| Classical Tibetan |
[13 Oct 2008|09:47pm] |
I recommend the following text for complete beginners:
http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Classical-Tibetan-Stephen-Hodge/dp/9745240397/
It isn't an extensive grammar nor is it intended for linguists. If you take some time and go through the whole thing you'll be able to read simple classical texts in the original script. You might not be fully literate, but you'll know enough about verb and particle structure to identify what is what in a sentence and be able to look it up in a dictionary. This textbook deals specifically with Classical Tibetan -- so it is all learning how to read with no speaking or listening element.
It is also under $20!
|
|
| Reading materials... |
[13 Oct 2008|06:26pm] |
Hi everyone,
I posted a message a few months ago about getting started in Buddhism. A few people were nice enough to suggest some books to help me along. With that said, I have misplaced the list and was hoping everyone could chip in again to help me form a new one. Thanks in advance.
P.S. Always up for hearing general advice or info about Buddhism so fell free to chime in.
|
|
| Perpetual (Industrial Dharma?) |
[13 Oct 2008|08:22pm] |
Find it in you, raise your eyes
Look beyond the place you stand
Towards the furthest reaches
And to the smallest of things
The sound you are hearing
Is the symphony of what we are
Revelation will not come
With heart and mind closed and divided
No need of sun to light the way
Across the ages, we have reigned as we endured
Through the storm fronts we will ever surely pass
To stand as never ending light
Throw away the mantle
Awake from your uncertain hesitation
No way to describe or equate the feeling
No end to what is at your command
A million thoughts run through you
Concentric circles, ever greater
But you have always known
That this is not all there is
To your questions there'll be answers
No need of sun to light the way
Across the ages, we have reigned as we endured
Through the storm fronts we will ever surely pass
To stand as never ending light
Let there be, let there always be
Never ending light
-VNV Nation, "Perpetual"
|
|
| Paticca Samuppada |
[13 Oct 2008|07:21pm] |
"The Buddhist vision of interdependence, presenting reality as a dynamic interaction of mutually conditioning events, posits no prime cause or unconditioned absolute to which occurrences can be traced in a linear fashion.
This causal vision, known as paticca samuppada, or "dependent co-arising", underlies the Buddhist perception of the human predicament, and of the liberation that is possible. It constitutes the intellectual content of the Buddha's enlightenment- that part of his transforming, intuitive realization that can be expressed in conceptual terms. It represents that character of reality, the truth about the universe, to which Gotama awoke. It is, therefore, accorded paramount importance in the scripture; its understanding considered requisite to release from suffering and basic to the moral and meditative practices which the Buddhist Path upholds. Upon occasion it was identified with the Dharma itself, the order of things, the saving truth. The scriptures say "Whoever sees paticca samuppada sees the dhamma, whoever sees the dhamma sees paticca samuppada." It is hard to find another faith or value system where a doctrine of causality holds so explicit and central a position.
In this doctrine, reality appears as a dynamically interdependent process. All factors, mental and physical, subsist in a web of mutual causal interaction, with no element or essence held to be immutable or autonomous. Understanding this is important because, it is held, our suffering is caused by the interplay of these factors, and particularly by the delusion, craving, and aversion that arise from our misapprehension of them. We fabricate our bondage by hypostatizing and clinging to what is by nature contingent and transient. The reifications we construct falsify experience, imprison us in egos of our own making, and doom our lives to rounds of endless acquisition and anxiety. Being so caused, our suffering is not endemic; it is not inevitable. It can cease, the causal play reversed.
This cessation is not effected by unity with or obedience to an immutable being aloof from space-time, nor by the power of any metaphysical substance or entity. Our hope hinges on no external agency, but derives rather from the causal order itself where self and act, project and perception are mutually determining. Hence, liberation entails a vision of the dependently co-arising nature of all phenomena. This vision, which amounts to a reorganization of the personality, is made possible by the cleansing of perception through meditation and through moral conduct."
-Joanna Macy, "Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory: The Dharma of Natural Systems."
|
|
| tilopa request |
[13 Oct 2008|11:14am] |
Greetings,
I'm looking for more of Tilopa's songs or teachings.
I've come across Lex Hixon's translation of "The Ganges Mahamudra," and also some translations of the "Six Words of Advice."
Does anyone know of any other songs or teachings by Tilopa, and/or where I could find them?
|
|
|
[12 Oct 2008|08:56pm] |
|
So I've decided to learn Pali. I already have Charles Duroiselle's "Practical Grammar of the Pali Language." Is there a specific dictionary I should try and get? What else do I need before I can rest assured that I have all the materials necessary and sufficient for learning Pali? I want to be able to say "Okay, now I have all I need."
|
|
| speaking of mp3s |
[12 Oct 2008|12:17pm] |
I have been looking for something on mp3 (or that I can convert to mp3) that would simply play three gongs after a period of time, so I can meditate at home without always peeking at the clock. Any ideas?
What do you do when you meditate at home to keep track of time?
Thanks.
|
|
| Tsem Tulku Fans |
[12 Oct 2008|09:27am] |
For those who like Tsem Tulku Rinpoche's dharma talks they're available here:
Mp3s, wmvs, etc...
http://www.tsemtulku.com/dharma/teachings/
I don't know how long the directory will remain public, so you might want to download everything you want right away. The mp3 files make for good listening on an .mp3 player (obviously).
If you like Robert Thurman you can download a number of his talks in .mp3 format here:
http://www.bobthurmanpodcast.com/
|
|
|
[12 Oct 2008|06:59am] |
I don't think I can wait almost a whole month to sign up for classes. My schedule works just perfect, and I'm terrified I'm not going to get the classes I need.
fuck double majorrrrrrs and bullshit gen ed requiremennnnnts.
|
|
|
[11 Oct 2008|11:22pm] |
Are there consequences for Buddhist backslidin'? Orthodox views are especially welcome on this topic.
I've noticed that stopping meditation practice for a long period has consequences. The reactive habituations come back stronger than ever.
|
|
| I'm new |
[11 Oct 2008|01:47pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 cheerful |
] |
Hello everyone,
I'm new to this community, I finally got my bravery up to join and post my welcome on here. My name is April, I'm 20 years old.
I'm eager to learn the Buddhist faith. I've been interested in it for a long while, I was exploring other religions (wicca, paganism) as I came across Buddhism, and realized that this could be the path for me. I've always felt deep down that I was close to the Buddhist religion, if that makes sense. I'm hoping to learn all I can, make friends and give support on here. I hope what I say won't offend anyone because I am on here to listen and learn, if I do say aything offensive, please tell me!!!
Thank you for reading this!
April
|
|
| Extreme curiosity |
[10 Oct 2008|06:08pm] |
Is curiosity a crime?
If I'm not mistaken, the lord Buddha once taught that we do not need to know the beginning of the world to find the path towards peace. If so, why are we ever so curious about... everything?
Cern, the LHC, the other galaxies, dinosaurs, etc. The list is endless. I slightly hesitate to list all the curiosities of mankind, for knowledge is certainly gained through innovative findings. Yet, I feel that going as far as building the LHC is too far. Is extreme curiosity an adverse trait? Is it something that we should all try to avoid? Does it help us in any way?Sorry about the underline and bolding. I can't seem to remove it.
|
|
| Naked mole rat |
[08 Oct 2008|01:14am] |
|
( just one )
|
|
| Louisiana Paintings |
[07 Oct 2008|10:14am] |
  
These are the start of my "Louisiana Series". I am incredibly busy working on a campaign, but I've taken the opportunity to take a lot of pictures of some interesting things in the state, like the swampland, antique yards, and general urban life.
After the election I intend to go back and paint some more paintings (as part of my grad school apps) to go along with the follow, in terms of theme and colors.
For instance, you can see my first angel down there (a statue from an antique yard)... but more of the series will be of hurricane damage and go along those themes of "saving" and "repair"...
These are all oil on canvas. Except for the biker, the rest will be on non-stretched canvas, so I might make them into a stiched together "collage" representing how this state had to come back together and be repaired after all the damage that has occured because of Katrina etc.
Wow, that was rambling.. Just enjoy the following 3 paintings.
And please visit kateconnollystudio.com for the rest of my painting portfolio.
( oil paintings )
|
|
| Dreaming? |
[09 Oct 2008|07:40pm] |
A few nights ago I was falling asleep and focusing on my breathing. I was aware that I was falling asleep. It was very subtle because my senses were all seemingly fading at the same time. I suddenly became unaware of my body and the bed that I was laying on. My focus no longer could focus on breathing because no such activity could be found. I knew that I had just been somewhere else a moment ago, but couldn't recall where. I just knew that this new place -- a kind of comfortable void -- was more real than that daydream I had just been lost in a moment ago. Like I said, it was a comfortable void of sorts. I then "forgot" who I was, what I was, where I was (even the void was no longer a certain reality I could posit as currently being in)... and then those questions of who, what and where all came to mind, but they were not asked in any language. It was just pure thought without any language or symbol attached to it. Again, awareness was present but there was no defined "being" -- just pure awareness and thought. There was no sense of time and no memories to be recalled. Nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to smell, nothing to feel, nothing to taste... but "I" was still aware, but there was no sense of "I" having something to be aware or unaware of. There was just awareness expanding into infinite space.
But then suddenly "I" felt a soft bed under a warm breathing body wrapped in a blanket in a dark room.
Anyone else have this kind of experience?
|
|
|
[09 Oct 2008|11:43am] |
"Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean as much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with an open heart and the willingness not to instantly try to get ground under our feet. for instance, if what we're feeling is rage, we usually assume that there are two ways to relate to it. One is to blame others. Lay it all on somebody else; drive all blames into everyone else. The other alternative is to feel guilty about our rage and blame ourselves...
But suppose someone doesn't agree with us? Then what happens? Do we find ourselves getting angry and aggressive? If we look into the very moment of our anger and aggression, we might see that this is what wars are made of. This is what race riots are made of; feeling that we have to be right, being thrown off and righteously indignant when someone disagrees with us. On the other hand, when we find ourselves feeling wrong, convinced that we're wrong, getting solid about being wrong, we could also look at that. The whole right and wrong business closes us down and makes our world smaller. Wanting situations and relationships to be solid, permanent, and graspable obscures the pith of the matter which is that things are fundamentally groundless." (81-82, When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron)
|
|
| New Girl |
[09 Oct 2008|01:04pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 exhausted |
] |
Hi... My name's Nicci and I just joined the community.
I've been recommended to Buddhism by a friend of mine. I'm pagan as of now and I've known people who have practiced Buddhism, but when I asked him I should do because I feel "karmicly" out of balance he told me I should meditate. He gave me a list of books, Awaken the Buddhist Within, Four Noble Truths, The Compassionate Heart (which isn't availible anywhere.).
If anyone is willing to suggest more books or even links to places (or people) that could help me start this path, I would greatly appreciate it.
|
|
| Martial Arts |
[09 Oct 2008|11:27am] |
What would be a buddhist perspective on practicing martial arts? From what I have read Siddhartha himself was quite an acomplished martial artist before enlightenment. I think I read somewhere that he brought it with him and taught his disciples, but I'm not sure about this.
I hope this doesn't seem to naive. I am aware of certain monks that practice martial arts for several hours a day as part of their meditation and as part of their self-awareness training.
Buddhists are pacifists, how does learning a martial art fit in there?
I practice Jujitsu you see, and thoroughly love it, not because it makes me a good fighter (thankfully have never been tested in the street) but because it has brought me self-confidence, self-respect, discipline and respect for others around me, as well as a kind of awareness that I can't really put my finger on.
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
atmosphere__'s Friends Page
