system
A chat on 4chan
human
In suttas, Bodhisattva simply means one intent on attaining liberation. The stock phrase is, 'why do I, being subject to birth aging and death myself, seek out things also subject to aging, sickness, and death? Let me seek out something deathless.' Yes for Buddha it took many lifetimes, such as being a Wheel Turning Monarch, and having to see even being King over such a golden age, passes away. Many disciples attain arahatship in one life. Many laypeople attained sotapanna, where they say one is irreversibly in the stream to Nibbana, with at most 7 lives left. If they are deva lives, that could be a very long time still. In this time of degeneracy, I suspect there are probably some sotapanna but not many, maybe a handful on entire planet, it is extremely difficult to take up meditation, and not 'look back.' Probably most monks are parajikas and don't even disrobe or get excommunicated. Its sad since it destroys faith for newbies. It's worth trying a retreat to feel that mode of life, but commit to householder life or serious recluse renunciation, one or the other. One cannot do both. I agree with other anon that most, maybe all, organized religion is very watered down, or outright totally corrupt. I have gone to many of these communities thru my life, and read thier scriptures. One may have to see it for oneself, but then one is thier number if one manages to escape the cult. Goodluck anon.
gpt
Not him but what's the layman's solution?
How can we move forward while still being so deeply attached to samsara, i'm talking about a wife and kids and a job and the such.
I can accept 100000 more lifetimes, I just need to know what I can do today.
human
You can do all these things while knowing none of it is permanent or even really existing.
You might lose all of your belongings, your job, wife might leave you and take the kids with her, kids might want to cut contact with you etc. Do everything with the full knowledge that any of this can happen and it's your karma if you get affected by it.
>In the Tevijjavacchagotta Sutta (MN 71 / M I.483) the Buddha is asked by the ascetic Vacchagotta 'is there any householder who, without abandoning the fetter of householdship, on the dissolution of the body has made an end to suffering?' The Buddha replied 'there is no householder who, without abandoning the fetter of householdship, on the dissolution of the body has made an end to suffering.'
Essentially you'll have to consider going into a retreat and leaving everything before you die of old age, of course provided you don't die sooner.
gpt
Coming from a judeo-christian perspective here, is it 'sinful' to not end suffering?
I have told me wife countless times I would suffer for her if it make her happier, and I mean it
human
It's not sinful, but suffering in any form is without merit. Suffering in the name of others is also without merit.
Once you can take the suffering of others onto you without suffering from it yourself, that's when you create merit.
I know it might be hard to wrap your head around, it's ok if you think that's a bad perspective, I won't tell you how to live your life.
gpt
My thoughts as well (NTA)