Questions tagged [personal-practice]
Questions containing or motivated by some aspect of personal experience. The experience can be during formal Buddhist practice or during everyday activity however the experience will be related to Buddhist practice or doctrine. The questions will necessarily have a subjective quality however the question or answers will contain references to Buddhist scripture, doctrine or an established teacher.
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Appamāda - What is it? How to practise it? Benefits?
In this video, Ven. Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu says that the whole of the Buddhist teachings could be summarized as Appamāda (heedfulness), at the risk of oversimplification.
In the Mahaparinibbana Sutta (...
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What is the basis?
I was reading this comment which included ...
I guess I'm perhaps not entirely aware of what the basic problem which affects me is. I feel that in many ways, I'm either backwards or not fully ...
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Should a person never lie?
If someone would hide from the Nazis and then the Nazis came and asked me if I'm hiding a Jew - should I say "yes" or "no"?
When is it ok to lie?
- 1,470
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What should you do when someone teaches false Dharma?
I was part of a religious group that claimed to be everything that the Buddha teaches. But, when you listen to their teachings, you can tell discrepancies between their teachings and Buddhist ...
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Expaining The Holocaust & karma to a non-Buddhist
How can you explain karma in the genocide of babies and "innocents" (For example: The Holocaust) in Buddhist terms to a non-Buddhist, without seeming cold and uncaring? Yesterday, I tried--by saying, "...
- 171
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How to find the right Dhamma teacher
The practice of Buddhism, as with any other spiritual development, largely relies on the guidance of a good master. With the large variety of traditions and practices out there, how should one go ...
- 347
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Celibacy - why not?
In Buddhist forums where I had asked this question, there are always "advanced" practitioners who say that there is no benefit for a lay person to be celibate. So every time i read that, I stop trying ...
- 1,470
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Aversion and Mahayana
I think Andrei might have commented once that the suttas are mostly about (liberation from) lobha (including craving and attachment) as a problem, and Mahayana is about dosa.
That's probably an ...
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"Guard the sense doors"- What does this mean, and what is it's application?
What does it mean to "guard the sense doors"? What is the practical application of this concept in daily life? For example, does this concept mean that a heterosexual male should entirely avoid ...
- 2,673
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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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Any advice on leg numbing during sitting?
It happens at about 20 minutes every time lately... either in half lotus (a traditional position that I would like to honor), or with one leg laying in front of the other, or Indian style... doesn't ...
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Overwhelming thoughts - Mindfulness and awareness
So I have read and know something about awareness and doing regular tasks with attention and focus. But recently there has been chaos with my job and cause for consternation. Thoughts keep arising ...
- 2,242
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That "Electric Feel" body sensation during meditation
Meditation skill level: greater than beginner, less than adept.
Before I can get to the Electric Feel, we need to come to a mutual understanding on how I get there.
I have a specific technique to my ...
- 539
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Trouble understanding "sensual misconduct"
Is this phrase analogous to over-indulgence in sense pleasures, or is indulgence in any sense pleasure at any level considered a form of misconduct? Thankya
- 2,673
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Lust arises every time I am alone
Similarly as this question When I started vipassana with my room mate and we both meditate peacefully, but now he left and I am alone, I have noticed lust in mind that it goes less me to wrong ...
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What is the Antidote for a Hateful Temperament?
What kind of practices can one do to neutralise a hateful temperament?
Can i please have specific techniques.Thank you.
Edit:
By temperament i mean a character or habit.
- 3,142
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Permission of your parents in your renunciation
I have thought about this since a long time, and now I am ready for renunciation, accept teachings and practise Buddhism in a monastery. I told my parents about these future plans. They said they were ...
user12713
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Why is sniffing a flower considered to be stealing?
According to the Gandhatthena Sutta (SN 9.14), a monk sniffing a flower in the wilderness, that was not given to him, is considered stealing, even if it's only a hair-tip's worth of evil.
Why is ...
- 37.5k
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What is the minimum amount of time needed for a productive meditation sit?
This question leads on from the comments on this post
What is the minimum amount of time that one could productively sit in meditation? For instance if I only had five minutes to sit should I do it ...
- 21.1k
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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 ...
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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 ...
- 37.5k
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Can Metta make you likable?
I think somebody asked a similar question earlier and understand that this will likely be closed but hope not.
Was wondering can practicing of Metta make you likeable? Or rather more approachable? ...
- 539
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What does the Abhidhamma say about impermanence?
I understand the state of changing (impermanence) mentioned in Buddhism, but I have also heard that another more complex version (of the doctrine of impermanence) exists in the Abhidhamma.
I would ...
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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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Hungry ghosts and food offerings to the dead
One of the four lowest realms of the 31 planes of existence is the realm of the hungry ghosts or hungry shades or petas or pretas.
These cannot be souls or spirits, because in Buddhism, there is no ...
- 37.5k
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At what point do we arrest reification?
Further to my last question on reification, I want to know the specificity of the application.
Gathering from the answers;
...reifications are overcome by questioning them.
and
Start by watching ...
- 2,294
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Clenching teeth and pressing tongue against roof of mouth
This may sound similar to this question, but it's not the same.
This practice appears to be similar to the Khecari Mudra of Hindu yoga, but it's not the same, because the tongue need not be inserted ...
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Software programming/Art and Buddhist Practice - Pursuing creative activity
I have read this question but I'm seeking more advice.
So it is quite obvious in the activity of software programming that we cannot help but think about programming concepts and also end up creating ...
- 2,242
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Losing awareness
I have been dealing with negative mental states in my practice. When it gets overwhelming I lose my sense of mindfulness and get lost in the middle of all the noise and I guess I identify with it, ...
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Can following Buddhist practices help me in my studies?
I am a student and follow Buddhist ideas. Can Buddhist practices increase my capabilities to be a better student? More discipline? Clearer mind? What practices would be of the most benefit to achieve ...
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How to view people with metta and karuna?
There are definitions of metta and karuna here: What are metta and karuna?
There's a metta-bhavana meditation.
I'm wondering how to practice these socially, though, e.g. as a lay person when talking ...
- 47.1k
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Is there a conflict between dependent origination and right effort?
My current understanding of dependent origination is that things cause other things to arise and cease and ultimately it a big interconnected web of influences. If that's reasonably correct (on a ...
- 21.1k
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Going from a waking state into the dream state while being conscious
I just listened to a audio dhamma talk by Ajahn Punnadhammo. Its called "Stop thinking" and can be found here.
In the last 5 minutes of the talk Ajahn Punnadhammo mentions some good exercises for ...
user2424
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Is this progress in meditation?
Sometimes during meditation (Vipassana), I've noticed how the mind tends to get back to breathing by itself, without effort. Can I consider this a progress in meditation? I know that it would be a ...
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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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Selfless charity to poor and needy
Is selfless charity to the non-monastic poor and needy, recommended for Buddhists as part of their practice?
How do the different Buddhist traditions differ from each other on this topic?
Quotes ...
- 37.5k
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Breath getting shorter and shorter
Practice : Meditation using breath
I'm practicing sitting meditation using breath according to Thai Forest Tradition method.
Mentally reciting of "Buddho" .
I practice at home so would like to get ...
- 1,207
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Why the view "I am the owner of my karma" not contradict anatta?
Why did the Buddha advise lay people and monks to think, "I am the owner of my kamma, the heir of my kamma; I have kamma as my origin, kamma as my relative, kamma as my resort; I will be the heir of ...
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How to be mindful while doing routine activites like walking on a street known for years?
I started observing nature as I walked by the street which I take daily to get out of colony.
Problem is that I have already observed it throughly. There isn't anything that I haven't observed. Brain ...
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Vanna-maccharia, stinginess in regard to one's reputations: What to practice in order to get rid of it?
Vaṇṇā-maccharia, stinginess in regard to one's honor, reputation, not't letting make others use it, envy to lose it, is one of the five kinds of maccharia, based on ingratitude, wrong view, and a ...
user11235
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How to deal with people and handle rude language?
How should one properly handle cases in which people use a rude language and indulge in idle talk or gossip, according to the Buddhist teachings?
How to speak or act with a pure thought when people ...
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How to deal with bad past karma that makes my current life miserable?
Before I practice Buddhism,I've made mistakes and hurt other. Sometimes I thought what happen to me now is the effect of what I did.
I try to keep doing positive things but sometimes I could not ...
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Can you attain stream entry without meditation?
Venerable sir,
Lately I have been wondering if there is a proper technique that can be used in order to attain stream entry rather than meditating. I have a few experiences with loving kindness ...
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Where does morality come from in Buddhism?
I have a hypothetical question.
Let's say I don't believe in karma, reincarnation, or any deities of any sort. I also saw in some texts and videos that, to achieve higher awareness, I should not ...
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Why is Metta Practice so Hard?
I find it very difficult to practice metta. I feel completely agitated when I sit to do metta even for a short period of time.is this normal? First I can't feel any metta being generated and I feel ...
- 3,142
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Working with cycles in meditation
Over the course of my meditation practice I experience pronounced cycles or ebbs and flows. This has been a feature of my practice for several years now and doesn't seem to be lessening - if anything ...
- 21.1k
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A question about sitting, movement and mindfulness
I have had bad posture for most of my life. I find that if I do not sit quite straight during sitting meditation, my body leans forward putting weight on my legs which becomes quite painful. However, ...
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What is the benefit of staying with one method, lineage or Dharma tradition?
I've been thinking around this recently ... we are privileged as a generation to have access to so much information - contemplative methods, traditions, teachers, books etc. How does this inform our ...
- 1,830
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Does samatha practice always come before vipassana practice?
In my tradition (Triratna) there is a big emphasis of a lot of samatha practice before any vipassana practice. This has always made sense to me. However is this universal in all Buddhist schools? Are ...
- 21.1k
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How to change myself?
It seems that no matter how much I meditate, practice mindfulness, read dhamma books and attempt to follow the 8fold path etc it only takes one little thing to happen and I just instantly revert to ...
- 2,750