Questions tagged [lay-buddhism]
Otherwise known as the householder path, the lay buddhist path is a path for non-monastic buddhists.
201
questions
2
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1answer
38 views
Are there “safe” practices to follow before meeting one's teacher?
I sincerely want to practice Tibetan Buddhism. It is a tradition which places great emphasis on one's relationship with their teacher. This makes a lot of sense to me. I plan to visit a Karma Kagyu ...
2
votes
3answers
126 views
The Practice of Giving: How to Practice Giving “Thusly”?
In the Diamond Sutra (or Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra) Buddha says to Subhuti:
a Bodhisattva should not dwell anywhere when he gives. He should not dwell in forms when he gives, nor should he dwell ...
11
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13answers
10k views
Buddhism broke up my marriage
The title is provocative but sums up my problem: when I am immersed in Buddhist thought, I can no longer love my wife.
Buddhism clearly contradicts romantic love. It tolerates it up to a certain ...
0
votes
8answers
205 views
What do Buddhists think of leather?
I understand that vegetarianism goes with Buddhism. But what about leather? Leather car seats, leather handbags, leather this and leather that.
Is there some sutra on the permission to have them, ...
1
vote
3answers
70 views
Does the beauty of Buddhism lie in letting seekers seek beyond the bounds of religion?
When I was young I was told by a booklet that if I found a better religion, I can follow that one. I liked the idea of God centered, open-sourced religion back then so it was what kept me loyal and ...
1
vote
4answers
195 views
Buddha's view on sexuality
In contemporary society (apart from religion) sex is mostly seen as something pleasurable, which is done even without considering childbearing.
As far as I can see, Buddha taught extensively to lay ...
2
votes
3answers
472 views
Romantic love and Buddhism
What do you think of this article about romantic love? I am skeptical about his understanding of upeksha.
As I understand it, romantic love does not really exist in Buddhism because the targeted love ...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Can a warrior reach enlightenment?
Can someone who fights, even maybe kills or dies, for a cause he considers right, attain enlightenment?
I wonder that after reading that some Buddhists did not share the Zen samurai's vision at all.
4
votes
2answers
87 views
What is “Pattichha Samuppadha” in buddhism
i want clarification about what is "patichcha samuppada" its in
"Anekajati sansaram sandhavissam anibbisam
Gahakarakam gavesanto dukka jati punappunam"
“This tour, this cycle of existence, has run
...
2
votes
2answers
116 views
Modern Narcissism and Buddhism
I was reading about Narcissistic Personality Disorder and related conditions like Borderline Personality Disorder. Some qualities seemed in direct opposition to what I've read in books by Thich Nhat ...
0
votes
5answers
135 views
Opposite of buddhism
Is there anything considered the opposite of Buddhism? I have guesses and I'm thinking contrasts might give interesting insights.
In my limited understanding, the concept of an "opposite" to ...
0
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1answer
82 views
Arguing of Buddhists?
Q:
Do Buddhists argue over topics? Wouldn't that be unwholesome and view
clinging?
0
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2answers
109 views
Kamma and the Physical [duplicate]
Does kamma bind or work with the physical realm? Such as a tsunami will kill you, but you will also die in such a way due to past kamma?
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Arahants and exersise
Q:
Would an arahant get physically exausted if he/she was to exersise, like if they were to run 5 miles? Would this in anyway shake their mind?
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Parents suppressing the teaching
I love my parents, but for some reason they do not understand my teaching and misinterpret what I say and won't listen to me. Their misinterpretations led them to take all of my books on Buddhism I ...
1
vote
2answers
56 views
How can I find a teacher?
What is the best way, or how would I even go about finding a Buddhist teacher or spiritual guide? Thanks.
0
votes
5answers
89 views
Is Buddhist lifestyle harmless to living beings?
Is the Buddhist lifestyle harmless to living beings? Lot's of creatures are being killed in various human activities (walking, farming, building, etc.) Did Buddhists found a way to live while not ...
9
votes
12answers
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.
3
votes
7answers
214 views
irrational fear of hell and damnation and spiralling, please help me?
I've posted on this Q&A site before when my grandmother just passed away, and some of the answers here really helped me feel a lot better and eased my fear enough for me to go back to my normal ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
Is discussing bad practices of monks a sin?
I've heard in several dhamma deshana that discussing the bad practices practiced by monks is a sin. But I feel that if we don't discuss such with our family & just continue giving, we won't have ...
1
vote
3answers
114 views
Nibbana and correct view of Vijnana and Jhana
My Vijnana view from advaita Vedanta is deep and ingrained, it is false I know it but I need help to improve it because I read long time about conciousness the self I read much like these things like ...
0
votes
8answers
99 views
Avoiding debates & looking into Planes/realms
What should I do if a lot of my friends and family are trying to prove Buddhism wrong with the laws of impermanence or planes of existence, & I do not want to debate this with them as I do not ...
1
vote
5answers
209 views
Suppose World War 3 occurs and manages to wipe out all humans and animals. Is the cycle of death and rebirth broken?
Or will human beings be magically reborn again in order to continue their journey to Nirvana?
3
votes
5answers
217 views
Conciousness in Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta
I would be happy if someone could clear up a doubt for me.
When Advaita talk about consciousness without boundaries it is said to be the "Self". It is described as combining being and knowing in one ...
2
votes
4answers
166 views
Mahayana - Advaita - Theravada realisations
Mahayana claims that the realisation of Nirvana in Theravada is dual while Mahayana is non dual.
I have read that Advaita (the universal consciousness theory) is the same as Mahayana.
Does that mean ...
0
votes
4answers
145 views
Is there any source saying that Buddhists can temporarily form relationship to help people?
There are many good answers in the question Would Buddhists help non-Buddhists continuing their attachments?. I'll summarize some of the points here:
Buddhism only teaches that things don't last, not ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views
Would Buddhists help non-Buddhists continuing their attachments?
Let's take 2 examples:
A Buddhist notices a crying girl. After asking it turns out that she lost her mother, and don't know where to find her
Alice and Bob has a complicated relationship. Bob wants ...
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votes
3answers
63 views
Someone making sacrifices outside the Sangha of Savakas, can such be expected as follower?
If people, maintaining a Buddhist identity, are good, they do whatever sacrifices of which they expect benefit or where they feel touched.
Now, when a person gives outside the Savaka-Sangha, outside ...
3
votes
2answers
85 views
Compassion and Motivation
I wondered today whether compassion is an antidote to a kind of lack of motivation, given that it remedies fear in the suttas, and often approach and avoidance are seen as opposite (e.g. fight or ...
1
vote
3answers
95 views
Buddhism and Novelty of Persons
I realized that, when I meet new people and especially people I have a romantic interest in, to value and idealize them disproportionately. This seems very ingrained in my personality. Here, cemetery ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Are the bodhisattva vows better suited to the lay side of Buddhism?
As a practical observation, if one were staying below arhat for the initial aeons, could monastic living limit the efficacy of a bodhisattva? Since that goal heavily rests on seclusion, and both the ...
0
votes
2answers
112 views
What could go wrong if one misconstrue Buddhism with nihilism?
I see that Buddhism is absolutely not nihilism, but I wonder what could go wrong if one misconstrue one with another. This is especially true with people with psychological issues, because they have ...
-1
votes
1answer
73 views
Ex-monk reliable Teacher?
While even most teacher today are ex-monks (someone who rejected the refuge and went back to the lower life), isn't it clear that such a person has own problems with his faith? How could one ...
4
votes
3answers
319 views
Why is “idle speech” one of the ten unwholesome actions?
According to the Suttas, "idle speech" is one of the ten unwholesome actions which generate bad karma. I understand why the other nine unwholesome actions would generate bad karma, but I have a lot of ...
7
votes
3answers
305 views
Moderation in meditation for lay people
Vipassana-style meditation has been adapted to treat patients to prevent recurrence of depression and anxiety through MBCT, and to treat chronic pain and stress through MBSR. More info on this can ...
0
votes
4answers
112 views
Noble Eightfold Path - applicable by lay practitioners?
To my understanding, the 8 factors are of course something that require cultivation (practise/training). However, noble right view, for example, is an experiential part, and not an intellectual one.
...
2
votes
4answers
180 views
What Buddhist babies' names or meaning should be?
My relatives ask me to suggest good names that must be Buddhist.
I tried on internet but there are from other culture I want Indian names so what names or meaning should be?
0
votes
1answer
70 views
Is it a sin to organize liqour & meat on cutomer request as a prt of my job?
I'm interested in Event planning & if I take up that job I'll have to make necessary arrangements for liqour & meat to be served at events upon client request.
I'd like to know if that is ...
4
votes
3answers
150 views
When to let things let go and when to fight for them?
I find myself in conflict with the Buddhist idea of letting go.
If someone insults you, is rude to you, insults a loved one, harrases you or a loved one and so on. According to Buddhism, we should ...
3
votes
4answers
203 views
Samatha Meditation
This summer I got the chance to spend 20 days at Pa-Auk Tawya forest meditation center in Myanamar and I did Anapana-Sati for 20 days. Now I'm back at my university but when I look back I see than ...
3
votes
3answers
399 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
80 views
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
93 views
A noobs balance. Where to go on my journey?
I’ll keep this short and sweet. Recently I’ve been pondering the idea of becoming a professor of Eastern Religions, particularly Buddhism. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but something about ...
6
votes
2answers
98 views
What is a skillful way to meditate in the midst of a migraine headache?
When the Bod-hisattva Quan the Am, who has been such a source of
inspiration of peace workers in Viet- nam, saw into the reality of the
five aggregates giving rise to emptiness of self, she was ...
1
vote
3answers
155 views
Can a girl & a boy be friends
I didn't use to have much boys as friends but with time I made several boy friends from which some were really close. I want to know what has Lord Buddha chanted about a girl & a boy being friends?...
3
votes
4answers
195 views
Are there any recollections of past lives in the more grievous realms?
While "animal" past lives seem to get a fair amount of attention I can't seem to find any about people recalling being in the hell realm or that of hungry ghosts. Aside from Mahamogallana's ...
1
vote
3answers
358 views
Buddhism on vasthu shastra
Vastu shastra (vāstu śāstra) is "a traditional Hindu system of architecture".
Did Lord Buddha debunk vasthu shastra? If not, what are some teachings made by Lord Buddha on the same? If Buddhism does ...
10
votes
10answers
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 ...
9
votes
8answers
5k views
As a Buddhist how do I get over hatred towards my previous religion?
I am filled with genuine hatred towards my previous religion. My hatred is not directed towards other religions it's just towards my past. And this constantly bubbles up during meditation.
I don't ...
5
votes
5answers
230 views
Need some pointers about the current phase
I know this is a big letter but it is important. Would really appreciate your help.
My spiritual path very much goes along with my career.
I knew since my school days that I never wanted to be part ...
