I've come across Jainism through looking for texts on Buddhism and I've found there seems a considerable amount of overlap. Did Siddhartha Gautama encounter or study under any Jainist teachers? It seems Jainism predates Buddhism by a lot so were these concepts also predating Siddhartha too? Jainism: The ultimate goal of Jainism is the liberation of the self (jiva) from rebirth, which is attained through the elimination of accumulated karma (the consequences of previous actions). This occurs through both the disciplined cultivation of knowledge and control of bodily passions. When the passions have been utterly conquered and all karma has been removed, one becomes a Jina ("conqueror"), and is no longer subject to rebirth. These principles include non-violence in all parts of life (verbal, physical, and mental), speaking truth, sexual monogamy, and the detachment from material things. As part of the disciplined and non-violent lifestyle, Jains typically are strict vegetarians and often adhere to a quite arduous practice of non-violence, which restricts the sorts of occupations they may follow (no farming, for instance, since insects are inadvertently harmed in plowing). Jainism's ethical system is based on the idea that right faith, knowledge, and conduct must be cultivated simultaneously. Like comparing rules of monks and even the five precepts are identical from what I found. The five precepts and five vows are identical from what I saw. This is a list of comparisons and contrasts. Sounds a whole lot like Buddhism to me! Does anyone know about the Jainism/Buddhism comparison?

Is there a visual representation of how mind looks like with kamma, feelings, emotions, perceptions, attachments etc. Like for example, I tend to visualize lust as a tether that binds us to this human place and locks our mind from our understanding and penetrating the true nature of things as it prevents development of concentration, and thus wisdom. Likewise I am looking for somewhat intuitive understanding of mind and kamma. Any one?

What is the difference between normal deep breathing that recommended by all western Doctors vs Buddhism Basic Meditation ?

I have aspired to be an artist since adolescence. I saw a Studio Ghibli movie and wanted to create that same magical feeling in others. However more recently, I think I have may have aspired only to create nothing more than escapism, rather than content that truly helps anyone. I don't feel that I am doing more to contribute to the world than farmers, doctors, and the like. Additionally, much of the work I aspire to is largely inspired by nerdy things that I obsess over, or things that make me feel a certain way that I want to replicate. But that is self-serving, and not a display of my compassion. Many people want to be artists, however we are drowning in a complete excess of artistic media. Artists today compete heavily for the economy of people's attention spans. We exonerate film auteurs like Hitchcock, Miyazaki, Spielberg etc., but those people had to compete with many others I still feel the desire to create work that is personal, expressive and cathartic. I want to create art that connects me to like minds. However, I feel that my artistic pursuits could be more passionate. And that can be hard when you feel a need to mold your work to the demands of social media.

What are the Buddhist norms & guidelines for rebuilding a relationship after a breach of trust?

Which is the one Sutta/Text that covers all of Buddha's Teaching? I require only one book which I can carry with me and it should have Buddha's delivery in original language and its translation in English.

I have the following question regarding Vipassana: From time to time I get unpleasant emotions. And instead of diving into them, I find a place to sit and concentrate on the sensation that this feeling causes. After some time, there is no trace of a negative feeling :) The question is: Is it ok at such moments not to shift attention all over the body, but simply to focus on a certain sensation? Does it violate the technique?

I am able to experience Piti Specifically the "weak rapture" mentioned in this wiki page, that causes me to have full bodily bliss and itself causes piloerection (goose bumps) I am able to do this at will without sitting in a meditation session, normally only when I am on my own but am able to do it while around others. There is no object or meditation object I focus on to evoke this feeling, just the presence in my being, no thought, as well as I am able to do this with my eyes open or closed, normally closed. I am trying to find out how this relates to Jhana and what is its use, this wiki page is vague of course, though I know Piti is also a bojhangha Meaning a perquisite factor to liberation. > The fourth enlightenment factor is piti, rapture or happiness. This, too, is a mental property (cetasika) and is a quality which suffuses both the body and mind. The man lacking in this quality cannot proceed along the path to enlightenment. There will arise in him a sullen indifference to the dhamma, an aversion to the practice of meditation, and morbid manifestations. It is, therefore, very necessary that a man striving to attain enlightenment and final deliverance from the fetters of samsara, that repeated wandering, should endeavor to cultivate the all-important factor of happiness. No one can bestow on another the gift of happiness; each one has to build it up by effort, reflection, and concentrated activity. As happiness is a thing of the mind it should be sought not in external and material things though they may in a small way be instrumental. I use Piti for when I feel mentally weak or sorrow from existence. Though I do not really know "what" it is or how I have cultivated this or how I am able to do this. From some things I have read before it has indicated that it IS a by-product or a part of a jhanic state, which would mean I have (somehow) attained at least the first Jhana but I do not feel this to be correct as I am not really skilled in formal meditation. Just to add, a few times in my youth when I would retreat into myself in times of great sorrow I was able to experience a feeling like piti that gave bliss but it was in no way as strong as I am able to feel now. Any opinions or understanding on what this is would be very much appreciated.

I was in a really bad situation five-six years back. Since then, I have been sincerely practicing the dhamma and have overcome all the five hindrances to meditation. I am a layman and I meditate (Shamata, Zazen, and Shikentaza) for 2 to 3 hours daily. I feel stuck now, I just sit without thinking anything or feeling any emotions at all. I am not able to attain the Jhana or satori or samadhi. I know the very desire to attain itself is a hindrance, but when I sit, I sit desireless. I am not moving anywhere for the last six months. What should be done?

I have asked this question earlier but still not clear...so asking this again... This time be specific on mansikaro and vitaka.. people says vitaka is directed attention and mansikaro is always termed as attention.. can we say vitaka is directed mansikaro.? Santa100 given good pointer to abhidhmma in his answer. following questions are related to his answer. After searching for vitaka in abhidhamma.. I found two major difference. mansikaro is universal.. where vitaka is not.. can someone explain whats that means. vitaka is also sankappa . Can someone explain how.?

It is traditionally believed that the Buddha was born, enlightened and passed away on the date(*tithi*) of Vesak. Now it does not seem to be very probable that all three major incidents of one's life would occur on the same date. What is the earliest source of this information about Vesak in the scripture?

Refer to about the Cyber Bully, it causes a huge spike of cyber bully over a recent decade due to social media. It's seem getting more and more serious. source about cyberbully What does Buddhism teach regarding Cyber Bullying?

Did the Buddha say anything about bullying, turning others against you out of boredom, malice, unconcern for their well being, stuff like that? How does it differ from e.g, "harsh speech": is it still karmically bad, if it's all cloak and daggers? I mean for me, you really have to treat the well being of others as an end in itself, if you want to be "ethical". I don't think I just mean intrinsically valuable, a moral good, but intrinsically valuable independent of any other goals you have. In which case you can't sacrifice the wellness of someone for something else.

The question is just the title. Moreover, AFAIK, currently there are 2 editions of the 14th Dalai Lama Guru Yoga. (1) "The Source of All Attainments: The Yoga of the Inseparability of the Guru and Avalokiteshvara ". (2) "A Stairway to Potala: Guru Yoga of Avalokiteshvara ".

I am not sure this post is appropriate. Pindacāra, the practice of collecting alms-food, is observed by Theravada Buddhist monks who have gone forth from ‘home-life’ to ‘homelessness’. A Buddhist monk is known in Pāli Language as a ‘bhikkhu’ – meaning ‘one who lives on alms’. In Buddhist countries such as Thailand and Myanmar, it is a daily ritual for monks to go on Pindacāra, where they walk through a village from one household to another, allowing devotees to make food offerings. Q) Why it mentions all are welcome except Muslim? I understand some non halal food served in between of the activities. What would be the right wording so it's sound better but deliver the same message?

or uncertain, subject of change, a burden and not own- or control-able, not worthy to fall for? Time to answer and give it up?

I've been reading up on cosmology and am curious if Lord Suyama of Yama heaven and Lord Yama as judge of the recently deceased are the same figure. The latter is often said to reside in either the hell or preta realms, but since he is also a vaimanikapreta, I can't help but wonder if his time in the higher planes equates to this third level of heaven. Or are the same names simply coincidence? Any thoughts/sources are much appreciated.

Firstly, this question is related to this stack because during the mindfulness meditation we are told to be aware of our passing thoughts and emotions. I was going through a video that said that 'thoughts create emotions' but I disagree to this, Many times I am engulfed by emotions first, like fear, anxiety, worry, and insecurity and I scan through my mind and I have not had any particular thought, the emotion is right there without any reason. Then I do some mindfulness meditation to deal with that pure emotion. So, am I right that there can be pure emotions to deal with in meditation without thoughts? Broadening the question I would really like to ask, what's the relation between thoughts and emotions? How, where, and when do they get related to each other and influence each other?

According to the Buddhist teachings all beings are subject to Samsara and one can escape Samsara as he finds enlightenment. But if all beings were ultimately to be reborn, with exception of those that reached enlightenment, wouldn't that mean that there is a finite number of beings, which only decrements?

Is there any mention of the fundamental building blocks of reality in Buddhism? Science tells us that we are made of atoms, which in turn are made of protons, neutrons and electrons, which in turn are made of quarks and so on. Does Buddhism reveal to us the absolute fundamental building blocks of reality and the Universe? If so, then what is the nature of those building blocks? I am 100% certain that the Buddha would have known the deepest nature of physical reality and answers to all the mysteries, humans have spent pondering since millenium. I know this question falls under the imponderable and thus doesn't aid me in relieving suffering in samsara, but still curious to know :) Peace.