Sodaiho

Reply to The Nation as a Rational Actor in International JoeUser Forums

Rationality requires predictabilty and human events as they unfold are rarely that. In fact, one could argue that unpredictability is one of the most predictable elements in social interaction. Civil society, such as it is, operates on three basic assumptions: life is somewhat predictable, it is somewhat safe, and it is somewhat fair. None of us get up in the morning and go to work believing we will be attacked by a hoodlum, we believe if we do what we should do, we will be fairly treated and c

Reply to Right Now in Sports & Leisure JoeUser Forums

Yes the one in Ohio. My hubby heard the Columbus Ohio Marathon is the easiest course on the "circuit" (I think that means that has big cash prizes?) Anyway, he was told to get his "best" time he should run that one. For my money, the fastest course is Las Vegas. I ran that one a few years ago. Flat and

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Tolerance however is also being used here as a kind of code word for agreeing with the other person's point of view; indeed it is being proposed (unrealistically) as the litmus test of 'tolerance'. The fact remains that, at a political and social level, people still have very strong opinions on what is right for society as a whol

Reply to Faith...Religion in Religion JoeUser Forums

Hello All, Great questions. Fine distinctions. We ultimately must choose or not, I suppose. One could have a faith in a Creator God, a God that just is, neither creator nor destroyer, or faith in self, or a practice or some combination of these. A religion is a cluster of beliefs or practices that gets us closer to something meaningful in our lives. In the west we typically understand this to include a deity. In the east, it may or may not in

Reply to Instant Oatmeal in Cooking JoeUser Forums

Hello All, I love oatmeal, the real oatmeal from the round Quaker box, not the instant or quick cook kind. Easy and quick to make, why they ever needed to create an instant variety is a mystery to me. Add some fresh blueberies, a little honey, and some Silk Soy milk: pure heaven. Be well.

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

And that in itself is the problem. Tolerance only really works when neither side can impose its views on the other. As long as the possibility of doing so still exists, then tolerance is not "needed". And in the modern western world, where these disagreements lead to electoral battles rather than bloody conflicts, that 'need' for

Reply to This Buzz is Legal in Health & Medicine JoeUser Forums

Thank you. I am not fond of fuzz, warm or otherwise. A fuzzy brain and body are a deadly combo. Be well.

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Save them from what? From believing in the God of their choosing, and offering to share those beliefs with you? Hello Again, Dick, Interesting you should ask. Save, in this case, means "assist" or "help" 'bring to the other shore.' In Buddhism a metaphor for becoming awake, that is to see with non-dua

This Buzz is Legal in Health & Medicine JoeUser Forums

Today I am in a bit of a fog. Drug-induced. The things I am taking for my skin disorder seem to be combining with the things I am taking for my brain disorder which are interacting with the things I am taking for a pulled lat muscle. Goodness. Getting older is not a lot of fun sometimes. On the other hand this buzz is legal. Be well. <!-- Ju-Anchor-Fo

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Your entire post was a tirade. Let me refresh your memory. With palms tgether, Hello Dick, Let me see if I can reply to each of your thoughts here. The title of this post was "Why so hard on Christians? I am not quite sure how I or anyone else could reply without answering the question. <TABLE

The Three Pure Precepts in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Afternoon Sangha, This afternoon I would like to talk to you about the Three Pure Precepts. These are the first precpets after the Three Refuges in the list of Sixteen Bodhisattva Vows. The Three Pure Precepts are as follows: Cease doing evil; Do good; Do good for all beings. To cease doing evil is really simple. One j

Reply to Who is your best friend? in Personal Relationships JoeUser Forums

Hello All, My best friend, as others her, is my wife. We are about to celebrate 25 years of marriage and have very different points of view on many things, but we care about each other deeply and have learned together that it is the heart rather than the head that rules. Be well.

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

Moderateman: the opening is a very gentle tease for Sodhaiho. Sodaiho: Feet together, good. Zen Buddhism is a religion without beliefs, odd as it may seem. As an "organized" religion, it has practices, such as Zazen, Kinhin , and Samu (seated, walking, and working meditation), and "precepts" ( a set of guidelines for living like the Judea-Christian decalogue), there is no dogma and we explicitly ask

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

And Sodaiho? Your little "with palms together" crap seems more than a little sanctimonious when followed by a tirade against another religion, you need to practice what YOU preach as well. Oh wait, only Christians are expected to do that! Hello, What "tirade"? I was answering the question as posted. I

Reply to Why so hard on Christians? in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Many on the mark thoughts here. I am tough on Christians, you probably already know that. I am hard on them because I am so dissappointed in them. A recent post by KFC caused me to go online to read one of the four gospels of the Christian scripture. If only Christians would behave as their Master asks. But this is the problem, they do not, in the main, and moreover, are often in your face about it. Contrary

Reply to Things get moving in Iraq; deadlock over, government slowly coalescing in Politics JoeUser Forums

Hello RW, Good news indeed! This lefty is happy to see this. Now, perhaps you'll join me in asking that our troops return home safely. Be well.

Reply to Things get moving in Iraq; deadlock over, government slowly coalescing in Politics JoeUser Forums

Hello RW, Good news indeed! This lefty is happy to see this. Now, perhaps you'll join me in asking that our troops return home safely. Be well.

Reply to Why Four Gospels? in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good afternoon KFC, Thank you for posting this most interesting introduction to your scriptures. I have read these gospels. I enjoy St. Matthew in particular. Some few years ago, probably about 30 or so, I took a wonderful class on the life and teachings of Jesus taught by a terrific professor who was, incidentally, a Southern Baptist, but still a very bright and open man. I also took a class on the New Testament and a

Reply to Right Now in Sports & Leisure JoeUser Forums

he also said the Boston is easy compared to the AF marathon The Air Force Marathon in Ohio? I've always wanted to run that one. Hills are what I run on mostly, well actually, mountains. My house in the mountains is at 7500 feet and there are very few flat places. I'm glad your hubby's ankle is OK. Ru

God in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning Sangha, Do not trust your point of view, it is as shaky as you are. Our points of view are all relative to our senses and the clarity with which they perceive. Even with the clearest perception, the result is a few chemical reactions in our brains which create a picture for us to see. A point of view is just that. It is

Reply to Being One in Religion JoeUser Forums

This is exactly what Satan told Eve in the Garden...."you shall be as God." That's not a concept I can understand. I'm not talking about concepts to understand or not understand, I'm talking about reality. 1. God is omnipresent, 2. I am present, 3. there is no place where God is not, 4. God is within m

Reply to Right Now in Sports & Leisure JoeUser Forums

Congrates to Hubby! And to you KFC, I knew we must have something in common! I used to run 26.2, but now run mostly halfs, with occasional 5 and 10ks tossed in. The year before last I did a half a month, last year every other month. This year is an "off" cycle, though I will do two halfs, one in July and one in December. As a partially paralzed person, I run in a strange, stumbling sort of way, but I manage to finish. Be well.

Reply to China Visit - Another Bush Failure in Politics JoeUser Forums

Hello All, I've been reading thru the Col.'s posts. He has an agenda and its honestly stated. Frankly, when President Clinton was in office, I saw some similar continuous diatribes against him. Anyone who listens to Rush's programe for tarnished journalism knows what a continuous assault on one party and one family is like. My sense is that conservatives just don't like their own methods tossed back at them. Just my opinion. Be well.

Reality in Religion JoeUser Forums

With palms together, Good Morning All, From Cheng Li's Tales of Kwan Yin Adapted by a friend from a translation by John Blofield Transcendence Now I have done with Su-tras and pious practices. Day and night I recite the Bo-dhi-sat-tva’s sacred name, rejoicing in the beauty of it’s sound. NO

Reply to Freedom of Religion? Not on MY Watch in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Unless you want to erase a good portion of the bible (yes, even the NT), there's not going to BE such a policy change. We have as much right to our faith as you have to yours. Agreed, you have a right to your faith. This is not about faith, but rather policy. Myt question still stands. You are concern