Dharma Puns

Hello everyone,

Peace to you all, and wishing that your new years be fruitful and well. I think I just really wanted to get something off my chest, and perhaps start a dialogue.

How many of you feel like this subreddit isn't really conducive to any true practice? I'm not saying this isn't a good resource for further exploration of the Buddhist path, but I believe this community leans more towards over-discussion of advanced concepts which can only be experienced. I'm of the mind that this isn't healthy, especially considering that encountering the dharma is a privilege many living beings don't have.

Essentially, what I mean to say is that there should be a push towards daily practice and away from scholarly discussions, for the sole reason that it's natural to attach oneself to views and therefore trick onself into believing that one has attained something when they really haven't. Rationalization might not be conducive to wisdom.

Apologies if my words aren't accurate - we're all bound by the limitations of language. Hope this post finds you all well and please, feel free to discuss.

Edit: Rereading this I realize the limitations of my own words in expressing how I feel. I hope my comments and replies help provide a greater understanding.

I find Hinduism , with its general respect of other religions, fair amount of scientific accuracy, and belief in reincarnation ( I’ve always thought “some part of me” will live on in some way) . However ,as someone who just “ got over” a strict Christian upbringing, I have a hard time believing that the Gods ( Brahma, Ganesh, so on) are literally “up there” or that the Ramayana/ Bhagavad Gita, so forth actually happened ( not trying to offend anyone , I’m just very skeptical by nature). However , it is my understanding that there are forms of Hinduism that view the stories and Gods as more of metaphorical guides for our lives, or that the Gods are simply aspects of Brahman/ nature/ the Universe , which is something I can get behind . Am I correct in this belief?

Hello Friends,

My name is Stephen Snyder. I began practicing daily meditation in 1976. Since then, I have studied and practiced Buddhism extensively–investigating and engaging in Zen, Tibetan, Theravada, and Western nondual traditions. I was authorized to teach in 2007 by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, a Burmese meditation master and renowned scholar. In 2009, I co-authored Practicing the Jhānas, exploring concentration/jhana meditation as presented by Pa Auk Sayadaw.

https://www.amazon.com/Practicing-Jhanas-Traditional-Concentration-Meditation/dp/159030733X/

I support students in turning toward awakened awareness and, through this realization of awakening to their true nature, embody their true identity. I am also the author of Stress Reduction for Lawyers and Buddha’s Heart.

https://www.amazon.com/Stress-Reduction-Lawyers-Students-Professionals-ebook/dp/B0899C8PW4/

https://www.amazon.com/Buddhas-Heart-Meditation-Developing-Well-Being/dp/1734781025/

My new book Demystifying Awakening will be published March 2022.

I lead both online and in-person meditation sessions with dharma talks, daylongs, multi-day retreats. Information about my teaching and proof that this is me can be found at AwakeningDharma.org.

I will take questions on concentration meditation, jhana practice, the heart practices of the brahma viharas, and general meditation questions.

I never felt as though I chose this path, but rather, it chose me. All that I went through in my life makes sense now. The dharma was the light at the end of the tunnel.

Octavian started making a golden dharma around 15:00h Pacific time, so should be continuing to do so until about 18:00h. Use the pipe next to the airport to go to his door.

The shops are open. I haven't seen the pleated masks in Able's before. GET OUT OF DIALOG/DRESSING ROOM FOR FLIGHTS!

I've had issues with visitors behaving poorly lately, so have walled off most of the island. You can shop and get the DIY. Don't dive off the dock.

Please SET YOUR FLAIR and comment your favorite ACNH villager for me to send you the Dodo code via chat. I will let in two folks at a time. Open unless the flair says 'Closed.'

EDIT: 'Bout another 30 min left, will open it up in case there's someone who can't figure out flair or isn't able to comment yet. Dodo code N 6 J N D.

Use the pipe next to the airport to go to Octavian's house for the DIY.

First comers shop first for limited items. The cabinet has pansy, rose & windflower seeds.

Some of what's in Able's today.

We are here in the human realm not remembering past lives. If I practice the Dharma, lead a virtuous life but fall short of becoming a sotapanna best case scenario I'll be reborn as a human being or a deva. I know as long as you're not an ariyan there's no guarantee that your practice in this life won't go to waste. Is there a notion of inertia for your dharma practice? Is there something I can do except for obviously becoming enlightened to make it more probable that I will meet the Dharma in the next life?

I know that there is kind of a reassurance in the texts for non-realized followers that they won't be born in the lower realms. But it's not good enough, right :). Is there similar reassurance that we probably will meet the Dharma?

It’s definitely not because of the ‘high-octane sex scenes,’ whatever that means. Is it not profitable?

Their line-up for 2022 is crap. Govinda Mera Naam looks like a shitfest and it gets a theatrical release. And don’t get me started on that cricket film with Jahnvi or something…

Yet, the director who gave Dharma critical acclaim with Kapoor and Sons does not get a theatrical release for his next film, which looks like a mature drama that will put Hindi cinema on the map again.

I don’t understand. It has written ‘hit’ all over it with a director and a starcast like that.

Why Dharma? I’m happy I can watch it on OTT, because we’re in a lockdown. But I think it deserves a small theatrical release.

Just what the title says. This family member has forgotten their name, their University degrees, their history, their favourite foods, everything that once made their ‘self’. They have no idea who I am, but the karmic connection is strong. They know they love me, they know we are somehow connected. We can’t fill time with idle chatter, it’s too confusing for them, so we just hold hands and feel the love. They know they’ve forgotten something but they can’t remember what they’ve forgotten. This experience has been a profound teaching of love, compassion, karmic connections, attachments, self and no-self. Can anyone relate or offer any reading to guide me through this process? This family member is physically strong so we likely will have some years together yet. Thank you to the people in this community for reading my post, the people in my real life circle probably wouldn’t understand my experience.

AMA WITH A TWIST

• This is an AMA with a twist .
• We would be asking questions for Shri Dushyanth Sridhar here in this thread, and he would be giving us a response in video in his youtube channel.
• We will be updating the video link over here for the benefit of our readers.
• The time window for asking questions for Shri Dushyanthji is tentatively till December 27th evening.
• We believe that this would be a novel interaction - Our community tends to have a deep interest in Indic culture, and is naturally curious about the same.
• Shri Dushtantji's has deep expertise in Sanskrit scriptures and is a well known public speaker.
• Hence, the decision to have an offline interaction with Shri Dushyanth Sridhar

PUBLIC PRESENCE

• Twitter : https://twitter.com/dushyanthsridar
• Personal Web Page: https://www.desikadaya.org/about
• Youtube channel (Over 100,000+ subscribers) : https://www.youtube.com/user/RamayanaForUs

SHAKUNTALAM

• Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-zNs1SJkgs
• Interview on NewsX
• Interview on CNN News 18
• Interview on DD News

BRIEF BIO

• Shri Dushyanth Sridhar is the Director of Shakuntalam - a movie in Sanskrit
• Please find the trailer of Shakuntalam here
• He is a well-known public speaker and delivers discourses on Rāmāyana, Mahābhārata, Bhāgavata, Vishnu Purāna, Bhagavad Gitā, Vishnu Sahasranāma and Divya Prabanda in the upanyāsam, pravachanam or kālakshepam style.
• He has given over 3000 discourses in around 23 countries, 125 cities.
• He has also acted in a movie : Vedanta Desika
• BITS Pilani Graduate 2004-2009
• Worked in corporate, and did a switch to full-time focus on Sanatana Dharma based public discourses and other initiatives in 2016.

META DISCUSSION POINTS

• The very fact that he has made a movie in Sanskrit is a wonderful initiative, and is something as a community, we should support.
• There is potentially a global audience for Sanskrit movies that could be unlocked -as Shri Dushyanth has mentioned in one of his public interactions.
• Shri Dushyanth has deep ex

I was just realizing that Alia Bhatt & Shraddha Kapoor have a lot of similarities in terms of background. Shraddha's father Shakti is an actor but he was never an A- lister or had a star following and is full of controversies like Mahesh Bhatt (the entire casting couch scandal). Shraddha has been lowkey her entire life as well just like Alia meaning they grew up in rich Mumbai circles but were never hanging out with film family circles Insider circles like Ananya and Shanaya have been friends w/ Suhana for so long. Shraddha also has a bubbly personality and has the cute persona but didn't have the YRF camp backing like Ranveer had- after Luv Ka The End.. she stopped getting work until Mohit Suri gave her a big break. Karan has lifted Kiara's career after Fugly flopped and has made her part of his Dharma camp and is giving her a good share of films and got her into the "Insider" Circle. I mean he even helped Vicky. So why is he so against Shraddha?? Did something happen between them?? Also yes Alia is a better actress than Shraddha but Alia isn't amazing and is way overhyped by Karan and his nepo gang like he used to hype Kareena (his OG daughter).. we saw her performance in Sadak 2 LOL. Also it's weird but Alia owns her entire success to KJO since he even pushed her inside his "Insider" circles and got her these connects- Kareena is a Kapoor and comes from the Kapoor family so it makes sense why he loved her but why Alia?? (Sorry for the long post in advance but it just is interesting to me)

https://preview.redd.it/4nqgjtval1581.png?width=722&format=png&auto=webp&s=b9cf02f18715313cd525717b02d999836d134c2c

https://preview.redd.it/l2pbt6ycl1581.png?width=1214&format=png&auto=webp&s=62ca923573e3a13e79b211dc5736f951c1301994

https://preview.redd.it/k8pnovzzl1581.jpg?width=620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eb46ae80307a6ee4ccb2268f43b6e057a63ca090

Since I am very familiar with that community in the real world and not so much with this one. If you would like to see the original:

(did a few edits, as I don’t know what would classify as NSFW in this subreddit. And being newish to Reddit still learning the nuances.)

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I know for many the new year is a tough time time filled with memories of desires and suffering.

With nearly 50% of the American population binge drinking (or drugging) on NYE: proud of those of you who where able to resist the desire (Tanha)! You either are on firm spiritual footing or well on your way.

And those who are still trying to find an end to your addiction related suffering. Right now, the start of a new year is a great opportunity to reevaluate conduct. It reminds us that the past is gone, and the future has not yet happened. You are here, now.

While one of the most challenging even debilitating things a human can face is addiction, so long as you never give up trying to end the cycle of using (a false and desperate attempt to end suffering). With time and meditation you will see your mind is not trustworthy. The driving force behind addiction exists in the mind. That’s why even when we know something will hurt us, we continue to follow our impulses whenever they present themselves.

The difficulty of life for an addict is filled with deep shame, guilt and pain. With all of that agony many of us seek(ed) temporary relief. Satisfying them with short-term pleasure that always ends (or ended) in more suffering.

You must be courageous to defy the mind. Coming back to the present moment and observing your thoughts provides a method for identifying troubled memories, thinking patterns and overcoming urges. Stay vigilant the journey will be long and hard.

A pain-free existence is an imaginary utopia. However, misery can be reduced. You can stop listening to the mindless obsessing and extreme form of attachment (called addiction). Meditation can help you better regulate emotions you feel now.

Develop compassion for yourself. You didn’t want to become an addict, you wanted to decrease pain (PTSD, loneliness, anxiety. depression etc…) However, soon addiction became a source of suffering.

Once you free your body and mind from addiction you can move towards resolving the reasons behind your actions that led to it.

The reason for my former addictive drug use was self-medicating my extreme anxiety. I now have meditation strategies instead of drugs in times of overwhelming e