Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
Latest Questions
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Does the beauty of Buddhism lie in letting seekers seek beyond the bounds of religion?
When I was young I was told by a booklet that if I found a better religion, I can follow that one. I liked the idea of God centered, open-sourced religion back then so it was what kept me loyal and the reason I found out that there was more to know beyond it. Where else can a seeker go but yonder pa...
When I was young I was told by a booklet that if I found a better religion, I can follow that one. I liked the idea of God centered, open-sourced religion back then so it was what kept me loyal and the reason I found out that there was more to know beyond it. Where else can a seeker go but yonder past a certain point?
saltpenny
(25 rep)
Jan 13, 2020, 02:45 AM
• Last activity: Jan 13, 2020, 05:39 PM
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Meditation in day to day life
I lost my interest in things,I just do only day to day life.Is it depression?This happened some months back. I think it is related to my vipassana meditation. Now in meditation saw the sadness and negative thoughts comes ,stays and goes. But only see the sadness not happiness. So what shall I do to...
I lost my interest in things,I just do only day to day life.Is it depression?This happened some months back. I think it is related to my vipassana meditation. Now in meditation saw the sadness and negative thoughts comes ,stays and goes. But only see the sadness not happiness. So what shall I do to pass this state?
Buddhika Kitsiri
(517 rep)
Jan 13, 2020, 01:22 PM
• Last activity: Jan 13, 2020, 04:45 PM
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can meditation and dharma alone take us to higher levels of consciousness?
I have been practising dharma and meditation now for more than 2 years and i feel a good progress within me. Does these 2 tools dharma and meditation alone can take us through to different levels of consciousness ?
I have been practising dharma and meditation now for more than 2 years and i feel a good progress within me. Does these 2 tools dharma and meditation alone can take us through to different levels of consciousness ?
SGN
(181 rep)
Jan 13, 2020, 11:47 AM
• Last activity: Jan 13, 2020, 04:16 PM
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Could dhammanupassana be to remember satipatthana?
Could the 4th satipatthana or dhammanupassana be, among other things, to remember Satipatthana in both heart and mind? Shouldn't viriya be focused on the focus towards satipatthana when worldly matters have distracted one down a wrong turn on the path? Do anything Buddhist scriptures talk about this...
Could the 4th satipatthana or dhammanupassana be, among other things, to remember Satipatthana in both heart and mind? Shouldn't viriya be focused on the focus towards satipatthana when worldly matters have distracted one down a wrong turn on the path? Do anything Buddhist scriptures talk about this?
Lowbrow
(7466 rep)
Oct 10, 2019, 03:51 AM
• Last activity: Jan 13, 2020, 12:51 PM
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Husband and wife for hundreds of times of consecutive rebirth. How?
In Theravada Buddhism, once a person dies he or she will be reborn immediately. Each person dies at a different time. How is it possible for a husband and a wife to meet again in the future consecutively for hundreds of times?
In Theravada Buddhism, once a person dies he or she will be reborn immediately. Each person dies at a different time. How is it possible for a husband and a wife to meet again in the future consecutively for hundreds of times?
Steve
(669 rep)
Sep 8, 2015, 03:30 AM
• Last activity: Jan 13, 2020, 02:41 AM
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Suppose World War 3 occurs and manages to wipe out all humans and animals. Is the cycle of death and rebirth broken?
Or will human beings be magically reborn again in order to continue their journey to Nirvana?
Or will human beings be magically reborn again in order to continue their journey to Nirvana?
saltpenny
(25 rep)
Jul 17, 2019, 01:21 PM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 10:56 AM
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Planting without soil & harm ideas: giving inspiration, motivation
My person thought of motivating, encouraging each other in supporting the foundation for meditation, complete Sila incl. right livelihood, if bound to house-life, viewing on the aspects of, planting food **without soil & harm**. Maybe some of you here like to share each other not only motivation lik...
My person thought of motivating, encouraging each other in supporting the foundation for meditation, complete Sila incl. right livelihood, if bound to house-life, viewing on the aspects of, planting food **without soil & harm**.
Maybe some of you here like to share each other not only motivation like:
**Why could this be a good livelihood?**
**How could this be a good livelihood?**
but also tips in how to do practical and simple without much material need and high tech.
**How to do it for your own in least harmful way?**
If wishing to share it foremost dedicated to the Sangha and it's devoted Noble followers, to have a change of higher merits, one can use the dedicated place [here](http://sangham.net/index.php/topic,9634.msg21210.html#msg21210) as well.
*(Note that this is not given for trade, exchange, stacks... but for a way out of that wheel)*
user11235
Dec 30, 2019, 04:21 AM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 04:27 AM
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Meditation side effects
Recently I tried to meditate in a moving car. I started seeing shadow like houses or roads with close eyes. It was followed by intense pain in eyes, nausea and dizziness. The headaches and nausea went away once I stopped meditating in the car. I have also reduced my practice from one hour to 20 minu...
Recently I tried to meditate in a moving car. I started seeing shadow like houses or roads with close eyes. It was followed by intense pain in eyes, nausea and dizziness. The headaches and nausea went away once I stopped meditating in the car.
I have also reduced my practice from one hour to 20 minutes. One hour of meditation was giving me lots of benefits as I was more present throughout the day.
Now I have come to know about the side effects of meditation and advanced stages like “dark night of the soul” and different psychological illnesses like depersonalisation caused by meditation.
My question is that can an average person who is meditating for half hour or an hour a day get these side effects?
Guest
(11 rep)
Jan 11, 2020, 08:29 PM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 04:15 AM
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Nature of True Cognition
**What is the nature of a true cognition in Buddhism, or what Buddhism considers as truth?** Is it the same as what people consider a logical conclusion made with an empirical process? I feel it cannot be exactly that as various truths exist in Buddhism that aren't easily verifiable with mere deduct...
**What is the nature of a true cognition in Buddhism, or what Buddhism considers as truth?** Is it the same as what people consider a logical conclusion made with an empirical process? I feel it cannot be exactly that as various truths exist in Buddhism that aren't easily verifiable with mere deduction.
In addition, **how important is truthful cognition/perception in Buddhism?** How far can you get practicing things like mindfulness, compassion, etc. without being capable of ascertaining things as 'true' for oneself.
Finally, and I guess I should've asked this before, **what effects/qualities does true information have in Buddhism?** Is it timeless? Universal? Beyond doubt?
So to clarify, these three questions are respectively asking **the nature, the importance, and the consequences** of truth in Buddhism.
user7302
Jan 2, 2020, 01:06 PM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 03:55 AM
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Body Scan Versus Feeling Breath Overall
Upon reading this [post][1], I realized I always focused on the tip of the nose rather than the whole body, which may be less effective (for me). I was reminded of my Buddhist college teacher who said that meditation upon the body may cause psychosis or a mental breakdown for some. Hence, I wonder:...
Upon reading this post , I realized I always focused on the tip of the nose rather than the whole body, which may be less effective (for me). I was reminded of my Buddhist college teacher who said that meditation upon the body may cause psychosis or a mental breakdown for some.
Hence, I wonder: **Is there any difference between mindfulness of the body (e.g. body scan) and focusing on the breath as it arises all across the body?**
My teacher specified he believed focusing on the tip of the nose would avoid any such problems. **Is meditation on the breath as it arises across the body a variant or even partial form of body meditation?**
Thank you
user7302
Apr 20, 2019, 09:25 PM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 03:40 AM
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I'm a widow trying to find myself
My best friend, business partner and lover died four years ago, and I’m struggling to find myself again. I’ve tried meditating before, but it doesn’t seem to work at 5 minutes a day. I have lots of time, please help me. Where do I start?
My best friend, business partner and lover died four years ago, and I’m struggling to find myself again. I’ve tried meditating before, but it doesn’t seem to work at 5 minutes a day. I have lots of time, please help me. Where do I start?
user17509
Jan 6, 2020, 02:00 AM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 03:30 AM
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Overcoming sensual craving for food
I've become interested in Buddhism a couple of months ago, and I try to meditate daily, which had very positive effects on my anxiety and overall feeling so far. I am prone to feeling overwhelming cravings for unhealthy, sugary food. Although the intensity of the cravings has been reduced since I st...
I've become interested in Buddhism a couple of months ago, and I try to meditate daily, which had very positive effects on my anxiety and overall feeling so far.
I am prone to feeling overwhelming cravings for unhealthy, sugary food. Although the intensity of the cravings has been reduced since I started meditating, it is still a significant problem. I wonder if there is any specific practice which could help with that. I tried reading texts about the elimination of sensual cravings, but unfortunately they all focused primarily on sexual desire and not on craving for food.
If someone could enlighten me on the topic, I would be very thankful. :)
Blabla
(121 rep)
Jan 2, 2020, 03:43 PM
• Last activity: Jan 12, 2020, 03:18 AM
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Object of Focus for Mindfulness (Non-judgment)
In the context of modern mindfulness, one should pay attention to awareness non-judgmentally. I have tried this, and wondered whether it is possible to do so without an object, e.g. the breath. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of this movement in the West, advised in one of his talks/books that one should ke...
In the context of modern mindfulness, one should pay attention to awareness non-judgmentally. I have tried this, and wondered whether it is possible to do so without an object, e.g. the breath. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of this movement in the West, advised in one of his talks/books that one should keep with the object for a long time, even years.
**What is the effect of attending to awareness without any object, merely being non-judgmental to what arises? Is there such a thing?**
user7302
Dec 11, 2019, 10:21 PM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 05:01 PM
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Domanassa & Dukkha in enlightened beings?
What is the difference between domanassa & dukkha? Does domanassa arise in enlightened beings? Does bodily dukkha arise in enlightened beings?
What is the difference between domanassa & dukkha? Does domanassa arise in enlightened beings? Does bodily dukkha arise in enlightened beings?
Lowbrow
(7466 rep)
Oct 13, 2019, 05:11 AM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 08:12 AM
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Mindfulness, conciousness and directing attention
Often as part of mindfulness meditation (at least the Westernized form with which I am familiar) we can practice awareness of breath, parts of the breath, arising thoughts etc. However, if the aim of mindfulness is to be in pure consciousness, how can we at the same time be directing attention to so...
Often as part of mindfulness meditation (at least the Westernized form with which I am familiar) we can practice awareness of breath, parts of the breath, arising thoughts etc.
However, if the aim of mindfulness is to be in pure consciousness, how can we at the same time be directing attention to something? Wouldn't this constitute a 'doing' which arises from thought rather than from consciousness?
EDIT: I have accepted an answer that seems to be the most useful for me right now, but I can see that this a complex subject and I will certainly not ignore the content of the other answers.
james6848
(307 rep)
Jan 8, 2020, 04:27 PM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 07:53 AM
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Can super Buddhists eat bread?
Bread has flour and yeast. Therefore, a scientist can say that it is both an animal and a vegetable grain. Is there anything wrong with eating bread?
Bread has flour and yeast. Therefore, a scientist can say that it is both an animal and a vegetable grain. Is there anything wrong with eating bread?
saltpenny
(25 rep)
Jan 11, 2020, 04:04 AM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 05:44 AM
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Trying to Meditate Longer
I am currently meditating thirty minutes per day. I wonder whether I should meditate an hour instead or meditate for thirty minutes twice. Basically, I meditate on compassion and after thirty minutes I'm not generating much of anything. I just sit there moving about on my chair, wondering about the...
I am currently meditating thirty minutes per day. I wonder whether I should meditate an hour instead or meditate for thirty minutes twice.
Basically, I meditate on compassion and after thirty minutes I'm not generating much of anything. I just sit there moving about on my chair, wondering about the time, etc.
Does this saturation after thirty minutes occur because I have always meditated this amount of time before? Or is it because I'm just not ready yet? In other words, **are we used to whatever amount of meditation we're usually doing?**
If this is so, would it be better to just always try to sit an hour if I'm capable? **Should I just meditate as long as I can sit, whatever the quality may be?**
user7302
Jan 1, 2020, 03:00 PM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 03:46 AM
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Soul that transmigrates?
In [Timsa Sutta][1] Buddha says: "What do you think, monks? Which is greater, the blood you have shed from having your heads cut off while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time, or the water in the four great oceans?" Furthermore he also says: "The blood you have shed when, being water buf...
In Timsa Sutta Buddha says:
"What do you think, monks? Which is greater, the blood you have shed from having your heads cut off while transmigrating & wandering this long, long time, or the water in the four great oceans?"
Furthermore he also says:
"The blood you have shed when, being water buffaloes, you had your water buffalo-heads cut off... when, being rams, you had your ram-heads cut off... when, being goats, you had your goat-heads cut off... when, being deer, you had your deer-heads cut off... when, being chickens, you had your chicken-heads cut off... when, being pigs, you had your pig-heads cut off: Long has this been greater than the water in the four great oceans."
Doesn't this mean that there is a soul in Buddhism?
user17389
(311 rep)
Jan 5, 2020, 09:05 AM
• Last activity: Jan 11, 2020, 02:17 AM
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Can Mahayana and Theravada learn from eachother?
What can those following the Theravada learn when studying the Mahayana as the Mahayana see it? What can those following the Mahayana learn when studying the Theravada as the Theravada see it? Is it possible for individuals to use different concepts and arrive at the same goal even though those conc...
What can those following the Theravada learn when studying the Mahayana as the Mahayana see it?
What can those following the Mahayana learn when studying the Theravada as the Theravada see it?
Is it possible for individuals to use different concepts and arrive at the same goal even though those concepts are misinterpreted by many people in both schools?
Lowbrow
(7466 rep)
Oct 20, 2019, 03:04 PM
• Last activity: Jan 9, 2020, 10:08 AM
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how do we know about parts of Buddha's life where he was clearly alone?
for example, when he was being tempted by Mara, he said "the Earth bears witness." how do we know this? he was clearly alone, right? no one was there witnessing this to write about it. did Buddha just tell it to everyone later? not just that, there are so many instances in his story where he was cle...
for example, when he was being tempted by Mara, he said "the Earth bears witness." how do we know this? he was clearly alone, right? no one was there witnessing this to write about it. did Buddha just tell it to everyone later? not just that, there are so many instances in his story where he was clearly alone. no one else could've known about those moments to write about them.
Zac
(141 rep)
Jan 4, 2020, 05:53 AM
• Last activity: Jan 8, 2020, 01:35 PM
Showing page 183 of 20 total questions