Questions tagged [lay-buddhism]
Otherwise known as the householder path, the lay buddhist path is a path for non-monastic buddhists.
187
questions
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
52 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
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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 ...
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
190 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
62 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
79 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
94 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
3answers
64 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
141 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
146 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
133 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 ...
-3
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
83 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
92 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
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 ...
0
votes
2answers
96 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
71 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
226 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
287 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
102 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
144 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
69 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
142 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
178 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
369 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
78 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
91 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
94 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
128 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
185 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
263 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
220 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
votes
1answer
122 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?
0
votes
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 ...
2
votes
5answers
665 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 "...
1
vote
6answers
773 views
Conscience in Buddhism
Conscience is described as being the moral sense in which an individual makes decisions. Do Buddhists believe there is a conscience? If so how is it defined
1
vote
2answers
327 views
Importance of making and sharing merit
What are the benefits of transferring karmic fruitfulness and how is this done by Buddhists?
4
votes
9answers
326 views
How to mitigate the negative karmic effect of killing
I'm a graduate student studying plant-insect interactions. My research, necessary for my degree, requires me to collect (kill) a few hundred insects. Are there any suttas, or general Buddhist ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Is there any online serious community of Dhamma practitioners to join?
Not counting this site are there any communities where I can talk about the Dhamma with serious lay practitioners in facebook? Most of the groups I have been have been riddled with really toxic and ...
4
votes
5answers
116 views
Spiritualism VS layman's path
I have followed the Dharma for the last ten+ years, and have been married for thirty. l have reached a stage where my progression is noticeably obstructed by the Layman's world. I've talked to my ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
What are the requirements in order to happen a complete sin?
Imagine someone perform an action. What are the requirements should be completed for it to be a complete sin?
Explain it by using killing an animal as an exaple
2
votes
4answers
220 views
Do Buddhists believe Buddha to be God? Do Buddhists practice idolatry?
I have seen Buddhists worship Gautam Buddha, a great personality, a great philosopher, a great social reformer and spiritual master, with incense and candles. They would offer flower to his idol made ...
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votes
2answers
80 views
Can a buddha communicate with someone in far away places?
Buddha says that he hears some god having foolish thought. I think it's the story of Bakka Brahma.
He "transfer" himself to the god's presence and lectures. And his disciples too.
That seems like ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
How to increase my potential in daimoku?
What if i cant chaant on a regular basis ? I want to increase my number of hours and i don't understand how to do it ?
2
votes
4answers
511 views
Did the Buddha teach meditation to lay people?
During his lifetime, did the Buddha teach meditation to lay people, or did he teach meditation only to monks?
Are there any references to this in the Pali Canon or commentaries?
It's clear that all ...
-1
votes
2answers
234 views
Going forth into homelessness [closed]
I am considering how to leaving home life as i would like to train Buddhism.
Does anybody know about garbage dumps with lax visa policy?
Garbage is easy to get, like discarded rags. I do not see ...
