Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
Latest Questions
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Vinaya Rule of a Monk saying he's an arahant
Is there a rule where if a monk is an arahant and if he is to tell he is an arahant, he can only say it to a Upasampada monk and not even a samanera monk? If so, please provide the source of the rule
Is there a rule where if a monk is an arahant and if he is to tell he is an arahant, he can only say it to a Upasampada monk and not even a samanera monk?
If so, please provide the source of the rule
Akila Hettiarachchi
(1233 rep)
Aug 14, 2018, 08:46 AM
• Last activity: Aug 18, 2022, 07:11 AM
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What is the meaning and origin of “Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhasa”?
What is 1) the meaning word by word 2) the meaning of the whole sentence 3) the origin of “Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhasa”?
What is
1) the meaning word by word
2) the meaning of the whole sentence
3) the origin
of “Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhasa”?
Andrea
(291 rep)
Oct 24, 2021, 01:56 PM
• Last activity: Aug 18, 2022, 04:02 AM
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How would Buddhists reply to this paradox of enlightenment
(1) Enlightenment is inherently desirable (2) Self-Interested desires prevent us from attaining enlightenment (3) In order to attain enlightenment, one must train oneself to give up self-interested desires (4) One does not engage in deliberate action unless one desires the foreseen result of actions
(1) Enlightenment is inherently desirable
(2) Self-Interested desires prevent us from attaining enlightenment
(3) In order to attain enlightenment, one must train oneself to give up self-interested desires
(4) One does not engage in deliberate action unless one desires the foreseen result of actions
Paragon
(43 rep)
Aug 12, 2022, 09:00 PM
• Last activity: Aug 17, 2022, 02:03 PM
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About the Buddha tasting vinegar
**The Vinegar Tasters** is a very interesting subject in Chinese art. It depicts Confucius, the Buddha and Laozi tasting vinegar. [![enter image description here][1]][1] A common interpretation is the following: > Confucius is depicted with a sour face, because in confucionism life is "sour", that's...
**The Vinegar Tasters** is a very interesting subject in Chinese art. It depicts Confucius, the Buddha and Laozi tasting vinegar.
A common interpretation is the following:
> Confucius is depicted with a sour face, because in confucionism life is "sour", that's why we need rules etc. The Buddha is depicted with a bitter face, because the Buddha saw life as full of suffering etc, while Laozi is depicted smiling, because the vinegar is sweet to him, because he understands "the perfect nature of vinegar".
Despite the point of view of the Buddha (that life is full of *dukkha*), he understood that vinegar is vinegar, just as Laozi; and, knowing that, why would he have a bitter face? Is this depiction raising the image of Laozi and daoism and mistreating buddhism as pessimistic? Or is it more like a "Buddha sees the vinegar as it is" thing while Laozi sees it as sweet and thus "lying to himself"?
A common interpretation is the following:
> Confucius is depicted with a sour face, because in confucionism life is "sour", that's why we need rules etc. The Buddha is depicted with a bitter face, because the Buddha saw life as full of suffering etc, while Laozi is depicted smiling, because the vinegar is sweet to him, because he understands "the perfect nature of vinegar".
Despite the point of view of the Buddha (that life is full of *dukkha*), he understood that vinegar is vinegar, just as Laozi; and, knowing that, why would he have a bitter face? Is this depiction raising the image of Laozi and daoism and mistreating buddhism as pessimistic? Or is it more like a "Buddha sees the vinegar as it is" thing while Laozi sees it as sweet and thus "lying to himself"?
Ergative Man
(179 rep)
Aug 13, 2022, 07:17 PM
• Last activity: Aug 15, 2022, 03:21 PM
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Does anyone interpret 'karma' this way?
Does anyone interpret karma to mean that the future itself arrives twice, "now" and again in the future? Is there any reason to think that karma itself is that movement of impermanence, so that it cannot be entirely dissolved?
Does anyone interpret karma to mean that the future itself arrives twice, "now" and again in the future?
Is there any reason to think that karma itself is that movement of impermanence, so that it cannot be entirely dissolved?
user23322
Feb 12, 2022, 10:33 AM
• Last activity: Aug 7, 2022, 06:09 PM
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Vimalakirti Sutra -- A License for Drinking and Visiting Brothels?
I have heard from the Vimalakirti Sutra that Vimalakirti was a householder who drank and visited prostitutes; but he was foremost in wisdom and Buddhist practice?! I heard the Buddha sent monks to him to observe and study under his guidance?! Is this true?! Why would the Buddha do this?!
I have heard from the Vimalakirti Sutra that Vimalakirti was a householder who drank and visited prostitutes; but he was foremost in wisdom and Buddhist practice?!
I heard the Buddha sent monks to him to observe and study under his guidance?! Is this true?! Why would the Buddha do this?!
Aditya Sawdekar
(9 rep)
Aug 1, 2022, 03:14 PM
• Last activity: Aug 7, 2022, 06:07 PM
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Is there a Pali name for a state of being in which one experiences “craving without a target”?
I am speaking of a state of mild but persistent agitation in which one notices the arising of the habit of (1) sorting through the current collection of unresolved discomforts with the intention of picking one to latch onto, (2) orienting oneself towards the desired sensory experience and (3) re-ent...
I am speaking of a state of mild but persistent agitation in which one
notices the arising of the habit of
(1) sorting through the current collection of unresolved discomforts with the intention of picking one to latch onto,
(2) orienting oneself towards the desired sensory experience and
(3) re-entering the cycle of greed, hatred and delusion with respect to that desired sensory experience
BUT chooses not to re-enter the cycle.
I am speaking of a very unusual state in which
the cycle of samsara is not entered
but neither has the agitation to re-enter it ceased.
Kind of like “craving without a target”.
Kind of like an inner conflict between (1) a part which wants to relieve the agitation by latching onto a target for craving and (2) a part which wants to find a more skillful means of extinguishing the agitation.
Kind of like being in a hinterland between suffering and the end of suffering.
I have a vague intuition this state *might* be related to “stream entry” but I am not certain about that.
Does this sound similar to anything the Buddha spoke about?
Alex Ryan
(604 rep)
Aug 4, 2022, 05:23 AM
• Last activity: Aug 7, 2022, 06:06 PM
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Does a risk of death exist in the awakening process?
I have a vague recollection of a Dhamma teacher saying that, in the process of awakening, the practitioner eventually reaches a stage of development where they either awaken fully or they die. I'm not sure if my memory of this is correct or not. I have a vague recollection of the Dhamma teacher trea...
I have a vague recollection of a Dhamma teacher saying that, in the process of awakening, the practitioner eventually reaches a stage of development where they either awaken fully or they die.
I'm not sure if my memory of this is correct or not.
I have a vague recollection of the Dhamma teacher treating this as a myth which is not to be taken seriously. For this reason, I may have discarded it.
However, I am intensely curious. Is anything like this mentioned anywhere in the suttas?
Alex Ryan
(604 rep)
Aug 4, 2022, 04:59 PM
• Last activity: Aug 7, 2022, 06:02 PM
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Where did the Buddha say that Teachings that don't contain the Noble Eightfold Path cannot lead to Enlightenment?
Question is in the title. I remember reading that statement in a Theravada Buddhist book or PDF file but now I can't seem to find it. Help would be much appreciated.
Question is in the title. I remember reading that statement in a Theravada Buddhist book or PDF file but now I can't seem to find it.
Help would be much appreciated.
user23951
Aug 7, 2022, 01:34 PM
• Last activity: Aug 7, 2022, 02:38 PM
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Four kinds of people. "attahitaya ca patipanno". Good for yourself and others
According to [this website][1], it says... > The Buddha classified persons into four kinds on the basis of one’s attitude towards one’s own interest and one’s attitude towards the interest of others. I started source text research and I found [this website][2], using the search word of > attahitaya...
According to this website , it says...
> The Buddha classified persons into four kinds on the basis of one’s attitude towards one’s own interest and one’s attitude towards the interest of others.
I started source text research and I found this website , using the search word of
> attahitaya ca patipanno parahitaya ca
The website says its source text is
> Sutta Pitaka Vol 13 : Sutta. Aṅ. (2): catukkanipāto 96
But I could not find such text on SuttaCentral .
Does anyone know the correct index of the text?
Jinn Jinn
(33 rep)
Aug 7, 2022, 02:40 AM
• Last activity: Aug 7, 2022, 08:40 AM
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Life after death in buddhism
What is the main basic difference between Hinduism and Buddhism regarding Life after death ?
What is the main basic difference between Hinduism and Buddhism regarding Life after death ?
quanity
(326 rep)
Aug 4, 2022, 12:34 PM
• Last activity: Aug 4, 2022, 07:54 PM
2
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2
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Do Buddhas and Bodhisattvas care and have compassion for all sentient beings equally
Do Buddhas and Bodhisattvas care and have compassion for all sentient beings equally. On the one hand, my question is a little facetious (if only because, at least within the laity, not doing so is impractical in the extreme: why would spiritual help be any different?). On the other, it may raise so...
Do Buddhas and Bodhisattvas care and have compassion for all sentient beings equally. On the one hand, my question is a little facetious (if only because, at least within the laity, not doing so is impractical in the extreme: why would spiritual help be any different?). On the other, it may raise some interesting riddles.
What does "the one taste of the dharmadhatu" mean except that? And, wouldn't that mean that a Buddha could in principle approve of hells, at least if the suffering in them is, like I believe it kinda is in Christianity, to assure the good and beneficent that virtue is loved, via granting us "free will" (don't quote me on that).
user23973
Jul 27, 2022, 10:38 PM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2022, 03:20 AM
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Is goodwill necessary in order to make progress on the Path?
It seems impossible to have goodwill in certain situations. Is it enough to be tolerant and forgiving of other's faults?
It seems impossible to have goodwill in certain situations. Is it enough to be tolerant and forgiving of other's faults?
stick-in-hand
(23 rep)
Jul 26, 2022, 07:59 PM
• Last activity: Aug 2, 2022, 02:00 AM
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Important literature on Zen Buddhism before the year 1900
I was reading through a history of Buddhism recently, which led me to a famous title called the Shōbōgenzō by Eihei Dōgen, written in the 13th century. I highly recommend this book. I know there is a great deal of writing on Zen from the 20th century and beyond, but for my purposes I'm interested in...
I was reading through a history of Buddhism recently, which led me to a famous title called the Shōbōgenzō by Eihei Dōgen, written in the 13th century. I highly recommend this book.
I know there is a great deal of writing on Zen from the 20th century and beyond, but for my purposes I'm interested in literature that was written prior to the year 1900. Either explicitly about Zen Buddhism, or a closely related precursor to Zen.
Were there any other important works on this subject dating back to it's inception? What were they?
Cdn_Dev
(480 rep)
Aug 1, 2022, 05:03 PM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2022, 05:58 PM
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"The result of kamma is of three sorts, I tell you" - Are the "sorts" explicated anywhere in the canon?
From the Penetrative Sutta, Nibbedhika Sutta, AN 6:63, translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu: *“And what is the result of kamma? The result of kamma is of three sorts, I tell you: that which arises right here & now, that which arises later (in this lifetime), and that which arises following that. This is...
From the Penetrative Sutta, Nibbedhika Sutta, AN 6:63, translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu:
*“And what is the result of kamma? The result of kamma is of three sorts, I tell you: that which arises right here & now, that which arises later (in this lifetime), and that which arises following that. This is called the result of kamma."*
The translator seems to be trying to help the reader here when he adds *(in this lifetime)*, but these are not the Buddha's words. I'm wondering if the *three sorts* are mentioned elsewhere in the teachings, possibly less ambiguously than here.
stick-in-hand
(23 rep)
Jul 19, 2022, 01:21 PM
• Last activity: Aug 1, 2022, 07:01 AM
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Is Intention a sankhara?
I would like to know if the following premises are well stated and if their content is true. Also, I'd like to know if the conclusion/answer makes sense: 1) In the aggregates, 'sankhara' are kammic formations. 2) Kammic formations are any phenomena that have an underlying intention, and therefore cr...
I would like to know if the following premises are well stated and if their content is true. Also, I'd like to know if the conclusion/answer makes sense:
1) In the aggregates, 'sankhara' are kammic formations.
2) Kammic formations are any phenomena that have an underlying intention, and therefore create new kamma.
Question: Is intention (cetana) a sankhara?
Thanks in advance for your time.
Kind regards!
Brian Díaz Flores
(2115 rep)
Jul 30, 2019, 07:24 AM
• Last activity: Jul 31, 2022, 04:35 PM
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what is difference between volition and intention?
As per buddhism what is the difference between volition and intention? If there is any difference what is right pali word for volition and what is right pali word for intention? I presume sankhara is volition. and cetnā is intention. There are other word also that we should throw light. they are Cha...
As per buddhism what is the difference between volition and intention?
If there is any difference what is right pali word for volition and what is right pali word for intention?
I presume sankhara is volition. and cetnā is intention.
There are other word also that we should throw light. they are Chanda, and Sankappa, vaci sankhara. kaya sankhara.
And If you answer is that they are same then.
(1) the wastrn philosopher descriminates that.
(2) Moreover There is volition in every feeling/phassa as said by buddha. When we do breath observation.**There is intention to observe breath and that is boosted time and again. But at the same time there is volition to scratch/move my body** or to suffer my bodily pain.. there must be different between this two volition. isn't it.?
I guess one of the two(volition/intention) is conscious and **other is unconscious**!!
Sachin Sharma
(1111 rep)
Jul 7, 2022, 11:56 AM
• Last activity: Jul 28, 2022, 09:09 PM
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Is Near death experience in enlightenment true?
I have been meditating intensively according to the Advaita tradition where self inquiry is practiced till realizing that I and effort are just feelings and that the watcher of even identity is the true self which isn't a phenomena that manifests. 2 days ago I had what I felt as a near death experie...
I have been meditating intensively according to the Advaita tradition where self inquiry is practiced till realizing that I and effort are just feelings and that the watcher of even identity is the true self which isn't a phenomena that manifests.
2 days ago I had what I felt as a near death experience ,or maybe a great death of the ego ,at night I suddenly had an awakening in trance where there was a clear seeing of the "I" that I thought was me,then I woke up with a vibration feeling in my head and after lying on my back I suddenly felt as if a light was going to replace me as the identity of the body and me that I thought was my identity all my life was just an idea that was going to be replaced by that light ,I couldn't accept that happening and chose to stay as myself, and I actually cried cause I felt that I was going to die, not realizing that this "I" was more intimate that expected .
Is this a paranormal experience or is it actually how enlightenment should occur ?
Omar Boshra
(507 rep)
Sep 13, 2019, 03:25 PM
• Last activity: Jul 28, 2022, 06:20 PM
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Did the Buddha teach how to discern deception?
With deception as rampant as ever, what did the Buddha teach about it -- other than "let none deceive another" in the metta sutta -- especially how to discern and respond to deception?
With deception as rampant as ever, what did the Buddha teach about it -- other than "let none deceive another" in the metta sutta -- especially how to discern and respond to deception?
vimutti
(572 rep)
Jul 26, 2022, 10:14 PM
• Last activity: Jul 28, 2022, 01:22 PM
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Is Krishna a demon?
I've read in several articles that the Lalitavistara identifies Krishna as leader of the "black demons" and is an enemy of the Buddha. I've only been able to check the 84000 translation from Tibetan, and haven't been able to locate the source of this claim. Am I overlooking something?
I've read in several articles that the Lalitavistara identifies Krishna as leader of the "black demons" and is an enemy of the Buddha. I've only been able to check the 84000 translation from Tibetan, and haven't been able to locate the source of this claim. Am I overlooking something?
M-2
(332 rep)
Jul 25, 2022, 03:12 AM
• Last activity: Jul 26, 2022, 02:51 PM
Showing page 85 of 20 total questions