gatito

I see... You imagine that you're in some some sort of debating competition and that you're demonstrating consummate skill...

Thanks Steve! However, it seems that you prefer your own efforts in this thread? Interesting how that seems to play out here... So if I understand you correctly, it's not Buddhism but the Buddhists that's the root of the problem? However, if that's the case then clearly the brand of Buddhism that they're espousing doesn't work... How do you think that their Buddhism could be improved? You say here that It doesn't have to be about accepting any dogmas. Do you think that getting rid of all the obscuring dogma and focusing solely on practice that actually ends suffering would be better?

QED...

Yes. I'd started reading Jax's book and I thought that it might be both interesting and useful, although I'd only read about the first forty pages (from what I recall). That's incorrect, I deleted all my posts and then I hid the remainder of the thread. You're certainly at liberty to jump to those conclusions, however, they're factually incorrect (and the detailed reason is a private matter between me and Jax). My attitude to Buddhism is that it's potentially extremely useful, which is reflected in the fact that I'm a (Zen/Ch'an) Buddhist. However, I find the variety of Buddhism that you embrace much less useful and, as almost everyone here is aware, it is the cause of considerable contention and causes major problems for the administration and moderation of TTBs, as well as for those of us who seek to attempt to use these fora appropriately... However, as I'm sure most people here also realise, I don't approach Buddhism from your perspective so, if you want to me to compare and contrast what you call Jaxchen with some other variety of Buddhism, I'm simply not interested. In fact, to be blunt, that sort of thing bores me shitless... Yes. That's exactly what I was hoping to ascertain from Jax himself, as he's obviously infinitely more qualified than anyone else to answer that question... When I pick-up Jax's book again, and if I have any questions about the content, I'll simply PM Jax with those queries. Clearly, it was a mistake to start that thread and I can only apologise for any inconvenience to anyone who was interested in having an appropriately moderated conversation with Jax (including Jax himself).

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I thought that was clear enough for most people. Perhaps this is clearer?

I used to be able to edit the tags of threads that I'd started but unfortunately, while I can still edit the title, I no longer have the required permissions to edit the tags or the latest software release precludes the possibility. Could you therefore either restore my tag editing permissions or alternatively add the following tags to Mindfulness without the dogma.... Zen Chan Ch'an Direct Path Thanks in anticipation.

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You'll find my moderation policy here.

It's the only thing that makes this forum usable... I love the ability to moderate my own threads appropriately (in line with the founding principles of course).

Wrong guess. Would you like to know the correct reason (which I discussed with Jax by PM)?

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So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from pain. Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell? And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have you found? The same old fears. Wish you were here.

Certainly hope so - and that it can be ratified. I'm hopefully that everyone will see that it can be a win-win situation (essentially the Norway Option) with only cosmetic changes, although the Brits will (formally) lose their influence. As Sun Tzu says there are no winners in a war - the best possible outcome being not losing...

Even more reasons to smile - it seems that the bone has now been tossed to pacify the xenophobes deal is now out in the open. I wasn't expecting it quite so soon...

Even looking at the public face of the meetings of the Brit PM with her German and French counterparts (coupled with the appointed Brexit trio - two of whom are incompetent to implement their xenophobic buffoonery and one of whom is a de facto Bremainer...) it appears that if Brexit happens, it will be in appearance only, with the Brits having thrown away their hitherto disproportionate influence. The other good news is that the EU federalists are being sidelined and the EU, as an economic/cultural union, will be strengthened. Funnily enough, the Brexiteers have (unintentionally) done everyone a favour.

Excellent! Once Paddy's finished tidying up the mess that the Bullingdon Boys have made of the UK, perhaps you'd be kind enough to lend him to your American cousins who seem to have made a similar hash of things..? I cannot help but think he would be a bit of an improvement on Trump and he's almost certainly considerably less hawkish yet at the same time more competent than Hilary despite the handicap of his somewhat colourful and chequered background.