I often read about monks have little free time in their schedules but aside from teaching other monks I am not sure what they do with all their time. I have seen monks in Tibet working in an orphanage and monks in Thailand giving public talks. Aside from this what involvement with the community do monks have (excluding dana)?

I am finding it very difficult to cultivate mudita for people who are happier and have it all. I am finding it easy to have empathy for those who are suffering. But my ego feels threatened when I encounter happy people who are not even practicing dhamma or meditation. How do I train my mind? How to look at such situation when people are in better situation than me?

I am working on wearable tech for meditation. I need to conduct a market research survey for the same. I understand that I cannot conduct a survey on the BSE site. I want to ask that what are good Buddhist portals or other social sites of Buddhist meditation where I can conduct a survey on meditation.

Name and expound on the methods meant for Samma-Dithi. Is it Right view or Right understanding?

I was listening to a buddhist monk talking about masturbation addiction and his advice about it: > When you see the human body or these sexual acts on a screen or > magazine page you are not actually seeing **these things. You are > simply seeing light touching your eyes.** And when you can come to > this realization, where seeing is simply seeing, then you will have no > thought of the person's hair, teeth, beasts, etc. There is only > seeing. So you are able to see anything and see it simply for what it > is. Thus there is no connection made. Seeing is seeing, because that's > what it is. You don't see a human body and say that it is beautiful, > because you realize it's ridiculous to say that, because this is > simply light touching my eyes I have difficulty to understand what the monk means by that, what is the difference between seeing a screen and the "seeing light touching your eyes" Could you give me some pointers ?

Did the Buddha give specific advice around circular thought patterns and perhaps an antidote. I'm aware that there is a lot around mental proliferation but this seems more general. Many Thanks

Right view is the first step in noble eight-fold path as mentioned in many answers here . 1. Right view 2. Right resolve 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right livelihood 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration Noble eight-fold path is three-folded as moral virtue (sīla), concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā). It's mentioned in many suttas that these three are sequential. But when considering this three-fold categorization, right view comes at the end. 1. Moral virtue (sīla) 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right livelihood 2. Concentration (samādhi) 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration 3. Wisdom (paññā) 1. Right view 2. Right resolve For more information: Noble Eightfold Path My questions are: 1. Which is the correct sequence out of the above two? 2. Which sequence to follow?

I read the following in the internet: > All feelings are categorically classed as unpleasant in the > Dhamma...'Three feelings have been spoken of by the Blessed One: a > feeling of pleasure, a feeling of pain & a feeling of neither pleasure > nor pain.,,,Now in what connection was this stated by the Blessed One: > "Whatever is felt comes under stress (yaṃ kiñci vedayitaṃ taṃ dukkhasmin)" > Why are pleasant feelings "stressful" & "unpleasant"? If all feelings are unpleasant, why are some feelings called "pleasant"?

I am a beginner and I stumbled upon the sentence in a video given by a monk. > There is no benefit and there is no intrinsic positive nature in a > pleasant sensation I will give you the context > We have to remove this idea that there is something beneficial about > the happiness. This is probably mind blowing for most people if > they've never studied things like Buddhism. But really what objective > and what answer can you give if I ask objectively or intrinsically > "What benefit do you gain from pleasure ? From physical pleasure ? > What is positive about it ?" And you know you can simply you can give > a tautology and say "it's good because it's pleasant" or "pleasant > sensations are good because they're pleasant" which are both > meaningless of course. > > And this isn't simply a tricky sort of argument, it's not an > intellectual trick of sorts. **It's actually true that there is no > benefit and there is no intrinsic positive nature in a pleasant > sensation**. (...) The issue is this clinging, this craving for > pleasant sensations and the idea that pleasure is somehow positive. As the monk said, it is a bit mind blowing for me. If I take an example, when I am hungry, I am in pain, which is the nature way to tell me "Time to have a meal" and when I am full, the nature is telling me I have eaten enough and I do not need to eat more. And when I am listening to pleasant music or when I am with people I like/I love, I feel my mind at ease and I am happy. So my question is: what does the monk really mean ?

**Ques 1) Base on Wiki below, which English translation found to be accurate? D.T. Suzuki or Kazuaki Tanahashi and Joan Halifax** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%ABlaka%E1%B9%87%E1%B9%ADha_Dh%C4%81ra%E1%B9%87%C4%AB **Ques 2) Refer to some Buddhism Documentaries, Theravada Buddhism disallow reciting of Mantra. Does it a truth?** Personally i found this Mantra translated into positive self-talk which physiologically helping on self healing of decease. i.e. Having better peace of mind simply can cure most of the deceases? https://www.wikihow.com/Think-Positively-About-Yourself It has content of worshiping too so the person too focus on it without understand the basic Buddhism could be lead to superstitious which is inappropriate. I found no issue combination of meditation and of course focus of practices must be Buddhism basic which is Four Noble of Truths.

**The six realms states of mind** This is my graphical interpretation of existence of six realms by Buddha. I have attempted to decode the great concept of Buddhist teaching consider the state of mind as all beings possess the mind: - X axis represent the level of mind or level of happiness and suffering which can’t be measured by scientific apparatus. - Y axis represents time which only feels by mind and time can’t be measured. (Absolute time) White paper represents space. 1. God’s realm Here is it. Gods are always in happy mind and maintain it effortlessly long time and happiness is stable. Time is very fast as they are in happiness and pleasure. Their physical body has been evolved to feel and maintain the happiness and pleasure. Human can’t measure anything on this realm except feel the state of mind just a few seconds or minutes. No 1 represent this in graphical way e.g. poor, financially oppressed human has collected the bundle of 1 million dollar notes. So his happiness suddenly reached his climax and enjoy the pleasure and overflow his happiness for few seconds or few minute etc……. and once he feel the fear of robbers, hesitations of the future and thinking about what to do in future and he is collapsed on human level of human mind again. If he is with cardiac problem then he is dropped down to hell being as suffer cardiac pain or death as can’t control his thought and overflow of happiness. Time is extremely fast on this realm. 2. Demi gods or Asura Normally Demi-gods are below the gods. They are confident on their power of fighting nature. Intelligent and born to fight. Physical body has been designed for it. Muscular, strong body, intelligent and master on weapon usage and create new weapons. They are born to survival and they normally not possess for survival. But someone on craving and try to possess in front of Asuras, they will fight for grab it even though the object is useless for them. Once they possess the object they are in climax of happiness and fade it gradually with time. E.g. this can be experienced with kids some time neglected toy get the attention child the second child also come with desire for same toy and they will fight for it. Time is fast and varies in this realm. 3. Humans realm They can think the middle way. That’s the reason Buddha specially states about Human realm. Any psychiatric can explain the human mind. Time is average in this realm 4. Animal realm Driven by instincts and ever one know range of physical appearance. No spiritual vision, no religion, no art, no science and only they have well adapted to physical environment by evolution of physical body.just big fish eat little fish is the only law. Animals never use apparatus to measure time and they synchronise the time with environment. Animals fight for survival not for possess anything. Animals fight, flight, eat, drink, sleep etc…….are the purpose of their existence. Time is passing slowly in this realm 5. Hungry ghosts. They always overflow with craving and desire. Mind is driven to fulfil craving and desire and they are not fulfilled by achievements. Time is very slow as they are always in overflow by non-satisfaction. 6. Hell being Always suffer from intensive, extreme and unavoidable pain both physically and mentally. But mental pain is the most. (As modern psychiatry says mental suffering is difficult than physical pain) and it is extremely difficult to escape from this realm and time is very very slow in this realm. E.g just imagine a person who is wounded badly and has to suffer intensive pain in hospital ICU units. Is my explanation of the six realms of existence consistent with common Buddhist explanation?

As a kid I used to download a lot of softwares and movies using torrents. Even if something illegal is done, it doesn't necessarily mean that it violates a precept. But can this be considered as stealing in Buddhism? How can this be explained according to the Buddhist view?

Can you say that *Yatha bhuta* (= seeing things as they really are) and Dhamma are synonyms?

While other religions seem to have a definition position on abortion I've never come across the Buddhist view on this. From a naive perspective I would imagine that Buddhists would be prolife rather then prochoice - the abstain from killing precept seems to be the relevant one. But I would imagine it would also depend on when Buddhist believe that life begins or becomes sentient. Is there any pointers to the ethics of abortion in the scriptures (pali canon, mahayana etc..) or perhaps guidance/opinions from more contemporary teachers. I feel that the real position could be quite nuanced. Many thanks for any/all thoughts

Since popular, one thinking compassionate, what might be it's effect, thought that's actually, after assisting ones benefactors, giving, the undertaking most praised by wise? So only foolish, or of much harm for others, oneself? The same like if encouraging one to leave the holly life? What are the roots, mind qualities, giving one such deeds set? How should association with people not praising and seeking the full holly life be seen? *[Note that this isn't given for stacks, exchange, other world-binding trades, but for escape from this wheel]*

With certain antihistamines I get very drowsy and confuse. I seem to get clingy in these sensations and then when I’m aware of the clinginess, I try to detach the sensations. I just somehow do the opposite of detaching by forcing the detaching and hook up with mind talk. How to keep mindfulness in these situation? And how to be mindful in difficult situations in general? What would be the Buddhism direction on these situation?

Sorry for what I want seek help from someone. The matter is most serious. I belong to middle class family of Indian village. My father died when I was 7 years old. My mother took very pain to raise me up to higher education and then I was seeking a job. That time is very hard for me, for I failed at every interview. Life is full of sorrow and pocket barely have any money to cope with any difficulties which I received from my mother time to time. Then I nearly broke and felt the pain when my sister's husband beat her in one instance. I literally cried and pain was dual as I am even jobless. It was year 2012 then, my time almost lost in loneliness and solitude. I started praying and reading Buddha's word and found something to come from pain. I heartily followed Buddha's path of purity upto my level and when I eat, I eat a little with my attention verily focus when I eat. Suddenly a light came, that was year 2012. The light goes on expanding year on year till 2013 and my mind attained full of bliss. I could stand on my terrace like a lamb immersed in the bliss for nearly 8 months. Its like I am at the feet of Lord. Afterwards when the bliss fades away, there comes the insight. The word started appearing on my fore and I concentrated it day by day. But, suddenly when the word appears, I felt heavenly sound like beating of drum or flute playing, I move to that with my focus from where this sound coming. Then there appear 2nd word and I felt very joy, like I have found someone. Its like my Teacher is appeared before me. I concentrated day and night to be with that word. I surprisingly got the job in Bank as a officer, even in interview I gave silly answers as my mind want to be monk at that time. 2013-2017 I work in the bank, but I feel I am going back towards the painful world. In 2017 I left that job,as people scolded me as I left the Government job, including my mother. My foot turn back to home, to tell my story and path to my mother. How I got it and it's the path choose me to leave the job. I felt before leaving my 62 year mother alone, I have to tell the way. In that period, something flashed in closed eye and I attained vision, like union with teacher. Then in 2019 I got covid19 like symptoms all over my body, even before China declared the outbreak. Nothing happened to me except same symptoms of covid19 for days. After some time even that symptoms vanished and I felt amaze the very people on earth suffering the same. I felt again dejected, would I be the epicenter and responsible person to death of many. Now I am lost and I desperately want to leave home. Can't do with my 62 year old mother. She will be alone. No one to care for her. I sometimes felt, somebody attacked me, like Mara. Or someone is taking the pain of this humanity by giving me Covid19. I felt sometime that I am sacrificial person. Sometime, the words of Buddha comes to me, 'Only few saints and sages can't revive the pain of mankind, king asks: so what you would do then? Buddha replied: I don't know'. May be he was searching to relieve the pain of mankind with heavenly help. May be he sacrificed himself, just like what is happening to me. I need a guide now. What shall I do? Should I leave home right away leaving my mother behind alone? Sorry for the personal matter to bother everyone. But, may be someone can help! May all being happy!

Mahayana or Theravada, or any other offshoot. Is a Buddha an exception? Or a personification?

A lot of Buddhist texts come from Sanskrit or Chinese. I am looking at the Kangyur and Tengyur, and a few scattered others. But a lot of those are from Sanskrit and Chinese as well (or other languages, Pali, etc.). What books or groups of books/works can only be found in Tibetan script? _Whether or not it has been translated to other languages isn't important, the original language should be Tibetan though._ I am trying to mentally gather an image of how much reading would be required to gain the knowledge unique to Tibetan Buddhism.

I suffer with Pure obsessive compulsive disorder. I regularly have intrusive thoughts of all different kinds and I can be pretty anxious sometimes. Although I know that thoughts are only just thoughts, I can't help but feel that the thoughts have a negative karmic effect. I never agree with such thoughts and do my best to just maintain awareness of them and letting them go. Although they sometimes do take over my mind, It's generally alright to deal with. However, earlier today, I was in the middle of a crude act. I.e masturbation. During the session, I had intrusive, blasphemous thoughts of a Bodhisattva. My mind had created a thought which involved seeing the bodhisattva in a sexual way. Even just typing this is making me feel extremely uncomfortable but I desperately need advice. It was obviously never my intention to think those thoughts. What are the karmic effects of this? I respect all Buddhas and all Bodhisattvas immensely. I respect all beings immensely. Have these thoughts planted a very negative seed? I have a huge fear right now of a hell rebirth. Although I know that I didn't intend for those thoughts to happen and I know that I don't agree with such thoughts and I know that thoughts are just thoughts, do these kinds of thoughts hold a stronger 'weight' to them? I know that a violent thought is bad. But is a blasphemous thought towards a Buddha or bodhisattva really bad? Please help. I'm grateful for any wise words.