Dharma Paths

I find most religious beliefs irrational and unjustified. What am I doing wrong? I agree that there are many mythological elements in all religions that can and should be discarded, but one can see that those following it are not knowledgeable about those things and are also bound by tradition and ...

AlexMcLeod wrote:Most belief in afterlife stems from direct experience of someone early on in a religion.

No it doesn't, belief in an afterlife is generally part of a package of beliefs that people take on. And how on earth could somebody have a "direct experience" of an afterlife?

Contrariwise, if we think we are getting deeper into our spiritual cultivation and find other religions more stupid, repulsive etc. we are doing something wrong. I find most religious beliefs irrational and unjustified. What am I doing wrong? At their heart all religions (like all people) have a be...

Nicholas wrote:Contrariwise, if we think we are getting deeper into our spiritual cultivation and find other religions more stupid, repulsive etc. we are doing something wrong.

I find most religious beliefs irrational and unjustified. What am I doing wrong?

Sounds good to me but would we lump Druidry, Wicca, Norse and Hellenistic religions together under it? By pagan do we mean primarily pre-Christian European religions? What about shamanism and native American traditions? Those are decisions which need to be made, but I would suggest initially a crud...

Paganism is a tradition which predates many of those represented here, and I don't see how it is any less "dharmic" than Christianity.

So could we please have a sub-forum dedicated to it?

Stuff from this years Glastonbury festival:

But meditating 40 minutes produces no measurable change than 20 minutes. I have certainly noticed a difference - have you tried longer sits for any length of time? It can take 15-20 minutes for the mind to properly calm, and it's only after that when it gets interesting. I am at a nice spot between...

I have read a small bit of Theravada Buddhism and a small bit of Hinduism and I am acquainted with most parts of the Bible. My meditate for 20 minutes daily. My question is now what? I go on at this level till I die -- which is probably half a century away? What does a dharmic person do next? It so...

Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion, emotion, love, compassion, and service to God and others. All actions are done in the context of remembering the Divine. Jnana Yoga: Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection and contemplation. It involves deep exploration of the na...

TexasBuddhist wrote:Could someone clarify what Brahman/Atman is? .. Thanks!

I think of it as the reality behind appearances, the ground of being.

But I'm not a Hindu, and I'm sure there are much better answers.

Are you saying because the forum is visited by those who speak English, only that translation of Dharma is to be accepted for use in English which has been thus far mistakenly accepted? Since in West, the term Dharma has so far been restricted to Buddhism and Hinduism, David is restricted from usin...

Are you saying because the forum is visited by those who speak English, only that translation of Dharma is to be accepted for use in English which has been thus far mistakenly accepted? Since in West, the term Dharma has so far been restricted to Buddhism and Hinduism, David is restricted from usin...

We say Christianity is "Christo Dharma", Buddhism is "Baudhha Dharma", Islam is "Mosalmán/Musulman Dharma", Hinduism is "Sanatan Dharma" and so on. But this is an English-speaking forum. I've never heard anyone refer to "Christo Dharma" or "Mosalman Dharma". I've often heard Dharma associated with ...

SarathW wrote:Perhaps the minimum could be four.

Some forums manage with just one mod.

SarathW wrote:When we have doubts we naturally debate or ask questions.

Debating and asking questions are quite different activities. Debating leads to challenge, argument and the taking of sides, while asking questions leads to elaboration and clarification.

I don't think the purpose of the forum is at all clear currently. It looks like the intention is to have a comparative religion forum, in which case I would suggest changing the name to "Religious Paths". I have never heard "Dharma" applied to the Abrahamic traditions, so the current name doesn't ma...

I do a lot of thinking in my job, and i can wind up my analytical mind quite strongly. winding up my analytical mind on the dharma on top of that is not necessarily good. when i get like that i try to make my attitude agnostic about all these philosophical points that come up in study and practice....

Pinched from another forum:


Then there's the minimalist joke:

A minimalist walked into a bar.

SarathW wrote:How does a moderator is selected?

Like they say in the Army, "never volunteer"!