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• Lama & Rinpoche
• Medallions and such
• Interested in others experiences
• The Pure Land
• Pure Land Teachings

Please explain the meaning of the word "Lama" and "Rinpoche". Is he a Buddhist monk or just a teacher? In Thailand we call teacher as "Archan" and call monk as "Pra".

How does the Tibetan monk have different rules from other monks?

The word Lama simply means teacher. You don't have to be a monk to be a lama. For example, Lama Ole Nyadal (sp?) is a teacher, but he is not a monk. Rinpoche on the other hand is a name that goes back to one of the first Buddhist teachers in Tibet. It means beloved or revered and is usually given to a person who is a reincarnating teacher, coming back time and time again to teach. I believe, but I am not certain, that Rinpoches are always monks or nuns, whereas lamas are not.

I am not expert, so I may be a little of on the meaning of Rinpoche. I will look it up and let you know if I found out more. Jason Gray

What does a buddhist do with little medallions and little statues about 1 in x 1 in?

I have a bunch of them from when I was in Thailand. I know that monks made the small statues. And there is writing on them in sanskrit I think, because it's not thai. I was just curious if you are supposed to use these in prayer or meditation. Does anyone know of what I'm talking about?

Dow

Hold a small Buddha statue in your hand and meditate. Do not think about that small statue in your hand. You may use mantra or any kind of meditation that you want. The Buddha will protect and help you while you are meditating.

I think Khun Somkiat would be the expert to consult on this subject. And Kuo Keong had a very good idea as well. As he/she suggested, one can wear the Buddha amulet to remind oneself of what one represents as a Buddhist. I do it myself. Everytime I'm tempted to vent anger or talk like a fool, I grasp the amulet and think about the bad example I might be giving. "Would the Buddha have said this?" I ask myself. It does help.

But, to answer your question directly: the Buddhism of Thailand is Theravada (the "doctrine of the Elders"). It's similar to the Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Cambodia. On the other hand, the Buddhism in China, Japan, Nepal and Tibet is Mahayana Buddhism, which holds to same basic principles as Theravada, but differs from it in ritual, liturgy, and in a variety of customs and beliefs. It's mainly a matter of emphasis. Wearing pendants is very much a Thai Buddhist practice (although other Buddhist traditions have them as well). In Thailand, many people wear several pendants on a chain around the neck. Some believe that they will be protected from misfortune by doing so. Praying is part of any form of Buddhism. But again, the specific prayers differ, depending upon the tradition and lineage. What I found fascinating about Thai Buddhism was the way it accomodates and incorporates different forms of (non-Thai) Buddhism, as well as even non-Buddhists beliefs and practices. For example, many people have small structures called "spirit houses" in their yards. (Some businesses even have them.) In the spirit houses are a variety of Hindu deities. Each day, people place offerings of food or incense in the spirit houses. And one Chinese Buddhist temple I visited North of Chiangmai had a large statute of Kwan Yin outside, and a Thai Buddha image just inside the front door to the temple. Closer to the front of the interior were various Chinese Buddha images. If you haven't visited Thailand yet, I would highly recommend doing so. The temples in the larger cities like Bangkok and Chiangmai are too numerous to count. And every town or community has at least one. Again, Khun Somkiat can probably give you the details, since he lives there. If I can be of further assistance, let me know. You can e-mail me at caute@gte.net . Regards, Justin

The old saying is that "when a student is ready a teacher will appear." Living in an area where Buddhism is not very prevalent, this has yet to happen for me. I am wondering how many others out there are walking the Buddhist path without the benefit of a sangha or teacher.

I can definitely see how it would be beneficial to have a teacher, but not necessary. What do others think?

For those with a teacher: Did the teacher, so to speak, "appear when you were ready" or how did this come about?

I am just interested in what other Buddhists think.

Peace / Steve

My teachers gave the following teachings:

“If you want to get the Dhamma, you have to make the Dhamma by yourself. Do you understand?”

“Just keep meditating then the teachers will go to teach you individually at home and you will know the next step by yourself.”

“Go to get a guidance from the teacher if you need one then go home and make your home as a temple to practice. When you practice until you can pass the first jhana (the first meditative state), you will make the outcomes better than many monks visit your house.”

“To find a good teacher is very difficult but to find a good student is even more difficult.”

“To find a good teacher is very difficult but to BE a good student is even more difficult.” (This last sentence is mine.)

Could you please explain The Pure Land in Bali Language? Which one of the following is The Pure Land? Tavatimsa or Tusita?

The Supramundane Realm (Lokuttara-bhumi) for Stream-Enterer (Sotapanna), Once-Returner (Sakadagami), Non-Returner (Anagami), and Arahanta

The Formless Realm 4 (Arupavacara-bhumi: Immaterial Sphere)

The Form Realm 16 (Rupavacara-bhumi: Fine Material Sphere)

The Sensuous Blissful Realm 7 (Kamasugati-bhumi): Human Realm, Realm of the Four Great Kings (Catummaharajika), Realm of Thirty-three Gods (Tavatimsa), Realm of the Yama gods (Yama), Realm of satisfied gods (Tusita), Realm of the gods who rejoice in their own creations (Nimmanarati), Realm of gods who lord over the creation of others (Paranimmitavasavatti)

The Unhappy Realm 4 (Apaya-bhumi)

If i am not wrong it is call Sukhavativyuha(Ultimate Bliss) and not in the list above. This land is created by vows of Amitabha Buddha. It is a conducive place for beings to cultivate for liberations. Refer to http://www.drba.org/sutras/amitabha.html for the Small Sukhavativyuha Sutra (an extraction from the Large Sukhavativyuha Sutra). Can't find Large Sukhavativyuha Sutra from the web.

Kuo-Keong

This seems to be a great place and I felt I could get some doubts cleared here. :O)

I first got in touch with Buddhism two years ago. Unfortunately, as in most of the case, beginners can't exactly choose which tradition to follow, but to adhere to one tradition that is most dominant within that Buddhist society. I was exposed to the Thevaradean tradition and it does appeal to me. Well, I could say that I am a keen learner and I am indeed very attracted to the teachings. I have been joining a lot of Dhamma studies group and Sutta studies group as well.

Recently, a friend told me about Pure Land Buddhism which seems so *strange* and *alien* to me. As far as I am concern, the Buddha we Buddhists referred to is Gautama Buddha or Prince Siddharta. And he was also called the historical Buddha. I onced asked a Venerable about Amitaba Buddha and his replied was, Amitabha Buddha is nowhere mentioned in the Pali texts. His name was popularised by the Mahayanese tradition as as far as Thevaradeans are concerned, Amitaba Buddha is fictional? So, if that is so, why does Pure Land believers have so much faith in a fictional character?

To further my knowledge on the Pure Land tradition, I read a few books but at the end, I felt so confused. Pure Land followers have so much devotion to Amitaba Buddha and all of them aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land. From my own observation, isn't that a kind of attachment? And do they really believe that by chanting Amitaba's name alone, they can be free from their defilements?

Amitaba became some sort like a *GOD* to them which I simply cannot accept. I might be wrong but of all the books I've read ob the Pure Land tradition, I am still unable to accept it as a Buddhist teaching.

Do hope I can get some answers from here. Avine

I find that the more I study and practice Buddhism, the more I had misunderstood. There are 84,000 applications and more teachings that were not in writing. As long as the teachings have the Nibbana as the final destiny, they are the Buddha’s teachings.

: as far as Thevaradeans are concerned, Amitaba Buddha is fictional?

How to proof that Gautama Buddha was not fictional character?

Why Gautama Buddha did not write down his teachings while he was alive? Then how did he expect us to understand the Dhamma?

Is it possible that the Pali Canon was not recorded all teachings completely?

Is it possible that the reader could not find the wanted information in the Pali Canon or he finds it but he has misunderstanding?

In Theravada, Gautama Buddha is the last Buddha in 2541 years but there were many Buddhas before him and will be many Buddhas in the future. While Gautama Buddha was the Buddha in our world, there could be another or more Buddhas in other worlds at the same period or even in this time.

The definition of the word “Buddha” may not be the same in each sect. In some sect, the Buddha is called for the monk or even layman whose path is to be the Bodhisatta. In some society the people are hardly believe in the Buddha and Dhamma but they do believe in the Sangha because they can learn from a real person. Then it is better to make a role-modeler and teach people to copy the role-modeler. Some Thai Buddhist meditation schools refer to the teachings not only from one Buddha but also from the BuddhaS. Some schools refer to the teaching of the Buddha in the future.

I believe that it is not appropriate to decide whether what is fiction. Your questions are not new but they were always the questions for decades. It may be easy to judge right or wrong from text but text is not only one source of evidence. Texts need dictionary to translate while many old words were disappeared from the dictionary. We better use the original Sutta and use 2500 years old dictionary in translating. However the translator is the modern man who probably can not even come close to the real understanding. In stead of gain nothing from this kind of possibility discussion, I suggest us to open for all possibilities and utilize every teaching that can be benefit.

One way to answer your questions is by practice as hard as possible until the practitioner reaches Dhammakaya (Dhamma body) and go up to ask the Buddha personally.

: Pure Land followers have so much devotion to Amitaba Buddha and all of them aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land. From my own observation, isn't that a kind of attachment?

The cultivator needs Dhamma desire to fulfill the practice. He expects to reach the Nibbana in the future and uses this attachment to detach other unnecessary attachments. His attachments will be lessened until there is only one attachment left. In theory, when the practitioner is ready for Nibbana, he must detach his last attachment then the Nibbana’s door will open for him.

: And do they really believe that by chanting Amitaba's name alone, they can be free from their defilements?

ALWAYS chanting Amitaba's name or other good things can. While the cultivator is chanting, his awareness will be in active mode. Chanting Amitaba's name is a kind of Buddhist meditation and you can see this approach in many religions. To gain better result, the chanter should feel as if he meets the Buddha and feels very blissful. Chanting Amitaba's name is a warning sign for him not to do bad thing forever. This simple practice is full of Sila, Samadhi, and Panna for the person who understands the reason and practices with his body and mind together.

You first got in touch with Buddhism two years ago and could see the differences in teachings. Please always ask questions that are hard to believe. Try to proof by your own practice and confirm the answer you have got. Do not reject without proof. My answer may not clear enough because I am not mainly in Mahayana.

Are you very sure about this one fact? I think I read somewhere that say the Buddha will never appear at the same time or for as long as the Buddha Dhamma is still alive and being practised.

Hill

This one fact depends on the memory. Base on the memory, nothing can be sure or not sure. We call us as Human who stays in the Earth in this galaxy. I read from a Dhamma book that there are others galaxies with the same structure of realms as our earth and have their own Buddha as ours. Another point is depended on the definition of time whether the past and the future are existing, as we understand technically or not.

: Are you very sure about this one fact? I think I read somewhere that say the Buddha will never appear at the same time or for as long as the Buddha Dhamma is still alive and being practised.

I understand that the Buddha in this Earth will never appear at the same time or for as long as the Buddha Dhamma is still alive and being practiced. Base on my memory and panna of a beginner, nothing can be sure or not sure. Your question helps clarify my post a lot. Hope my answer answers your question.

Avine, Like you i couldn't accept Pureland sutras intially as it seems like "God" figure. Whether Amitabha Buddha is a fiction or not one need to refer to the Pureland sutras spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha. I think it is not up to our level to speculate until one attained enlightenment. If one do not accept it, please do no reject it either, far less to condem it as we do not have the wisdom to know the true.

I agreed with Foongkiat for chanting Buddha name is also a meditation method. The Pureland sutras stated, one should be mindful of Amitabha Buddha for one, two .... N days to be reborn in the Pureland with full concentration (this statement is very important). This mean not a single other thought should arise. Wise patriachs say, when one have not even a single thought arise, one will be able to see one original buddha nature (the true self). Just by chanting his name with full mindfulness one can attain enlightenment now without speculating whether Amitabha Buddha exist or not. The name itself is a vajra sword that can cut out all our defiled and confused thoughts provided we really put effort on it. (i can't at the moment hope all of you can). All meditation methods have a single purpose, that are to enable us to be single minded on an object/subject so that we can cut off all our deluded and confused thought to open up one wisdom to see things as there are clearly.

In Shurangama Sutra, one of the cultivation method spoken is chanting Buddha Name for it will create affinity with the Buddha and guide us to enlightenment.

So i will bow to the Pureland sutras without speculating Amitabha Buddha exist or not. If he exists, much better i would want to be reborn in Amitabha Pureland at the end of this life.

Kuo-Keong

Last updated
11-06-1999