Don't give up. I have listened to her talks many times over. It eventually sinks in.

I personally thinks that she is using Skilful means - wrath with compassion so that the message is pierced through our minds, how urgent it is to make sure we live our lives properly and become fully aware how our ignorance, attachments just create the causes of more unhappiness to yourself and others. Cheers to world peace 💓

bayreuth79: Very good point, although you also, of course, cannot avoid interpretation! In my view Buddhism attempts to offer logical explanations for our problems and has a clear systematic way of overcoming them, rather than simply 'putting faith' in a god or deity. That's why buddhism appeals to me.

It is said that Rig Veda religion was the ancient Hindu religion during the the life of Buddha, in which I supposed that Hinduism is the modern Hindu religion took reference from and developed after it. It can be argued that the Buddha's teaching as it took form of the original teaching from the Rig Veda for which he said the Vedas were spoken truthfully by ancient sages and the Veda teaching were there simply to explain how energy worked and its various forms but were changed and became different thus he rejected them. Buddha disagreed with Hinduism that one should be concern with worship or devotion to a particular God like Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva but did not deny the existence of a Supreme God. Buddha taught that we are responsible for our own enlightenment, and not to believe that a Supreme God being could help us. But the followers of Hinduism holds Buddha in a very important place because they believe that the Buddha was one of Vishnu's reincarnation who helps humanity in times of distress for which Buddhists do not share this belief. However it is acknowledged that though there are major variances in the teaching, but the essence is in agreement which is the release from the cycle of birth, a complete final merger with the universal energy and that the body is nothing more than energy in physical form. That said though the term of Karma and Dharma are similar in both Buddhism and Hinduism, but they hold different meanings for which Buddhists know Dharma as the teachings of Buddha while in Hinduism, Dharma is known as the practice to please god, people make sacrifice of animals in Hindu religion. Lastly, Buddha encouraged that his teaching which you called as interpretations to be investigated and experienced by us, and discouraged blind followers of his path.

I don't see this as problematic. Any statement that comes out of any being's mouth is "interpreted" by that being's mind, and is a reflection of that being's experience. So until you have direct experience of your mind without contamination, your options seem to be to trust no one because pure facts do not exist or to decide on an acceptable epistemology that allows you to check the teacher's statement from your own experience, and if it always checks out, then believe it until and unless proven wrong.

bayreuth79 ther are direct cognizers and inferential ones. And one bases ones understanding based on logic. There is no just accepting. Like in other religions. Which ask for blind belief. Buddhism is not that it requires intelligences and investigation to prove the claims rather than just go along.

Kind of like the theory of relativity . . . or gravity . . .

Karma is not transferable.

People gain karma just being around you? What does that even mean?

Stop using drugs

I really like Dick Schwartz and his idea of ‘No Bad Parts’. As in every single bad thing that is done is a part of us that in some way is trying to protect us (even if the behaviour is actually terrible). I think it goes a long way in explaining why people do things and I can see it play out in myself and people I know.

Crap happens, craps always had happened everyone is trying to protect themselves. We just need to take responsibility, heal ourselves so we don’t put our crap on other people and stop the cycle of crap.

Joao I think she is passionate. No one has all the answers. But I like her..

Because she doesn't fill her talks with flowery words doesn't mean it has less impact. Some need this type of learning. Try not to judge so much.

MsMsmak: Students love her teachings because she doesn't pull punches and there is no waffle, and she speaks from a lot of experience. If students thought she was coming from the wrong place, or they thought they were being brow beaten they wouldn't go.

Your right and wrong...flowers and smiles don't make lazy humans wake up. That's actually the problem with our "Politically Correct Society"...and politics is never right. However, if you read the texts even Buddha got fed up with students just questioning and NOT really doing...i.e. Trying to be clever...but zero actual application. So just do it, if it doesn't work start your own religion with your findings.

You want to see how some Zen masters teach if you think this is bad.😂😂

@@TheGreeny38 Lol!