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Everyday Buddha

2or3whiskeysodas — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:30:35 -0800

My fledgling Buddhist Dharma Punx meditation/discussion group expressed at our first meeting last week that they would like readings on "rubber meets the road" Buddhism, or the practical application of Buddhist principles in everyday life. Whatcha got, Mefi? No more inside!

Found Fantastic Buddhist Quote, Looking For Its Origin

jay.eye.elle.elle. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:15:02 -0800

What is the origin of this quote - "We're as dead now as we'll ever be."? I'm taking this Religion course called the Psychology of Religion and recently we've been discussing religious consciousness in Tibetan Buddhism. My professor tangentially referenced this quote - "We're as dead now as we'll ever be." The idea being that everyone is in a constant and eternal cycle of death and rebirth (samsara) and the only way to escape the cycle is through enlightenment in order to reach nirvana. I love the quote but when I asked my professor about it he only remember its source as "a Buddhist monk." The language is pretty colloquial so I'm assuming the monk is fairly modern. My professor is such a nut ball and space cadet so now I'm turning to MeFi. Anyone got any ideas either where this quote came from or even how I would go about finding its origin?

Differences between Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism?

ninotchka — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:59:19 -0800

What are the basic differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism? I have an inkling as to some of the very general regional and historical differences between the two, but what are some of the major philosophical differences?

How to become a Buddhist Monk

DetonatedManiac — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:44:43 -0800

I want to become a Buddhist monk at some point in my life and live out my days in a authentic monastery, preferably in a traditionally Buddhist country. Please advise. I have studied Buddhism academically and know the essential premises common to all the Buddhist tradition from a lay person perspective. I know Buddhism teaches, in a nut shell, that we are all living in Samsara and destined to eternal rebirth in suffering and delusion. The origin of this suffering is attachment and craving, but through giving up our attachment and the 8 fold path we can attain liberation. I know there are roughly 3 basic branches Theravada (crudely "lesser vehicle"), Mahayana ("Great Vehicle", including zen), and Vajrayana (Tibetan etc).

The more I live and experience the more a path of renunciation and abandoning the home life seems the correct path (even if I may be too frail and inculcated in materialism to ultimately follow that path). The Buddhist Dharma appears from my (admittedly limited) understanding to be ultimately true and I want to deepen my understanding of that truth.

I know this will be a years / decades long journey simply to find the correct teacher, let alone be accepted, let alone travel to another country/learn another language and become a monk etc.

And I also know that more than likely this amorphous dream will remain just that. But even still I would like to have a plan in place that can move me closer to that ultimate goal in a reasonable way. Perhaps I will not abandon my life such as it is now, but perhaps I will and I want to be prepared so that I can make that jump. And even if I don't, perhaps I can find an authentic Buddhist Sangha here that can deepen my insights and perhaps put me on the path to liberation despite the material culture we are surrounded by.

HIVE MIND:

What I don't know is how to decide which tradition to join, and how to become a part of a legitimate lineage in the Buddhist Tradition. All of the so called Buddhist "temples" I have seen in the US (admittedly not that many due to a scarcity of options) seem at best watered down "New Agey" and at worst borderline cult of personality or profit motivated. Not the places where the essence of the Buddhist texts I have read is taught, practiced and nourished, at least not in a very effective way.

So I guess my immediate question is where can I find a Buddhist temple linked to a legitimate traditional lineage, preferably one that would be open to admitting a Mid 20's Anglo like myself and be within driving distance of Raleigh NC, but not be watered down and "Americanized"?

Barring that, where can I find a temple, even without any strong native cultural roots, near said location that will deepen my understanding Buddhism and not lead to new-agey tangents or dead ends, or worse, some sort of cult?

More broadly, which branch should I follow? I see aspects of all 3 that are appealing and seem like effective paths to enlightenment. Theravada is of course the oldest and most venerated, but the Mahayana idea of attaining the selfless bodhisattva ideal, enlightenment for all, seems a much nobler goal and less secluded. Finally, the esoteric teachings and metaphysics of Vajrayana fascinate me, and the expedited path to enlightenment is a plus; as well (as superficial a consideration as this is) I feel a strong pull to Nepal, the foot of the Himalayas (it is silly I know, but motivates me none the less).

I should note, I strongly believe that all three Buddhist traditions, properly practiced, are true teachings and effective paths to enlightenment. But I know the Buddha said "Follow that path that you will get the most out of" (or something to that effect), so that is what I am pondering over.

The real tie breaker is which tradition is likely to accept me, and also which one I can start building inroads to now in my "normal" American life. A final consideration is the political situation. Some of these countries, like Burma and Sri Lanka etc do not have the most stable and western friendly regimes.

But it is not a race or a competition, I lay those out merely as unfortunately practical considerations. I welcome and appreciate any other thoughts or considerations you might be able to add.

What's that Confucianism/Buddhism quote?

Anoxs — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:12:41 -0800

Trying to remember a quote relating to Confucianism and Buddhism and comparing them to different types of stores. I'm hazy on pretty much every detail. The quote might have also mentioned Taoism, but I'm not sure about that. I believe it was said by a scholar.

Schools of Meditation

Picklegnome — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:51:44 -0800

What are the differences between Zen and Vipassana meditation? I'm interested mostly in the practices, foci, goals, etc., rather than the history or cultural background.

Decoding a Buddhist mural

garethspor — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:51:52 -0800

Curious to find help in decoding a Buddhist mural... A friend and I just moved into a new art studio which came with a pre-existing Buddhist (I believe) mural painted on one entire wall, floor to ceiling. We're definitely planning on keeping it up as it doesn't take up too much working space and is awesome. It was certainly crafted with some serious care and I'm convinced there are some specific symbols and meanings contained in it. Anyone have knowledge in this area or can point me in the direction thereof?

Picture of the mural: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spor/3503173329/

How much do you pay a Buddhist officiant?

bobbyno — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:15:41 -0800

How much should of a donation should we give to the Buddhist temple for our wedding service? My fiance and I are being married by a Buddhist monk in June. He will be officiating the ceremony and is officially marrying us (in the legal sense).

The ceremony is not in the temple and we are not members of the temple that the monks are associated with.

Concerning payment, they said that we should make a donation. When pressed a little bit for an amount, they told us, "however much you are comfortable with."

The crux of my question is: How much do you give a Buddhist monk for doing your wedding?

We live in the Chicago area and for reference, the rates I've seen for professional officiants range from $300-600, with some churches asking as much as $700. We are nowhere near affluent, but I absolutely want to give them what is appropriate and useful.

Thank you.

Looking for Buddha in Australia...

LongDrive — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:10:36 -0800

Where can I find a Nepalese-style Buddha statue in Australia? Short of taking a leisurely jaunt overseas, I was wondering if anyone knew of anywhere in Australia (Victoria preferably, but interstate is fine) where I could procure a Nepalese Shakyamuni Buddha statue.

The local temples and such that I know of actually bring them back from Nepal, but as I won't be going o/s for awhile, I'm not sure thats going to be possible right now. Also, because of Australia's strict custom rules, I would be nervous about trying to mail-order anything overseas.

This is for personal practice, so I would ideally like something around the 6–8" mark, and not an antique of any sort, or already filled, as I will have it consecrated locally.

Thanking you in advance for your gracious help as always...

Solitary Buddhist Retreat.

hazyspring — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:05:46 -0800

I'm interested in going to a buddhist monastery or retreat for two weeks to a month. Preferably somewhere in the northeast US. I'm looking for suggestions of Buddhist monasteries in the northeast (New England or New York). I'm looking to take a retreat for two weeks to a month.

I'm not looking for something fancy or cushy. I'm looking for a place I can have peace and quiet, work on my meditation skills, maybe study Buddhism and learn more about it, and also be in nature.

Also, I'm hoping it can be at a reasonable price.

What does a jewel-spitting mongoose represent?

Mender — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:01:51 -0800

Tibetan art filter: what are these sculptures holding in their hands? I recently visited a museum of Tibetan art, where a guide gave me detailed descriptions of several Buddha and Bodhisattva sculptures. They sculptures were many-armed, and the guide explained that each arm represents an aspect of that particular Buddha or Bodhisattva. In each of the hands the figures were holding small objects—sometimes a jar or bowl, sometimes a plant or animal, often something I could not identify.

The guide mentioned a general name for these objects and seemed to indicate that books exist to catalogue the objects and their meanings, i.e. a bowl represents charity, a mongoose represents greed, etc.

Can anyone tell me if there is a general name for these objects and how I can find out more about what they represent? Sorry if I have screwed up any details—please let me know, as I am new to this kind of art.

meditation to deal with relationship problems?

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:03:00 -0800

Depression therapy via buddhism regarding relationships? I realize the economy is in the toilet which makes it difficult for my partner to find a position, but since my partner has changed careers so often (now on the 6th change considering 7th change) I'm finding it very difficult to be a supportive partner. I support the both of us financially but since I'm a recently graduate I don't make much money. So the money stress has not helped. We're getting by, by being thrifty but its challenging.

The problem with me is that I'm getting tired of hearing my partner put the blame on everyone else re: my partner's problems (crappy past sups, not enough challenge, humiliating work, annoying co-workers, etc). Everytime my partner has had a career change there is excitement and I'm convinced that this is "the job" (which I believe and encourage my partner to pursue) only to see the excitement crash and burn.

I feel that I need therapy and suggestions because I feel that by berating my partner, I'm helping no one. And since I'm losing respect for my partner to stick to something, I've lost interest in sex and constantly think about living on my own without the added drama.

I want to use my (vipasana and zen) meditation practice to deal with my problem. I'd like pointers on material to read as well as suggestions for therapists in SD area who would accept cash (I have insurance but don't want a paper trail)

Pali tutoring in SE Asia

AArtaud — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:37:41 -0800

Has anyone studied Pali in Southeast Asia or Sri Lanka? I have an extensive background in Sanskrit and Buddhism, and I'd like to spend a summer or a semester reading a few Pali texts with a highly qualified private tutor overseas.

Buddhists and the difficulty of choosing your life

ttyn — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:25:06 -0800

Buddhism question about what happens before we are born and the lives we choose for ourselves. I read about a week ago, in an article online, that Buddhists believe we get to see our lives before we are born and we get to say "yes" or "no" as to whether we would like to choose that life. If we say "no" we get to see a different one. And so on. Until we finally pick one, say "yes", and then we are born.

I think I read it on a blog by a guy who was writing about jobs and failure and how even though he experienced failure it was the life he had chosen for himself for a reason.

Can anyone point me in the direction of that article? I thought I bookmarked it but I guess I haven't.

Can anyone point me to any other source that discusses this specific Buddhist belief? Google has failed me since I don't know what the specific term for it would be.

Thanks!

Brahmaviharas with detailed distinctions?

zeek321 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 03:51:55 -0800

"Mudita is a Buddhist (Pali and Sanskrit: मुदित) word meaning rejoicing in others' joy." The Wikipedia description is really, really good. Where can I find more really good information about the brahmaviharas? This is what really got me, from the Wikipedia article:

"[...] Mudita's "near enemy," or quality which superficially resembles mudita but is in fact more subtly in opposition to it, is exhilaration, perceived as a grasping at pleasant experience out of a sense of insufficiency or lack."

This is a fine-grain distinction that's going to be really helpful to me in my practice. The reference cited in the article didn't have this level of detail. Where can I find this level of detail for all four of the Four Immeasurables?

Here is one good resource I've found:
http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Ease-Self-Liberation-Mahamudra-Meditation/dp/1590301560

And I haven't looked into Allan Wallace's books yet:
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Immeasurables-Revised-Cultivating-Boundless/dp/1559392096

So, again, the sort of thing I'm looking for is: "It's this, but not this," "This is close, but not quite," etc.

How to become an avout?

curious_yellow — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:39:46 -0800

So I've recently read Anathem. And I rather liked it. In particular I was inspired by avout, and am wondering how to restructure my life to be more like them. Details and slight spoilers inside. Anathem features central characters called the Avout - a group of people who live a monk-like simple life, locked away from the world studying science and philosophy.

They use only very little and tightly controlled technology. There's a strong focus on very long term thinking - for example, groups like this have stayed more or less the same for thousands of years.

I feel inspired, in that this sounds like quite a nice life, and it fits in with my existing interest in both science, the simplicify, and buddhism.

How can I adjust my life to be more like this? How do I find like-minded people and deal with the tedious need to earn money? I don't think the lifestyle exactly as portrayed in the book is possible or desirable, but moving in that direction seems like a good idea.

Academia is an obvious option, but I don't like it as a solution due to (my research suggests) the chronic lack of job security, politics, the fact you need to be particularly smart...

Chant Box lowdown

Chrischris — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:37:40 -0800

On a whim I bought a cheap electronic Buddhist Chant Box off Ebay--Not FM3's Buddha Machine, but one of the myriad (so I'm led to understand) cheap boxes sold outside temples in China. My son has become obsessed with the thing and will sit for hours listening to the chanting loops on it. He and I both would be very interested in finding more info about them, as well as further resources to acquire other examples. My google-fu has failed terribly in finding anything more than cursory mentions of them on various websites. So:

1. Can anyone point me to websites which might have more in-depth discussions of these things. Non-English sites would be fine.

2. Are there places online besides ebay and specialty Buddhist websites which sell a wide variety of them?

Buddhism by Non-Buddhists?

scabrous — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:41:02 -0800

Whose writing would I benefit most from reading if I'm a non-buddhist who sees some value in buddhist teachings? In my early twenties, I spent a great deal of time reading buddhist teachings. I believed strongly in their views on the world (impermanence, non-attachment, strength of mind and some monastic beliefs) however I balk at the desire to be enlightened or anything on the mystic end of the spectrum. I am an atheist and believe in this lifetime only.

I'm wondering who (past and present) wrote about real-world buddhist concepts which dealt specifically with contentment and peace in day to day life. I realize this is likely a lot of the new-age writers, but who would appeal to my philosophical side most? Are there philosophers I missed who approached some of the above concepts in real-world terms?

Thanks in advance.

The perfect (somewhat) Buddhist gift for a non-Buddhist baby

AnyGuelmann — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:36:17 -0800

My friends are not religious but are having a Buddhist blessing ceremony for their baby's first birthday. Help me pick a gift. They are not Buddhists and as far as I know don't plan to raise a Buddhist child, so I'm not looking for a heavily symbolic religious gift. I want something cute, thoughtful, possibly cool and somewhat (even if vaguely) related to the theme. The theme being, I guess, Chinese/Buddhist tradition and folklore.

I've been to Pearl River in SoHo today, and here are some of the things I considered getting:
Chinese baby jacket (or dress or pajamas)
Tiger hat or shoes
Zodiac ornament (the ceremony will be in their garden so they could hang it in a tree)

Would any of these be a mistake? The perfect choice? What else do you suggest?

It must be light and unbreakable because it's going to South America by mail. And if I can get it in Manhattan, even better - I need to ship it next Tuesday.

popular songs with Zen/Buddhist themes?

desjardins — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:37:31 -0800

I want to find popular songs with Zen/Buddhist themes, such as living in the moment, rejecting materialism, desire as suffering, non-attachment as freedom. The artists themselves need not be Buddhist and the entire song doesn't have to have a consistent theme. I know I'm using a loose interpretation of Buddhism. Any genre is fine; prefer pop/hip-hop. No chanting. Excerpted examples inside. [bold parts are most resonant to me]
There's Gotta be More to Life by Stacie Orrico (yes I'm aware that she's a Christian pop singer but the theme fits) (complete lyrics here)

I've got the time and I'm wasting it slowly
Here in this moment I'm half way out the door
Onto the next thing, I'm searching for something that's missing
--------------------------------------------------
I'm Yours by Jason Mraz (full lyrics here)

Well open up your mind and see like me
open up your plans and damn you're free
look into your heart and you'll find love love love
[...]
I guess what I'm a sayin' is there ain't no better reason
to rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
it's what we aim to do
our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
it cannot wait, i'm sure
there's no need to complicate
our time is short
---------------------------------------
Little Wonders by Rob Thomas (complete lyrics here)

Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And i don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really matters in the end

Love Your Fate

panoptican — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:46:35 -0800

Anyone know Sanskrit? Are you familiar with the phrase "Love Your Fate" (and this is the Western version of "You Art Thou")? I have a translation, now I need validation. My roommate would like to get this phrase tattooed in Sanskrit. I procured a translation for a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label from one of my co-workers in India. Worry is, he's a bit of a wise guy so I wanted to make sure it was legit.

Sanskrit translation of "Love Your Fate"

Moreover, I wanted to make sure that it was true to the concept and not just a literal translation. Or maybe all it takes is a literal translation? Not sure if there is some special way to say it.

Semi-related reading: http://freejonah6.blogspot.com/2007/03/joyces-ullysses.html

Do you have any recommendations on youth meditation groups in the Bay Area?

ebness86 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:44:36 -0800

Do you have any recommendations on youth meditation groups in the Bay Area? I'm moving up to the Bay Area from Los Angeles, and I'm looking to replicate the experience I had meditating at Against the Stream.

I'm not opposed to traditional meditation centers, but there was something about that particular group that really spoke to my specific life stage... I'm 22 and still seeking externally when I should be looking within.

(They also seemed structured for us 9-to-5-ers by offering night and weekend sessions, which was nice.)

Please list anywhere I should check into - thanks for your time!

Religious MeFites: help educate a nonbeliever.

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:25:19 -0800

After living most of my life in a secular bubble, I've been asked to fill in as a producer for a religion-focused public radio show. Religious folk: please help me to do the best job I possibly can. What's going on in your religion or faith community right now? And what should I, as a secular humanist journalist, know in order to broadcast respectfully about your faith? (anonymous because my question relates to my job and employer, which could be identified from my posting history) The show I'll be working on isn't quite religious broadcasting - it's journalism directed in the general direction of all religions and their effects on society. I have a decent grasp of comparative religion and philosophy, but I have no personal experience of religious faith and my knowledge of current religious issues could use a boost.

So please, educate me.

What is it like to be religious where you live? What are members of your religion discussing amongst themselves? What are they concerned about, arguing over, celebrating or commemorating? What mistakes do you wish dumb journalists would stop making about your faith?

I don't want this question to devolve into chatfilter, so let's try to stick to identifying current religious issues rather than actually debating them. I'm interested in everything from the biggest of church schisms to the smallest of local initiatives. Atheists are welcome to chip in, but I'm most interested in hearing the personal experiences of religious people.

I'd also rather not discuss whether I should be doing this at all - I've taken it on as a responsibility and I intend to make sure I do a damn good job.

Making a sand mandala for our wedding

desjardins — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:27:51 -0800

We want to incorporate some sort of sand design into our wedding as an alternative to a unity candle. This would be sort of like a Tibetan sand mandala but nowhere near as complex. How the heck do we go about this? We are not Tibetan Buddhists. This will not be a religious thing per se; we simply like the symbolism of intentionally and mindfully creating something together, mixing the colors of sand, and then sweeping it away to remind ourselves of the impermanence of life and that all we have is right now, this moment. There won't be any Buddhists at the wedding, Tibetan or otherwise, that might be offended at our co-opting of this ritual.

We are thinking of something that would be mostly completed ahead of time, since we're not going to spend hours doing it during the ceremony. We'd leave a part unfinished and complete it during the time you'd normally light a unity candle. We don't have a design in mind; I picked a butterfly theme for the wedding to symbolize transformation, so we might incorporate that. Other ideas are very welcome.

Where do we get colored sand? How are we going to transport the unfinished piece to the ceremony without destroying it? What should we sweep the finished piece into? Is this totally insane? This video is awesome but we're not that talented.

Buddhist bracelet, not Baltimore bracelets

QIbHom — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:40:38 -0800

Today at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a Buddhist monk (Mahayana, since he was from Bhutan) tied a yellow piece of yarn around my wrist. Being as this was in a temple, I'm assuming this had some religious significance. I've googled a very little bit on yarn on wrists in the Buddhist context. What I'm really curious about is when should I take it off, how, and how do I dispose of it? While I'm not Buddhist, I'm a polytheist and try to deal with religious things in the context of their religion, not mine. Not knowing that context is embarrassing me.