Religions overlap, but just because something came first doesn't mean that Catholicism stole it or appropriated it for self-serving reasons, like growing to encompass every part of the earth, says Casey Cole OFM.
Paul F. Knitter has 4.5 out of 5 stars after 447 ratings with this book. An honest, unflinching tale of re-finding one's faith, from one of the world's most famous theologians
Without Buddha I Could Not Be a Christian narrates how esteemed theologian Paul F. Knitter overcame a crisis of faith by looking to Buddhism for inspiration. From prayer to how Christianity views life after death, Knitter argues that a Buddhist standpoint can encourage a more person-centered conception of Christianity, where individual religious experience comes first and liturgy and tradition second. Moving and revolutionary, this book will inspire Christians everywhere. More
Proud incel Nick Fuentes goes full weirdo on dating women
Liar? Hypocrite? By Fuentes' own logic, he's acting "gay" with hot OnlyFans model "beard."
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(The Damage Report) Green screen Neo-Nazi, incel (involuntary celibate), possible Proud Boy, self-proclaimed Mexican white supremacistNick Fuentes goes on a rant about how he believes that men "dating women is gay," while getting very defensive about his own lack of romantic or intimate relationships with females.
"Is Jesus too liberal" for Republican MAGAots? Pastor worries about Trump
Anti-gay activists burn flag in pro-Nazi Ukraine
Female Francesca Fiorentini (they/them?) and TYT hypocrite Ana Kasparian (she/her) break it down on The Damage Report.
"It was reported that America First — a white nationalist movement inspired by the rise of former president Don John Trump — had been thrown into turmoil. Why? One of its higher-ups got himself a girlfriend.
When the movement’s treasurer found a romantic partner, it enraged head honcho Nick Fuentes, who has described himself as both “just like Hitler” and a “proud incel,” the term for those who are “involuntarily celibate.”
(Why anyone would be “proud” to be “involuntarily” anything is another discussion). Now Fuentes has doubled, tripled, and quadrupled down on his stance, arguing that “there’s nothing more 'gay' than hooking up with girls.”
More: An ‘America First’ leader railed against losing his virginity, saying that ‘Dating women is gay’: uproxx.com/viral/america-first...
Watch Francesca Fiorentini on The Bitchuation Room Sundays at 5/8 EST: franifio
(Laugh Up Club) Bill Burr is bad, doing stand up that can be interpreted as sexist and full of profanity and vulgar expletives. It may be funny, but who's laughing and why? How has this form of humor survived our woke and politically correct era? Who know, but thank goodness it has.
WARNING: Strong language! Not suitable for most people!
(Dystopian Space Saga) As a woman I can tell he [Bill Burr] still loves, appreciates, and respects women despite his complaints. He just acknowledges women are flawed and society is unfair but is an equalist who points out the hypocrisies and double standards. No incel misogynist with a podcast vibes from him despite also having a podcast. But to be fair I’ve listened to his podcast for years and love his relationship with his wife the lovely Nia and how he just adores his daughter.
Balance -- not strength, stamina, or flexibility -- is by far the toughest thing in yoga.
Why should we conserve our sexual energy? | Patanjali'sYoga Sutras
(Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, premiered March 26, 2022) Why did ancient yogis, wandering ascetics, monks, and intensive meditators give up sex and take on vows of celibacy and brahmacharya?
Is sex detrimental to spiritual growth? Are there any special powers that get unlocked by abstaining from sex? The no-fap (abstaining from masturbation) movement has become big in recent times even among non-spiritual people.
But if the urge for sex should come, what to do? Breathe (pranayama).
Humans (along with eating) have been having sex since always. So what is the basis for humans trying to move to a practice of semen or essence retention?
Is sex a problem, or is an obsession with it unhealthy? Does it make us weak, stressed, angry, frustrated, anxious, or sad whatever immediate pleasure it gives (which if it did not we would not do it)?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, in this commentary on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, shares some incredible knowledge on sexual energy (shakti) and how conserving it could unlock doors to limitless happiness and aid us in our path to enlightenment.
0:00 - Is obsession of sex healthy?
1:26 - The concept of kama-agni or "fire of passion"
3:43 - The role of celibacy for growth
5:32 - How is brahmacharya or renunciation different from celibacy?
7:07 - What is the importance of brahmacharya for spiritual growth?
8:19 - Is sanyasa or monasticism a prerequisite for enlightenment?
ABOUT: #Gurudev is a world-renowned humanitarian, spiritual leader, and ambassador of peace and human values. Through his life and work, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has inspired millions around the world with a vision of a stress-free and violence-free world. Gurudev founded The Art of Living, a non-profit organization that is engaged in stress-management and service initiatives across the world.
Agape (Ancient Greek agapΔ) is a Greek term referring to "the highest form of love, charity" and "the divine love. It differs from philia, brotherly love, or philautia, self-love, as it embraces a universal, unconditional Buddist metta,altruistic friendliness, or love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstances.
It goes beyond emotions in seeking the best for others. The noun form first occurs in the Septuagint, but the verb form goes as far back as Homer (author of The Odyssey), translated literally as "affection," as in "greet with affection" and "show affection for the dead."
Other ancient authors have used forms of the word to designate love of a spouse or a family, or even affection for a particular activity (avocation, hobby, craft), in contrast to eros (affection in a sexual sense).
So there are different kinds of loving. These are variously expressed in one all-encompassing English word LOVE. Other languages differentiate, and even our modern American English recognizes many shades of it.
There is sexual love, eros, which is far more selfish than agape. Sanskrit says maitri (Pali metta) in India and Buddhist countries, which also recognize patriotism, maternal, paternal, fraternal, sensual, emotional, selfish, selfless, and universal (altruistic) love.
Who cares?
I like the pleasures of the senses lol.
If we only develop our carnal or selfish love towards each other, that cannot last long. In a truly loving relationship, we ask now how much we can get but rather how much we can give.
When youth, beauty, and complexion begin to fade away, a husband who considers only the physical may think of acquiring another younger mate, a co-wife. That type of love is more animal, selfish and carnal rather than companionate and spiritual. It is lust.
If a person develops love as an expression of human concern for another being, one will not place emphasis only on marks of external beauty and physical attractiveness of partners. Beauty and attractiveness of partners have a different, deeper source -- the heart/mind, not in the eyes.
Likewise, a wife who follows Buddhist teachings will not neglect her husband even though he has become poor, sick, or old.
"I have a fear that the modern girl loves to be Juliet, to have a dozen Romeos. She loves adventure.... The modern girl dresses not to protect herself from wind, rain, and sun, but to attract attention. She improves upon nature by painting herself..."
— Gandhi
Lust and Sex
Tough manly men don't need head.
Sex in of itself is not bad or wrong, although the temptation and craving for it always disturbs our peace of mind. That's its nature. So it is hardly conducive to emotional, mental, or spiritual development.
In ideal situations sex is the physical culmination of a deeply satisfying emotional/mental relationship, wherein both partners share more or less equally.
The portrayal of love by commercial interests in the mass media in Western culture is not "real" love, not deep or satisfying expressions of this very human impulse.
When an animal wants to have sex, it shows its "love." It is usually controlled by the female in estrus (heat) inviting it. Humans conceal this receptivity, keeping males always on the lookout for signs, hints, the mere suggestion or promise of a potential for mating.
But after having experienced sex, animals just forget all about love. For animals, sex remains an instinctive drive necessary for procreation, below the threshold of conscious will.
But human beings have much more to offer regarding the concept of love. Duties and responsibilities are important ingredients to maintain harmony, unity, fulfillment, and understanding in a relationship.
Contrary to physical sensations, impulses, or drives, sex is not the most important ingredient for happiness in a relationship. Those who have become slaves to sex, such as sex addicts (something that really exists even beyond very horny people who are not actually pathetic addicts caught in a whirlpool that's gotten beyond their control even in the face of negative consequences) would only ruin love, their humanity, and their marriages.
Apart from that women must cease to consider themselves -- as they have so long been considered by men in the patriarchy -- as objects of men's lust. The remedy may rest more in her hands than in his, even if the fault lies more with him than her.
One must refuse to adorn herself simply to please men, even if he is her date or mate, friend or husband. If she wants to be any kind of equal partner with a man, she will dress to enhance her dignity rather than cheapen it. She does not have to try to be a sex symbol.
Dating or marriage for the satisfaction of prurient sexual appetites is not much of a relationship. It is concupiscence, as Gandhi would say.
Love may indeed be a product of sex, but the reverse is likewise true: Sex is an expression of love. In the ideally happy married life, both love and sex would be together.
We can study the Buddha's teachings, the Dharma, regarding the feelings or emotions men and women have for each other.
The Buddha said he had never seen any object in this world that attracts man's attention more than the form of a woman. He also said at the same time the main attraction for women is the form of a man.
This seems to say that by nature, females and males give each other worldly pleasure -- or at least extend the promise of it in our reptilian imaginations and brainstems.
When objectifying "objects" of lust, we cannot gain happiness of this kind from any other object. When we observe very carefully, we notice that among all the things that can provide pleasure, there is no other that can please all the five senses at the same time beside the human form, even for gays and transsexuals.
The ancient Greeks knew this when they said that originally males and females were one. They were separated, and the two parts that were divided are constantly seeking to be reunited as man and woman. The furtive woodland devas (fairies and shapeshifters) would probably agree.
Pleasure
I like how fair the Buddha is. He understands. Craving hurts, but the pleasant is pleasant.
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Youthful people by nature like to indulge in sensual pleasures, which can include both skillful and unskillful things.
Good things, like the enjoyment of music, poetry, dance, good food, dress (fashion), and similar pursuits do no great harm to the body. They only distract us from noticing the fleeting nature and uncertainty of samsaricexistence, so we are delayed in being able to perceive the true nature of existence and the self.
Prince Siddhartha's son, Prince Rahula, became at age 7 the youngest monk to be ordained. He was filled with lust, particularly around the ages of 18-20. Then only did he mature enough to be taught such things as to gain insight, attain full enlightenment, and curb his ordinary worldling interest and fancies. And he had the help of great disciples like Ananda and Sariputra, and the Buddha was often at his side or very nearby.
I need, uh. steady love. - Uh, me, too.
The faculties and senses of young people are often very fresh and alert. They are very keen to satisfy all six senses, the mind being the sixth.
Almost everyday, they plan and scheme ways and means to experience some form of pleasure. By the very nature of existence in this Sensual Sphere (Kama-Loka), one will never be completely satisfied with whatever pleasure one experiences. And the resultant craving and pining, in turn, only create more anxieties and worries.
When we ponder it deeply, we can understand that life is but a dream. In the end, what do we gain from attachment to this life, this form, these views and attachments?
Only more worries, disappointments, and frustrations, that's what. We may enjoy brief moments of pleasure, but in the final analysis, we must try to find out what the real purpose of our lives is. What is the meaning of it all? Youth rarely asks this question. It's too eager to strive for fulfillment and ignore the constant disappointments sensuality offers.
Family ties: Rahula, the Buddha, Ananda.
If one ceased to crave for sensual pleasures and did not seek to find fulfillment (lasting satisfaction, contentment) in physical comforts or the company of others, the need for marriage would not arise.
Suffering (disappointment) and worldly enjoyment are the outcome of grasping, craving, attachment, and our clingy emotions. If we try to control and suppress emotions by adopting unrealistic tactics, we create disturbances in our immaterial minds and physical bodies.
Therefore, we must learn to handle and control our human passions. Without misusing or abusing this passion, we can tame our desires through proper understanding.More
How do well-meaning, intelligent people end up in a cult? "EnlightenNext was an organization founded by Jewish New Yorker and self-styled guru Andrew Cohen. It aimed to facilitate "spiritual awakening." Cohen’s most devoted students meditated for hours -- at times, months -- on end, were often celibate, and lived together. However, what started as an idealistic venture quickly turned into a complicated, sinister world. More: theatlantic.com/video/ind...
"What it Takes to be a Shaolin Monk" - Shaolin Kung Fu is among the oldest institutionalized styles of Chinese martial arts. It originated and was developed in the Mahayana Buddhist Shaolin temple in Henan province, China, for over 1,500 years. But what did the historical Buddha teach about warrior-celibacy that is still practiced in Theravada Buddhism?
Shhh, I can't give up hand-to-hand combat.
This sutras, addressed to monastics, deals with the battle to maintain celibacy to be victorious in practice. The Buddha compares the victor to a warrior, an analogy likely to appeal to masculine pride (AN 7.48).
In this analogy, a celibate is a warrior of the highest degree not a wimp. Because trying to maintain celibacy involves attraction to females, females play the role of first-line adversary for the purpose of this discourse.
The same would go for men, who are the vexation of female celibates as is dealt with in the BhikkhuniVinayatexts.
Discourses in the Pali language canon depict nuns successfully maintaining their celibacy when confronted by men in the wilderness. A prime example is the Psalms of the Nuns (Therigatha XIV). There are other examples of nuns resisting temptation in the Bhikkhuni Samyutta.
But ultimately, of course, the "adversary" exists within not without the individual. This is shown by the fact that the monastic in this discourse has to set off alone to make an end of the defilement (outflow/inflow) of obstructive sensual passion in the mind before becoming "victorious."
(Hard Shaolin 04) Stay hard with chi gong (qi gong) techniques to control breath (prana) energy
SUTRA: The [Spiritual] Warriors
Theravada preserves what the Buddha taught
[Thus have I heard. The Buddha taught:] "Meditators, there are five types of warriors in the world. What five?
"There is a warrior who, on seeing a cloud of dust [stirred up by the adversary's army], falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot engage in battle. Indeed, some warriors are like this. This is the first type of warrior found in the world.
"Then there is a warrior who can handle a cloud of dust, but on seeing the top of the adversary's battle banner, he falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot engage in battle. Indeed, some warriors are like this. This is the second type of warrior in the world.
"Then there is a warrior who can handle the cloud of dust and the top of the adversary's banner, but on hearing the tumult [of the approaching forces], he falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot engage in battle. Indeed, some warriors are like this. This is the third type of warrior in the world.
"Hand to hand"? Huh huh huh, huh huh huh...
"Then there is a warrior who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, the tumult, but who in hand-to-hand combat is struck and falls wounded. [Hand to hand?] Indeed, some warriors are like this. This is the fourth type of warrior in the world.
"Then there is the warrior who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, the tumult, and hand-to-hand combat. On winning the battle, victorious in battle, he comes out ahead in battle. Indeed, some warriors are like this. This is the fifth type of warrior the world.
"These are the five types of warriors who can be found existing in the world.
"In the same way, meditators, there are five warrior-like individuals who can be found existing among the monastics. What five?
How shall Shaolin monks train to be like the "spiritual warriors" of which the historical Buddha spoke?
[1]
"There is a meditator who, on seeing a cloud of dust, falters, faints, fails to steel him [or her]self, and cannot continue in the high life. Declaring this weakness [and inability to continue] in the training, that meditator leaves the training and returns to the low life [of ordinary uninstructed worldlings].
Don't make me come in the wilderness for you.
"What is the 'cloud of dust'? A meditator who hears, 'In that village or town there is a female who is shapely, beautiful, charming, endowed with the foremost lotus complexion.' On hearing this, one falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot continue in the high life. Declaring this weakness, that meditator leaves this training and returns to the low life. That is the cloud of dust.
"This individual, I say, is like the warrior who on seeing a cloud of dust, falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot engage in battle. Indeed, some individuals are like this. This is the first type of warrior-like individual found existing among the monastics.
[2]
"Then there is the meditator who can handle the cloud of dust, but who on seeing the top of the adversary's banner, falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot continue in the high life. Declaring this weakness, that person leaves the training and returns to the low life.
"What is the 'top of the banner'? There is the meditator who not only hears about a beautiful female, he sees her for himself. But on seeing her, he falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot continue in the high life.
"Declaring this weakness, he leaves the training and returns to the low life. That is the top of the banner. This individual, I say, is like the warrior who can handle the cloud of dust, but who on seeing the top of the adversary's banner, falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot engage in battle. Indeed, some individuals are like this. This is the second type of warrior-like individual among the monastics.
(National Geographic) Amazing feats by Shaolin Buddhist monks undergoing Qi Gong training
[3]
"Then there is the meditator who can handle the cloud of dust and the top of the adversary's banner, but who on hearing the tumult, falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot continue in the high life.
Declaring this weakness, he leaves the training and returns to the low life. What is the tumult? There is the meditator who has gone into the wilderness, to the foot of a quiet tree, or to an empty building. A female approaches him and giggles, calls out to him, laughs, teases him. On hearing her giggle, being called out to, hearing her laugh, and being teased by her, he falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot continue in the high life.
"Declaring this weakness, he leaves the training and returns to the low life. That is the tumult. This individual, I say, is like the warrior who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, but who on hearing the tumult, falters, faints, fails to steel himself, and cannot engage in battle. Indeed, some individuals are like this. This is the third type of warrior-like individual found existing among the monastics.
[4]
Theravada Buddhism lives on in the Thai Forest Tradition, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia...
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"Then there is the meditator who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, and the tumult, but who when in hand-to-hand combat is struck and falls wounded. What is the hand-to-hand combat?
"There is the meditator who has gone into the wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty building. A female approaches him and sits down next to him, lies down next to him, throws herself all over him. When she does so he -- without first renouncing the training, without declaring his weakness to continue in this training [which would absolve him of the rule and, because he would no longer be a monastic, would avoid a defeat offense that entails immediate expulsion] -- engages in sexual intercourse.
"This is hand-to-hand combat. This individual, I say, is like the warrior who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, and the tumult, but who when in hand-to-hand combat is struck and falls wounded. Indeed, some individuals are like this. This is the fourth type of warrior-like individual found existing among the monastics.
[5] "Then there is the monastic who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, the tumult, and hand-to-hand combat. On winning the battle, victorious in battle, he comes out ahead in battle. What is victory in the battle?
"There is the meditator who has gone into the wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling. A woman approaches him and sits down next to him, lies down next to him, throws herself all over him. When she does so he extricates himself, frees himself, and goes off where he will.
"He resorts to a secluded dwelling place -- the wilderness, the foot of a tree, a mountain, a glen, a hillside cave, a charnel ground, a forest grove, the open air, a haystack. Having gone into the wilderness, the foot of a tree, or an empty building, he sits down, crosses his legs, holds his body upright, and brings mindfulness to the fore.
The Five Hindrances to Meditation
"Abandoning craving (covetousness) with regard to the world, one dwells with awareness free of craving. One cleanses the mind/heart of craving.
Abandoning ill will and anger, one dwells with awareness free of ill will, sympathetic to the welfare of all living beings. One cleanses the mind of ill will and anger.
Abandoning laziness and drowsiness, one dwells with awareness free of laziness and drowsiness, mindful, alert, perceiving light [the nimitta or "sign" that develops with persistence]. One cleanses the mind of laziness and drowsiness.
Abandoning restlessness and worry [with regard to the world], one dwells undisturbed, the heart/mind inwardly still. One cleanses the mind of restlessness and worry.
Abandoning doubt and uncertainty, one dwells having crossed over doubt, free of perplexity with regard to skillful mental states. One cleanses the mind of doubt.
"Having abandoned these Five Hindrances, corruptions of mind that weaken wisdom -- withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful states [of mind] -- one enters and remains in the first absorption (meditation, jhana) with rapture and blissborn of withdrawal, accompanied by applied and sustained attention.
"With the stilling of applied and sustained attention, one enters and remains in the second absorption with rapture and bliss born of serenity, unification of mind [coherence, composure] beyond applied and sustain attention -- with internal assurance.
"With the fading of rapture, he remains equanimous, mindful, and alert, and experiences refined pleasure in the body. He enters and remains in the third absorption, of which the noble ones [those who have entered the stages of enlightenment] declare, 'The one who is equanimous and mindful has a most pleasant abiding.'
"With the abandoning of both pleasure and pain -- as with the earlier fading away of elation and distress [pleasure and pain] -- he enters and remains in the fourth absorption with purity of equanimity and mindfulness, surpassing pleasure and pain.
"With mind/heart thus concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free of defects, pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, he directs and inclines the mind to the knowledge of the passing away of the mental defilement.
Four Noble Truths
"He knows in line with truth that:
'This is suffering (disappointment, woe, ill)...
This is the origination of suffering...
This is the end of suffering...
This is the way leading to the end of suffering...
These are mental defilements... This is the origin of defilements... This is the end of defilements... This is the way leading to the end of defilements.' His heart thus knowing, thus seeing is released from the defilement of sensuality, the defilement of becoming [rebirth], the defilement of ignorance."
"With this release comes the knowledge, 'Released!' One knows, 'Rebirth is ended, the high life is fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.'
"This is victory in battle. This individual, I say, is like the warrior who can handle the cloud of dust, the top of the adversary's banner, the tumult, and hand-to-hand combat. On winning the battle, victorious in battle, he comes out ahead in battle. Indeed, some individuals are like this. This is the fifth type of warrior-like individual found existing among monastics.
"These are the five warrior-like individuals who can be found existing among monastics."
Okay, maybe a few men wouldn't be a bad idea. But why do we need them?
Lesbian lizards (nagis and naginis) of California? Snakes. Unfertilized chicken eggs that hatch. Androgynous fish that switch sexes according to environment. Man ducks rape. Many men are mean and molest most everyone, so why do we need men? It's starts with a question about sperm. By the way, we love men, just not so crazy about patriarchy and entrenched sexism, which is hurting everyone: dads, moms, children, and others (Nature, animals, devas, unseen beings, etc.)
RADIO LAB examines our biological human beginnings, taking a tour of the animal kingdom (Tiracchana Loka), and finally ponder a world where frozen sperm can last for all eternity -- so who needs men? Find out by listening to Sperm on air this week.
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