It may be hard to find a comparative monastic tradition in the west although there are some monastic in Christianity currently most are really assimilated and intertwine with the Church which bears its existence in charity; so it's not practical to compare these with Buddhist monastic tradition. However, if we go back in history there were monastics in Christianity completely detached from the church, for example, the desert fathers ( Christian ascetics in Egypt and Syria ) were completely detached from the church, but following the Apostel's command that 'a person unwilling to work should not eat' they lived by the labour of their hand. So, the question, in short, is why do Buddhist monks rely on alms for sustenance? I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but for many observers, it's perplexing to see a young and strong monk asking for sustenance from old and ragged and gray women.

I've tried hard to practice meditation - Anapansatti & Vipassana but I just can't concentrate on my breath. Now, I'm feeling inferior as if I can never concentrate my breath or get rid of my inner problems/ sufferings. I feel as if peace or enlightenment or eradication of suffering is not for me. After proper analysis, I've found that I just simply can't concentrate. So my questions are - What are necessary & sufficient condition to get enlightened? If I don't have those qualities how can I develop those qualities? What I would have to do? - How to concentrate provided I have tried my best to concentrate my breathing but mind wanders away in no time. It is making me sick thinking I don't posses qualities to eradicate my own sufferings. It makes me feel as if I will never be at peace. Note: I have been into 10 days Vipassana course also. Anyone help me.

In the Dhammapada in the chapter 20 - The Path it says > "I will make this my winter home have another house for the monsoon > and dwell in a third for during the summer". Lost in such fancies, one > forgets his final destination. (translation by Eknath Easwaran ) Although it clearly can't have been written with this intent - to me this reads like very pertinent critique of modern consumerism and capitalism. A lot of us find ourselves practicing in societies where this is the prevalent ethos so this feels relevant. Is there something about modern capitalism that inherently conflicts with Buddhism? Or is it possible to find quotes from texts or established teachers that are more supportive of the kind of capitalism//consumerism that we find ourselves in now?

There are maybe [80 questions about 'parents'](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/search?q=parents+is%3Aquestion) already but perhaps this one hasn't been asked. What are a Buddhist's responsibilities or duties towards their parents? - Listen to advice? Do what they advise? - About whether (and whom) they marry? - About whether (and at what) they work? - About where (and how far away from the parents) they live? - How much duty of care? Does that include e.g. helping with parents' plans and ambitions? If you're generally inclined to be obedient, and considerate of parents' expressed desires, is it possible to go too far and maybe be insufficiently autonomous, too passive, too indecisive? If there's any minor conflict ("I want to do something and they want me to do something else", or, "They want me to do something and I don't know what to want") then on what firm basis might you decide, what are the important criteria? --- In [this answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/24838/254) , Andrei wrote, > Now, regarding your parents, in this case you're not violating any ethics, except their expectations of *your* life, which is the domain that you own 100%. ... so maybe there are some definite ("100%") answers to this question, and/or maybe some guidelines. --- All I know is this from the [Sigalovada Sutta](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.ksw0.html) : > 28. "In five ways should a mother and father as the eastern direction be respected by a child: 'I will support them who supported me; I will do my duty to them; I will maintain the family lineage and tradition; I will be worthy of my inheritance; and I will make donations on behalf of dead ancestors.' > "And, the mother and father so respected reciprocate with compassion in five ways: by restraining you from wrongdoing, guiding you towards good actions, training you in a profession, supporting the choice of a suitable spouse, and in due time, handing over the inheritance. That doesn't explain exactly what "my duty" is, however. And there's probably something somewhere about repaying parents by teaching them dhamma. --- I'm, personally, especially curious to know about deciding how far away to live (e.g. whether to move very far away from the parents, in pursuit of a career). I guess this may be a culture-specific and personal question, but maybe some good Buddhist advice on the subject is possible.

In the vipassana practice, my teacher asks me to give a detailed report of one of my breathing rise and falling. I've tried but he tells me that the report is too general, that I need to provide more details. Can someone give me an example of a detailed report? Here it is mine. Some feedback? Rise: 1- the belly starts to rise slowly, with ease 2- then it speeds up and takes in a lot of air 3- I feel a resistance, belly is close to the maximum volume, but the breathing goes on and it even hurts a bit. It slows down and stops. Falling: 1- breath out very fast from the beginning. I feel a relieve on the belly. 2- continue to breath out fast 3- I feel there is not much air left and I feel a resistance on the belly, pain again, until it slows down and stops.

Meditation as a whole states that 'Remain untouched to what goes in the mind. Let front door and back door be opened. Don't serve tea to the thoughts.' But at some point it is pretty confusing that do i really need to remain untouched to the thoughts. Like sometimes, the thoughts of the spirits, gods comes into the mind. Do they need to be discarded? But, as we know the mind in itself never stops thinking.

What is the importance of this concept compared to other practices, such as meditation in the Buddhist way of life?

I want to know how one can speed up his spiritual practices (8 fold path). For- Example, How one can improve his samādhi or prajñā quickly? And what are the things or acts which helps one to improve these quickly.

How does a Buddhist know when to tolerate a situation, and when to exit a situation? For example, a lay Buddhist in an abusive relationship: is it correct to accept the abuse, or avoid it? **Disclaimer: I am not referring to my own relationship. I just chose this scenario as a hypothetical example.**

I believe that there many words translate from Buddha Sutra and I want to ask is there any website can translate the words meaning in English? Example Samman Samadhi

In my previous question I discussed what is your Dhamma which some people interpreted as what is your religion or whether you are a Buddhist. Some people said one discovers Dhamma when one walks on the Noble Eightfold Path. Some people said Dhamma is how the Nature operates. From religion point of view I am no longer a true believer of Hinduism. I neither a Buddhist because I have not adopted the Buddha , Dhamma and Sangha(although I believe in the Buddha). I am neither a Christian or Muslim. From Eightfold Path view : I am not aware whether I am following the Eightfold Path. If I believe in Eightfold Path then my Dhamma becomes to follow the Eightfold Path. But this Dhamma is not something natural. It is learned. Not everyone walks on this Dhamma naturally. According to this theory Dhamma is discovered. And the discovery is Eightfold Path. It is discovered through learning.According to this definition I have not yet discovered my Dhamma. From natural order of things point of view: If Dhamma is natural order of things then why do we find people who do opposite of what Buddha discovered as natural dhamma? Wny naturally one believes in Self? Clearly if Dhamma means teachings of Buddha then Dhamma is not something innately present all the time. In short , I have become confused about my Dhamma. Can anyone help me realize my Dhamma?

I am confused about the differences between attachment (desire) and having a dream/setting goals. Are they the same or different? I am currently working in a job that I do not love but also do not hate. I could do the job if I make myself to but I am not motivated or feel passionate about it. I am contemplating whether I should change my career or try to pursue what I always wanted to do, which is in the arts. The problem is my family wants me to continue working in my field as they think it is more stable and I'm able to earn money to support myself. I am confused and lost in direction and would like to hear a perspective from a Buddhist as I am a devoted follower. Should I try to meditate and lose the desire to change career and try to be more content? Or should I follow what my heart tells me to? There is also a question about fulfilling or want to fulfill other people's (parents) expectations and filial piety. Please clarify me. Thank you. Thank you everyone for your advice, you can't believe how relieved I felt after getting this off my chest. Sadhu sadhu sadhu 🙏

SN 56.120 says: > *Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye tiracchā­na­yoniyā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye > tiracchā­na­yoniyā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … pe … tiracchā­na­yoniyā > paccājāyanti … pe … pettivisaye paccājāyanti … pe ….* > > *Beings (sattā) are few who that leave an animal existence (tiracchānayoniyā) & reappear (paccājāyanti) as humans (manussesu)… > those beings are more numerous that reappear in hell…. For what > reason? They have not realised the Four Noble Truths.* > > *Ebenso nun auch, ihr Mönche werden nur wenige Wesen, die aus tierischem Schoß abscheiden, unter Menschen wiedergeboren, viel mehr > sind es der Wesen, die, aus tierischem Schoß abgeschieden, in der > Hölle, in tierischem Schoß, im Gespensterreich wiedergeboren werden, > Was ist der Grund dafür? Das Nichtschauen, ihr Mönche, der vier edlen > Wahrheiten.* Can animals avoid hell by realising the four noble truths?

In the early stages of the gradual training , the instructions point out to perform generous deeds out of compassion. Knowing that a arahant has no more any trace of desire or self-identification and that compassion is a desire to other beings be happy, what would be the motivation underliyng generous deeds performed by a arahant?

This question is pretty straight forward. Suppose I wish to attain Nibbana then what are the conditions which I must fulfill in order to attain Nibbana?

In some other religions like Hinduism and Catholicism, the role of monks and the role of priests are clearly separated. However, in Buddhism, this is not clearly separated. It is clear what the monks should not practise. DN2 clearly lists a lot of "animal" arts that monks should not practice e.g. prediction, forecasting, dream interpretation, palmistry, geomancy, selecting auspicious dates, horoscopes etc. It is also clear that monks can ordain other monks, nuns, novice monks, novice nuns. Does the Vinaya allow or mandate monks to perform rituals and ceremonies like the following? If it does not, then why do they do it? - Refuge in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha ceremony - Five precepts initiation - Worship of the Buddha image and stupa - Veneration of the Bodhi tree - Blessing by chanting - Weddings - Funerals - Blessing of newborns - Blessing of the sick (heard this from a Ajahn Brahm talk) - Blessing using holy water (a Thai tradition) - Protection by tying blessed strings on hand (a Thai tradition) - Blessing of objects like car keys (a Thai tradition) - Protection blessing (Pirit in Sri Lanka) - Housewarming (heard this from a Ajahn Brahm talk) - Offerings to the deceased and blessing the deceased - Worship of the Devas or Brahmas - Worship of Bodhisattvas - Worship of the planets (Bali in Sri Lanka) - Exorcism (Tovil and Atanatiya in Sri Lanka)

1. Rational - decisions and thoughts are based on reason rather than on emotion. 2. Reason - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event. 3. Wisdom - ability to use your experience and knowledge in order to make sensible decisions or judgements. 4. Experience - practical contact with and observation of facts or events. 5. Knowledge - the facts, feelings, or experiences known by a person or group of people As per above definitions, "rational" thinking is nothing more than stick to "cause and effect"; and if someone says "rationalism can't provide answer to all the phenomena in nature", that's true due to the complexity of nature and limitations of our perceptions. So here come "wisdom": it says usage of our observation of facts (experience) lead us to reach realisation and understanding (to get free from ignorance or *avijja*). As per above: 1. Is rational thinking wrong thing to do? (or thinking stick to cause and effect) 2. Does it help us to enhance our wisdom and free from *avijja*? Note: I have expressed with my limited knowledge in English so all are free to edit without distorting main idea. Thanks.

I am trying to understand Dhamma. If people ask me what is my Dhamma I say I am XXX , which explains my behavior to them. Suppose I ask you the same question ,What is your Dhamma? ,then what will be your answer?

Sometimes by speaking truth, we fall into trouble. For example, my college is lazy in cleaning living room. When I tell, he is lazy, he becomes angry and speak no longer. So speaking truth can sometimes inflict on other. Please correct my opinion.

What is the difference between the terms "samsara" and "dukkha"? What is the relationship between the two?