Linked Questions
61 questions linked to/from How to explain what Buddhism is?
17
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5
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How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?
Looking at the Lists of fetters I see "conceit" and "identity view" listed separately ... and the four stages of enlightenment say that identity view will be abandoned (in the first stage) before ...
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17
votes
9
answers
1k
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What is Buddhism?
To be precise, can anyone provide a one page summary of Buddhism as a whole, suitable to distribute to someone who knows nothing about the religion?
(Yes, this is a "please do my homework for me" ...
- 23.9k
16
votes
8
answers
3k
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Chronological or other sequence for beginners
At least one of the "introductions to Buddhism" that I read included elements from, some biography of, the life of the Buddha, including:
Early life
Searching for enlightenment
Sermon at Benares (a.k....
- 43.4k
15
votes
12
answers
9k
views
Why are Buddhist concepts so difficult?
Why are Buddhist concepts so challenging for people to understand? What do people who understand know that average people don't know? What are some of the barriers to the understanding of Dharma? ...
- 6,744
15
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11
answers
5k
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Can a non-Buddhist get Nirvana?
No religion teaches what Buddhism teaches at its core. A true Hindu or Christian or Muslim believes in God and soul.
Can a Hindu or a Christian or a Muslim, who is not aware of Buddhist philosophy, ...
- 3,883
14
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9
answers
3k
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Is practicing Buddhism to be happy a wrong view?
One of my teachers has said that practicing Buddhism isn't about having a good time. That's always struck me as a bit harsh. If I practice Buddhism to feel a bit better about myself and to be happy is ...
- 20.9k
11
votes
12
answers
1k
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Enlightenment finding me
How can a small woman in a small country who does
not understand many of these questions, let alone
the answers, ever hope to become enlightened.
- 349
10
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10
answers
6k
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What is the best strategy to confront Non-Buddhist ideology?
I am sure everybody in this world thinks that 'my religion is the only true religion' etc and its variables. As we live in a diverse society, in today's age of information we invariably bump into ...
user13135
10
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15
answers
7k
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Did the Buddha really say that "life is suffering"?
I often see the first noble truth (duḥkha) stated as "life is suffering". I have yet to come across a passage in a Buddhist text which phrases it like this - mostly they don't talk about "life" in ...
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10
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7
answers
311
views
Is mindfulness the path or the goal?
Some of the reading that I have been doing recently makes me wonder what is the place of mindfulness in the Buddhist path. My previous (current?) view is that mindfulness is central and is in some way ...
- 20.9k
9
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8
answers
1k
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How do I deal with Buddhist teaching's complexity?
I'm feeling very overwhelmed by the sheer amount of different things to remember and practice. Firstly the four foundations of mindfulness Im not sure when one is meant to practice each one. Do you do ...
- 287
8
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13
answers
2k
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Is Anatman the most important concept in Buddhism?
Buddhism begins with The Truth of Suffering. That seems like the best point to get someone's attention, and is basically indisputable. The Truth of Impermanence is fairly easy to accept, because we ...
user2341
7
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11
answers
5k
views
In short, what is the path to enlightenment? Where to begin?
If I were to begin meditating, what practical list of advises would you give me?
- 199
7
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9
answers
504
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No aim. No perspective. Begin of 30y. Scared about political-decisions. Paranoid. What should I do?
Please make sure you read the whole text before giving me an answer.
I'm very serious about this and search a very good advise, something I didn't think before.
This year I'll become 30 years and I'm ...
user7564
7
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7
answers
1k
views
Is there an end to the suffering in general?
Buddha said that Nirvana is an end to the suffering of an individual.
However if we think from a larger perspective, there is no end to the suffering as a whole. The world will get created again and ...
- 3,883
7
votes
9
answers
3k
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Buddhism is kind of depressing
Please correct me if I'm misguided about this but I was doing some reading which seemed to be saying that life on this earth is nothing but suffering. That while we are ignorant we wander around in ...
- 287
7
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4
answers
322
views
What is the object of Faith in Buddhism
I am quite new to Buddhism. One of the reasons for starting practice was that I don't believe in God. But I belive in the four Noble Truths. I believe it because the more I think about it, the more I ...
- 2,653
7
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4
answers
142
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What are the soteriological aims of different traditions?
From this answer ...
I would suggest dropping this line of inquiry or at least treading very carefully as you seem quite confused about what is being taught by the differing traditions and their ...
- 43.4k
6
votes
7
answers
425
views
Celebrate Christmas
Is it wrong when Buddhist celebrate Christmas?
I definitely shocked when I saw a monk facebook's status then he wrote that we do the wrong thing when we celebrate Christmas. Is that true?
- 951
6
votes
9
answers
370
views
Why should Mahayana practitioners strive for anything at all?
In the Theravada tradition:
There is no self in all phenomena (including the five aggregates).
The five aggregates and the rest of nature and the world is always changing and not permanent (anicca).
...
- 34k
6
votes
6
answers
2k
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Does Buddhism focus on suffering too much?
The core of the Buddhist teachings are the four noble truths which talks about the existence of suffering. Other religions criticize Buddhism telling that this focusing on suffering makes the ...
- 163
6
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4
answers
1k
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What does Buddhism say about creativity and spiritual development?
Does Buddhism say anything about a relationship between greatness in art, music or other creative areas, and spiritual development? For example, consider the well-known great composers: is there ...
user2341
6
votes
7
answers
566
views
How to develop compassion while avoiding attachment?
The Buddha stressed compassion in his teachings. It seems that the more one tries to be compassionate towards people, a natural tendency of attachment develops. For example, it seems that if I try to ...
- 265
4
votes
8
answers
1k
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Is Mindfulness the same as having an Observer?
If this was bone-obvious to everyone else, then silly me, but I just thought of it because I heard these two words separately long ago and connected them while answering another question...
Are "the ...
user2341
4
votes
6
answers
796
views
Finding The Right Buddhist "Vehicle" / Sect For An Individual
I know there are three vehicles in Buddhism: Therevada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. It seems there are so many sects of buddhism. Each of these three vehicles has sub-sects, (Zen, Pureland). Do the ...
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4
votes
4
answers
1k
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What are metta and karuna?
I'm wondering what these terms, mettā and karuṇā (loving-kindness and compassion), mean.
Are there suttas in which they're defined, otherwise where do the definitions come from?
Is there any ...
- 43.4k
4
votes
9
answers
247
views
Why aren't more people interested in Dhamma?
I read somewhere that Dhamma should only be taught to people who are interested and attentive to the knowledge, but why aren't more people interested in the first place? Dhamma could lead to the end ...
- 61
4
votes
5
answers
190
views
Please explain joy and/or the Kimatthiyasutta
Can you explain something about joy?
For example it's mentioned in AN 11.1:
“But what’s the purpose and benefit of having no regrets?”
“Avippaṭisāro pana, bhante, kimatthiyo kimānisaṃso”?
“...
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3
votes
6
answers
739
views
Why is life so important?
When asking around, I've never heard anyone agree that a young, healthy person should end their life by suicide. But I also don't know what reason there is for that consensus.
Did Buddha teach ...
- 1,494
3
votes
3
answers
348
views
Differences between the tilakkhana and the Dhamma seal
I suppose that there is (are) differences between the tilakkhana (anicca; dukkha and anatta) and the so-called three dhamma-seals (anicca; anatta and nibbana). Can anyone help me?
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3
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8
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249
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Does enlightenment in all teachings amount to a progressively deeper realisation that I am already enlightened?
So e.g. kensho is usually thought of as beginning realisation in zazen, and is into our true nature as Buddhas.
Does enlightenment in all teachings amount to a progressively deeper realisation that I ...
user23322
3
votes
3
answers
542
views
Did the Buddha teach the four noble truths to laypeople?
Sometimes I see comments like, "the Buddha never taught the four noble truths to laypeople".
Is that so?
If so, why didn't he?
Aren't the 4NT the best, most succinct and most helpful, part of the ...
- 43.4k
3
votes
5
answers
279
views
Are the physicists suffering?
Physicists are scientist who study the reality and draw conclusions about it scientifically. After studying what Buddha said it appears to me that Physicists are trapped in a wrong world. They believe ...
- 3,883
3
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4
answers
191
views
Vipassana sharpens my ability to feel the feelings of others, but I'm not yet sure how best to use that?
I've completed 5 10-day Vipassana courses, one Sati, and I've served a 3-day and in various other smaller capacities. I'll be serving my first 10 day in about 6 weeks, and began regularly sitting 2 ...
- 39
3
votes
3
answers
140
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How do I practice the Dhamma in an environment where it's not supported?
My parents, try to hinder my practice of the Dhamma by verbally & aggressively putting the Dhamma down to me, almost every day. They believe I am being "brainwashed" by monks I watch online or ...
user16793
3
votes
2
answers
112
views
What is the meaning of “becoming, birth, old age & death” in the 12 links?
Finding resources to better understand the meaning of the 12 links of dependent origination has been challenging for me.
The best resource I've been able to find to decipher the meaning thus far is ...
- 486
3
votes
5
answers
186
views
Am I holding the right views?
Apart from right view of stress , origination of stress, cessation of stress and path to cessation of stress, I hold the view that humanity,which is under stress, must be saved.
My question is :Am I ...
- 3,883
2
votes
6
answers
392
views
How should I express Mudita or Joy for all beings?
In Mudita meditation or Joy Meditation I am supposed to experience Joy for all beings. But I don't know which aspect of living beings is worth celebrating.
My question is : How should I express ...
- 3,883
2
votes
7
answers
303
views
Is it possible and good to know and/or talk about other/more details about the way out of suffering than the Buddha did?
(One of the reasons for asking this question is that I thought that maybe some people needed some extra/other knowledge/insight in order for the Noble Eightfold Path to become more accessible to them.)...
- 534
2
votes
7
answers
925
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Four Noble Truths contradicting?
I don't even like to post a question like this but I just want to share a misconception that people from other beliefs have regarding Buddhism. Please what this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...
- 952
2
votes
4
answers
159
views
What is Buddhism (in a nutshell)?
I have been trying to think about Buddhism, Scientology and Gaia religions. They do not focus on a God but rather the eternal inner spirit and reincarnation. The best so far I have come up with is “...
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2
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7
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498
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Finding it difficult to cultivate mudita(empathetic joy)
I am finding it very difficult to cultivate mudita for people who are happier and have it all. I am finding it easy to have empathy for those who are suffering. But my ego feels threatened when I ...
- 2,225
2
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4
answers
2k
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What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? Is it nirvana?
What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? Why should a person practice Buddhism, what will it provide to him? Various religions have various goals. For example, the ultimate goal in Christianity is ...
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2
votes
4
answers
725
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Want a simple explanation that sense restraint is an important aspect of ethical conduct, for a loved one who is not into Dhamma
Could you try to formulate an answer to the above question, in line with the Pali Canon, using simple colloquial language, for someone who doesn't yet know Buddhist terminology?
I'm asking because I ...
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1
vote
5
answers
773
views
Are the movie Fight Club, and Project Mayhem in it, buddhist?
Is the movie Fight Club, and the Project Mayhem idea at all buddhist? Since it predicates detachment from material possesions there's a neat point. I believe in the end it's not, but wanted to ask ...
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1
vote
7
answers
673
views
Why did the buddha teach the mahayana?
I know that the standard Mahayana claim about the Theravada canon is that he needed to teach it for those who were not ready to accept the Mahayana. But do all Buddhas have to teach the four noble ...
user2512
1
vote
5
answers
302
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A path to another university outside of Buddhism
This post is a revision of Buddhism Or Christ? which already closed.
I posted that Buddhism or Christ? question on a Christian forum too, and after quite a response from them, I felt I have some clues....
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1
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4
answers
323
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Is there a kind of "pop Buddhism"?
Similarly to pop psychology, do we have the same effect for Buddhism? I have a feeling that many people subscribing to Buddhism because it seems to explain psychological phenomena that they (...
- 637
1
vote
6
answers
114
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To introduce Dharma, what categories of people are there?
Buddha tailored his teachings to meet the particular needs of his audience.
What are the different audiences then?
Here is a slightly related question: Should a beginner try to educate others about ...
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1
vote
9
answers
174
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Escaping alone is not enough
I am attached to my parents, children and other close family members quite heavily. Me alone escaping the suffering is not enough. I want to make sure they are on track to escape suffering as well. ...
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