Comments for Politics of Soul http://politicsofsoul.org spiritual politics and psychology Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:23:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on The Whole Thing by Steve Givnan http://politicsofsoul.org/2010/02/the-whole-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Steve Givnan Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:23:16 +0000 http://politicsofsoul.org/?p=676#comment-37 When I read stuff like this it makes me feel like Homer Simpson........... I looked up the definition of recursion. it said 'see recursion' When I read stuff like this it makes me feel like Homer Simpson………..
I looked up the definition of recursion. it said ’see recursion’

]]> Comment on Increasing Equality by Anna Minton http://politicsofsoul.org/2009/10/increasing-equality/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Anna Minton Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:19:06 +0000 http://www.politicsofsoul.org/?p=561#comment-26 thanks for bringing that ridiculous comment from Lord Griffiths to my attention. i'm speaking about inequality at an event on Saturday so will mention it... thanks for bringing that ridiculous comment from Lord Griffiths to my attention. i’m speaking about inequality at an event on Saturday so will mention it…

]]> Comment on Comparing Buddhist and Muslim Attitudes to Scripture by matthewbain http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/09/comparing-buddhist-and-muslim-attitudes-to-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-19 matthewbain Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:41:34 +0000 http://www.elephantskin.org/2008/09/02/comparing-buddhist-and-muslim-attitudes-to-scripture-by-matthew-bain/#comment-19 In general Mahayanists have trouble demonstrating that the historical Buddha taught the Mahayana Sutras such as the Lotus Sutra. However, they use other lines of reasoning to prove their authenticity. One such reason is that the Mahayana Sutras are so beautiful that they must have been taught by Buddha. Indeed the Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, and the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras (among others) are extraordinary documents. In the Tibetan tradition there is a teaching about how Vasubandhu was converted to the Mahayana by his brother Asanga. Vasubandhu had been hostile to the Mahayana, but one day when he was visiting Asanga, he overheard Asanga reciting a Mahayana Sutra. Vasubandhu was overcome by the beauty of the text, and realised that it must be the word of Buddha. He converted to the Mahayana, and regretted the fact that he had previously criticised it. The same story (with some slight variations) can be found in: SIYUKI : BUDDHIST RECORDS OF THE WESTERN WORLD. First Edition: London 1884 Reprint: Delhi, 1981, 1994 By Samuel Beal. The text is available here: http://www.tiny.cc/dasabhumi In general Mahayanists have trouble demonstrating that the historical Buddha taught the Mahayana Sutras such as the Lotus Sutra. However, they use other lines of reasoning to prove their authenticity. One such reason is that the Mahayana Sutras are so beautiful that they must have been taught by Buddha. Indeed the Lotus Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, and the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras (among others) are extraordinary documents.

In the Tibetan tradition there is a teaching about how Vasubandhu was converted to the Mahayana by his brother Asanga. Vasubandhu had been hostile to the Mahayana, but one day when he was visiting Asanga, he overheard Asanga reciting a Mahayana Sutra. Vasubandhu was overcome by the beauty of the text, and realised that it must be the word of Buddha. He converted to the Mahayana, and regretted the fact that he had previously criticised it.

The same story (with some slight variations) can be found in: SIYUKI : BUDDHIST RECORDS OF THE WESTERN WORLD. First Edition: London 1884 Reprint: Delhi, 1981, 1994 By Samuel Beal. The text is available here: http://www.tiny.cc/dasabhumi

]]> Comment on Comparing Buddhist and Muslim Attitudes to Scripture by bengule http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/09/comparing-buddhist-and-muslim-attitudes-to-scripture/comment-page-1/#comment-18 bengule Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:09:57 +0000 http://www.elephantskin.org/2008/09/02/comparing-buddhist-and-muslim-attitudes-to-scripture-by-matthew-bain/#comment-18 I have been looking for the Mahayana side of the discussion on the authenticity of the Lotus Sutra, as well as the opposition. Was there a strong argument, in which the Mahayanas provide proof of the authenticity? I have been looking for the Mahayana side of the discussion on the authenticity of the Lotus Sutra, as well as the opposition. Was there a strong argument, in which the Mahayanas provide proof of the authenticity?

]]> Comment on The View From Iceland – by Elin Agla Briem by Juliet Wallis http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/10/the-view-from-iceland-by-elin-agla-briem/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Juliet Wallis Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:58 +0000 http://politicsofsoul.wordpress.com/?p=146#comment-25 Dear Elin, Thankyou for writing in a human way about your situation ( politicians can be illegible!) Years ago when I lived in a community in yurts in a valley in Lancs, England, my awareness of the global problems looming ahead of us came from the underground networking systems. We learned of the power of the individual when we boycotted South African fruit etc and helped to end the Aparteid. I decided to make a10 year plan. I've still got it somewhere but much of it has come to fruition. I live where my partner and I work and grow my own vegetables. We have a wood burner for heat, hot water and cooking. Our neighbours act in a communal way for transport to town and we use local producers. I am getting involved in the local community with Transition Town work. ( What happens after peak oil, how to live sustainably) These problems we now face were predictable. The humble life you speak of is sustainable. Lets hope nobody panics too much as the dream changes its character and certain personalities go on their steep learning curve a little late! Love from Juliet. Dear Elin, Thankyou for writing in a human way about your situation ( politicians can be illegible!)
Years ago when I lived in a community in yurts in a valley in Lancs, England, my awareness of the global problems looming ahead of us came from the underground networking systems.
We learned of the power of the individual when we boycotted South African fruit etc and helped to end the Aparteid.
I decided to make a10 year plan. I’ve still got it somewhere but much of it has come to fruition. I live where my partner and I work and grow my own vegetables. We have a wood burner for heat, hot water and cooking. Our neighbours act in a communal way for transport to town and we use local producers. I am getting involved in the local community with Transition Town work. ( What happens after peak oil, how to live sustainably)
These problems we now face were predictable. The humble life you speak of is sustainable. Lets hope nobody panics too much as the dream changes its character and certain personalities go on their steep learning curve a little late!
Love from Juliet.

]]> Comment on God and Buddhism by What Remains Is God « Politics of Soul http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/08/god-and-buddhism/comment-page-1/#comment-15 What Remains Is God « Politics of Soul Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:41:24 +0000 http://www.elephantskin.org/2008/08/15/god-and-buddhism-by-matthew-bain/#comment-15 [...] is completely mixed with the emptiness of all phenomena can validly be called God (see my article God and Buddhism). So, when the veils of illusion are removed, what remains is God. In a poem called The Theophany [...] [...] is completely mixed with the emptiness of all phenomena can validly be called God (see my article God and Buddhism). So, when the veils of illusion are removed, what remains is God. In a poem called The Theophany [...]

]]> Comment on A Place Where We Cannot Be Harmed by Fantastic and Crap « Politics of Soul http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/07/a-place-where-we-cannot-be-harmed/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Fantastic and Crap « Politics of Soul Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:05:05 +0000 http://www.elephantskin.org/2008/07/18/a-place-where-we-cannot-be-harmed/#comment-13 [...] is the teaching on Exchanging Self with Others, which is described in detail in the article A Place Where We Cannot Be Harmed. If we fully exchange self with others then, although there continues to be suffering, we are no [...] [...] is the teaching on Exchanging Self with Others, which is described in detail in the article A Place Where We Cannot Be Harmed. If we fully exchange self with others then, although there continues to be suffering, we are no [...]

]]> Comment on The Labyrinth by Not a Chameleon « Politics of Soul http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/06/the-labyrinth/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Not a Chameleon « Politics of Soul Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:38:29 +0000 http://www.elephantskin.org/2008/06/08/the-labyrinth/#comment-8 [...] a Chameleon Posted on 7 July, 2008 by matthewbain In my articles Baptism of Fire and The Labyrinth I describe the importance of forging character, which requires psychological striving and [...] [...] a Chameleon Posted on 7 July, 2008 by matthewbain In my articles Baptism of Fire and The Labyrinth I describe the importance of forging character, which requires psychological striving and [...]

]]> Comment on Thoughts on the Financial Crisis by Steve Rogers http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/10/thoughts-on-the-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Steve Rogers Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:18:15 +0000 http://politicsofsoul.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-23 I'm sure that some of us can change a lot, and all of us can change a little. Part of the change of view we all need, to get ourselves out of the neurotic delusion called "the economy" and back into "the world", is to stop looking for dramatic success. The world doesn't need saving by a single heroic act. It needs to be inhabited by people who would rather do what is compassionate no matter whether they see amazing results or not - just from a straightforward sense of preference. I’m sure that some of us can change a lot, and all of us can change a little. Part of the change of view we all need, to get ourselves out of the neurotic delusion called “the economy” and back into “the world”, is to stop looking for dramatic success. The world doesn’t need saving by a single heroic act. It needs to be inhabited by people who would rather do what is compassionate no matter whether they see amazing results or not – just from a straightforward sense of preference.

]]> Comment on Thoughts on the Financial Crisis by nick atha http://politicsofsoul.org/2008/10/thoughts-on-the-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-24 nick atha Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:44:43 +0000 http://politicsofsoul.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-24 Well said Matthew, Ive spoken to many people who would agree wholeheartedly. I wonder whether we can change? id certainly like to think so regards Nick Well said Matthew,
Ive spoken to many people who would agree wholeheartedly. I wonder whether we can change? id certainly like to think so
regards
Nick

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