Buddhism
Q&A for people practicing or interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice
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2
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What is Savitakkasavicārasutta about?
What are your thoughts about this following passage: > “And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned? Immersion with > placing the mind and keeping it connected. Immersion without placing > the mind, but just keeping it connected. Immersion without placing the > mind or keeping it connected....
What are your thoughts about this following passage:
> “And what is the path that leads to the unconditioned? Immersion with
> placing the mind and keeping it connected. Immersion without placing
> the mind, but just keeping it connected. Immersion without placing the
> mind or keeping it connected. …” -Savitakkasavicārasutta
nacre
(1901 rep)
Nov 2, 2024, 12:39 PM
• Last activity: Nov 7, 2024, 02:27 AM
2
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9
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Does hell exist in Buddhism?
I understand that hell is being used for keeping the order of our society. Does hell really exist in Buddhism? As it creates fears instead of freeing one's mind from suffering. It also creates a mechanism of punishment for not believing in the religion as well. If it is written in Tipitaka, how do w...
I understand that hell is being used for keeping the order of our society. Does hell really exist in Buddhism? As it creates fears instead of freeing one's mind from suffering. It also creates a mechanism of punishment for not believing in the religion as well.
If it is written in Tipitaka, how do we know that it wasn't added later by someone that wanted to use it as a rule for making people behave themselves?
Ook
(289 rep)
Mar 24, 2016, 12:58 AM
• Last activity: Sep 11, 2023, 06:55 AM
6
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2
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Can bhavanga-consciousness be compared to the non-dual mind-state rigpa?
While reading Pa Auk Sayadaw I came across the following: > The bhavanga-consciousness is bright and luminous, and looks like a mirror in the heart: that is the mind-door. This seems to have qualities similar to: > In Dzogchen the fundamental, inherent nature of everything is called the "Ground Lumi...
While reading Pa Auk Sayadaw I came across the following:
> The bhavanga-consciousness is bright and luminous, and looks like a mirror in the heart: that is the mind-door.
This seems to have qualities similar to:
> In Dzogchen the fundamental, inherent nature of everything is called the "Ground Luminosity" or the "Mother Luminosity."
Are these two qualities of mind related?
Devindra
(1830 rep)
Aug 12, 2015, 09:05 AM
• Last activity: Jul 8, 2022, 03:38 AM
2
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4
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Multiverse in Buddhism?
According to [this answer][1]: > 31 Planes of existence coming together is one universe. There are > infinite similar universes according to the Abhidhamma. This may be > similar to multiverse but unlike in Sci Fi there are no duplicates of > beings and duplication of events as per my understanding....
According to this answer :
> 31 Planes of existence coming together is one universe. There are
> infinite similar universes according to the Abhidhamma. This may be
> similar to multiverse but unlike in Sci Fi there are no duplicates of
> beings and duplication of events as per my understanding. Generally
> rebirth is within the universe but there are times beings can be
> reborn in intergalactic space / hell which are the coldest places
> every. Such being may end up in other universes. The universe we live
> in is a lucky place since it is here a Buddha appears. So only the
> lucky beings inhabit this universe through there are infinite such
> being in the universe. There are infinite being in each universe. The
> cycles of creation and destruction in each universe may not be the
> same as in such universes may not be habitable. Generally I would
> believe even with psychic powers you may not know the bounds of the
> universe of see beyond this universe. Perhaps only The Buddha and a
> few of the great disciples may have managed to do this.
Can anyone expand on this, or simplify it?
Orionixe
(310 rep)
Jan 31, 2021, 09:15 PM
• Last activity: Apr 26, 2022, 11:34 AM
3
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4
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Flickering light during meditation
I was wondering if seeing flickering lights during meditation meant anything. My eyes had been closed for about 15 minutes. I would not say I was in a deep meditative state. The room was dark already and the blinds were down. At the beginning of my session I had seen points of light converging on a...
I was wondering if seeing flickering lights during meditation meant anything.
My eyes had been closed for about 15 minutes. I would not say I was in a deep meditative state. The room was dark already and the blinds were down. At the beginning of my session I had seen points of light converging on a point. When I try to focus my eyes on the pattern, the shape changes or disappears; I’m not sure which. This doesn’t happen when my eyes are open.
I’ve been meditating for a couple of years for about 10-20 minutes a day but never have felt like I was a good meditator. My mind usually wanders when I try to focus on my breath.
In the past I have felt like my whole body has become stone during meditation but the flickering lights is something new. Was wondering if anybody has ever had that experience or knew if it meant anything. My guess is that I’m not supposed to pay attention to things like that.
pmagunia
(1353 rep)
Sep 3, 2021, 04:36 AM
• Last activity: Sep 29, 2021, 07:22 AM
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7
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Unwholesome thoughts at the time of death
> Say one reflects on the beauty of one's children, the beauty of one's husband or wife, the beauty of one's house or garden, or the beauty of a flower, and other such things: that is rooted in greed and delusion. It is a perverted perception (*sañña-vipallāsa*), based on unwise attention....
> Say one reflects on the beauty of one's children, the beauty of one's husband or wife, the beauty of one's house or garden, or the beauty of a flower, and other such things: that is rooted in greed and delusion. It is a perverted perception (*sañña-vipallāsa*), based on unwise attention. If one has habitually looked upon such objects with such unwise attention, it will be very difficult at death suddenly to reflect upon them with wise attention. ...If one dies with such consciousness (rooted in greed and delusion,...) one cannot avoid being reborn in a woeful state.
Quoted from the book "The Workings of Kamma" by The Most Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw.
My question: so should we not reflect on the beauty of something? It's not a bad karma, right? So I thought it will just create attachment (that bounds us to samsara), but I didn't think it would lead to a rebirth in the lower realms?
P.S it's not that I have doubts about this book, I'm just a little confused and need some explanation.
iyi lau
(141 rep)
Jun 26, 2021, 05:04 AM
• Last activity: Jun 30, 2021, 05:06 AM
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4
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Propelling the continuity of mindfulness
I want to know how to prolong the knowing factor in my life .I face hindrances when thinking about solving a problem for example which is different than contemplating the receptions in mindfulness.How can it remain and become **unfabricated**.
I want to know how to prolong the knowing factor in my life .I face hindrances when thinking about solving a problem for example which is different than contemplating the receptions in mindfulness.How can it remain and become **unfabricated**.
Omar Boshra
(507 rep)
Dec 16, 2018, 10:45 PM
• Last activity: Jun 16, 2020, 06:46 AM
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4
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what is this state i am undergoing?
I have been practicing meditation now for more than a year. I found that in recent months I go to a state where I am not bored, not happy, not dull, not tired but it is some state I find myself keeping it to myself. Really I couldn’t explain it fully. Did anyone go to a state like this ? Any explana...
I have been practicing meditation now for more than a year. I found that in recent months I go to a state where I am not bored, not happy, not dull, not tired but it is some state I find myself keeping it to myself. Really I couldn’t explain it fully. Did anyone go to a state like this ? Any explanation ?
SGN
(181 rep)
Jun 19, 2019, 03:48 PM
• Last activity: Jun 21, 2019, 02:01 PM
0
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4
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Why living beings like / dislike things in the world?
All living beings (animals + humans) like something, and they don't like some another things? What is the reason for liking and disliking. Eg: Imagine there are two best friends let's call friend A and friend B. Friend A likes a lady call X (very pretty lady) meanwhile friend B doesn't like lady X....
All living beings (animals + humans) like something, and they don't like some another things? What is the reason for liking and disliking.
Eg: Imagine there are two best friends let's call friend A and friend B. Friend A likes a lady call X (very pretty lady) meanwhile friend B doesn't like lady X. What's the reason according to the buddhism.
To narrow down the question the point is though lady X is very pretty for friend A but not for friend B. Why is it?
Isuru
(767 rep)
Jun 6, 2019, 08:15 AM
• Last activity: Jun 7, 2019, 12:11 PM
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4
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Is respect a form of ego?
If a warrior chooses to leave the battlefield, he will be humiliated by his country men therefore losing his respect. Buddhist monks have attained great peace even by letting go humiliation. Is this respect or social status an ego? Is it a part of human emotions just like happiness & sadness. Does s...
If a warrior chooses to leave the battlefield, he will be humiliated by his country men therefore losing his respect. Buddhist monks have attained great peace even by letting go humiliation. Is this respect or social status an ego? Is it a part of human emotions just like happiness & sadness.
Does social status or respect exists?
Vaibhav
(200 rep)
Nov 3, 2018, 04:49 PM
• Last activity: Nov 5, 2018, 03:12 PM
3
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3
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What to do when music gets played in the mind
I get the idea of recognizing mind states .Knowing their existence separates them from self but sometimes .I get this addictive Music like a recording in my mind that constantly restarts diverting my concretion from work .I recognize that it may come from states but dealing with it isn't as easy . -...
I get the idea of recognizing mind states .Knowing their existence separates them from self but sometimes .I get this addictive Music like a recording in my mind that constantly restarts diverting my concretion from work .I recognize that it may come from states but dealing with it isn't as easy
.
- I tried
1. Knowing that its just music
2. knowing the reason why it came (maybe when I was listening I wasn't mindful.
3. diverting my attention ardently away from it
All this didn't work maybe helps in understanding but it still doesn't stop it sometimes it gets even more energy.
Omar Boshra
(507 rep)
Sep 14, 2018, 08:16 AM
• Last activity: Sep 14, 2018, 06:23 PM
1
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4
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What is a Buddhist approach to reducing envy?
Envy is an explicitly unwholesome mind-state, according to Buddhist doctrine. Unfortunately I am experiencing strong envy lately. Can somebody please provide any and all resources to help understand and eliminate envious feelings?
Envy is an explicitly unwholesome mind-state, according to Buddhist doctrine. Unfortunately I am experiencing strong envy lately. Can somebody please provide any and all resources to help understand and eliminate envious feelings?
Ian
(2663 rep)
Jul 14, 2018, 08:31 PM
• Last activity: Jul 15, 2018, 07:20 AM
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4
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Stop influence on mind
Sitting on a chair, working. Sometime later finding yourself sitting in a position same as one beside you. Is this an automatic influence on mind, you are not aware of the position in which the other being is sitting ? Sometimes while working make same mistakes as the one sitting beside or in front....
Sitting on a chair, working. Sometime
later finding yourself sitting in a position same as one beside you.
Is this an automatic influence on mind, you are not aware of the position in which the other being is sitting ?
Sometimes while working make same mistakes as the one sitting beside or in front. The status of the mind same as the people around.
Doing those things as thought by other.
How to avoid this?
Is there any reference in Buddhism to stop this?
What is such behaviour of mind called?
There is another thing , would like to mention, the status of mind sometimes becomes same as the one who remembers you.
For e.g when someone trying to contact you for very long time via mobile, the mind becomes the person who is trying to contact you.
Is it something to do with chakra?
How to guard the mind?
Vaibhav
(200 rep)
Jun 19, 2018, 08:09 PM
• Last activity: Jun 23, 2018, 01:00 PM
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2
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How to get rid of thoughts of grandiosness?
By practising the eight fold path and meditation I have been able to get over lot of suffering as a result of my past created by my mind. I am able to get over self pity, hatered, anger by following the advise of friends in this forum... But now that I am over the past my mind has started playing ne...
By practising the eight fold path and meditation I have been able to get over lot of suffering as a result of my past created by my mind. I am able to get over self pity, hatered, anger by following the advise of friends in this forum...
But now that I am over the past my mind has started playing new game...it starts painting pictures of grandiosness...like it presents me with illusions like i will be as great as the Buddha...I will be the Buddha and have followers...i will have super powers...i can fly etc etc...
Its getting difficult to control these thoughts in meditation...its a kind of hindrance I didnt read in any book...
I want to attain silent present moment awareness...is there any sutta which can help me with overcoming this maya of my mind?
Is there any help?
user13135
Apr 16, 2018, 05:11 AM
• Last activity: Apr 16, 2018, 01:23 PM
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Is shame and remorse unskillful?
I read this [in another answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/3949/254) on this site: >"and later I regretted" -- remorse is a klesha, an obscuring emotion. my person thought it's worthy to lift the question if shame and remorse (before, while and after a deed be mind, speech or body) are gen...
I read this [in another answer](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/3949/254) on this site:
>"and later I regretted" -- remorse is a klesha, an obscuring emotion.
my person thought it's worthy to lift the question if shame and remorse (before, while and after a deed be mind, speech or body) are generally unskillful, therefore to be abandoned, or if certain shame and remorse is actually skillful and very needed, therefore to develop and relay on it.
(Note that remorse/*kukkucca*, as a hindrance, falls by abounding sense-desire, end of reason for ill-will)
Feel invited to reflect, and possible share even Buddhas view on this mind qualities: An invitation of shameless making merits, so that one might not feel remorse, having not done, later.
*[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial purpose or other low wordily gain by means of trade and exchange]*
user11235
Oct 15, 2017, 07:16 AM
• Last activity: Nov 26, 2017, 05:48 PM
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Ideal Experience in Buddhism
Sometimes, I tell myself that a moment wherein I'm devoid of craving, ignorance and aversion is a moment inherently good. I tell myself that if I remove the addictive (and aversive) states within myself , then the right choices within my experience will naturally be made. So, with the example of soc...
Sometimes, I tell myself that a moment wherein I'm devoid of craving, ignorance and aversion is a moment inherently good. I tell myself that if I remove the addictive (and aversive) states within myself , then the right choices within my experience will naturally be made.
So, with the example of social media -- which is addictive for me -- I cannot easily pay mindfulness while doing this activity. However, I view *every* other moment free of affliction as naturally and effortlessly conducive to mindfulness. While doing almost anything that is not afflicted in terms of mental state, mindfulness and curiosity towards experience leads to diverse virtuous results.
Oddly, however, I do not get attached to such virtuous experiences, but return to addictive and pleasurable states. It's like an irony: what is detrimental is naturally addictive and what is wise and virtuous more difficult.
QUESTION 1: Is this view of a 'normal' affliction-free state -- i.e. *not* a meditative absorption or compassion filled state -- as virtuous correct? Just normal awareness?
QUESTION 2: Wouldn't virtuous states, perhaps in time, become addictive in themselves? For now, they are more akin to equanimity, whereas I'm neither drawn or averse to them. Or, would they remain like equanimity?
Thank you.
user7302
Oct 20, 2017, 03:22 PM
• Last activity: Oct 20, 2017, 11:36 PM
1
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5
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993
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Are multiverses real according to Buddhism
i have heard that buddism also says that multiverse exists. So, i want to ask something. Before few weeks, i saw two dreams in which I was totally aware of myself and at that time at those places, i can clearly feel that whatever I was experiencing, they are Real. In other word, if somebody would ha...
i have heard that buddism also says that multiverse exists. So, i want to ask something. Before few weeks, i saw two dreams in which I was totally aware of myself and at that time at those places, i can clearly feel that whatever I was experiencing, they are Real. In other word, if somebody would have come at that time and told me, this is your dream, than i would have laughed to much. In other words, I can still remember all the detail of that place(dream) and time, the detail of my hands etc. How can this be possible? As I've heard that worlds are just state of mind, similarly dream also. So does that makes, the dream world also as a real world, if a person is always their? Can I again feel such experience? That was very cool, I can still remember that. Before sleeping that night, I was thinking about how multiverse is possible, which I think sometime a because these things are very cool, specially from spirtual path. Were those two of the universe(world) among infinite other universe?
user10568
Mar 28, 2017, 12:46 AM
• Last activity: Apr 1, 2017, 02:19 AM
6
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2
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263
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Mindfulness and mental habits
When we practice mindfulness we notice our mental habit and mental pattern. What makes us angry, jealous, greedy, etc.. My question is, when you notice them, do you change it to positive mental quality or just watch it? Someone angry for 'no reason', but actually there is a reason if one keeps the m...
When we practice mindfulness we notice our mental habit and mental pattern. What makes us angry, jealous, greedy, etc.. My question is, when you notice them, do you change it to positive mental quality or just watch it?
Someone angry for 'no reason', but actually there is a reason if one keeps the mindfulness. With mindfulness, we realize that the trigger of the anger is for example a certain situation happened yesterday. By realizing this we are no longer angry. Is this also a practice of mindfulness or analyzing? Which one is the correct practice? Thanks all.
Steve
(669 rep)
Aug 10, 2015, 04:47 AM
• Last activity: Jan 15, 2017, 02:24 PM
7
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5
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What is the difference between a Vipassana Jhana and a Samatha Jhana?
Definitions of the term Jhana tend to emphasize the 'mind state' quality it refers to in various states of meditative absorption: > The jhanas are altered states of consciousness which are produced from periods of strong concentration. [Dhamma Wiki][1] > > In Buddhism, it is a series of cultivated s...
Definitions of the term Jhana tend to emphasize the 'mind state' quality it refers to in various states of meditative absorption:
> The jhanas are altered states of consciousness which are produced from periods of strong concentration. Dhamma Wiki
>
> In Buddhism, it is a series of cultivated states of mind, which lead to "state of perfect equanimity and awareness (upekkhii-sati-piirisuddhl)." Wikipedia
So in the context of Samatha (concentration) meditation, Jhana states naturally arise as a consequence of concentration. What I'm struggling to understand is the term 'Vipassana Jhana'. Is it a state of mind that arises from insight or a state of mind conducive to insight?
Devindra
(1830 rep)
Jun 17, 2015, 10:30 AM
• Last activity: Dec 23, 2015, 02:40 PM
2
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5
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157
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Watching crime in apps or website
By watching crime in mobile apps or in website , is one actually participating in the incident? If one thinks about it, is one perpetuating the incident again? Does it add to one's karma? How does one react to this kind of situation ? if we ignore the video , are we creating a bigger incident? Regar...
By watching crime in mobile apps or in website , is one actually participating in the incident? If one thinks about it, is one perpetuating the incident again? Does it add to one's karma? How does one react to this kind of situation ? if we ignore the video , are we creating a bigger incident?
Regards.
user5256
(501 rep)
Sep 28, 2015, 09:23 AM
• Last activity: Sep 29, 2015, 10:03 PM
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