Questions tagged [lay-buddhism]
Otherwise known as the householder path, the lay buddhist path is a path for non-monastic buddhists.
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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, ...
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3answers
68 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 ...
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4answers
184 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 ...
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3answers
446 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
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2answers
108 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.
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2answers
84 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
95 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 ...
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5answers
110 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 ...
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1answer
80 views
Arguing of Buddhists?
Q:
Do Buddhists argue over topics? Wouldn't that be unwholesome and view
clinging?
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2answers
108 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?
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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 ...
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2answers
54 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.
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5answers
88 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 ...
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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
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7answers
199 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
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2answers
63 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 ...
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3answers
85 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 ...
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8answers
97 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 ...
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5answers
205 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?
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5answers
186 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
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4answers
155 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 ...
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4answers
141 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 ...
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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
62 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
84 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 ...
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3answers
93 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
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1answer
63 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 ...
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2answers
104 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 ...
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1answer
72 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 ...
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3answers
278 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 ...
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3answers
297 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 ...
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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.
...
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4answers
172 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?
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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
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3answers
147 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
195 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 ...
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3answers
381 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
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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 ...
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3answers
92 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 ...
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2answers
97 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 ...
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3answers
134 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
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4answers
190 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 ...
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3answers
323 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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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votes
5answers
224 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 ...
0
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1answer
127 views
Buddhist views on transgender issues [duplicate]
The Buddha or the scriptures do not state specifically if an individual being a transgender is right or wrong. So how would a Buddhist interpret this in a modern light and why?
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4answers
120 views
The “awakened” outside of a monastic/retreat setting?
Most people cannot live in the secluded setting of a monastery or retreat. Some Buddhist traditions nonetheless affirm that laypeople can become enlightened. Are there (inspiring) examples of such ...
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6answers
790 views
Is samatha meditation more suited to lay people than vipassana?
Does the Piti Sutta imply that it is better for lay people to start with cultivation of jhana through samatha meditation, instead of starting with vipassana meditation?
Also, the use of the term "...
