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Post by Wolfgang on Jul 26, 2020 23:33:43 GMT -5
If Buddhists just offered better cuisine, I'm in.
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Post by vup on Jul 28, 2020 21:55:57 GMT -5
Thinking of practicing Buddhism. 🤔 Mindful meditation from Buddhism has been shown to have a positive impact on mental well-being. So that's something to consider. That would be my reason to start practicing. I've attended a sitting group a few times before the pandemic hit, and overall, I thought it was productive. I get a lot out of the teachings, and I really enjoy group meditations. The teaching of duhkha and tanha really resonate with me, and the meditations make me feel "oneness" with the group. It is a great feeling. Now that groups have moved to Zoom, I've been able to meet many more teachers who are not usually in my area, and who are wonderful to listen to.
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Post by vup on Jul 28, 2020 21:56:51 GMT -5
Thinking of practicing Buddhism. 🤔 You're going to chant a lot of "Ah Mi Tuo Fuo". Also ate at a Buddhist restaurant, the one that turns tofu into other edibles...tofu steak, tofu fish, tofu tofu. I am not a fan of tofu any more, except maybe stinky tofu. Tofu steak sounds amazing, but I'm a vegetarian, so I am biased.
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Post by ironhammer on Jul 28, 2020 22:35:21 GMT -5
Mindful meditation from Buddhism has been shown to have a positive impact on mental well-being. So that's something to consider. That would be my reason to start practicing. I've attended a sitting group a few times before the pandemic hit, and overall, I thought it was productive. I get a lot out of the teachings, and I really enjoy group meditations. The teaching of duhkha and tanha really resonate with me, and the meditations make me feel "oneness" with the group. It is a great feeling. Now that groups have moved to Zoom, I've been able to meet many more teachers who are not usually in my area, and who are wonderful to listen to. Budddhism can be fascinating. In some ways more philosophical than other religions. Their starting point that "life is suffering" sounds rather gloomy, but it makes sense if you think about it, it is indeed attachment to certain material things that brings us worries and anxiety. Freeing ourselves from the need to have "more and more" can be quite liberating. Their idea that nothing last forever, of "impermanence", that everything is in a constant state of change, make you realize that sometimes holding onto past glories isn't really healthy. Likewise, the western popular culture obsession with youth and beauty is also questionable because both elements does not last. Rather than keep pursuing these illusionary states, one should see their transient state and acknowledge it is that which gives them value. Like a butterfly or a dragonfly, their adult flying stage is only a relatively short part of their lives, we know they won't last, and it is that fact which allows us to admire them. That being said, I have certain philosophical differences with Buddhism. They generally frown upon romantic love as they see such attachment to one person as selfish. But I personally don't see romantic love and greater love as mutually exclusive. The pursuit of material things, if it is done right, I don't see as harmful, like creating new technologies that benefit society. Desire, likewise is seen as a negative in Buddhism as that leads to attachment and suffering, but if the motive of that desire is good (i.e. looking to cure cancer), then I don't see it as necessarily wrong.
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Post by vup on Jul 28, 2020 22:42:21 GMT -5
That would be my reason to start practicing. I've attended a sitting group a few times before the pandemic hit, and overall, I thought it was productive. I get a lot out of the teachings, and I really enjoy group meditations. The teaching of duhkha and tanha really resonate with me, and the meditations make me feel "oneness" with the group. It is a great feeling. Now that groups have moved to Zoom, I've been able to meet many more teachers who are not usually in my area, and who are wonderful to listen to. Budddhism can be fascinating. In some ways more philosophical than other religions. Their starting point that "life is suffering" sounds rather gloomy, but it makes sense if you think about it, is indeed certain excessive attachment to certain material things that brings us worries and anxiety. Freeing ourselves from the need to have "more and more" can be quite liberating. Their idea that nothing last forever, of "impermanence", that everything is in a constant state of change, make you realize that sometimes holding onto past glories isn't really healthy. Likewise, the western popular culture obsession with youth and beauty is also questionable because both elements does not last. Rather than keep pursuing these illusionary states, one should see their transient state and acknowledge it is that which gives them value. Like a butterfly or a dragonfly, their adult flying stage is only a relatively short part of their lives, we know they won't last, and it is that fact which allows us to admire them. That being said, I have certain philosophical differences with Buddhism. They generally frown upon romantic love as they see such attachment to one person as selfish. But I personally don't see romantic love and greater love as mutually exclusive. The pursuit of material things, if it is done right, I don't see as harmful, like creating new technologies that benefit society. Desire, likewise is seen as a negative in Buddhism as that leads to attachment and suffering, but if the motive of that desire is good (i.e. looking to cure cancer), then I don't see it as necessarily wrong. Totally agree with all of this.
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Post by ironhammer on Jul 28, 2020 23:09:07 GMT -5
Budddhism can be fascinating. In some ways more philosophical than other religions. Their starting point that "life is suffering" sounds rather gloomy, but it makes sense if you think about it, is indeed certain excessive attachment to certain material things that brings us worries and anxiety. Freeing ourselves from the need to have "more and more" can be quite liberating. Their idea that nothing last forever, of "impermanence", that everything is in a constant state of change, make you realize that sometimes holding onto past glories isn't really healthy. Likewise, the western popular culture obsession with youth and beauty is also questionable because both elements does not last. Rather than keep pursuing these illusionary states, one should see their transient state and acknowledge it is that which gives them value. Like a butterfly or a dragonfly, their adult flying stage is only a relatively short part of their lives, we know they won't last, and it is that fact which allows us to admire them. That being said, I have certain philosophical differences with Buddhism. They generally frown upon romantic love as they see such attachment to one person as selfish. But I personally don't see romantic love and greater love as mutually exclusive. The pursuit of material things, if it is done right, I don't see as harmful, like creating new technologies that benefit society. Desire, likewise is seen as a negative in Buddhism as that leads to attachment and suffering, but if the motive of that desire is good (i.e. looking to cure cancer), then I don't see it as necessarily wrong. Totally agree with all of this. If it brings you greater joy and peace of mind, by all means go be a Buddhist, I'm not dissuading you from pursing that path, I was just mentioning some of my personal struggles with certain aspects of Buddhist doctrines. But I think overall, Buddhism does offer great insight into human nature. If the cause and effect mechanism of Karma persuade us to do more good deeds, than that is only good for society. Even if we do not reach Nirvana at the end of our present life, at least we are doing something beneficial. P.S-I should clarify that it is acceptable for lay buddhist to marry, it is the clergy (the monks and nuns) which isn't allowed to marry or have a partner. Buddhism can even help marriages because it can foster empathy and reduce attachment in the sense of demanding your partner to always meet your own needs and not hers.
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Post by vbbetterthanbb on Jul 29, 2020 0:20:26 GMT -5
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Post by mln59 on Sept 8, 2020 8:28:21 GMT -5
i have realized that my brain entirely rejects the spelling of "surprise".
the first "r" doesn't exist
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Post by XAsstCoach on Sept 14, 2020 1:23:30 GMT -5
Not that it matters, specially with the economy in its current state. But Apple is going to make an announcement tomorrow, Sept 15th, 10AM PDT.
So I can either stay up and watch it live at 1am my time, or wait until the morning where I can read the summary of what to expect. Think I'll choose the latter.
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Post by madonna on Sept 15, 2020 2:36:26 GMT -5
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Post by XAsstCoach on Sept 29, 2020 21:07:16 GMT -5
Watching a lot of short video clips from the app QQ. Its an IM, just like WeChat. I tell ya I enjoy watching the African safari clips, where lions/cheetahs/leopards pounces on a small oryx, antelope, even wild boar. I don't know why, but I just hate the hyenas...was glad to see a clip where a male lion pounces and kills a lone hyena in the open field.
Oh, I also see a lot of traffic accidents and road rage incidents in the video clips. Mostly in China.
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Post by XAsstCoach on Oct 2, 2020 20:31:11 GMT -5
Took my first flight since Feb. Flew from Shanghai to Wuhan, to visit wifey’s family. Checked our temp when we boarded, and a very uneventful flight. On arrival, foreigners were singled out and was asked to disembark first. Apparently we had to sign a form certifying we have been living in China for over 30 days. Told them I’m flying in from Shanghai where I live and work. Don’t matter, sign the form.
Then I have to get my health code for Wuhan, for every city you have to get the QR health code to be green, also by filling out a form on the app. Unfortunately, I can only get the Wuhan QR code if I have a Chinese national ID card, which I don’t. Good thing they accept the Shanghai QR code so they let me out of the airport.
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Post by madonna on Oct 3, 2020 11:43:07 GMT -5
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Post by XAsstCoach on Oct 22, 2020 0:20:19 GMT -5
Been watching short video clips on a Chinese app called QQ. It’s also an IM app, but they have sections to watch short vids. A lot has to do with traffic accidents and road rage.
For Chinese vids, people are flung over cars or get crushed under wheel. Road rage would entail stopping short or straight up running into another car.
US vids you have people screaming and yelling, break off the side mirrors, etc.
But Russian vids wins the price...they pull guns out at point at the other driver. Just saw one where a biker said something to a car that was trying to merge into the biker’s lane and the car chased him down and pulled the entire biking group over. Passenger came out to confront the biker...passenger was wearing a holster but didn’t pull the gun. But I noticed the driver went to the trunk and pulled out what looked like an assault rifle and tried to hide it from the camera by tucking it to the side of his body. After things calmed down the driver then put the rifle back into the trunk.
Crazy!
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Post by XAsstCoach on Dec 7, 2020 4:01:28 GMT -5
Was watching the video on Deepspot...the new deepest pool that just opened in Poland.
Got me thinking. If you're diving out in the open ocean and suddenly need to pee, would you just let it flow or would you go back to the boat to take care of business.
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