Questions tagged [pali-canon]
The Pāḷi Canon is a compilation of scriptures that preserve the earliest record of the teachings attributed to the Buddha in the Pāḷi language. It is also called the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka since it is divided in three sections (tipiṭaka, "three baskets") of teachings, such as, the Discipline Basket (Vinaya Piṭaka), Discourse Basket (Sutta Piṭaka) & Higher Teachings Basket (Abhidhamma Piṭaka).
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Can the Buddha ever be a woman?
Is it true that the Buddha will never be a woman? If so, why is this?
To be specific, I am particularly asking whether or not the Buddha itself can be female. I am not asking whether a woman can ...
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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....
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English (or other European) translations of Pali Canon
Perhaps this should be closed as a 'shopping' question, but maybe translations take a long time to make and therefore there are not too many of them, and they don't go out of date quickly.
The ...
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Can anyone explain Sanskara / Sankara indepth?
Can someone provide a canonical explanation to Sanskara/Sankara?
I appreciate if you can provide some sources,Suttras/Suttas so that i can expand my knowledge.
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Why is the Buddha described as trackless?
In the Dhammapada, within the Buddhavagga section, the Buddha is described as being trackless.
By what track can you trace that trackless Buddha of limitless range,
whose victory nothing can undo,...
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What is the Interpretation of Parimukham in the context of Buddhist Meditation?
What is the interpretation of parimukham in the context of Buddhist Meditation?
This seems to have different interpretation and translations? What are the different interpretations and translations ...
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Reference request for "the Buddha takes the Dhamma as his superior"
In what Pali sutta[s] does the Buddha says something approximately like,
Everyone needs someone better than them, who they can revere and who can guide them: who will be their teacher. But there is ...
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Difference between aggregates and clinging-aggregates?
What's the difference between the five aggregates and the five clinging-aggregates?
For e.g. is the aggregate of form referring to the physical body, but the clinging-aggregate of form is a tainted ...
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Tripitaka Section Numbering
Does anyone have a comprehensive side by side reference to Suttas numbering from different edition (PTS, VRI, etc.) of the Tripitaka?
I have trouble with reconciliation of certain references to the ...
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What is world (loka) in SN 12.44? Why is it called "world"?
What is world (loka) in the context of SN 12.44?
Why is it called "world"?
Is it related to "The All" (SN 35.23)?
“And what, bhikkhus, is the origin of the world? In dependence on ...
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Does MN9 imply a cyclic causation? How does it work?
The Nanamoli and Bodhi translation of MN9 states in 2 excerpts:
With the arising of the taints there is the arising of ignorance. With
the cessation of the taints there is the cessation of ...
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Where is the Buddha quoted as saying do not believe anything I say until you can prove it by yourself?
If I remember rightly the Buddha is quoted as saying something along the lines of:
Do not believe anything I say until you can prove it by yourself
In what text(s) of the Buddhist cannon is this ...
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Why are these called "The All"?
Based on the sutta quote below:
Why are these called "The All": the eye & forms, ear & sounds, nose & aromas, tongue & flavors, body & tactile sensations, intellect & ideas?
...
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Beginner's Buddhist Course Syllabus By Ancient Pali Canon (Ganthadhura And Vipassanādhura)
How to learn dhamma as Māhāvihāra Theravāda Buddhists?
How Māhāvihāra Theravāda Buddhists learn kammaṭhāna and dhamma for over 2600 years?
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Conventional versus Ultimate
People sometimes qualify their statements, by adding the word, "conventionally" — and people distinguish between Conventional Truth (Sammuti Sacca) versus Ultimate Truth (Paramattha Sacca).
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Which suttas in the Pali canon are relatively early or late?
Do people (monks and/or scholars) have a sense of how old (or relatively old) each sutta is in the Pali canon: i.e. which suttas are considered "earlier" or "later"?
If not for individual suttas, how ...
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How is the Pali Phase "Sabbakayapatisamvedi Assasissami... passasissamiti sikkhati..." Interpreted as per Different Linage?
What is the interpretation of the Pali phrase "Sabbakayapatisamvedi Assasissami... passasissamiti sikkhati..." this seems to be interpreted differently by different lineages. What are the different ...
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Ignorance and the root of suffering?
Searching the Pali Canon for the "root of suffering", we find the direct definition only occurs in a few suttas:
delight is the root of suffering (MN1)
attachment is the root of suffering (MN105, ...
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How do I practice ' see things as they are'?
Further to the answers to this question, I want to understand what literally is 'see things as they are' or as the sutta states, Yathā-bhūta-ñāna-dassana.
My questions are,
I understand that if I ...
user13135
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Does "abhinibbatti" mean "reincarnation" in the Pali suttas?
The new Sutta Central translations have translated the Pali word "abhinibbatti" as "reincarnation", as follows:
And what is rebirth? Katamā ca, bhikkhave, jāti?
The rebirth, inception, ...
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Is there a compassion only Buddhist path?
In a recent version of the Buddhist Geeks podcast Rick Hanson said that recent academic research is showing that in the Pali Canon there were teachings indicating that compassion is enough to progress ...
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Did the Buddha have intention (cetana)?
After attaining Nibbana, did the Buddha still have intention (cetanā)?
In SN 12.2, intention is part of name in name-and-form. In SN 12.38 (quoted below), it sounds like intention is removed in an ...
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The fourth path to attaining arahantship
From the Yuganaddha Sutta, there are four paths described:
Development of insight preceded by development of tranquility
Development of tranquility preceded by development of insight
Tranquility ...
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Can you explain "nirvana"?
Can anybody explain to me about "nibbana" and how it is different form "nirvana"?
Are there views about it and ways to get to it?
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What are 'suttas of indirect meaning' in the Pali canon?
This subsection of Wikipedia's Two Truths article says that the "two truths" distinction is not made in the suttas, but that there are some "suttas of indirect meaning".
Two ...
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In what order should I read the various Buddhist scriptures?
Well, first of all, I don't consider myself a strict Buddhist, but I want to study Buddhism -- both Theravada and Mahayana -- for educational and spiritual purposes. I am very excited with scientific ...
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Nimitta - sutta references
Please provide references from the Pali suttas on nimitta.
Are they mentioned in the context of jhana?
In the article below, it is mentioned that nimitta is found in the Anapanasati Sutta, but I ...
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asubha practice
why is it mentioned in the pali canon that Without the direct guidance of a teacher, this practice can be dangerous, as the canon of Buddhist literature includes a story of the Buddha teaching this ...
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Where is the story of the non-returner who "sold" pots on the side of the road?
I'm trying to find a specific story in the Pali canon (or commentaries, probably), where an anagami who looks after his mother makes a living by firing pots and putting them out by the side of the ...
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Are there examples of the Buddha showing humour in the Pali Canon?
Leading on from this question - are there any examples of the Buddha showing a sense of humour or a certain lightness in his teachings within the Pali Canon? I was once told that it is possible to ...
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Which are considered to be the oldest suttas?
Though I've seen dating of mahayana suttas here and there in passing with some analysis, I understand the pali canon has suttas of many ages. For example, one collection I've often heard to contain ...
user382
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Which early canonical references help one find a skillful teacher?
There is a similar question from the Vajrayāna stand-point in which I gave an answer that was partially off-topic since it wasn't from that tradition's texts. So I thought it could be useful for ...
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What is difference (Vedic) Consciousness versus Pali Text terms "Deathless", "Awakened Awareness"?
Would you kindly give your input on these Pali text quotes and comments?
They are derived from "Questions on the Five Skhandas", specifically Dhammadhatu's answer regarding the common reference "...
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Don't teach Dhamma to those who can't appreciate it or aren't interested
I read in an answer that AN 9.5 states:
The best sort of kindly speech is to teach the Dhamma again and again
to someone who is engaged and who lends an ear.
However, is there an opposite quote ...
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Comparing Chinese Agama the ? Bundles of Reeds Simile with Pali Nalakalapiyo Sutta
In commenting a post, I have just been introduced to the "two bundles of reeds leaning up against each other" Sutta. The comments have just been moved to chat and I hope it would be kept for awhile ...
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Did the Buddha try to effect social change?
This month is Buddhist Action Month in the UK when we try to be a bit more socially engaged. To quote from the website
Despite Buddhism's reputation for stillness and withdrawal from the
world, ...
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How does one calm one's bodily fabrications?
I personally start looking at the speed of the breath and then it slows down. In the Tripitaka are there recommended methods to accomplish this? What do different teachers and commentaries say about ...
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Different Reasons of Dhamma's Decline
In many suttas the Buddha stated different reasons for the decline of the Dhamma. Why and how it happens. The different causes. Can I have the references of those suttas?
-Metta
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What are timeframe were pali canons, included commentaries, done, especially Mahavihara-Theravada?
My conclusion from tipitaka and commentaries:
Most of Tipitaka canons and commentaries, except Kathāvatthu the forth of abhidhamma, began before 1st saṅgāyanā, but catagorize at 1st saṅgāyanā (see: ...
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What is the meaning of uppajjati versus upapajjati?
In the Pali there are two terms, which are (generally) used contextually in two different ways:
uppajjati (and its past particle uppanna)
upapajjati (and its past particle upapanna)
What do these ...
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Have Arahants have eliminated all Sankhara?
I read on the internet:
Arahants have eliminated all Sankhara. So there is no need for
accumulation of memory.
Have Arahants really eliminated all Sankhara?
Please answer with Pali sutta ...
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Specific sutta in the Tipitaka: Where did the Buddha compare leaves in the forest to his knowledge?
I'm trying to find the sutta in where the Buddha is walking through a forest with his disciples. He then picks up a handful of leaves and says that what he teach is comparable to the leaves in his ...
user2424
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Suffering due to non-self-related preconceived notions in Theravada
According to this answer:
However, there is another type of suffering that cannot be fixed with
anatta! This type of suffering comes from attachment to forms other
than oneself, forms that have ...
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Is causation (hetu) in SN 22.82 different to conditions (paccaya) in Dependent Origination?
SN 22.82 and MN 109 state:
The four great elements, bhikkhu, are the cause (hetu) and condition (paccayo) for the manifestation (paññāpanāya) of the form (rupa) aggregate.
Contact is the cause ...
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Did the Buddha speak Pali? Are the suttas his word verbatim?
Was Pali the language spoken during the time of the Buddha, and would he have spoken this language?
Are the suttas contained in the Pali Canon verbatim what the Buddha said, or would things have been ...
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Overcoming distractions in meditation as per the Tripitaka?
According to the Tripitaka how do you overcome distractions in meditation. Distractions can be including but not limited to:
Wondering mind
Pains
Hindrances
Defilements arising in the mind
etc.
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What is the best translation of Anatta into English?
Is the best translation of Anatta "non-self" or "there is nothing that you can take as me, mine, self or non-changing everlasting controllable part which can be identified as me, mine or everlasting ...
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How should the terms 'kaya, vaci & citta sankhara' be translated?
In MN 44 is found an explanation of the terms 'kaya, vaci & citta sankhara' (which are terms also found in Anapanasati steps 4, 7 & 8 and in the 2nd nidana of Dependent Origination).
Bhikkhu ...
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How is possible that monks memorised 10.000 sutras?
According to Wikipedia, in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali canon there are 10.000 sutras.
According to tradition, Ananda recited by heart all 10.000 sutras after the death of Gautama and they have been ...
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Why island and not light?
There are some phrases in the suttas where it is said "be your own island".
The word for "island" is "dvipa" in Sanskrit, meanwhile "dipa" means "light" or "lamp" in Sanskrit. However, in Pali, "dipa"...
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