Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
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Naraka/hell realms in Buddhism
A being is born into a Naraka-Niraya or Hell as a direct result of his or her accumulated actions (karma) and resides there for a finite period of time until that karma has achieved its full result. It is said that the Yamaraja assesses the vices of the sinful and accords judgement, assigning them t...
A being is born into a Naraka-Niraya or Hell as a direct result of his or her accumulated actions (karma) and resides there for a finite period of time until that karma has achieved its full result. It is said that the Yamaraja assesses the vices of the sinful and accords judgement, assigning them to appropriate hells as punishment commensurate with the severity and nature of their sins.
Yama dutas also assigned the job of executing punishments on sinners in various hells.
In the Pali canon,the Supreme Buddha states that a person who has ill-treated their parents, ascetics, holy persons, or elders is taken upon his death to Yama.
So how does the karma affect to yamaraja and his servants,yama dutas for thier actions in assignig punishments?
Ms.Sunshine
(51 rep)
Jun 7, 2016, 02:24 PM
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As a disciple of the Supreme Buddha, what would you do with an animal that is in severe pain?
You may get to see someone or an animal is sick and suffering in pain. You may be able to give that person or animal a medicine that helps relieve the pain somewhat. But sometimes there’s so much pain that it goes beyond the reach of any morphine, any opium, any painkiller at all. At such moments wh...
You may get to see someone or an animal is sick and suffering in pain. You may be able to give that person or animal a medicine that helps relieve the pain somewhat. But sometimes there’s so much pain that it goes beyond the reach of any morphine, any opium, any painkiller at all. At such moments what would be your thoughts? Being well informed of the Dhamma, you know in the back of your mind that it is our responsibility for what we are. We were the ones who chose to be born here. It was because of our desires and our cravings that we took birth as human beings or animals for that matter. When you’re responsible for your birth, then you also have to be responsible for how you handle your aging, illness, and death. They all come as part of the same package. So how could you be of help to self and the other in such a situation?
Saptha Visuddhi
(9723 rep)
Jun 5, 2016, 07:49 PM
• Last activity: Jun 5, 2016, 09:13 PM
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In which language or languages were most of the sutras compiled?
In general, which language or languages were the sutras compiled and was this the same language tha Shakyamuni spoke?
In general, which language or languages were the sutras compiled and was this the same language tha Shakyamuni spoke?
Morella Almånd
(467 rep)
Apr 17, 2016, 04:57 PM
• Last activity: Jun 5, 2016, 06:39 PM
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Why is Rupa (not) Ultimate Reality?
When we see "a car' then there is the "seeing of the car formation" and that is mind or "nama". At the same time there is the rupa car formation that is not a concept from our mind. I always thought rupa was "the experience or hardness , softness, roughness ect.. but I guess this is wrong because ru...
When we see "a car' then there is the "seeing of the car formation" and that is mind or "nama". At the same time there is the rupa car formation that is not a concept from our mind. I always thought rupa was "the experience or hardness , softness, roughness ect.. but I guess this is wrong because rupa is it's own ultimate reality?
Lowbrow
(7466 rep)
Sep 23, 2015, 02:16 PM
• Last activity: Jun 5, 2016, 11:45 AM
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Is hate meant to be useful in any way?
I am pretty confident that the act of hating is bad, no matter the situation/problem you are facing. Now, does hate have any intrinsic purpose? I am thinking that maybe it was useful to hate in some step in the evolutional chain. Probably as an unconscious triggering method to keep us away of danger...
I am pretty confident that the act of hating is bad, no matter the situation/problem you are facing.
Now, does hate have any intrinsic purpose? I am thinking that maybe it was useful to hate in some step in the evolutional chain. Probably as an unconscious triggering method to keep us away of danger.
To what extent is this idea compatible with buddhism?
I am sorry if my question is not precise enough.
hipoglucido
(113 rep)
Jun 5, 2016, 08:58 AM
• Last activity: Jun 5, 2016, 10:24 AM
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How does the Dhamma reconcile slavery?
Since one of the aspects of wrong livelihood is human trafficking, why do we frequently read in the Canon instances where a slave should be good to his master, a master should be good to his slaves.
Since one of the aspects of wrong livelihood is human trafficking, why do we frequently read in the Canon instances where a slave should be good to his master, a master should be good to his slaves.
m2015
(1344 rep)
Mar 17, 2016, 08:27 AM
• Last activity: Jun 4, 2016, 05:27 PM
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The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
Are the Seven Factors of Enlightenment understood to happen as specific phases in a linear progression in one's journey or are they understood to happen in a circular manner with ever deepening understanding?
Are the Seven Factors of Enlightenment understood to happen as specific phases in a linear progression in one's journey or are they understood to happen in a circular manner with ever deepening understanding?
user143
Jun 19, 2014, 12:06 PM
• Last activity: Jun 4, 2016, 04:16 PM
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Can Dukkha be considered as the consequence of a psychological allergic reaction?
An physical allergic reaction happens when the immune system is activated when it is not really necessary and harms more than it helps. Dukkha can perhaps be the result of activity of the ego against things which actionally doens't harm you. So can you say suffering is due to an allergic ego?
An physical allergic reaction happens when the immune system is activated when it is not really necessary and harms more than it helps.
Dukkha can perhaps be the result of activity of the ego against things which actionally doens't harm you.
So can you say suffering is due to an allergic ego?
Marijn
(803 rep)
Apr 30, 2016, 07:20 PM
• Last activity: Jun 4, 2016, 03:52 AM
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What do you think would be a good way to explain death to a child, from a Buddhist perspective?
When a young child hears that someone died, it's natural for him to wonder whether he'll die too, or whether those who are most dear to him too die quite unexpectedly. So what kind of a response should one give in keeping with a Theravada Buddhist Perspective?
When a young child hears that someone died, it's natural for him to wonder whether he'll die too, or whether those who are most dear to him too die quite unexpectedly. So what kind of a response should one give in keeping with a Theravada Buddhist Perspective?
Saptha Visuddhi
(9723 rep)
May 29, 2016, 11:58 PM
• Last activity: Jun 4, 2016, 02:59 AM
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What does Buddhism say about success?
I grew up in a western country raised in a western atmosphere with a western mentality. I'm talking things like the pyramid of needs and how apparently self-gratification and personal success are the highest on the checklist. I grew up with an attitude that stressed individuality above everything el...
I grew up in a western country raised in a western atmosphere with a western mentality. I'm talking things like the pyramid of needs and how apparently self-gratification and personal success are the highest on the checklist. I grew up with an attitude that stressed individuality above everything else, self-accomplishment as the most important trait of a person, and everything under it (money, fame, finance, cars, houses, etc). When I started practicing Buddhism, I began to look into the nature of the "self" and the ego, and now it seems to me like there is an inner cultural conflict.
What does Buddhism say about success and accomplishment in life? It seems on one hand you have an absolute western mentality about achievement and individual strength and standing out from all others as an ultimate success. On the other, Buddhism and a lot of eastern cultures traditionaly emphasize humility, selflesness, and non-attachment to one's ego.
Thank you all~.
Maxwell T.
(527 rep)
Jun 3, 2016, 08:54 PM
• Last activity: Jun 4, 2016, 12:06 AM
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How is the "self" able to recognize the interplay between the cognitive process and "desire"?
I read in [Going for Refuge & Taking the Precepts](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/wheel282.html) by Bhikkhu Bodhi that "cognition is subservient to wish", and "in subtle ways concealed from ourselves our desires condition our perceptions": > The Buddha teaches that cognition is sub...
I read in [Going for Refuge & Taking the Precepts](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/wheel282.html) by Bhikkhu Bodhi that "cognition is subservient to wish", and "in subtle ways concealed from ourselves our desires condition our perceptions":
> The Buddha teaches that cognition is subservient to wish. In subtle ways concealed from ourselves our desires condition our perceptions, twisting them to fit into the mould they themselves want to impose.
Can the practice of insight meditation reveal this deception of the "self", and, if so, how does the process work?
PaPa
(1005 rep)
Jun 3, 2016, 01:29 PM
• Last activity: Jun 3, 2016, 08:21 PM
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Infidelity in marriage
If you are in a sexless marriage where your wife absolutely denys you any sex or intimacy no matter what, is it OK to cheat? What is the Buddhist rules on that? I understand that my wife's behavior can be considered sexual abuse. What she does for me is actually not good for my health and well being...
If you are in a sexless marriage where your wife absolutely denys you any sex or intimacy no matter what, is it OK to cheat? What is the Buddhist rules on that? I understand that my wife's behavior can be considered sexual abuse. What she does for me is actually not good for my health and well being.
Michael Galwey
(29 rep)
May 24, 2016, 04:22 AM
• Last activity: Jun 3, 2016, 02:42 AM
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Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
I read the question/answers on mindfulness of feelings and emotions. When I am meditating on the breath unpleasant body feelings arise and they are noted. (Example: A wave of fear permeating the body. Not long after the fact, I realize that those unpleasant body feelings were a result of a thought....
I read the question/answers on mindfulness of feelings and emotions. When I am meditating on the breath unpleasant body feelings arise and they are noted. (Example: A wave of fear permeating the body. Not long after the fact, I realize that those unpleasant body feelings were a result of a thought. So, I get caught up in trying to label it correctly. I.e. Is it a body unpleasant feeling or a mind unpleasant feeling? This creates more anxiety and doubt. Do you have any suggestions on how to proceed. Thank you
Griffin
(11 rep)
May 31, 2016, 09:12 PM
• Last activity: Jun 2, 2016, 05:11 AM
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Should I use autosuggestion to make myself meditate
Would like to hear what people here think about subconsciousness and autosuggestion Is using autosuggestion to make myself do sitting meditation a good idea ? If so how to do it ? Because I have a very bad procrastination problem and I tried many solutions to it without success but heard of autosugg...
Would like to hear what people here think about subconsciousness and autosuggestion
Is using autosuggestion to make myself do sitting meditation a good idea ? If so how to do it ?
Because I have a very bad procrastination problem and I tried many solutions to it without success but heard of autosuggestion and wondered if it can help me doing the meditation sessions daily.
breath
(1454 rep)
Mar 3, 2016, 07:15 PM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 11:05 PM
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Attachment to body and bodily sensations
Right from the birth we are so attached to our body.Unwanted sensations easily disrupt the peace of our mind.Why is the mind so attached to the body and how to overcome such attachments ?
Right from the birth we are so attached to our body.Unwanted sensations easily disrupt the peace of our mind.Why is the mind so attached to the body and how to overcome such attachments ?
Saurabh Padwekar
(328 rep)
Apr 5, 2016, 04:39 AM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 09:42 AM
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Do any of scholastic currents conclusively affirm or deny that there are any facts at all?
Do any of scholastic currents unambiguously **affirm or deny** that there are any facts at all? In **any tradition**, so I welcome a reply from any perspective. By facts, I *don't* mean certain knowledge. - But if there *are facts* then, if we did know that fact, what we knew would be always be reli...
Do any of scholastic currents unambiguously **affirm or deny** that there are any facts at all? In **any tradition**, so I welcome a reply from any perspective.
By facts, I *don't* mean certain knowledge.
- But if there *are facts* then, if we did know that fact, what we knew
would be always be reliable, and there's nothing *out there* which
means we couldn't be entirely certain, only our limited knowledge of
what is.
- And if there are *no facts*, then any supposed knowledge that anyone
has is possibly untrue, and not *just* because of anything about the
belief.
If that sounds very convoluted, I apologise; I've tried to give necessary and sufficient conditions of a fact.
user2512
May 31, 2016, 02:24 PM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 07:55 AM
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What is the difference between kilesas and asavas?
What is the difference between kilesas and asavas? Or are they synonyms?
What is the difference between kilesas and asavas? Or are they synonyms?
Guy Eugène Dubois
(2382 rep)
Apr 28, 2016, 04:39 PM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 02:41 AM
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Are the Buddhist sutras 100% verified if applied in life?
I remember my teacher mentioned this in class : > "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not > believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. > Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your > religious books. Do not believe in...
I remember my teacher mentioned this in class :
> "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not
> believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many.
> Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your
> religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of
> your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they
> have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and
> analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is
> conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and
> live up to it."
Does that mean that the sutras are 100% correct if I follow them? because it is very confusing, or according to what siddartha mentioned, I can't even trust the sutras when he says do not believe?
kernx
(73 rep)
May 11, 2016, 01:56 PM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 02:15 AM
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When is the right time to meditate?
I was watching "how to meditate" in internet. In one video, a master said, not to meditate in the night in dark. If one meditates in dark, they should light candle or incense stick. The reason he gave was, one meditating in night will be possessed by spirits. Is this true? When is the right time to...
I was watching "how to meditate" in internet. In one video, a master said, not to meditate in the night in dark. If one meditates in dark, they should light candle or incense stick. The reason he gave was, one meditating in night will be possessed by spirits. Is this true? When is the right time to meditate.
8CK8
(849 rep)
Jan 22, 2016, 09:07 AM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 01:53 AM
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Escaping "certain death" in the Mahayana tradition: does it occur in India?
I was struck, when reading on the history of Buddhism in China, by the stories of brave monks escaping certain death, often many times in one life. I was curious is this was something Indian Buddhists also wrote about, or if it was something peculiar to China. Do these stories also appear in earlier...
I was struck, when reading on the history of Buddhism in China, by the stories of brave monks escaping certain death, often many times in one life.
I was curious is this was something Indian Buddhists also wrote about, or if it was something peculiar to China. Do these stories also appear in earlier reports, in the Buddha's life, etc.?
user2512
May 31, 2016, 10:31 AM
• Last activity: Jun 1, 2016, 12:37 AM
Showing page 366 of 20 total questions