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Buddhism

Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice

Latest Questions

2 votes
2 answers
96 views
Meaning in pancasila benefit
I am a Buddhist from Thailand. I have a question about pali meaning. In ceremony, we swore to follow the five rules of pancasila. Monk told us what pancasila consist of. Then monk said in pali; Imani panca sikha patani. Silana sukating yanti Silana poka sumpata Silana nipputing yanti Tusama silang w...
I am a Buddhist from Thailand. I have a question about pali meaning. In ceremony, we swore to follow the five rules of pancasila. Monk told us what pancasila consist of. Then monk said in pali; Imani panca sikha patani. Silana sukating yanti Silana poka sumpata Silana nipputing yanti Tusama silang wiso ta ye I'm not quit sure whether I translate the above to English word correctly. Do you have this chants in your country? What are these chants called? Any reference to this chant? How to spell it in English and what is the meaning of it. I already searched in Thai language but I want to expand to English as well. It's quit hard to write Pali in English. Here is the meaning I found in Thai. As you follow these five rules, you will have good place to go(next life). You will become wealthy. And you may go to nirvana. I want to compare its meaning from many source especially "ni-pu-ting" in last sentence that referred to nirvana. I don't quit agree that it is the same thing.
M lab (123 rep)
May 24, 2022, 03:11 AM • Last activity: May 21, 2023, 05:54 AM
3 votes
6 answers
357 views
Is it correct view, as in renunciation, or desire, to want to die
I am not asking about depression or suicidal thoughts but the actual aspiration for this life/human experience to end. So of course the desire for material and immaterial existence (rebirths) are themselves two of the ten fetters. I may be incorrect but I take this as a desire to be reborn in either...
I am not asking about depression or suicidal thoughts but the actual aspiration for this life/human experience to end. So of course the desire for material and immaterial existence (rebirths) are themselves two of the ten fetters. I may be incorrect but I take this as a desire to be reborn in either a material or immaterial form in the form or formless realms, not specifically a desire to be reborn in samsara or a desire to NOT be reborn at all. There is the sutta of the monk who took the knife and was blameless, meaning he did not desire another form/rebirth so the Buddha did not say that his suicide was unvirtue, (I forgot the sutta name and number) which would lead me to assume that the desire to want to die itself is not unvirtuous. So what I am actually asking is if this mindstate, the desire to want this life and human experience to end, is it a mindstate of renunciation, or a mindstate of desire for life/suffering to cease. Realistically the end goal of the dharma is to not be reborn in existence.
Remyla (1617 rep)
May 8, 2023, 02:15 PM • Last activity: May 21, 2023, 04:09 AM
1 votes
2 answers
198 views
Translate few Pali sentences
Cant find a translation online anywhere, just a quote. Samanattata ' ti samanasukhadukkhabhavo. Ekacco hi danadisu ekam ' pi na paccasimsati. Ekasane nisajjam ekapallanke sayanam ekato bhojanan ' ti evam samanasukhadukkham paccasimsati. So sace gahatthassa jatiya pabbajitassa silena sadiso hoti tass...
Cant find a translation online anywhere, just a quote. Samanattata ' ti samanasukhadukkhabhavo. Ekacco hi danadisu ekam ' pi na paccasimsati. Ekasane nisajjam ekapallanke sayanam ekato bhojanan ' ti evam samanasukhadukkham paccasimsati. So sace gahatthassa jatiya pabbajitassa silena sadiso hoti tass ' ayam samanattata katabba.
zeleni sok (101 rep)
May 18, 2023, 06:08 PM • Last activity: May 20, 2023, 09:29 AM
0 votes
3 answers
135 views
What is mainly uncovered by Analyzing Causes? Anicca or Dukkha or Anatta?
The Abhidhamma Commentary says: - Anicca-characteristic is hidden due to "Non-contemplation of the **Rising and falling**." - Dukkha-characteristic is hidden due to "Shifting of the **Postures**." - Anatta-characteristic is hidden due to "Non-contemplation of the **Analysis of Different Elements**."...
The Abhidhamma Commentary says: - Anicca-characteristic is hidden due to "Non-contemplation of the **Rising and falling**." - Dukkha-characteristic is hidden due to "Shifting of the **Postures**." - Anatta-characteristic is hidden due to "Non-contemplation of the **Analysis of Different Elements**." Where does the causality fit in this? Which characteristic is (mainly) uncovered by the "Contemplation of Dependent-origination?" Obviously it uncovers all the three in some way. I'm here asking about it's main contribution.
Blake (405 rep)
Oct 13, 2022, 07:22 AM • Last activity: May 19, 2023, 07:59 PM
-3 votes
2 answers
128 views
How to practise SN 15.14 to attain enlightenment?
I read the following on the internet, where a person either claimed to be a Noble One or, otherwise, was exhorting with a Lion's Roar the path to stream-entry or possibly Full Enlightenment. The hairs and goose bumps stood up upon my skin as I read with awe the following Lion's Roar: > A worldling w...
I read the following on the internet, where a person either claimed to be a Noble One or, otherwise, was exhorting with a Lion's Roar the path to stream-entry or possibly Full Enlightenment. The hairs and goose bumps stood up upon my skin as I read with awe the following Lion's Roar: > A worldling without a knowledge of past lives would not see that as > "incest". > > [SN 15.14](https://suttacentral.net/sn15.14/en/sujato) > > > At Sāvatthī. “Mendicants, transmigration has no known beginning. It’s not easy to find a sentient being who in all this long time has > not previously been your mother. Why is that? Transmigration has > no known beginning. This is quite enough for you to become > disillusioned, dispassionate, and freed regarding all conditions.” My question is how does believing "*It’s not easy to find a sentient being who in all this long time has not previously been your mother*" result in becoming disillusioned, dispassionate and freed regarding all conditions?
Paraloka Dhamma Dhatu (47819 rep)
May 19, 2023, 03:20 AM • Last activity: May 19, 2023, 10:36 AM
-3 votes
1 answers
224 views
Did Gotama (the Buddha) practise incest?
The [Dasaratha Jātaka](https://suttacentral.net/ja461/en/rouse?reference=none&highlight=false) says Gotama (our current Buddha) was Rama in a past life and his wife (Gotama's son's Rahula's mother Yaśodharā) was his sister Sita in the same past life. In this past life, Rama appeared to marry his sis...
The [Dasaratha Jātaka](https://suttacentral.net/ja461/en/rouse?reference=none&highlight=false) says Gotama (our current Buddha) was Rama in a past life and his wife (Gotama's son's Rahula's mother Yaśodharā) was his sister Sita in the same past life. In this past life, Rama appeared to marry his sister Sita (who, according to the translation, became Rama's queen-consort). Then later Rama was reborn as Gotama and Sita was reborn as Yaśodharā (Rahula's mother). Was Gotama's marriage to Yaśodharā an example of 'incest'?
Paraloka Dhamma Dhatu (47819 rep)
May 18, 2023, 02:27 AM • Last activity: May 19, 2023, 03:23 AM
1 votes
5 answers
369 views
Is it better to be born with health, wealth, beauty and intelligence or not taking birth in this miserable and temporary world at all?
I have seen so many people till now who are very miserable because they were born ugly, poor, with less intelligence. And this world is cruel to ugly, poor and dumb people and there is no doubt about that, it's a fact. And I'm also one of those people who got treated badly for being ugly and unintel...
I have seen so many people till now who are very miserable because they were born ugly, poor, with less intelligence. And this world is cruel to ugly, poor and dumb people and there is no doubt about that, it's a fact. And I'm also one of those people who got treated badly for being ugly and unintelligent. I neither have good looks nor I've intelligence and good memory and because of that I couldn't excel in my academics as our academic success is measured by exams that test our memory. I am disgusted with this miserable life and want to get rid of this misery. There is no hope in present life but I want a good life in my next birth where I'll be blessed with beauty, intellect and good traits and devotion. What should I do in this life to get such good rebirth in my next life? Or it would be better if I didn't have to take birth in this world.
Anurag (11 rep)
May 1, 2023, 04:24 AM • Last activity: May 17, 2023, 10:33 AM
5 votes
12 answers
1337 views
Rejecting clinging to both pleasure and displeasure
I recently listened to a [talk][1] by Ajahn Chah, in which he mentions (@ ~14:20-14:53) that wisdom is found when one clings to neither pleasure nor displeasure. This really created a dilemma in my head about why to practice. Clearly, it makes sense that one would not want to cling to displeasure. I...
I recently listened to a talk by Ajahn Chah, in which he mentions (@ ~14:20-14:53) that wisdom is found when one clings to neither pleasure nor displeasure. This really created a dilemma in my head about why to practice. Clearly, it makes sense that one would not want to cling to displeasure. Indeed, it seems a Buddhist practitioner can get quite far one this idea alone. It seems natural that the whole reason one begins the path is to learn to not cling to displeasure. Learning to let go of what is bothersome to you is easier, as Ajahn Chah says. I don't believe many people start on the path to also not cling to happiness. Even Ajahn Chah states that those who truly practice also learn to not cling to happiness. **How this can be done in the layman's world?** I cannot quite understand why one would want to reject clinging to pleasurable feelings. It seems our very survival as humans is based around our brain giving us pleasurable feelings to reinforce behaviors that keep us surviving. I.e. eating sweet food gives dopamine because it correlates (not necessarily entails) with us sustaining our survival. **If I decide to do something purely for pleasure, does that mean that I have clung to that pleasure?** I.e. I took a bath tonight for the reason of enjoying it and I did enjoy it. Does that entail that I've clung to the pleasure since my purpose for taking the bath was for pleasure? How would I know if I've clung to it? At least in my life, my whole idea of having my career is based on the fact that it makes me happy and it's what I want to do (I do it for the purpose of pleasure). **Why would I reject this?** And if so, how could I even do so without becoming a monk and dedicating my life only to the goal of rejection of both pleasure and displeasure while only caring for my basic needs of survival (food, clothing, shelter, sleep). **In a paradoxical sense, it even seems plausible that one's reasoning for becoming a monk would be for the pleasure one derives in the idea of working toward enlightenment.** **If not for the pleasure resulting from a task (or subsequent result), why would one do it?** Tangentially, it seems the quickest way to end both pleasure and displeasure would be suicide. I'm not suicidal myself, but I just ask in a theoretical sense. Why would one not just do this? I presume the answer is related in some way to rebirth, but I am not sure.
kg5425 (171 rep)
Feb 19, 2020, 06:59 AM • Last activity: May 16, 2023, 05:21 AM
1 votes
3 answers
128 views
What are the established rules set for a person to Become a Buddha other than, that, he should have lived as a King?
Long time ago , I was reading some text related to Buddha online and saw that there were many pre-conditions already set for a person to become a complete Buddha. I remember very clearly , the first condition was that the person should have lived as King in the past. While googling again to see the...
Long time ago , I was reading some text related to Buddha online and saw that there were many pre-conditions already set for a person to become a complete Buddha. I remember very clearly , the first condition was that the person should have lived as King in the past. While googling again to see the other conditions, I am unable to find the original article. Is anyone aware of such conditions ? Can someone help . Thanks
Rahul Shah (139 rep)
May 11, 2023, 05:45 PM • Last activity: May 15, 2023, 04:27 PM
1 votes
3 answers
425 views
Can meditation change your hormone and neurotransmitter system?
Meditation can cause a lot of rest and peace. But can it also change the levels of hormone and neurotransmitters? Do they increase or decrease? I tend to think that fe your adrenaline is getting down and perhaps your testosteron. So can you become less 'male' or 'female' of it?
Meditation can cause a lot of rest and peace. But can it also change the levels of hormone and neurotransmitters? Do they increase or decrease? I tend to think that fe your adrenaline is getting down and perhaps your testosteron. So can you become less 'male' or 'female' of it?
Marijn (803 rep)
Feb 12, 2016, 02:24 PM • Last activity: May 11, 2023, 08:49 PM
2 votes
2 answers
132 views
A question on Mano
In [Nanavira][1]'s [Notes of Dhamma on Mano][2]: > Note that just as the eye, as cakkhāyatana or cakkhudhātu, is that yena lokasmim lokasaññī hoti lokamānī ('[that] by which, in the world, one is a perceiver and conceiver of the world') (Salāyatana Samy. xii,3 ), i.e. that thing in the wor...
In Nanavira 's Notes of Dhamma on Mano : > Note that just as the eye, as cakkhāyatana or cakkhudhātu, is that yena lokasmim lokasaññī hoti lokamānī ('[that] by which, in the world, one is a perceiver and conceiver of the world') (Salāyatana Samy. xii,3 ), i.e. that thing in the world dependent upon which there is perceiving and conceiving of the world, namely a spherical lump of flesh set in my face; so the mind, as manāyatana or manodhātu, also is that yena lokasmim lokasaññī hoti lokamānī, i.e. that thing in the world dependent upon which there is perceiving and conceiving of the world, namely various ill-defined parts of my body, but principally a mass of grey matter contained in my head (physiological and neurological descriptions are strictly out of place—see PHASSA).[c] This is in agreement with the fact that all five khandhā arise in connexion with each of the six āyatanāni—see NĀMA & PHASSA [a]. For 'perceiving and conceiving' see MAMA [a]. > More loosely, in other contexts, the mind (mano) is simply 'imagination' or 'reflexion', which, strictly, in the context of the foregoing paragraph, is manoviññāna, i.e. the presence of images. See NĀMA [c]. The Vibhanga (of the Abhidhamma Pitaka) introduces chaos by supposing that manodhātu and manoviññānadhatu are successive stages of awareness, differing only in intensity (and perhaps also, somehow, in kind). See CITTA. Why does he feel that imagination is a looser translation of the word mano than the way it is defined in the previous paragraph?
PDT (1 rep)
Aug 7, 2022, 11:18 AM • Last activity: May 10, 2023, 02:53 AM
3 votes
3 answers
2762 views
My body is constantly buzzing
I started meditating 2 weeks ago and I feel like I have been meditating forever. The things that I am doing during meditation are mind blowing. Now I feel electric in body constantly , waves upon waves of buzzing and vibrating. My teeth actually hurt. It’s almost like a ball of energy usually in my...
I started meditating 2 weeks ago and I feel like I have been meditating forever. The things that I am doing during meditation are mind blowing. Now I feel electric in body constantly , waves upon waves of buzzing and vibrating. My teeth actually hurt. It’s almost like a ball of energy usually in my head constantly vibrating. I can move it anywhere in my body and hold it there for a short period and then it goes back to my head/ brain. I don’t know if this feeling is normal it’s actually exhilarating. I’m not complaining I just don’t understand what is going on. I am not a spiritual person but wow this is crazy. I a 49 year old rational completely normal person but what I’m feeling is unexplainable. I guess my question is, is this feeling normal or explainable? It can’t be normal or everyone would meditate all the time. Feels like magnets constantly pulling and pushing me.
Tommy Marrone (31 rep)
May 4, 2023, 01:07 AM • Last activity: May 9, 2023, 07:17 PM
3 votes
3 answers
224 views
Does there exist a historical-critical study ("Higher Criticism") of Buddhists’ texts?
I am in search for some academic work on critical methods to analyze Buddhists’ texts. There exist numerous jātakas and avadānas. Many representations in Buddhist art visualize these legends. E.g. Maya’s dream about the white elephant with his six tusks, or several reliefs at the gateways of Sanchi....
I am in search for some academic work on critical methods to analyze Buddhists’ texts. There exist numerous jātakas and avadānas. Many representations in Buddhist art visualize these legends. E.g. Maya’s dream about the white elephant with his six tusks, or several reliefs at the gateways of Sanchi. I assume that most of these stories are fiction. Therefore my question: • Do these texts or figural representations raise any truth claim? • If yes: Which claim? How can one validate the truth claim? • Which groups and which interests triggered the texts and their dissemination? Is there someone to recommend some academic papers from Buddhist or secular authors about the historical-critical study of the content of Buddhist texts? Or point to some journals devoted to the subject? Note. My question relates to https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/44173/is-this-forum-a-place-for-buddhist-hermeneutics
Jo Wehler (501 rep)
May 1, 2023, 07:57 PM • Last activity: May 9, 2023, 02:17 PM
4 votes
4 answers
722 views
Anger management - How to manage bad temper?
Is there any meditation techniques that we can used to manged Bad Temper. As I know it is possible to manage angers by observing it as "feeling angry.., feeling angry!". However the problem is with the bad temper, sometime it is little bit too late to observer the anger. Any tips to improve the mind...
Is there any meditation techniques that we can used to manged Bad Temper. As I know it is possible to manage angers by observing it as "feeling angry.., feeling angry!". However the problem is with the bad temper, sometime it is little bit too late to observer the anger. Any tips to improve the mindfulness to minimise the time gap?
samnish (1649 rep)
Jun 26, 2014, 08:46 PM • Last activity: May 9, 2023, 01:39 PM
3 votes
5 answers
1835 views
Saṃsāra vs Saṃskāra
Saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death) and Saṃskāra (mental formations) seem to be semantically close to one another in the sense that Saṃskāra in the form of unwholesome seeds and habit energies would feed into the endless cycle of Saṃsāra and keep it going. Given the uncanny phonetic similarity betwee...
Saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death) and Saṃskāra (mental formations) seem to be semantically close to one another in the sense that Saṃskāra in the form of unwholesome seeds and habit energies would feed into the endless cycle of Saṃsāra and keep it going. Given the uncanny phonetic similarity between these two terms, I was just wondering if they are indeed etymologically related and how this conception of present inclinations being dictated by past experiences fit into Buddhist philosophy as a whole.
Sati (347 rep)
May 4, 2023, 04:23 PM • Last activity: May 9, 2023, 11:44 AM
1 votes
3 answers
123 views
Why do I struggle to meditate daily or regularly?
I have been meditating for more than 10 years now. My aim is to meditate daily, but somehow I always get lost in activities that feel more important or urgent at the time. Then, suddenly I realize that I have lost track of my intention to meditate daily. I then start again, and everything is fine fo...
I have been meditating for more than 10 years now. My aim is to meditate daily, but somehow I always get lost in activities that feel more important or urgent at the time. Then, suddenly I realize that I have lost track of my intention to meditate daily. I then start again, and everything is fine for a week or so, and then the same pattern repeats. I've read that one meaning of the word sati is to remember. So this experience is like waking up during a single meditation session and realizing I'm not focused on the breath. I feel like the ability to get to a consistent daily practice is the next small step forward for me. I think this inability stems from the hindrance called doubt. How to I get out of this cycle? Any advice is welcome.
Andre (125 rep)
May 4, 2023, 02:49 AM • Last activity: May 9, 2023, 10:31 AM
2 votes
4 answers
255 views
Inferiority and being judged by other
I have been all my life judged by people, especially women including my sister and mom. I have also been rejected badly by some women or at least I made wrong judgements to feel that way. My question is how can I overcome this. It is causing feelings of inferiority, worthlessness and low confidence....
I have been all my life judged by people, especially women including my sister and mom. I have also been rejected badly by some women or at least I made wrong judgements to feel that way. My question is how can I overcome this. It is causing feelings of inferiority, worthlessness and low confidence. Is there any particular meditation practice available in Buddhism or any particular practical teaching that I can implement to be free of this karma and advance on the path? Thanks, let me know if any more info is needed.
Kobamschitzo (794 rep)
May 3, 2023, 03:16 AM • Last activity: May 4, 2023, 04:49 PM
2 votes
1 answers
178 views
Which Animal corresponds to which Buddha?
For example, peacocks are often associated with Amitabha. They were said to be his mounts, and images of Amitabha often feature peacock symbolism. What about the other Buddhas? Do they each have an associated animal symbol, and what could the animal represent?
For example, peacocks are often associated with Amitabha. They were said to be his mounts, and images of Amitabha often feature peacock symbolism. What about the other Buddhas? Do they each have an associated animal symbol, and what could the animal represent?
cgtk (566 rep)
Nov 12, 2021, 11:57 AM • Last activity: May 4, 2023, 05:29 AM
0 votes
1 answers
49 views
What are the "Four Vinayas"?
The Mahāpadesa Sutta describes about the "Four Great Authorities (Mahāpadesas)" that a disciple should refer, if any one claims some new thing to be the word of the Budhha. > [Mahāpadesa Sutta Summary:][1] > > The Buddha tells the monks of the four mahāpadesā to be respected by > them. If a monks sa...
The Mahāpadesa Sutta describes about the "Four Great Authorities (Mahāpadesas)" that a disciple should refer, if any one claims some new thing to be the word of the Budhha. > Mahāpadesa Sutta Summary: > > The Buddha tells the monks of the four mahāpadesā to be respected by > them. If a monks says he has a certain teaching direct from the Buddha > himself, his statement should be compared with the rest of the Vinaya > and Dhamma; if these do not agree, it should be rejected; if they do, > accepted. > > The same applies to that which is said to have been learnt from a > group of monks led by a Thera from a body of senior monks residing in > a certain place, or from a single senior monk, proficient in the > Dhamma, the Vinaya, and the Mātikā. A.ii.167ff.; the sutta is > incorporated in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (D.ii.123ff). Apart from the above four great authorities, Theravadins use another four Authorities called "The Four Vinayas". What are they?
Blake (405 rep)
Oct 5, 2022, 05:43 AM • Last activity: Apr 30, 2023, 06:54 PM
4 votes
1 answers
151 views
Where is the Tibetan Book of the Dead online in Tibetan script?
[THLib](http://www.thlib.org/encyclopedias/literary/canons/kt/catalog.php#cat=d/k-2-1-1) contains the Kangyur and Tengyur in Tibetan script, which is a lot of text. But it doesn't seem to contain the Tibetan Book of the Dead :( Is there any place online that has the Tibetan Book of the Dead in text...
[THLib](http://www.thlib.org/encyclopedias/literary/canons/kt/catalog.php#cat=d/k-2-1-1) contains the Kangyur and Tengyur in Tibetan script, which is a lot of text. But it doesn't seem to contain the Tibetan Book of the Dead :( Is there any place online that has the Tibetan Book of the Dead in text format? Searching Google for བར་དོ་ཐོས་གྲོལ reveals [this](http://www.khabdha.org/?p=5189) and [this](http://www.buddism.ru:4000/?field=1&index=5149&ocrData=read) , but I can't tell if that is it. Or perhaps [this](http://dharmacloud.tsadra.org/tib/%E0%BD%91%E0%BD%BA%E0%BD%96%E0%BC%8B/%E0%BD%96%E0%BD%A2%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%91%E0%BD%BC%E0%BD%A0%E0%BD%B2%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%90%E0%BD%BC%E0%BD%A6%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%82%E0%BE%B2%E0%BD%BC%E0%BD%A3%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%86%E0%BD%BA%E0%BD%93%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%98-2/) ?
Lance Pollard (790 rep)
Oct 26, 2019, 09:47 PM • Last activity: Apr 30, 2023, 05:36 PM
Showing page 69 of 20 total questions