u/Historical_Bug_3327 — reddlx

The one sutra which caused a rupture.

I posted some time ago about udana 8.8 and how it doesn't sit quite right with me.

Idk. I have been in contact with buddhism for quite a long time. I came accross it in my early teenage years and it helped me a lot. I will forever be thankful for what it taught me and the anchor it gave me in my life.

I knew buddhism is about getting rid of attachments all along. There's nothing new with that.

However, when I encountered this particular sutra it just felt weird. When I first encountered it I felt it's a bit cold but I still understand it's core teaching. Yet, now I just feel more and more empty... The more I ponder about it the more cruel it seems. Telling a woman in grief to just not be attached just doesn't seem compassionate in any way... Idk.

It is this sutra which moved me closer to Taoism. However, Taoism doesn't offer this kind of structured path which buddhism offers...

It might seem weird to you that one sutra caused me to feel like this after being in contact with buddhism for so long. And I cannot explain it myself either.

And the comments under my last post which reminded me of the option to just leave whatever doesn't feel right at the moment and come back to it later; while it makes sense; it's just the sutra is still stuck with me... I cannot believe to ever come to a point at which I would be able to deeply align with it.

It seems so silly. It's not like the sutra is extremely special or like it's advocating for something horribly brutal... But it just feels so cold. And left me feeling empty...

Any help or comments are appreciated.

May you all find peace.

u/Historical_Bug_3327 — 1 day ago

▲ 3 r/taoism

I got deeply inspired by some stories found in the Zhuangzi and I am looking to purchase a copy. I'm not planning to study it profoundly or overanalyze everything.

I'm just looking to read it.

I saw some other posts in this forum discussing different translations... But I still want to ask again, because I'm not going to look at it from a scholar type of perspective...

I speak English, German and Spanish. So any translation in either of these languges would work...

Thank you for all your recommendations!

reddit.com

u/Historical_Bug_3327 — 19 days ago

▲ 14 r/theravada+1 crossposts

I know that attachment is what leads to suffering. But I still find myself with troubles contemplating this sutra. Is it really the way of life to be without love? What sutras do you suggest me to put this sutra in a broader context?

How would one implement this kind of advice while living a life with family, friends, etc...?

Is this kind of advice given to a grieving person not a bit of fleeing from life? Instead of facing it? I don't think it's supposed to be read like that though.

Thank you for all replies!

1 Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, at the Eastern Monastery in Migāra's mother's mansion. Then at that time Migāra's mother Visākhā's grand-daughter, who was beloved and dear, had died.

Then Migāra's mother Visākhā, with wet clothes and hair, in the middle of the day went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, she sat down on one side. While sat on one side the Gracious One said this to Migāra's mother Visākhā:

2 "Now where have you come from, Visākhā, with wet clothes and hair, and why are you coming here in the middle of the day?"

"My grand-daughter, who was beloved and dear, reverend Sir, has died. That is why, with wet clothes and hair, I am coming here in the middle of the day."

"Would you like, Visākhā, as many children and grand-children as there are people in Sāvatthī?"

"I would like, Gracious One, as many children and grand-children as there are people in Sāvatthī."

3 "But how many people, Visākhā, die every day in Sāvatthī?"

"Ten people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, nine people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, eight people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, seven people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, six people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, five people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, four people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, three people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, two people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī, one person, reverend Sir, dies every day in Sāvatthī, Sāvatthī is never secluded from people who are dying."

4 "Now what do you think, Visākhā, would you ever be without wet clothes and hair?"

"Surely not, reverend Sir, I have had enough, reverend Sir, with so many children and grand-children!"

5 "For those who have a hundred loves, Visākhā, they have a hundred sufferings, for those who have ninety loves, they have ninety sufferings, for those who have eighty loves, they have eighty sufferings, for those who have seventy loves, they have seventy sufferings, for those who have sixty loves, they have sixty sufferings, for those who have fifty loves, they have fifty sufferings, for those who have forty loves, they have forty sufferings, for those who have thirty loves, they have thirty sufferings, for those who have twenty loves, they have twenty sufferings, for those who have ten loves, they have ten sufferings, for those who have nine loves, they have nine sufferings, for those who have eight loves, they have eight sufferings, for those who have seven loves, they have seven sufferings, for those who have six loves, they have six sufferings, for those who have five loves, they have five sufferings, for those who have four loves, they have four sufferings, for those who have three loves, they have three sufferings, for those who have two loves, they have two sufferings, for those who have one love, they have one suffering, for those who love nothing, they have no sorrow. They are griefless, dust-free, and without despair, I say."

6 Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

7 "Whatever griefs or lamentations there are,

And the many kinds of suffering in the world,

These all arise because of love,

Without loves, these do not originate.

8 "Therefore they are happy and free from grief,

Who are without love for anything in the world,

Therefore those wanting what is griefless, dust-free,

Should not have love for anything in the world."

thebuddhaswords.net

u/Historical_Bug_3327 — 20 days ago

▲ 92 r/BuddhistArt+1 crossposts

Some examples:

Cause: pretending to become a monk/nun to destroy buddhism Effect: rebirth as poisonous [venemous] snake in the next life

Cause: destroying other people's love of buddhism Effect: brings mental illness

Cause: Advising others to do good deeds Effect: brings shared good merit

Cause: Creating merits and transferring them to all sentinent beings Effect: brings opportunities to make marits forever

Cause: making employees stand to work all day Effect: brings paralytic legs to yourself

Cause: being disloyal to your country Effect: brings a lonely and helpless empty person

Cause: wasting time on travelling for fun Effect: brings mobility problems when blessings end (This one caught me when I was taking the pictures XD)

Cause: playing video games all day Effect: higher chance of rebirth in lower realm

Cause: supporting the making of saints statues Effect: brings a healthy and good looking body life after life

Cause: a violent temper Effect: brings an ugly person

...

I found them to be interesting tbh. But I am really not so sure what I should think of them... some make sense and align with what I know about Dharma, some seem like they are a bit questionable at least and some seem ridiculous and just don't really connect to buddhist teachings...

I'm only a layfollower so my judgement of such things is limited. I personally believe they were put up with good intentions :) But I do believe they are certainly reductionistic and I think the Buddha discouraged speculation on identity/karmic effects... Especially raising questions such as "will I be beautiful in the next life?" would be discouraged by the Buddha... They could lead to a wrong understanding of Karma and therefore to a wrong understanding of Dharma...

What do you think about these kind of illustrations?

Have you encountered them before? (They’re certainly in a lot of temples in Northern Vietnam)

Sabbē sattā sukhī hontu

u/Historical_Bug_3327 — 24 days ago

▲ 77 r/BuddhistAltars+1 crossposts

Okay, so I wasn't sure if I'd ever share my home altar, because well, it's quite personal. But now I decided to do so, because I actually want some opinions and perspectives...

Engagement with this post could be:

A: reacting to my altar

B: commenting on my questions

C: both of it

I'd say I tend to draw most of my inspiration from Theravada (thai forest tradition). But I'm not closed off to any other traditions (although I kind of used to be). So, my altar is more syncretic...

It also shows a transformation I went through, as I used to hold at least sceptical views towards other traditions...

Mentioning that I draw most inspiration from Theravada might seem odd, considering how rather "full" my altar appears... but it just happened that many things on the altar are there because they inspired me during my travels to other (buddhist) countries and made me appreciate other traditions more. Two more things: All items are placed intentionally and serve their purpose + I only ever uncover the altar during practice/meditation, so during the day it remains covered in the orange cloth in picture two.

QUESTIONS:

However, recently a thought or a feeling came to me; buddhism uses a lot of statues... Buddha is not a god but a teacher we respect... but to what extent does displaying statues lead to less attachment and when could it be attachment? (Especially in regard to how different traditions view Buddha statues...?).

Secondly: I was raised in an atheist/irreligious household and ended up turning to buddhism; but other religions (Christianity, Islam) view buddhist statues and their display as deeply concerning or even shirk (greatest sin in Islam)... This perspective is interesting to me... and I just wanted to hear some opinions/different perspectives on what I said.

Sabbē sattā sukhī hontu

u/Historical_Bug_3327 — 25 days ago