It Takes Two to Tango: The Human Future and the Future of Buddhism

[@gyadre]

Buddha is an enlightened being not just human being.

[@kbeetles]

Thank you for this interesting talk - what a courageous and clear guidance from Bikkhu Bodhi setting us thinking about the mutual beneficial effects Buddhism and Western thinking can have on each other.

[@Vajrabrother]

Finally a man dressed in robes, who seems to have full command of thoughts, words or conscience. Since all big religions generally talk of developing conscience in or with the consciousness we are born with, he shows me full heart, logic and the topic's title is close to perfect. If it takes two to tango, we must be able to check double standards of other human beings, to really know where we are. All his formulations are spot on and I would give him a medal or pat on the back, for finally....

[@Vajrabrother]

for finally addressing subjects in an honest and realistic manner. I have sifted through endless speakers or seeming speeches to find mostly half assed, egoistic liars or white washers. I am again happy to have found an individual who has informed himself and makes effort to put emphasis on very important issues. Sometimes humans talk a bit slowly and or clearly , to make certain points clear to humans whose brains seem to not work or pick up information so fast.

[@jason41760]

Excellent,Thank you for sharing this video,And for helping spread the word.And thank you to Venerable Bhikku Bodhi for committing himself to many sentient beings And that of Buddhism And the great vast work of every Buddhist. . Tashi Delek.

[@bgoodfella7413]

Excellent presentation! This goes hand in hand with the Zeitgeist Movement!

[@Desert2GardenLV]

Google makes me smile so often. Great work.

[@Vajrabrother]

while..ruining everything for everyone else. I find his explanations almost perfect as he finds the good balance of the inside and outside. Even exponential procreation of humans is just desire or attachment, whereby happiness seems to become less, as living space gets tighter. On the other hand happiness could not diminish , but it meant that humans had to share in a better way. I would like to have a private chat with him, but it would be like talking to myself. Mind set can be parallel.

[@kbeetles]

I completely agree with Bhikkhu.Bodhi- the deep understanding of the human mind/condition and the wisdom Buddhism can offer us need to meet the dynamism of the Western attitudes: only then can we create anything different in terms of social-economic structures but we need the mindfulness, the real compassion, the system of sound values which only Buddhism can provide (other religions end up prescriptive, harsh, exclusive and very judgmental- unlike Buddhism..)

[@ZirconCode]

He has a calming voice.

[@TheDmikey]

@mikeyo1234- What you are about saying science is true. What you are saying about atheists may be partially true. I dont comment further on that since my lack of knowledge on Atheism. However in your comment did you mean to say Buddhism is also an outdated religion? If you think that way I must suggest you to learn more about it. Remember true Buddhism also did not advocate about any god. It did not push any blind beliefs or prayers. Lord Buddha explained various things before science did.

[@Vajrabrother]

Congratulations to his teacher and himself. As I am german myself, I would like to have a personal chat with his teacher as well. Can anyone offer a contact address or give recommendation ? Forgiveness is a strange topic as nature cannot forget , but in fact stores or stores the human disrespect like a memory system. We cannot look away and his words are very well weighed. Congratulations again. Masterful.

[@Vajrabrother]

Heheheehhehe...interesting point, but since it is not a buddhist talk in classical sense, i see it more in the sense of a comparison or study of the modern society, politics, environmental issues or other complications. Still a good thought as the listeners are all sitting. Maybe the organization wanted the speaker to be seen properly. Logistics.

[@Simplicity27]

Masterpiece!

[@Vajrabrother]

When starting his point of topic concerning a contribution, humans should contribute their minds towards the dharma or the possible truth in timeline of cause and effect. They should open their egoistic minds towards a thought process or self analyzation whereby a twofold goal, gain or treasure is actually acquired. It is a common goal that we seek mostly on the inside and outside. Everyone thinks, that to make a contribution is to act egoistically, which is opposite to individually or altruism

[@rukshannn]

@mikeyo1234 because its found over 2500 years so at that time the person who found that cause and effect was karmma, very lately science found some things like that, that is the thing, the thing the cause and effect found very recently cos during 2500 years ago some places were like wild and some people in trees

[@rukshannn]

what is most important is the middle way,

[@kokopelli314]

@baeritukaez I think that depends on how one defines, "tech". Certainly one may proceed through mechanical through electrical and electronic and chemical into the quantum worlds or into logic and mathematics and data, but in the end, without wisdom and foresight, "tech" simply descends into another category of meaningless pursuits. To bring foresight and compassion into the equation raises our technological endeavorer towards the betterment of all beings now and for the future.

[@BlatzBeer]

This probably doesn't really count as a Dhamma talk. In the Theravada tradition, a Dhamma talk would be preceded by the Tisarana and possibly some other chanting. Oh -- and there'd be some of the Dhamma expounded on. This is more of a general academic exposition on the current state of Buddhism in the world. Also, I notice that our hosts here provided no means for him to sit. As the Buddha did with his teaching, one should adapt to local conditions whenever possible. :)

[@tuetrung7196]

great

[@angelwhite]

@mikeyo1234 I would say that yeah, I would rather have the science. I just don't see a whole lot of connection between paragraphs one and two, and paragraph three. Or, at the very least, I don't think you've drawn that connection. I could see, for example, the scientific studies that show prayer doesn't heal other people. At the same time, scientific studies do show that meditation has physiological effects (on the person meditating). I don't think it's supernatural, but the point still stands.

[@dukkhavatta]

As I know, the Buddhist monk's Discipline forbids monks to teach Dhamma if he's standing up and the lay-people are sitting down.

[@Vajrabrother]

How do humans find their own heart with another heart ? Human egoism has culminated in all the suffering or pollution of the world. One human could never change a mass movement of rapacious behavior. His life is still making everything better for others, as he does not spread lies, play games, abuse or entice human greed, to fill his own pocket. Why are so many loyalists to honesty or humility often laughed at or mocked. Why do greedy egoists never understand his conscience, while...

[@sooriyaz]

devolopment we ll comprihends.Its a long skill practice. Just like looking in to the nigh clear sky,filled with stars,when we look in a strait line,we ll see more far stars,light takes time to go and relects back. Same way our un scense followers of experts; looking trough the electron scoop; "More you look; More you will see"...

[@rukshannn]

@mikeyo1234 i mean i do not have very broad knowledge about karmma to talk about it

[@navneetnair]

@mikeyo1234 In my understanding of Buddhism and karma in the Buddhist sense (which admittedly may be limited) karma is cause and effect and is translated so in some of the texts and teachings that I have referred to. The corruption of the word karma is more so in an Indian cultural context (which the west seems to have wrongly borrowed) where it could mean destiny. In Buddhism, karma is not destiny. It is the law of cause and effect. Leave it at that and there is no supernatural connotation 2 it

[@typicalKAMBLover]

Guys, if you believe only physical laws of the world, and live up to them as your only creed, then your belief as science is just another religion. People try to use religion to demonize other people's belief so that they can appear to be more righteous, but we all know that true righteousness can not be won by making others lose so that you can win. And within any belief, people can twist it somehow into building walls between themselves and other groups. At least google is open here.

[@tuetrung7196]

who can help me... write ^ what did he says^ . because I am a monk. and i want to learn English.

[@jason41760]

Lol....No.Non of my words were directed at yourself,I wish to thank the uploader for sharing a video which serves to help me,I am free to thank that person And express my appreciation.You have no right to personally attack me and be abusive,You do however have the right to speak and type comments here just as I have.Just you chose to do that in a disrespectful way,And a way that makes you look and sound ignorant.

[@TinyBuddha604spoonr47]

@mikeyo1234 Buddhism is not a religion. It is a way of life. We humans NEED "religion" in all of its ethnic forms so that we can make better judgment on morality as a human being because we human beings are not all alike and have difference in opinions. e.g. Thinking atheists can make better judgments on morality then an outdated religion is an opinion on its own. Science is a good thing but has limitations. Buddha understands the limitations of science, thus seek for the universal truth.

[@volusiabuddhistfellowship]

Bikkhu Bodhi is a Theravada monk, ordained Thailand. When you ordain in one of the Theravada orders, you are given robes, and that's what you are allowed to wear. That's it. So he didn't just say, "Hey, I want to look like an Asian guy." He ordained and that's what he is given to wear. His shaved head is also part of that monastic tradition. He ordained in Sri Lanka. I was ordained in the Thai Dhammayut order for a monastic retreat, and I was given two sets of robes. I was also given the title "Phra," which means "Venerable." You're considered venerable because you have left the life of sense pleasures to dedicate yourself to the religious life. It's actually kind of an "entry level" term in most Theravada monastic orders.

[@navneetnair]

@mikeyo1234 :) sure quite possible

[@jackwilliamatkins1158]

SARXKYN KETOSIS CURES EVERY DISEASE

[@rukshannn]

@mikeyo1234 cool my mother died by a cancer too. she was good did not do any thing bad had any bad feelings. but i hope regarding kamma there is lot to learn, its not subject at once come to any conclusions. Knoledge of Kamma is not enough to go in deep about this case, but what you talk about cause and effect is some what normal and can get some what idea cos its not a big deal. cos there are many theories about it and science have found lot about it. But Karma is its board thing,

[@sooriyaz]

Yes this is a lecture.Not dharma proclamination. there are rules to proclame dharma. un scense is the one we know as sciense today,that is said by buddha long ago,he said; our scienses are so weak,for that reason buddha prohabited to his diciples to practice any world scense base arts as; Astrology;ayurvedha; and other scenses...According to our wisdoms

[@36cmbr]

The notion that acceptance of a rebirth philosophy will change hearts and minds seem very feeble to me because it contains the idea of best man, better man and no good man. The course that people are on seems very much karmic to me. We all work to change things in our various ways and that is all that there is that one can do.

[@navneetnair]

@mikeyo1234 Karma is not a supernatural power but more like gravity it has its laws. You control it by your actions. All the law says is that what happens to you is a result of your past action. No divine or supernatural intervention is necessary

[@SamanthaFlick]

@mikeyo1234 You should probably do some research before irrelevantly trying to oppose a topic you know little about. Buddhism teaches seeing things as they are, or the truth/'dharma'. So I find it ironic that you are demonstrating ignorance to what is factual in favor of blurting out opinion under the guise of championing the truth. P.S. I identify as atheist, so I feel it's a step back when we act like irreverent, self-righteous, opinionated individuals, though I respect your right to do so.

[@angelwhite]

@mikeyo1234 I agree with you, but I think you need to be careful, science and religion are barely comparable, except in terms of what science can tell us about religion. Science is a tool, and you can point to antibiotics and say "see the good?" But you could also point to Hiroshima and say "see the bad?" In the end, it science is neither good nor bad, it is just a tool that happens to be particularly good at discovering truths.

[@ps3ud0nym]

@raazs35 Actually religions are just guidelines. Blind followers the cause of most problems - ignorant people incapable of having differentiated opinions. People with limited mind who lump together everything without any common sense - sticking to some dogmata they decided to believe in. Non-religious people aren't immune to that either.

[@onnmaster1]

an end to the future. hmm.

[@Tolstoievsky]

@mikeyo1234 iwould rather live in a world where science wouldnţt be needed in the first place

[@cartesiaLive]

@raazs35 Ignorance and close-mindedness are the cause of many of the problems in the world...

[@Twixter111]

Redistribution of wealth, drones, global warming -- why he is reciting this polititian meaningless codephrases? Where is direct democracy? Where is new business models which would provide healthcare and education for poor people?

[@Vajrabrother]

I wish he had a machine gun mouth, as humans have severly neglected most points he talks about. Meditation is not dreaming. MEDITATION COULD NOT BE DENYING: Meditation is not pretending. Gaining conscience seems to have to do with discerning time lines or developement or abstaining or renunciation. Some humanists have been batantly murdered or assasinated whereby this has also traumatized many humans into complacency. How is trauma resolved ? How do people find courage ? How do humans find....

[@TinyBuddha604spoonr47]

@wearealltubes "Only boring people get bored.". Why so judgemental? Why do opinionated? Your opinions and your words speak for yourself only and only yourself. Speak for yourself only, not for most people. Your attention span or lack there of, is proof that supports Boddhi's speech. You've been blinded by your own ignorance. May you one day be free from your own vice.

[@coach2run]

There are some things in the buddhism i don´t understand. First why Venerable, what he did that´s different that me to be Venerable ? What level of understand did he reach to get that title ? Secondly, why a occidental person with that kind of weird coloured vests, out of any occidental common sense. Does the yellow red vest brings some advantage the way we think, the way we are close to buddhism ideal that a normal vest doesn´t bring, or is everything a kind of stereotype ? I may understand why the Dalai Lama wear that clothes, i guess where he comes from is ordinary way of wear, but an occidental man ? ps- sorry to not name the Dalai Lama The Venerable Dalai Lama or your Holliness or that kind of titles, i got respect for the man, what i know he did and he does, but Venerable why ? He is not a human being li e me or you or us, is more venerable that i am ? Thanks for read my post and if you would to reply i will thank you twice.

[@cakelover87]

He went through ALL of the buddhist teachings and did an incredible interpretation of them. He's been a monk since 1967, thus the religious clothing which actually has a meaning; the "normal" population in Tibet doesn't wear those clothes.

[@coach2run]

Fer Castillo Thanks Castillo, but you miss to answer my doubts. Before that i might judge if he does an incredible interpretation of buddhism or he doesn´t i see one common man, one human being like me or you with nothig special except that he dresses abnormal to the western mainstream clothes and that some people title him of Venerable. Why Venerable ? I´m not Venerable as well ? You are not Venerable as well ? If he is Venerable every human being isn´t Venerable, or only a few got the title of Venerable and why ? This is the real question, not what he knows or he doesn´t know about buddhism, that doesn´t really matters me at all. What you say about the incredible interpretions of buddism he did, didn´t allow him to use usual occidental/western type of vests, and the incredible interpretation you say he did from buddhism is not enough to stop the title of Venerable ? Why venerable, what that means. I´m not Venerable as well ? I see that is strange for a common human being, as i am, to see someone with that kind of vests and be treated as Venerable. This will be my start point of disagreement. For instance, the Dalai Lama. If he consieders himself a common human being, so why venerate him as Venerable? I don´t understand. TIn my opiion this is just on buddhim preconcept. Thank you.

[@ryogto]

He does not call himself Venerable, you do him a disservice to pretend he exalts himself, when in fact he lives in humble poverty to dissolve ego. We (people other than himself) refer to him as Venerable because he lives a very pure and saintly life following the code of conduct for monks (Vinaya) which includes consistent effort to pristinely follow (at the bare minimum) the five precepts: 1. Not (intentionally) killing or harming any living being. 2. Not taking anything which is not freely given. 3. Not (knowingly) speaking any lies. 4. Not engaging in any sexual activity. 5. Not taking any sort of intoxicant.

[@toddtrimble2555]

I would treat the "Venerable" on pretty much the same level as when one says, "the Honorable William H. Rehnquist" or "the Reverend Richard Denton". In other words, as an honorific that is somewhat specific to Buddhist contexts. (The sense of "Venerable" as used in Catholicism is stronger; perhaps this is what is throwing you off.) Likewise, I would view his vestments as not different in nature from those worn by a Christian clergyman, for example. None of this should be seen as a particularly big deal. Better not to get distracted by it, and focus instead on what he is saying.

[@coach2run]

Dear RyoGTO. He got a name. But he is treated by Dalai Lama (a title from his religion). However ther´s no reason to to name him Venerable based in poverty, ego dissolve whatsoever. Why we should "venerate" that conditions of poverty, not killing etc ? To venerate the fact that not engaging in sexual activity ? Why ? Ther´s no reason. If ther´s no sexual activity ther´s no humanity descendent, this is not to venerate, it´s to be critic. Ok, it´s his own individual choice, but why venerate that to name him Venerable by that reason of sexual abstinence. This is anti-natural, Where´s Budha teaching or write about sexual abstinence ? Now to Dear Todd Trimble. Because the Christianity does some stupid attitude, some nonsense decision, as that ones that you refers, that doesn´t justify that You, me whatsoever does the same nonsense titles. Stronger, to use some vests. Stronger in what sense ? Stronger to the cold, stronger in the mind thinking, stronger where and why ? Please stop to use adjectives that are inadequate strange folk and ridiculous vests at least to the occidental habits, and what i see are people that since they move to Buddhism they change their regular vests for that ones. Thanks.

[@paulopereira6144]

Too much bla bla bla...it´s not buddhism! No past, no future! just be here...It´s real buddhism. This man read a lot of books, so his minds thinks em terms of time.

[@lxa3000]

Yes, it's an interesting conundrum. Through meditation we can train our awareness of the present moment. And in doing so we understand that everything is impermanent, without an enduring essence, that phenomena of the present arise out of a web of earlier actions. And in order to take right actions we must consider how our actions will affect others, in the future that the action helps to shape. I am not an expert but as I understand it time is fundamental to karma and buddhist ethics.

[@gaianoutreia]

fear monguerer...