The Dalai Lama; One of the most evil men on Earth?

[HashemEchad]

I find this statement rather odd. Why do Christians mourn the dead if they know their loved one who died in a State of Grace will be in heaven with God? Why do you mourn the death of young children since they are with God?

 

[notself]

grandfather;3665933

Our choices and actions and thoughts create the circumstances of our lives as well as others.

This is why we need to be aware of the impact of our actions before we act and while we are acting. We need to review our actions to learn from them. This is where analysis and mindfulness comes in.

How do you know what is moral or pure? Who tells you? Do you know this by instinct or is it learned? If it is learned from whom do you learn it? Do you agree that our primary teachers that shape our moral senses are our families? Who taught your teacher?

Societies tell us what is moral and pure. Religion tells us what is moral and pure. Probably to some extent our very evolution tells us what is moral or rather altruism may be part of our very genetic code. We each have answers that work for us.

There are five Precepts that are followed by Buddhists regardless of tradition and these precepts have things in common with the ten commandments. They also compare to parts of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Moral codes ususally include basic precepts although the emphasis varies with culture and religion.

Does mercy and the workings of mercy have a place in Buddhist thought?

Would you please explain what you mean by mercy.

Impermanence is observable in this realm. Change can only exist in time. Outside time, where there is no before or after, there is no change.

We are all contingent beings. My existence depends on other. I come from others. All created beings have dependency. God is the uncaused cause. God is the supreme spirit who alone exists of Himself. Nothing is made that He has not made. He is the source of all. He is independent inherent self. I am defined by the One who gave me existence.

You have a good understanding of impermanence. I won’t go into whether there is a God as a first cause or whether there even was a first cause. It is just as possible that existence always was. Believing in God is after all a matter of faith.

This is not what Catholics believe. It would run over the word limit to explicate the theology of suffering here.

I would be interested in your correction of my misunderstanding.

Aren’t things like empathy. compassion, etc. attachements? Are they not desires that keep you attached, kind of imprisoned on the wheel that you hope to escape at some point or in some future reincarntaion?

Desire and attachments are forms of craving. It is craving that keeps us here. Compassion, etc, requires that one puts him or herself in the place of another. These states are the opposite of craving.

Never apologize for sharing your perspective on reality. In the end all shal be one, “et unum sint”, in spirit and mind. Now we are separated by differences, contradictions. They can not be glossed over and made believe that they do not matter or are unimportant. What is the motive you have for sharing what you believe about reality?

There are significant and important differences between what we believe as Christians or Buddhists. The effort we each put into walking the path of our beliefs is what we respect in one another. Some try to gloss over these differences and I find this effort to be dishonest and silly.

My motive for sharing what I believe is to correct misconceptions about Buddhism that are in part due to ignorance and in part due the many books and articles that try to make Buddhism fashionable or New Age.

This is true of course about all religions, but they also all have essential precepts, as you described above for example.

God is the undivided indivisible Infinite One. That is a sound bite. But He is infinite and we can never completely comprehend what is infinite. He is infinite in all of His perfections. We can understand aspects of divine perfections, but never all. Yet it is a simple as God is one. The first principle of metaphysics is God is perfectly simple.

Here is one of the descriptions of Nirvana.

"Freed, dissociated, & released from ten things, the Tathagata dwells with unrestricted awareness. Which ten? Freed, dissociated, & released from form, the Tathagata dwells with unrestricted awareness. Freed, dissociated, & released from feeling… Freed, dissociated, & released from perception… Freed, dissociated, & released from fabrications… Freed, dissociated, & released from consciousness… Freed, dissociated, & released from birth… Freed, dissociated, & released from aging… Freed, dissociated, & released from death… Freed, dissociated, & released from stress… Freed, dissociated, & released from defilement, the Tathagata dwells with unrestricted awareness.

You are probably right. I am not interested in Buddhism. I am interested in Buddhists, my fellow humans.

This is the reason I post on religious forums. If you want to know the core of someone, look at their religious or spiritual beliefs.

 

[notself]

notself;3664493:

Traditional Catholicism (like traditional Judaism) prays for their dead because they do not know whether than person is in Heaven or purgatory. The prayers are to loosen the dead from the penalties due to their sins, so they can go to Heaven (the olam ha’ba in Judaism.)

I, too, do not understand why modern Catholics pray for the dead if they believe the dead go right to Heaven. When I studied Catholicism I learned that Catholics believe in Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. Has that changed? If so, they have become less like Judaism and more like Protestantism.

I used examples where the person was either in a State of Grace or a child who was baptised but under the age of 7. It is my understanding that a child under that age is incapable of understanding the concept of sin and therefore is innocent of any wrong doing.

 

[grandfather]

notself;3664493:

Traditional Catholicism (like traditional Judaism) prays for their dead because they do not know whether than person is in Heaven or purgatory. The prayers are to loosen the dead from the penalties due to their sins, so they can go to Heaven (the olam ha’ba in Judaism.)

I, too, do not understand why modern Catholics pray for the dead if they believe the dead go right to Heaven. When I studied Catholicism I learned that Catholics believe in Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. Has that changed? If so, they have become less like Judaism and more like Protestantism.

Nothing has changed.

 

[grandfather]

This is why we need to be aware of the impact of our actions before we act and while we are acting. We need to review our actions to learn from them. This is where analysis and mindfulness comes in.

 

[Icarus]

“He is the reincarnation of some previous Dalai Lama”

How so, I mean ………how did they come to a rationale for this conclusion?

 

[grandfather]

This is why we need to be aware of the impact of our actions before we act and while we are acting. We need to review our actions to learn from them. This is where analysis and mindfulness comes in.

 

[peary]

it is true that the less religion, the more progressive & more tolerant people have become.

You’re actually serious on this?

 

[notself]

grandfather;3666423
So morality is determined by men?

The laws against murder and theft are common to both religious and atheistic societies.

Which religion? Religions have different ideas of what is good or evil. One says drinking alcoohol is evil. Another says polygamy is evil, or abortion. Does what is moral to a person depend on which religion one adheres to? What about those who have no religion?

Good point. Is there any two religions which agree on what is moral? There are at least three versions of the Ten Commandments.

So morality is instinct, known without instruction?

I think altruism may be. Although murder, theft and rape are found in other primate species, cooperation, sharing and kindness have also been observed.

So there is no objective morality. It varies from person to person?

I am sure you can by your own observations answer this question for yourself. I can think of no moral code which is universal among all peoples of the earth.

So there is some common ground, but there is no objective morality? It could be moral for Muslims to be suicide bombers and blow up Jewish children on school buses if that is what their religion believes?

The suicide bombers certainly think they are being moral and will be rewarded in heaven by God. I disagree. I think they are murderers. I also believe that the intentional killing of another for any reason is immoral, but many disagree with me. I believe in defending myself, but my intent should never be to purposely kill another. Many Christians feel that they are being moral if they intend to kill another in self defense or in the defense of another.
Intention is a big part of morality.

Mercy is a kindness given by a great being to a lesser being when the greater has no obligation to give it. There are corporal and spiritual acts of mercy. If I donate my time or resources to save lives in Burma this is a corporal act of mercy. I am not greater than those who are suffering in a spiritual sense, or in the eyes of God. The opposite could be true, but I have greater resources. An act of spiritual mercy is praying for others, instructing the ignorant, or admonishing those who do evil so they might stop harming themselves and others, for example.

Donating time or money for the benefit of another is called Dana. It is one of the important acts of Buddhist practice. In this sense, Buddhists practice corporal mercy.

Buddhists practice Metta, would be a spiritual act of mercy, wishing:

“As a mother would risk her life
to protect her child, her only child,
even so should one cultivate a limitless heart
with regard to all beings.
With good will for the entire cosmos,
cultivate a limitless heart:
Above, below, & all around,
unobstructed, without hostility or hate.
Whether standing, walking,
sitting, or lying down,
as long as one is alert,
one should be resolved on this mindfulness.
This is called a sublime abiding.”
here & now. --Khp 1-9

Suffering is not a trial, an evil that befalls you to test you to see how tough you are. If we tried to arrive at a theological understanding of suffering from the place where you are now it would be like trying to learn calculus without first learning math. You need a foundation, before you can build the tenth floor. I don’t mean to be insulting or sound arrogant, but we can’t get there from here.

Some concepts do not have explanations that fit on the space available here.

I desire and crave the good of others, or good for others. I am attached to their well being and them. Love requires this. God did put Himself in our place. He took on our nature.

I think we are having semantic difficulties here. Let’s just say that the well being of others is important to our practice.

This is true. There are contradictions in the precepts of both religions, making it impossible for both to be true.

I think the contradiction may be the wrong word. I gave up drinking when I became a Buddhist. I used to enjoy a glass of wine. Drinking in moderation is fine for Catholics. Intentional killing of another sentient being is consider wrong by Buddhists while murder is considered wrong by Catholics.

Why do you exist? Do you have a purpose? If you do is it knowable? What does Buddhism tell you about these things? Do you exist for the purpose of being freed from all the things you metion.

Why or how we got here does not interest me as a Buddhist. These questions can only be answered by faith. The Buddha taught what actions cause suffering and how to end suffering.

The definition you gave was a definition of what nirvana is not. It is defined by the things it supposedly lacks, stress, consciousness, etc.

That does not tell you what it is.

It is the unconditioned.

 

[bobzills]

I’m going to see the Dalai Lama speak in July. I’m frustrated. I want to admire him, so much. He’s a monk, he’s a social revolutionary and a prominent proponent of non-violence. There’s one problem though, he’s a Buddhist. Buddhism makes me angry, mainly because it is the only major religion that denies God. I would have so much more respect for him if he said, “Buddhism is the only way. You cannot lead a productive life or reach Nirvana unless you are a Buddhist.” He could at least side with the other religions, but instead he tells people to avoid organized religion, and insists that religion is subordinate to science. He says religion and faith are unneccesary, and don’t even get me started on his ethics. I want to love the man, but he’s basically the Pope of liberals. He represents “spirituality” with our religious obligation. “Faith? Don’t need it! Buddha? Unneccesary! Religion? Fugedabout’it! Just be nice to other people, and be happy!” Which leads me to ask the question, other atheists showed themselves as the monsters they truly were. What about this atheist? He champions secular ethics while denying God! So, does that make him even more evil than Stalin or Mao? Is he truly one of the most evil men alive?

I don;t think that Buddhism denies God, and I don’t think that the Pope would meet in a publicly friendly manner, with someone who was known to be an evil person.

 

[grandfather]

I don;t think that Buddhism denies God, and I don’t think that the Pope would meet in a publicly friendly manner, with someone who was known to be an evil person.

He does it all the time.

 

[Icarus]

This Dolly Lama is nothing but a lazy You-know-What.
Pampered all his life; is on the fence on most everything… No hard stances.

He comment ‘s on the sizes of our houses - Yet, see the places he resides (don’t matter if he doesn’t own them - I don’t own mine either) he does have a nice Palace back in the homeland What a hypocrite - He’s a LIB

He lives in luxury while his followers live near 3rd world conditions.
Sound s like a Commy to me.

I walk down the street of my City and see many Dolly Lama’s.
Not a care in the world. Peace & Love man……… No…. not a care for anything!

Have you all forgotten this little number……… I confess to all mighty God…………in what I have done and in what I HAVE FAILED TO DO”

What does the DL fail to do?

to Give Glory & Honour to whom?

Now if the DL didn’t know about Jesus and lived on an Island and did good things (than the law of God was clearly written on his heart) but since he knows and has read (he’s highly educated -so I would assume) the new Testament at least. He obviously denies the truth of Jesus words, since he denies Jesus as the son of GOD.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

He does have some good things to say…but so what - I get that ++++++ way more from God’s word. The DL falls way short.

I take my Q’s from the Lord.
You can take yours from the”lama”
Also - I’ve never heard the DL speak to being for us or against us………(Christians)
What ‘s that tell you?

You decide for yourselves if denying the son of God is EVIL!!!

 

[thecoach]

This Dolly Lama is nothing but a lazy You-know-What.
Pampered all his life; is on the fence on most everything… No hard stances.

He comment ‘s on the sizes of our houses - Yet, see the places he resides (don’t matter if he doesn’t own them - I don’t own mine either) he does have a nice Palace back in the homeland What a hypocrite - He’s a LIB

He lives in luxury while his followers live near 3rd world conditions.
Sound s like a Commy to me.

I walk down the street of my City and see many Dolly Lama’s.
Not a care in the world. Peace & Love man……… No…. not a care for anything!

Have you all forgotten this little number……… I confess to all mighty God…………in what I have done and in what I HAVE FAILED TO DO”

What does the DL fail to do?

**to Give Glory & Honour **to whom?

Now if the DL didn’t know about Jesus and lived on an Island and did good things (than the law of God was clearly written on his heart) but since he knows and has read (he’s highly educated -so I would assume) the new Testament at least. He obviously denies the truth of Jesus words, since he denies Jesus as the son of GOD.

He does have some good things to say…but so what - I get that ++++++ way more from God’s word. The DL falls way short.

I take my Q’s from the Lord.
You can take yours from the”lama”
Also - I’ve never heard the DL speak to being for us or against us………(Christians)
What ‘s that tell you?

You decide for yourselves if denying the son of God is EVIL!!!

A) Its Dalai, not Dolly
B) You follow the Lord so closely, do you? The hateful tone of your words betray you. YOU follow your father alright, as Jesus pointed out in John, your father is the father of lies.

 

[Icarus]

A) Its Dalai, not Dolly
B) You follow the Lord so closely, do you? The hateful tone of your words betray you. YOU follow your father alright, as Jesus pointed out in John, your father is the father of lies.

You are a half-wit.

You address my tone???
But deny the truth!!!
Defend the points - your attempt at **diversion **from the truth only points to you as a LIAR!

So who follows the Father of lies???

YOU!

I didn’t appreciate you Priest to Pedophile comment either.

I too can pigeon hole Coaches/Educators as a profession with repeat occurrences of Pedophilia.

You can’t have 2 Masters
The Dolly & God

I choose God
And I’ll defend him with truth. Regardless of my tone.

Now you take back that comment about the Church!!!
Because of a few lost priests………. Coach

 

[thecoach]

You are a half-wit.

You address my tone???
But deny the truth!!!
Defend the points - your attempt at **diversion **from the truth only points to you as a LIAR!

So who follows the Father of lies???

YOU!

I didn’t appreciate you Priest to Pedophile comment either.

I too can pigeon hole Coaches/Educators as a profession with repeat occurrences of Pedophilia.

You can’t have 2 Masters
The Dolly & God

I choose God
And I’ll defend him with truth. Regardless of my tone.

Now you take back that comment about the Church!!!
Because of a few lost priests………. Coach

Ah yes, you continue to reveal your true self more and more…I see the catholic faith is doing wonders for you…though maybe it is…you can follow it and still have such hatred in your heart (remember James, using the hared you have, you can not have God in you!)
but it is another story in terms of you following Christ.

 

[Icarus]

Ah yes, you continue to reveal your true self more and more…I see the catholic faith is doing wonders for you…though maybe it is…you can follow it and still have such hatred in your heart (remember James, using the hared you have, you can not have God in you!)
but it is another story in terms of you following Christ.

Howe do you get Hatred from righteous anger.

Was Jesus full of hatred when he cleared out the sellers out front of the Temple.
Was Jesus full of hatred when he dusted off his sandals in towns who didn’t accept him and said S&G will be better off than this place, at the last judgement?

You still avoid the truth since you don’t address the point – only my tone

You are a liar.
Yes I’m a little angry…… but its righteous anger

Satan is your Father
You say I’m hateful look at your responses as well…duh

Address the points Satan!

And apologize to the Fathers/Deacons/Bishops, etc who view this forum, that you’ve Characterised / Disparaged in whole to the sins of a few.

 

[thecoach]

Howe do you get Hatred from righteous anger.

Was Jesus full of hatred when he cleared out the sellers out front of the Temple.
Was Jesus full of hatred when he dusted off his sandals in towns who didn’t accept him and said S&G will be better off than this place, at the last judgement?

You still avoid the truth since you don’t address the point – only my tone

You are a liar.
Yes I’m a little angry…… but its righteous anger

Satan is your Father
You say I’m hateful look at your responses as well…duh

Address the points Satan!

And apologize to the Fathers/Deacons/Bishops, etc who view this forum, that you’ve Characterised / Disparaged in whole to the sins of a few.

Righteous is it? That is amusing. Just what have I not addressed? It is possible I may have missed something you asked in the middle of your rant. And the examples of Jesus you gave are not on point at all. If He acted as you do, I doubt there would be Christianity today. But be proud, I am sure you are doing much good work driving people from the RCC!

 

[Icarus]

Righteous is it? That is amusing. Just what have I not addressed? It is possible I may have missed something you asked in the middle of your rant. And the examples of Jesus you gave are not on point at all. If He acted as you do, I doubt there would be Christianity today. But be proud, I am sure you are doing much good work driving people from the RCC!

I am sure you are doing much good work driving people from the RCC

Only people llike you!

Had you not responded with the **real Anger **-you’d have seen and not missed the points that you didn’t address

Now apologize!!!

 

[thecoach]

Only people llike you!

Had you not responded with the **real Anger **-you’d have seen and not missed the points that you didn’t address

Now apologize!!!

I will again ask what points I have supposedly not addressed. Apologize for what exactly? Stating truth? I do not believe I called all priests anything, I DID point out that the RCC has continued to pay large amounts for abuse. Where am I in error? And believe me, reading things on this forum from the likes of you make more and more grateful by the minute for leaving the RCC.

 

[notself]

grandfather,

I am interested in your comments on the above posts. What do you think of the conversation about ‘righteous anger’? Are these posts righteous?

Here is a sutta about anger where the Buddha is asked a question and answers it.

*Having killed what
do you sleep in ease?
Having killed what
do you not grieve?
Of the slaying of what one thing
does Gotama approve?

[The Buddha:]
Having killed anger
you sleep in ease.
Having killed anger
you do not grieve.
The noble ones praise the slaying of anger
— with its honeyed crest
& poison root —
for having killed it
you do not grieve. — SN1.71*