for a period of time i thought he's dead in sgforums...win liao lorh, people after a'lvl nothing to do can come sgforums liao

I'm actually getting quite irritated by people playing PSP even when there are other people around them.

It's like, even when in a group of friends, they'll be concentrating on the games on their PSP instead of interacting with other people. When they do talk, they'll still be discussing about PSP games, strategies, cheats and all.

I'm not against playing games of course, since I'm somewhat addicted to computer games myself. But surely playing games should not be at the expense of your social life?

Maybe I'm just jealous because I don't have a PSP.

But I've notice this phenomenon everywhere nowadays, even on the train. It's now actually not uncommon to see young couples on the MRT train, sitting next to each others but the guy, or sometimes even the girl, will be punching away on his/her PSP.

Like...hello? Your girlfriend is just sitting next to you! Talk to her, hold her hand, kiss her, hug her, screw her on the train if you must! What the hell is more interesting about the PSP than your girlfriend?

Originally posted by JonLS:

There are 11 videos but only six are showing on this page. You can find the other 5 videos when you click on "previous" button on the bottom of the page. Each video is about 9 minutes long.

Happy enlightenment and welcome to big mind!

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=r&user=BigMindNetwork&page=2

All that we can see is that they've gained enlightenment in 'two hours'. But we don't know what happened before that.

Just like how some people argued that the Buddha did not gain enlightenment in one lifetime.

To convince me that the Dharma is actually benefitial for me, you'll first have to convince me that...

1) 'Rebirth' exist.

Whether or not 'rebirth' really does exist or not brings much implication. For one, if death is indeed the absolute end of one's journey in this world, I can simply go and kill, rape, rob, bully, commit genocide, and do all kinds of evil deeds I want, as long as I am able to avoid the hands of the law.
But I wouldn't do such thing. I can see how hatred, anger and jealousy can bring suffering to oneself and all around me even in this life alone.
So I'll just be a good guy. I'll be kind towards all humans and animals, plants and properties. I do not question why others are more better off than me, I do not hold grudges. I avoid evil deed. I die a peaceful death.
Of course, there's another thread here which mentions that even if we may be happy now, it surely does not mean that this happiness and peacefulness will last forever. In a world where impermanance is the obvious law, we cannot guarantee eternal happiness.
Then there's where 'positive thinking' comes in. I'll just take everything in my stride. Even in times of happiness, I prepare myself mentally for any eventualities of misfortune. In times of sufferings, I maintain a optimistic view that I can change my situation. The law of impermanance says that I can change. In short, no doubt suffering may befall on my physical body. But I can just keep my mind free.
You may argue that 'positive thinking' in itself is a form of dharma. I agree. In fact, it's Buddhism that teaches me how to remain optimistic. But in spite of this, I do not see a need for a 'complete liberation'. You'll first have to convince me that I'll have a life after this life.
Besides, if there's no such thing as 'rebirth', then all the talk about Karma is basically very much bullshit. I can kill a hundred people. But if I can escape the law and die a peaceful death...well, you know.

2) That the six realms exist

Simple enough. If there's no such thing as 'hell realm' or 'hungry ghost realm', the appeal for liberation is weakened. Better still, if 'eternal heaven' exist, I'll give up trying to understand Buddhism straight away.
But obviously, I do not believe in an 'eternal heaven'.

3) That desire cannot exist without attachment

The way I see it, desires and attachments are two very much distinct elements. I am sure desires can exist without having attachments.
Just an analogy. I desire for the latest handphone. But when a better handphone comes out onto the market, I'll find my current handphone obsolete and desire for that newer handphone. In a way, this is a never-ending desire for newer and better stuff.
But I don't see why a desire for better stuff should be equated to having an attachment for better goods.
If one day, I should somehow loose the ability to get the newest and best handphone in the market (i.e. no money), so be it. I'll just let it go. I'll buy that handphone when I regain my ability to, and if I'll sadly never regain that ability, then I shall just not buy it.
I will not cry or get depressed over it, I will not kill or rob for it, I will not beg and get sleepless nights over it.
I desire for that handphone. But I'm not attached to it.

4) That it is possible to get rid of suffering. And that it is the dharma that will make this possible.

The reason why I brought up 'positive thinking' or 'optimisim' is that I feel that many things are beyond our ability to control. And since they are beyond our control, we might as well remain positive. But is it ever possible to remove suffering?
As said, I may be a good guy, but that does not mean that I'll be free from suffering.
For one, I could just be minding my own business walking on the street when suddenly, an atom bomb drops on our neighbouring country, thereby killing me not instantly, but slowly by sending me a painful dose of radiation.
One thing about learning history in school is that it made me realise that world events are most of the time, influence not by people power, but by the few elites who decides the fate of his fellow mankind.
Getting rid of our suffering permanently sounds appealing. Developing compassion and helping others get rid of their suffering sounds even more attractive. Practicing and preaching the dharma is the key, you all say.
But let's not forget that 2,500 years ago, someone tried doing this. 2,500 years and numerous wars, famines and disasters later, the state of this Earth is for all of us to see.

As you might have guessed, I'm not totally unconvinced that Buddhism is good. I would not deny that perhaps practicing one-third of the Buddhist teachings I've come across has a great positive impact on my life. And out of so many religious doctrines out there, Buddhism sounds the most logical to me.

But so long as no religion can convince me why I can and should remove the so-called 'roots' of my desire, convince me why I am actually not as happy as I think I am, convince me how I can remove other people's suffering, convince me that death is not game over, I'm very sure I'll forever remain an athetist trying to make my life as blissful as I can before I die a peaceful death.

I've been attending buddhist study classes for a huge part of my 18-years life. But here I am, still, with the above texts.

I may not respond for some time as, if you do not know, I'm actually half-way through taking my A'levels... ...

Last but not least, please treat me as someone who have absolutely no basic understanding of Buddhism at all. Simply worded response with no deep philosophy containing turn-off technical terms such as 'emptiness' or 'duality'.

Just pretend that I'm an absolute beginner.

No offence, AEN. But sometimes, I think not everybody may be willing to read long quotes that are full of technical words and so academic, especially if a person may be already uninterested in the first place.

Just take me as a beginner. An absolute beginner who know absolutely nothing about Buddhism.

Actually, I had been thinking...we should actually be praying for those who blew up the statue, not cursing them and hoping bad karma will fall upon them.

I guess bad karma will fall upon them. All the more we should pray for them.

If we are unsatisfied, go on and satisfy it.

If we still want more, then go have more.

I don't see the problem with this 'forever unsatisfied' thing. Yes, after every meal, it's only a matter of time before we get hungry again. So we just eat whenever we are hungry, what's wrong with that?

Fine, if you are tired of being forever unsatisfied and want to end this 'desire to eat', nothing wrong. But I see nothing wrong too with wanting wants, so long as you do not use unscrupulous means to get what you want.

Besides, I don't think one is always unsatisfied. When we are hungry, we eat. When we are full, we are satisfied. Yes, we'll get hungry again, and we'll want to eat more. So? Just eat! Why curb this desire or 'lust'?

After all these years, all I still see is just theories and more theories which cannot convince me why I should get rid of desires (lust) and get out of Samsara. Even if I am convinced that life holds much impermanance and suffering, I remain unconvinced that the dharma can fully get me out.

Sorry that I'm getting a bit off-topic here...

Originally posted by An Eternal Now:

A wealthy merchant, who was a disciple of the Buddha, went with a very large caravan of other merchants and his servants to a certain island, to bring back for trade some of the gem stones for which this island was famous. On board ship, on the way back, the marchant learned that another passenger on the boat intended to kill all the hundreds of people on board, in order to be able to steal the cargo of jewels.

The merchant knew the man, and knew that he was indeed capable of killing all those people, and he wondered what to do about it. In the end, despite the fact that he had taken a vow with the Buddha never to take the life of another being, he had no alternative but to kill the would-be robber.

He was very ashamed of what he had done, and as soon as he returned home he went to the Buddha to confess his bad action. But the Buddha told him he had not done wrong, because his intention had not been to take life, but to save life. Furthermore, since he had in fact saved the lives of hundreds of people, and had saved the robber from the very negative karma of killing hundreds of people and the inevitable consequneces of such a bad action, the Buddha explained that the merchant had in fact done a good action.

~ Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche

X2

But I do believe that there will be karma involved for killing that one would-be-robber. Just that for saving a hundred people, the karma for killing one person is somehow 'diluted'?

Of course, the intention matters too. If you kill with hatred, then it's a different story altogether?

Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:

This thread is an eye-opener... there are still many "believers" in Buddhism rather than thinkers... hmmmmmm.......

I would think that Buddhism at the apex is a system to teach people how to think, how to see reality for what it is rather than a belief system...

Beliefs are for beginners....

X2

I do not see a need to get rid of lust as long as you can control it, as long as nobody, including yourself, is harmed in the process.

What I think is, too much of anything is bad, including lust. In moderation, I do not think lust is a problem. In fact, it can make your life more... ...meaningful

Well, it's just a statue. If you want to put it more crudely, it's just a piece of rock in the shape of a person.

By no way can a piece of rock help us on our path to enlightenment.

Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:

About the karma involved in Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bombings.
There is no or negliable karma involved. Go figure.

Isn't there karma for everything you do? It's like pouring a bucket of salt into the ocean. The 'good' karma may dilute the 'bad' karma, but nevertheless the karma is still there. Am I wrong to say that there is karma involved for every action?

Originally posted by Beyond Religion:

http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=289513

This thread in the Chit-chat forum got me thinking. Paul Tibbets has no doubtedly killed many people by dropping the A bomb in Japan, but his action has (arguably) also brought the war to an early end and saved many more lives, both Japanese and Allied.

What then would his karmic consequence be?

I think that's one of the problem I have with Buddhism. In life there's actually much grey areas everywhere, but we may not have the wisdom to know what kind of decision we should make. Buddhism don't really make life easier for me when the time to make such tough decision comes up.

Killing a few people to save more people. I think a truely compassionate person would not bother about what karma he/she will receive for killing that few people so that more people can be save. Even if that person is to enter hell for such an action, I think a truly compassionate person would not mind.

But what about just war in general? If your country is attack, do you kill your 'enemies' so that you can save your own people? If your country is the attacker, would you obey the authorities and enter the battlefield? Or will you kill yourself so that you will not have to kill others (and thereby saving their lifes), neither would the authorities have to kill you for 'treason' (thus saving them from hell)? Or will you assasinate the authority so that your country's aggression can be prevented?

I have many more questions like this, but it seems that all that the Buddhist can tell me to do is to 'use my wisdom' and 'follow my heart'. Well...

I can see a lot of big ego here. Why should other people's faults and faith something for us to criticise?

...but of course, in pointing out other people's mistake, I'm having a big ego here too, lol.

I can too go to other religious forums and say their religion is this and that. And when their expected reactions come in, I can also accuse them of not being a calm person, not being a true follower of their own religion.

But what's the point in that? How many of us are perfect? How many Buddhist are perfect Buddhist?

I think that is one question we all know the answer to...

I may not be a Buddhist but I certainly don't believe in 'testing' out people so that we can point out their 'flaws'.

Originally posted by jlzk:

Lifes in JC and POLY?Can share share experince abit?For those who are in Jc or poly wanna hear your view what you of think.Is there very big difference?Between POLY and JC i wanna know...=x

My average JC 1 life:

Wake up at 6am. School starts 7:30pm. Leave school 9pm (CCA, extra lessons, etc). Reach home around 10pm. Do homework until 12am. Do revision until 1am. Sleep.

My average JC2 life:

Wake up at 6am. School starts 7:30pm. Leave school 10pm. Reach home 11pm. Do homework until 1pm. Too dead to do revision. Sleep, while feeling guilty for not doing revision. Dream about doing badly for test.

Originally posted by dokono:

Is there such a thing as a bad karma? Does karma ever exist only in the mind?

How come some people do so many bad things only to experience no bad karma or even good karma as we call it ?

Any comments ?

doko

I really do not know weather or not karma exist. But sometimes, I think that I'll go crazy if i chose to think that karma does not exist.

just imagine how chaotic this world will be without karma. you can do anything as long as you don't get caught by the police. people will kill each other and get away with it. and political tyrants...haiz

Originally posted by mrcoconut:

Currently, im in sec5 taking my O's this year.

Recently i told my dad that i wanted to go into an designing course in poly, if not get enrolled into nafa.

At first, i thought he would be able to accept my decision as its my interest and ultimately 'my future'.

But instead he strongly object and wanted me to go into a course that would allow me to bring bread to the table when i get a job.

This really troubles me, as im not the kind of person who's really interested in science and all.

Is it wrong to follow my interest?
Should i let my dad destroy my dream?

what if i was really able to make it big in the art industry, but because of his mentality everything had to be forgo.

trouble sigh

I would say, go ahead and pursue your dreams. But I would also like to remind you that reality is actually harsher than you think (i.e. even if you get into the design industry and work hard, you might not do as well as if you get into a more 'profitting' job).

Take for example, one of my GP tutor in JC, who previously worked as a mime artist. It was his interest and he was pretty good at it to the extent that he is able to do coaching. However, his pay was so pathetic, he basically have to live off his savings for a few years.

And so, when his savings ran out dry, he had no chioce but to change job, thus coming to my JC to teach GP. The pay is a damn lot better, but he don't get to do what he like.

So keep this in mind...society is not as idealistic as we would like it to be.

Momment about a point is the product of the force applied and the perpendicular distance from the line of action of the force to the pivot.

Torque of a couple consist of two parallel and opposite force whose line of action does not coincide and produces a turning effect only.

Originally posted by noahnoah:

i think it is George Bush

When he speaks , it broadcast eveywhere

and frankly speaking how many countries

really dare to go on a war with States

George Bush's hairdresser is more powerful...

if the hairdresser tells Bush to sit, he wouldn't stand. if tell him to stand, he wouldn't sit. the hairdresser can even dictate how Bush should move his head around.

so who's more powerful?

Originally posted by LyonK:

Maybe the cat fell through a razor blade.

wah..you think what, final destination ar?

how do u cut a body perfectly into two? either you need a chainsaw (which is probably very much noticable) or you have to be very experienced with a knife (i.e. butcher)

Originally posted by dbowie:

I am studying 3hours a day.. To be precise, 45mins study,15min break like one blogsite stated ..
I don't know if these can push me to my maximum potential ... Is 3 hours enough ?
Thanks.

wah, 3 hours only. actually i dun think that's even enough to get you a pass. maybe should study at least 14 hours bah. and 2 hours break on sgforum

Originally posted by noahnoah:

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20070908/tap-298446-231650b.html

nowdays like got many issue on guns leh

wats next

bomb or wat?

Ah...lost and found...how do i approach the police to get my stuff back?

lol...j/k (wait mata really come go after me)

Originally posted by sivenga:

u eat someone's shit....one bowl of it... n u get sg$100,000.

deal or no deal?

What for should I eat it when I can easily earn S$100,000 in 4 hours?

Originally posted by Fire Star:

How can a ladyboy be 'very, very chio'? I have never seen such thing before.

Haha...you are wrong here...medical technology nowadays is very advance. transexuals can be even more pretty than girls who are born a girl.

Originally posted by th3m0ment:

how to have slimmer upper thighs and get rid of flabby arms?

anybody got good method , try before and works one ?

got share share lei..

you want to be thin i want to be fat leh...i now only 45kg...talking about pathetic...