[Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA

[Weng-Fai Wong]

More Mahayanist keeping with the times that will make Piya flip :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7996813.stm

Weng-Fai

> -----Original Message-----
> From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com [mailto:buddha-l-
> bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Piya Tan
> Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 11:59 AM
> To: Buddhist discussion forum
> Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA
> 
> I only have two hand, Weng Fai. Maybe if I have Bodhisattva hands, I could
> point to more. Anyway thanks for pointing out more of the shadows.
> 
> I agree with what you say of Thai magical Buddhism, and there are many
> more.
> Looks like we (that's the royal we) are the only good guy/s left (thumbs
> under armpits), and my thumbs are hurting.
> 
> Piya Tan
> 
> 
> 2009/4/15 Weng-Fai Wong <wongwf at comp.nus.edu.sg>
> 
> > Like you say Piya: a finger pointing outwards means 4 pointing back. To
> be
> > fair, just look at the charms and talisman business that Thai monks are
> > doing, esp. the big advertisements in the Chinese tabloid papers here.
> >
> > Bad apples are everywhere.
> >
> > Weng-Fai
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: buddha-l-bounces at mailman.swcp.com [mailto:buddha-l-
> > > bounces at mailman.swcp.com] On Behalf Of Piya Tan
> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:51 AM
> > > To: Buddhist discussion forum
> > > Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Buddhism at the APA
> > >
> > > Some desperate or arrogant Mahayanists long ago invented the label
> > > HInayana,
> > > originally with good intentions to highlight the "lazy Buddhism" of
> the
> > > established Buddhist coenobites (settled non-meditating and moneyed
> > monks).
> > > But labels like "jesuit: can become double-edged.
> > >
> > > So Hinayana in due course became finger-pointing at what is not
> Mahayana.
> > > In
> > > fact, more Mahayanists today are embarrassed with the Hinayana label
> than
> > > the intended "inferior" siblings themselves.
> > >
> > > In other words, the Mahayanists are reaping the karma of bad
labelling.
> > > The
> > > Hinayanists generally do not mind referring themselves using the term
> > > vis-a-vis their grander siblings.
> > >
> > > The Mahayanists know ultimately that when two fingers point at others,
> > > three
> > > point back at them. And this is not good for business. And Mahayana
> means
> > > "big business" in many cases.
> > >
> > > A local Mahayana monk, Mingyi (Goh Kah Heng), a Gold Card holder, is
> > > facing
> > > mutiple criminal charges for mismanagement of funds and dishonesty
> (sic)
> > > in
> > > connection with a hospital he is running. Most Buddhists here are
> > > pathologically silent, some in denial, some enjoying the moment (the
> top
> > > honchos do not see eye to eye), and many others simply do not know
> what
> > to
> > > think.
> > >
> > > Narrow minded Hinayanists like myself feel as if we are not part of
> this
> > > surreal episode.
> > >
> > > The brighter side is that the younger Buddhists are working hard for a
> > > better future despite our terribly dysfunctional family.
> > >
> > > PIya Tan
> > >
> > > On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 7:30 AM, Jim Peavler <jmp at peavler.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > On Apr 14, 2009, at 1:00 PM, Jayarava wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --- On Tue, 14/4/09, Jim Peavler <jmp at peavler.org> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> I have switched from reading about all that Asian
> > > > >> philosophy to reading David Hume. Will become a Humanitarian?
> > > > >
> > > > > And if I read Pāli will I become a Pāliamentarian?
> > > > >
> > > > > JR
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yes, I believe that would be correct. That would be the narrow
> church.
> > > > The wide church (probably Latitudinarian) would be empaliamentarian.
> I
> > > > think.
> > > >
> > > > Jim Peavler
> > > > jmp at peavler.org
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
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> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> 
> 
> --
> The Minding Centre
> Blk 644 Bukit Batok Central #01-68 (2nd flr)
> Singapore 650644
> Tel: 8211 0879
> Meditation courses & therapy: http://themindingcentre.googlepages.com
> Website: dharmafarer.googlepages.com
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