Are beliefs in a permanent, unchanging soul / self considered detrimental to spiritual progress in Buddhism? If so, why? Please explain in detail.

I read the following on the internet: > Questions must be about Buddhism – any school of Buddhism – usually > about doctrine or about practice; or perhaps about history, culture or > art. What are the criteria of a 'school' of Buddhism? Is [Dhamma Dhatu](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/8157/dhamma-dhatu) a school of Buddhism?

I read the following in the internet: > Right View and Right Aspiration, would be part of Sila, as Dr Rod > Bucknell 1984 and I have confirmed by comparative studies of > teachings. At least the Visuddhimagga of Buddhaghosa also appears to include the mind in its CHAPTER I Description of Virtue (Sila): > 25. (v) Now, here is the answer to the question, HOW MANY KINDS OF VIRTUE ARE THERE? > > .17. As virtue of Pátimokkha restraint, **of restraint of sense faculties**, of purification of livelihood, and that concerning requisites > > (a) The virtue described by the Blessed One thus: “Here a bhikkhu dwells restrained with the Pátimokkha restraint, possessed of the [proper] conduct and resort, and seeing fear in the slightest fault, he trains himself by undertaking the precepts of training, (Vibh 244)” is virtue of Pátimokkha restraint. (b) That described thus: “On seeing a visible object with the eye, he apprehends neither the signs nor the particulars through which, if he left the eye faculty unguarded, evil and unprofitable states of covetousness and grief might invade him; he enters upon the way of its restraint, he guards the eye faculty, undertakes the restraint of the eye faculty. On hearing a sound with the ear … On smelling an odour with the nose … On tasting a flavour with the tongue … On touching a tangible object with the body … On cognizing a mental object with the mind, he apprehends neither the signs nor the particulars through which, if he left the mind faculty unguarded, **evil and unprofitable states of covetousness and grief might invade him**; he enters upon the way of its restraint, he guards the mind faculty, undertakes the restraint of the mind faculty ([M I 180](https://suttacentral.net/mn27/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=main¬es=none&highlight=false&script=latin#15.1)) , is virtue of restraint of the sense faculties. > > [Page 18](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/PathofPurification2011.pdf) However, when examining [M I 180 (MN 27)](https://suttacentral.net/mn27/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=main¬es=none&highlight=false&script=latin#15.1) cited by Buddhaghosa, the impression is Buddhaghosa misread the text. In a sentence, [MN 27](https://suttacentral.net/mn27/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=main¬es=none&highlight=false&script=latin#15.1) appears to summarize sila together with sense-restraint, although does not appear to say these practices are the same thing (i.e., types of sila), as follows: > They refrain from... mutilation, murder, abduction, banditry, plunder, > and violence. They’re content (santuṭṭho) with robes to look after the > body and almsfood to look after the belly. Wherever they go, they set > out taking only these things. When they have this entire spectrum of > noble **ethics** (ariyena **sīla**kkhandhena), they experience a blameless > happiness inside themselves. > > When they see a sight with their eyes, they don’t get caught up in the > features and details.... They act with situational awareness when > going out and coming back... > > When they have this entire spectrum of noble ethics (sīla), this noble > contentment (santuṭṭhiyā), this noble sense restraint > (indriyasaṁvarena) and this noble mindfulness and situational > awareness (satisampajaññena), they frequent a secluded lodging—a > wilderness, the root of a tree, a hill, a ravine, a mountain cave, a > charnel ground, a forest, the open air, a heap of straw. > > [MN 27](https://suttacentral.net/mn27/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=linebyline&reference=main¬es=none&highlight=false&script=latin#15.1) Is thought included in 'sila' (ethics) anywhere in the Pali Suttas? Note: this question is explicitly about 'sila' and not about 'kamma'.

Does anyone have a commentary, source, YT video of teachings or any sort of explanation of the actual method for meditations of the four immesurables (Brahmavihara) Either Mahayana or Theravada. I don't mean sutta sources, but actual explanation of the method of meditation practice. I did search the questions but could not find an adequate explanation I am seeking. Feel free to close the question and provide source if one had been provided in questions before. Though again I am looking for actual explanation of method, not just concept or translations of suttas.

I have done S.N.Goenkas Vipassana and Anapana sati meditation. In both the cases my mind remains active and I have lot of thoughts while meditating. I learnt from Eckhart Tolle that the sensory perception can be portal to silent present moment awareness. In other words being aware of sensory perceptions can lead to meditative states of no-thought or no-mind. When I remain aware of sound, I am in the present moment as sound can only be heard in present moment. So, currently I am meditating on sounds that I hear. I am doing lot of progress as i am having less and less thoughts. Also, after some time i can hear a humming sound which is uncreated which I learnt on youtube is called Anahat Naad, but there is no such reference in Buddhist scriptures on Anahat Naad or any formal sound meditation instructions. I have two questions. Firstly, am I doing right meditation by being aware of the sounds. And secondly, is there any scriptural reference of meditating on sound. thanks.

You will often hear reference to the three poisons in Buddhism, What are they referring to exactly when they talk about the three poisons?

Why use a word thought by some to be offensive even if the meaning isn't meant to be offensive? There is no other word that can be used? Would using another word (or phrase) be compassionate towards those who might get offended by it's use even if the intent wasn't to offend or provoke? Is "Hinayana" so sacred, useful and descriptive that it must be used even when talking to an audience that likely has people in it who would be offended?

Is there a compelling reason, those that draw diagrams for visualization of pratityasamutpada (dependent origination), don't want to include anusaya/asava, obviously not to misrepresent Dhamma? Because from my search, only MN9 details these hidden layers of anusaya/asava as conditioning ignorance, vice-versa? > Ignorance originates from defilement. Ignorance ceases when defilement > ceases. The practice that leads to the cessation of ignorance is > simply this noble eightfold path …” > Defilement originates from ignorance. Defilement ceases when ignorance > ceases. The practice that leads to the cessation of defilement is > simply this noble eightfold path,

The hindrance of vicikitsa,vicikicchā(Pali) is related to 'doubt in Buddha'. What a vague phrasing, right?If you can, I am looking for the sutta where Buddha describes the difficulty of teaching to those of diverse backgrounds.

Can someone precisely explain what is actually happening (and why) on this movie? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-9pxBANek

What is the right way to understand (or apply) mirror wisdom? Is it buddha-nature, bodhisattva (ripe for awakening), or both? Is it cultivated, or does it spring up naturally with enlightenment? If it's a method, how can it be utilized to curb conceit? Is it a prerequisite for non-duality? Does it have a place in mindfulness meditation? EDIT: from what i understand it's one of five wisdom types. that's about all i know. that and wondering about the people across from me on the subway, when i think maybe this is when i should work with the mirroring... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_wisdoms

According to this law, every phenomenon owes its origin to another phenomenon prior to it. It may simply be expressed as “depending on this, this originates”. An example of Dependent Origination in nature is given below: There being clouds in the sky it rains. It having rained, the road becomes slippery. The road becoming slippery, a man falls down. The man having fallen down becomes injured. Here a shower of rain depends on the clouds in the sky. The road becoming slippery depends on the rain. The fall of the man depends on the road becoming slippery. The injury of the man depends upon his fall: Conversely: If there were no clouds in the sky, it would not have rained. Then the road would not have become slippery. Then the man would not have fallen. Then he would not have become injured. So this is understandable and clear to anyone. So can anyone explain (in simplified way)dependent origination step by step with practical examples?

Wikipedia's Kalpa(aeon) in Buddhism article says, > In another simple explanation, there are four different lengths of kalpas. A regular kalpa is approximately 16 million years long (16,798,000 years<a href="/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKalpa_%2528aeon%2529%23Buddhism" class="external-link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">[1] <i class="fas fa-external-link-alt fa-xs"></i></a>), and a small kalpa is 1000 regular kalpas, or about 16 billion years. Further, a medium kalpa is roughly 320 billion years, the equivalent of 20 small kalpas. A great kalpa is 4 medium kalpas, or around 1.28 trillion years. I just went through the Visuddhimagga, and could not find where or how that time in years is calculated. I was wondering how to calculate it. Please explain how it's calculated, with reference to scripture where Lord Buddha mentioned it, and/or where the calculation or the result of the calculation is described, perhaps in the Thripitaka or Visuddhimagga? --- <a href="/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FKalpa_%2528aeon%2529%23Buddhism" class="external-link" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">[1] <i class="fas fa-external-link-alt fa-xs"></i></a> Wikipedia's reference is to a book: > Epstein, Ronald B.(2002). Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z p. 204. Buddhist Text Translation Society. ISBN 0-88139-353-3, ISBN 978-0-88139-353-8. Perhaps that book may have a reference to where they found it, but I still haven't find that book.

I have read somewhere (possibly Dalai Lama) that certain sexual activity comes under sexual misconduct (like Oral, Anal ...). So my question is whether using breast for sexual activity is considered sexual misconduct.

I am trying to find sources of info of if the Buddha ever explained any reason why we as humans are afflicted by sexual desire. Conventionally we are animals so are innately afflicted with a predisposition towards reproduction, with sexual desire itself being enticed by physical pleasure. Just want to know if the Buddha explained this desire in any depth. Obviously this issue would have come up within the sangha.

> Nirvana is not extinction because mind (which, from the first, was the > only authentic component of the vanished beings) persists; it is not > heaven because no sentient being remains to enter it Can you explain it so that I'm sure it is right? In other words, expand on it, or append it, etc. You may use concepts like "one mind", "mindful", etc,, whatever you like.

The common sense-objects are light, sound, smells, tastes, touch, and ideas. The origin must be form. What is form? > The four great elements and the form derived from the four great > elements: this is called form. Thus we assume the sense-objects are derivatives of the four great elements, but what is more? Given the often anomalous classification of intellect as mind or consciousness, I even wonder if its counterpart, idea, is form at all. Is there further elucidation on the matter, like that of the Sankhya school?

I am a Hindu and I believe that Vishnu incarnated as Buddha in beginning period of Kaliyug and purpose of his incarnation was to avoid sufferings caused in society by misinterpretation of vedas. So,he rejected vedas. > Mahabharat shanti parva Chapter 348 > > Then at the beginning of Kali Yuga he took refuge in the tree of the > king of brahmins He lived in **the house of the king of righteousness > in fear of Magadha He was dressed in brown clothes, shaved and had > white teeth. I, the Buddha, the son of Shuddhodana, shall bewitch men. > The Sudras are enjoyed among the pure when I have attained Buddhahood. > All men will be enlightened and covered with saffron.** At times of Mahabharat ,Krishna told that Dwarka will drown and he will return as Buddha in Kaliyug. ***What I want to ask :Are there any Buddhist sects or subsects that believe that Hindu scriptures particularly the Vedas were true in original form and got interpolated .So,they need to follow new message and reject Vedas so they require change to Buddhism or Vedas were divinely inspired but got misinterpreted /interpolated or lost original form or any similar belief of divine revelation in Vedas .***

I read the following on the internet: > I believe the Buddha defined mind as a process (feeling, perceiving, > thinking, cognizing) that is initiated by craving (SN12:38), giving > rise to effects like pleasant/unpleasant/neutral sensation. This is > also the way we normally experience reality. What do we believe SN 12.38 is about?

I read the following on the internet: > Sunyata is absolute reality. Emptiness. There are also the 3 marks of > existence, suffering, impermanence and non self. This is ultimate > reality for a being in samsara. Are anicca, dukkha & anatta the marks of existence for a being in samsara?