Considering the story we know about the life of Buddha as Siddhartha and also considering that Yesodhara was Buddha's partner in His many previous lives, can we say that Yesodhara was somehow instrumental in Siddhartha becoming a Buddha? OR With or without Her being in His life He would have made it? (Her pervious life with Buddha is in wiki article and here .) *I know this question is as such irrelevant to practice but I am trying to get around this idea called '**soul-mates**' which is in pop-media.*

Buddhism has anti-natalist overtones according to the writings of Hari Singh Gour below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinatalism > Buddha states his propositions in the pedantic style of his age. He throws them into a form of sorites; but, as such, it is logically faulty and all he wishes to convey is this: Oblivious of the suffering to which life is subject, man begets children, and is thus the cause of old age and death. If he would only realize what suffering he would add to by his act, he would desist from the procreation of children; and so stop the operation of old age and death. How does this view of the Buddha reconcile with the fact that the Buddha had a son named Rahul?

Alan Watts told *The Story of the Chinese Farmer *, which is also sometimes found under the title *Maybe*. It appears that he told this story sometime between 1960-1969, since it was published in Watts, A. (2011). *Eastern wisdom, modern life: Collected talks: 1960-1969*. New World Library. **Is there any history of this story before Watts?** Is there a similar story that it might have been based upon? On the other hand, has some scholar researched this question and concluded that Watts wrote it himself?

I believe that I remember once reading that the Buddha abandoned excessive meditation. Is this true?

To alleviate someone from suffering, Buddhism teaches one to practice [mettā](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mett%C4%81) [karuṇā](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karu%E1%B9%87%C4%81) . But it seems to me that to thinking good about someone and wish them the best, we need to have a better version of the suffered person, so that we can disagree with their current version. If we don't have that image, then we wouldn't say the suffered person is suffered at the beginning. Thus, it seems correct to say that in order to practice metta and karuna, we need to have an attachment? Since this attachment is necessary, then I think it's fine to have? For example I ask this question, thus I have some attachment to it, and that's fine. I think this is related to the conventional truth and absolute truth. So is it correct the in order to practice metta and karuna, we need to have an attachment to begin with? Edit: One can simply say that the better version of that person is just a ideal fabrication of them (because they are not actually like that), or just the good side of them that they always have but not shown yet. In either case, I think it's necessary to [assume good faith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumption_of_innocence) . Would that assumption be an attachment?
Related: • [Is radiating loving kindness increase attachment?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/11859/13525) • [How to view people with metta and karuna?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/24615/13525) • [Is there any source saying that Buddhists can temporarily form relationship to help people?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/33370/13525)

I am indian. You are Americans . Our identity divide human beings? I am hindu. You are muslim. Our identity divide human beings? I am buddhist monk. I am ordinary human. I am hindu. I am muslim. Hindu hates Muslim beacuse i am hindu . Muslim hate hindu beacuse you are muslim. Indian hate pakistan beacuse I am indian. Pakistan hate indian beacuse he is pakistan. Every one carry identity. Identity create conflict Conflict create war

Does a Buddha or arahant like food and is mindful of that liking at all times or does liking just no longer arise? Does the Buddha like or dislike at the heart level and yet sees the heart objectively? Related to this question: https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/35349/what-is-the-basis

I have thought about this since a long time, and now I am ready for renunciation, accept teachings and practise Buddhism in a monastery. I told my parents about these future plans. They said they were disappointed in me & that I was running away from my responsibilities & will ruin their and my life if I follow this path. Since they've made me the person I am today, I feel the need to ask for permission before I leave. They won't allow me. What would be the best way to solve this, maybe a middle path?

I heard a few times the notion that in meditation one must focus on the sensations of breathing (which seems to make sense to me) but not the *idea* of the breath. What would be the 'idea' of the breath? Is there a single thought or mental entity one could focus on? I feel like thoughts change and follow one another quickly, I don't understand how one could try to meditate on the 'idea' of the breath. **What does such an idea refer to?**

Please don't tell book answer Please don't tell Buddhist explain Please give answers from your true experience Buying car is happiness ? Buying bike is happiness ? Buying home is happiness? Achieving government job is happiness? Happiness is dependent on something? --- I think Happiness is dependent on something. Today I am sad because I have no six pack and big muscle I am sad because I have no desire job I am sad because I have no money Happiness is suffering

First of all I will apologize because it will be hard to put that as a clear and simple question. Once a person decides to enter the Buddhist path, it becomes clear that one should avoid engaging in romantic relationships as impermanence will definitly create suffering for this person (either by changing or ending the relationship), also a relationship can reduce time for meditation and dhamma study. We can understand why monks are not married. Using the same logic a person should avoid having a child, as it will create strong attachments and dramaticaly reduce the time for other activities. That said, we still find lots of Buddhists that decide to have this "normal life", marriage, sons, career, etc... even though they practice the Buddha's teachings, meditate and understand anicca and emptiness. They believe in Samsara, rebirth and Nibbana, but they still make choices that will probably keep their minds tied to this plane. It must be a very hard moment in life, to decide what to do when there is a "conflict" like this. I'm facing such challenges in my life, because soon I will have to decide about marriage, sons etc. I will create strong bonds and attachments, anyone that passed thought the same thing could help?

>According to the suttas Are human beings capable of discerning what dhamma is outside of the suttas? Is it possible to know enough from the suttas and then make use of the Abhidhamma? What about the mere possibility that a dhamma practitioner could make use of Jesus's teachings, Hindu teachings, Sufi teachings or sutras outside the the official Theravada context? When is it appropriate to be more closed minded? When is it appropriate to be more open minded?

Is it correct to say that the buddhasasana (the teaching of the Buddha) is conditioned and impermanent in contrary with Dhamma itself which is unconditioned and permanent.

Well, I Keep hearing this dialogue by a few Buddhist meditation teachers, "It's very common for everyone to get **distracted by thoughts** when you start the meditation practise initially". I am curious to know whether Buddha, himself, faced any issues while meditating, initially, (lack of concentration, etc)?

The well-known yet often differently translated opening verses of the Dhamma use the Pali words "mano" and "manasa", as follows: > **Mano**pubbaṅgamā dhammā, > > **mano**seṭṭhā **mano**mayā; > > **Manasā** ce paduṭṭhena, > > bhāsati vā karoti vā; > > Tato naṃ dukkhamanveti, > > cakkaṃva vahato padaṃ. > > **Mano**pubbaṅgamā dhammā, > > **mano**seṭṭhā **mano**mayā; > > **Manasā** ce pasannena, > > bhāsati vā karoti vā; > > Tato naṃ sukhamanveti, > > chāyāva anapāyinī What do the Pali words "mano" and "manasa" specify refer to & why are they used in Dhammapada verses 1 & 2?

> Conditioned reality, the psycho-physical interdependence, only exist > because we experience it. This is how I interpreted Yuttadhammo's > videos on Ultimate Reality. Is this a correct interpretation and if > so, how can I apply this to my meditation practice? Metta!

http://9gag.com/gag/arOnzn5 says that the Buddha's "hair" on this statue represents snails. I thought Buddha shave his head like all his disciples. And there is a claim that his hair are actually snails.

Who am I? Am I my memory? For example, I am hindu. I am engineer. I am Rajput. Who am I without past memory? Am I my past memory? I am engineer. I am hindu.

I love my parents, but for some reason they do not understand my teaching and misinterpret what I say and won't listen to me. Their misinterpretations led them to take all of my books on Buddhism I was studying as well as prevent me from meditation whenever I try or try to be mindful of doing anything, they prevent me from having to do with the Buddha's teachings (However, I can still do online things in secret as you can see). They say that when I leave the house or grow to a sufficient age, then I can resume, but for now, they have the right to take away my religion basically and it is really putting a hard toll on my spiritual growth and practice for purity. They hope it will fade away, but I have used the Dhamma as my practice for two years now and I have grown to know its truth, unlike my parents. Does anyone have any recommendations on what I should do? Are there any ways I can continue the practice even though my parents work effortlessly for me not to do so? How can I work to show metta to them when I want to but get frustrations when they push away my teachings or speak as if Buddhism is a "cult" that makes me anti-social and a bad person, even though I have explained all of it to them? Please help! Metta!

What are the results of various sins done. I heard that it has various kinds of results we get for sins done.