u/Automatic-One3901

I follow mahayana tradition and I wanna say talk about this..

Sai baba lived in the west of India during the British era. He is taught to have performed miracles like healing, burning lamp from water, being in 2 places at once and so much more. And he never specified his religion or about his parents, he just lived like a sufi fakir who was seen as an avatar of datatreya (local folk God) by hindus while a sufi saint by muslims.

He would also go on to beg for food and say that the people who offer him food and money would be attain great blessings. Interesting, he used to give away all the things he received by evening and would live in his small hut.

He also made 11 promises (including the protection, answering to pray, liberation from misery and other promises) for people even after his death. People around the world report feeling his presence and guidance.

I strongly believe that sai baba was avalokiesthvara bodhisattva because he had also spoke of enlightenment (brahma-gyana in local language). One story says that he meant and impatient guy and (long story short) asks something like, "you weren't even ready to let go of a few dimes.. how would you let go of your self ?"

I strongly believe that he was avalokiesthvara bodhisattva (saying this lol) What are your opinions?

There are a lot of people who say this without even understanding what the law of karma is.

1. "Every tragedy is a justice". This isn't even oversimplification... The actions committed in past lives (even ones done in countless lives ago) can ripen at any moment. However, we aren't actually bounded by fate in some fatalistic sense. There's a saying that's shakyamuni buddha taught about the karma in order explain how to transform karma. There are countless practices for purification of karma meant for people with heavy karma.

2. "Karma is victim blaming" This is kinda funny because if this was true that shakyamuni buddha should have predicted that Angulimala would suffer in his future lives instead of going to confront him. Or kstigarbha bodhisattva should have ignored his past life mother to let her burn in hell. Or maybe the buddhists across the history should have ignored and not allowed people who were suffering from hunger or dieases to enter in their temple or monasteries.. or maybe venerable chin kung wouldn't have built public hospitals.. because afterall, it's just victim blaming. Isn't it ?

Shakyamuni buddha's goal was to make sure we can have the control of our destiny in our hands.. not blaming the less fortune people. And if the buddhas and bodhisattvas (who have already broken the chains of samsara) care about teaching and helping beings. Then why should the people who strive to walk on their path "blame" people for past lives karma or think that misfortune was "good for you" ?

Om mani padme hum. 🪷

Buddhist texts presents various different methods for nirvana. Each of them suited for people of certain capabilities and in capabilities. However, the simplest way to attain enlightenment is by reciting the nembutsu and aiming to be reborn in the pureland of amida. And once there, you have the right conditions for enlightenment. Many people in ancient times have managed to attain rebirth in the pureland of Amitabha Buddha. And I guess this practice of the PURELAND tradition should be more popular in the west.

Namo amida butsu 🙏

There is a common misconception that "bodhisattva vow is technically about staying in samsara". But that isn't how we might think their stay is.

How did the misconception arise ?

• I guess it's because of the typical western dualism which they might assume applies to the samsara and nirvana thing. Like, one can't have both at the same time.

Some people even say that a bodhisattva vow is mara's trap to make sure you never leave samsara even after getting exposed buddhist teachings.

But, here's what I'd say (with sutras)

1. In the diamond sutra shakyamuni buddha says, “...A Bodhisattva should develop a mind which alights upon no thing whatsoever; and so should he establish it.” — Diamond Sutra Section 4

Which means that even though a bodhisattva is in samsara, they wouldn't get downed into the limitations of sentient beings.

Which means, that a bodhisattva is smart enough to walk in the darkness but not get lost.

2. In the vimalakirti sutra, it is said that nirvana and samsara aren't separate from the mind. And for advanced bodhisattvas, this very land of suffering is the adorned pureland of shakyamuni buddha!

A simple analogy- Imagine we (ignorant beings) are kids who went near a pool. A kind elder would tell you to not go inside (cause you'll down into it). But a mature guy who has the ability to swim wouldn't face any trouble at all.

The following are the ten major Bodhisattva precepts (also known as the "Brahma Net Precepts"), widely followed in East Asian Mahayana traditions:

1.Respect life: Do not kill or encourage others to kill.

2. Be giving: Do not steal or encourage others to steal.

3.Honor the body: Do not engage in licentious acts (or misuse sexuality) or encourage others to do so.

4.Manifest truth: Do not use false words and speech (lying) or encourage others to do so.

5.Proceed clearly: Do not trade or sell alcoholic beverages (or consume them, in some interpretations) or encourage others to do so.

6.See the perfection: Do not broadcast the misdeeds or faults of the Buddhist assembly (monks and nuns) or encourage others to do so.

7.Realize self and others as one: Do not praise yourself and speak ill of others, or encourage others to do so.

8.Give generously: Do not be stingy with material aid or the Dharma (withholding) or encourage others to be so.

9.Actualize harmony: Do not harbor anger or encourage others to be angry.

10.Experience the intimacy of things: Do not speak ill of (slander) the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Sangha (the Triple Jewel) or encourage others to do so.

I've seen people talk about 5 precepts and the 8 and 10 ones.. but as a lay pureland buddhist.. I feel like these are beyond the basic precepts and are absolutely doable for us ❤️