Vesak

[metadigital]

In case anyone is interested, today is the Vesak, which is analogous to Christmas and Easter, only for Buddhists. (Some countries celebrated the first Full Moon in May, some the last full moon, so some countries celebrated Vesak on 2nd May this year, because of the two full moons in May this year.)

 

1. Suffering: Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering.
   
2. The cause of suffering: The craving which leads to renewed existence (rebirth) (the cycle of samsara)
   
3. The cessation of suffering: The cessation of craving.
   
4. The way leading to the cessation of suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path;
   

namaste

[Cantousent]

Very nice, meta, not only as a gesture, but also informative.

[Walsingham]

Wait. Let me get this straight... if I give up everything I enjoy then I _don't_ get eternally reborn? Whuh?

[SteveThaiBinh]

I stared at this and wondered how I could have lived in Buddhist countries and never heard of it. Then I realised you were talking about the Buddha's Birthday.

 

Happy Buddha's Birthday everyone.

[Xard]

HBB everyone!

[Pidesco]

Happy Vesak to everyone.

 

 

I never really thought about it, but taking away all craving seems like a dead end for humanity to me. It seems to me that we need to learn how to deal with craving, rather than dealing away with it altogether. Desire is fundamental for our survival.

[SteveThaiBinh]

Wait. Let me get this straight... if I give up everything I enjoy then I _don't_ get eternally reborn? Whuh?

Exactly. You get to go to Nirvana instead, which looks very nice in the brochures. Or, if you're a Boddhisatva, you choose to remain behind to spread your wisdom so that others may gain enlightenment.

[Walsingham]

Happy Vesak to everyone.

 

 

I never really thought about it, but taking away all craving seems like a dead end for humanity to me. It seems to me that we need to learn how to deal with craving, rather than dealing away with it altogether. Desire is fundamental for our survival.

 

I agree.

 

Steve, as I've said before, if Birvana is good, then I ain't going there until we can ALL go! But as an incentive the first round will be on me!

[Musopticon?]

Desire may be fundamental for survival, but survival is not what buddhism strives for. Nirvana is.

 

 

HBB to everyone!

[Walsingham]

Happy Vesak to everyone.

 

 

I never really thought about it, but taking away all craving seems like a dead end for humanity to me. It seems to me that we need to learn how to deal with craving, rather than dealing away with it altogether. Desire is fundamental for our survival.

 

I agree.

 

Steve, as I've said before, if Birvana is good, then I ain't going there until we can ALL go! But as an incentive the first round will be on me!

 

This was a typo. I should not have 'Birvana'. I personally aspire to Beervana. A state of obliviousness caused by the imbibing of overstrength ales.

[metadigital]

I stared at this and wondered how I could have lived in Buddhist countries and never heard of it. Then I realised you were talking about the Buddha's Birthday.

 

Happy Buddha's Birthday everyone.

Yeah, hence my analogy with both Christmas (celebration of the birth of Christ).

 

Happy Vesak to everyone.

 

I never really thought about it, but taking away all craving seems like a dead end for humanity to me. It seems to me that we need to learn how to deal with craving, rather than dealing away with it altogether. Desire is fundamental for our survival.

It's more about controlling desire, rather than destroying it, as far as I am aware.

Devout Buddhists undertake to lead a noble life according to the teaching by making daily affirmations to observe the eight Precepts. However, on special days, notably new moon and full moon days, they observe additional disciplines to train themselves to practice morality, simplicity and humility.

 

The Eight Precepts are:

1. Not to kill
   
2. Not to steal
   
3. Not to engage in improper sexual activity
   
4. Not to indulge in wrong speech
   
5. Not to take intoxicating drinks and drugs
   
6. To abstain from taking food at unreasonable times
   
7. To refrain from sensual pleasures such as dancing, singing and self-adornment
   
8. To refrain from using high and luxurious seats in order to practice humility.
   

...

 

Buddhists are reminded to live in harmony with people of other faiths and to respect the beliefs of other people as the Buddha had taught.

 

Bringing happiness to others

Celebrating Vesak also means making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate like the aged, the handicapped and the sick. To this day, Buddhists will distribute gifts in cash and kind to various charitable homes throughout the country. Vesak is also a time for great joy and happiness, expressed not by pandering to one’s appetites but by concentrating on useful activities such as decorating and illuminating temples, painting and creating exquisite scenes from the life of the Buddha for public dissemination. Devout Buddhists also vie with one another to provide refreshments and vegetarian food to devotees who visit the temple to pay homage to the Blessed One.

Personally, I'm all for any philosophy of peaceful coexistence.

[Gorth]

It's more about controlling desire, rather than destroying it, as far as I am aware.

So, you either need to become a Jedi or get a lobotomy to get to paradise?

 

I think I'll go for a few more rebirths before I am ready

 

Happy Vesak to whom it may concern

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

Happy Vesak.

 

Is it me, or does Buddhism seem like the only religion which makes sense and doesn't ever lead to violence?

[Xard]

Is it me, or does Buddhism seem like the only religion which makes sense and doesn't ever lead to violence?

 

 

Believe me, Buddhism is just as "bad" religion as all others.

 

 

In the very end buddhism IS about killing desire, although with most people it goes under category off repressing it. I mean, when you just born again and again, why should you try to achieve Nirvana with this life?

 

Repressing desire, however, is desirable ( uhh, right ) since with better karma your next life will be better. In Theravada buddhism (or as it is better known, hinayana buddhism) it is believed that only monks can achieve Nirvana. In Mahayana buddhism it is not required.

 

I've always had great respect for buddhism and if I believed what I want to believe, I would be buddhist.

 

Of course, I have my disagreements and diffrences with some parts of buddhism, but overall it deserves my respect and admire

Edited May 30, 2007 by Xard

[Walsingham]

Happy Vesak.

 

Is it me, or does Buddhism seem like the only religion which makes sense and doesn't ever lead to violence?

You've clearly never been stabbed by a Thai person.

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

Is it me, or does Buddhism seem like the only religion which makes sense and doesn't ever lead to violence?

 

 

Believe me, Buddhism is just as "bad" religion as all others.

 

 

In the very end buddhism IS about killing desire, although with most people it goes under category off repressing it. I mean, when you just born again and again, why should you try to achieve Nirvana with this life?

 

Repressing desire, however, is desirable ( uhh, right ) since with better karma your next life will be better. In Theravada buddhism (or as it is better known, hinayana buddhism) it is believed that only monks can achieve Nirvana. In Mahayana buddhism it is not required.

 

I've always had great respect for buddhism and if I believed what I want to believe, I would be buddhist.

 

Of course, I have my disagreements and diffrences with some parts of buddhism, but overall it deserves my respect and admire

 

Well, like all other religions, it's not perfect, but at least it hasn't started any religion wars.

 

 

...yet...

[Xard]

 

Just because we're not teached about it in western schools (only logical), doesn't mean buddhist haven't started religious wars, persecutions and massacres

 

edit:

Happy Vesak.

 

Is it me, or does Buddhism seem like the only religion which makes sense and doesn't ever lead to violence?

You've clearly never been stabbed by a Thai person.

 

Personal experiences?

Edited May 30, 2007 by Xard

[metadigital]

It's more a philosophy than a religion.

 

Very nice, meta, not only as a gesture, but also informative.

I think I shall choose to be offended by the implicit insinuation that my posts aren't normally informative and contain nice gestures.

 

Oh, except I will forgive you because it's Buddha's birthday.

[Xard]

It's more a philosophy than a religion.

 

Let's not go there

 

In its very original forms, yes. Later on however (especially with mahayana) there's nothing else than religion you can call it

[Walsingham]

Personal experiences?

 

Yes. Although I'm pleased to report that it was a highly inexpert stabbing.

[metadigital]

Everyone should have (symbolically) bathed the baby Buddha, today.

 

(Last night was the focus on suffering, causes and solutions.)

[Pidesco]

Everyone should have (symbolically) bathed the baby Buddha, today.

 

That could work really well as a euphemism.