What is Right View?

[@kari6024]

Ajahn, it is so refreshing to hear you express our Buddhist philosophy with humor, kindness, compassion and common sense; right view, indeed! Thank you.

[@thrivenisaidam2072]

Great Explanations Thanks you! I was a very harsh speaker and people used to hate me because of my speech. I am Hindu, one of my Buddhist friend introduced me to eight noble path and especially Right Speech. I loved the concept so much that, I started practicing it regularly and i used the "BuDhamma" mobile app to help me on this. Now, I speak gentle and my people are very happy with me. Lot of things I get easily done now!

[@chrisndg]

Thank you very much for speaking out against the violence in Sri Lanka.

[@japandata]

I remember Ajahn Brahm talking about "Right Speech" and it really enlightened me. You must be true to yourself and speak truth, but also find that balance where you are compassionate to yourself and to the person your confronting. That is a hard balance, but if you can if you can truly love and be compassionate with a person you don't agree with, then you've won. Kindness and compassion isn't an after thought, it literally is the only way to change the world for the better.

[@jefferyann]

Very good talk for my Baptist friends and family to watch to help them understand what Buddhism is about. And that we don't sit around worshipping a Buddhist statue.

[@pkemrin]

Ajahn Brahm, I'm glad that you stood up for the nuns. I respect you second only to the Dalai Lama for your wisdom.

[@davidjohnbonnett]

One of my favourite talks, brilliant!

[@vanderbilt4918]

I haven't been paying the proper attention to Bhuddism as I should have over the last couple of weeks due to study and work. Yet I regard it an essential part of my life & being, and these talks are an excellent way for me to keep in touch. It is very important to keep in touch with your inner Buddha.

[@Leibinz]

This is a very important talk.

[@SauravBhasin1983]

I am born Hindu from India but learning Buddhism :)

[@sharanagato]

Me too

[@LennyLentil]

52:30 "In a real forest alll trees are crooked and that's why they are Beautiful. All trees are Damaged Goods and that's why they are Beautiful. All people are Damaged Goods and that's why they are Beautiful." - I wanted to cry because.....its so nice to know the truth I am beautiful, and all people are beautiful.

[@NewEarth25]

Right view is wholesome, equanimous, correct-coherent kind, middleway view of avoiding two extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification - cultivating the Noble 8 -fold path leading to end of kamma, suffering & it causes to ultimate peace, happiness and freedom of Nibbana. Love the forgiveness-letting go every year in relationship and celebrating life..

[@JuicyLeek]

Some of Ajahn Brahm's anecdotes don't seem to be well sourced. However I found a lot of online references for the anecdote regarding the baby in Canada who said "Oh no, not again" just after its mother gave birth to it.

[@PhoenixProdLLC]

"Yeah he said something stupid. He called you a pig." ROFL!!

[@Chargehasbeenset]

I really liked what had been said about cross religious interaction in youths. A wise man if only the world paid more attention to Ajahm Brahm and the Buddhist society.

[@dorabastable7028]

In a free society, it's up to the parents where they send their children to school. I think the world would be a better place if there were more Buddhist schools. When he trained as a monk, wasn't that his school? Suppose that Thailand had outlawed Buddhist monasteries, where would he have gotten his training? Where would the community of Ubon have gone to get their instruction?

[@kirstywragg6308]

He became a monk after a time attending Cambridge University, guessing at the age of about 22 years old. By that time, he had already spent his whole youth in state education in London in the 70s, so had already spent good time in a non-Buddist education, likely among many different nationalities and religions. :)

[@kolenkow]

really like this talk. one of the best! sadhu sadhu sadhu!

[@123chandimal]

Happy new year Ajan brahm ! Its new year here .

[@CSMcVay]

Thank you, Ajahn!

[@95lewiscameron]

Beliefs are not harmful, actions are.

[@95lewiscameron]

Beliefs. The actions are harmful, not the beliefs.

[@charlesarmstrong4013]

these are story's to get a point across. they may be embellished a bit , but it does help remember the moral of the story.

[@LennyLentil]

38:32 Couple's forgiveness ceremony

[@Ravenzpeak]

sadhu, sadhu, sadhu...and thank you for so many good laughs. We're here, we're alive, we might as well laugh well while learning well, right?

[@japandata]

There are many harmful beliefs, yes, but if all we do is criticize instead of looking for the good, then we are really tearing down ourselves. Realize that negativity affects us more than someone else. Most people in those faiths don't care what we think or say, so better to give compassion and use that as a way to turn people than to tear down with criticism. Carrot over stick.

[@dorabastable7028]

Exactly. He uses textbook anti-Semitism when he talks about Jews only sticking together. Per capita, more Jews practice Buddhism than any other non-Buddhism group. In fact, for the Jewish community, intermarriage is a very big problem, because most of the children from these marriages leave Judaism. The minority of Jews who do stay faithful to their religion and do go to their own schools have very good reasons. Number one - dietary laws would prohibit observant Jewish and Moslem children from eating food prepared in a secular school. Secondly, Orthodox Judaism emphasizes modesty between the sexes - similar to Vinaya rules. Lastly, imposing such a law violates freedom of religion and other freedoms established in democratic countries. Outlawing religious freedom, schools, and places of worship is what the Communists did. Lastly, his statement that "countries are not religious, but people are" sounds nice, but doesn't measure up to reality. So, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not really governed by Sharia law? Sure, not all Iran's citizens walk in lockstep with their country, but still, its citizens must follow its religious laws or face certain torture and death.

[@jennyaskswhy]

Right view is ridding yourself of perceptions and prejudices so that you can see clearly what IS instead of what you think it is. Is that true?

[@suneethadjs1]

Very good talk

[@syrenissen]

Does he has any films where he talks about Consciousness?=

[@Olbiber]

Thanks.

[@a0um]

5:45 first he quotes a historic figure saying "criticising another person religion only diminishes ones own", then :6:50 he states that "even if he's a monk or a nun, he can be questioned" (which in practice means applying critical thought and, directly or indirectly, preparing to citicise a monk or nun actions). Well, I question you, dear Ajahn, if criticism towards other religions should really be banned? Can't we have criticism without phisical violence? We choose the "right" view based on the effects it has rather than it's intrinsic factuality or truthfulness. What should we do if people with an incmpatible view come into a certain social structure? I'm not here to justify any act of violence that happened in Burma. I don't know the details. But I have the impression that an absolute ban on criticism is too much and actually can't stand the test of time.

[@pkemrin]

I hunted deer as a child, but never caught one. Instead, I had the "mouse" moment with caterpillars. There's a breed of caterpillar that ruin trees were I live, and they grow in big webby nests in the trees. And if they bloom, a lot of other trees will die in the forest next season. My parents owned that forest and made their money raising timber. I, took one of those nests and killed those caterpillars with a brick. I felt terrible after that. And never killed on purpose again.

[@AngelOfEvenfall]

I think when someone believes the world was created just for humans so animals as well as the environment can be exploited because the world will end within the next 50 years anyway, they should be criticised for that. Or if someone believes a girl should be stoned for being raped, or homosexuality is an abomination etc. There are too many sad examples out there.When people harm others they have to be made aware, don't you think? With kindness of course.

[@japandata]

What's the greater level of compassion? Giving of yourself and your body or shrinking from the opportunity to save a life because of superstition? Better to take the opportunity and overcome your fear.

[@PBrofaith]

Thank you for your response. It does not seem to answer the question I have in my mind. I may think on how to language it better and try again later

[@fester5893]

Cool talk!!!

[@MrCanigou]

Loved the talk until 0:56:19 with the two heart cells memory stories and no reliable online reference... But I would feel stupid starting a long argument focusing on this "weird" stories and thus troubling the harmony of the talk. Which I liked overall

[@AngelOfEvenfall]

I think I might do it in a similar way in this case ;) Afaik I watched the right speech talk (I think I watched them all lol ). I might for instance counter a westboro baptist church protest with billboards of some loving verses from Jesus (and there are plenty!). I think that may be most effective. If you get a negative response it doesn't mean they won't think about it ;) And oh no, saying "christians are hateful" would really not be right speech. It serves nothing but alienating people.

[@siewkonsum7291]

Right implies wrong. Neither is there right nor wrong views! To wipe conceptual attachments of dualistic notions in his followers' Minds, the Buddha speaks about Non-Attachment - to void anything whatsoever in mind!

[@Giantcrabz]

Scientology is a wrong view lol

[@PBrofaith]

I am not a Buddhist. However I am surprised to hear a monk urging people to become organ donors and criticizing reasons for not wanting to donate organs as superstition. I understand that it is not uncommon for recipients of organs to take on abilities and character traits of the person who donated the organs. I do not know clearly what the relationship between our bodies and the essence of us is, I suspect that the monk in question does not ether. any thoughts?

[@mayhemsci]

lol ... some people eat pork, some people eat vegetarians ...

[@SauravBhasin1983]

No offense to Ajahn Brahm but Right view could also be best understood by trying out the view in your own life and seeing the results.

[@bobsmith2705]

he has said that in many talks just letting you know as a friend. that is grate that you could come up with that .

[@dorabastable7028]

Well, I certainly took offense to his 'textbook' anti-Semitism. His ego is way out of control.

[@PhoenixProdLLC]

@@dorabastable7028 ??

[@japandata]

I would go to the source on this and listen to Ajahn Brahm's "Right Speech" discussion. However, one example to be truthful yet kind might cover how some Christians despise homosexuality. You could say "Christians are hateful", but you could also say "I'm so glad that Christ believed love was the most important law to observe." In one instance, you're going to generate a negative response, in another you're challenging someone to represent the true teaching of their faith.

[@robinvogt1472]

ya new talk !!

[@zacharywallace8583]

:) Yeah. Peace.

[@AngelOfEvenfall]

@0:05:25 I don't think religion should be beyond criticism. There are many very harmful beliefs out there...

[@markbrad123]

When you think about politics/religion and social impact you find it impossible to find perfection. Pacifism but what about self defense from invasions. Karma but what about innocent victims - even dead Arahats. Oneness but some need boundaries. Individualism but narrow mindedness. The mind can only settle at whatever is best without dogma or pretension.

[@Insanalyst]

optizap These things all exist in continuum. To focus on pacifism without taking violence into account (etc...) is to have a limited view. We should endeavor to see the big picture without grasping at any particular portion.

[@markbrad123]

Eric Johnson Indeed, if you wish to look at it from a socio-political perspective or rhetorically. That would be a difficult endeavor. However it maybe easier just to take a discussion just more so particularly in the context to what it refers by the speaker without widening context to exception. Just in relative context you may appreciate some talks more so in that way with a fluid kind of listening and the maybe just apply such intelligence to similar contexts that fit in your own life if pertinent.

[@AngelOfEvenfall]

And what do you call beliefs that lead to harmful actions?

[@jackgoldman1]

So many views. Eight billion views. Which one is right and correct? Yes.

[@dedar3]

I bully my fish and prawns when I was little, 2 or 3 of them death because of me, I feel terrible and swore not to kill again.

[@dilly2000]

I'M A PIRATE! YARRRR

[@AngelOfEvenfall]

How do you point out errors in reasoning or misinformation with kindness alone? You should do it kindly of course or nobody will listen. Criticism isn't always bad. Progress in science happens because things are being dissected and analysed and evaluated and criticised by many people. Philosophical and political ideas are also criticised non stop. But for some reason - and I think that's fascinating - religious beliefs are often excluded from criticism.

[@pumpuppthevolume]

Karma in organs ...seriously the oldest parts of you are about 8 years old

[@pumpuppthevolume]

The organ caries the memory. ....anecdotal bull proove it

[@zacharywallace8583]

Let go.

[@pumpuppthevolume]

a vegetarian Buddhist against organ donations is not a good vegetarian ....u basically deny life saving help to people

[@mrsnowellie]

uitleg over vergevingsceremonie..begint bij 39.16

[@charlesarmstrong4013]

so you pick out one bad thing out of over an hour talk. you may need to look more at the good and less at the one you feel are bad.

[@123chandimal]

:)

[@pumpuppthevolume]

calling everything good religious people do ....religion is a bit chicken and the egg thing people do good for goodness sake their reasons are irrelevant

[@dorabastable7028]

Civically speaking you're right. For instance, I would be grateful if somebody gave me a car, even if their motivation was to get a tax deduction or become the hero of my community. However, religiously speaking, regards both Buddhism and Judaism, you are not going to earn spiritual kamma if you give in order to receive. I'm sure A.B. would not refuse a donation, even if he knew it was made in part for tax purposes. You know how he's always asking for money!

[@zacharywallace8583]

Let go.