Sarathi

There are popular books these days by Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion, Christopher Hitchens - God is not Great, and others.

They are trying to popularise the idea that all religion is bogus, based on faulty scriptures that are no better than fairy tales (and much worse in that they damage people and society). In fact, says Dawkins, if you put any faith in such scriptures (gospels etc..) you are not only deluded, you are 'barking mad'

So they are the "New Atheists" - or "anti-theists" and their books are in bookshops all over the world including Thailand

Interestingly, though Dawkins does not attack Buddhism so much, it is only because he does not know enough about it. His line is clear - ALL religion is not only madness, but dangerous madness. Buddhism is not excluded. Hitchens does attack Buddhism more eloquently:

“An extraordinary number of people appear to believe that the mind, and the reasoning faculty – the only thing that divides us from our animal relatives – is something to be distrusted and even, as far as possible, dulled. The search for nirvana, and the dissolution of the intellect, goes on. And whenever it is tried, it produces a Kool-Aid effect in the real world.” (198)

Buddhism: “A faith that despises the mind and the free individual, that preaches submission and resignation, and that regards life as a poor and transient thing, is ill-equipped for self-criticism. Those who become bored by conventional ‘Bible’ religions, and seek ‘enlightenment’ by way of the dissolution of their own critical faculties into nirvana in any form, had better take a warning. They may thing they are leaving the realm of despised materialism, but they are still being asked to put their reason to sleep, and to discard their minds along with their sandals.” (204

Can Buddhists claim to be exempt just because there is no creator God? Not according to the New Theists.

As a Buddhist I am not even sure if I can be an atheist or not ...

Dton in dton naan is as meadish mentions in the above example (dton naan)

Dton - I without the 'or aan' carries the meaning 'beginning of' as in 'reum dton' (the start of) or Dton deuan - start of the month. It is a shorter word than the fromer mentioned and stressed tone.

Thursday November 15th and 22nd 6:30 pm - 8:15 pm, Bodhgaya Hall, Amarin Tower (Chit Lom Skytrain station)

53 year old Canadian monk U Vamsa will give two dhamma talks in English on topics related to meditation practise. Phra Vamsa is ordained in the Burmese Mahasi Sayadaw tradition under the much revered U Janaka, and has been busy teaching meditation retreats in the Dhammodaya meditation centre just outside Bangkok. Before heading abroad to assist in other centres around the world he will come to Bangkok and share his warmth, humour and meditation experience for Bangkok English speakers.

Free of charge, no registration required.

ALL DETAILS

Saturday December 1st 10:30 am - 2pm Suan Phai Vegetarian Restaurant, Phaholyothin Road (Ari Skytrain station)

"Old Buddha - New Atheism" - relaxed gathering focussing on the popularity of the 'New Atheists' Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Sam Harris et al. Is Atheism compatible with Buddhism? Is there a real spiritual goal or are we self replicating DNA machines destined for the worms ? Led by Dr Will Yaryan and Phra Cittasamvaro, with video, lunch and discussion.

Free of charge (buy your own lunch) No registration required

New interview with Bhikkhuni Dhammananda

Nothing unexpected or controversial but nice nonetheless.

The Buddha disappears for some 13 years after his marriage, and then reappears with his pregnant wife. What happened in those years? And why was there no baby for 13 years? It is likely that he went to do the 12 year study of the Vedas as was common at the time (even though he supposedly was not a Brahmin), and then returned home, tried to fulfil his duty as an heir, but quickly became disillusioned and left to try the Samana approach to spirituality, instead of the Brahmin one. He used many terms from the Vedic background of the time, and had a good understanding of all the different views prevalent at the time, though one can argue that this could have been inserted later - such as the bramacala sutta.

Yes, Bhikkhuni Dhammananda will be in Bangkok on Tuesday 16th, but a capacity crowd is expected so best be early to get a seat inside. Room holds 100 people.

David Holmes, a warm and interesting speaker who is a close collaborator of Bhikkhu Bodhi and the BPS, for whom he is editing the new internet version of the Wheel series of translations, is speaking there on tues 23 - Chulalonkorn day.

Khun Danai is on the 30th - he used to write the Dharma Moments column in the Bangkok Post, but again a capacity crowd is expected. All are free, and in English.