👨🏽‍🎓BUDDHA: AVATAR(INCARNATION) OF VISHNU👨🏽‍🎓

[sky]

Originally Posted by The Cobbler's Apprentice

How true.........as Suzuki says in "Amida-Buddha of Infinite Light", Amida Buddha is known as our Oya-sama, or Oya-san, as it is sometimes called. "It is the term used to express love and compassion. Oya means parent, but not either parent, rather both mother and father; not separate personalities, but both fatherly and motherly qualities united in one personality." Oya-sama, as Suzuki adds, is a unique word, "deeply endearing and at the same time rich with religious significance and warmth".

Thanks Cob, very informative.

[sky]

Reading various Suttas The Buddha mentions that Praying to Gods achieves nothing....
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipi....043.than.html

Originally Posted by sky123

Reading various Suttas The Buddha mentions that Praying to Gods achieves nothing....

That is not what he is saying i.m.h.o.
Only with regards to gaining longevity, beauty, happiness, status, and rebirth. is it not beneficial to pray for them, but walk a path of practice. As he said if these 5 things could be obtained by praying for them. Everybody would have them.

I found the canon to be quite literal.

Below are 2 instances in which the Buddha himself prays.
I think it has to do with the intention with which to pray. Not unlike other prayer based religions.

Suriya Sutta:

Thereupon the Blessed One addressed a stanza to Rahu, Lord of Asuras, on behalf of Suriya thus:
ii. "O Rahu, Suriya has gone for refuge to the Tathagata, the Consummate One. Release Suriya. The Buddhas radiate compassion on the world (of beings).
iii. "O Rahu, swallow not the dispeller of darkness, the shining one, the radiant and effulgent traveler through the sky. Rahu, release Suriya, my son."

Candima Sutta:

Thereupon the Blessed One addressed a stanza to Rahu, Lord of Asuras, on behalf of Candima, thus:
ii. "O Rahu, Candima has gone for refuge to the Tathagata, the Consummate One. Release Candima. The Buddhas radiate compassion on the world (of beings)."

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Eelco

I found the canon to be quite literal.

Well, obviously, that can often be a problem......

Just by coincidence, I was just reading Four Quartets again, the words (!) from Burnt Norton:-

Words strain,
Crack and sometimes break, under the burden,
Under the tension, slip, slide, perish,
Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place,
Will not stay still.......

never mind

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Eelco

Which you felt compelled to share here because...?
In this literal instance, where could it be a problem?

I was simply saying that literalism can often be a problem. I did put "can" in italics before.

What is your problem? Really?

Just to add, the next words of Eliot are:-

Shrieking voices
Scolding, mocking, or merely chattering,
Always assail them.....

Just try to laugh at yourself.

self preservation, never mind

[The Cobbler's Apprentice]

Originally Posted by Eelco

My problem is a larger than useful ** detector.
Especially when out of context random, supposedly harmless comments are posted. So my question again would be, why would you feel the need to post that taking things literally "can" be problematic. I doubt it was random and have some ideas about their intention, but can only be sure about those when you man up and provide an honest answer.

Man up?

Don't be ridiculous.

Literalism can be a problem.

Your problem, not mine.

nothing to see here.