Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
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Higher textual criticism resources
I would like some resources on textual criticism of the pali canon and other ancient buddhist works generally considered to be trustworthy. These should include works from all three traditions if possible. Be it via blog, video or audio I don't care. Theologian Robert M. Price sets a good example ex...
I would like some resources on textual criticism of the pali canon and other ancient buddhist works generally considered to be trustworthy. These should include works from all three traditions if possible.
Be it via blog, video or audio I don't care.
Theologian Robert M. Price sets a good example example of the level of rigor I'm looking for here in this podcast.
https://youtu.be/AyQPVytxbGI
In other words, accessible to the lay person who doesn't speak in this case, Greek or Aramaic, but not dumbed down and pedantic to the point of being patronizing.
user117619
(113 rep)
Aug 17, 2015, 10:55 AM
• Last activity: Aug 17, 2015, 11:43 AM
0
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4
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The "empirical self" in Buddhism
Is it right to say that ***all*** Buddhists both do and don't believe in the "empirical self", as in the conscious mind and its concomitants? And in order I might make sense of your answer, can the latter "not self" be thought of as an absence of any conscious mind from reality itself? Finally, does...
Is it right to say that ***all*** Buddhists both do and don't believe in the "empirical self", as in the conscious mind and its concomitants?
And in order I might make sense of your answer, can the latter "not self" be thought of as an absence of any conscious mind from reality itself?
Finally, does that reality include or consist of the Buddha and how can we unenlightened beings confirm that, besides confirming suchness, when it seems we cannot confirm suchness is known?
---
Peter Harvey in the selfless mind says:
> an empirical self strictly speaking neither exists nor does not exist
user2512
Jan 13, 2015, 08:26 AM
• Last activity: Aug 17, 2015, 09:17 AM
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(Radical) pacifism and governmental force (army, police, etc.)
Reading some comments on this subsite I ended up a couple of days ago reading [this secular article][1] on the topic of self defence in Buddhism and [this question][2] on the site here. Now, based on this I seem to have deduced that there are three positions: - [Egocentric pacifism][3]: You may hurt...
Reading some comments on this subsite I ended up a couple of days ago reading this secular article on the topic of self defence in Buddhism and this question on the site here. Now, based on this I seem to have deduced that there are three positions:
- Egocentric pacifism : You may hurt and maybe even kill others if it is to defend yourself, provided it's not out of hatred or similar emotions. E.g. stopping an intruder forcefully is fine.
- Radical pacifism : You may not hurt others, even if you're "being rendered limb from limb".
- Utilitarianism : You may hurt and maybe even kill others if it's for the greater good and not out of hatred or similar emotions.
Now, historically I only know of a few groups that practiced radical pacifism, and one of the most famous groups (the anabaptists/Mennonites) concluded that it was impossible for a Christian to be a worldly ruler (ignoring the radical anabaptists and the mess in Münster).
This got me wondering:
- In countries like Cambodia (97% Buddhists) and Thailand (93% Buddhists) does radical pacifism have any consequences at all at the government level?
- Or is (radical) pacifism just an insignificant minority position in Buddhism?
In other words, what I am mostly just asking is how Buddhism approaches issues of the power of governments to wield a mighty sword (army, police) versus the pacifism that is often taught by Buddhists.
David Mulder
(208 rep)
Aug 14, 2015, 04:31 PM
• Last activity: Aug 17, 2015, 04:33 AM
4
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When and where were the mother and father of Buddha born?
Undoubtedly Buddha was a very famous person. I am very eager to know who were his mother and father and when and where they were born?
Undoubtedly Buddha was a very famous person. I am very eager to know who were his mother and father and when and where they were born?
user5728
Aug 16, 2015, 06:12 PM
• Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 11:23 PM
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Why did the Buddha suffer before he died?
I understand that the Buddha became severely ill prior to his death as a result of eating bad food. I also was under the impression that perfectly enlightened beings have obliterated, or rendered ineffective, all of their karma. If this is the case, why would the Buddha, the most perfectly enlighten...
I understand that the Buddha became severely ill prior to his death as a result of eating bad food. I also was under the impression that perfectly enlightened beings have obliterated, or rendered ineffective, all of their karma. If this is the case, why would the Buddha, the most perfectly enlightened of all, experience great suffering at the end of his life?
Ian
(2661 rep)
Aug 14, 2015, 04:47 PM
• Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 06:56 PM
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3
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Are Aksobhya and Bhaisajyaguru the same buddha?
[This page][1] by Venerable Husan Hua says yes; [this page][2] by Zhuoge Rinpoche says no. [1]: http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoor/0606/sources/medsutra1.htm [2]: http://www.zhuogelama.com/The%20Treasure%20Wisdom%20II_Part%20III_QA38.pdf
user126
Mar 4, 2015, 12:30 PM
• Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 06:38 PM
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Should Buddhists avoid Amazon and Starbucks out of concerns about tax avoidance?
Recently companies such as [Starbucks][1] and [Amazon][2] were accused of avoiding paying UK tax. Many people were quite upset about this and people began to boycott those companies involved. From a Buddhist perspective is there any problem with this? The companies are not stealing nor are they brea...
Recently companies such as Starbucks and Amazon were accused of avoiding paying UK tax. Many people were quite upset about this and people began to boycott those companies involved. From a Buddhist perspective is there any problem with this? The companies are not stealing nor are they breaking any laws - tax avoidance is perfectly legal as opposed to evasion which is not.
I appreciate there are many arguments that could be made against this practice around fairness, justice, social responsibly etc... However I'm interested in the Buddhist angle - perhaps thinking about the precepts or maybe broader concepts such as karma and dependent origination or another aspect of Buddhist thought that I'm not aware of.
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Aug 30, 2014, 05:51 PM
• Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 01:57 PM
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Where can I find the earliest possible version of the Mahā Karuṇā Dhāraṇī ("Great Compassion Mantra")?
I am looking for the earliest possible version of the Mahā Karuṇā Dhāraṇī ("Great Compassion Mantra") in Sanskrit or Pali as part of tracing it's origins. My hope is to find the Chinese contributions. I suspect it can be found in a book, either in print or not, but entirely in Sanskrit. As I am not...
I am looking for the earliest possible version of the Mahā Karuṇā Dhāraṇī ("Great Compassion Mantra") in Sanskrit or Pali as part of tracing it's origins. My hope is to find the Chinese contributions. I suspect it can be found in a book, either in print or not, but entirely in Sanskrit. As I am not literate in this language it hinders my task.
Can anyone recommend where I can find such a book or source containing the text of the Mahā Karuṇā Dhāraṇī ("Great Compassion Mantra") dating before the first Chinese translation of 627 AD? Is there a library that one could recommend that would have a good chance of having it?
Thank you so much for any help you can give.
Brian
(368 rep)
Mar 28, 2015, 05:25 PM
• Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 09:30 AM
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Three questions about sensual desire
**If music is a sensual desire , what's wrong with that?** Sensual desire is described as the first of the five hindrances. What I am a little perplexed by is the stance of Buddhism on the positive senses. For instance, if I desire to listen to a song, is the problem the desire, or the 'emotions and...
**If music is a sensual desire , what's wrong with that?**
Sensual desire is described as the first of the five hindrances. What I am a little perplexed by is the stance of Buddhism on the positive senses.
For instance, if I desire to listen to a song, is the problem the desire, or the 'emotions and feelings' the song itself brings up?
**Apart from sensual 'desire', what about just sensual 'enjoyment'?**
If I just happen to walk by an area in which music is playing, and I find myself tapping my feet, or feeling really good; is this seen as a state we must abandon? I mean, if we never desired the music in the first place and it just happens to play around us, what is the harm in seeing the beauty in it? If someone offers us food, are we required to not enjoy our sense pleasures of it?
**Isn't even metta meditation also a sensual desire?**
Also, metta-meditation frequently uses people as objects of good-will and loving-kindness -- however, this is attaching sense pleasures to mental objects, which I thought are to be abandoned?
How does metta-meditation even make sense in the context of Buddhism when the meditation cultivates 'positive' states from mental objects?
Steve
(491 rep)
Jul 2, 2015, 09:07 AM
• Last activity: Aug 16, 2015, 03:59 AM
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Why are the Perfection of Wisdom sutras seen as a coherent collection?
The [Diamond Sutra][1], [Heart Sutra][2], the [Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in 8000 lines][3] and others are grouped together as Prajnaparamita (perfection of wisdom). Why is this? Why are they seen as a coherent collection? Are they thematically similar or is the link because they were written at a p...
The Diamond Sutra , Heart Sutra , the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in 8000 lines and others are grouped together as Prajnaparamita (perfection of wisdom). Why is this?
Why are they seen as a coherent collection? Are they thematically similar or is the link because they were written at a particular geographic and historical period? Are they maybe linked because of they a reaction against other schools of Buddhist thought at that time? Should they be linked together at all?
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Jul 12, 2014, 06:22 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 08:43 PM
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Is there a german-language online-resource for the prajnaparamita sutra "perfection of wisdom in 8000 lines"?
The title says it all: I'm looking for a german translation of that sutra: Is there a german-language online-resource for the prajnaparamita sutra "perfection of wisdom in 8000 lines"? (Note, I've the "Heart"- and the "Diamondsuta" which more-or-less belong to the set of Prajnaparamita-sutras, it's...
The title says it all: I'm looking for a german translation of that sutra:
Is there a german-language online-resource for the prajnaparamita sutra "perfection of wisdom in 8000 lines"?
(Note, I've the "Heart"- and the "Diamondsuta" which more-or-less belong to the set of Prajnaparamita-sutras, it's just I want to have a look in this specific version of the (possibly earliest) mahayana-sutra)
Gottfried Helms
(762 rep)
Feb 4, 2015, 08:49 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 05:42 PM
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Does any sect claim that only Shakyamuni will ever achieve great nirvana
ARe there any schools which say that Shakyamuni the historical Buddha, alone, will ***ever*** be a Buddha? I understand that some might identify him *fully* with the dharmakaya, but isn't it completely canonical that there is a Buddha vehicle for others, at some point in time?
ARe there any schools which say that Shakyamuni the historical Buddha, alone, will ***ever*** be a Buddha?
I understand that some might identify him *fully* with the dharmakaya, but isn't it completely canonical that there is a Buddha vehicle for others, at some point in time?
user2512
Aug 8, 2015, 11:14 AM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 03:16 PM
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Action committed through self-interest
Is good action that is committed through self interest capable of creating good karma? For example *one may contemplate, “if I do action X, it will produce good effects in the future for me, or it may make me look like a good person, etc.”* Are such intentions viewed as greedy? If such intentions ar...
Is good action that is committed through self interest capable of creating good karma?
For example
*one may contemplate, “if I do action X, it will produce good effects in the future for me, or it may make me look like a good person, etc.”*
Are such intentions viewed as greedy?
If such intentions are rooted in greed, then it is possible to do something good out of greed? What kind of karmic effect will that produce?
user5380
(866 rep)
Aug 15, 2015, 08:39 AM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 02:44 PM
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2
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How can you translate nibbida?
How can you translate or define *nibbida* in English?
How can you translate or define *nibbida* in English?
Guy Eugène Dubois
(2382 rep)
Jan 8, 2015, 04:11 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 12:32 PM
6
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Era in which the past Buddhas appeared
Does anyone know in which era each of the first 27 Buddhas appeared? I know the 28th Buddha's lifetime is generally accepted to be circa 563 BC to 483 BC.
Does anyone know in which era each of the first 27 Buddhas appeared? I know the 28th Buddha's lifetime is generally accepted to be circa 563 BC to 483 BC.
Papa
(61 rep)
Jan 20, 2015, 11:37 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 10:53 AM
3
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Source of quotation from Buddhaghosa about Buddha being trackless
[Radhakrishnan's edition of The Dhammapada][1] provides the following quotation from Buddhaghosa as a commentary on Verse 179 (Chapt, 14, 1 Buddhavagga) where the Buddha is described as *apadam* trackless/signless: > "The man who is possessed of even a single one of such conditions as > *raga*, atta...
Radhakrishnan's edition of The Dhammapada provides the following quotation from Buddhaghosa as a commentary on Verse 179 (Chapt, 14, 1 Buddhavagga) where the Buddha is described as *apadam* trackless/signless:
> "The man who is possessed of even a single one of such conditions as
> *raga*, attachment, &c., him ye can lead forward; but the Buddha has not even one condition or basis of renewed existence, and therefore by
> what track will you lead this unconditioned Buddha?"
Could anyone tell me the source of this quotation and also provide me with the Pali?
Adrian Hale
(61 rep)
Aug 11, 2015, 09:24 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 10:48 AM
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Does the saṅ­kha­ta­lak­kha­ṇa of dukkha apply to the noble path?
Dukkha is usually clarified as an intrinsic characteristic of everything conditioned and to be as such a direct derivative of the characteristic of impermanence. Does this also apply to the noble path(s)? There is a discussion about that in the kathāvatthu (17.5), but that could not clarify it (at l...
Dukkha is usually clarified as an intrinsic characteristic of everything conditioned and to be as such a direct derivative of the characteristic of impermanence.
Does this also apply to the noble path(s)?
There is a discussion about that in the kathāvatthu (17.5), but that could not clarify it (at least for me).
Best wishes.
(I'm also bearing in mind, that the paths are classified as being anāsava. Would that imply that an anāsava-dhamma is not impermanent, suffering, not-self?)
P.S. In the cūḷavedallasutta, MN 44, it is stated explicitly that the noble eightfold path is conditioned:
> [...] “Ariyo panāyye, aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo saṅkhato udāhu asaṅkhato”ti?
>
> “Ariyo kho, āvuso visākha, aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo saṅkhato”ti. [...]
>
> [...] “But is the eightfold Noble Path, Noble Lady, conditioned or
> unconditioned?” “The eightfold Noble Path, friend Visākha, is
> conditioned.” [...]
Simo
(121 rep)
Aug 13, 2015, 11:37 AM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2015, 08:44 AM
10
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2
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What was the chronology of events in the Buddha's life?
This is the sort of question I'd find really useful to get an answer on; I'm looking for a rough chronology of the 45 years of the Buddha's (not the Bodhisatta's) life, year by year. I know there is some orthodox-approved order, I just can't find it yet. Does anyone know where it can be found, or ev...
This is the sort of question I'd find really useful to get an answer on; I'm looking for a rough chronology of the 45 years of the Buddha's (not the Bodhisatta's) life, year by year. I know there is some orthodox-approved order, I just can't find it yet. Does anyone know where it can be found, or even better can post it here?
yuttadhammo
(24268 rep)
Jul 2, 2014, 02:45 AM
• Last activity: Aug 14, 2015, 06:30 PM
4
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2
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How to maintenance equanimity in the daily life?
I would like to understand in the short and simple how to deal in the daily life. When I have the emotion and I feel the sensation i.e. cold in my palm, what should I do next? I aware that this feeling cold will be gone sometime later. But how do I know that I do not react to that sensation blindly?...
I would like to understand in the short and simple how to deal in the daily life.
When I have the emotion and I feel the sensation i.e. cold in my palm, what should I do next?
I aware that this feeling cold will be gone sometime later. But how do I know that I do not react to that sensation blindly?
Looking forward to see your answers.
With a lot of metta,
PP
user5664
(41 rep)
Aug 10, 2015, 08:45 AM
• Last activity: Aug 14, 2015, 05:54 PM
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7
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Do metta practices and anatta contradict each other?
When I was taught the [Metta Bhavna][1] meditation practice it was suggested that I repeat the following to myself > May I be well > May I be happy > May I be free Then again repeating the same again to other people. As the practice goes on then this can be dropped for more subtle methods. But this...
When I was taught the Metta Bhavna meditation practice it was suggested that I repeat the following to myself
> May I be well
> May I be happy
> May I be free
Then again repeating the same again to other people. As the practice goes on then this can be dropped for more subtle methods. But this formulation and the practice in general has always struck me as been at odds with the idea of no fixed self (Anatta ). If I am wishing well to myself and others - who exactly am I wishing well to? Who is this 'I' that I am wishing well to?
In general do these kinds of metta practice conflict with the annatta doctrine. I am assuming that they don't conflict as they are both fairly central in Buddhism. Given that, how are the two practices reconciled?
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Dec 24, 2014, 09:42 PM
• Last activity: Aug 14, 2015, 03:21 AM
Showing page 408 of 20 total questions