubber meets the road, isn't it?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 4:48 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


Dan74 said:
Sorry, he actually said it? Doesn't make sense... Aren't there sentencing guidelines?

Malcolm wrote:
Regularly ignored for white defendants...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 4:47 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Dan74 said:
But they will be gone soon. Then what?

Malcolm wrote:
We have to deal with their children, in whom they instill the same beliefs.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 4:11 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


Dan74 said:
Do you mean to say that the very harsh mandatory sentencing for crack cocaine was intended to put a lot of Black Americans behind bars, basically an act of white supremacy...

Malcolm wrote:
White kids get probation for a rock of crack. Black kids get ten years for the same rock. You figure it out.

In the sixties, white kids got probation for a joint. Black kids got ten years for the same joint. You figure it out.

White man waves a gun around in public, he gets a citation for disturbing the peace. Black man waves a gun around in public, he gets shot dead. You figure it out.

You just don't know what you are talking about.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 12:47 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Dan74 said:
Reading a little about prominent Black Americans, it seems to me that what they had to battle mostly against was not actual overt racism, but generational poverty which leads to internalised racism or destructive anger.

Malcolm wrote:
The policies which created generational poverty among African Americans and Native People were, are, and continue to be overtly racist.

This is one of dumbest things I have ever seen you say.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 20th, 2020 at 12:41 AM
Title: Re: The Devil and Karl Marx
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
The first two sections of this 400+ page book are biographical, while the rest is more about the Devil & communism.  Paul Kengor has penned another fine survey of the demonic forces abounding nowadays.

https://www.tanbooks.com/the-devil-and-karl-marx.html

Malcolm wrote:
Seems catholic conservatives are really freaked out about a dead ideology.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 at 8:59 PM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:



PeterC said:
In a two-party system you can't not care about what the other side of the aisle does.  You can vote for them or vote for the republicans. You don't have to like the choice.  And who are "they", and what specifically is the "crazy shit" they are proposing that you think will lose the election?

Malcolm wrote:
He means AOC wing.

PeterC said:
The segment of the party that couldn’t be more different to Hillary Clinton and that actually appeals to younger voters?

That makes sense if you think this election will be decided by some phantom swing vote of disaffected republicans. I don’t believe that.

Malcolm wrote:
Neither do I.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 at 8:49 PM
Title: Re: The Woke Supremacy
Content:
Grigoris said:
When I read the original post I also thought that the book was light comic relief and then Danny came along and proved that some people actually take this shit seriously.

Imagine how delusional you have to be to believe that Obama was a socialist...

But really, this is just a clear example of just how far towards the Right the political pendulum has swung in the U$.

It highlights how deeply the "Red under the bed" hysteria has infiltrated into the Amerikan psyche.

Malcolm wrote:
Danny is not American. A brit, I think. And only among older white Americans who watch Carlson and Hannity. Everyone else laughs at the attempt to drum up a new red scare.

The pendulum among young people is rapidly swinging left, actually.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 at 8:49 PM
Title: Re: The Woke Supremacy
Content:
Nicholas Weeks said:
but every socialist from Marx to Hitler to Lennon...

Malcolm wrote:
First, Hitler was not a socialist by any stretch of the imagination, despite the use of the term "socialist" as a marketing ploy when the name of the Right-wing German Worker's Party (DAP) was changed to NSDAP.

Secondly, you mean this Lennon?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 at 7:36 PM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:



PeterC said:
Are...we...comparing relative honesty in debate performances?  Because that's not going to look good for the other side of the aisle...

Fa Dao said:
Im...a....democrat...and dont give a crap about what the "other side of the aisle" does. We used to be the "good guys"..now were becoming the party of lunatics. Still am undecided if it was worse that the DNC chose Hillary in 2016 or Biden/Harris in 2020 to represent us..not particularly thrilled with the DNC platform either..doesn't represent the majority of Dems out there..if they dont tone down all the crazy shit they are proposing they will virtually hand the election to Trump in a landslide

PeterC said:
In a two-party system you can't not care about what the other side of the aisle does.  You can vote for them or vote for the republicans. You don't have to like the choice.  And who are "they", and what specifically is the "crazy shit" they are proposing that you think will lose the election?

Malcolm wrote:
He means AOC wing.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 16th, 2020 at 9:09 PM
Title: Re: Major Floods & Landslides Occur Throughout China - Jul. 7 / Jul. 14, 2020
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Yes, and the Chinese Gvt. is asking people to reduce their intake of food. Good times had by all.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 16th, 2020 at 7:59 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


Brunelleschi said:
The point that I'm trying to convey is that, in my opinion, a generous free speech is a safeguard against authoritarianism. Stifling speech is a method of authoritarianism - we all know about Trumps disdain for and attacks on journalists. The problem is *who* exactly is going to regulate speech. You want laws with punching power? Great, but don't be surprised when it's used by people you don't like.

Malcolm wrote:
The US has the most generous free speech provisions in the world. The freedom of the press is written into the constitution.

However, free speech does not include the right to violate civil rights: for example, if one uses slurs against black and jewish people in one context, it is permitted, for example, among your friends, an internet forum, etc..

If one uses the same slur to verbally assault a black or a jewish person, this is a felony punishable by jail time, even on an internet forum, etc.

If you are generally raving about Rothschilds and ZOG, well, you are an idiot, but in the US, it is not a crime to be an idiot. If someone comes on your forum and you attack them with slurs, you could be facing jail time if they can afford a lawyer, etc., etc.

In fact all speech is regulated; most of it is self-regulated, by custom and convention. Some speech is criminal, demonstrably harmful and misleading speech, like false advertising, crying fire in a theater, etc. There is lots of speech others consider harmful, like forums devoted to ethnostates, but the argument here that some are making is that such speech deserves to be included amongst harmful speech. This is a legal question, since it has not been brought up in court as far as I know. But I think it would very hard to pass laws against this in the US.

However, in private forums, holding that speech which advocates for such things ought to be banned is perfectly fine. Free speech only extends to public speech, not private speech.

Now, I understand you are not advocating for ethnostates personally, but you are making an nonargument. If the gods of this forum decree there shall be no discussion of ethnostates, then there will be no discussion of ethnostates, etc. And such a drecree violates no one's free speech rights because we are all here voluntarily.

Suppressing Milo talks is perfectly fine. Milo is an asshole. No one has ever made it illegal to shout down your opponent. This is essentially what is happening with these alt-right douches, they are being shouted down, and rightly so. Some glass might get broken, but that is what insurance is for.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 16th, 2020 at 6:23 PM
Title: Re: Heart-sons
Content:


yagmort said:
about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche principal lineage holders i have not got a clue. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche? would be glad for any help here

Malcolm wrote:
Sechen rabjam


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 16th, 2020 at 6:22 PM
Title: Re: 108 great tertöns
Content:
yagmort said:
probably has to do with 7 transmissions.

so it seems getting all seven is what constitutes a "major terton".

Malcolm wrote:
No, this was a unique quality of JKW.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 16th, 2020 at 5:07 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Brunelleschi said:
So, save it for someone else - you don't know squat about me. How could one possibly be a Buddhist and support an ethnostate.

Malcolm wrote:
So why are you supporting this idea?

Brunelleschi said:
Obviously if one incites violence that would be illegal under current laws in most Western countries. There could be situations where it would be legal. For example the NOI made the proposition of creating a black state - I think they proposed Georgia. That should be legal in my opinion. Not the best example but, eh.

Malcolm wrote:
They tried to make Oregon a white ethnostate. It didn't work. It's unconstitutional.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 15th, 2020 at 7:42 PM
Title: Re: 108 great tertöns
Content:
yagmort said:
imho unlikely, as both Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Kheyntse Wangpo are there.

i don't quite get it if this list belongs to terma prophecies or Jamgön Kongtrul own creativity? if it's the latter case then perhaps he didn't include Düdjom Lingpa since he refused his termas be included in Rinchen Terdzö.. but that's just my uneducated assumption.

Malcolm wrote:
There are many great Tetons not included in that list.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 15th, 2020 at 7:38 PM
Title: Re: Tsa Lung and Guru Yoga in the Bön tradition vs Tibetan Buddhism
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
What it boils down to is that Bonpos has their narrative myths and legends and Buddhists have theirs.

There really isn’t much reason to privilege one over the other, other than that we were introduced to one school first rather then the other.

Bonpo literature is intrinsically valuable and shows another facet of Tibetan civilization, one more rooted in Tibet’s indigenous culture.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 15th, 2020 at 5:24 AM
Title: Re: Tsa Lung and Guru Yoga in the Bön tradition vs Tibetan Buddhism
Content:


Charlie123 said:
Thanks for the info. I have had a very positive impression of Alejandro Chaoul. FWIW, ChNN encouraged him to study with Bonpo gurus. This is actually how he ended up a student of Lopon Tenzin Namdak.

Malcolm wrote:
Alejandro is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 14th, 2020 at 7:52 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


Fa Dao said:
You have missed the point...of course no one is FOR fascism...but when taken to an extreme like antifa has done to shut down any and all dissent by labeling anything they disagree with as fascist they themselves, ironically, become fascists

Malcolm wrote:
“The really dangerous American fascist... is the man who wants to do in the United States in an American way what Hitler did in Germany in a Prussian way. The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information. With a fascist the problem is never how best to present the truth to the public but how best to use the news to deceive the public into giving the fascist and his group more money or more power... They claim to be super-patriots, but they would destroy every liberty guaranteed by the Constitution. They demand free enterprise, but are the spokesmen for monopoly and vested interest. Their final objective, toward which all their deceit is directed, is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection."

Henry A. Wallace

https://www.cbsd.org/cms/lib/PA01916442/Centricity/Domain/1864/Henry%20Wallace_The%20Danger%20of%20American%20Fascism.pdf

In other words, FD, our present administration. Fascism is real, fascism is here, and thankfully, we have an Antifascist movement in this country, despite its occasional, and regrettable excesses. They pale in comparison however to locking up in children for years in concentration camps, etc.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 14th, 2020 at 10:08 AM
Title: Re: Dagpo Kagyu empowerments
Content:


Pero said:
Sorry, I know this is off topic, but if he had such a big library how come he had a limited exposure to Dzogchen? Or at least so it seems to me if he concluded that is only the result IIRC.

Malcolm wrote:
He asserted it was a ye shes. And when I asked ChNN about this in 1992, he said that Sapan was correct. Sapan mentions that he received Dzogchen teachings, but he does not specify which. But certainly he received sems sde in the Khon family lineage.

Crazywisdom said:
So why read  something we know is wrong? In Dzogchen wisdom is not necessarily brought on by four initiations. The first 3 are worldly. Actual so called gnosis is not dependent on worldly anything. Let alone stages. So what are we learning from Sapan?

Malcolm wrote:
Sapan isn’t wrong, on this point. But his position is predicated on certain assumptions


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 13th, 2020 at 12:19 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
PeterC said:
Maybe the mods should create a new thread - “the great ngakpa/robes debate” - and use it like the thread for vegetarianism?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 at 11:49 PM
Title: Re: TL;DR: We are screwed.
Content:



PeterC said:
Those songs are probably better. All the class war stuff seems so dated these days, though. I guess - to paraphrase another song - the war is ended and the good guys lost

Malcolm wrote:
FDR ended the class war by instituting the New Deal, etc. he is the single reason there was no socialist revolution in the US. But that was when the US, after decades of selective, racist, immigration policies, was predominantly white. Now, in the US, race is class, and unless we get our shit together and offer brown and black people more than empty words and token parity, we will have another class war on our hands as a result of the systematic dismantling of not only Johnson’s Great Society, but also FDR’s New Deal. Then there is the environment...and pernicious effects of unregulated capitalism.

PeterC said:
Race is class today, but class is also just class - however the lower-class white population have been so effectively co-opted into acting against their interests that they fight part of the class war on behalf of their masters against the people with who they should have common cause.

Malcolm wrote:
That's been going on in the America since the late 17th century.

PeterC said:
I think the class war is a reality today, not a future possibility. Why else spend so much money arming the police to fight it?

Malcolm wrote:
I don't think we have even seen the the half of it, if things continue with Trump for another four years.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 at 6:45 PM
Title: Re: TL;DR: We are screwed.
Content:
Danny said:
Paul weller was ok, I got the lyric reference. Prefer “in the city” or classic class warfare of “Eton rifles”.
Don’t know if the public wanted the style council, but we certainly got it tho!

PeterC said:
Those songs are probably better. All the class war stuff seems so dated these days, though. I guess - to paraphrase another song - the war is ended and the good guys lost

Malcolm wrote:
FDR ended the class war by instituting the New Deal, etc. he is the single reason there was no socialist revolution in the US. But that was when the US, after decades of selective, racist, immigration policies, was predominantly white. Now, in the US, race is class, and unless we get our shit together and offer brown and black people more than empty words and token parity, we will have another class war on our hands as a result of the systematic dismantling of not only Johnson’s Great Society, but also FDR’s New Deal. Then there is the environment...and pernicious effects of unregulated capitalism.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 at 6:25 PM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:
Crazywisdom said:
You will see fancy talk but the actual action will be the kinds of things Reagan democrats like Biden's people would want. Biden-Harris is totally going to trounce Trump in the election. Trump is frak.

Malcolm wrote:
I would be happy just to see a competent US Gvt. again. I am quite certain that Biden will install a competent administration. I a, equally sure that if the Democrats take both the Hiuse and Senate, he won’t squander the opportunity by being overly compromising with the party formerly known as the GOP.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 at 9:27 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:



javier.espinoza.t said:
i care because dharma, it aint about this or that guy/girl. if one doesn't care for it, it disappears, don't you agree?

Malcolm wrote:
It’s going to disappear anyway.

javier.espinoza.t said:
not the best excuse to be passive, i think, Acharya.

Malcolm wrote:
It has nothing to do with being passive. It was predicted by the Buddha.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 at 9:02 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Tata1 said:
Why are yall so worried about how other people like to do their dharma practice

javier.espinoza.t said:
i care because dharma, it aint about this or that guy/girl. if one doesn't care for it, it disappears, don't you agree?

Malcolm wrote:
It’s going to disappear anyway.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 12th, 2020 at 3:19 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Wow, still arguing about thus? Come on...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 11:41 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


mutsuk said:
edited

Malcolm wrote:
I don't think I have ever done that. So your rhetoric cannot possibly be aimed at me.

I do think however we in the US need to tighten up our act, and switch to a coordinated market economy, and let go of the liberal market economy we now have, which is fiscally expensive and socially irresponsible.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 11:39 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
mutsuk said:
edited
...

Malcolm wrote:
There is no such thing as a "leftist fascist." I think the word you are looking for "totalitarian leftist." That would be more accurate. It certainly wouldn't describe me.

Not all people on the left rock the hammer and sickle or wear tee shirts with pictures of Che, who as you aptly observe, was extremely homophobic, but then, even homosexuals were homophobic in those days, and many who are closeted now remain so. But also the communism you are railing against is not the communism you were raised under, aka Marxist-Leninism. What we have now is "market communism."

This is all a tempest in a teapot, I am afraid.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 11:01 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:


mutsuk said:
edited

Malcolm wrote:
Anti-fascism /= communism, though in the 1930's it very well may have. Of course, we know that you were raised under communism, and I think we all agree that any totalitarianism, whether it is right-wing totalitarianism, i.e., fascism; or left-wing totalitarianism, i.e., communism, or religious totalitarianism, i.e., Wahabism, Fundamentalist Christianity, etc., are fundamentally evil death cults.

On the other hand, we do have to keep in mind that the Buddha himself proclaimed the demise of the Dharma within 5000 years. So there is that.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 10:54 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Matt J said:
The problem is the criteria of intolerance.

Malcolm wrote:
Fascism was well defined by Umberto Eco:
The cult of tradition. “One has only to look at the syllabus of every fascist movement to find the major traditionalist thinkers. The Nazi gnosis was nourished by traditionalist, syncretistic, occult elements.”

The rejection of modernism. “The Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, is seen as the beginning of modern depravity. In this sense Ur-Fascism can be defined as irrationalism.”

The cult of action for action’s sake. “Action being beautiful in itself, it must be taken before, or without, any previous reflection. Thinking is a form of emasculation.”

Disagreement is treason. “The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism. In modern culture the scientific community praises disagreement as a way to improve knowledge.”

Fear of difference. “The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition.”

Appeal to social frustration. “One of the most typical features of the historical fascism was the appeal to a frustrated middle class, a class suffering from an economic crisis or feelings of political humiliation, and frightened by the pressure of lower social groups.”

The obsession with a plot. “The followers must feel besieged. The easiest way to solve the plot is the appeal to xenophobia.”

The enemy is both strong and weak. “By a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak.”

Pacifism is trafficking with the enemy. “For Ur-Fascism there is no struggle for life but, rather, life is lived for struggle.”

Contempt for the weak. “Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology.”

Everybody is educated to become a hero. “In Ur-Fascist ideology, heroism is the norm. This cult of heroism is strictly linked with the cult of death.”

Machismo and weaponry. “Machismo implies both disdain for women and intolerance and condemnation of nonstandard sexual habits, from chastity to homosexuality.”

Selective populism. “There is in our future a TV or Internet populism, in which the emotional response of a selected group of citizens can be presented and accepted as the Voice of the People.”

Ur-Fascism speaks Newspeak. “All the Nazi or Fascist schoolbooks made use of an impoverished vocabulary, and an elementary syntax, in order to limit the instruments for complex and critical reasoning.”
http://www.openculture.com/2016/11/umberto-eco-makes-a-list-of-the-14-common-features-of-fascism.html

Please use this as a checklist for determining whether someone or some nation is fascistic or not. I don't think Dharmawheel makes the cut, not matter how you slice it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 7:25 PM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Fortyeightvows said:
Political propaganda on dharmawheel

mutsuk said:
edited

Malcolm wrote:
"In order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance...I do not imply for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would be most unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force...”

—The Open Society and Its Enemies, Karl Popper.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 7:21 PM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:
Grigoris said:
What is Biden's position on the concentration camps on the southern border?

Any plans for the seperated children?

LhakpaT said:
He didn't have a problem with him when he was vice president

Malcolm wrote:
Unlike the present policy, the Obama policyof separating children from parents  was employed only when the parent was charged with a felony, or if the adult was suspected of not being the child or children's parent. Otherwise, children were not, as a rule, separated from their parents, when families crossed the border.

So, completely different.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 9:33 AM
Title: Re: a confession
Content:
pemachophel said:
Pero,

The five sins of immediate retribution that you list are the sins that take you immediately to hell when you die without passing through the bardo or taking another life in-between. There are plenty of demeritorious actions beyond these five that can take you to hell. However, it is only these five that take you immediately to hell. But, not to worry, there are a number of different mantra that, when recited with the Four Powers (of confession and purification) can eliminate even the karma of the five sins of immediate retribution.

Malcolm wrote:
Also practicing dzogchen bypasses these.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 4:46 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Grigoris said:
Possibly because he has accomplished Jambhala or another Ratna family practice?

Malcolm wrote:
Of maybe he just likes gold brocade. It is very popular among Tibetans.

heart said:
Seems reasonable to me. He seems too like to dress up these days.

He was pretty young when I met him. He lived with a yogi, his root lama, when he was very young. Then he went to Dzogchen monastery and became a Khenpo very fast. When he left Tibet he went to south India and debated with the Gelug. He told me; "they don't like me there".

/magnus

Malcolm wrote:
He also tried to debate CHNN. He lost.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 4:10 AM
Title: Re: Antifa, The Anti-Fascist Handbook by Mark Bray
Content:
Shotenzenjin said:
Critics say shutting down political adversaries is anti-democratic; antifa adherents argue that the horrors of fascism must never be allowed the slightest chance to triumph again.

Malcolm wrote:
Strongly agree.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 2:19 AM
Title: Re: Sources substantiating claims about "Hindus" not achieving liberation
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
BTW, "Sources substantiating claims about "Hindus" not achieving liberation" is a misstated question.

Think about it. What do Buddhists claim liberation is? It is very simple, and all Buddhist schools, including Dzogchen, agree that liberation is freedom from affliction that causes rebirth in samsara. There are schools in Hinduism that agree with this proposition also.

But where do they disagree with Buddhadharma?

Hindu schools do not agree with how Buddha defined rebirth, or with how Buddha presented karma, or Buddha's presentation of dependent origination, and they reject the Buddha's assertion of two-fold emptiness. Thus, how could they possibly be discussing the same liberation as the Buddha? It is quite impossible actually.

So it is very simple to examine what various Hindu Darshan's claim about liberation and the procedures for realizing it. When you find a Hindu school that is not Buddhism that presents essentially the same message as Buddhism on rebirth. karma, dependent origination, two-fold emptiness, and so on, please share your research with us. As far as I know, that only nonbuddhist school which agrees with Buddhadharma on all of these points is Bon.

Until then, this conversation is fruitless.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 2:04 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Adamantine said:
Yeah that accords with my experience of various ngakpas I’ve known. For example, Khenpo Choga seems to really like wearing golden outfits:

Grigoris said:
Possibly because he has accomplished Jambhala or another Ratna family practice?

Malcolm wrote:
Of maybe he just likes gold brocade. It is very popular among Tibetans.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 1:53 AM
Title: Re: Sources substantiating claims about "Hindus" not achieving liberation
Content:
fckw said:
Which is most likely true for Advaita Vedanta, but which may not necessarily be true for especially the tantric Hindu tradition. If you take, for instance, the Spanda school of thought, at the core of their belief system seems to be the idea of "pulsating awareness", not the question of identity of Self and Brahman.

Malcolm wrote:
Spanda is just part of Trika, and as such, it is both substantialist and eternalist. Any reading of the Spandakarika's will show this. Further, since Spanda is just based on Samkhya, it is also a realist school.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 10th, 2020 at 1:42 AM
Title: Re: Sources substantiating claims about "Hindus" not achieving liberation
Content:
Matt J said:
One problem is that Hinduism as it exists and is practiced today did not exist at the time of the Buddha-- there was Samkhya and Brahmanic rituals. Arguably, Vedanta derived a lot of its teaching from Tantrism and also Buddhism.

Malcolm wrote:
There was also nondualist Vedanta prior to the Buddha. However, a quick examination of the Brahmajala sutta will swiftly show that despite Indian philosophies many developments, its plethora of schools are either eternalist or annihilationist.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 9th, 2020 at 8:59 PM
Title: Re: Sources substantiating claims about "Hindus" not achieving liberation
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
The Buddha statements to this effect maybe found in the Mahaparinibbana sutta, as well as the Majjhima Nikaya. In these texts it is recorded that he said that outside of his Dharma and Vinaya, there were no stream entrants, once-returners, never-returners, or arhats. This means that there are no awakened people outside of those who follow Buddhadharma. Some people may object, "what about pratyekabuddhas?" A pratyekabuddha is a kind of an arhat who previously generated to the bodhicitta aspiration to achieve awakening in a future rebirth, even though a samyaksambuddha had not taken birth in the world. More info here: https://www.what-buddha-said.net/files/library/wheels/wh305.pdf


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2020 at 10:42 AM
Title: Re: Dagpo Kagyu empowerments
Content:



PeterC said:
I found it very difficult to disagree with his arguments in Three Vows, even the ones I didn’t agree with.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed, Sapan, without question, was the greatest scholar in Tibet in the 13th century. And why not? He spoke and wrote Sanskrit fluently, had received nearly every teaching extant in Tibet during his day, had studied with 30 Indian tutors, and so on. His personal library boasted 3000 texts in Tibetan and Sanskrit,  etc., etc. Actually, Tibet has never seen such a scholar since his time. That does not mean I personally agree with every one of his claims or critiques. But his scholarship was an exemplary model of an originalist approach to Buddhadharma, basing himself closely on what the texts of sūtra and tantra say, as opposed to the opinions of this or that guru.

Pero said:
Sorry, I know this is off topic, but if he had such a big library how come he had a limited exposure to Dzogchen? Or at least so it seems to me if he concluded that is only the result IIRC.

Malcolm wrote:
He asserted it was a ye shes. And when I asked ChNN about this in 1992, he said that Sapan was correct. Sapan mentions that he received Dzogchen teachings, but he does not specify which. But certainly he received sems sde in the Khon family lineage.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2020 at 10:08 AM
Title: Re: is Consciousness a material element?
Content:
Artziebetter1 said:
is consciousness a material element in Tibetan Buddhism(among 4 other elements)?in wich way is it an element if it is not material?and in wich way is it material?how can matter give rise to subjective awareness?how can it interact with matter if it is not material?

Malcolm wrote:
Consciousness, like space, is a dhātu (khams), but not a bhūta ('byung ba). Hence, it is counted among the six "elements," but is not one of four material "elements."

In the Buddhist scheme of things in general, consciousness gives rise to matter. All matter derives from consciousness. Though it seems there is Catersian Dualism in Buddhism, this is actually not correct. There is no absolute mind/matter dualism in Buddhadharma. Mind (nama) conditions matter (rūpa), matter conditions mind.

Artziebetter1 said:
Thanks malcolm.are you saying thus that buddhism holds the same view as idealism,where matter is  a result of the mind's conscious projection?I thought only cittamatra held to idealism.what is the difference then between say dzogchen and cittamatra on consciousness creating matter?

Blessings!

Malcolm wrote:
It depends on the school, actually. It is also a complicated explanation.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2020 at 3:45 AM
Title: Re: Dagpo Kagyu empowerments
Content:


Malcolm wrote:
Everyone should read Sapan’s three vows and his Clarifying the Muni’s Intent, even if it pisses them off. He raises excellent questions, and was an amazing scholar and practitioner. He was also the product of a particular era in Tibetan history, and it shows.

PeterC said:
I found it very difficult to disagree with his arguments in Three Vows, even the ones I didn’t agree with.

Malcolm wrote:
Indeed, Sapan, without question, was the greatest scholar in Tibet in the 13th century. And why not? He spoke and wrote Sanskrit fluently, had received nearly every teaching extant in Tibet during his day, had studied with 30 Indian tutors, and so on. His personal library boasted 3000 texts in Tibetan and Sanskrit,  etc., etc. Actually, Tibet has never seen such a scholar since his time. That does not mean I personally agree with every one of his claims or critiques. But his scholarship was an exemplary model of an originalist approach to Buddhadharma, basing himself closely on what the texts of sūtra and tantra say, as opposed to the opinions of this or that guru.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2020 at 3:33 AM
Title: Re: Dagpo Kagyu empowerments
Content:



PeterC said:
I think at the time they were writing, a lot was at stake. Fake lineages and fake termas did exist, and though the polemic literature may be a little...unnecessary at times, arguably it performed a needed quality control function. Though of course that wasn't the only, perhaps wasn't even the main reason for the existence of that literature.

Do we, centuries later, need to worry about it?  Well, nobody is going to discover something in a text that suddenly makes people stop practicing a major teaching. But just as we're encouraged to study the guru for years (which nobody does anymore), it can't hurt to read some of this material. And if it does raise doubts in our minds, perhaps that indicates our confidence in the guru is not what it should be, or that we haven't worked hard enough on the practice to see its benefits.

Malcolm wrote:
Everyone should read Sapan’s three vows and his Clarifying the Muni’s Intent, even if it pisses them off. He raises excellent questions, and was an amazing scholar and practitioner. He was also the product of a particular era in Tibetan history, and it shows.

spinoza said:
Sakya Chokden's commentary on his text defends Kagyu Mahamudra against many of the disputes raised by him.

Malcolm wrote:
Such is the nature of polemics.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 11:12 PM
Title: Re: How to know which image is restricted? (Split from "Do you know this diety?")
Content:
yagmort said:
[Mod note:] Topic split from here https://dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?p=546960#p546960

i'm confused how do we expect a vajrayana amateur to go about lots and lots of images over the web if none of them are said to be restricted, unlike texts? in case of images how do we recognise a restricted image before we look at it? seems impossible. has this issue been addressed by any lama/Rinpoche? should we purify our negative karma in case we stumbled upon a picture we shouldn't suppose to see?

Malcolm wrote:
It is not your negative karma if you see; it is your negative karma if you share, since it is a violation of branch samayas. If you do not have such samayas, then it is just art.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 11:09 PM
Title: Re: is Consciousness a material element?
Content:
Artziebetter1 said:
is consciousness a material element in Tibetan Buddhism(among 4 other elements)?in wich way is it an element if it is not material?and in wich way is it material?how can matter give rise to subjective awareness?how can it interact with matter if it is not material?

Malcolm wrote:
Consciousness, like space, is a dhātu (khams), but not a bhūta ('byung ba). Hence, it is counted among the six "elements," but is not one of four material "elements."

In the Buddhist scheme of things in general, consciousness gives rise to matter. All matter derives from consciousness. Though it seems there is Catersian Dualism in Buddhism, this is actually not correct. There is no absolute mind/matter dualism in Buddhadharma. Mind (nama) conditions matter (rūpa), matter conditions mind.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 7:19 PM
Title: Re: Dagpo Kagyu empowerments
Content:
tobes said:
I think Sarah Harding's WTF paper is really good for showing just how deep this labyrinth goes. In the end, I think the real question is: what is actually at stake in all of this?

Beyond sectarianism, politics etc, I think the answer is: very little.

PeterC said:
I think at the time they were writing, a lot was at stake. Fake lineages and fake termas did exist, and though the polemic literature may be a little...unnecessary at times, arguably it performed a needed quality control function. Though of course that wasn't the only, perhaps wasn't even the main reason for the existence of that literature.

Do we, centuries later, need to worry about it?  Well, nobody is going to discover something in a text that suddenly makes people stop practicing a major teaching. But just as we're encouraged to study the guru for years (which nobody does anymore), it can't hurt to read some of this material. And if it does raise doubts in our minds, perhaps that indicates our confidence in the guru is not what it should be, or that we haven't worked hard enough on the practice to see its benefits.

Malcolm wrote:
Everyone should read Sapan’s three vows and his Clarifying the Muni’s Intent, even if it pisses them off. He raises excellent questions, and was an amazing scholar and practitioner. He was also the product of a particular era in Tibetan history, and it shows.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 10:44 AM
Title: Re: Do you know who this deity is?
Content:
yagmort said:
how much of a negative karma that constitutes ?

Malcolm wrote:
It seems unavoidable. Like selling Dharma books, etc.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 9:28 AM
Title: Can a Lazy Person Awaken? Split from Zen forum
Content:
clyde said:
According to Bankei, Generally speaking, Zen teachers nowadays instruct people by setting up rules or using devices. Believing that without devices they can't manage, behaving as if without them it's impossible to instruct anyone, they're unable to teach by simply pointing things out directly. To teach people [this way], unable to manage without devices, is 'devices Zen.'

"Others tell students pursuing this teaching that it's no good unless they rouse a great ball of doubt and succeed in breaking through it. 'No matter what,' they tell them, 'you've got to rouse a ball of doubt!' They don't teach, 'Abide in the Unborn Buddha Mind!' [but instead] cause people without any ball of doubt to saddle themselves with one, making them exchange the Buddha Mind for a ball of doubt. A mistaken business, isn't it!

Malcolm wrote:
"Decide that doubt is liberation."

—Garab Dorje


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 6:32 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
javier.espinoza.t said:
will you say that there is no such thing as taking advantage of such things indifferently in east or west?

treehuggingoctopus said:
What exacty is so advantageous about putting on zendras et al?

Malcolm wrote:
Nothing, as far as I can tell. Some people like stripped Zens. Some people like Hawaiian Shirts. Personally, I can't be bothered with mandated uniforms. After all, it is not like Guru Rinpoche cares. His compassion is not limited.

Like I told Sangye Khandro once (whom I deeply respect), the only religious gear I wear is a DC melong, since it is a takdrol, and since it was given to me by ChNN. Well, you can count my hair too, since that is a KDL thing. Otherwise, I just wear whatever I like, wherever I like. No one has yet ever said to me, "you can't be a ngakpa if you don't wear a white lower robe, a blue shirt, and a striped Zen." I have met so many different lamas from the Dudjom Tersar tradition, and they all wear different cloths, some rock the ngakpa gear, some don't, some do occasionally, some never do, one guy I know wheres in Indian dhoti for his white lower robe. There is nothing certain at all. It's all just a play of delusion.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 5:58 AM
Title: Re: Do you know who this deity is?
Content:
yagmort said:
apologies for my ignorance, but why is it inappropriate showing this image publicly? i mean there are plenty of vajrayana pictures both online and printed, is it something about Ekajati specifically? restricted sadhanas and other texts come with a warning normally, i don't remember seeing a restriction warning for a deity picture.

Malcolm wrote:
Images of deities of the inner tantras are samaya images. Just because every one shows them these days does not make it right.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 5:30 AM
Title: Re: Hiroshima 75th anniversary
Content:
Archie2009 said:
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Malcolm wrote:
Pretty amazing that on a Buddhist site, after nearly eight hours, this gets no attention or mention.

Astonished.

Archie2009 said:
The thread title makes no mention of a statement by His Holiness. Furthermore it's been a busy, hot day.

Malcolm wrote:
I was surprised that no one seemed to notice or even bother to look. I should thought have the topic itself was sufficient.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, August 7th, 2020 at 3:12 AM
Title: Re: Hiroshima 75th anniversary
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Pretty amazing that on a Buddhist site, after nearly eight hours, this gets no attention or mention.

Astonished.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2020 at 7:41 PM
Title: Re: Guide to the Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra
Content:
avatamsaka3 said:
Excellent, thanks.

Zhen Li said:
If you are interested in the Avataṃsaka, there is also a guide for the Daśabhūmika.

As a quick update, I now also have uploaded the guides for the Laṅkāvatāra and Lalitavistara. Now I just have to revise the Samādhirāja.

There's nothing I can do for the Tathāgataguhyaka at the moment as the translation has not been published—I hear 84,000 has one in the works and Péter-Dániel Szántó is producing a translation, but no idea when they will come out. In the meantime, it is possible to do as the Newars do which is substitute the Guhyasamaja, but that would somewhat interfere with the theme of these being exoteric texts. I also am not qualified to discuss something like that, but with some study it might be possible.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, if you received the empowerment, practiced the sadhana for some years, and studied the commentaries of Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, and Candrakirti, etc. otherwise, no, you would in no way be qualified to discuss something like that. And then, you could discuss this others who’ve had the same training.

Otherwise, bravo for you efforts above.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2020 at 7:34 PM
Title: Hiroshima 75th anniversary
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Statement of His Holiness, The Dalai Lama: 8AF41A04-DDE9-4BEB-9398-8B24A2F14BC7.jpeg (128.73 KiB) Viewed 6929 times


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2020 at 7:29 PM
Title: Re: Do you know who this deity is?
Content:
johnwongnew said:
Hi,

Can someone tell me the name of this deity?
Is this deity Ekajati?
I am not sure because Ekajati is normally blue color or red color.
Is she an emanation of Vajrapani?
Do you have the mantra of this deity?
Thank you.
Link removed.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, this is ekajati. No one should be giving out her mantra in a public forum.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2020 at 9:59 AM
Title: Re: TL;DR: We are screwed.
Content:



PeterC said:
I'm increasingly convinced that we need world population back down to where it was a century ago - so about two billion or so - which will buy us a few more centuries to figure this out.  Otherwise civilization ends up in a state from which it never recovers.

Of course all the means of returning to that level are...problematic.

Malcolm wrote:
Try 1804. One billion, and keep it there.

PeterC said:
That would be better.  But then we need a 7/8 reduction rather than a 3/4 reduction in population. Either way only a combination of war, famine, disease etc. on a global scale achieve that.

Malcolm wrote:
It’s going to happen anyway, but not before we wreck the world.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, August 6th, 2020 at 9:39 AM
Title: Re: TL;DR: We are screwed.
Content:
Queequeg said:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63657-6?fbclid=IwAR2PVm0A-SgtFl4XLq-wfBsC3MVylNi1qlxzdK2naVQD5kK3zl5ibXCMbFA

"Modern societies are in fact driven by Economy, and, without giving here a well detailed definition of “economical society”, we may agree that such a kind of society privileges the interest of its components with less or no concern for the whole ecosystem that hosts them... Giving a very broad meaning to the concept of cultural civilisation as a civilisation not strongly ruled by economy, we suggest for avoiding collapse that only civilisations capable of such a switch from an economical society to a sort of “cultural” society in a timely manner, may survive."

Yeah, man. The paradigm needs to change.

How do we get there from here?

PeterC said:
I'm increasingly convinced that we need world population back down to where it was a century ago - so about two billion or so - which will buy us a few more centuries to figure this out.  Otherwise civilization ends up in a state from which it never recovers.

Of course all the means of returning to that level are...problematic.

Malcolm wrote:
Try 1804. One billion, and keep it there.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 at 9:38 PM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 20: significance of the threefold skandhas/ayatana/dhatu system
Content:


PeterC said:
…but provides no further discussion of ayatana. So that seems straightforward.  So on to dhatu, the definition of which above isn’t immediately obvious:
Dhatu signifies gotra, race, lineage. In the same way that the place, the mountain, where there are many ‘families’ of gems – iron, copper, silver, gold – is said ‘to have numerous dhatus’, in this same way in the human complex or series, there are eighteen types of ‘families’ which are called the eighteen dhatus.
Gotra is thus a mine. …
The dhatus are the mine of their own species: the eye, being a ‘cause similar to its effect’ of the later moments of the existence of the eye, is the mine, the dhatu of the eye.

I find this analogy distinctly unhelpful.  It then says that the unconditioned things are dhatu in the sense that they are “the mine of the mind and mental states”.  This seems inconsistent – wouldn’t that associate them with the mental consciousness?

Malcolm wrote:
This is actually a really important point, and shows why English translations of the term dhātu as "basic space" and so on are entirely inadequate. So, for example, the six elements are called the sadadhātu—earth, water, fire, air, space, and consciousness—grouped together because these elements are of the same grenre, or family. Likewise, there are the genre of the mind, mental consciousness, and mental factors, etc. Uncompounded dharmas are in the dharmadhātu, because they are strictly objects of the mind and mental consciousness. In this way, the three uncompounded dharmas are the of the same genre as 49 of the 51 mental (excluding sensation and perception, which are treated separately because they are also indriyas). In Tibetan, the term dharmdhātu in this context is translated as chos kyi khams, literally "dharma element," whereas in a Mahāyāna context, it is translated "chos kyi dbying," "source of phenomena" (all Tibetans gloss dbyings as a 'byung gnas, a place of production, which resembles the definition of a mine.)


PeterC said:
(Brief pause while we appreciate the elegance of this grouping and, at the same time, we all justify why we’re in group #1.)

Malcolm wrote:
Well, we all are subject to the Dunning-Kruger effect, right? The main purpose of Abhidharma is to prove that.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 at 7:28 PM
Title: Re: Tantra and level of concentration
Content:
n8pee said:
I was trained that mastery of the generation stage is being able to visualize the mandala without distraction for two hours. I was also told that when you can not only remove the apple from the tree, but place it back on the tree (via your meditation), you're ready for completion stage.

Lingpupa said:
Well that pretty much counts out me and everyone I ever met. Are you sure it isn't eight hours?

PeterC said:
In one of his introductory books HHDL mentions, I think, three or four hours stability as a sign of the development stage being well-developed

Instructions vary considerably

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, this not a Sakya POV, which places emphasis on the completion stage right away.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 at 6:33 PM
Title: Re: Abhidharmakosabhasyam Book Club
Content:
PeterC said:
Anyone? Bueller?

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, continue please.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Wednesday, August 5th, 2020 at 5:19 AM
Title: Re: are all Buddhas in tibetan buddhism literal emanations of the Adi Buddha
Content:
Toenail said:
There are even Sutras exclusively dedicated to defining what a Buddha is. Why do you say all these wrong things? You post all the time but 90% is just bla bla. Do you want to harm people?

Malcolm wrote:
You go first, then we’ll see how well your definitions stack up.

Toenail said:
Im not playing your games, jit.

Malcolm wrote:
Chicken.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 4th, 2020 at 8:49 AM
Title: Re: are all Buddhas in tibetan buddhism literal emanations of the Adi Buddha
Content:
Toenail said:
There are even Sutras exclusively dedicated to defining what a Buddha is. Why do you say all these wrong things? You post all the time but 90% is just bla bla. Do you want to harm people?

Malcolm wrote:
You go first, then we’ll see how well your definitions stack up.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 4th, 2020 at 7:33 AM
Title: Re: Feeling Emotions
Content:
BlackCircle said:
I have a question about feelings. I wanted to know what Buddhism says about it. I heard it said that we don’t genuinely feel anything during meditation. Does this mean that how we feel about events and things that happen to us is not real? Another person told me that we don’t genuinely feel things in meditation because nothing is happening to cause such feelings but that out in the world we do because there is something happening. Is this true? What does it have to say in regards to our feelings, which some (including me) think are important to navigating the world and helping us decide.

Malcolm wrote:
Well, ones ass, knees, and hips will hurt in the beginning for sure.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Tuesday, August 4th, 2020 at 7:20 AM
Title: Re: are all Buddhas in tibetan buddhism literal emanations of the Adi Buddha
Content:



Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 11:05 PM
Title: Re: Historical Buddha
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
The best proof of the Buddha’s historical existence is the plethora of polemics attacking his school.

SuryaMitra said:
Do we have any historical proof that Shakyamuni Buddha existed ?

Malcolm wrote:
Is there any proof you exist? For all we know you could be a bot.

SuryaMitra said:
There`s no proof I exist whatsoever
For me and for my practice it doesn't really matter, whether or not Sakyamuni was a historical person or not, but my friend who is on the beginning of the Dharma journey asked me if there`s a proof for Sakyamuni`s existence as a historical person, and it seems to matter for her, as she`s a beginner and doesn't have sufficient confidence in the Dharma and practice yet. I realised that in spite of 24 years of me practising I have never actually checked that out as it never mattered to me. But I am trying to be of help for someone who has doubts and is at the beginning of her Dharma journey.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 6:56 PM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 17c -19d: Skandhas, ayatanas, dhatus
Content:


PeterC said:
So the commentary clarifies this inclusion point a little.  The organ of sight is included within the rupaskandha because it is form, within the sight ayatana and the vision dhatu, within the truth of suffering and arising, but not within the other skandhas, ayatanas, etc.

Malcolm wrote:
It is good to reorient yourself from thinking of rupa as “form” unless rupa is referring to the object of the eye.

Rupaskandha is the material aggregate, not the form aggregate. So, the organ of sight is included in the material aggregate because it is matter, etc.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Title: Re: Kyabje Dzogchen Pema Kalsang Rinpoche
Content:
PeterC said:
Has anyone received teachings from him?

May be worth moving this thread to the Dzogchen subforum

Malcolm wrote:
According to Tulku Dakpa, this master is the preeminent Dzogcheb master in Tibet at the present moment.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 5:58 AM
Title: Re: Historical Buddha
Content:



SuryaMitra said:
Thnx. But that`s not a proof. Asoka lived almost 200 years after Sakyamuni supposedly was born. Just like the Christian Evangelias were written after Jesus supposedly lived. And there`s no historical proof of Jesus's existence whatsoever.

Minobu said:
two things that are similar.

Emperor Constantine became a devout follower of Jesus 300 years after Jesus died.
The emperor had access to Roman History and if it was some fable he would have known.

Same with King Ashoka , he would have known it was all myth .
my take on it anyway.

Malcolm wrote:
Ashoka must have been a reptilian.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 5:56 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Cinnabar said:
I'm back to my original question: Why is this always such a hot topic?

The reality of some people with vows wearing robes  while some people with vows not wearing robes hardly seems challenging.

Not controversial enough for it to be a perennial subject of debate.

There has to be a deeper thing going on here...?

Norwegian said:
I don't really know the answer to be honest. But ngakpas for some reason has become a sort of special mythologized class here in the West. For example, why isn't the ideal of the hidden yogi viewed with the same amount of interest and excitement?

heart said:
It is, but no one notice it.

/magnus

Malcolm wrote:
Heh.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 5:56 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Fa Dao said:
yeaaahh..heres the thing man..I live in New Mexico and know LOTS of Natives..have been invited to dances etc...most that watch football..yep you guessed it, the Redskins are their TEAM!!  I have not found one Native yet that has been in ANY way offended, outraged what have you by the WA Redskins...

Malcolm wrote:
You have not looked very hard then:



https://www.theonefeather.com/2020/07/indian-country-reacts-to-retiring-of-redskins-name-and-logo/

Fa Dao said:
Indian Country reacts to retiring of Redskins name and logo

The Washington NFL organization announced on the morning of Monday, July 13 that it was retiring its Redskins name and logo.  Following are comments and statements from leaders and organizations throughout Indian Country on this decision:

United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) President Kirk Francis
“USET SPF is encouraged and heartened that, at long last, this disparaging and racist word will no longer be used in professional sports.  We extend our deep gratitude to all the advocates and allies who never wavered in their efforts to achieve today’s win.  While it should have been relegated to America’s racist past long ago, we welcome this change as an opportunity for education, growth, and reconciliation, as the nation acknowledges its historic and ongoing shameful acts against tribal nations and Native people.  It is our hope that the team’s new name and logo will truly reflect our evolution as a society.  Bottom line, our people and cultures are not mascots and the time is long past due for us to be properly respected, not only within sports teams, but in all aspects.”

National Congress of American Indians
“Today is a day for all Native people to celebrate.  We thank the generations of tribal nations, leaders, and activists who worked for decades to make this day possible.  We commend the Washington NFL team for eliminating a brand that disrespected, demeaned, and stereotyped all Native people, and we call on all other sports teams and corporate brands to retire all caricatures of Native people that they use as their mascots. We are not mascots – we are Native people, citizens of more than 500 tribal nations who have stood strong for millennia and overcome countless challenges to reach this pivotal moment in time when we can help transform America into the just, equitable, and compassionate country our children deserve.”

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer
“For generations, this team name and logo has misrepresented the true history and events that define the term ‘redskins’.  History tells us that the term ‘redskins’ derived from bounty hunters, which identified Indigenous peoples by the color of their skin.  Bounties were offered for the murder of Native Americans.  Bounty hunters killed Native Americans, referenced as ‘redskins’, and brought to the market the stained, bloodied scalps in exchange for payment.  This is the tragic and disgusting history that the world is not often told.”

Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon
“The changing of a national football franchise’s name is no small accomplishment.  Today, we commend the work of Suzan Shown Harjo, Amanda Blackhorse, and others that have continued to push for this moment since 1992. The term had become so normalized to American society that it forgot, or thought it could dismiss, the violent and bloody history behind the very word.  Throughout the years, we’ve continued to hope that a retired Washington ‘Redskins’ team name and logo could become a symbol of greater understanding of the misrepresentation that many Native nations continue to face today.  No amount of symbolic ‘honoring’ can undo decades of cultural appropriation that have followed on the coat tails of centuries of extermination and exploitation.”

Ho-Chunk Nation President Marlon White Eagle
“We thank FedEx, Nike, corporate sponsors and all of those involved in this historic change. As Indigenous people inherent to this land called the United States of America, we have for a long time been portrayed and characterized in a negative stereotype.  We are not mascots.  The name change is long overdue.”

Billy Mills, Olympic Gold Medalist and National Spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth
“It’s never too late to do the right thing.  Now, I urge the Washington football team to truly turn the page and pick a new name and logo with no exploitation of Native people.  They are on the verge of righting a historic wrong.  What they do next will define this team’s legacy.”

Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
“The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is encouraged that this long-overdue moment has arrived, with one professional sports franchise abandoning a mascot that perpetuated a racial slur and another examining how Native American mascots are offensive and have no place in our society.  Using Native Americans as sport mascots and our deeply meaningful symbols, including headdresses, are inappropriate.  Advancing troubling stereotype in popular culture and society, via sports, diminishes our personhood.  The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is hopeful that other sports franchises will make the right decision by ceasing their use of derogatory and offensive mascots, and thereby examining their own use of mascots, chants, symbols, and themes that disparage our people.”

Crystal Echohawk, IllumiNative executive director
“This is 30 years in the making, and we honor the leaders of this movement, Suzan Harjo and Amanda Blackhorse, and important contributors such as Dr. Stephanie Fryberg, First Peoples Worldwide, and thousands of other Native organizations, people, and tribal leaders who have fought for this.  Tomorrow, our fight continues.  We will not rest until the offensive use of Native imagery, logos, and names are eradicated from professional, collegiate, and K-12 sports. The time is now to stand in solidarity and declare that racism will not be tolerated. ”

Malcolm wrote:
There are so many more, and the WSJ reports that 67 percent of people who identify as native find the name offensive, so...maybe you know the other 33 percent...


Author: Malcolm
Date: Monday, August 3rd, 2020 at 12:49 AM
Title: Re: Historical Buddha
Content:
SuryaMitra said:
Do we have any historical proof that Shakyamuni Buddha existed ?

Malcolm wrote:
Is there any proof you exist? For all we know you could be a bot.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 9:39 PM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 13d - 17b: Designation as Rupaskandha, vijnanaskandha and manas
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
The three classifications are defined by intelligence—skandhas, āyatanas, dhātus; or depth of vipāśyāna—dhātus, āyatanas, dhātus. Both in descending order from best to worst.

PeterC said:
Malcolm - could you say a bit more about that? Or will it be covered later in the text?

Malcolm wrote:
It will be covered, but in brief, very intelligent people can infer the other two from the skandhas. Very good mediators can meditate the dhatus more in depth, since the dharmadhatu contains all the compounded and uncompounded dharmas, other than the matter, sensation and perception aggregate, and it breaks out the six sense consciousnesses from the mano ayatana.

Recall, the whole purpose this to undermine the notion of self of the person. So, put another way, if one’s material aggregate includes all sense objects, it isn’t really “one’s” material aggregate.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 7:44 PM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 13d - 17b: Designation as Rupaskandha, vijnanaskandha and manas
Content:


PeterC said:
14a-b. These same organs and objects are regarded as ten ayatanas, ten dhatus.
Ok, I’m a bit lost here. Why ten and not twelve?  Are manas-ayatana (mind) and dharma-ayatana (thought) excluded?  The list in the text mentions sprastavyayatana and sprastavyadhatu at the end of the list, so…presumably that makes ten?  I guess this is because we haven’t yet discussed citta, and because although we’ve discussed avijnapti we haven’t yet discussed how this becomes dharma?

Malcolm wrote:
[/quote]

We are only talking here about the material skandha, that which is made of the four elements: the five sense organs and five sense objects. And let that sink in. If the five sense objects are part of our material skandha...

Then there’s a long digression in the commentary of which it’s probably worth noting:
Also the Blessed One said, “The updanaskandha called samskara is so called because it conditions conditioned things,” that is to say, because it creates and determines the five skandhas of future existence.
So we continue with the definitions:
15b-d. These three skandhas, with avijnapti and unconditioned things, are the dharmayatana, the dharmadhatu.
(Commentary) Vedanaskandha, samjnaksandha, samskaraskandha, plus avijnapti and the three unconditioned things (extinction through analysis, extinction not through analysis, and space), are seven things which are called dharmadhatu.
So now we have almost the full set, and go on to define the aggregate of consciousness.

PeterC said:
16a. Consciousness is the impression relative to each object.
(Commentary) Vijnanaskandha is the impression relative to each object, the “raw grasping” of each object…(the) six classes of consciousness.
(footnote) …it grasps the blue, etc. but does not say that it is blue, etc.
The text then explains that considered as an ayatana it is the mental organ; considered as a dhatu, it is the dhatus of the five sense aggregates plus manovijnanadhatu plus manodhatu.  I found this a little confusing.  There is a three-part system – object/faculty/consciousness. Isn’t it duplicative if this skandhas contains both manovijnanadhatu and manodhatu?

Malcolm wrote:
The three classifications are defined by intelligence—skandhas, āyatanas, dhātus; or depth of vipāśyāna—dhātus, āyatanas, dhātus. Both in descending order from best to worst.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 7:39 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:



Malcolm wrote:
Well, there is such a thing as cultural appropriation and it can be quite racist. For example:


Danny said:
They should teach bury my heart at wounded knee in schools.

jake said:
It was required reading for me in 10th grade, public school.

Let's get back to topic folks.

Malcolm wrote:
It's part of the topic.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 7:01 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Fa Dao said:
This will probably raise some hackles around here but the whole idea of "cultural appropriation" is simply one of the most ridiculous things Ive heard in a very long time...And that now some go so far as calling it "racist" is beyond mind boggling...

Malcolm wrote:
Well, there is such a thing as cultural appropriation and it can be quite racist. For example:


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 6:58 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
yagmort said:
where is the statue of Dudjom Lingpa in blue skirt.

aside from Lama Dawa Chödrak Rinpoche as mentioned by Pema Chopel i got it blue shirt is not that common among ngagpa practitioners ?

Malcolm wrote:
Every ngakpa has their own style.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 10:33 AM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:


DNS said:
I prefer Tulsi, but unfortunately that ain't happening.

Malcolm wrote:
She’s a republican.

DNS said:
Perhaps (ideologically, not officially), but a good one. She's anti-war. She supported Bernie in 2016.

Malcolm wrote:
There are no good republicans. Personally, I think she is an idiot. And they hate her in HI.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 9:15 AM
Title: Re: Off setting smoke pollution in the environment
Content:
tobes said:
I live in the mountains, and my property has many tall trees. My neighbor burns off incessantly (he actually has OCD) during the spring and autumn months, often with wet materials that cause a lot of smoke in the environment. I really feel that this disturbs many of the local spirits etc and I wonder if anyone can recommend a practice or two that can bring those beings definite benefit/ restore harmony in the environment.

I already do a daily tea offering/golden libation, plus tormas etc.

I don't know much about sur or sang etc.

Malcolm wrote:
Sang is your ticket.

tobes said:
Yes, I suspect it is. Any suggestions for how I might dispel my considerable ignorance about it?

Malcolm wrote:
I think the late lama tarchin has a video explaining rows sangcho.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 9:13 AM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:
DNS said:
Biden was supposed to announce his VP choice next week, but now all of a sudden has postponed it until the 2nd week in August. Previously it was rumored that Kamala Harris would be the pick based on his exposed notes. Some pundits have suggested that this didn't sit well with the left wing of the Party, so that is why he is extending the process and now believe Harris is out and Bass has moved up to the top of the list as potential VP.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html

Malcolm wrote:
Bass is fine. Still prefer Rice.

DNS said:
I prefer Tulsi, but unfortunately that ain't happening.

Malcolm wrote:
She’s a republican.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 9:12 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Dharma teachers should not be concerned with what clothes their students wear, in my opinion, unless the students are indecently dressed or wear too much damn patchouli ( I.e any). Ymmv.

Cinnabar said:
Nor should students be concerned with what clothes their dharma siblings wear.

Malcolm wrote:
Agreed.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 7:58 AM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:
DNS said:
Biden was supposed to announce his VP choice next week, but now all of a sudden has postponed it until the 2nd week in August. Previously it was rumored that Kamala Harris would be the pick based on his exposed notes. Some pundits have suggested that this didn't sit well with the left wing of the Party, so that is why he is extending the process and now believe Harris is out and Bass has moved up to the top of the list as potential VP.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html

Malcolm wrote:
Bass is fine. Still prefer Rice.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 7:57 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
pemachophel said:
According to one of my Teachers in Kham, there is a Jigme Lingpa ngakpa ordination that one person can only give to 13 others in their entire lifetime.

That Teacher always wears the whole ngakpa kit. However, I know one of his Western students who asked for this ordination and then asked to be excused from some of its vows. Personally, that seems like a real contradiction.

Many Dharma Teachers will specify what clothing They want Their students to wear when. If the Teacher has given explicit teachings on this, then following those treaching becomes a samaya. For me, that's the end of discussion.

Because I have different Teachers with different points of view on this, I wear different clothes when I'm with different Teachers. No big deal.

Malcolm wrote:
Dharma teachers should not be concerned with what clothes their students wear, in my opinion, unless the students are indecently dressed or wear too much damn patchouli ( I.e any). Ymmv.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 5:33 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
The hair empowerment is an add on. It’s not part of the main Troma empowerment.

Losal Samten said:
Any history on why it was added?

Malcolm wrote:
It’s connected with Dzogchen teachings on freedom from fabrication.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 5:19 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:


Grigoris said:
THE WEARING OF THE ACCOUTERMENTS IS PART OF THE PRACTICE'S SAMAYA.


Malcolm wrote:
This is a bit of an exaggeration. I’ve received this empowerment three times, from three different lamas, not one of them ever asserted we were now obligated to wear ngakpa regalia. Your lama May have done so, YMMV.

Sangye Khandro received this directly from the previous HH Dudjom Rinpoche, and I have never seen her rocking ngakpa regalia, not even once. But please don’t tell this samaya does not apply to women, since that would make no sense.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 5:15 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:



Mantrik said:
I'm not much fussed about the ordination, just curious.  The one due for the UK would not have had it either, apparently - hundreds attending in a sports centre, which I would not enjoy.

treehuggingoctopus said:
I guess so. I got the impression -- on the basis of his (translated, of course) comments -- that he does not consider the hair bit important at all. (He was really happy to see Western zendra-wearing ngakpas, though. Said so, at least.)

Mantrik said:
Well, if anyone can change the format, he can. He may have assumed most folk would have asked for exemption anyway. I wouldn't need to, being retired and having very little hair left! lol

Malcolm wrote:
The hair empowerment is an add on. It’s not part of the main Troma empowerment.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 2:49 AM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 11-13d: Avijnapti-rupa
Content:
Caoimhghín said:
Could the wind that is seen refer to smoke, fog, or mist?

PeterC said:
Fog, smoke and mist would have been covered within the twenty-fold classification of visible matter in 10a - ie as visible forms.  So I guess yes?

Malcolm wrote:
No, they are forms, which means they are essentially colored matter. as you may recall, Sarvastivadins try to distinguish visual shape and color; Sautrantikas reject this and assert visual shape is defined by color.

It is also useful to understand that these definitions of matter are being defined from the point of view of the sense organ they serve as objects for.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 2:48 AM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 11-13d: Avijnapti-rupa
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Vows, that’s the only reason for the introduction of this type of matter. As I said, this is discussed more fully at the beginning of chapter 4.

Sometimes I think I shouldn’t bother contributing to this discussion, even though I am the only person here who has actually received teachings on this text in its entirety.

Grigoris said:
I thoroughly appreciate your input.  Please stick around for us dummies.

Truth is that you have already answered to this question in the sections I had commented on.

So you believe we should just power through these sections since they are explained more fully in other chapters?

Up to which section/chapter/verse?


Malcolm wrote:
I would recommend you not get too bogged down in the Talmudic details. They can always be revisited later, and should be, but not on the first go through.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at 2:47 AM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 11-13d: Avijnapti-rupa
Content:
PeterC said:
This section is a little more complex.  It starts off with a discussion of the avijnapti, which is a special form of rupa that contains (if I understand it correctly) non-manifest action. Then it goes into a discussion of the mahabhutas - the primary elements of earth, water, fire and wind. Avijnapti is formed by the elements.  The discussion on the elements makes sense, but it's a little unclear why we need to have avijnapti in the theory at all.

Malcolm wrote:
Vows, that’s the only reason for the introduction of this type of matter. As I said, this is discussed more fully at the beginning of chapter 4.

PeterC said:
Thanks - that makes sense.  So it’s the formation of karma from intent?

Malcolm wrote:
The way the Sarvāstivādin's conceive it, taking vows causes a material change of state of the material aggregate. One cannot perceive it, hence it is called avijñāpti-rūpa, imperceptible matter.  When the vow is broken or relinquished, this causes another change of the state of one's material aggregate.

Sautrantikas reject this idea in toto. They say, simply, vows are intents, until they are disrupted by another intent. This is actually the basis for the Tibetan Buddhist position that the five upāsaka vows cannot all be broken if one is broken, and one can keep one, two, three or all, depending on ones situation.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 11:07 PM
Title: Re: How to avoid imagining the tantric world as inherently existing?
Content:
Crazywisdom said:
Astus is uninitiated so we cannot quote tantra.

Malcolm wrote:
Astus received the fivefold mahamudra empowerment.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 10:00 PM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 11-13d: Avijnapti-rupa
Content:
PeterC said:
This section is a little more complex.  It starts off with a discussion of the avijnapti, which is a special form of rupa that contains (if I understand it correctly) non-manifest action. Then it goes into a discussion of the mahabhutas - the primary elements of earth, water, fire and wind. Avijnapti is formed by the elements.  The discussion on the elements makes sense, but it's a little unclear why we need to have avijnapti in the theory at all.

Malcolm wrote:
Vows, that’s the only reason for the introduction of this type of matter. As I said, this is discussed more fully at the beginning of chapter 4.

Sometimes I think I shouldn’t bother contributing to this discussion, even though I am the only person here who has actually received teachings on this text in its entirety.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 7:43 PM
Title: Re: "A hammer blow to Pakistan's Buddhist heritage"
Content:


Minobu said:
what i just read from peter , whom i don't know from Adam, is either sarcastic comedy relief or blatant  anger

Malcolm wrote:
Clearly the former.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 6:59 PM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:



Crazywisdom said:
you just contradicted yourself. The Dalai Lama has mentioned several times it is not karma that causes a buddha to take birth in human form but aspiration prayers. Motivation honestly is not a cause. Having the right solution is a cause.

Malcolm wrote:
Aspirations are not driven by motivation? If not, then what?

And no, I did not contradict myself. If so, where?

Crazywisdom said:
you said royal is least courageous

that is where

i am aware of the aspirations and motivation situation

and here is a very sharp thorn

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, according to sutra. It is still the preferred bodhicitta motivation in vajrayana. Ymmv.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 6:57 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:


Grigoris said:
Hell, the PratyekaBuddhas show us that you don't even need to be a Buddhist to achieve enlightenment.

Malcolm wrote:
You do need to have formed pratyekabuddha bodhicitta in a previous life while training under a Buddha. Hence pratyekabuddhas are Buddhists.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 6:54 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Danny said:
The above makes my point. It has become something negative in some people’s minds already.

Varis said:
What might rub people off wrong is people who pretend to be a part of another culture. The negativity towards zen is symptomatic of such a thing.
Doesn't really matter if you dress up in a zen, or in a kente.
You don't have to live your life as a medieval Tibetan to be a real dharma practitioner, for Christ's sake.
Dharma is cultureless, it has always been so and always will be.

Malcolm wrote:
Wearing a a zen is not cultural appropriation. Neither is wearing Ngakpa gear, if one in fact possesses the correct empowerments and so forth.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 10:23 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
The funny thing is, the striped zen is strictly a Tibetan innovation. Ancient ngakpas during the Imperial period wore white, head to toe.

Losal Samten said:
Why not blue?

Malcolm wrote:
Well, India there was a custom of mantrins wearing blue shirts. Thus also spread to Tibet.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 9:51 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Cinnabar said:
I'm a bit curious why this subject generates such strong emotions.

I remember wearing my zen and getting called out. Who gave you the zen? In what context? Why are you wearing that? Do you know what that means? Then on a different occasion, not wearing my zen and getting called out. Why aren't you wearing your zen? Don't you take your vows seriously? Don't you know that this is a commitment, a vow?

I've found few things in Tibetan Buddhism that draws so many projections.

It seems I've been either having this conversation, or listening to it from afar, for decades now.

Malcolm wrote:
The funny thing is, the striped zen is strictly a Tibetan innovation. Ancient ngakpas during the Imperial period wore white, head to toe.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 9:11 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Toenail said:
If you can only wear ngakpa dresses when you are Dudjom Rinpoche, you can only wear monk robes if you are Atisha.

Malcolm wrote:
People are free,they can wear what they want. I was talking about what I comfortable wearing. It was not a recommendation for others.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 7:42 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
Even a tenth stage bodhisattva does not have the omniscience of a samyaksambuddha.

Losal Samten said:
They're still called omniscient though iirc? What's the difference between the omniscience of one and the other?

Malcolm wrote:
A sliver of knowledge obscuration.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 4:46 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:



Crazywisdom said:
This is not correct. You are correct in identifying that superior is relative. Expiditiousness is also relative. Omniscience is also my criteria. But the question is the threshold. Assuming there is more merit in hurrying than being patient is not logical. Just because one wants something quickly does not mean that is what makes it happen. There is much merit in patience. That is Lord Jigten Sumgon point.

Malcolm wrote:
As I mentioned, this is a secret mantra criteria. From the point of view of sūtra, the royal motivation is the least courageous.


Crazywisdom said:
It is not in sutras where the explantation of Buddha taking birth in the human realm for the purpose of liberating beings is mentioned. This is mentioned by the gurus of vajrayana.

Malcolm wrote:
What is the antecedent of "it" and "this" here? I don't follow you.

Crazywisdom said:
The Dalai Lama for example has stated in various places that the reason a bodhisattva or a buddha takes birth is not due to negative karma but do to aspiration prayers. So your comments about sutras are not persuasive.

Malcolm wrote:
Depends on the bodhisattva. For example, due to the negative karma of killing the thief, it is said that the sea captain briefly endured rebirth in hell. This is well known.

Of course Buddhas have no negative karma, their descent from Tuṣita up to parinirvana is just a play, a show, a display, as the Mahāyāna sūtras point out.

Crazywisdom said:
you just contradicted yourself. The Dalai Lama has mentioned several times it is not karma that causes a buddha to take birth in human form but aspiration prayers. Motivation honestly is not a cause. Having the right solution is a cause.

Malcolm wrote:
Aspirations are not driven by motivation? If not, then what?

And no, I did not contradict myself. If so, where?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 3:00 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:


Crazywisdom said:
yes I showed a sectarian stance by the opposing sectarian stance. We are discussing the relative view which is superior and nonbiased. Countering the relative with the ultimate is nonsequitur. Shakyamuni was born in Nepal to Mayadevi. The ultimate view is always a slight of hand argument to counter the relative. The question is which relative is superior.

Malcolm wrote:
"Superior" is also a relative judgement. It really depends on what criteria you are setting forth for "superior". Even a tenth stage bodhisattva does not have the omniscience of a samyaksambuddha. So the real question, if omniscience is one's criteria [it's mine], how will that omniscience can be achieved most expeditiously. If that is one's criteria, then most certainly the royal bodhicitta motivation is "superior."

As for the Buddha manifesting birth in Lumbini, this was not a real birth of a real person. Buddhas do not attain buddhahood in the desire realm. This is clearly stated in the Lankāvatāra and other sūtras. They attain buddhahood in Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyuha.

Śākyamuni Buddha's twelve deeds were like a puppet show, where mud and sticks are assembled to create an illusion of kings and queens, horses and elephants, and so on. A necessary illusion, but an illusion nevertheless.

Crazywisdom said:
This is not correct. You are correct in identifying that superior is relative. Expiditiousness is also relative. Omniscience is also my criteria. But the question is the threshold. Assuming there is more merit in hurrying than being patient is not logical. Just because one wants something quickly does not mean that is what makes it happen. There is much merit in patience. That is Lord Jigten Sumgon point.

Malcolm wrote:
As I mentioned, this is a secret mantra criteria. From the point of view of sūtra, the royal motivation is the least courageous.


Crazywisdom said:
It is not in sutras where the explantation of Buddha taking birth in the human realm for the purpose of liberating beings is mentioned. This is mentioned by the gurus of vajrayana.

Malcolm wrote:
What is the antecedent of "it" and "this" here? I don't follow you.

Crazywisdom said:
The Dalai Lama for example has stated in various places that the reason a bodhisattva or a buddha takes birth is not due to negative karma but do to aspiration prayers. So your comments about sutras are not persuasive.

Malcolm wrote:
Depends on the bodhisattva. For example, due to the negative karma of killing the thief, it is said that the sea captain briefly endured rebirth in hell. This is well known.

Of course Buddhas have no negative karma, their descent from Tuṣita up to parinirvana is just a play, a show, a display, as the Mahāyāna sūtras point out.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 2:20 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
It is not a point of divergence, it is one's starting point.

Grigoris said:
How so?  All Bodhisattva aim to perfect the Paramita.

Whether I choose to perfect them as a King, Captain or Shepherd...

Malcolm wrote:
It matter in terms of how quickly one manifests the result, from a causal and result vehicle perspective. Generally, it is explained in Nyingma and Sakya, it is a more suitable motivation for those who enter secret mantra.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 2:13 AM
Title: Re: Biden's VP Choice
Content:
Grigoris said:
What is Biden's position on the concentration camps on the southern border?

Any plans for the seperated children?

Malcolm wrote:
It's all here, first 100 days:

https://joebiden.com/immigration/


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:45 AM
Title: Rats flee the ship...
Content:
Unknown said:
I have voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, including voting for Donald Trump in 2016. I wrote op-eds and a law review article protesting what I believe was an unconstitutional investigation by Robert Mueller. I also wrote an op-ed opposing President Trump’s impeachment.

But I am frankly appalled by the president’s recent tweet seeking to postpone the November election. Until recently, I had taken as political hyperbole the Democrats’ assertion that President Trump is a fascist. But this latest tweet is fascistic and is itself grounds for the president’s immediate impeachment again by the House of Representatives and his removal from office by the Senate.

Malcolm wrote:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/trump-delay-election-coronavirus.html


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:43 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
If motivation does not count, then bodhicitta does not count. If bodhicitta does not count, then what are we doing here?

Grigoris said:
Personally I think it is highly unrealistic of me to be racking my brain about what sort of Bodhisattva path I am on.  I think the point of divergence is a long way off for me to worry about which fork I will take.

I just practice, as the end goal is the same regardless.

Malcolm wrote:
It is not a point of divergence, it is one's starting point.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:42 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Grigoris said:
That's the least of the problems they encounter in their dealings with monks/nuns.

Malcolm wrote:
Ngakpas are often very poorly behaved. There is quite good reason for the poor view the Monastic Sangha have of ngakpas. Drinking to excess, womanizing, and excusing it all as "dharma practice." Not every ngakpa was as noble as HH Dudjom Rinpoche, Jikdral Yeshe Dorje or HH Sakya Trichen, in fact, probably very few. I am definitely not. So, I don't pretend. This is yet another reason why I do not wear that sort of gear. I don't live up to it, and I am not about to pretend I do.

Grigoris said:
Sounds self-defeating to me.

Why don't you wear the gear and make the effort to live up to it?

Malcolm wrote:
Because it's a pretense, where I am concerned. And I know it is pretense. I have enough pretenses already: ācārya, scholar, three-year retreat, Tibetan doctor, etc. I just don't need to add one more: ngakpa. I mean, I tried it on for a while...but it just felt too pretentious. YMMV

Grigoris said:
I rarely wear the full gear, but when I do I am on my best behaviour.

Rinpoche wants us to wear it when we are doing formal practice and/or when we are representing the tradition.

Malcolm wrote:
Different strokes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:35 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
It matters.
If motivation does not count, then bodhicitta does not count. If bodhicitta does not count, then what are we doing here?


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:34 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:


Crazywisdom said:
yes I showed a sectarian stance by the opposing sectarian stance. We are discussing the relative view which is superior and nonbiased. Countering the relative with the ultimate is nonsequitur. Shakyamuni was born in Nepal to Mayadevi. The ultimate view is always a slight of hand argument to counter the relative. The question is which relative is superior.

Malcolm wrote:
"Superior" is also a relative judgement. It really depends on what criteria you are setting forth for "superior". Even a tenth stage bodhisattva does not have the omniscience of a samyaksambuddha. So the real question, if omniscience is one's criteria [it's mine], how will that omniscience can be achieved most expeditiously. If that is one's criteria, then most certainly the royal bodhicitta motivation is "superior."

As for the Buddha manifesting birth in Lumbini, this was not a real birth of a real person. Buddhas do not attain buddhahood in the desire realm. This is clearly stated in the Lankāvatāra and other sūtras. They attain buddhahood in Akaniṣṭha Ghanavyuha.

Śākyamuni Buddha's twelve deeds were like a puppet show, where mud and sticks are assembled to create an illusion of kings and queens, horses and elephants, and so on. A necessary illusion, but an illusion nevertheless.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:25 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
They have to sit behind the ordained sangha. Period. Why? They are not ordained. We humble ngakpas accept this, and don’t make a fuss about it.

Grigoris said:
That's the least of the problems they encounter in their dealings with monks/nuns.

Malcolm wrote:
Ngakpas are often very poorly behaved. There is quite good reason for the poor view the Monastic Sangha have of ngakpas. Drinking to excess, womanizing, and excusing it all as "dharma practice." Not every ngakpa was as noble as HH Dudjom Rinpoche, Jikdral Yeshe Dorje or HH Sakya Trichen, in fact, probably very few. I am definitely not. So, I don't pretend. This is yet another reason why I do not wear that sort of gear. I don't live up to it, and I am not about to pretend I do.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 1:01 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Varis said:
and the whole acting like a Tibetan Brahmin.

Grigoris said:
This shows a complete misunderstanding both of what it means to be a Brahmin and what it means to be a ngakpa. I mean I  can think of a Gelug lama who is a layperson, doesn't wear zen, has short hair, etc.
Exception fallacy. Seems to me people want to LARP more than anything.
Seems you are being overly averse and judgmental for no reason at all.

Is dressing like a monk/nun LARP when a person has taken vows?  Then why is dressing like a ngakpa/ngakma a LARP when somebody has taken ngakpa vows?

Do you know that Tibetan ngakpa/ngakma suffer the same sort of disrespect in the Tibetan ordained community?  That they have had to fight with monks/nuns to be recognised as vow holders?

Malcolm wrote:
They have to sit behind the ordained sangha. Period. Why? They are not ordained. We humble ngakpas accept this, and don’t make a fuss about it.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Saturday, August 1st, 2020 at 12:20 AM
Title: Re: After the Protests: Defund the Police
Content:
Pero said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUhdc1GAddk


Malcolm wrote:
Saw this. Dumb.

Pero said:
Why? Or which part? Their main point seemed to be that instead of defunding the police more training in various areas is required for them and not just once, higher standards for when you become a police officer, plus better screening of candidates. No doubt there are other issues too but this looks pretty sensible to me.

Malcolm wrote:
This video has been discussed. Police should not use choke holds. Period. We spend far too much on police considering how little crime they prevent, in fact. And crime rates have been dropping for years in this country. The recent spate of criminal violence is entirely related to COVID and unemployment in communities of color, not defunding or reallocating funds originally budgeted for police departments.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 11:07 PM
Title: Re: After the Protests: Defund the Police
Content:
Pero said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUhdc1GAddk


Malcolm wrote:
Saw this. Dumb.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 11:06 PM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
Grigoris said:
I t takes a special type of egoistic foolishness to worry about whether one will realise enlightenment before others, or if one really wants to achieve parinirvana.

We cannot even control or transmute the basest occurrence of the the Three Poisons and we are concerning ourselves with what sort of enlightenment we will accomplish?

Priorities people!

King Harold.jpg

Malcolm wrote:
It matters.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 11:05 PM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:



Crazywisdom said:
Very wrong, guy.

Malcolm wrote:
I assume you referring to my comment. It is a misconception that bodhisattva vows include taking rebirth continually. For example, royal bodhicitta is the motivation to attain buddhahood as fast as possible in order to able to help sentient ad infinitum, but Buddhas do not take rebirth. Rebirth is a samsaric process to which only bodhisattvas below the eight bhumi are subject. Eight stage+ bodhisattvas have power over birth as well. There is of course the captain motivation, vowing to attain buddhahood simultaneously will all sentient beings, and the Shepard motivation, vowing to make sure all sentient beings attain buddhahood before oneself. In Vajrayana, we generally consider the first of these three to be the most skillful.

Crazywisdom said:
This is clearly a sectarian stance, because Lord Jigten Sumgon asserts the latter motivation to ensure others go first is the best motivation for vajrayana. This is in Gongchig which all Kagyu sects agree with.

Malcolm wrote:
Then this is also a sectarian stance.

Crazywisdom said:
think you are incorrect about Buddhas. They do take rebirth in the womb, but not based on samsaric attachment, but solely to fulfill the wishes of sentient beings.

Malcolm wrote:
This is not at all certain. A nirmabakaya displays the form of birth appropriate to where they are manifesting, but since the “Buddha” qua “Buddha” is the dharmakaya, no Buddha at any time ever took birth anywhere, and yet, sentient beings everywhere have never been abandoned.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 10:14 PM
Title: Re: "A hammer blow to Pakistan's Buddhist heritage"
Content:
tingdzin said:
There are some people here with whom it is possible to have a good faith discussion. Others' replies are usually or always just repetition of  (usually leftist) talking points, weak convoluted arguments,  and rhetorical flourishes, and name calling.

however, I should not resort to easy shots to rile people just because they do the same, so I will  try to desist.

tobes said:
.....or Shantideva himself advising how aspiring bodhisattvas might handle the issue. Or is he just some leftist??

In case you missed it:
"Should others talk badly of or even destroy
Holy images etc of the sacred Dharma
It is improper of me to resent it
For the Buddhas can never be injured"
Shantideva, chp 6, 64.

PeterC said:
My friend, by now you should know that Shantideva is just another pinko commie.  For instance:
What need to mention the wish to relieve each and every limited being of fathomless miseries, and the wish to help each and every limited being to actualize fathomless good qualities (1.22)
But how’s he going to pay for all of this relieving beings of miseries?  He’s just going to blow up the deficit.  We need fiscal discipline.
Throughout my beginningless samsaric existence, in this and other lives, I’ve unwittingly committed negative acts or caused others to commit (them) , and further,
Oppressed by the confusion of naivety, I’ve rejoiced (in them) – whatever I’ve done, I see them as mistakes and openly admit (them) to you, my Guardians, from the depths of my heart.(2.28-29)
This cancel culture has really got out of hand. Now we have to apologize for things that were done before we were even alive?  I’ve always treated sentient beings well.  Some of my best friends are sentient beings.
So long as wandering beings fall sick, may I serve as the medicine, the doctors and their nurse, until they’ve been cured of their illness. May I eliminate the pain of hunger and thirst with a shower of food and drink; and, in the times of the middle eons of famine, may I myself change into food and drink. (3.7-8)
After the failure of Obamacare we all know that socialized medicine doesn’t work.  I mean, look at Canada, people are dying in the street there!  And this talk of providing food and drink for free - this is just going to create another generation of welfare queens.
People who are disturbed by sickness are powerless over all their actions. Those whose minds are disturbed by bewilderment are likewise powerless over all their actions. (4.24)
We cannot be letting people use insanity as a defence for crimes.  We need to be tough on crime.  Without law and order, we will have anarchy.
There've been many people with material wealth and there've been many with fame and reputation. But it's never been known that they've passed on to some place where their amassed wealth and fame have come with.
Now he’s putting down the job creators that fuel our economy.  When did we stop looking up to successful people in this country?
As many women as there are in the world, may they attain the status of men; and may the lowly attain high position, and the arrogant become humble.
There are those in this country who still hold to the traditional order of things. They know, like VP Pence, that a woman’s place is at home, looking after the children and supporting their man.  And they know that while some people are destined for success and high office, there are some who just don’t have the character, the breeding and the background for it.  We upset this natural order at our peril.

Malcolm wrote:
Absolutely brilliant. This is the best Dharma-based response to right-wing, conservative bullshit I have ever seen. Bravo!


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 8:16 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Grigoris said:
As for those dissin' on people trying to hold ngakpa/ngakma samaya:  Check your personal samaya and let others be responsible for theirs.

Nobody is forcing you to do anything and it is best not judge others for trying, just because you may not have the karmic inclination.

Malcolm wrote:
When I received this ordination from the great terton, Kunzang Dechen Lingpa, the only thing he stressed was never to cut my hair, ever. Never have.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 8:13 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Malcolm wrote:
For example:


Grigoris said:
I find it VERY hard to believe that ChNN had never received the ngkapa empowerments, or did not hold the root and secondary commitments.  VERY hard to believe.

Malcolm wrote:
Well he kept his hair short, until he retired, and never wore monastic robes or striped zens, etc., apart from one occasion I can recall, which he himself mentions, when he had to accept the position of Abbot of a small Drukpa Kagyu monastery in Tibet. Otherwise, he always wore track suits or jacket, shirt, and trousers, depending on what he was doing. And in later years, tracksuits were his invariable outfit for all occasions.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 8:09 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:


Lingpupa said:
And finally, is it LARPing (is that a verb?) when a practitioner is told by their teacher that they not only *can* wear the red/white shawl, but that they *should*?

Malcolm wrote:
Should/shouldn’t are quite relative. If one teacher prefers you to wear religious gear, and another teacher discourages it, should you wear it in the presence of the teacher who discourages it? I learned early we need to be flexible when I understood, for example, that Chogyal Namkhai Norbu strongly discouraged his students from offering prostrations to him, or wearing zens and so on.

Though I have all the requisites to be part of the white-robed, long-haired bunch, I prefer casual clothes and don’t wear any religious gear at all. Other people feel they need to wear it, and that’s fine with me. But I generally discourage it among my pupils.  If I am cold, I prefer a non-religious shawl or blanket around the shoulders. So these things are quite relative. I‘ve personally never met a teacher who insisted I wear some kind of gear. I doubt I would be that interested up in such a teacher. When I go to teachings I wear decent clothes, and do not dress like a hippy. The only difference between me and others is the length of my hair, which I have never cut in 16 years, though attrition through age means is it not as long as it was a decade ago.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 7:42 PM
Title: Re: AKB, Ch. 1, V. 10d: Rupayatana
Content:


PeterC said:
10d. The tangible is of eleven types
(Commentary) Eleven things are tangible things: the four primary elements, softness, hardness, weight, lightness, cold, hunger and thirst.
I thought it worth pausing on this briefly as at first glance, it’s extremely counterintuitive.  You have elements, properties, and physical sensations bundled together into the same category. Why?

Malcolm wrote:
They are things experienced by the tactile organ, the body, and which must be touched or experienced physically. For example, though one can see the earth element, etc., as form, in order sense it’s weight, or other quality you must pick it up or feel it with your body organ. You cannot see the air element, but you can feel breezes, and so on. The sensations of the other three primary elements are self explanatory, fire feels hot, water feels wet.

As I said before, don’t get lost in the weeds of the debates. It will not contribute to your understanding of the basic subject. Save that for when you have understood the root text and the basic commentary. Things that are absent here are taken up later. It is helpful to understand that the topics in the Kosha are recursive. For example, the most detailed discussion of avijnapti occurs in the beginning of chapter four, Karma. As I mentioned already, the formation skandha receives its major explication in chapter two, indriyas.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 7:29 PM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
DNS said:
Doesn't the bodhisattva vows include continual rebirth for helping other sentient beings?

Malcolm wrote:
This is misconception.

Crazywisdom said:
Very wrong, guy.

Malcolm wrote:
I assume you referring to my comment. It is a misconception that bodhisattva vows include taking rebirth continually. For example, royal bodhicitta is the motivation to attain buddhahood as fast as possible in order to able to help sentient ad infinitum, but Buddhas do not take rebirth. Rebirth is a samsaric process to which only bodhisattvas below the eight bhumi are subject. Eight stage+ bodhisattvas have power over birth as well. There is of course the captain motivation, vowing to attain buddhahood simultaneously will all sentient beings, and the Shepard motivation, vowing to make sure all sentient beings attain buddhahood before oneself. In Vajrayana, we generally consider the first of these three to be the most skillful.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 7:24 PM
Title: Re: After the Protests: Defund the Police
Content:
Dan74 said:
I didn't, but looked it up now. Interesting:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/race

What's your point?

In English the word xenophobic is not quite the same as racist.

Malcolm wrote:
Yes, not quite the same, but just as wicked.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 6:33 PM
Title: Re: Off setting smoke pollution in the environment
Content:
tobes said:
I live in the mountains, and my property has many tall trees. My neighbor burns off incessantly (he actually has OCD) during the spring and autumn months, often with wet materials that cause a lot of smoke in the environment. I really feel that this disturbs many of the local spirits etc and I wonder if anyone can recommend a practice or two that can bring those beings definite benefit/ restore harmony in the environment.

I already do a daily tea offering/golden libation, plus tormas etc.

I don't know much about sur or sang etc.

Malcolm wrote:
Sang is your ticket.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 6:15 PM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:


Artziebetter1 said:
I never took refuge with a teacher but I took refuge many times by myself saying I seek refuge in buddha,dharma and sangha.so I did become buddhist.I don't have a teacher,there are no buddhist lamas in my city.

Malcolm wrote:
There are teachers you can find online. And, yes, you are a Buddhist if you take refuge. Period. Some people think you have to undergo a little ceremony, but it’s not true.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 12:08 PM
Title: Re: "A hammer blow to Pakistan's Buddhist heritage"
Content:
tingdzin said:
There are some people here with whom it is possible to have a good faith discussion. Others' replies are usually or always just repetition of  (usually leftist) talking points, weak convoluted arguments,  and rhetorical flourishes, and name calling.

Malcolm wrote:
Use a mirror dude, you’re  just talking about yourself. Your substantive contributions here are about f***ing nil.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 10:51 AM
Title: Re: Trump eats his own...
Content:
PeterC said:
It’s a long-established hollywood horror film cliche.  The black guy always dies.  (Unless of course the black guy is Samuel L. Jackson...)

Jetavan said:
Though, in this case, it was the https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/07/stephen-millers-grandmother-died-of-covid-19-her-son-blames-the-trump-administration/ who died first.

PeterC said:
Miller is still denying that she died of Covid

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/stephen-miller-rejects-claim-grandmother-died-of-covid-636188

He is a truly repugnant person - or should I say, an excellent test of how strong one's compassion really is.

Malcolm wrote:
He is not a person. He is a piece of shit in human form.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 7:29 AM
Title: Re: Portland’s protests were supposed to be about black lives. Now, they’re white spectacle.
Content:



Modus.Ponens said:
I would love to know what actually happened instead of the BS this guy is saying happened.

Malcolm wrote:
You are unbelievable. It is quite clear this man was assaulted without provocation by federal officers.

Modus.Ponens said:
It is 100% possible this man was ordered several times to disperse and, instead, decided to stand there. I don't believe antifa propaganda without proper evidence.

Malcolm wrote:
You don't live in the US. Your opinion means less than nothing. Mind your own damn business, troll.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 5:34 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:


Artziebetter1 said:
I don't want Nirvana.So have I ALREADY Abandoned the Dharma?

Malcolm wrote:
Samsara is one extreme; nirvana is another extreme. In Mahāyāna, we go beyond these two extremes.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 5:29 AM
Title: Re: Portland’s protests were supposed to be about black lives. Now, they’re white spectacle.
Content:


Malcolm wrote:
There is a riot, a police riot:


Modus.Ponens said:
I would love to know what actually happened instead of the BS this guy is saying happened.

Malcolm wrote:
You are unbelievable. It is quite clear this man was assaulted without provocation by federal officers.

Modus.Ponens said:
Many more have DIED as a result of police defunding and consequent crime surge.

Malcolm wrote:
Total nonsense:
"Police officers are not as successful as people think at solving violent crime. My Brookings colleagues Andre Perry, David Harshbarger, Carl Romer, and Kristian Thymianos argue that “the failure to prosecute murderous police typifies a bad overall track record with solving violent crimes: Approximately 38% of murders, 66% of rapes, 70% of robberies, and 47% of aggravated assaults go uncleared every year.” Maybe in baseball or basketball these rates make a player an all-star, but the public expects police officers to be more successful at solving violent crime.

More importantly, police stops relative to charges and convictions are relatively low. To show how egregious this is, a study of the NYPD stop-and-frisk program found that well over 90% of people stopped by the police were not committing any crime and did not have any contraband or weapons on them. Overwhelmingly, the people stopped were Black and Latino, and physical force was used half the time. Interestingly, police were more successful at identifying criminality for whites versus Blacks. This is because officers use suspicious behavior when interacting with whites and use skin tone as the metric of suspicion when interacting with Black people. More police on the streets may be used to control the movement of Black bodies rather than solving crime. This is why the New York State Supreme Court ruled stop-and-frisk as unconstitutional. No-knock warrants and chokeholds should follow this pattern.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/06/19/what-does-defund-the-police-mean-and-does-it-have-merit/

Modus.Ponens said:
But extremists never take responsibility for their awful mistakes.

Malcolm wrote:
The only extremist I see here is you.

Modus.Ponens said:
There have also been peaceful protests, but the article I linked above shows many stores across the country protecting themselves with plie wood and appeasing slogans. So the riots have been abundant and widespread.

Malcolm wrote:
Oh hardly.

Modus.Ponens said:
Most irritating of all is the LIE. I will repeat. The LIE that the agents are not identified. Their ID is in the top of their arms.  Talk about gaslighting!

Malcolm wrote:
Again, you are actually engaging in a falsehood. DHS's own website:
In Portland, officers are not wearing name tags because of doxing attacks against law enforcement officers, which threaten the safety of not only our officers but also of their families. In the absence of individual names, each officer wears a unique identifier.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/07/27/myth-vs-fact-50-nights-violence-chaos-and-anarchy-portland-oregon

Modus.Ponens said:
Further, they are not obligated to read miranda rights depending on what they are arresting the person for. And unmarked cars are used by police all the time. This "gestapo" narrative is insane bullsh*t spread by antifa and their sympathisers.

Malcolm wrote:
The person spreading bullshit here is you. Troll.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 3:15 AM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
pemachophel said:
IMO, the only ngakpa that matters is the one who actually has ngak. Even if one does have ngak, better to be a bay-pai naljor/hidden yogi in this day and age.


Könchok Thrinley said:
What is ngak?

Malcolm wrote:
mantra. Pema Chophel means that a mantrin is someone who actually activated the power of mantra in their voice. This is not necessarily a function of how many mantras one has recited however. It is more a function of quality.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 1:59 AM
Title: Re: I don't want parinirvana,should I follow a different path?
Content:
Johnny Dangerous said:
This is why it is best to treat Buddhadharma as an experiential path, not some collection of theories that you buy into in order to be correct, to be religious or spiritual, or whatever.

Malcolm wrote:
"Waiter?"

"Yes? Would you like to order now, sir?"

"Yes, thanks. I'll have a bit of Vipassana as my starter. I'd also like some Zen with that too. For my beverage, I'll have some mind training. For my main course, I'll have some Mahāmudra. For desert I think I'll have some Pure Land."

"Will that be all? And, do you have any allergies sir?"

"Thanks for asking. Make sure the chef holds the nirvana, I am allergic to it."

"We don't use any nirvana in this establishment, sir. I'll be right back with your beverage."


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 12:11 AM
Title: Re: Trump eats his own...
Content:
PeterC said:
He just had to go and kill the token black guy, didn’t he...

Malcolm wrote:
Yup.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Friday, July 31st, 2020 at 12:09 AM
Title: Re: Trump suggests delay election
Content:
Nemo said:
I hope it destroys the empires ability to wreck other countries.


Malcolm wrote:
No, not at all. Once we regain competent leadership, the US will be just as lethal as it ever was. Rome didn't fall in a day. Neither will the US.

Nemo said:
Your cultural capital is so low now good luck with maintaining it in a profitable fashion.

Malcolm wrote:
We are still the largest economy in the world. As long as that is the case, well, you know the rest. It is not that I particularly admire the US's conduct in the world. But we are a pirate nation, always have been, and the booty has been abundant. We'll have our day, but not soon.


Author: Malcolm
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020 at 11:41 PM
Title: Re: Ngakpas everywhere!
Content:
Lingpupa said:
For my money it could be this: there is a vacuum between A) the "ordinary" (scare quotes because I'm trying not to be dismissive) lay Buddhist who makes a few offerings, tries to avoid the 5 bad things (killing, stealing etc.), recites refuge prayers regularly or even something longer from time to time, perhaps incorporating some formal practice along the mindfulness lines while generally trying generally try to be a decent person and B) fully ordained monastics.

Varis said:
Or you could just practice seriously as a layperson without wearing a zen or getting a hair empowerment, and the whole acting like a Tibetan Brahmin.

Malcolm wrote:
For example:


