The Buddha wasn't trying to solve the world's problems. He taught the path to transcend the world!
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- If you think the Buddha invented a system of human ethics to solve the world's problems then that is a mistake. And if you think like that then you might come to the conclusion that the Buddha was an elitist who was teaching religious hierarchy.
But this is also a mistake. The Buddha taught the view of equality. He taught that the most important thing isn't race, class, or gender, but the training. So the one who has trained their mind the most deserves the greatest respect.
![[ENG] Story of the Buddha](/img/n.gif)
I can see that a direct experience of past and future lives would be a potent way to break the cycle of clinging and attachment to the mundane world.
Yes, but even if we aren't able to recall past lives contemplating the four thoughts (precious human existence, Death and impermanence, karma cause and effect, and the faults of the mundane world) can help us lessen our attachment o this life. 🙏🙏🙏
Keep in mind that we experience these past and future lives within our current life. Contemplate how many “you’s” have come and gone; how many are there yet to emerge?
@@mipsungvuclam Yes Mipsung I have experienced this many times inthis life
Perhaps the Buddha could see direct evidence of past and future lives because he gave up clinging and attachment to the mundane world? Which came first? ✌🏻🧡
@@That_Freedom_Guy It is taught that long before final awakening noble beings regain memory of their past lives
Lama Choga, i wanted to thank you for creating this youtube channel. You are the only Mahayana monk I've come across on youtube that uploads these style of videos. And i don't mean a recording of an hour long dharma talk given to an audience, those to me are too long to watch and feel too impersonal, but a video like this of a someone sitting in a forest giving not too long teaching as if he was talking directly to you. There are a few theravadin monks who are uploading this style of content, and i remember wishing that there would be someone from Mahayana making videos like these, and then i came across your channel! Thank you very much Lama
Thank you for your support MM. Here I am trying to give some general advice that might be helpful to a broad range of people who are not necessarily Buddhists.
There is a case to say that one shouldn't post actual Buddhist teachings online (again unless it is general advice or an introduction to Buddhism) especially when this involves Samaya. But I have to say I appreciate the vast amount of teachings on the Scriptures in the Tibetan language now that I am no longer able to receive teaching in the monastery.
🙏🙏🙏
Its always hard to remember that these small rewards and nice moments are fleeting. Developing renunciation seems almost impossible sometimes 🙏💚
Yes it is really difficult because if you have uncontrived renunciation you have entered the path of accumulation (Hinayana perspective) but first we have to recognise that things aint right, and then take it from there
A story I hope will be helpful to others (and myself). An attractive former flame was set to come visit me in coming weeks. Upon the news, I at first felt the rush of desires. Then, quite unexpectedly, my mind created a vision of her taking her last breath in old age in a rest home. I saw her face without any of the zest of youthful beauty and sensed what our final breath is like compared to youthful folly.
To some this would be a sad vision but, to me, it was very helpful. I think hospice work is also very helpful… seeing the ravages of time on our loved ones, if we can get over the shock and psychological resistance to contemplate death, can bring a freedom through sobriety. A “sobering up” regarding worldly desires. Puts them in proper context.
This is authentic practice John and something that many often miss. Really what most of us is just routine the mechanics of our practice, but that isn't the meaning of "putting it into practice."
To me there is nothing sad about this "vision" because it means on top of your love for your friend you also have genuine compassion for their mortal plight!
🙏🙏🙏
Very nice presentation. I am always learning something from you.📿
Thnaks Franz
Drear Sir,
Thank you again for taking the time to respond to me.
To be completely honest, I worry I am wasting your time. I can't imagine myself becoming someone who would take after you. How does a selfish human,such as me, commit to something that is necessarily unappealing? That is, how can I operate with the conviction that any possible self-centered objectives don't rank as important?
Isn't this like asking a fish to live out of the water (as you acknowledge, selfishness is our nature or part of our programming, one might say).
Add to this the fact that my interest in enlightenment/awakening, meditation ect has always been self-centered. I've wanted to help myself, to fix my limiting and maladaptive ways and attitudes. My seeking has just been more of me putting myself first. It seems I can't even set foot on the path you are dedicated to.
Doubts, doubts, doubts, questions, questions, questions. Do I want what can't be given, I.e. rational and evidentiary validation that will convince me to commit to selflessness? Is it foolish to expect to be sold on selfishness before we commit to it? But if so, how do I enter the path sincerely?
Maybe I can't; maybe I will question and debate endlessly if you let me because I want to pretend Im sin ere and have you take me seriously. Yet more reasons i worry I am wasting your time.
With appreciation and respect,
T
Dear friend don't despair you have everything it takes to achieve awakening and it is the same for all sentient beings right down to the smallest insect. The path is called the Bodhisattva path and it isn't as difficult as it seems. Please take some time to watch this playlist where I give a basic introduction to the generation of the awakening mind:
ua-cam.com/play/PLu8Rw0r4aAhQlxR879XgovOJy3cj-Oz6p.html
@ultimatemeaning Those videos were helpful, thanks. I see that the Bodhisattva path is a gradualist one and one such as I has to start at the beginning; I should have guessed that the solution would be practical and realistic!
I love the description of your video that the Buddha wasn't a savior. But there are Buddhist Cults who think he is one which is dangerous to me. Chant this and you will make more money. Not good.
Yes this mentality is not in harmony with the Buddha's teachings Thanks for sharing Franz
It is a side point but to anyone reading this, who consumes alcohol, maybe considering taking an indefinate break for a while and see how it goes.
It could be one of the smallest changes you could make that will bring you so many rewards in the short term and long term.
I have not drank for six years and the difference a sober mind brings to daily living and correct thinking is indescribable. Stopping drinking was a matrix moment in some respects!
Much appreciated Lama Choga 🫶🏼
Here’s a quote from ancient times that haunts me to this day :
.
“We never truly realize ourselves.
We are like two chasms -
a well staring up at the sky.”
~Fernando Pessoa
Very apt and beautiful my friend. Thank you for sharing
Such a wonderful teaching! Thank you!!🙏🏼
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you for the lecture! 🙏In the past I would have said that practicing Zen in a monastery is much more difficult than practicing Zen in everyday life, I thought that because of the discipline and the very long periods of meditation (Zazen). Today I think exactly the opposite, realizing Zen in everyday life is much more difficult precisely because of all the "distractions" such as marriage, alcohol/psychotropic drugs, media, work, etc. Although you shouldn't view this entirely as a distraction, but rather as an exercise very challenging exercise , that's why I've been living very withdrawn for a long time , because I wasn't up to the task. I don't meditate very much at the moment, about 3 hours a day because I've found that it's unwholesome to force it, but that's hard for me to explain, the middle path remains extremely important, and what it means for each individual can only be explored by them. Dogen said in the Genjokoan: "To study the Buddha Way is to study oneself" , "To study oneself is to forget oneself" , "To forget oneself is to be witnessed practicing by the ten thousand things" , ""To be witnessed by the ten thousand things means that your body and mind and the body and mind of all beings fall away" (I hope I translated that correctly into English!?) Kind regards from Berlin! 🖖🙏
I agree the Zen path requires dedicating a great deal of time to your practice over many years. But this is the case for all practice. For most of us practice is more like a hobby and can only yield limited results.
Buddha tried to solve the problems arising from passion hatred and ignorance or you can call three poisons. He wanted to uproot the causes of suffering not just from this world but from all the six realms. Anyway that's my understanding. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Yes that is correct but not to remove them the 6 realms, because without the craving (Trishna) the cause for existence (Bhava) there is no mundane world.
Mundane world - yes .
Escape it - hell yeah .
I seek truth , i try to practice it .il keep training .
Thank you for training! 🙏🙏🙏
All problems stem from the fact that we identify exclusively with our limited human consciousness instead of our unlimited divine consciousness. I believe this is why Jesus advised us to strive first for the kingdom of heaven, which a Zen monk would probably call Nirvana and an Indian yogi Samadhi.
Thank you for sharing that, but can you clarify? How many different types of consciousness are they and how are they related? 🙏🙏🙏
@@ultimatemeaning There is only one consciousness, but as many different contents as there are beings. I must have expressed myself unclearly. The less content, the more joy, the more ME.
@@IckoDio Thank you for that. So this one consciousness is a container and the consciousnesses of beings is the content, is that right?
@@ultimatemeaning Words are duality, consciousness is not dual.
In the perception of human consciousness it seems like a content. But everything permeates itself and surrounds itself equally. "Content" and "container" are the one consciousness. But if one identifies with the limited "content", one believes to be this content and believes that this is the "I" and therefore believes that there are countless different "I's". The illusionary self is constantly changing. The real me always remains the same. And if you identify with the true "I" behind or within or beyond the "content", you see that there is only one "I", which is embodied in all "contents".
But when you do that, you realize that all the words can't express it, because then everything is completely different.
But then you can no longer experience all other beings as anything other than yourself. And the suffering is no longer your concern. It is still there, but it is not you who is suffering. Unfortunately, this experience fades again after a while. And then new trials come that have to be overcome.
@@ultimatemeaning Words are duality, consciousness is not dual.
In the perception of human consciousness it seems like a content. But everything permeates itself and surrounds itself equally. "Content" and "container" are the one consciousness. But if one identifies with the limited "content", one believes to be this content and believes that this is the "I" and therefore believes that there are countless different "I's". The illusionary self is constantly changing. The real me always remains the same. And if you identify with the true "I" behind or within or beyond the "content", you see that there is only one "I", which is embodied in all "contents".
But when you do that, you realize that all the words can't express it, because then everything is completely different.
But then you can no longer experience all other beings as anything other than yourself. And the suffering is no longer your concern. It is still there, but it is not you who is suffering. Unfortunately, this experience fades again after a while. And then new trials come that have to be overcome.
I do not know, if I can find renunciation, and I do not wish to pretend that I have, if I have not. I do not know, if what I seek is liberation, or if my desires for the things in the mundane world are too strong to break away from. Meaning, I do not know that I am capable of not desiring the momentary pleasures found in romantic activities (sex, of course, but also just... The feelings that I have found in such experiences as closeness, physical contact, acceptance and understanding, even though it is true that in my experience that have not lasted as I would like) and other things that keep me toiling in samsara, or wallowing, depending on how I happen to be feeling that day. Ultimately, I suppose, I feel that I do not know what is the right action to take with a view for the future. I hope that I find clarity in this.
By what you have written it is clear that you already have recognised a fundamental point necessary for the generation of renunciation and therefore progress on the path
@@ultimatemeaning thank you, 🥲
Thank you❤
The mustard seed. So similar to be original teachings of Christ.❤
We believe Jesus was teaching the Bodhisattva path!
Jesuit plagiarism after being kicked out of Asia. Kazarian, turned into modern day corporate monstrosity. Genocidal over commodities.
@@ultimatemeaning Poor Bacchantes. Maenads, forlornly forgotten.
Beliefs: Purest idleness, ignorance itself.
@@anvilbrunner.2013 Belarama Janus Baphometatron of Alexandria.
Lama Choga, thanks for another thought-provoking video. I'm going to spice things up by playing devil's advocate:
It seems to me that in this video you are reifying a concept (samsara) into an object that you assume has inherent existence independent of mind. It’s as if you are saying that samsara is a flawed place we are trapped in now, and that nirvana is a perfect place we need to get to in the future, thus inserting more mundane logic and more conceptual layers of space-time consideration into our problem of transcending the mundane perception of reality. This is some pretty lofty theologizing. I’m not saying you’re wrong. But in my lived experience thus far, samsara is simply the suffering that occurs in the conceptual gap I impose between the flawed now and the perfect future. Its all perception. Renounce old ideas and laugh at the universe when it forces you to push the boulder back up the hill. There is no promised land. Samsara is Nirvana and they're both just a couple of rotting rafts to be left behind on the garbage-strewn shoreline of provisional philosophizing.
If someone throws a ball at your head how do you naturally react to that object? For you at that moment is it inseparable from mind or is it independent of mind? Also if you conceptually understand that it is none other that an experience of mind's own luminosity does that stop you from ducking out of the way. And if you decide not to duck out of the way will you experience the pain of being hit in the head and instant regret?
For us Samsara isn't a concept it is reality. That is to say it doesn't need any reification. And conversely for us Nirvana is merely a concept and never reality.
But the point of the video isn't about the reality of Samsara and Nirvana it is about our assumptions about the Buddhas intentions in teaching the Dharma, and more specifically judging the validity of the path in the context of our own first principles (and not those taught by the Buddha).
@@ultimatemeaning My natural reaction is to duck. In that moment the ball is inseperable from mind as it only has relevance to my experience due to a nervous system that can percieve it as a seperate object that is threatening to my existence. If I was a rock I wouldn't duck, as I would have no concept of "I" to protect and no nervous system to give rise to that concept. The phenomena of pain that will arise if the ball hits me is born of an interdependence between mind and ball. I'm not sure what you mean by understanding conceptually that "it is none other than an experience of mind's own luminosity," but, no, understanding the interdependence of mind and ball and having a big picture concept of everything as one dialectical process will not stop me from ducking. It would be unwise not to duck. Not because of the pain primarily, but because of the damage it could do my body. Pain is just a neurological signal. Sometimes we subject ourselves to pain on purpose, in pursuit of certain goals, such as when we apply ourselves diligently to challenging meditative and yogic practice for spiritual growth. In these times pain is not a signal of threat to our existence, but of threat to the existence of our egoic perception of self, our precious concepts and assumptions, and that is the whole point, so we follow that pain, like a guiding light. So we know that pain itself is not the fundamental problem we are trying to solve. if I decide not to duck when the ball is thrown at me, and I get hit, of course I will feel pain. What does that have to do with a metaphysical speculation about where we go after death? I agree that samsara is a reality. When you mistake a rope on the floor for a posionous snake it is very much real until you realize your misperception. We are little gods creating worlds in our own images all day long . . . incidently, why did you name your channel the Theory of Samsara, as opposed to the Reality of Samsara?
Much love and many thanks for your time and content.
Wow and wow. Thank you! This is a true pointer.
Thank you Brian, I hope you can join us for the Premier (please bring popcorn!)
Thank you
Dear sir, the only way I could conceive of committing to a path like Milarepa is if I had unshakable faith in the reality and rightness of liberation. Therefore, I see the problem as a lack of faith--I just don't believe. Or maybe I am confused about what liberation is? When I hear that renunciation is necessary, I understand that there is an option to leave this mundane life for another kind of existence. But I find this hard to believe--just as hard as believing in the God of the Bible. Everything seems to me to indicate that I am a creature of this world, that is to say, a creature whose very being and possibilities is a product of this world. Hence, escape or liberation seems like a pipe dream. How am I to believe that there is infact a "me" or "self" that is separate from the temporary conditional human life form, that can be liberated? If this is indeed true, I should like to know it. The paradox I'm suggesting is that I'd need to know it to commit myself to the path that leads to it.
Moreover, isn't there something absurd here? You rightly point out that un-virtuous acts are virtually impossible to avoid committing. But isn't it absurd to claim that something one can't help but participate in is to be avoided? Countless micro-organisms live on me and in me. If all the ways "I" undermine the agendas of other life forms counts against me, then the game is rigged against me, no?
Respectfully and with appreciation for your co sideration,
T
Hello my friend. Firstly you are wise not to accept the notion of liberation our of blind acceptance of doctrine. But the problem most people have is that they see liberation or nirvana to be some other place perhaps like a heavenly realm but the truth is liberation isn't a localised phenomena. Liberation is none other than whatever experiences arise to mind but without clinging to their imputed reality as being authentic.
Further you ask "How am I to believe that there is in fact a "me" or "self" that is separate from the temporary conditional human life form, that can be liberated?" The Buddha did not teach that there was such a self or soul but that these notions are nothing other than imputations. This is something that we are able the look into for ourselves by investigating our personal experience because no matter where you look or how hard you look you will never find such an entity.
Again liberation is not some place or state to which this non existent soul travels to but merely the realisation that the soul is a fallacy.
regarding virtue then virtue and non virtue arise out of karma, and there are three gates of karmic actions- body, speech, and mind. of these three then principal is mental karma or intention. And for this reason in the Mahayana it is taught that bodhicitta (loving kindness and compassion) is the supreme cause for liberation and awakening. Because for the one who has true bodhicitta is incapable of committing wrongdoing. But it isn't easy to have authentic Boddhicitta because of our tendency to act in self interest.
So that being the case then if one were to ask "what is the best way to apply oneself on the spiritual path?" the answer should be "apply oneself to bodhicitta (loving kindness compassion).
I hope this helps and thank you for sharing
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you so much for your reply. Given what you say, would it perhaps be more precise to say that we ought to renounce self-centered attitudes and actions rather than the world? Since, if we can not escape to somewhere else, then the best we can do is try to right ourselves and as far as possible others and thus the human world. But this seems to go against what you claim: we have to give up on fixing the world.
Sorry to be so challenging, it is the only way I know to evaluate and understand. Don't feel you need to reply; I'm sure you are very busy and in demand and I don't ecpect you to prioritize answering me!
I've thought about it some more and landed on the interpretation that renunciation of the human world is necessary because we humans have built an economy of consumption and selfishness that engenders attitudes, values, and lifestyles that we are brainwashed into accepting as in our best interests.
@@1littlebrainthatcould That's correct because the terms mundane and transcendent are defined by whether or not there is self clinging.
So "mundane' doesn't refer to what happens on this Earth or whether the action outwardly appears "worldly", in fact the masters of the past didn't give up their "worldly" occupations, rather they used them as a basis for practice. Famously Tilopa worked in the market by day grinding sesame seeds, and at night he worked in a brothel.
Also Bodhisattvas intentionally are born in worldly seeming circumstances but because they have have no self clinging they are not bound by the world nor do they suffer.
But for us ordinary beings we have no choice. We aren't able to drop our self-clinging, it is endemic to our character.
@@1littlebrainthatcould Yes friend and the root of this is called "fundamental ignorance" it is the notion of "me" and "mine" that is inherent in all sentient beings
Om muni muni Maha muni soha!
🙏🙏🙏
dude, i want a spinny thing!
It’s called a prayer wheel that sends out prayers of blessings for everyone through the spinning energy of the wheel. A beautiful way to share the wish for liberation.❤
I think Lama Choga has a video about it.
🙏
Unfortunately my reply is always deleted. I try again here:
Your question was: "Thank you for that. So this one consciousness is a container and the consciousnesses of beings is the content, is that right?"
Words are duality, consciousness is not dual.
In the perception of human consciousness it seems like a content. But everything permeates itself and surrounds itself equally. "Content" and "container" are the one consciousness. But if one identifies with the limited "content", one believes to be this content and believes that this is the "I" and therefore believes that there are countless different "I's". The illusionary self is constantly changing. The real me always remains the same. And if you identify with the true "I" behind or within or beyond the "content", you see that there is only one "I", which is embodied in all "contents".
But when you do that, you realize that all the words can't express it, because then everything is completely different.
But then you can no longer experience all other beings as anything other than yourself. And the suffering is no longer your concern. It is still there, but it is not you who is suffering. Unfortunately, this experience fades again after a while. And then new trials come that have to be overcome.
That's so weird I wonder why that is happening? Let me read your comment in full and then I will reply. And thank you for persisting! 🙏🙏🙏
You state that this experience isn't stable and fades, if it is singular and unchanging as you suggest then how can that be the case? And if that is the case then how is it in anyway different than the illusory and constantly changing and limited self that you rejected? 🙏🙏🙏
@@ultimatemeaning It is not the experience that is unchangeable, but the true self.
The experience of the true self fades again because I cannot maintain my concentration in everyday consciousness. Then the illusion catches up with me again. A saint is always in this consciousness. And his consciousness certainly goes far beyond my experiences. Despite the clarity of my experiences, I know that this is just the beginning. I am certainly not yet completely detached from the illusion during my experiences. But I experience myself more with myself than with the illusion. And recognize the illusion as illusion, and my self as self.
The experience of the true self is much more real than anything else.
And one recognizes everything else as illusion. Unfortunately, one doesn't even notice how one returns more and more to the illusion and becomes more and more deeply absorbed by it. And yet the memory of the experience remains deeply engraved and more real than anything else. And one wants nothing more than to experience oneself again.
I do not reject limited consciousness. I've just realized that it's not my true self. And the more often I experience my true self and the closer I get to it, the more the limited consciousness changes as a result of these experiences. As a human being, I need the limited consciousness.
I love the buddhist figet spinner
OH we're in hell
Not really. The point is we aren't in hell and so we should appreciate the precious opportunity we now have to practise the dharma.
The thought that the mundane world is like a pit of fire etc., ... , comes from recognition that even if (at this time) we have temporary experiences of well being, that is meaningless because until we achieve awakening we will continue to circle endlessly in Samsara. Sometimes experiencing ecstatic joy and sometimes experiences abject misery.
Thank you for contributing your thoughts
Ciao
If everyone (humans I mean) left the world and had to beg for food but everyone had left the world, everyone would die.
If "if"s and "but"s were candys and nuts...
but why cling to liberation from samsara, when if in essence we are all one and their is no separation, doesn't that necessitate that no one can escape until we all do, and in giving up the world we do not only give up pain, but pleasure, so it is that to know happiness one must know sorrow, and to know peace one must know struggle, maybe the point is to embrace the pleasure in the suffering and the peace in the center of the struggling world and to try against all odds to improve the conditions of life on this world for all living beings, so as to move the whole of being to liberation, by living in the moment and building heaven on earth for all of the beings we can, thereby causing a mass movement of trancendanes, I find that maybe Nirvana is in Samsara itself as is said by many teacher.
we all have our roles to play
Such a random video that manage to come in my reccomendations but hey I vibe with it
Weird isn't it? Who knows how the mystical UA-cam algorithm works? I can't figure it out! 😆🤣😆
but spinning wheels and running beads through ones fingers is not creating transformation either or the clothing attire one wears or being part in some denomination . Dogma's are in everyplace and none of that is going to create or bring one any closer to moksha or nirvakalpa samadhi. Who is really a Bodhisattva ? Not someone running beads and spinning wheels in denominational garments fooling themselves.
I believe life is predetermined before birth. If it happens it was meant to happen. Good and not so good. I believe cycles are through life. But also out of my control. To take control I need to know my inspiration source.
Interesting, in the Buddha dharma it teaches that everything depends on Karma and that means there is always a way to change things for better of worse. 🙏🙏🙏
@@ultimatemeaning Dr Francisco Coll was able to bring eastern understanding to west understanding. .. depends on karma I understand. I find the mechanics of universe a great lesson.
@@ultimatemeaning I have completed C zone trance medium and control training. I have a need to do D training. It's different to the below. What I think I know now might not be what I think. I am what I think.
@@between666 Sorry I don't know what these are. Has it to do with communicating with spirits?
@@between666 Don't know anything about Dr Francisco Coll sorry
hahaha 'Samsara sucks' : )
Buddha uniform and executive toy
We should look critically at all examples of morality. As we evolve and improve as humans we can do better. We can even do better than the ancients. Edit: I may just be crazy ... Butttt I think we are all the same being, a godlike being with many faces and sides... each side is so different it emerges as a new being in this world. And like a repeated frequency ... we emerge in the music of reality in the grand music that is greater reality.
Things are much more awesome and beautiful then most can ever realize.
And as long as we are improving that is positive🙏🙏🙏
Here's an idea that will cook your noodle, first time I heard something like it was from a lama. What if, just what if....everyone else in the world, every single human who ever lived or will live, is YOU - just wearing a different avatar?
Sort of changes everything, doesn't it. That street bum you stepped over this morning without helping, you. The bakery lady you yelled at during lunch, yep - also you. Even Lama Choga, just you in pretty robes with good coordination to spin the prayer wheel.
And what does it mean for the bodhisattva vow, to rescue all sentient beings? It means you really just have to rescue YOU.
Probably nonsense, but...what if?
🐕🦺🙏🐕🦺
it brings into question the entire idea of "you"
@@imageword5576 Exactly. Self is an illusion.
Yeah, but can you live on ifs?