I have experienced minor addictions lately, such as overeating or social media; these topics have been addressed on this site previously. I now have a more general question. I am wondering: which is more important between tolerating negative emotions and aspiring to healthier positive emotions and activities? Currently, both are quite difficult for me. Any suggestions as *how* to tolerate negative emotions, to let them arise, are welcome. Similarly, any suggestions about ideal ways to generate joyfulness and positive emotions would be useful as well. Thank you.

As I understand the Third Noble Truth, the cessation of dukkha is brought about by ending craving. I can see how, for example, practicing renunciation, or seeing no self, assist us in achieving this, but how do ethics and compassion practices like lovingkindness lead us to achieving the end of craving?

Namo Buddhaya. Craving is said to be the root of the fuel. Without fuel consciousness can not arise. However in the dependent origination craving manifests very late in the sequence of dependent originations. Consciousness arises at the 3rd step immediately after ignorance and volitional formations. But the fuel or craving arises after consciousness and feelings have arisen. Ideally first the craving should have arisen and then the consciousness should arise. This sutta explains how craving is the fuel for consciousness. As the sutta is very long I will quote some parts of it for better understanding. Consciousness is described as "like a fire". > It’s like fire, which is reckoned according to the specific conditions > dependent upon which it burns. What is the fuel ? In my opinion it is logically implied here that consciousness is fuelled by craving: because fire can not exist without fuel. And what is the fuel ? Craving. Simple. > “Mendicants, there are these four fuels. They maintain sentient beings > that have been born and help those that are about to be born. What > four? Solid food, whether coarse or fine; contact is the second, > mental intention the third, and consciousness the fourth. > > What is the source, origin, birthplace, and root of these four fuels? > Craving. When does Craving occur? > ignorance is a condition for choices. Choices are a condition for > consciousness. Consciousness is a condition for name and form. Name > and form is a condition for the six sense fields. The six sense fields > are conditions for contact. Contact is a condition for feeling. > Feeling is a condition for craving. My question is : How can consciousness arise without the arousal of craving in the first place in the dependent origination ?

Can all suffering be alleviated in this life through our efforts with the Eight Fold Path? Why engage in any effort related to the Eight Fold Path, if the only true benefits are to be realized in the next life?

I have been trying to find out the meaning and nature of Equanimity or Upeksha. I came across this Sutta which says something about Equanimity but it is in Pali. - Mahālomahaṃsacariya (Cp 35, i.e. number 35 in the Cariyāpiṭaka ) Can anyone please translate this Sutta from Pali to English ?

Which suttas in the Pali Canon give flat out instructions for how to develop equanimity?

When we have a powerful practice called Meditation, why prayer? Does the prayer deals with the worldly things, because everyone pray to god like I want a car or I wanna be rich. Is that only deals with the law of attraction. So what are the difference between them. Does prayer too take us to levels of enlightenment. How effective is Meditation compared to prayer.

Everyone was on a run for their life doing something they don't like. Also there may be no sense of satisfaction in their life. So I am thinking, what makes a man's life complete? Does the worldly things still matter for a man to make his life complete? Does only meditating makes a man complete? If there is no use in our life then what's reason for our existence. Why we came here into this world? Why are we in this cycle of birth and death? What is the meaning of life?

As I just starting to learn about Buddhism and the methods of be free from samsara. I have confusion about my relationship and my mother. I am 24 yo now- I feel like I have enough of being used by my mother. When I was 1 week old she gave me to another family to look after. She paid them tho. She never taking care of all my siblings inc me. She is sex worker and my dad was a lazy man who did nothing but spend my mother money. Instead of saving money for her kids, she went to another island with young guys to spend the money from properties etc. she sold me (not technically) to 50yo man who is her client,but he didn’t know that I was her daughter. She asked me to go there AGAIN after the sexual assault happen a day before, just to get a phone that he willing to give for an apology of his behaviour, but he did it again. My mom laughed and disgust when i told her what happened. When I started to build up my life on my own, she know I have more money than all my other siblings so she asked me to send and give her money(weekly or monthly). The money goes somewhere, I dunno where but it’s a lot for food expenses. Now I am in Australia studying with my hard work and she still depend on me to live, just like what she did in her whole life. Instead of giving up on her, I show her the good path n to become a better person but she always says “I was born like this, it’s a habit, don’t tell me what’s wrong n right, cause I know” over and over again. Last month, she asked for my help and I don’t have anything cause I just pay my school but she doesn’t understand so I asked my friends for help, and she said “it’s embarrassing to have a daughter who live in another country, but can’t support her mother” so I just said to her,”enough, enough doing this to me, if you believe what you believe is right then keep doing that, but I don’t want to be part of it” and I never call or text her since. I truly don’t want to be in her life anymore, she is 50yo. She had 3x stroke and she stil doesn’t changes. I accept the way she is but I don’t her to be part of my life, I don’t care if someday I live on the street again, as long as she stop to using me. What should I do ??? Try again ?? I forgive her. Should I back and apologise because I choose my happiness?? I need a spiritual answer ! I’m lost.

Namo Buddhaya. This sutta asks for development of 7 factors of enlightenment including Mindfulness and Equanimity. Development of Mindfulness is described in detail but I couldn't find any sutta describing development of Equanimity. My question is : Can you please suggest a sutta which describes how to develop Equanimity ?

Imagine someone perform an action. What are the requirements should be completed for it to be a complete sin? Explain it by using killing an animal as an exaple

When I did the 10 day Vipassana meditation retreat, sometimes I would find that when I was body scanning, I would suddenly realize I was scanning a second, floating body maybe a foot in front and above from my actual body. I could feel my sensations in the second body, but it was very disconcerting because it FELT like me, but was a projection. I felt distrustful of my own experience. If I recognized it, I could get my attention to return to my actual body and the projection would go away. What was that and why did it happen? Should I have just kept on doing what I was doing and observed, or (sort of) forcibly returned my attention to my actual body, as I did?

3 years back i had to face with an relationships Problem with my ex boy friend and at that time i was pregnant. I had to abort my child at that time as a result of those problems. Now i am married for 10 months and got pregnant 5 Months back. i was okay till to the 11th August and i was 25th week of my pregnancy then i got to know that my child's Heartbeat has stopped and he is no more live. This was unexpected and we cannot bear this pain. I had that fear whether that bad karma of previous abortion will be affect to this time.But according to the doctor everything was okay until baby's 25th week. We are suffering lot with this and have a fear that i will have to face the same situation in the future as well. I love kids so much. But once i had to done such a horrible thing due to the horrible situation with my ex. Please advice me how can i prevent from this bad karma and what should i do to survive from this.

Now this is often raised whenever a monk teaches and talks about the five precepts. They often say that these are not, like in the judeo christian faith, commandments and that no higher entity or something will punish one. Now to my question: These monks belief in post mortem rebirth (I do not) and they therefore employ wrong speech regarding the aspect of punishment. One is getting punished (hell realm etc.) if one is not in line with the precepts (based on their view on post mortem rebirth). Can anyone explain this phenomena?

Dear Venerable and friends, Instead of anapanasati, some of us like to meditate on a subject; like contemplation. For instance; inevitability of death & uncertainty of the time of death and being a mortal... or contemplation on 5 body parts (asubha). My question: When sitting shall we use a short sentence? Like: Death is inevitable. I am a mortal being. Like me all beings in samsara will face death when the time comes. Hence, we must transform our minds in accordance with the Dhamma. Is there any short comprising of 2 words/phrase that can be recited while inhaling & exhaling like mantra chanting (Bud- dho) in order to strengthen our contemplation. How to establish a solid foundation and make progress while doing discursive meditation? Thank you all, best wishes.

Namo Buddhaya. In this vast ocean of knowledge I haven't gained much knowledge. There are five aggregates, namely form,feeling,perception,volitional formations and consciousness.If I am not wrong, the aggregates are called aggregates because they are the sum total of many heterogenous things taken together. I am asking a very basic question here: What are these aggregates made up of?

Technically egg is a singular cell. it doesn't feel pain.So does break egg violate the first precept? Most often doctor prescribe fish oil(cod liver oil) as a medicine for rejuvenate brain cells as it contain omega -3? Doses it violate first precept?

I'm headed to India (and Lumbini in Nepal) in some months for a pilgrimage. This isn't a tourist trip. I want to make this trip as spiritually relevant as possible. Any sort of advice, tips, guidance as to important destinations within India would be most appreciated. This includes advice from Indian citizens regarding customs and culture, as I am a westerner. Thank you!

Nichiren Buddhism is a branch Mahayana Buddhism founded by Nichiren in the 13th century Japan. How is it different from other sects and branches of Buddhism? What are it's tenets, philosophy and practices? Do they venerate Buddha as a God or as a great personality and spiritual master?

**According to the original textual sources**, what happens during that moment you become _enlightened_? What is felt? What is it that you see? Please quote or provide a reference.