Ghanima Atreides (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
atreideslioness) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2009-11-02 08:33 am
atreideslioness) wrote in fandomhigh2009-11-02 08:33 am
Entry tags:
Hubris from Revelation: the Social Engineering of Ultimate Truths [Monday, Period 2]
When the students arrived in the Danger Shop today, they would find the desks abandoned in favor of large meditation garden, Ghanima already sitting in an ānāpānasati stance with her eyes closed, a stack of handouts beside her.
"Good morning, class," she said, blue-on-blue eyes flickering open as the last person took a seat. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Today we study Buddhism."
"Buddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, who lived in and around the Indian sub-continent. Adherents recognize the Buddha as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering, achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. However, Buddhist schools disagree over the historical teachings of the Buddha, and on the importance and canonicity of various scriptures," she said, standing to pass out the handouts.
"Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada, "The School of the Elders", and Mahayana, "The Great Vehicle". Theravada, the oldest surviving, has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, whilst Mahayana, which is found throughout East Asia, includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en . In some classifications, a third branch, Vajrayana, is recognized, although many see this as an offshoot of the Mahayana. Other movements have appeared in recent times, sometimes classified as Buddhist modernism."
"While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia, both branches are now found throughout the world. Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world at between 230 million and 500 million. As the foundation of all Buddhist practice is ethical conduct and altruism, the appeal is not limited to the countries where it started," she explained. "Further practices can vary widely, but may include renunciation, meditation, the cultivation of mindfulness and wisdom, the study of scriptures, physical exercises, devotion and ceremonies, or the invocation of bodhisattvas."
[OCD Up!]
"Good morning, class," she said, blue-on-blue eyes flickering open as the last person took a seat. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Today we study Buddhism."
"Buddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, who lived in and around the Indian sub-continent. Adherents recognize the Buddha as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering, achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. However, Buddhist schools disagree over the historical teachings of the Buddha, and on the importance and canonicity of various scriptures," she said, standing to pass out the handouts.
"Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada, "The School of the Elders", and Mahayana, "The Great Vehicle". Theravada, the oldest surviving, has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, whilst Mahayana, which is found throughout East Asia, includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en . In some classifications, a third branch, Vajrayana, is recognized, although many see this as an offshoot of the Mahayana. Other movements have appeared in recent times, sometimes classified as Buddhist modernism."
"While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia, both branches are now found throughout the world. Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world at between 230 million and 500 million. As the foundation of all Buddhist practice is ethical conduct and altruism, the appeal is not limited to the countries where it started," she explained. "Further practices can vary widely, but may include renunciation, meditation, the cultivation of mindfulness and wisdom, the study of scriptures, physical exercises, devotion and ceremonies, or the invocation of bodhisattvas."
[OCD Up!]
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Okay, so far, so creepy.
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
She blinked a second later and shook her head hard, then caught the look on Ben's face, and went a tiny bit pale. She knew what today was. Her amazing sense of horrible timing was so consistent.
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
For once he didn't suggest getting ice cream.
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
She had not heard of the Jedi suffering anything similar to Abomination or the Other Memory, but Tahiri was reminding her strongly of a young Alia at the moment.
"Does the pain of suffering create the potential for bodhi, then, or get in the way?" she asked instead. "Can we have enlightenment without knowing agony?"
Re: Discussion Two: The Four Noble Truths
"I mean, I don't think so. I think . . . according to this belief . . . the only way to achieve anything like enlightenment is to be reunited with the gods, and that means death. Some of them believe in using pain as meditation, though." That was as specific as she cared to get on the subject with Ben, who'd spent time in the Embrace, in the room, and more specific than she'd wanted to be at all. "They're kind of extreme, though. A lot."