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  1. Starsurfer93

    What is your opinion on the new Pope so far?

    I'm not Catholic, so Pope Francis doesn't really have much to do with my life. Still, I like him. He seems fairly progressive. (At least as far as Popes go) While I think the OP might be a bit overly optimistic in regard to this Pope's position on issues, it does seem like he's generally more...
  2. Starsurfer93

    Abortion is never justifiable, even in rape cases

    Here we go... This again. First of all, you seem to be implying that it would be God's will that a woman be impregnated through the medium of rape. Frankly, that is a sick and disgusting concept. Any God that would will a woman to be raped isn't even worthy of my respect, let alone my...
  3. Starsurfer93

    Western Buddhism Insincere?

    I agree with you completely. Thankfully, I live in New York, which has no shortage of Sanghas. But when I'm in Buffalo attending classes, it is significantly more difficult to find them. The closest one in the area is far from my campus and since I don't have a car, it would take nearly 2 hours...
  4. Starsurfer93

    Afterlife Exists says Top Scientist

    I don't think you can take a man's claim of an experience he had while in a comma as proof that there is an afterlife. And even if you were to do so, there's nothing in that article that would give anyone a reason to believe that one idea of an afterlife is more correct than another. The one he...
  5. Starsurfer93

    Abraham is the father of all Eurasia's religions

    I'm afraid I have to disagree. For starters there isn't very much evidence that proves the Abraham of the Hebrew faith ever actually existed outside of the books of the Old Testament. Secondly most of what you stated as connections between the religions of the world are speculative at best...
  6. Starsurfer93

    Is God responsible for suffering?

    This was always something I took issue with. If God has the power to eliminate all suffering, why not simply do away with it? Why allow evil to exist, especially since he is so vehemently against such things? If he is not the direct cause, would it not make him just as guilty to bear witness to...
  7. Starsurfer93

    Buddhist evangelism

    As far as evangelizing Buddhism, I think taking it from the Christian perspective would be overall detrimental to the faith as a whole. When I walk in the city and get handed those little slips of paper with "The End Is Near!" or some other threat of the Rapture, I can't help but roll my eyes...
  8. Starsurfer93

    The Pali Canon and Rebirth

    I was wondering if anyone who is well versed in the Pali Canon knows what the texts teach about rebirth. Specifically, do the texts state the Buddha claimed it was impossible for an Arhat to be reborn? I'd look myself, but I do not own any Pali texts and I wouldn't know where to begin if I did...
  9. Starsurfer93

    Mahayana False?

    Well I don't know if I'd say they were "going off on a tangent" necessarily. Giving a lot more than is needed perhaps, but I feel the word tangent has a bit of negative connotation attached to it. Sure meditation is the most basic and fundamental form of practice and should definitely hold a...
  10. Starsurfer93

    Mahayana False?

    I know. Which is what bothers me most about the entire video...
  11. Starsurfer93

    Mahayana False?

    I'm not normally one to get riled up about things like this, but the way this guy talks about anything outside of the Theravada tradition REALLY rubs me the wrong way... GDI6VYAMzIA What is Wrong with Buddhism - YouTube To be clear, I don't disagree with everything he has to say. He certainly...
  12. Starsurfer93

    Hindus are all pagans

    I certainly would. While it was used for a long time by Christian expansionists to describe "anything that isn't Christianity", it has since, both in recent past and current day been confined to a less broad definition. In fact, I feel that with such a vast array of significant differences...
  13. Starsurfer93

    Hindus are all pagans

    Actually, from what I understand that isn't true. Wicca was started in England during the first half of the 20th century. It was popularized by Gerald Gardner (a man) in the 1950s and focuses on reverence toward the Divine Feminine (Moon Goddess) AND the Divine Masculine (Horned God) as well and...
  14. Starsurfer93

    The Dalai Lama and Homosexuality

    Yes, I know this. Before I formally came in contact with Buddhism, I used to think the Dalai Lama was like a "Buddhist Pope". I know better now. What interests me is that despite the fame and reverence associated with his title, His Holiness really only has true authority over one of the four...
  15. Starsurfer93

    The Dalai Lama and Homosexuality

    In my time searching the internet, I've come across a number of different sources detailing H.H. the Dalai Lama and his stance toward homosexual acts among the Buddhist (specifically Tibetan Buddhist) community as well as abroad. Now in regards to whether or not Homosexuality is wrong in and...
  16. Starsurfer93

    Becoming My Own Sangha

    Ummmm... Que? :confused:
  17. Starsurfer93

    Becoming My Own Sangha

    Thank you. I have been maintaining my practice. Granted, with everything going on, it can be difficult sticking with it. But I've been meditating at least once every day since I've been up here (more often twice or even three times!) and I think I'm finally getting into a fairly regular system...
  18. Starsurfer93

    Meditation

    Haha! Sounds like you and I have very similar practices :) Counting only on the exhale is another one of the ways of following the breath in Zazen. I just find that counting on both the inhale and the exhale works best for me. i have also been in your shoes where counting becomes so natural that...
  19. Starsurfer93

    Meditation

    I took part in Tibetan style meditation for a bit. It was interesting. I believe the practice we took part in at the time was "expansion of the mind" meditation. It was a practice in which we calmed the mind and then visualized it expanding beyond ourselves. I ended up leaving the particular...
  20. Starsurfer93

    Meditation

    How interesting. I've actually never heard of Metta Meditation. It seems rather interesting as well as beneficial for keeping in touch with our compassionate natures as human beings. Perhaps I'll try that in the near future :) Thank you for the post! I look forward to looking into this new form...
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