Comments for The Irreverent Buddhist

Comment on Jesus, The Pope, The Eucharist and Revolutionary Magick. by Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:56:33 +0000

Hello, thanks for commenting. If you would like to engage in discussion with myself and others regarding these issues I would encourage you to join the community at Vipassanaforum.net. We come from many backgrounds and you will surely find helpful advice and spiritual friendship. Thank you for your comment. In the Dhamma, Matthew

Comment on Jesus, The Pope, The Eucharist and Revolutionary Magick. by p

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:33:16 +0000

hi matthew, I am not sure if you are still reading your comments… I found some of your comments in a site where Vipassana taught by Goenka is criticised. I have been in 5 retreats now and for the first time I am meditating twice a day. I think that despersonalizing thing that people point out could be real and dangerous but somehow i also feel i can get into the next stage of just being aware and present. The reality is I am a bit confused after reading all these comments criticizing Vipassana and I don’t know if once you have “spritual curiosity” is a something like a u turn into a “normal life”. Would you accept friendship and talking by email about this -vipassana- and maybe other topics. It seems you are an in depth seeker. Namaste

Comment on Nothing to say? by Sgoode2012

Sgoode2012 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:20:25 +0000

I too have had times where nothing comes forth. Not that I couldn’t find something of value, but simply … I choose no to add the rehtoric already out there. I simply give it some time and usually, after several days, somethings comes along.

Comment on Jesus, The Pope, The Eucharist and Revolutionary Magick. by Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:05:18 +0000

Thanks for your long reply. I’m called the Irreverent Buddhist because I do not revere any myth, legend or tradition that is not bare bones practice and compassion lead. That excludes most of Buddhism.

This response is political rather than Buddhist per se, however, telling the truth is always something a Buddhist aspires to always.

Matthew

Comment on Ethan McCord, “Collateral Damage”, Power, Politics and Perversion: The Wikileaks “Scandal”. by joebanana

joebanana — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:04:22 +0000

A misguided wars. The true terrorists of the world, the ones that cause the most death and destruction, the ones that inflict their uneducated biased policies with militarized police and violent force, the ones that ignore and defy civil and constitutional rights, the ones that kill innocent woman and children, are the United States government. The united terrorist states of America. The Nazi party for the new millennium. The lust for absolute control over everything has destroyed a once great nation, greed, lies, corruption, and murder define the USA now. Torture, extraordinary rendition, indefinite detention, assignation, nuclear weaponry WMD’s, economic collapse, worlds highest prison population, are the hallmarks of America.

Comment on Jesus, The Pope, The Eucharist and Revolutionary Magick. by Ocean Stream

Ocean Stream — Mon, 09 May 2011 23:57:55 +0000

Hi,
I am not sure how this is actually a Buddhist response to Catholicism and/or the Eucharist? While Jesus found the temple moneychangers and food vendors annoying, he did not desecrate the temple or the ritual actions (animal sacrifices) within. Buddhism certainly has its share of comparable practices, in Theravada one finds merit-working ceremonies, Buddha relics, holy ointment/water and related sacramental practices. In Mahayana (particularly Tibetan) one finds drilbu, holy “pills,” blessed substances and Eucharistic practices in which water and other substances are consecrated. It is easy to attack Christian Eucharist because the premise is so anti-empirical: The bread and wine become in substance the body, blood, divinity and soul of Christ, while the appearances remain as bread and wine. I am not a Christian, but frankly such an intimate relationship with a holy being (Jesus, Buddha who ever) is attractive and humbling–at the least it is benign. Regarding Jesus, we have no way of knowing what his reaction to Eucharist would be in that he asked his disciples to perpetuate this very ceremony. I share your sentiments, in effect that power breeds tyranny, but fear that burning down the house to save the occupants is not a good approach. It should be possible to examine all our egos and karmatic hindrances without desecrating particular practices and cultures. Interpreting differing yana as silly or unreasonable is a slippery slope. Buddhism could just as easily be criticized for such inscrutables as “karma,” the “Mind,” “rebirth” and “enlightenment.” Seeing Jesus in a “wafer” or cup of wine in the end is no more bizarre than seeing the Buddha or universe in a single atom (as discussed in the Buddhaavamtasakasutra). Your point regarding the Roman church’s difficulty with compassionate, kind loving morals and ethics is interesting, with much truth, but it would seem from a Buddhist point of view one must apply the criticism to oneself first to make oneself a worthy vessel and then find compassionate and holistic ways to teach/pass along this kind of introspection. Oddly in this respect Paul warns Christians that eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ (as bread and wine) unworthily (with hate anger unkindness) will lead to sickness and death. In the end I do not know, it just seems very insensitive to demean the Eucharist when in fact it is the only real powerful focal point for repentance, confession and redemption in Catholicism. Rather than the Mass (or Buddhist meditation), it is not Eucharist that is the problem, but who and what is done afterwards. Anyway, very interesting and provocative article. Thank you, Ocean Stream.

Comment on The Pope and Irish Paedophile Priests – I Smell a Rat. by International Press Catching Up Over Vatican Paedophile Cover Ups : The Irreverent Buddhist

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:21:23 +0000

[...] March 25, 2010 · Posted in Childhood Sexual Abuse, Life, Politics Finally the press are catching up with the truth about Cardinal Ratzinger, aka Pope Rat, and the intimate relationship the Vatican had with the sexual abuse scandals, and [...]

Comment on Vitamin D3, Flu, Cancer, Colds, Asthma, Crohns, Heart Disease and Diabetes. Oh .. and Depression and Schizophrenia and Many More. by ???????? D — ?? ???????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??????????????????!! | Stratos' Sphere

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:42:36 +0000

[...] Vitamin D3, Flu, Cancer, Colds, Asthma, Crohns, Heart Disease and Diabetes. Oh .. and Depression and… [...]

Comment on Russell L. Blaylock M.D.: Take D3 NOT THE SWINE FLU VACCINE. by uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by Irreverent_B: The Irreverent Buddhist said:: Russell L. Blaylock M.D.: Take D3 NOT THE SWINE FLU VACCINE. http://bit.ly/AhlHD…

Comment on Russell L. Blaylock M.D.: Take D3 NOT THE SWINE FLU VACCINE. by Matthew

Matthew — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:44:50 +0000

Hi and thanks for your comment.

As you will see the website you are referring to is in Russell Blaylock’s email and within the quotation marks – I am not “referring the readers to a specific website that is selling a specific brand name of vitamin”. I have fully quoted his email and not edited it and am unaware of any details of any connection that Dr Blaylock may have – or not have – with that website.

By contrast, the advertising carried on my site links to a reputable distributor of quality brands. Several brands are presented. I am an affiliate of that website and do gain financially if people buy vitamins after clicking on a link. The financial return has not covered my costs of setting up two sites dedicated to Vitmain D3 and health information. Also please be clear that my prime motivation for carrying advertising is not financial – I have run this and a number of other websites at a loss for many years as I worked in advertising for some years and have little respect for it on the whole.

The advertising I carry for Vitamin D supplements is there to provide an easy access to purchase for those who decide that supplementation is something they want to undertake. This is the first advertising on any of my websites for some years – and it is in line with Buddhist teachings that I carry it. Medication was one of the five things early Buddhist monks were allowed to carry. The health impact of proper Vitamin D3 levels are immense. Having discovered that not enough information is being offered to people about this, and having tried to collate some of that information, it makes sense to help people access a quality supplier with a good range of choice.

I also promoinently recommend above the advertising that people work with their MD and get their blood levels tested – taking vitamins does not need to be hit and miss and not every one needs them, although D3 shortage is at pandemic levels in Western societies, the Middle East and elsewhere and many or most people will benefit from supplementing with D3.