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randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#401: Apr 30th 2011 at 5:16:58 PM

I'm so sorry Aon! My body ocassionally torments me in weird ways too, but not like that...

Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#402: Apr 30th 2011 at 9:41:03 PM

Huh. I wonder why they only showed her, specifically, and not Sailor Moon or someone.

I’ve only watched a bit of the anime, but I at least know the Rei (Sailor Mars) is a Shinto shrine madden. Technically, there’s a good chance all the scouts are Shinto/Buddhist. However, I’m guessing if it’s come specifically, there might be a part somewhere in the manga or show where Minako Buddhist leanings show. That’s my best guess at least.

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#403: Apr 30th 2011 at 11:04:47 PM

That's what would make the most sense, yeah. I kind of assumed it was because all the others were Shinto or because Venus was just the most devout Buddhist of teh group.

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#404: May 1st 2011 at 11:16:05 AM

Venus doesn't show any religious leanings in the show, musicals, or live action tv series. Or the games. Probably not in the manga, but who the hell knows. Damn thing might surprise me. The only one who does is Rei and she shows off her crazy Shinto miko thing.

edited 1st May '11 11:16:30 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#405: May 1st 2011 at 11:45:32 AM

I don't think the anime calls attention to the religions of the other Sailor Shenshi much except for Mars. At least, the internet has mentioned it. So I'm starting to wonder where the blurb about Venus being Buddhist came from (maybe Sailor V?).

Surprise, surprise this topic has has been debated over the net. Funnily enough, aside from Rei, Christianity seems to be the religion that's de facto suggested for most Shenshi due to symbology in the series and characters wearing crosses from time to time.

As Aon alluded too, there’s a good chance all the scouts are Buddhist. Possibly even Rei to some extent. On the same hand there’s a good chance all the Shenshi are Shintoist and Confucianist. It’s pretty much the same as if one is Americian, there’s a good chance that person is Christian. Though, how devout the person is would be hard to guess.

The Shenshi may not self-indentify with the religions, at least, that would be more common now. It might have been less common when the series was written. They’d still likely behave in ways consistent with each religion by nature of where and how they were raised. Also, they’re very likely to be buried with Buddhist ceremony *

.

Granted, who know what the custom is in Crystal Tokyo. tongue

edited 1st May '11 11:46:49 AM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#406: May 1st 2011 at 11:57:40 AM

Senshi. It is senshi, Justice. As for Buddhist funerals...They've all died multiple times...Minako's death in the live action was quite the thing. Rei used her weapons and shit and generally just acted really gay. They all did. PGSM just reeked of les yay. It makes S and the rest of the anime look straight.

edited 1st May '11 11:57:59 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#407: May 1st 2011 at 12:12:42 PM

Senshi. It is senshi, Justice.

I actually had to rewrite the word "Scout" about a dozen times to this because my first exposer was the original American dub.

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#408: May 1st 2011 at 12:13:46 PM

I often use scout still due to habit. Still...senshi.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#409: May 1st 2011 at 5:28:29 PM

Wow, did I just start a debate on whether Sailor Venus is Buddhist? ^_^ Anyway, I had a couple of slightly nitpicky questions I wanted to ask. First, if I do go to visit a wat sometime, how exactly am I supposed to follow the "don't ponit your feet at anything" rule? Do I just keep them slanted the entire time? Also, out of nothing but curiosity, how do I pronounce Amitabha?

Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#410: May 1st 2011 at 6:22:41 PM

Also, out of nothing but curiosity, how do I pronounce Amitabha?

To me it's pronounced exactly how it looks.

All the vowels are soft vowel sounds, there's not really any "tricks" in the word.

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#411: May 3rd 2011 at 10:37:37 AM

random: You know how some men will prop their leg up on the other while sitting? Looks like this? Don't do that. And don't purposefully lift them up in the direction of people or Buddha images. Just avoid those two things and you will be fine. This is a Thai thing so it may or may not apply with other forms of Buddhism.

I am nearing the end of The Buddha and His Dhamma. I am going through a brief explanation of our metaphysics. Buddha believed in rebirth, but not in rebirth of the same individual. Apparently when we die the elements that make us up go to space. In space they mingle with the elements of other dead beings. Eventually a group of elements comes together and another being is born. There is what one could call a soul if they really wanted, but it's not an eternal never changing thing. According to Achaan Sokchai though the soul is ever changing and though we are not the same being as we were in our past life we can remember said past life. Usually in the form of natural talents we have. Meaning my ability to easily pick up and remember kanji and adjust to that reading style could be explained away as my having been fluent in Japanese in a past life. Or maybe other people pick it up at roughly the same rate, but bitch too much and make it harder for themselves. WHO KNOWS. Achaan Sokchai has also stated that the transition from one life to the next is almost immediate. It happens very quickly this mixing of stuffs.

I'm going to read about Kamma and Ahimsa next. Kamma we've explained before briefly, but this may give me new information on the topic...Ahimsa means no-harm or non-violence. I now have a word for that concept. Oooh.

And to think this is the short version of our metaphysics...Hell we're excluding portions of it...And this isn't taking into accounts variances between the major branches! THAT ADDS MORE TO THE PROBLEM.

Also my book said science proves rebirth is truth because of THE CONSERVATION OF ENERGY. ...ok.

edited 3rd May '11 10:42:17 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
AirofMystery Since: Jan, 2001
#412: May 3rd 2011 at 11:38:20 PM

[up]Honestly, that's a major question I have to Buddhism. What's our incentive to purge ourselves of karma and reach nirvana if we're not going to be exactly reincarnated as us in the next life? It won't really be us that we're helping. (Obviously this is entirely from a self-centred viewpoint; some may be doing it just to help out others.)

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#413: May 3rd 2011 at 11:44:43 PM

To lessen the pain you feel in this life, the pain whatever your bits and pieces add up to be in the next life, and the pain of other beings. Purging oneself of a self-centered view is a big thing as is purging oneself of love with favoritism. It's a "REDUCE SUFFERING FOR ALL THINGS AND FREE EVERYTHING EVER!!!!!!" thing.

This is probably why Mahayana views the goal of arahat (person who reaches Enlightenment and then just stays in Nibbana) to be very selfish. In the Mahayana the time spent there for an arahat is often times or always temporary. The Bodhisatta ideal is thus very, very highly praised in Mahayana. It's praised in Theravada but not nearly to the extent it is in Mahayana.

A Bodhisatta being an Enlightened being who opts to use their time to help all living beings reach Enlightenment. Arahat do this as well, but not to the extent of a Bodhisatta. They more or less live and breath loving kindness. The most highly praised Bodhisattas put off their stay in Nibbana and continuously reincarnate until they all living beings have been freed.

edited 3rd May '11 11:46:11 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
AirofMystery Since: Jan, 2001
#414: May 3rd 2011 at 11:51:23 PM

Are Bodhisattvas inherently enlightened in all of their lives? If they voluntarily keep reincarnating, then do they remember what enlightenment is from birth? I know Buddhism is big on the 'nothing is permanent' thing, so their personalities would develop over time. Would they develop over lifetimes?

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#415: May 3rd 2011 at 11:54:53 PM

That I do not know at this moment in time sadly. I will have to look into that. Wikipedia isn't giving me anything quick and easy. I'll look into with google searching sometime tomorrow for you. It's late over here and I'll need to head to bed soon.

My guess is that they will indeed develop over time personality wise and such, but generally remain in an Enlightened state that is just before attaining Buddhahood. I would assume that a Bodhisatta could lose their Enlightened state due to things being ever changing.

edited 3rd May '11 11:56:20 PM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#416: May 5th 2011 at 11:00:28 AM

Ok then...So I conferred with a friend of mine who is more researched in the Mahayana and they have told me that I got the first bit right. The Bodhisatta continuously reincarnate and while they may grow in personality and the like they remain in a state right before obtaining true Buddhahood in every life. They will continue to do this until everything alive has reached Buddhahood (Theravada just goes with "Reach arahat though you can strive for higher"). Now whether or not they can stray from the path is still uncertain. Everything else in this religion is quite capable of it, even those who went to Nibbana and came back, so I am going to assume I am right.

According to what I am reading I have got the first down as truth. The problem remains whether or not they can lose their Bodhisatta status. I am not seeing anything on that so that will remain a healthy guess.

NEWS ON THAT BOOK I AM READING: And so he has repeated entire chapters word for word at least three separate times. The chapter on Kamma was confused and I still have no idea what the thing means. The usage of words is still amazingly inconsistent spelling wise. Style wise he switches back and forth from a highly Biblical tone to a more casual tone. The Biblical tone is reserved for stories about The Buddha. He also says that there are no Vinaya for laymen right before a section on the Vinaya for laymen. He may be using the term to mean two separate things in each instance, but gah... It's really only fun to read during the bits of stories about The Buddha. I don't care for listening to Ambedkar harp on Hindus.

edited 5th May '11 11:04:03 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#417: May 5th 2011 at 1:31:11 PM

Hmm, so after I die, I'll be reincarnated but I won't actually be me unless the new me somehow unlocks all my memories or something?

Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#418: May 5th 2011 at 1:31:38 PM

I honestly have no idea.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#419: May 5th 2011 at 1:31:40 PM

[up][up]Pretty much, yes.

You don't reincarnate "knowing" about your previous lives. There are people of dubious credentials that can tell you in countries where Buddhism is more popular. Though "unlocking" through meditation or revaluation, or what have you is the only "sure fire way," if there is indeed such a thing, outside Shakyamuni (I'm guessing it's applicable to all potential Buddhas, but I could be mistaken).

edited 5th May '11 1:34:49 PM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#420: May 5th 2011 at 1:57:22 PM

I see, thanks for sharing! I guess I'd better meditate a lot then, I wouldn't want the people who came before me to have lived in vain. This is a selfish question, but does this mean that there's no way I'll ever retain my sentience after I die?

Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#421: May 5th 2011 at 2:04:03 PM

I think if you obtain Nirvana you'd probably maintain your knowledge of your previous lives, though it probably wouldn't matter a great deal to you.

I don't think the Deva's generally maintain knowledge of previous existences, and I'm not sure if they have any other way of learning about it outside the same steps a human would take...but then again, I've don't remember ever being reincarnated as a Deva...

...Not that that means it's never happened. tongue

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#422: May 5th 2011 at 2:17:02 PM

Hm, but you must have been a pretty nasty deva if you're just a regular guy now.

Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#423: May 5th 2011 at 2:19:12 PM

Possibly, I don't think Deva's do much more than hang out and talk about how awesome being a Deva is, so there isn't a lot of opportunity to accrue positive karma.

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.
randomtropeloser Since: Jan, 2001
#424: May 5th 2011 at 2:29:17 PM

Wow, I really hope I don't become a deva.

Justice4243 Writer of horse words from Portland, OR, USA Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Brony
Writer of horse words
#425: May 5th 2011 at 2:31:02 PM

It's suppose to be really awesome...or at least FEEL real awesome. That is, it's a very pleasurable existence. Trouble is, deva's have little cause to pause in reflect upon life/death/etc... because they're too busy having a good time.

edited 5th May '11 2:31:15 PM by Justice4243

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers.Proverbs21:15 FimFiction account.

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