Linked Questions
126 questions linked to/from How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?
36
votes
19
answers
4k
views
How to explain what Buddhism is?
My mother and I come from a non-Buddhist culture/background/society/country/family.
At one point when I had an opportunity to explain to her what Buddhism is, I was doing well (i.e. she was listening ...
- 43.4k
11
votes
15
answers
6k
views
How can I respond to Christians' unpleasant feedback on Buddhism?
I have some friends who are Christian that I can't avoid the subject with. We used to see each other very often for some events. Normally those are friends of friends. Examples of the unpleasant ...
- 137
10
votes
10
answers
6k
views
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
6
votes
18
answers
2k
views
Buddhism and misanthropy
Is it possible to be Buddhist and a misanthropist? I've realised I actually despise humanity and sometimes I fantasise about the sun exploding and wiping us all out. I believe that the majority of ...
- 2,730
8
votes
13
answers
2k
views
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
9
votes
10
answers
5k
views
"Lower rebirth" -- Are animals really "lower" than us?
I love most aspects of Buddhism but I can't agree that animals have a "lower" rebirth than us. Dogs for example sometimes have enormous love and compassion for their owners, even if they are being ...
- 93
7
votes
15
answers
1k
views
How is it wrong to believe that a self exists, or that it doesn't?
the one place where the Buddha was asked point-blank whether or not
there was a self, he refused to answer. When later asked why, he said
that to hold either that there is a self or that there is ...
user2512
11
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Is there an Orthodox Buddhism?
Orthodoxy in Christianity is the holding to the oldest beliefs. It is of course impossible for the religion not to evolve at all as new questions and there answer have to addressed. The "Orthodox" ...
- 878
11
votes
12
answers
1k
views
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
7
votes
13
answers
877
views
Is Nibbana a state of mind or an element (dhamma)?
I have four parts of this question,
Is Nibbana a state of mind or a dhamma?
If Nibbana is a state of mind, is it merely the uprooting of craving?
If the answer for the second question is "Yes", then ...
- 1,221
6
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Loneliness in Buddhism
I am wondering what is the antidote to loneliness, or the approach towards it, within Buddhism. I am finding myself quite lonely despite being previously familiar and at ease with solitude.
I am ...
- 5,413
11
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Everything I do is motivated by greed/aversion. How to react?
I just came to a very upsetting realisation :
Almost all my motivation for the things I do in my daily life (mostly playing the piano and studying math in college) comes from bad things, such as ego, ...
- 597
8
votes
10
answers
1k
views
If each person's mind creates "reality" then why do we need to eat?
My teacher has been talking about how each person's reality (including the body) is in fact an illusion generated by the mind in each moment. As an extension of this, she teaches that there are no "...
- 141
7
votes
7
answers
2k
views
What is the difference between right thinking and right view?
They seem to be both elements that promote a healthy perception about things in life. I have a hard time differentiating between one and the other.
- 171
6
votes
5
answers
736
views
How should I stop thinking that I am even slightly enlightened?
I don't know how else to phrase this question, but please advise. I have this constant irritating feeling that I am kind of enlightened. It is confusing.
I don't really know if it is my ego which is ...
- 2,214
3
votes
8
answers
2k
views
How to avoid apathy in the absence of self?
I have noticed in my meditation / mindfulness practice the following: as the idea of self dissolves, the ideas of compassion, happiness, sorrow, and basically everything that a "person" might ...
- 361
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is the concept of "Ego" or "self "?
What is the concept of "Ego" or "self "?
In buddhism there's concept called no self.Does is mean there's no "me" at all or does it mean that "me" cannot understood with out " you ".
- 51
6
votes
7
answers
448
views
Are Buddhists supposed to feel superior compared to other people, and to brag about it?
I'm asking this question because I want to know if I'm misunderstanding or misinterpreting something. I hope I'm not offending anyone, I want to genuinely know how to interpret my experiences with the ...
- 171
3
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Is the Noble Eightfold Path a path of celibacy?
Simple question: Is the Noble Eightfold Path a path of celibacy?
[Note that this isn't given for Sex, stacks, trade, exchange but for escape from this wheel]
user11235
3
votes
7
answers
708
views
Does Sotapanna have the fear of death?
Does Sotapanna have the fear of death?
Recently I spoke to a monk about Sotapanna. He said the best test to understand whether someone is Sotapanna is to see whether he has fear of death.
- 5,568
7
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Pride and Shame in Buddhism
Lately I've been noticing how often people in my everyday life mention being proud of themselves or their loved ones for some good effort or action or being ashamed of themselves (or decrying others ...
- 9,482
1
vote
7
answers
363
views
Is life not blessing or mystery but suffering in Buddhism?
Just like the title my question is as simple as it gets.
Please give your thought as short as possible. I just wanna confirm my idea.
- 123
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What is the best way to practice humility
I've studied both "Western" and "Eastern" philosophy (mainly Buddhism) for some time, and enjoying it a lot. Western philosophy is all about clarifying concepts. The exception might perhaps be ...
- 2,653
5
votes
5
answers
472
views
Sakkāya-Ditthi and Self-View
It's mentioned in many references that when someone becomes Sotāpanna (= stream-entrant = Person-who-has-seen-Dharma) then the first three fetters (saŋyojana) are dropped.
My question is, if the ...
- 660
4
votes
9
answers
268
views
Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
In situations involving lies and/or violence, does Buddhism teach siding with truth and peace against lies and violence, or does it teach ethical neutrality i.e. not taking stance on such subjects?
...
- 55.4k
6
votes
7
answers
419
views
Is Buddhist practice a form of suicide?
I don't presume to understand Buddhism very well, but I'm trying to increase my understanding of the Dhamma, so please don't take what I write the wrong way. I'm not being disrespectful, because even ...
- 176
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Last thought before death?
I read somewhere (perhaps in an unreliable introduction to Tibetan beliefs) that rebirth is conditioned by the last thought before death (or perhaps affected by a thought or desire that you have after ...
- 43.4k
4
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Killer Neighbors
Namo Buddhaya!
My neighbor is a hardcore Christian & is a very nice man, the only thing is that he goes outside every once & a while with a water gun & kills insects (and even shoots ...
user16793
1
vote
7
answers
1k
views
Buddhist monks give advice for lay life
Would you say that it is appropriate for a monk to give advice to the laity in how to live life/dealing with obstacles?
Now don't get me wrong, but monks certainly have "safer" environments. They are ...
- 2,550
4
votes
10
answers
1k
views
How to experience Anatta
Is it during deep meditation when the mind is completely stilled that one experiences anatta? Is the conviction in anatta gradual or abrupt? This question would be connected to the 4 stages of ...
- 2,550
9
votes
5
answers
328
views
Did the Buddha ever delve on the dangers of one's own spirtual achievements feeding the ego?
This question came up when I really thought back on both my and many others' spiritual journey. In the New Age community, especially, the sense of viewing things as illusions and making progress in ...
- 345
4
votes
6
answers
309
views
How to develop fortitude?
Specifically when someone you love or whose opinion matters to you greatly attacks your way of life, your beliefs, or even on a smaller scale just makes you feel ignored, pushed around, etc.
I find I ...
- 41
5
votes
7
answers
290
views
Questions About Views in Buddhism
I have looked at a list of some wrong-views in Buddhism, and I'm somewhat confused about the meaning of the notion of 'view' [ditthi].
In Buddhism, what does it mean to hold a view?
1) I ask this ...
- 5,413
3
votes
2
answers
928
views
Ego death and stream entry is it the same thing?
I was wondering if ego death and stream entry is the same?
During what i call 'ego death' or 'experience of pure consciousness', i emptied out and saw the internal galaxy images. Insights came ...
- 31
5
votes
5
answers
711
views
Annatta and taking responsibility
I'm a bit confused about "not self". How do you take responsibility for your actions if you don't see them as your actions but just a process happening? For example if you're an alcoholic part of the ...
- 2,730
4
votes
8
answers
277
views
Understanding Right view
From what I understand as far as the Theravadin tradition goes right view is seeing things as they are instead of through our own filters, conditioning, beliefs etc.
So if I have some pain it is ...
- 2,730
3
votes
4
answers
332
views
Should I identify myself as formless?
Namo Buddhaya.
Sabbe Dhamma Anatta. Form is Anatta too. Meaning form is not worth identifying as myself, me or mine.
Does that mean that I should identify myself as formless ? Am I in form or am I ...
- 3,883
4
votes
8
answers
384
views
Is there a real difference between "not-self" and "no self", and if so, which one is correct?
Just in case someone is interested, this is a question based on this thread, but it's not necessary to read such discussion to understand and answer this question.
I'd like to know about the ...
- 2,094
2
votes
8
answers
382
views
When and how should a layperson declare their achievements?
I have on occasion seen commenters here and elsewhere who declare their achievements, such as being a sotāpanna. These comments are downvoted, so they do not appear to be appreciated.
If comments ...
- 21
3
votes
5
answers
382
views
Which of the five hindrance does 'comparison' fall in?
Which of the five hindrances does 'comparison' come under? I mean when the mind starts chattering, "he is better than me, he succeeded where I failed, he got this and I got nothing, he got better ...
- 2,225
5
votes
6
answers
391
views
Did the Buddha ever define what he meant by "self"?
Added: I am asking this because I am not sure if anything I observe would be considered "self" according to the Buddha. I don't have this problem with craving or suffering because I can observe/...
- 534
4
votes
7
answers
303
views
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 ...
- 137
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to deal with pride and vanity from a Buddhist perspective?
In my interactions with other people I am sometimes very full of my self, proud and vanitous and it leaves me with a bad taste afterwards or it even stops me from taking action in a direction I would ...
user4878
8
votes
3
answers
749
views
Insight in Buddhism
What is "insight" the "knowing that I know" in Buddhism?
I understand the concept of consciousness a bit better but what about having Insight.
2
votes
6
answers
451
views
The "conventional" self - in what way can it be accepted?
Buddhist writers, such as Joseph Goldstein and Thupten Jinpa, say that although the self is not intrinsically real, that we still accept the "conventional" idea of self. For example:
If we arrive ...
user8619
8
votes
9
answers
349
views
Are all forms of Dukkha related to a sense of self?
A few days ago I started reading books about Paticcasamuppada because I realized how little and shallow was my understanding on this capital matter.
Despite getting the gist of it, I still have ...
- 2,094
4
votes
8
answers
496
views
Did Buddha ever think about himself?
After attaining Nibbana, Buddha had realized that there is no self. However due to practical difficulties of communication, he had to use personal pronouns like 'I' , 'me' , 'myself' many times during ...
- 3,883
3
votes
4
answers
559
views
Can you reconcile (professional) ambition with buddhism?
I have been a practicioner of mindfulness and vipassana for a few years. I have felt that buddhism is at odds with striving towards professional success and ambition. Ambition and professional success ...
- 131
3
votes
8
answers
249
views
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
5
votes
3
answers
519
views
Does the Doctrine of No Soul mean there is nothing permanent to continue?
Does the doctrine of no soul is means that there is nothing permanent to continue? So is the teaching of reincarnation, rebirth misleading as there is a notion there is a continuity after death? Also ...
- 603