After Gautama Buddha's born or Buddhism were already there in the world when Gautama Buddha was born? who was the first Buddhism follower?

I have seen multiple references to karma on this site, varying in its descriptions dependent on the question. Most answers appear to have the same answer e.g. Whereas Karma is what happens as a result of your actions or your choices. - Source If karma is the result of my actions or choices and it has a bearing on one's life now and in the next, who/what is the keeper of such actions and choices? Another way to ask the question is how is a record of my actions maintained and kept?

In Hinduism, there are many philosophies developed regarding the concept of God and afterlife, and they all give their own interpretations. Regarding the Karmic approach, the main book that gives insight about that is the Bhagwad Gita. - The main concept that arises from it is that no man can exist without doing any karma **(Knowingly or Unknowingly)** and hence krishna says that "any Karma without attachment is the right way to not get bounded by your karmic effects". - Whereas Buddhism says, any act of Karma whether good or bad is bound to create attachment so the best way is to not indulge in any karma altogether. As a man can`t live without doing karma, and this will result in karmic debt, isn't the salvation of a person (Nirvana) infeasible by this approach? Are Buddhism and Bhagwad Gita on different pages, regarding the concept of karma?

Ven. Members of the Sangha (of Bhikkhus), Ven. fellows, valued Upasaka and Upasika, dear readers and interesed, This question is intellectual and theoretical, or literary, but also/merely inviting self-reflection; but of course it can also be answered with words of the Buddha in "should-form" (in the later case, exchange "you" with "a serious follower of the Buddha, a person in general, to find peace", how ever you wish and feel obligated or loyal to). So, about loyalty, - In regard of what are you able to claim being loyal? - Whom are you loyal to? - How far goes your loyalty? - Where and how does it end? Also, finally: - What must one be loyal to, to find, to reach the highest aim all Buddha-following seekers are after? - What are you loyal and/or are you not loyal to, so that you have't found final peace already, or you highest desired goal? - What is an Arahat loyal to? Has loyality, then, an end (no more required)? Maybe you try to give a loyal answer. Much joy and inside in giving a benefical answer, at least for youself.

I want details of following quote by Gautam Buddha. Can anyone tell where (reference) & what completely he said?

In [this answer by Ronald Cowen](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/22286/254) , what does "safeguard cognitive process" mean? What is the Pali, or Sanskrit Buddhist term for the term, "safeguard cognitive process"? Could it be *panna*, or *Sampajnana* (by which I mean, right discrimination or proper discernment)?

i saw this video on facebook and youtube , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHDp1GbzE4o and they're writing on it in arabic "الرقية الشرعية عند البوذيين " witch means "the buddhism's Exorcism" i want to know if this is really a buddhism exorcism . if not , what is it ?

What is the symbolic meaning behind "the tiger takes to the mountain" in Dogen's Fugen zazengi ?

l experienced stopping of thoughts comes to the mind at a point and starts again.During that time my breathing has completely stopped.it is like mind has stopped for a moment.could that be possible?

Do any of you readers , know of a very simple, dependable starting point for an old meditator , who sits everyday, but I do not have contact with any meditation teacher, who I am connected with. I sit, and make an effort to practice the mahasatipattana practice. For example, a thought to start out my meditation, that will enable me to have a session where I am not distracted or get to nervous , or sluggish, and so on. I say some prayers and refuge, and the I meditate, afterwards , I dedicate to merit to all living beings, not excluding a single one. Part of my problem , is as I get older I have more health problems that affect me now, physically.So, I hope I made my question clear. I know , if I could go on a retreat, I would be sitting more firmly, but I can't attend a retreat at this time in my life. I have started , lately, the last two years, sitting for 5 minutes, twice a day. with prayers, dedication of merit and so on. Does any one have a similar situation , were you have figured out how to start correctly? Meaning, starting out and having an undistracted session? The alternative is, I just don't meditate , but maybe read some Buddha sutra, or a good teachers explanation..

This is a question about Pure Land Buddhism. What is a sentient being ? What is a living being ? Examples, e.g. slug, tree, bacteria, cat, aliens ? How do you teach enlightenment to a cat ? Are the snow lions in a pure land enlightened ? How do slugs get to be enlightened ? Do they have to be reborn as human first ? How can every living being be enlightened ? Do they all have to be human first ? Thanks.

During my college humanities class, I learned some things about Buddhism, which I had not had exposure to before. My teacher would sometimes tell us stories about field trips he would take with the class to a local Buddhist temple. In one such story, he said that he asked the cute Buddhist that worked at the temple if Buddhists were allowed to use antibacterial soap. From his story, she apparently didn't find that very funny, but he was left without an answer. I understand that Buddhist's are not allowed to kill. Does this include microscopic living organisms that would be alive on your hands? In other words, what is the answer to his question, "Can Buddhists use anti-bacterial soap?"

I don't want to sound Vulcan, but I mean self sacrifice which is out of proportion, what do Buddhists say about it? So as an example, going on a dangerous hunger strike, in order that your well fed friend has another loaf of bread. I got thinking about this via dying for the "one you love", but obviously that sort of thinking is off in Buddhism.

Despite communism as practiced (as opposed to what Marx might have had in mind) being the source of some of the largest slaughter of lay and monastic Buddhists ever (except maybe the Imperial Chinese)... are the principles of Buddhism and communism (or socialism) compatible? Did the historical Buddha or the later sutra writers hit on any of the same concepts that Marx did in any substantive way?

During my meditation ,I experience automatically switch on to breathe.what is this?Is it letting go of doer and knower?

I disagreed from the very beginning, after understanding some Buddhist philosophy, that it is not a religion. In my opinion, it is not a religion but a lifestyle or administration under which Buddhist teaching is practised. Please clarify why it is classified as a religion. **PS**: I have met many people specially from Nepal, who claim as a Buddhist monk but yet they don't seem to practice any Buddhist norms. And they even call me 'nastik' (one who don't believe in religion)

A claim which is often heard in connection with Buddhism is that it is not a religion. From a scientific point of view, is it a religion, or is it not?

SN 22.82 and MN 109 state: > *The four great elements, bhikkhu, are the cause (hetu) and condition (paccayo) for the **manifestation** (**paññāpanāya**) of the form (rupa) aggregate.* > > *Contact is the cause and condition for the manifestation of the feeling aggregate.* > > *Contact is the cause and condition for the manifestation of the perception aggregate.* > > *Contact is the cause and condition for the manifestation of the formations (sankhara) aggregate.* > > *Nāmarūpaṃ is the cause and condition for the manifestation of the consciousness aggregate.* ______________________________________ > ***Paññāpanāya**: This might have been rendered "for the description of the form aggregate". Paññāpanā is literally "making known" and something is "made known" either by becoming manifest or by being described. Footnote: Bhikkhu Bodi* __________________________________ Dependent origination states: > *And what is dependent co-arising? From ignorance as a requisite condition (paccaya) come formations (sankhara). From formations as > a requisite condition comes consciousness. From consciousness as a > requisite condition comes nāmarūpaṃ. From nāmarūpaṃ as a requisite > condition come the six sense media. From the six sense media as a > requisite condition comes contact. From contact as a requisite > condition comes feeling. From feeling as a requisite condition comes > craving. From craving as a requisite condition comes clinging. From > clinging as a requisite condition comes becoming. From becoming as a > requisite condition comes birth. From birth as a requisite condition, > then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair > come into play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress > & suffering.* In addition, Dependent Origination defines nāmarūpaṃ as: > *Feeling, perception, intention, contact and attention — these are called nāma. The four great elements and the material form derived > from the four great elements — these are called rūpa.* Obviously, there appear to many contradictions between SN 22.82 and Dependant Origination, which include: * Rupa caused (*hetu*) by elements vs rupa conditioned (*paccaya*) by consciousness * Sankhara caused (*hetu*) by contact vs sankhara conditioned (*paccaya*) by ignorance. * Feeling, perception & intention caused (*hetu*) by contact vs contact conditioned (*paccaya*) by sense media conditioned (*paccaya*) by feeling, perception & intention (*nāma*). * Consciousness caused (*hetu*) by namarupa vs namarupa conditioned (*paccaya*) by consciousness. Is there a contradiction here? Why is this so? How is this resolved?

As I know one says the 5 propositions and then goes about his day. Or are the precepts also pegs for mindfulness? Keeping them constantly in mind?

While meditating, it is not always clear whether you mind is clear of thoughts or not. Some seems to be more emotions or visions. But if all emotions and visions are accompanied with thoughts which are the toughest to recognize that they are there in your mind?