Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
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What is meant by statement "the one who sees Dhamma sees dependent origination"?
In [MN 28][1] following was said : > Now this has been said by the Blessed One: “One who sees dependent > origination sees the Dhamma; one who sees the Dhamma sees dependent > origination.” My questions are : What is meant by the above statement? & Is dependent origination not a Dhamma ? [1]: https:...
In MN 28 following was said :
> Now this has been said by the Blessed One: “One who sees dependent
> origination sees the Dhamma; one who sees the Dhamma sees dependent
> origination.”
My questions are :
What is meant by the above statement? &
Is dependent origination not a Dhamma ?
Dheeraj Verma
(4296 rep)
Aug 3, 2018, 04:58 PM
• Last activity: Aug 6, 2018, 06:40 AM
0
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2
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Is there a list of things to abandon before abandoning craving?
There are several things which Buddha asked us to abandon before we can abandon craving finally. For example Buddha asks us to abandon five fetters and hindrances. My question is : Is there a complete list of things to abandon before abandoning craving ?
There are several things which Buddha asked us to abandon before we can abandon craving finally. For example Buddha asks us to abandon five fetters and hindrances.
My question is : Is there a complete list of things to abandon before abandoning craving ?
Dheeraj Verma
(4296 rep)
Aug 5, 2018, 04:42 AM
• Last activity: Aug 5, 2018, 09:23 PM
5
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5
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Ignorance and the root of suffering?
[Searching the Pali Canon for the "root of suffering",][1] we find the direct definition only occurs in a few suttas: * delight is the root of suffering ([MN1][2]) * attachment is the root of suffering ([MN105][3], [MN66][4]) * desire is the root of suffering ([MN42.11]) * what is greed? ... that wh...
Searching the Pali Canon for the "root of suffering", we find the direct definition only occurs in a few suttas:
* delight is the root of suffering (MN1 )
* attachment is the root of suffering (MN105 , MN66 )
* desire is the root of suffering ([MN42.11])
* what is greed? ... that which is...root of suffering (Vb17 )
We also have that ignorance is simply one product of dependent origination (SN 22.81):
> And that craving, that feeling, that contact, and that **ignorance** are also impermanent, conditioned, and dependently originated .
Ignorance does indeed result in suffering, but to claim it as the *root of suffering* feels a bit misleading.
**Can one assert “ignorance is the root of suffering?”**
**Can one assert “ignorance is NOT the root of suffering?”**
In your answers, kindly include actual sutta references, preferably from the Pali Canon. This is necessary to avoid arguing about personal interpretation since supported translations are provided by ordained and well-respected monks. As a Sangha, we have to respect and uphold the Dhamma.
🙏
OyaMist
(9779 rep)
Aug 1, 2018, 12:04 AM
• Last activity: Aug 5, 2018, 09:05 PM
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How irony and sarcasm are seen in Buddhism?
How irony and sarcasm are seen in Buddhism? For example, are they considered wrong speech in all ocasions?
How irony and sarcasm are seen in Buddhism? For example, are they considered wrong speech in all ocasions?
konrad01
(9895 rep)
Mar 11, 2015, 01:46 AM
• Last activity: Aug 5, 2018, 09:35 AM
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How are the fetters by Anapanasati diminished?
According to the Anapanasati Sutta it is this practise that leads to liberation but how does the destruction of (a) fetter(s) exactly happen? Let's take the stage from once-returner to non-returner. The latter one has removed sensual desire and anger. How did this exactly happen during Anapanasati?
According to the Anapanasati Sutta it is this practise that leads to liberation but how does the destruction of (a) fetter(s) exactly happen? Let's take the stage from once-returner to non-returner. The latter one has removed sensual desire and anger. How did this exactly happen during Anapanasati?
Val
(2570 rep)
Aug 3, 2018, 10:53 AM
• Last activity: Aug 4, 2018, 02:12 PM
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Should I identify myself as formless?
Namo Buddhaya. Sabbe Dhamma Anatta. Form is Anatta too. Meaning form is not worth identifying as myself, me or mine. Does that mean that I should identify myself as formless ? Am I in form or am I formless or I do not exist ? Similarly for feelings and consciousness. Should I identify myself feeling...
Namo Buddhaya.
Sabbe Dhamma Anatta. Form is Anatta too. Meaning form is not worth identifying as myself, me or mine.
Does that mean that I should identify myself as formless ? Am I in form or am I formless or I do not exist ?
Similarly for feelings and consciousness. Should I identify myself feelingless? Should I identify myself consciousless( i.e. I will become without consciousness) ? I am pretty confused.
Dheeraj Verma
(4296 rep)
Apr 8, 2018, 04:45 AM
• Last activity: Aug 4, 2018, 02:46 AM
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Is there a mistranslation of definition of ignorance?
Ignorance is the cause of suffering. Buddha says in [SN 12.2][1] : > “And what, bhikkhus, is ignorance? Not knowing suffering, not knowing > the origin of suffering, not knowing the cessation of suffering, not > knowing the way leading to the cessation of suffering. This is called > ignorance. Note...
Ignorance is the cause of suffering.
Buddha says in SN 12.2 :
> “And what, bhikkhus, is ignorance? Not knowing suffering, not knowing
> the origin of suffering, not knowing the cessation of suffering, not
> knowing the way leading to the cessation of suffering. This is called
> ignorance.
Note that Buddha says "not knowing".And what is knowing ? Knowing is for example I know my name. I know my house address. I know history etc.
Now that I 'know' suffering. Now that I 'know' origin of suffering. Now that I 'know' cessation of suffering. Now that I 'know' the way leading to the cessation of suffering. My ignorance should be removed and my suffering should end. But that doesn't happen , which means there is some mistranslation from Pali. Actually I guess the wording should be :Ignorance is not knowing suffering , not knowing the origin of suffering , not knowing the cessation of suffering ,not **walking(or applying or practicing)** the way leading to the cessation of suffering.
My question is : Is there a mistranslation of definition of ignorance?
Dheeraj Verma
(4296 rep)
Jul 31, 2018, 12:03 PM
• Last activity: Aug 4, 2018, 02:41 AM
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Do the Pali suttas teach about "interrelatedness"?
What is "interrelatedness"? Do the Pali suttas teach about "interrelatedness"?
What is "interrelatedness"? Do the Pali suttas teach about "interrelatedness"?
Paraloka Dhamma Dhatu
(48167 rep)
Aug 3, 2018, 09:11 PM
• Last activity: Aug 3, 2018, 10:46 PM
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Describe the Mahayana path
[This comment](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/28492/awakened-great-zen-master-seung-sahn-is-it-possible-he-lost-the-state-of-nibba#comment47855_28498) writes, reasonably enough: > Worth mentioning regarding Tantra and Vajrayana that Vajrayana is not a path of renunciation So I was wond...
[This comment](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/28492/awakened-great-zen-master-seung-sahn-is-it-possible-he-lost-the-state-of-nibba#comment47855_28498) writes, reasonably enough:
> Worth mentioning regarding Tantra and Vajrayana that Vajrayana is not a path of renunciation
So I was wondering what it is, if it isn't that.
I remembered that I've read that there are, but know very nearly nothing about, [Five paths](http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Five_paths) -- starting with the "path of accumulation".
- Is this doctrine ("five paths") for/from all (or most) forms of Mahayana, including East Asian and Zen for example, or is it more just Tibetan?
- [This wiki entry](http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Path_of_accumulation) says,
> It is called the path of accumulation because it is the stage at which one makes a special effort to gather the accumulation of merit, and also because it marks the beginning of many incalculable aeons of gathering the accumulations.
> On the lesser path of accumulation it is uncertain when one will reach the path of joining. On the intermediate path of accumulation it is certain that one will reach the path of joining in the very next lifetime. On the greater path of accumulation it is certain that one will reach the path of joining within that very same lifetime.
There seems to be some controversy about whether (in "Theravada" for example) the doctrine is applicable "this very life" or whether it's understood as happening over multiple lifetimes.
Can you comment on that from a Mahayana view?
I'm not sure that I see the path[s] described in the Pali canon even as a "path of renunciation", though it's true that *Nekkhamma* is translated as "renunciation".
In formal Christian doctrine I think the word "renounce" is used in the context of "renouncing evil" or "renouncing the devil", and that the word "renounce" comes from a Latin word meaning "to protest".
I think that more informally/conventionally, though, the word is maybe used to imply something like, "try to do without what you like, at least temporarily" -- a person might try to renounce cigarette smoking, for example, or to eat less chocolate, or perhaps vow to stay with only one sexual partner.
I thought that *Nekkhamma* isn't quite like this informal meaning -- instead it involves clearly seeing the disadvantage of something, and therefore deciding that you don't even want it.
And so I think it might be more accurately described as a "path to cessation" rather than a "path of renunciation" -- cessation of suffering, of hindrances and afflictions etc. So:
- Are any/various forms of Mahayana too a "path to cessation", or not exactly?
ChrisW
(48745 rep)
Aug 3, 2018, 09:57 AM
• Last activity: Aug 3, 2018, 07:22 PM
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6
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Why are all the Buddhas born in Indian subcontinent only?
From [this][1] list of previous Buddhas it looks like all were Indians.( I mean from their names). Ancient Greece or Egypt were also developed enough to have understood the Dhamma. We can consider Socretes and Moses from that part, but India(Nepal) was chosen for the Buddha. What's the reason? [1]:...
From this list of previous Buddhas it looks like all were Indians.( I mean from their names).
Ancient Greece or Egypt were also developed enough to have understood the Dhamma.
We can consider Socretes and Moses from that part, but India(Nepal) was chosen for the Buddha.
What's the reason?
user13135
Jul 31, 2018, 06:07 PM
• Last activity: Aug 3, 2018, 04:41 PM
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Buddhism And Dimension
What does the perception of Buddhism observe or speculate, about the limitations of our 4 dimensions of perceptual observation (three dimensions of space, giving us the material; and time being the fourth, affording us memory of events within the material that we can judge the present by)? If Buddhi...
What does the perception of Buddhism observe or speculate, about the limitations of our 4 dimensions of perceptual observation (three dimensions of space, giving us the material; and time being the fourth, affording us memory of events within the material that we can judge the present by)?
If Buddhism's pursuit is of enlightenment, could that goal lead to perception of five dimensions of observation (as that perception would afford a picture of the direction of time both ways, and give the observer a picture of every possible event leading from the 'choices' of each of the inhabitants of this world and every outcome of every choice chosen past present and future)?
Is this the enlightenment Buddhism is pursuing (as it would give the observer knowledge of the outcome of every choice, and in a sense the 'Judgement and sentence' of every action, but would detach them from any interaction within the four as a consequence of its perception, and the certainty which would trap any attempt to change the four's events because of the undeniable logic)?
user12020
Aug 2, 2018, 10:17 PM
• Last activity: Aug 3, 2018, 04:02 PM
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Which commitment should I make?
I want to make one commitment now to save myself from suffering in distant future. The kind of suffering is same as due to unity with undesired situation. For example I might have to shake hands with my enemy. Or I might have to live under poverty. Which single most important commitment should I mak...
I want to make one commitment now to save myself from suffering in distant future.
The kind of suffering is same as due to unity with undesired situation. For example I might have to shake hands with my enemy. Or I might have to live under poverty.
Which single most important commitment should I make to follow every day or every moment or every week so that I may not suffer while getting united with the undesirable?
(Answer should be like start keeping right view or start practicing right view or I should start jogging or I should start meditating or start chanting mantra etc...)
Dheeraj Verma
(4296 rep)
Jul 26, 2018, 01:46 PM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2018, 10:10 PM
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Are the Pali words "cause" ("hetu'), "condition" ("paccaya"), "nutriment" ("ahara") and "root" ("mula") synonyms?
Are the Pali words "cause" ("hetu'), "condition" ("paccaya"), "nutriment" ("ahara") and "root" ("mula") always synonyms?
Are the Pali words "cause" ("hetu'), "condition" ("paccaya"), "nutriment" ("ahara") and "root" ("mula") always synonyms?
Paraloka Dhamma Dhatu
(48167 rep)
Aug 1, 2018, 11:24 PM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2018, 03:23 AM
2
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6
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Favourite Mahayana inspirational texts/treaties
I would like to ask the community here what are your favourite treaties or texts in Mahayana tradition that did personally make great impact on your practice in the way that it cut through illusion or allowed you to grow by breakthrough in understanding etc. It might have sentimental value of sorts....
I would like to ask the community here what are your favourite treaties or texts in Mahayana tradition that did personally make great impact on your practice in the way that it cut through illusion or allowed you to grow by breakthrough in understanding etc. It might have sentimental value of sorts.
It might be a bullet point list with the title and description what it is and why it had such impact on your practice.
Examples of such works could be Dogen - “Shobogenzo” or Shantideva - “Way of Bodhisattva”. It might be written from perspective of Vajrayanists but not about tantric practise per we.
user13383
Jul 15, 2018, 11:01 AM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 09:11 PM
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What are some resources on Mahayana forms of Meditation?
Are there any sources about Meditations of Mahayana Schools?
Are there any sources about Meditations of Mahayana Schools?
O_O
(187 rep)
Sep 22, 2016, 11:31 AM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 07:45 PM
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Buddhism on vasthu shastra
[Vastu shastra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastu_shastra) (*vāstu śāstra*) is "a traditional Hindu system of architecture". Did Lord Buddha debunk vasthu shastra? If not, what are some teachings made by Lord Buddha on the same? If Buddhism does not have an opinion on the topic, opinions of member...
[Vastu shastra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastu_shastra) (*vāstu śāstra*) is "a traditional Hindu system of architecture".
Did Lord Buddha debunk vasthu shastra? If not, what are some teachings made by Lord Buddha on the same? If Buddhism does not have an opinion on the topic, opinions of members are appreciated
seeker
(963 rep)
Jul 26, 2018, 01:24 PM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 04:36 PM
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What is anger. How it is different from violence?
I want the differences between the two, followed by their definitions?
I want the differences between the two, followed by their definitions?
user10804
Jul 22, 2018, 08:47 AM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 04:33 PM
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As a lay follower how to deal with uncontrollable sexual urges?
I have totally refrained from sexual misconduct and after reading the answers about Masturbation to the previous question on this site I have even refrained from that. Also, I have practically zero sexual thoughts during meditation. But you see, as we eat food, the body automatically produces semen...
I have totally refrained from sexual misconduct and after reading the answers about Masturbation to the previous question on this site I have even refrained from that. Also, I have practically zero sexual thoughts during meditation.
But you see, as we eat food, the body automatically produces semen which is beyond our control. This accumulates and as the epididymis gets full either it ends up in a nightfall or heightened sexual urges which then gets beyond control.
How to deal with this problem? Do monks face this problem?
user13135
Jul 30, 2018, 02:12 PM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 02:26 PM
3
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What does "nose breath" mean?
What does the following mean? >You should not try to find the point where the moving air strokes the nostrils, but keep your focus at the nose breath. This comes from the followingpage that was linked to from another person: http://mahamevnawa.lk/ananda-sutta-leading-to-awakening/ I'm really not sur...
What does the following mean?
>You should not try to find the point where the moving air strokes the nostrils, but keep your focus at the nose breath.
This comes from the followingpage that was linked to from another person:
http://mahamevnawa.lk/ananda-sutta-leading-to-awakening/
I'm really not sure what they mean by "the nose breath". I generally have trouble with focusing anywhere near the nose. I can feel some coolness when breathing in, but I can feel nothing on the way out. I have tried for years and it has never become easier. That is why I focus on the abdomen as in the Mahasi style, but I still would like to know what this article means. Can you please explain to me what "nose breath" means?
Saddhā
(676 rep)
Feb 12, 2017, 07:05 AM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 01:12 PM
3
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2
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What is the meaning of the pali word "Viveko"?
I was reading through some Suttas and a word solitude was found. I looked up the original pali sutta for the word and found that word "Viveko" is getting translated as solitude. I have a sanskrit background and I studied sanskrit when I was in 8th standard. The word Viveko seems to have been derived...
I was reading through some Suttas and a word solitude was found. I looked up the original pali sutta for the word and found that word "Viveko" is getting translated as solitude.
I have a sanskrit background and I studied sanskrit when I was in 8th standard. The word Viveko seems to have been derived from the sanskrit word vivek.
Vivek means discretion , wisdom , true knowledge,investigation , consideration etc..but it does not mean solitude.(Solitude means privacy)
Here is the sutta which uses the word solitude :
> Two thoughts occur to him, The Tathāgata, the Awakened One Who endured
> what is beyond endurance: Security (for beings) was the first thought
> spoken of, **Solitude** was the second announced.
Its pali version is as follows :
> “Tathāgataṃ buddhamasayhasāhinaṃ, Duve vitakkā samudācaranti naṃ;
> Khemo vitakko paṭhamo udīrito, Tato **viveko** dutiyo pakāsito.
My question is : What is the meaning of the pali word "Viveko" ?
Dheeraj Verma
(4296 rep)
Jul 30, 2018, 01:23 PM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2018, 11:11 AM
Showing page 261 of 20 total questions