Semchen is typically defined as a sentient being. What does this mean? What is sentience? This question about killing bacteria indicates bacteria are not sentient, but I distinctly remember a guru say dust mites are sentient. Am I imposing my evolution-based viewpoint onto a ladder of sentience?

Buddhist teachings tell that all intentional killing is negative karma. So, what about bacteria? Are bacteria considered to be sentient beings? Is using antibiotics negative karma? Is it possible to reborn as a bacterium?

Given that Gautama Buddha was an ascetic until shortly before his enlightenment and several Dhammapada verses reflect a moderate attitude toward food, such as: >Verse 7: He who keeps his mind on pleasant objects, who is uncontrolled in his senses, immoderate in his food, and is lazy and lacking in energy, will certainly be overwhelmed by Mara, just as stormy winds uproot a weak tree. source: http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/verseload.php?verse=007 it's unlikely he looked much like the image below. But the statue pictured below is often referred to as a "laughing Buddha". What is the story of the laughing Buddha?

Recently, so-called "radical Buddhists" like the monk Wirathu from the 969 Buddhist Nationalist movement in Burma, incited unrest and preached violence against minorities like Muslims. (See, for example, Special Report: Myanmar gives official blessing to anti-Muslim monks .) Is there any part of Buddhist teaching or literature that supports these views or is it like a "wolf in sheep's clothing"?

Building from this question , I'd be really interested in seeing an overall view of the Buddhist taxonomical system. I don't mean the actual names "Therevada", "Mahayana" and so on, or "Soto", "Rinzai" etc. I mean, what is the overall system into which those names fit. In other words, what is meant by words like: school, sect, lineage, vehicle, branch, tradition, and so on. I doubt there will be anything as robust as you'd see here , but a rough guide would be nice.

If realizing the true nature of mind is the ultimate goal that drives us to enlightenment, constant blizz and the end of suffering, what would be the interest of developing technology? Technology makes life easier and helps us live longer, but why would this be of benefit if happiness comes from within ourselves regardless of the life conditions surrounding us? To put the question within a context, imagine a different setting from that of today. Go back in the past to a point far away from the industrial evolution and the invention of complex machinery. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense if we ask the question within today's context given that we live in an era of great technological advancement. There is no interest on going back (or at least I think so). Technology has driven many advances that have considerably improved our daily life, but at the same time it is technology that has driven a society of consumerism. Besides, technological development comes from people who are "thirsty" of knowledge, the main root of dukkha (one of those words difficult to translate, but that it is often translated as "suffering"). So the main root of technology may be also the main root of suffering. This question arises from a personal thought: If the humanity had been composed of good Buddhists seeking enlightenment from the "beginning of intelligent human kind", we would still be living a simple life in the jungle and perfectly happy as happiness is within ourselves and should not be conditioned by the outer world. All of this without great technological advancements.

Every major religion has several different belief systems (sects) that have the same general core belief, but have a significant enough different to have be separated from each other. What are the major (3-10) sects of Buddhism? How are they different from each other?

In this answer , user yuttadhammo described that monks are only permitted two meals per day during the morning hours, from dawn to noon. **What type of Buddhist monks are permitted only two meals per deal? Why are theseBuddhist monks only permitted two meals a day in this time period?**

How is Japanese Shingon Buddhism different from other forms of Buddhism such as Zen?

Some of the western religions have evil spirits like devils and demons. Does the concept or belief in evil spirits occur in Buddhism?

Rebirth is not reincarnation. How then does the karma of an individual affect their rebirth? In reincarnation, an individual's karma results in a better or worse next life for their soul. But in rebirth, there is no soul. So why should we care about our karma regarding our rebirth?

How is the concept of rebirth or reincarnation handled in Buddhism? Does it occur? Will everyone be reborn? Are people always reborn as people?

I have been reading Mahayana philosophy. It proposes non-self and that self does not exist in the 5 aggregates. If the self/atman does not exist, what is that is re-incarnated? How can *nothing* reincarnate ?

Some Vedic/Hindu deities are recognized as being part of Buddhist cosmology. For example, Indra, who is the chief god of the Vedic pantheon, is syncretized into Buddhism as Śakra, which is another epithet of his. In Hinduism, the exploits of Indra are described in doctrinal texts like the Vedas and the Puranas, as well as in literary texts like the Mahabharata. But Buddhists (of any school) don't accept these texts as part of their canon, right? So, my question: in what Buddhist (canonical) texts would the doings of syncretized Hindu deities like Indra/Śakra be described?

> If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality. By learning from science about aspects of reality where its understanding may be more advanced, I believe that Buddhism enriches its own worldview. -- Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama in "Our Faith in Science", The New York Times This is all very well, but are there formal mechanisms in any Buddhist institutions that explicitly allow Buddhist principles to be reconciled with the findings of science?

I recently learned about an episode of Chinese history when relics associated to the Buddha were relocated to China and [Han Yu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Yu) writes to the Chinese Emperor in a text titled "Memorial Discussing the Buddha's Bone" ([PDF](http://www.history.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/2%20Han%20Yu%20-%20Buddha 's%20Bone.pdf)), expressing his disagreement with the Emperor's decision to pay his respects to the relics. I don't quite understand the significance of this event, because I don't understand the role or significance of relics in Buddhism. What was the role or significance of relics for 9th century Chinese Buddhists and what role do relics play in contemporary Buddhism?

The question basically says it all, but I'll try to elaborate a bit: Are there differences in terms of the concepts used in each of these branches? Are there differences in the practices of each of the branches? Or are the differences between each of the branches simply explained in terms of historical or geographical factors?

I was baptized into Orthodox Christianity in childhood. During recent years, I've been living in Thailand, attending worship in temples, offering alms to monks, and participating in other ceremonies on occasional basis. I was never thought it might compromise Christianity in any way. Recently I met a highly religious person from my country who told me this would be unacceptable. I tried to figure out some arguments, but they failed to provide me with any, repeating that it's simply a wrong thing (well, that's probably why it is called *Orthodox*). As I live in another country, I think it's a good thing to become a part of local society, and attending Buddhist ceremonies and rituals seems to be a good thing to me. I found many articles about this topic for *Catholic Christianity*, but could not actually find anything about *Orthodox*. **What is the optimal strategy for me to keep attending Buddhist ceremonies and not be blamed by those who say I must keep worshipping only my religion from back home?**