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July 2009 Blog Posts (20)

What is the middle way of sharing?

To drown in emotions and in mind is one side; to deny what upset or defeated us in body, speech and mind can be an other side. To overwhelm and swamp other people with our own mind- en soulkinks is one side; to close the door in- and outside in contact with others for all our kinks, can be an other side. To talk with others about the Dharma, psychology, precepts from the heart at one side or to speek only from own experiences from the heart can be an other side ...

What is the middle way?… Continue

Added by Katrien Sercu on July 31, 2009 at 15:21 — 1 Comment

The Music Of Poligraf : Juggernaut part 2

(Ratha Yatra Festival in Puri, India / Painting by James Fergusson)

Juggernaut. Lots to say about this one. Make sure your seat is confortable...

I’ve started the writing for this singular piece on November…

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Added by Christopher Stewart on July 30, 2009 at 15:26 — No Comments

The Music Of Poligraf : Void part 2

("Primeval Center" )

On a background of Wall Street Bailout and the Large Hadron Collider, “Void” paints the Buddhist concept of emptiness.

From Wikipedia :…

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Added by Christopher Stewart on July 29, 2009 at 2:35 — No Comments

The Music Of Poligraf : Leaving The Ashram part 3 & 4

("Enigma" by Matías Argudín)

The third and fourth parts of “Leaving The Ashram” are respectively entitled “The Tabla Master’s Enigma” and “The Ordinary II.” Our unidentified introspective hero has completed his retreat and is going back to ordinary life.…

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Added by Christopher Stewart on July 26, 2009 at 22:54 — No Comments

Faith to all

Reading Clark Strand's book together with listening to the recent lectures given in France has been an inspiring experience.

I've not finished reading all of the chapters yet, I find that I am taking delight in reading a chapter and spending time thinking about it while I do something else and then going back over one or two of the pages from an earlier chapter as questions and ideas form in my mind. I've also been very grateful to Strand himself for taking time to answer a couple of… Continue

Added by Susthama on July 25, 2009 at 12:30 — 3 Comments

Summer Teaching 2009: Morality of Spirit, vs Codified Ethics.

Listen to Dharmavidya talking about how codes of ethics relate to the alivness of morality, and the problems of transmitting the spirit of morals, rather than simply a list of rules.

Moralsandethics.mp3 (55mins 22mb)

Added by Amida Podcasts on July 25, 2009 at 10:26 — No Comments

Summer Teaching 2009: Pureland Buddhism, Insight, and Ethics.

Dharamvidya presents the third in the series of five lectures on ethics, a response to Prasada's model of Sila, Samadhi and Prajna.

Purelandethics.mp3 (22mb 55mins)

Added by Amida Podcasts on July 22, 2009 at 15:14 — No Comments

Summer Teaching 2009: The Three Pillars; Sila, Samadhi and Prajna

Prasada talks about the three pillars in relation to Theravada, Mahayana and Pureland and also about the contamination of Buddhist ethics from western frameworks.

threepillars.mp3 ( 23mb 55mins)

Added by Amida Podcasts on July 22, 2009 at 15:00 — No Comments

Summer Teachings 2009: Faith and Ethics

The first Audio file from the Summer teachings is now available - Dharamvidya speaking about Faith and Ethics.

FaithandEthics.mp3 (24mb)

Coming soon - Prasada speaking about the three pillars, Sila, Samadhi and Prajna and Dharamvidya responding with a talk about ethics flowing from insight.

Added by Amida Podcasts on July 22, 2009 at 13:52 — No Comments

The Music Of Poligraf : Leftoverturned part 2

(Detail from "Lenticular cloud")

Given its structure and contents, the second part of “Leftoverturned” could have been entitled “Informaëlstrom II” (ref: "1000 Radios"), but because of the undeniable influence of Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” the full…

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Added by Christopher Stewart on July 21, 2009 at 15:53 — No Comments

Lets Help for His Higher Education

Dear Friend:

Greeting you from Bangladesh!

It is true further to be taking an international degree is my hope which is related with my job. I want to be advance. I know the door of opportunities is always waiting for the striver but it sure without some one supported would not reach the destination. Supporting is a wing that enables to reach the destination.

I am now looking for financial supporter for my higher education. As you know well, nowadays to get the… Continue

Added by Mong Mong Thun Marma on July 21, 2009 at 10:54 — No Comments

Impotence...

Alone at home. No Summerschool these week in Amida-France. No force to drive my car so far: this asks too much tension, watchfulness, impressions ..impotence to do this now; tired and overstrained. I have to listen to my body and mind with this limits...no choice. Disappointment: what with my promise to come and join this week? What do I do to the other members of the week, to Dharmavidya, to the members ànd friends of Amida-france as a member of Amida-Shu? I said to be there, I liked to be… Continue

Added by Katrien Sercu on July 19, 2009 at 17:07 — 4 Comments

War or Peace is Necessary, Why?

Yes, I believe, 40% human being are behave like animal, isn’t they? Why we call men? We call the men or women because of the human being is just different from animals for have creative mind. Am I rights? So they are malice and do misbehave against others such as fighting, liking and war too.

Buddhism is quite different from Islam and Christian. The peoples of Buddhist never claim and decelerated the war in the name of Buddhist War like Jihad or Crushed. The Lord of Shakyamuni Buddha… Continue

Added by Mong Mong Thun Marma on July 19, 2009 at 4:05 — No Comments

what does enlightment mean to you

some days ago i red this question and at first i said what nonsens .. but i found out i want it but i dont know what it means for me
spo

ntanously i said : nothing and all

Added by foto-SH on July 13, 2009 at 19:44 — 3 Comments

Bonjour!

Well, Dharmavidya Prasada, and myself, (along with Sumaya who had driven one car up to Dunkirke, and then got in with us to come back again) arrived at around one o clock, Tuesday morning. Since then we've been busy clearing ground, and getting things ready for the sessin next week.

Some guests have arrived, and are out at the lake at the moment, although it's starting to rain as I write this. Both Sumaya and myself have moved out into tents in the grounds, and are enjoying hearing… Continue

Added by Kaspalita on July 12, 2009 at 13:41 — No Comments

The discontinuity of Ning!

I know that life is not predictable, so this ningsite, as a part of life, is not predictable. A lot of interesting discussions begin, with subjects, comments, answers, questions and then....nothing more...disappear from sight... but not from my heart! I know, as a buddhist I can accept this (all is impermanent), but I can also ask to the friends of ning (to you!) why, where, how...this happen? I find this regrettable..and you, (un-)known Amida friend?

It feels as if we are in conversation… Continue

Added by Katrien Sercu on July 10, 2009 at 16:07 — 4 Comments

The Music Of Poligraf : Leftoverturned part 1

(Detail from "American quilt" )

When I complete a composition there are often unused ideas left. Some of those I find actually pretty good but if I can’t see how to fit them into the piece then there’s not much choice but to discard them. For a while.

I…

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Added by Christopher Stewart on July 8, 2009 at 16:51 — No Comments

Is Buddhism scientific ?

Before we answer that question it would be best to define the word 'science'.

Science, according to the dictionary is: "knowledge which can be made into a system, which depends upon seeing and testing facts and stating general natural laws, a branch of such knowledge, anything that can be studied exactly".

There are aspects of Buddhism that would not fit into this definition but the central teachings of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths, most certainly would. Suffering, the First… Continue

Added by Jude Worth on July 4, 2009 at 6:41 — 5 Comments

Celebrating our Interdependence

On Saturday, the U.S. will celebrate Independence Day. But perhaps we should be celebrating our Interdependence.

"Independence often stimulates a sense of pride — a sense that I am competent, capable and can get along without others. Interdependence, on the other hand, stimulates a sense of humility, a reminder to be grateful, an acknowledgment that we cannot exist except through the efforts of others."

I've posted a short (10min) podcast in the Internet Library of… Continue

Added by Gregg Krech on July 3, 2009 at 20:24 — No Comments

short story

wanted to share this short story I wrote last week whilst we were taking a break. It's still in process and I may make it part of something bigger so please don't share beyond this group at present.roots.docx

Added by caroline brazier on July 2, 2009 at 15:30 — 1 Comment