Pero

I'm sorry but I still don't see why you think this somehow negates that Buddhahood is achieved through causes.

I'm still confused. How does this negate that Buddhahood is achieved through cause?

Sorry, I don't understand. You said that achieving Buddhahood through causes and conditions is a wrong view. Now you're saying it isn't? Well uh yeah, you were typing this post or typing was being done... I guess I could say there was a cause (I commented on something you wrote), there was an effect (you replying) which again because a cause and had an effect (me replying). You don't agree with this? Or is that not what you meant? Sorry I'm a little confused by your message.

And so L7S how does one post a message when one is just the passing of causes and conditions? How does one post when there was never a "you"?

Hehe, Namdrol on E-Sangha liked to mention that Sakya Pandita said that Buddhahood doesn't happen without causes because if it did people would be becoming Buddhas spontaneously all over the world all the time (or something in that sense). In any case it is hardly a wrong view since this is what Buddhism is about.

If so my apologies. Would you mind then telling me what was the point?

Apepch, hilarious.

Don't be ridiculous. Who's forbidding you to say so? No one. You think Buddhism doesn't get it? That's fine, follow something else, no one is preventing you. However don't expect Buddhist will follow your ideas. Buddhist = follower of Buddhist teachings. Buddhist. Not Bindoist or whichever else. For Buddhists Buddha has taken it as far as it goes. It isn't in questioned by Buddhists. And that is fine for you, just don't expect it to be accepted in discussions with Buddhists. Not sure what exactly you meant here, but it's said that samsara doesn't have a begining but it does have an end.

That's not what you wrote first is it? Anway I feel the same for Buddhism.

Taomeow you said "Gautama Buddha explicitly stated that his dharma would be saving sentient beings for 500 years." If this is true, it should be in a sutra. That is the source we'd find (more) credible. Not this guy said, that guy said (especially if the guy in question is Li Hong Zi...). Credibility has nothing to do with supporting or not my/our views.

Thank you, happy new year to you too! I'm doing pretty good, could be better though. And you? Actually I haven't been going to any other Buddhist forums. I'm like an old man regarding forums now, don't like changes, no moving elsewhere hehe. If E-Sangha doesn't come back online I probably won't post on a Buddhist forum ever again. Heck even when/if it does come back I'm not sure how much I'll be there. Maybe just for trolling a little haha. Interestingly though I seem to have replaced the time I usually spent on E-Sangha with spending time on Facebook. Probably I had less comments on statuses in years before combined than in the months since E-Sangha went down.

Yes but for a very short time so I can't say much, but in any case I don't doubt it's a good practice. I doubt him. Not because of cult controversy but because of what he said in his books. I can't be more specific because I read them years back and so don't remember anymore, it's just the impression. And then there's also that Verdesi once mentioned he learned from Wang Li Ping and then started teaching without his approval and caused problems... But then I don't Verdesi very credible either haha. I meant more like in which sutra he (the Buddha) says that.

Sorry Taomeow, but I don't find him credible at all. Actually I find him to be a little "out there". Son of Buddha, brother of Jesus? Uhm yeah...

I would also be interested in a source. The only thing with 500 years I seem to remember is that the Dharma will last 500 years less because he taught it to women.

If you're not doing it already, do some physical exercises. For me for example basketball and martial arts (and with that body weight training) were helpful. Running is good too, but maybe if you're in good shape your mind can still work too much, so focus on breathing (which is good to do in any case). edit: Going out in nature, on hills especially is nice, if you find it beatiful it can slow or even stop your mind. My 1000th post, yay. I guess I should go back to studying now hehe...

No, but I've been doing Intu-flow for the past two weeks or so.

Ignorance is bliss ey? What a silly idea in this case (for a Buddhist anyway).

Ok. How about equinimity? Though things may not be equal one can be equinameous (is that a word hehe?) about them and hence not necessarily offended.

Stumbled on this course long ago, pdf and videos. The pdf seemed really interesting and though I never asked, always wondered if anyone here practiced according to it and if they had any success. edit: Also I'm not sure if it's still possible to actually buy these things. And now that I think about I'm not sure if this wasn't discussed here before hehe...

Damn, I never thought of it this way. But, what about equality? Did he only talk about higher/lower?

The lesson here is not the power of beliefs, but how easily someone can "make" us believe into something.

Ok good point. Doubt it, since even for us actual free will is really difficult to have.

Sure, still in line with what I said.

Long ago I heard/read that cats like negative energy. Also that people who pet cats are healthier or something. I guess they're something like plants. We breathe out CO2 they take it in and give back O2. With cats it's negative energy. I read once that when Buddha died all the animals cried. Except for the cat, didn't care.