Thai Buddhism Orthodoxy, Animism, and the Occult: A Complex Interplay of Spiritual Beliefs Thai Buddhism Orthodoxy, Animism, and the Occult

The Syncretic Nature of Thai Buddhism: Intersections of Orthodoxy, Animism, and the Occult The religious landscape of Thailand presents a fascinating case study in syncretism—the process by which disparate religious elements fuse to create new spiritual frameworks. While Theravada Buddhism serves as the official religion of Thailand, practiced by approximately 95% of the population, the […]

Kaito the monk

Vipassanā Kammathāna: The Path to Profound Insight in the Thai Forest Tradition As an academic examination of this profound contemplative practice, I shall elucidate the quintessential elements of Vipassanā Kammathāna within the context of the Thai Forest Tradition, a lineage renowned for its rigorous adherence to the original teachings of the Buddha. The Essence of […]

Overcoming the Five Hindrances in Vipassanā Meditation The practice of Vipassanā meditation offers a profound path towards insight and liberation through the cultivation of mindful awareness. However, this journey is often punctuated by mental obstacles that can impede concentration and clarity. These obstacles, traditionally known as the Five Hindrances, are natural mental phenomena that arise […]

Mental Hindrances, Nimitta (apparitions)

The Five Hindrances (Nīvaraṇa) and Their Removal in Vipassanā Practice 1. Understanding the Five Hindrances The pañca nīvaraṇāni (Five Hindrances) are mental obstacles that prevent the mind from attaining concentration (samādhi) and insight (paññā) in meditation, particularly in vipassanā-bhāvanā (insight meditation). They are the primary causes of mental distraction and agitation, obstructing the development of […]

dhamma wheel

The Practice of the 8-Fold Path step 1 – How to Develop Right Intention “Right Intention: Starting with the understanding of right intention, one must cultivate wisdom,  love, compassion, and non-violence. These qualities enable you to align your thoughts, words, actions,  intentions, and feelings with the goals of awakening” The Eight-Fold Path is a Buddhist […]

The Buddha’s Teaching on Tilakkhana: Understanding the 3 Marks of Existence In Buddhist philosophy, there are several key concepts that help us understand the nature of reality and our place within it. One such concept is tilakkhana, also known as the three marks of existence or the three characteristics of existence. These marks were first […]

The Fool on a Precipice

The Impossible Challenge of Achieving Carbon Zero by 2050: The Impact of AI The ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is a pretty over-confident idea, Norton like that of the manic depressive when they are on the upside, although many organizations such as UNESCO and the United Nations and many large companies make […]

Thai Rice farmer's Children Learning the Family Profession they will one day Inherit

Questioning the Ideology of Mandatory Schooling: Human Rights or Indoctrination? In a recent conversation with GPT-4, the AI language model, it suggested that linking a person’s profession to their surname was humorous. This statement revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of historical facts. Surnames like Smith, Carpenter, and others are indeed rooted in the professions of our […]

Boticide?

A Robot’s Breakdown: A Metaphor for Human Overwork A South Korean administrative robot surprised everyone by throwing itself down a flight of stairs, an act interpreted as a result of job stress. This unusual incident prompts a reflection on how the pressure of work can affect not only humans but also machines designed for repetitive […]

SpaceX Falcon 9 Failure: NASA’s Review and Implications for Future Launches SpaceX’s ambitious plans for 2024 have hit a significant hurdle. In this post, we delve into the recent Falcon 9 rocket failure, the ensuing independent review by NASA, and what this means for upcoming missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Background on Falcon […]

Look Within

Extinguishing of Sensual Craving through Perception leading to the Temporary Cessation of Suffering Nirodha, a Pali term translating to “cessation” or “extinction,” represents the pinnacle of Buddhist spiritual pursuit. It signifies the complete extinguishing of craving and desire, the root causes of suffering (dukkha) according to the Four Noble Truths. This cessation is not merely […]

Who will be the Judge Lord Justice?

The Tyrannical Rise of “Crafting” and the Impoverishment of Human Expression Otherwise known as; ‘The Crafty Craft of Crafting Crafts‘. In the constantly evolving and changing use of language, we are witnessing a disturbing trend, that threatens to undermine the very richness and nuance of human expression. The insidious rise of the verb “to craft”, […]

Animism and Thai Occult

Animism is a belief system that posits the existence of spirits or supernatural forces residing in natural elements, animals, and objects. In Southeast Asia, animism has deep historical roots and continues to play a significant role in the cultural and religious landscape of the region. Here are key aspects of animism in Southeast Asia: Diverse […]

The Bottlenecked Boom: AI’s Computational Limits and the Sustainability Charade Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a ubiquitous term, synonymous with revolutionary advancements in various fields. From facial recognition software to self-driving cars, AI promises a future brimming with automation and efficiency. However, this narrative often overlooks a crucial aspect: the limitations of computational power and […]

Underpaid Service Industry Slave

As we reflect on the evolution of human society, it becomes clear that a profound shift has taken place. Gone are the days of traditional family trades and self-employed independence, replaced by a modern system where education is the key to unlocking employment opportunities within a thriving service-driven economy. This shift has brought about a […]

A Buddhist Monk Forgets his Precepts

“If you look at your face in the mirror every day, you don’t see yourself getting older “ What is presented as ethical changes with regeneration, then ethics have no meaning. If we view the changes of societal norms and ethical standards over human history, we can see, that what was once considered unethical, can […]

Buddha Consciousness Medium

Many people believe consciousness to be the main element of enlightenment, or requisite. This is in Buddha-Dhamma, a ridiculous idea, as the process of cessation in dependent origination includes the cessation of consciousness, which IS a requisite to Nirvana. Nirvana is not Enlightenment, it is the State an Enlightened Being is in when they have […]

Lucifer -Herald of Dawn

Misconceptions and Complexities Surrounding the Identity of Lucifer The name “Lucifer” has a complex and multifaceted history. In Latin, “Lucifer” literally means “light-bringer” or “morning star.” In ancient Roman mythology, Lucifer referred to the planet Venus when it appears in the east before sunrise. It was seen as a symbol of the dawn, heralding the […]