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A lot of people in this community are probably pretty familiar with the Just World Phenomenon or Just World fallacy, but here's a link just so that people definitely know where I'm coming from.

There's a whole Wikipedia article about this, but the intro paragraphs pretty much cover where my head is right now.

The just-world phenomenon, also called the just-world theory, just-world fallacy, just-world effect, or just-world hypothesis, refers to the tendency for people to want to believe that the world is just so strongly that when they witness an otherwise inexplicable injustice they will rationalize it by searching for things that the victim might have done to deserve it. This deflects their anxiety, and lets them continue to believe the world is a just place, but often at the expense of blaming victims for things that were not, objectively, their fault.

Another theory entails the need to protect one's own sense of invulnerability. This inspires people to believe that rape, for example, only happens to those who deserve or provoke the assault. This is a way of feeling safer. If the potential victim avoids the behaviors of the past victims then they themselves will remain safe and feel less vulnerable.

Every time I think about karma, I think about the "just world fallacy." I know that for some people it gives them the explanation that they need to get through their own suffering to say, "This is the result of some action of mine, and I just need to accept it and find a way to deal with it or solve it." If that works for them, I'm glad that they have it.

However, I'm extremely troubled by it. I'm not sure that believing in karma and believing in injustice are compatible. After all, if something seems like injustice, it could also be defined as the "victim" experiencing the natural consequence of some previous action or intention. It doesn't allow for people to experience hardship or suffering that they didn't cause for themselves.

This is a hard thing for me to swallow. I've tried to reconcile it a few different ways. The most notable one is that sometimes things happen to people which are better or worse than they have caused for themselves, and whoever causes that imbalance (for good or ill) has that tacked onto their own karma.

For example, if I just go out and steal somebody's property, I would say that the main reason why I accrue "bad" karma for this is that nobody deserves to have their property stolen. By the same token, if I treat someone better than their actions have earned, it's "good" karma for me because I am choosing to be compassionate rather than strictly and coldly just.

The alternative--to say that people's suffering is caused solely by themselves, and that all joy or pleasure is earned--has caused so much suffering that I find it hard to reconcile with the compassion Buddhism seems to be shooting for. There are lots and lots of people who find comfort in the notion that people, on some level, brought their suffering on themselves through their own actions.

The Buddhist doctrine that suffering is from attachment is something I can handle, because it's harder to turn that into victim-blaming. However, saying that hardship is always a result of some specific action or attitude on the part of the person (for instance, saying that what's gone around is coming around) seems to negate the very idea of injustice.

Does anybody have any thoughts? It has been suggested to me by some that belief in karma is not necessary to dharma practice, and that it can indeed be thrown out as a potentially-harmful superstition. However, there are lots and lots and lots of people who do see it as vital, and if you guys could chime in on how you fit this in without blaming people for their own misfortune, I would seriously appreciate a fresh perspective.

I'm sure this question has been asked a thousand times, but what is Buddhism's position on God?

From what I understand, the Buddha denied the existence of a 'personal' God.

But what is a 'personal God'? And can a person believe in a God that is...not personal?

Could the 'Buddha-nature' or the 'Unconditioned' be seen as simply a different way of perceiving God? A God that does not judge or interfere, but is simply a divine consciousness?

Also, I read that the Buddha considered that whatever helped human beings transcend their current limited state was the Dharma.

It seems to me that many people belonging to different religions (whether it be Hindu, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc) manage to transcend their limited states through their religion. So can non-Buddhist beliefs and practices be considered the Dharma if they help the individual?

does anyone know who is singing this? it seems to be the heart sutra but there is no information.

Many of the teachings seem to be mind-only, meaning that it is OK to show off and still have humility as long as your intention isn't showing off. Am I wrong?

It is also possible to kick ass and be driven by compassion.

The 5 precepts are the actions resulting from a somehow enlightened inner mind. To take precepts and to not have this somehow enlightened inner mind would be pretentious action and does not last as long as that who has the intention, since the mind will find ways to 'break' the precept.

To do rituals right is to have the right inner mind, and will have benefits even when taken from an objective point of view, the ritual is senseless

Meditation is habituation. Reading the teachings a thousand times habituates one on reading teachings, not applying them. To meditate is the same as helping others, being kind or having wisdom, because meditation habituates one to be helpful, be kind and be wise, that when such situations come into our life, we would be helpful, kind, wise and do things excellently when they come.

Bad meditation is bad habituation. Entertaining anger, stupid thoughts, fear, etc. lead into habituation of anger, stupid thoughts and fear - this is why we focus on the breath on anapanasati, so that we become aware.

This seems to have occurred to me, but as my faculties may not be as developed as anyone else's please correct me on the matter.

Many have heard the story of the great World Teacher ,and the hope he is going to spread all over the world.Today their are millions everywhere who agree that as a race we have strayed far off the path that God has intended for us to follow.We are living in a world where 80% of the worlds resources are used and wasted while we have millions who will starve in agony for want of food that lies rotting in the warehouses of the developed world.For how long must we put up with this shame and carry on as if nothing is wrong.We here in the west are living out our lives in a very selfish satisfaction,but this will not be for very long as more people from all over the world will see the deeper problems and will be appalled . 
                                                                                                                                                   If the entrance into the New Age going to work as planed then we must implement our will and of course be ever ready to stand tall ,and to stand in spiritual Being .Me and many other collogues who are involved with the reappearance have our work to do within whatever City that may be,and the world is a very big place. There are millions of people in the world at this time whose lives are governed by good will  ,and they can be found all over this world,working within the various fields  such as being doctors,Politics,good will communities ,the occult, science,medicine ,and so many other avenues of humanitarian endeavor.These people of goodwill all over the world these day are known as the ‘’ New Group Of World Servers’’ .and many of them are very advanced humans who have come a very long ways ,and could be very old and seasoned souls who have eons of learning and experience ,and can be relied upon to get the job done.

 

The Lord  Maitreya will not be the only teacher to come forward,but coming with him are a rather large group of Masters who have reached a very high state of development during eons past,and many of them do not die as they have perfected their bodies and all have light bodies.They don't eat,sleep and are always in telepathic rapport with each other no matter what the distance is,and they are even in communication with the spiritual hierarchy of all of the planets within our solar system .. For long ages they have been dwelling within the mountains and the deserts of the world ,and overseeing our evolution from behind the scenes ,ever hoping for the time when humanity can be ready to tread the path of initiation.In this coming new age there will be millions who will deem themselves ready to pass through the ancient Mystery Schools which will be established all over the world,such as it was during the Atlantean root race when the Gods themselves [Masters] walked side by side with each other.During this coming time all peoples everywhere will have the basics ,such as food,housing ,medical care,education and so on, and humanity will have a chance to re-discover themselves in a new light.The art of self realization will be a major goal in many of the great educating centers all over the world.The coming New Age will provide many the tools to let their creativity flow ,and everybody will have a chance to really  be some body …….Yes my friends,we are seeing the dawning of Aquarius.

http://youarenotsosmart.com/

Great blog on the phantasms and ghosts our mind can conjure up to fool us.

Growing up versus waking up is a recent Buddhist Geeks podcast featuring John Welwood, who's both a Buddhist practitioner and a psychologist, and in it he talks about why it's so common for people to meditate diligently for decades and still be an emotional mess. He says it is because Buddhism tends to be more about working on growing the intellectual/spiritual element of life, while often repressing the emotional growth of humans. And he talks about including emotional growth in your practice, so that you can be more wholistically healthy.

The talk is about a half an hour, and it doesn't start to get especially interesting until the second half, so hang in there. :-)

(Also, I'd like to amplify his caveat about it not being easy to find a good psychotherapist! I've found it easier to split up the job of therapist between books (for the theory and practical suggestions) and friends (for the support) and the internet (for sharing my stories). This approach seems to be more reliable than finding a therapist who actually understands what I want.)

I found a great zen center in my new neighborhood in Saint Paul and it got me meditating on a regular basis. I feel like there's more time in my day and like I make better use of it. I like how the meditation tries to sort of peer through the illusion of thought and see the world for what it really is.

Do any of you practice meditation regularly? What do you think of zen buddhism and how it compares to other branches of the Buddha's teaching?

Gasan instructed his adherents one day: "Those who speak against killing and who desire to spare the lives of all conscious beings are right. It is good to protect even animals and insects. But what about those persons who kill time, what about those who are destroying wealth, and those who destroy political economy? We should not overlook them. Furthermore, what of the one who preaches without enlightenment? He is killing Buddhism."

Size of average hat * 20 = Huge Hat
Size of Hat = Holiness
Organized Religion = Spirituality + Politics

Politics is a greek word for many combined with Tics, the name of a small, blood sucking insect which can cause Lyme desiese, a very unpredictable condition that fucks your shit up and kills you.

To a novice Western practitioner of the Buddhist faith, the first glimpse of wrathful deities can cause uncertain judgment amongst the practitioner. Without proper education and insight the western mind could perceive this as invitation into occult paraphernalia.

Wrathful deities are dark, ugly, and terrifying. Their imagery are composed to "scare" bad or negative influences. The manifestation of wrathful deities are to serve and protect the Buddhist faith. Wrathful deities are often the liberation of Hindu gods and goddesses.

People ask why wrathful deities are usually black or other fierce hues. The hues represent the colors of the universe. Black, being the ultimate absence and true color of emptiness.

Lets take a look into the wrathful deity Vajrabhairava. Vajrabhairava is dark, ugly, has a devilish apperance, and has death all around him.

In Tibetan Buddhist practices, there are three main forms of (Vajrabhairava) Yamantaka – the red Yamantaka, Ratktaymari, the black Yamantaka, Krishnayamari, and the Vajrabhairava, the Diamond Terrifier. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TK74/)

According to the popular version of the mythological origins of Yama (the god of death), a holy man was once told that if he spent fifty years living in deep meditation in a cave, he would reach enlightenment. On the night of the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh month of the forty-ninth year, two robbers entered his cave with a stolen bull whose head they proceeded to cut off. When they realized that the hermit had witnessed their act, they decided to kill him. He begged them to spare his life, explaining that in a few minutes he would reach enlightenment and that all his efforts would be lost if they killed him before the expiration of the fifty years. The thieves ignored his request and cut off his head. Immediately, he assumed the ferocious form of Yama and put the bull's head on his own headless body. He then killed the two robbers and drank their blood from cups made from their skulls. In his fury, he threatened to destroy the entire population of Tibet. The Tibetan people appealed to the deity Manjushri (the Bodhisattva of wisdom), to protect them from Yama. Manjushri then assumed the form of Yamantaka , defeated Yama, and turned him into a protector of Buddhism, in order to save the people. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TI10/)

Vajrabhairava/Yamantaka is the wrathful manifestation of bodhisattva Manjushri, the essence of the wisdom of all Buddhas. The term 'Yamantaka' means one who puts an end to Yama. In Buddhist pantheon 'Yama' is the lord of Death and 'antaka' means one who ends. Thus Yamantaka means one who ends death. Yamantaka is the secret terror so that the no one ever betrays the precepts of Shakyamuni Buddha. Yamantaka is the fusion of two aspects – the blessed aspect and the irate aspect – the emanation of the double aspect of Manjushri. He is so fierce as to destroy all forces contrary to Dharma. He is thus a god of redemption, one who fights against evil and triumphs. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TN27/)

Yamantaka is also known as Vajrabhairava, 'Adamantine Anger'. It is said that this form of Yamantaka has associations with the Brahmanical deity Mahabhairava, a special form of lord Shiva, who in this form destroys the universe at the end of the eon. The Buddhist Yamantaka tantras combine aspects of both deities (Yama and Shiva) into the cult of Vajrabhairava-Yamantaka, in Tibetan Buddhism. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TN27/)

The present form of Yamantaka is called Yamantaka Ekavira, Ekavira means, 'solitary hero', in this form Yamantaka does not embrace his consort. Yellow complexioned Yamantaka Ekavira has nine faces, three on each side of the main head and one above it, each with three eyes. The main head is that of a fierce buffalo with horns. The topmost head is of Manjushri. The eight wrathful heads wear skull crowns, and their hair rises upwards, signifying the deity's enlightenment. Yamantaka wears an elephant-skin cloak, a garland of freshly cut human heads, and bone ornaments. He is naked except for his adornments. He is naked except for his adornments. He is naked except for his adornments. He has thirty-four arms. The two main arms hold a cranium and vajra marked chopper. His remaining hands hold tantra symbols. His each arm with attributes fights for his devotees to evil beings. Yamantaka has sixteen legs, eight on each side. Lying face down under his bent right legs are one human male and six animals that one human male and six animals that are, in turn, stepping on four devas. Under his outstretched left legs, eight birds are also stepping on four devas. There is wisdom fire aureole behind him. (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TN27/)

People ask why do Hindu gods want to become liberated through Buddhism? I don't really hold the answer to this question. From my studies, I can assume that Hindu gods want to attain liberation from samsara.

The tantra to vajrabhairava is:

ya ma r¯
a ja sa d¯
a me ya ya me d¯
a sa ja r¯
a ma ya/
ya da yo ni ra pa ks.e pa pa ks.e pa ra ni yo da ya
(http://www.scribd.com/doc/17113013/G-Buhnemann-I-Buddhist-Deites-and-Mantras-in-the-Hindu-Tantras Pg.315)

Are wrathful deities evil? Not at all!
Are the demonic? Not at all!
Are they compassionate? Yes!
Do the serve and protect the Buddhist faith? Yes!

Enjoy!

- Razorfalcon




Sources:
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TI10/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamantaka
http://www.khandro.net/deities_wrathful.htm
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TN27/
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17113013/G-Buhnemann-I-Buddhist-Deites-and-Mantras-in-the-Hindu-Tantras
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/product/TK74/

I wrote a little story about my trip to India last year, particularly Vulture Peak. Read it here.

The Buddha would like yard sales. He’d view them as perfect opportunities to practice detachment.

After years of my belongings falling from grace and sinking into my dusty basement, it was time for a little cleansing. Before 7:00 a.m., signs had been posted and the dealing had begun. Things were going fast: games galore, a TV, multiple lamps of differing styles, necklaces & purses, dozens of books, an unused mega-kite, lacrosse & hockey sticks, Beanie babies with and without tags, an ice cream maker, bric-a-brac shelves, candle holders, and several VCR tapes. It felt great seeing all that clutter hauled away. Feeling detachment, I had no regrets… except one: my 17-foot Canadian-made Kawartha fiberglass canoe in pristine condition. It was the last item to go.

Granted, it had been collecting dust, but I maintained an attachment to it primarily because of it’s potential. Though I hadn’t used it for years, I refused to concede that I would never launch it again.

At first, the portly bearded man told me the price I was asking was a great one, but added that his wife would kill him if he bought it. Later in the day when he returned, I thought maybe he’d killed her instead. But in fact, she sat smiling in the front seat watching him as he walked timidly up to me.

He cleared his throat. “Would you go any lower?” he asked.

Knocking off $25 sealed the deal, then began the hardest part my lesson in detachment. It was time to truly let go.

I helped portly bearded man shove my pristine canoe into his beat up old Chevy Suburban. We shook hands, then I just stood there and watched until he drove around the corner and out of sight. Only a touch of trepidation lingered but I had done the right thing, cleansing my basement and my conscience at once.

It felt good to move on, and felt even better knowing that the Buddha would be proud of me.

I'm wondering how to best practice compassion when the person requiring compassion, who is suffering, is also causing other living beings to suffer. How does one discern what is the best path one can take to encourage the relief of suffering for all involved?

I am searching for a scary Buddhist wallpaper to inspire me to practice.

Preferably the Wheel of Life, but most I found are pretty tame.

The scariest(and most awesome) I found so far are these, although they are merely Tibetan art, not Buddhist.



http://io9.com/5506269/tibetan-artist-turns-hulk-and-spider+man-into-himalayan-heroes/gallery/1

Could anyone recommend a sangha/temple/center in Philadelphia (or close surrounding areas)? I know there's Buddhist directories online, but I'd like to hear from actual people where they go and what it's like.

P.S. Not SGI please

Thank you, I'll try to post in here more.