Writing Online In Two Syllables Or Less

Version vom 7. November 2020, 09:19 Uhr

I include non human beings in this such as animals. Lately I've become interested in groups, which try to protect animals, such as PETA. I wanted to know what was the philosophical principle behind PETA. I was surprised to find it's not based on religion. They are following the utilitarian philosophers of the 17th century, such as John Stewart Mill and Jeremy Bentham. You know: animals have feelings and we don't want to upset that. Animals have a capacity for suffering, and we should act in the interests of every being. There's an author, Peter Singer, who writes about this in Anthem of Animal Liberation. In Buddhism, the non-harming of beings is in our philosophy.

But we weren't in Thailand, we were back in the good old U.S. of A. where only the brightest, healthiest, most ambitious, and most successful are respected. Serenity and peace have little value at all, and are laughable to those caught up in the drive and ambition that are its present day American sacraments. I couldn't complain, however; this country is free and full of opportunity, more than any other, but I couldn't help feel that our heads overrule our hearts here, and that someday this imbalance of wisdom over compassion would spell trouble.

Also I think that Batchelor has to be clearer about his criteria for what is to remain and what is to be taken out of the Tipitaka. Just because the idea of rebirth was previous to the time of the Buddha doesn't mean that the Buddha did not accept a form of rebirth. Yes, the Buddha taught rebirth in a completely different way. In Buddha's first discourse he says that regarding the Four Noble Truths that he realized things before unknown to him. That means he found out from his own experience; nobody taught the Buddha. He did not take the teaching from other people. One of his insights was that there is a rebirth in the sense that there is a continuity of mind.

Does the seller of the amulets sell hype or does it appear that the seller is just listing the amulets so others might share in their beauty by purchasing them? Thai amulet sellers are often times in the business for a couple of simple and heartfelt reasons. The first reason is - they are Buddhist and want to share the amulets with other Buddhists all over the world. The amulets are not high priced - over $100 USD, and there are not outrageous claims about the magical powers of the amulets.

My mind calmed down quickly at Bhavana and the time went by quickly. I kept busy felling trees and splitting firewood, working in the kitchen, and later pitching in and helping with the construction of the new meditation hall, and I would have actually remained with Bhante G and ordained as one of his monks had I not wanted to support Janet by becoming part of Amaravati.

The empire was then restored by a new king, Jayavarman VII, the capital was then re-established and the state temple was established as well. However in the 13th century the temple originally Hindu, became a temple for theravada Buddhism, and has remained as such to this day. What is unique about Angkor Wat is that it was never completely abandoned and it has remained preserved despite neglect. Scholars argue that this is because of the protection of the moat that keeps the jungle from encroaching upon it.

BN: Yes, serving others is what make us happy. It's paradoxical. You forget about yourself when you serve others. At the same time, we should work on knowing our minds and to develop ethical living, to learn not to cause suffering to others. Others are just like us even with our differences. So it's our responsibility to make our actions "blameless." We learn how to relate to our inevitable problems.