Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
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5
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How can a person be abstinent?
How can a person be abstinent and overcome all sexual urges including self-gratification in accordance with the Buddhist tradition ? What prescription do the teachers give to get over such obstacles ?
How can a person be abstinent and overcome all sexual urges including self-gratification in accordance with the Buddhist tradition ? What prescription do the teachers give to get over such obstacles ?
user638
(51 rep)
Aug 10, 2014, 02:21 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2014, 02:38 AM
1
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1
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Who are the past Buddhas mentioned in the Canonical Works?
What references do we have in canonical texts on historical Buddhas and Pacceka Buddhas? Ideally including information beyond the commonly referenced [28 Buddhas][1]. [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_twenty-eight_Buddhas
What references do we have in canonical texts on historical Buddhas and Pacceka Buddhas? Ideally including information beyond the commonly referenced 28 Buddhas .
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
(37227 rep)
Aug 12, 2014, 06:16 PM
• Last activity: Aug 14, 2014, 01:13 AM
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Different Robes (colours)
Why do Mahayana and Theravada monks wear different robes (colours)? I understand the colour of Theravada robes represent the colour used in the time of the Buddha. What is the meaning of the yellow/red in mahayana Buddhism?
Why do Mahayana and Theravada monks wear different robes (colours)? I understand the colour of Theravada robes represent the colour used in the time of the Buddha. What is the meaning of the yellow/red in mahayana Buddhism?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Aug 13, 2014, 08:57 PM
2
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2
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114
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Understanding the mix of karma
I'm still struggling with the concept of good karma, bad karma, and both good and bad karma. If all actions are one of the above- and, as I understand it, mostly the latter, it seems as if we will always be generating bad karma. Is following the 8-fold path going to insure only creating good karma o...
I'm still struggling with the concept of good karma, bad karma, and both good and bad karma. If all actions are one of the above- and, as I understand it, mostly the latter, it seems as if we will always be generating bad karma. Is following the 8-fold path going to insure only creating good karma or will we still be generating both as we struggle on the path?
MFS
(551 rep)
Aug 12, 2014, 03:26 PM
• Last activity: Aug 13, 2014, 09:09 AM
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Who is a Gandhabbha?
Are gandhabbhas belongs to gods or demons? I tried to find details about them. But couldn't solve my problem. According to the Buddhas Teachings, I want to know whether Gandhabbhas are divine people or evil people.
Are gandhabbhas belongs to gods or demons? I tried to find details about them. But couldn't solve my problem. According to the Buddhas Teachings, I want to know whether Gandhabbhas are divine people or evil people.
Buddhi Kavindra
(544 rep)
Aug 11, 2014, 06:41 PM
• Last activity: Aug 12, 2014, 03:03 PM
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What is the 3 lifetimes interpretation of the 12 nidanas?
Can anyone outline the 3 lifetime interpretation of the 12 nidanas. To me there only seems like there are at most two lifetimes in there. One goes from ignorance to becoming then the other goes from becoming to death. I know this is a misunderstanding so I would appreciate anyone clearing this up fo...
Can anyone outline the 3 lifetime interpretation of the 12 nidanas. To me there only seems like there are at most two lifetimes in there. One goes from ignorance to becoming then the other goes from becoming to death. I know this is a misunderstanding so I would appreciate anyone clearing this up for me.
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Aug 12, 2014, 09:00 AM
• Last activity: Aug 12, 2014, 11:05 AM
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Which Buddhist council included the conclusions that there is no creator-god and no day of judgment?
After the Buddha is said to have achieved Nirvana, there were subsequent Buddhist Councils that were held. Some years ago I came across an article that said that it was in one of these Councils that it was made official for Buddhists that there is no creator-god and no Day of Judgment. Which council...
After the Buddha is said to have achieved Nirvana, there were subsequent Buddhist Councils that were held.
Some years ago I came across an article that said that it was in one of these Councils that it was made official for Buddhists that there is no creator-god and no Day of Judgment. Which council was that? I think it was the Fourth? But I just can't find that information again.
user961627
(119 rep)
Aug 10, 2014, 07:51 AM
• Last activity: Aug 12, 2014, 10:50 AM
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Should we correct Buddhist wrong believes or respect it?
Allow me to give the exemple of meat eating for this question: In the suttas we can clearly see (many times) that eating meat is accepted in Buddhism under a few conditions. We cannot kill, ask someone to kill or hear/see the animak being killed. In addition some meats should not me eaten (human fle...
Allow me to give the exemple of meat eating for this question: In the suttas we can clearly see (many times) that eating meat is accepted in Buddhism under a few conditions. We cannot kill, ask someone to kill or hear/see the animak being killed.
In addition some meats should not me eaten (human flesh, elephants etc...), but most of the meat we eat today is clearly accepted in the suttas, still there are people that look down on you if you eat meat, mixing personal views with Buddhism.
There is a sort of "main stream" Buddhism with things clearly not coming from the suttas, in this case, should we correct them? Or should we respect other peoples view?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Aug 12, 2014, 01:14 AM
• Last activity: Aug 12, 2014, 05:39 AM
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Special types of Kamma Vipaka
According to Buddhism the same good or bad deed has different results depending on who you are and the person being affected by your action, a few examples: Giving food to a Buddha x Giving food to an ordinary person. Lying and cheating if you are a monk x if you are a lay person. Killing your paren...
According to Buddhism the same good or bad deed has different results depending on who you are and the person being affected by your action, a few examples:
Giving food to a Buddha x Giving food to an ordinary person.
Lying and cheating if you are a monk x if you are a lay person.
Killing your parents x Killing ordinary people.
Ok, it does make sense, but the question is: Is there a simple logic behind it? Depending on the impact in the world per haps?! And what kind of force understands that you are doing the good/bad deed against a different (not ordinary) being?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Aug 11, 2014, 11:15 PM
• Last activity: Aug 12, 2014, 04:35 AM
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Where can I learn more about cita niyama?
In https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2459/what-is-the-buddhist-point-of-view-of-the-law-of-attraction/2487?noredirect=1#comment3190_2487 https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/295/suminda-sirinath-salpitikorala says that law of attraction is part of citta niyama. Where can I learn more...
In https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/2459/what-is-the-buddhist-point-of-view-of-the-law-of-attraction/2487?noredirect=1#comment3190_2487
https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/295/suminda-sirinath-salpitikorala says that law of attraction is part of citta niyama.
Where can I learn more about it? How come thinking about something affect the outcome that I am thinking about? I know of many ways actually. However, are there complete listings on how this come to be?
user4951
(385 rep)
Aug 11, 2014, 11:20 AM
• Last activity: Aug 11, 2014, 04:12 PM
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What is the best translation of Anatta into English?
Is the best translation of Anatta "non-self" or "there is nothing that you can take as me, mine, self or non-changing everlasting controllable part which can be identified as me, mine or everlasting core" or something else based on the interpretation of different lineages?
Is the best translation of Anatta "non-self" or "there is nothing that you can take as me, mine, self or non-changing everlasting controllable part which can be identified as me, mine or everlasting core" or something else based on the interpretation of different lineages?
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
(37227 rep)
Aug 6, 2014, 03:45 AM
• Last activity: Aug 10, 2014, 09:16 PM
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Are any of the three poisons considered stronger or more difficult to break than the others?
Are any of the [three poisons][1] (unwholesome roots) of greed, hatred and delusion considered stronger or more difficult to break than the others. Or are they all seen as equally difficult to break, perhaps only differing in strength depending on the individual. I'm interested in teachings from any...
Are any of the three poisons (unwholesome roots) of greed, hatred and delusion considered stronger or more difficult to break than the others. Or are they all seen as equally difficult to break, perhaps only differing in strength depending on the individual.
I'm interested in teachings from any of the schools of Buddhism about this. I'm not really asking for personal perspectives but rather specific advice from established teachers of the Buddhist schools.
Crab Bucket
(21199 rep)
Aug 5, 2014, 08:00 PM
• Last activity: Aug 6, 2014, 05:11 AM
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What is the motivation for the list of 5 deadly sins?
I'm particularly interested in if there is any evidence in the sutras (or commentaries or anything old) that explains this peculiar list of transgressions (the Ānantarika-karma): 1. patricide 1. matricide 1. killing an arhat 1. injuring a Buddha 1. creating schism in the saṅgha. 1 & 2 & 3 are alread...
I'm particularly interested in if there is any evidence in the sutras (or commentaries or anything old) that explains this peculiar list of transgressions (the Ānantarika-karma):
1. patricide
1. matricide
1. killing an arhat
1. injuring a Buddha
1. creating schism in the saṅgha.
1 & 2 & 3 are already against the first precept. 3 & 4 are hard to do even if you wanted to for lack of suitable arahats and Buddhas to kill or injure.
I've come to suspect that this is just a formula for expressing that schism is *really* bad. But this formula appears in many places, often without much other reference to schism. (for example ordination,
MatthewMartin
(7221 rep)
Jul 18, 2014, 03:11 AM
• Last activity: Aug 3, 2014, 08:18 AM
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3
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Is vipassana outside a ten day retreat possible?
Traditionally Vipassana meditation is taught in a 10 day retreat. I have been trying to participate in one of those, but there is only one place where I live that offers this course, it is almost always fully booked, so it is very hard to match their availability with mine as I work pretty hard. I h...
Traditionally Vipassana meditation is taught in a 10 day retreat. I have been trying to participate in one of those, but there is only one place where I live that offers this course, it is almost always fully booked, so it is very hard to match their availability with mine as I work pretty hard.
I have been practicing meditation for some time (different types) and went to a retreat in Asia, but I never had the chance to practice Vipassana in a traditional course.
I will keep trying to join the retreat, because this is important for me, but in the meantime is there anything one could try at home? Some glimpse of Vipassana perhaps?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Jul 20, 2014, 08:29 PM
• Last activity: Aug 3, 2014, 07:53 AM
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Do Theravada monks search for reincarnation of teachers?
I know this is very common among Mahayanas, specialy in Tibet where they search for their old teachers (Lamas) all call them Rinpoche. Is this also a practice in Theravada Buddhism?
I know this is very common among Mahayanas, specialy in Tibet where they search for their old teachers (Lamas) all call them Rinpoche.
Is this also a practice in Theravada Buddhism?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Jul 29, 2014, 11:49 PM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2014, 08:02 PM
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4
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Has Buddha attained Nirvana after death?
It is said that the Buddha attained Nirvana after his death. But how do we know that it is true? Are there any physical signs to recognize?
It is said that the Buddha attained Nirvana after his death. But how do we know that it is true? Are there any physical signs to recognize?
gaj
(885 rep)
Jul 29, 2014, 02:39 PM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2014, 11:20 AM
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3
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Does memory persist across different births of an individual?
I've read that the Buddha could remember his past life. Does this means that the memory of a person lasts across different life times?
I've read that the Buddha could remember his past life. Does this means that the memory of a person lasts across different life times?
gaj
(885 rep)
Jul 31, 2014, 06:32 AM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2014, 10:45 AM
4
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2
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How were dreams and visions seen in the context of Chinese Buddhism?
This question is prompted by reading the 23rd Minor Precept in the Brahma Net Sutra > After my passing, if a disciple should, with a wholesome mind, wish to > receive the Bodhisattva precepts, he may make a vow to do so before > the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and practice repentance before >...
This question is prompted by reading the 23rd Minor Precept in the Brahma Net Sutra
> After my passing, if a disciple should, with a wholesome mind, wish to
> receive the Bodhisattva precepts, he may make a vow to do so before
> the images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and practice repentance before
> these images for seven days. If he then experiences a vision, he has
> received the precepts. If he does not, he should continue doing so for
> fourteen days, twenty-one days, or even a whole year, seeking to
> witness an auspicious sign. After witnessing such a sign, he could, in
> front of images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, formally receive the
> precepts.
At the modern moment, the normal advice regarding dreams and visions is to ignore them. So while I appreciate the concern, I'm not mainly trying to get advice about what to do about dreams and visions.
What I see, in the above text is a positive perspective on dreams and visions, but the author assumes the reader knows what he's talking about when he says "vision"-- is this a reference to dreams, near-hallucinations during meditation, or "signs" like seeing something remarkable like crows listening to a dharma talk? Is this a reference to dream yoga that I hear about in Vajrayana?
MatthewMartin
(7221 rep)
Jul 31, 2014, 11:57 AM
• Last activity: Jul 31, 2014, 10:56 PM
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What is the role of kōans in contemporary Buddhism?
I have a copy of *[The Iron Flute](http://www.amazon.com/The-Iron-Flute-100-Koans/dp/080483248X)* that I use to study individual kōans, and read the analysis provided. I feel like this provides me with some good insight, but it also feels... backwards. How are kōans used in modern Buddhism? Are they...
I have a copy of *[The Iron Flute](http://www.amazon.com/The-Iron-Flute-100-Koans/dp/080483248X)* that I use to study individual kōans, and read the analysis provided. I feel like this provides me with some good insight, but it also feels... backwards.
How are kōans used in modern Buddhism?
Are they intended as teaching aids, where the explanation illustrates one or more principals, or are they intended as puzzles that only sufficiently advanced students should be able to figure out? Or can either strategy (or altogether different strategies) be employed to gainful effect?
Beofett
(311 rep)
Jul 14, 2014, 12:24 PM
• Last activity: Jul 30, 2014, 03:21 PM
2
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3
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How does Buddhism explains rebirth and law of Karma?
As per my readings on Buddhism it doesn't accept the notion of soul or Atman, but at the same time it accepts the law of Karma. How does Buddhism explains rebirth and law of Karma?
As per my readings on Buddhism it doesn't accept the notion of soul or Atman, but at the same time it accepts the law of Karma.
How does Buddhism explains rebirth and law of Karma?
gaj
(885 rep)
Jul 29, 2014, 09:28 AM
• Last activity: Jul 29, 2014, 11:46 AM
Showing page 453 of 20 total questions