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Yes, I'm interested in reading more of Batchelor. Thanks. But I must say that to be a Buddhist you must believe something. For example, we follow the precepts. Why? There is a sensible reason we decide to follow them but, as we go on with our practice, there is also an element of belief.
What we were talking until now could be applied to what is considered traditional Buddhism, that is, the tradition practiced by the early community of followers after the death of the Buddha. Today, the school of Buddhism that tries to imitate this traditional ideal is the theravada. theravada Buddhism is practiced in South East Asia: Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma. It could be considered the conservative branch of Buddhism.
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.
Allocate a special space, seat, and time of day just for meditation. Although you can meditate anywhere and at any time, consistency ensures a greater likelihood of success. Begin with sitting for 15 minutes a day. First thing in the morning or just before bed are good times when external disturbances are likely to be minimal. You decide what works best for your life. If it feels appropriate after some time, you can gradually increase the duration of your practice to 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
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.
The Spring Temple Buddha found in Lushan County, Henan, China is considered as the biggest statue of Buddha in the world. It measures 128 meters (420 feet), including a 20 meter lotus throne. If you will include the 25-meter pedestal where the statue is placed, the Spring Temple Buddha would have a total height of 153 meters (502 feet). With the reshaping of the hill where the statue is currently perched to give way for the construction of two more pedestals, this statue of Buddha is now 208 meters high.
Materials the amulet is made from makes no difference at all in relation to whether or not it is a fake amulet. Gold, silver, brass, copper, bronze, clay, plastic, wood, stainless steel, tin, pewter, bone, ivory - I think I have seen amulets of every sort of material on the planet. Every one of them can be faked easily.
