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The Open Buddhist University

buddhistuniversity.net

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Re: The Open Buddhist University

#141

Post by swayvil »

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…

Ditto more or less. Refreshing to hear a sane word.

Do you do your vipassana with concentration-prep, or do you do it dry?

I do it dry mself.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#142

Post by esbeeb »

nicky0 wrote: post #87
esbeeb wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What does "authority" mean in a Buddhist context? That's a fantastic question, and the short answer is: "given my expertise is in the Theravada world... how authority works is complicated". An overly simplistic answer is: the number of years of a monk's seniority is the easy and fairly-reliable gauge of a monk's authority. It would take a good 1-hour Dhamma Talk for me to explain what I know. Most people would be bo…

Yes! I await the 1 hour youtube video with great interest

Ok, I'll address this on my next livestream (Mondays at 10:30am, Malaysia time, GMT +8): https://bhikkhu.ca/video_dhamma_talks/

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#143

Post by esbeeb »

gorgonical wrote: post #82
esbeeb wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What does "authority" mean in a Buddhist context? That's a fantastic question, and the short answer is: "given my expertise is in the Theravada world... how authority works is complicated". An overly simplistic answer is: the number of years of a monk's seniority is the easy and fairly-reliable gauge of a monk's authority. It would take a good 1-hour Dhamma Talk for me to explain what I know. Most people would be bo…

As a Westerner with a lot of cultural knowledge of Christianity but very little of the structure of Buddhism, yes please give the long answer.

Ok, I'll address this on my next livestream (Mondays at 10:30am, Malaysia time, GMT +8): https://bhikkhu.ca/video_dhamma_talks/

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#145

Post by ArturoVM »

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…

With respect, Bhante, it is not fitting of a monk to criticize another monk in this way in public.

I do not know venerable Khemarato, nor his teachings, but I would humbly suggest that if you’re concerned about people being misled in the Dhamma by that website, it’s better to focus on the content.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#146

Post by ArturoVM »

logicchains wrote: post #43
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…

That doesn't sound like a very Buddhist thing to say? I thought Buddhists were supposed to be about "no ego", not "don't listen to this guy because I'm more senior/got more titles than him".

The actual doctrine is closer to “not-self” but it’s still a part of the teachings that one should not compare oneself to others. It’s such a shame that some of the representatives of the Buddhist tradition don’t practice that, which leads to the perception that “it’s all the same,” as someone else commented here.

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#148

Post by esbeeb »

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…

For those interested in an answer to the great question "What does 'authority' mean in a Buddhist context?"

After about 15 hours of work, I've posted a 1.5hr video with many slides answering it:

https://bhikkhu.ca/buddhism/video/2023/06/01/Dhamma_Talk_113...

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#149

Post by esbeeb »

dv35z wrote: post #75
esbeeb wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What does "authority" mean in a Buddhist context? That's a fantastic question, and the short answer is: "given my expertise is in the Theravada world... how authority works is complicated". An overly simplistic answer is: the number of years of a monk's seniority is the easy and fairly-reliable gauge of a monk's authority. It would take a good 1-hour Dhamma Talk for me to explain what I know. Most people would be bo…

I would love to hear it, would you please say more?

https://bhikkhu.ca/buddhism/video/2023/06/01/Dhamma_Talk_113...

Re: The Open Buddhist University

#150

Post by esbeeb »

org3 wrote: post #63
esbeeb wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>What does "authority" mean in a Buddhist context? That's a fantastic question, and the short answer is: "given my expertise is in the Theravada world... how authority works is complicated". An overly simplistic answer is: the number of years of a monk's seniority is the easy and fairly-reliable gauge of a monk's authority. It would take a good 1-hour Dhamma Talk for me to explain what I know. Most people would be bo…

I do!

https://bhikkhu.ca/buddhism/video/2023/06/01/Dhamma_Talk_113...
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