Jawnie

Of the three broad types of Buddhism-Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana-Dzogchen belongs to the Vajrayana. Since Thailand (and posters here) are predominately Theravada, the Dzogchen teachings aren't well known. They are extremely advanced and even those who claim to be Dzogchen practitioners, aren't, they just think they are because maybe they've read a lot of books and practiced a lot, even tantric ritual (which aren't accepted in Thailand either). So, this really is not the right forum to ask people about Dzogchen. Equating Dzogchen with the Theravada Nibanna isn't possible as Dzogchen realization is infinitely beyond that but not different. Theravadins will take issue with this statement because they don't think it is Buddhism or Buddha didn't teach Dzogchen and because Theravada believes nirvana is the highest state or the final state and nothing is possible beyond that. Dzogchen says otherwise but is not different.

In Tibetan Buddhism, Dzogchen (which means 'great perfection') is the highest of all teachings. Many Tibetans feel Dzogchen is the most advanced and highest spiritual teachings that exist or to be found. It's probably true if one studies all religions - you simply won't find anything as sophisticated, expansive, and utterly profound as Dzogchen. Even among Tibetans, true Dzogchen practitioners are rare. Among all of the various paths of Buddhism, as the highest teachings, Dzogchen is not even considered to be a 'path' because it is so radically beyond any sort of concept, even the concepts of Buddha, enlightenment, nirvana, etc.

Why should she step down? She is clearly The best and most loved Prime Minister Thailand has ever had. She is more popular than her brother (the font of all evil) and more popular than the butchers of Bangkok.

Thailand needs a strong honest, dedicated stateswoman for P.M., not a cute, cuddly, bimbo that uses Facebook and Skype for running a government.

Playtime is over, the bell has rung, time for some serious changes to get this country back on High Speed Track.

There's one problem with your idea. Er...uh, YL won the election AGAIN.

If you are prepared to risk deportation go ahead. Never had sympathy for protesters of any kind who disrupt peoples lives and business.

Tea-party Political Science 101: Nobobdy has a right to their own opinion.

Another dose of that world famous Thai democracy.

First,...you must not be familiar with the North, and their supreme patience thus far. Second, you must not be familiar with how people who have been "bullied" reach a snapping point.

The PDRC goebbelesque propaganda has gone too far,...in a Country without sexist, racist, elitist, it would have never begun.

Like in the good old days of the 1930's Europe - You threathen by violence - hooligans from North will march towards an otherwice peaceful protest - peaceful and peacefully blocking (for the most parts) protest... I any normal democracy protests are legal and even part of the democracy...

You obviously haven't seen the news footage being watched by the rest of the World at this moment. Protest is legal, yes, physicly preventing electors from voting by force is not.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26004195

As for peaceful.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25998717

How about burning down buildings to bring back a wanted murderer and dictator - is that legal?? Oh sorry we shouldnt discuss such things should we?

I hate to bother you with facts and details...but...the burnings occurred AFTER numerous attacks by the Army on protestors. These were the shootings where more than 90 people were killed and thousands injured BEFORE burning. Who murdered who here???

"Red wave set to swamp Bangkok" is EXACTLY what the Reds should do if YL is removed by any type of coup or throng of mall-rat thugs.

And the police vow not to arrest anyone, of course.

It is there in every media report in every paper in every country bar 2 or 3 in Thailand.

that is, the Army traditionally side with the Anti Thaksin movement. There's the problem.

Yingluk has even offered another election in one years time. Guess who is not talking? Too busy screaming the Peoples Council policies out loud from the stage. Making up policy on the hoof and promising to pay farmers if they support him.... after he blocked their payments.

So this is buying votes writ large and presumably once the Junta is installed in his dream coup, all his rants from the stage will have to be honored. Very democratic I don't think. Sound more like a dictator?

What a circus is the thai elite and their cronies. No wonder the Govermnet is digging in on this. They have to be got rid of. EC, CC, Army acting as a private business and mafia enforcer.

Stick with it Yingluck most of the world are behind you and the ones that are not with you, really don't deserve mention after this latest outrage.

Spot on

Sad to see how the institutions, who officially are unpolitical, clearly siding with the elite, now that the winds have changed! In the interest of the country?? No to keep their "rightful" place at the trough!!

If might take some time, but the existing feudal system have to give way for something more democratic!

Thailand is in dire need of a European style Socialdemocratic Party. And to the Americans here, it doesn't equal communism!

Thailand is in dire need of a European style Socialdemocratic Party. And to the Americans here, it doesn't equal communism!

Well I am an American and I agree with you on that point. But in two and a half years I have not seen that happening here. That is one of the reasons I back Suthep in his bid to create a council to reform the government and put in some checks and balances. To take steps towards eliminating corruption and election fraud. Then hold an election. It would be one that would not be as attractive to the in it for the money that they can take through corruption. It would make room for more honest candidates. Corruption and fraud can not be wiped out but they can certainly be cut way back.

Some times we have to sit back and take an honest look at what is going on and this is one of them. It will not stop Democracy it will just give Thailand time to take a look at it and what the type of government they have is doing to the country. Then an election will be held and people will be much more aware of what the governments function are.

There are and will be those who refuse to change or even look at what is happening but there will be far fewer of them. I of course am presuming the council will be transparent in it's dealings and all sessions open to the public. The only reason I back the one side is because I am more concerned about Thailand than I am a family holding on to power just for the sake of it and the money they can bleed out of it.

Are you serious??? I am American also but what you are saying sounds like you are from Fantasy Island. Thailand end corruption first and get the money out of politics before the election...what a joke. Thailand has never dealt with its corruption and your saying they'll change overnight. Nonsense. And what's this about open and transparent meetings? When was the last time you heard of a public hearing or public comment in Thailand? It's a top down system. Sessions open to the public? You are definitely from Fantasy Island. If you think Suthep and crew are so malleable, why isn't he talking to the government now? Why couldn't process start now? Why does PM YL need to leave office since, as you wish, the process will be public and open? Go back to Fantasy Island.

I was never interested in hi-so Thai women because I'm not that much into the social lifestyle, which I assume would be a big part of a hi-so woman's life. My take other than that (after 2.5 years in Bkk) was that most educated and working Thai women aren't interested in farang men. Of course, I dated several women. One thing I learned early on (and stuck to it) is that if the woman didn't finish high school and barely spoke English, I'd move on right away - no matter how good she looked or how nice and enticing she might be. Not because I looked down on her but rather I simply wasn't interested in spending a long time in a relationship in which neither of us could truly understand each other. This had to do with both language and as to educational and social background.

The women I spent the most time with was actually half-Farang...her mother is from the US and the father is Thai. She'd never met her mother but the talked on the phone regularly. She doesn't know where her father is. In any case, she did not go to college but she learned English, was giving and kind, had her own shop, and even had a nice big pick-up truck. She was a good friend, too, and not high maintenance, which I assume would be the case with a hi-so. I was never really interested in finding out.

I think the question is better directed to Christian nations...eh, hem.....

I think the question is better directed to Christian nations...eh, hem.....

We are all only capable of one thought at a time. Scientifically proven. Bumper to bumper, so we call it Mind.

Mind does not exist. Only thoughts do. ( Bodhidharma said to the Chinese emperor ' show me your mind' . He could not) .

So, when you observe your breath, with full attention, Guess what!! You are in meditation.

Practise this and you are transcending thoughts. You are in meditation. Congratulations

Haha...I remember a Buddhist teacher using the same trick on a Christian. The teacher asked the Christian, "Do you have a soul?" To which, the Christian naturally replied, "Yes." Then the teacher asked, "Okay, describe it to me. What does it look like, what does if feel like, what color is it? etc. Of course, the Christian had no answers.

For a minister to pop-off like this publicly must infuriate PM YL. If I were her, I'd fire him...he can be the first to go.

The Protester is EXACTLY right, the Majority who voted this Governement is their votes are not being respected and again he is right when he says he is the PEOPLE

For the umpteenth time - but just for you again : Which majority are you referring too? Do you mean the large minority that voted for PTP in the last election?

If so, many of that minority who voted PTP may not do so again. I base this on a large group of young university educated Thais that I know, All are from Isaan, all voted for PPT. All are disgusted at the sheer corruption and lies over the last 2.5 years. All vow to never vote for a Thaksin proxy party again - and yes, they've all joined protest marches against this regime.

Now they are all trying to explain to their relatives in the NE why taking the cash bribe and believing all the false promises won't deliver a government that really looks after them,

Conversely, my friends in CM tell me the power of the Shins is as strong as ever and any voice against them won't be tolerated.

It really is a feudal factionalised society where clan loyalty, bribery and corruption, coupled with violent intimidation when necessary, are seen as acceptable facets of democracy. Not a surprise given the complete lack of legal integrity that permeates all levels. And we have posters on here saying "this government was democratically elected " (many also usually falsely claim by a majority) and then compare this phenomena with Western Democracy. Apples and Oranges.

If all that you spew is true what dont they just go to the election and vote then just like Yingluck, said Vote her out ??

If there is overwhelming majority support against the TS clan I really dont understand why they dont WELCOME THE ELECTIONS on the 2nd of Feb

But the truth is very different isnt it

True. I was reading Michael Yon's page and he keeps adding to an increasing list of people he claims are 'anti-regime'. The latest are Thai-Indians and rice farmers. In fact, if you believe his page you'd think that the government are in danger of being attacked by 20 million rice farmers (who according to Yon, 'know more about explosives than your average Taliban'), who are furious after the government has bankrupted them with their rice scheme. Thai-Indians are apparently up in arms because Thaksin 'played the race card' - though I'm not sure what that involved or when it was. And one of his Thai fans claimed that she doubts PT can even win this next election, despite the fact they have no significant opposition.

And all the while I'm thinking 'Wow, it's a shame that the Democrats aren't competing then, isn't it? I mean with all these people that have supposedly turned against the 'regime', they should win a landslide...'

However, there are signs that suggest the opposite is the case:

Richard Barrow ‏@RichardBarrow 21h

If you think most Thais don't want an election then think again. 2,164,796 have registered to vote in advance; 916,210 in #Bangkok alone

Richard Barrow ‏@RichardBarrow 21h

Registration for advance voting in elections - Via @noppatjak: 2007 - 2.09 Million 2011 - 2.40 Million 2014 - 2.16 Million

If they'd claimed people were rapidly turning against PT in early November, I would've totally agreed. But the Democrats have wasted any advantage they had then, and if they don't win this fight by installing their unelected council, they stand a chance of never recovering as an electoral force. That's why their own secretary general admitted that the party was in danger of being destroyed, whichever direction it were to take. Caught between a rock and a hard place. I don't think they'll be destroyed because they'll always have the south providing them with a foundation, but elsewhere...

Agreed. Yon posted a picture of 30-40 anti-government protesters in Issan and said "the tide is turning". I posted, reminding him that there are 20 million people in Issan. His anti-govt followers didn't appreciate my thoughts, as you might guess.

Is this about the coffee?

If it isn't, let's start a thread about Thai coffee: it SUCKS!

Through the ages, there have always been people who know the absolute truth and are therefore competent and qualified to teach it and recognize others' realization. In the case of the Mahayana and Vajrayana, there have been many such beings who have appeared. This relates to the idea of reincarnation and the fruits of successful practice. In Mahayana and Vajrayana, realized beings do not simply end their physical existence. Those who have taken the Bodhisattva vow reincarnate as spiritually evolved beings. Moreover, a single spiritually evolved being may do this for many, many human lifetimes. For example, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, at Tibetan master of the mid-20th century was recognized as the most highly realized master from among all Tibetan schools. His incarnation lineage includes that in a previous life, he was Shariputra, one of Shakaymuni's closets disciples. Hinayanists don't accept this but it is a deeply held belief among all Tibetan schools. As further example, by the time Dudjom Rinpoche was 14 years old, he had already mastered all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and, at that age, lead large month-long ceremonies attended by 1,000s of monks and lamas.

The question always arises, "Who decides that such-and-such person is a spiritually realized being?" Beings like Dudjom Rinpoche and others are foretold in histories and predictions left by previous masters. Also, such beings don't get to rest on their laurels...they must prove themselves. As mentioned, Dudjom Rinpoche was able to lead large groups of monks and lama through very complex, month-long ceremonies at the age of 14. No one who was not fully realized could ever accomplish it, a charlatan could not, a phony couldn't, even a very smart and well-trained monk could not - it would be impossible for someone to simply do so. It's not be any different than claiming your are great physicist but know very little about physics - you'd be discovered in two seconds by those who did know. There are many such examples in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. It is in the Hinayana where so many doubts about this still linger.

I don't know from which sutta/writing, but didn't even the Buddha himself say: "I am not omnipotent!".

If he wasn't, how could Dudjom Rinpoche be?

No, my understanding is that when one attains Buddhahood, it includes omnipotence: knowing the past, present, and future of all beings.

Omniscient is the word I'm looking for, not omnipotent. Omnipotence is a slightly different matter and I wasn't trying to say that.

Through the ages, there have always been people who know the absolute truth and are therefore competent and qualified to teach it and recognize others' realization. In the case of the Mahayana and Vajrayana, there have been many such beings who have appeared. This relates to the idea of reincarnation and the fruits of successful practice. In Mahayana and Vajrayana, realized beings do not simply end their physical existence. Those who have taken the Bodhisattva vow reincarnate as spiritually evolved beings. Moreover, a single spiritually evolved being may do this for many, many human lifetimes. For example, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, at Tibetan master of the mid-20th century was recognized as the most highly realized master from among all Tibetan schools. His incarnation lineage includes that in a previous life, he was Shariputra, one of Shakaymuni's closets disciples. Hinayanists don't accept this but it is a deeply held belief among all Tibetan schools. As further example, by the time Dudjom Rinpoche was 14 years old, he had already mastered all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and, at that age, lead large month-long ceremonies attended by 1,000s of monks and lamas.

The question always arises, "Who decides that such-and-such person is a spiritually realized being?" Beings like Dudjom Rinpoche and others are foretold in histories and predictions left by previous masters. Also, such beings don't get to rest on their laurels...they must prove themselves. As mentioned, Dudjom Rinpoche was able to lead large groups of monks and lama through very complex, month-long ceremonies at the age of 14. No one who was not fully realized could ever accomplish it, a charlatan could not, a phony couldn't, even a very smart and well-trained monk could not - it would be impossible for someone to simply do so. It's not be any different than claiming your are great physicist but know very little about physics - you'd be discovered in two seconds by those who did know. There are many such examples in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. It is in the Hinayana where so many doubts about this still linger.

I don't know from which sutta/writing, but didn't even the Buddha himself say: "I am not omnipotent!".

If he wasn't, how could Dudjom Rinpoche be?

No, my understanding is that when one attains Buddhahood, it includes omnipotence: knowing the past, present, and future of all beings.

Through the ages, there have always been people who know the absolute truth and are therefore competent and qualified to teach it and recognize others' realization. In the case of the Mahayana and Vajrayana, there have been many such beings who have appeared. This relates to the idea of reincarnation and the fruits of successful practice. In Mahayana and Vajrayana, realized beings do not simply end their physical existence. Those who have taken the Bodhisattva vow reincarnate as spiritually evolved beings. Moreover, a single spiritually evolved being may do this for many, many human lifetimes. For example, HH Dudjom Rinpoche, at Tibetan master of the mid-20th century was recognized as the most highly realized master from among all Tibetan schools. His incarnation lineage includes that in a previous life, he was Shariputra, one of Shakaymuni's closets disciples. Hinayanists don't accept this but it is a deeply held belief among all Tibetan schools. As further example, by the time Dudjom Rinpoche was 14 years old, he had already mastered all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and, at that age, lead large month-long ceremonies attended by 1,000s of monks and lamas.

The question always arises, "Who decides that such-and-such person is a spiritually realized being?" Beings like Dudjom Rinpoche and others are foretold in histories and predictions left by previous masters. Also, such beings don't get to rest on their laurels...they must prove themselves. As mentioned, Dudjom Rinpoche was able to lead large groups of monks and lama through very complex, month-long ceremonies at the age of 14. No one who was not fully realized could ever accomplish it, a charlatan could not, a phony couldn't, even a very smart and well-trained monk could not - it would be impossible for someone to simply do so. It's not be any different than claiming your are great physicist but know very little about physics - you'd be discovered in two seconds by those who did know. There are many such examples in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. It is in the Hinayana where so many doubts about this still linger.