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The Open Buddhist University

buddhistuniversity.net

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Re: The Open Buddhist University

#121

Post by kinleyd »

laratied wrote: post #108
wraptile wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spending 5 years in Thailand I've learned that Buddhism while funamentally different from other religions in the best ways operates just the same in practical reality. It's almost like classification and status is inherit to any group activity and not in a good way unfortunately. To give perspective on the "dark" side of Buddhism I highly recommend "Come and See" documentary on Netflix which is hard to explain withou…

The idea of collections of humans without hierarchy is beyond delusional. I am a Buddhist but it is hard to say I am serious or I would be living alone in the woods. Nearly all Buddhist teachings IMO are bullshit and just enforcing natural hierarchy. Sogyal Rinpoche telling his female students he is going to give them a dharma lesson by sleeping with him. In a metaphorical sense though I think that is what most stude…

That is as sweeping a statement as one could make about Buddhism.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#122

Post by tasuki »

FollowingTheDao wrote: post #118
tasuki wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd expect a buddhist teacher to be a lot more chill. You took issue with him calling himself a "dean" while he only called himself a librarian. The website is called a "university" but obviously he's not pretending to be a real credentialed university, it's just a cute website title. Here you had a good chance to reflect and backtrack. But no, he's quite a junior monk to be running his own website. Well, I'm not eve…

> I'd expect a buddhist teacher to be a lot more chill. The perception that monks can never exhibit emotion or should always be relaxed is a purely American idea and a stereotype. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?artic...

I'm not American, I'm a European.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#123

Post by tasuki »

bowsamic wrote: post #104
tasuki wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd expect a buddhist teacher to be a lot more chill. You took issue with him calling himself a "dean" while he only called himself a librarian. The website is called a "university" but obviously he's not pretending to be a real credentialed university, it's just a cute website title. Here you had a good chance to reflect and backtrack. But no, he's quite a junior monk to be running his own website. Well, I'm not eve…

How many actual Buddhist teachers have you met?

Depending on your definitions, somewhere between one and three.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#124

Post by fnordpiglet »

throwawaylolx wrote: post #114
fnordpiglet wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s just a title to a web page meant to be interesting. Regardless, he didn’t represent himself as a teacher. He didn’t teach. He represented himself as a curator of a webpage, and the tittle of the page I don’t think it meant to be misleading just compelling. It’s a bit of a stretch to take it any other way, and a shifting of the goal posts. I think if you agree he didn’t do as you said he did, it isn’t self dimini…

>It’s just a title to a web page meant to be interesting It's called clickbait and it's widely acknowledge to be a dishonest method of promotion.

Come now. Clickbait would be “You will never believe what the Buddha did when…”

This is just a title. “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” turned out to just be a book about a rather boring Englishman and his friend, not actually a pan galactic travel guide. Titles are allowed to be compelling as long as they aren’t outright BS. No one really thinks there’s a Buddhist university with degrees and graduation ceremonies and the promise of enlightenment with every degree. When I clicked on it I expected to see pretty much what I got.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#125

Post by koonsolo »

FollowingTheDao wrote: post #117
koonsolo wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> He would get roundly mocked in subtle ways by senior Buddhist monks I only know a bit about buddhism, but mocking people doesn't sound like 'senior' behaviour to me. Mocking people is very immature. I cannot imagine that someone like Thich Nhat Hanh would mock anyone.

[flagged]

Nice excuse for behaving like a jerk. "I was just testing you"

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#127

Post by swayvil »

lxm wrote: post #21
jmfldn wrote: post #7

Thank you for this resource. I am a software engineer and Buddhism-curious, but I've never taken the plunge into full on practice. I think I would like to though. Over many years of reading about Buddhism, contemplating the teachings and listening to various teachers, my conviction is growing.

"All of Buddhism is a footnote to zazen". (Kodo Sawaki)

Damn straight!

Anybody want a rational conversation about meditation (zazen etc), I'm game.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#128

Post by hgsgm »

bez_almighty wrote: post #102
esbeeb wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who's decision was it to call the website a "university"? Was that my decision, or his? The decision to call it a "university" is what makes me want to clarify what peer-perceived credentials he might have to that extent. If you were considering enrolling in a university, would you look into the reputation of that university? I'll bet you would. You'd want to know what it's reputation is like. Well, I'm offering insi…

Let me give you a really good piece of spiritual advice: Don't harsh other people's yum. Secondly, Buddhism isn't a corporate ladder with annual promotions, it's a set of understandings. 10 years or 10 hours, it's not the time that matters, it's the understanding. Maybe examine why you're really putting down this guy's effort? Is it really about him, or is it about how you feel about yourself? Also: don't allow yours…

Don't yuck my yum.

Don't harsh my mellow.

Do marsh my mallow.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#129

Post by kcartlidge »

NovaDudely wrote: post #83
esbeeb wrote: post #38

Actual Buddhist monk here (Ajahn Subharo), in the Theravada Thai forest lineage. Khemarato Bhikkhu - who is much more junior a monk than me, and is not formally any sort of Ajahn (teacher) yet - and myself both have Computer Science degrees, which are rare things for Buddhist monks to have. So take his authority to run a "university" with a huge grain of salt. He would get roundly mocked in subtle ways by senior Budd…

One thing that I have heard many times from Ajahn Brahm here in Oz was that when it comes to Buddhist stories, professors are generally seen as negative. That would explain why so few Computer Science degrees. ;) Ok here is my go to Buddhist computer joke. You do know that Buddhist are not forbidden from using email, only they can have 'no attachments'. Ahem... I will see myself out.

Nice to hear Ajahn Brahm mentioned; I really appreciate the clarity of his writing style.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#130

Post by dashwehacct »

denton-scratch wrote: post #95
tasuki wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd expect a buddhist teacher to be a lot more chill. You took issue with him calling himself a "dean" while he only called himself a librarian. The website is called a "university" but obviously he's not pretending to be a real credentialed university, it's just a cute website title. Here you had a good chance to reflect and backtrack. But no, he's quite a junior monk to be running his own website. Well, I'm not eve…

> I'd expect a buddhist teacher to be a lot more chill. Not me. Teachers are like anyone else; they come in all shapes and sizes. They have personalities, passions and emotions, just like everyone.

Many people forget this. It’s unfortunate.

I’m not teacher, but my interpretation of Buddhism isn’t to not say “damn!” When you stub your toe. But rather to question why you said “damn!” When you stubbed your toe.

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