The Eightfold Path - The Fourth Noble Truth

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 537 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by Gem

All that God theory, soul theory, self theory etc isn't really part of Buddhist philosophy. I think because some satsang format has infiltrated, many monks including Thich Nhat Hanh ended up answering people's God questions ...

I'm more into the noble silence way than the pretending to know everything way, and my teachers only talk about how your meditation is going and how to better navigate the purification experience with equanimity.

We are pretty much in agreement on those points.

It is also my understanding that teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh "ended up answering people's God questions and other irrelevant stuff" ... as that does generally increase one's following.

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 539 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by Maisy

Buddha knowing his true nature and being singly focused on living in the actual or "truth" in my opinion would be putting the emphasis on clarity or the now as it is as experiential reality. As it is without influence from thought or thinking or a type of memory.
The "noble silence" was just a consciousness or perception fully present in reality as it is, before our minds add the layer of mental constructions and creations.

Well said.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

QUOTE 537 EXCERPT:It is also my understanding that teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh "ended up answering people's God questions and other irrelevant stuff

And it's my understanding that what is 'irrelevant' to some is important to others, people are where they are and should be at each moment even if some find their beliefs ' irrelevant ', who are we to judge......
According to those who have Personally know Thich Nhat Hanh since He was ordained He has always believed in God so I presume it wasn't something He added on to gain followers....

Vatthupama Sutta
One abides, having suffused with a mind of benevolence
one direction of the world,
likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth,
and so above, below, around and
everywhere, and to all as to himself;
one abides suffusing the entire universe with benevolence,
with a mind grown great, lofty, boundless and
free from enmity and ill will.

This description is to gain rebirth in the heavenly realm of Brahma.

The Pali Canon says that there are a number of benefits from the practicing of metta meditation,
but ultimately your headed for the Brahma worlds once you escape the earthly rebirth cycle.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ImthatIm

The Pali Canon says that there are a number of benefits from the practicing of metta meditation,
but ultimately your headed for the Brahma worlds once you escape the earthly rebirth cycle.

I wonder where the Brahma worlds are

Originally Posted by sky

I wonder where the Brahma worlds are

I'm thinking the Bahamas.

[sky]

Originally Posted by ImthatIm

I'm thinking the Bahamas.

Yuk, too hot for me, I'm staying in Samsara

[Zemat]

Nice, thanks for sharing and informing.

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

On another thread, we started to talk about the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha ...specifically the Fourth Noble Truth (The Eightfold Path). It was suggested that some one start a separate thread on this topic.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by sky

And it's my understanding that what is 'irrelevant' to some is important to others, people are where they are and should be at each moment even if some find their beliefs ' irrelevant ', who are we to judge......
According to those who have Personally know Thich Nhat Hanh since He was ordained He has always believed in God so I presume it wasn't something He added on to gain followers....

I should probably have omitted the "irrelevant" portion of the excerpt that I quoted.

I just corrected that.

However, since the Buddha maintained such a steadfast "Noble Silence" when asked about "God", Thich Nhat Hanh's inclusion of "God" in his "Buddhist teachings" remain questionable at least to me. I strongly agree with Gem on this point. In my opinion, Buddha wisely avoided all the theorizing about the nature/existence of "God" in his teachings. There are already enough religions that do this.

Here is one descriptor of God.
God is Love. Was Gautama Buddha silent on Love?
I think not.
So I don't know what God Buddhists or Gautama was silent about.
Because the essences and manifestations of Love are all through Buddhism and Life to be witnessed.