Questions tagged [philosophy]

The study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind and language. It can also be a theory or attitude that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour.

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2 answers
87 views

Killing a parent and killing a foster parent

We all know what happens if someone kill a parent but does the same apply to killing a foster parent
9 votes
8 answers
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How does Buddhism describe God?

I've encountered many ideas about the identity of God, ranging from the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent as in Judeo-Christian cultures, to that of one who has reached enlightenment. Is it ...
2 votes
5 answers
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How does one reconcile anatta with locus-of-control?

Specifically, I mean this meaning of locus-of-control The way I see it, if one doesn't have a strong internal locus of control, it becomes very hard to go through daily life, since you keep ...
3 votes
4 answers
722 views

What are the traditional Buddhist arguments for rebirth?

According to Buddhist philosophy, there are two Pramanas or means of valid knowledge: Pratyaksha or sensory perception and Anumana or inference. (This is in contrast to most Hindus who believe in ...
1 vote
3 answers
197 views

Which category from the Kalama Sutta does "relying on common sense" fall under

I was reflecting on a craving I had for something addictive tonight while going to bed, and realized, "My notion of having 'just a little bit' of this addiction is just my relying on common sense....
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5 answers
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Is nonduality a philosophical claim or a mindset?

In the meditation community it is often claimed that "everything is one", that "we are all the same Spirit", that "there is no separation". (Among other things, the book ...
1 vote
7 answers
290 views

Does Buddhism discourage the pursuit of Science and Philosophy?

Whenever I have read any book or article on Buddhism, one of the biggest takeaways of Buddhism seems to be its indifference to pursuit of 'Metaphysical' questions like origin of the Universe (which in ...
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1 answer
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How should I take the concept of the following sentence?

In this following context, how should I take the bold and italic sentence? Should I take it as: 'it is no longer known more important than all.'? Should I take its concept meaning as: 'the matter is ...
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3 answers
157 views

Is Buddhism a kind of truth seeking mental device?

It has been my experience that Buddhism has set me from blind obedience when it comes to religious rules. I was free to think what was good spiritually and no one can tell me otherwise. Is this what ...
1 vote
7 answers
126 views

How should I take the concept of 'non-entity'?

In this following context, how should I assume the concept of 'a perfect non-entity' Is it 'non-consciousness' or 'non-existence' or 'non- perception' or 'non- ego'? I think it refers to 'non-...
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1 answer
120 views

If you are reborn into a different realm, does that mean you just live in that realm, or you are reborn as the inhabitants?

When Buddhist texts mention "realms of rebirth", it sounds like you are only living in those realms and not actually becoming one of the inhabitants. Like for example being reborn into the ...
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1 answer
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How does the doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda interact with Dhammapala's interpretation of nibbana?

The doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda states that: all dharmas (phenomena) arise in dependence upon other dharmas: "if this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist&...
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2 answers
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Did Buddha acknowledge "reductio ad absurdum" argumentation & other apriori forms of reasoning in Buddhist logico-episteomology (looking for sources)?

It is well known that many Buddhist philosophers and scholars of various traditions, such as Nagarjuna and Chandrakirti rely on and acknowledge reductio ad absurdum as a method of positing arguments ...
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10 answers
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Why does one suffer because of ignorance if ignorance is unintentional?

It makes no sense that a person would knowingly choose to be ignorant of what causes them suffering, yet people suffer for "their" ignorance anyway. How is a person supposed to "freely/willingly ...
10 votes
5 answers
874 views

Paradox of the ego - our desire to improve vs Buddhism

There was a question on my mind lately, regarding ego. It is not paradox per se but I find it slightly paradoxical. Because people have such a strong ego, humanity has risen above the animal level. ...
4 votes
3 answers
175 views

Does Theravadin analysis distinguish between implicative and absolute negations?

In Beacon of Certainty (tr. Pettit), Mipham Rinpoche addresses key questions about how to practice based on Madhyamaka philosophy. The first question has to do with distinguishing absolute negation ...
3 votes
5 answers
217 views

Can we generalize paticca samuppada?

I came across this article by a long time contributor of this forum. In particular, the article mentioned a definition of paticca samuppada (PS) in Nyanatiloka's Buddhist Dictionary 'dependent ...
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1 answer
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Is Huayan, Chan, and Pure Land Buddhism the only sects that teach about multiverses?

The Avataṃsaka Sūtra describes a cosmos of infinite universes upon universes, mutually containing one another. I know this scripture is taught in Huayan, Chan, and Pure Land sects, but are there any ...
2 votes
5 answers
190 views

What are the cause(s) of a biased or sticky mind?

Over the years I observed in myself and others a tendency to get stuck (to be biased) in our views, thoughts and behaviour. This appears to be the result of cognitive biases in the mind resulting in ...
1 vote
2 answers
54 views

How should I take the concept of 'identical being'?

In this following context, how should I take the concepts of 'identical being' and 'identity in process'? Can the concept 'identical being' have 'unchanging entity'? Would you give any idea about this ...
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5 answers
230 views

How closely aligned are Buddhist ethics and Nietzschean values?

How closely aligned are Buddhist ethics and Nietzschean values? I know a little about both, and may even have read a comparative study (some time ago). Was hoping to harmonise them via 'karma': the ...
1 vote
2 answers
140 views

what are the characteristics of tathā?

can tathā be described as “thing-in-itself”? how about “natural state”? properly, thing-in-itself, is a Kantian invention that denotes objective existence. is tathā a buddhist goal? is tathā ...
1 vote
2 answers
96 views

Converting knowledge into wisdom

This question arises from a recent post. There is a related question on the difference between knowledge and wisdom but this is more on how wisdom (insights) can arise from knowledge. The definition ...
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3 answers
143 views

what is the cause for coincidence?

Is the world itself intelligent? They say everything happens for a reason. Coincidences are prevalent. Is nothing private? The world seems godless but there are all these hints. Perhaps the human ...
5 votes
3 answers
542 views

What is the meaning of 'compounded' & 'uncompounded'?

Some texts speak of 'compounded' phenomena etc. What does it mean for something to be 'compounded' or 'uncompounded'? For the former, does it just mean 'things that are composed of other things, ...
3 votes
9 answers
1k views

Do Buddhists think other religions are wrong?

I appreciate that religion can be many things but I want to consider the more soteriological aspects of religion. If we can take as a premise that religions including Buddhism have a strong concern ...
1 vote
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Buddhist deities that help transmute bad qualities into good ones

I remember reading many years ago about Buddhist deities who help their devotees transmute their bad qualities into good ones. In particular, I remember reading that one of the Buddhas (possibly the ...
2 votes
4 answers
109 views

Are hungry ghosts considered "alive" if they are one of the six options of rebirth?

Are hungry ghosts in Buddhism believed to be "alive" or at least "undead" since hungry ghost is one of the options of rebirth?
5 votes
12 answers
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Rejecting clinging to both pleasure and displeasure

I recently listened to a talk by Ajahn Chah, in which he mentions (@ ~14:20-14:53) that wisdom is found when one clings to neither pleasure nor displeasure. This really created a dilemma in my head ...
2 votes
8 answers
275 views

Rationalism and The spirit of inquiry

Is a logical questioning process of every thought(almost) a useful way to break through thought itself and possibly understand enlightenment? For eg:- What is this thought? What is the mind? And try ...
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2 answers
139 views

If you are reborn as a Deva, are you to interact with humans?

If I were to get a rebirth as a Deva, is it possible for me to interact with humans or my loved ones again? Would it be possible for me to help guide humans or is that forbidden?
2 votes
2 answers
202 views

Why does Buddhism use the word "realm" when describing one of the different races?

Why is this word used? It's very confusing and makes it sound like you are reborn into a world and not as a different race of being or a human again? Like saying "rebirth in the human realm" ...
2 votes
4 answers
199 views

Is it believed to be better to be reborn as a deva or as a human again? Which should I be trying to be reborn as?

Is being reborn as a deva or human better? Can you achieve nirvana if you are reborn as a deva as well as a human?
2 votes
1 answer
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Is “there is no such thing as a ‘thing’” a buddhist view?

On the Eleven-ThirtyEight blog, I found the following statement: [...] the Buddha would argue that there is no such thing as a ‘thing’ - that the concept of an independent, autonomous ‘thing’ is an ...
2 votes
3 answers
137 views

How to deal with mediocrity

I am mediocre at my job and I am fine with it. But lately, I am having this fear of losing my job because of my mediocrity and there are far more intelligent and skilled people than me. How do I deal ...
1 vote
3 answers
121 views

Criticism of atman and the vessel analogy

Some Indian Hindu philosophers (AFAIK from the Vaisheshika school) argued for the existence of atman like this: ideas, feelings, desires and knowledge need a vessel in which they are contained. And ...
3 votes
6 answers
284 views

What does Samsara mean to Buddhists? How is it meaningful?

The Buddhist way to see the Samsara, or the circle of life and death, is, according to my understanding: Innumerable causes and effects. Is this right? Is there a special meaning conferred by this, to ...
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3 answers
89 views

Is there a distinction made in any Buddhist texts between Religion and Philosophy?

In western philosophy the distinction primarily goes like this: Philosophy - The rational investigation of human reason. Religion - Similar but has its basis in faith rather than 'rationality'. What I ...
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4 answers
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How to calculate the number of years in a kalpa?

Wikipedia's Kalpa(aeon) in Buddhism article says, In another simple explanation, there are four different lengths of kalpas. A regular kalpa is approximately 16 million years long (16,798,000 years[...
6 votes
4 answers
298 views

What is the Noble Eightfold Path?

Where is the Noble Eightfold Path found in the Pali Canon? Are there significant differences among the traditions in its interpretation?
3 votes
7 answers
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How can the theory of emptiness be true and yet the self still transmigrates and takes rebirth?

The Theory of "Emptiness" is the concept that all phenomenon are empty of inherent existence. Something has the illusion of existence when the right causes and conditions arise. Example: there is no ...
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Did any East Asian scholars do any work on Buddhist logic and epistemology?

Did any Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese Buddhists write about Buddhist logic in the tradition of Vasubandhu, Dignaga, and Dharmakirti? What were their contributions to logic and epistemology?
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5 answers
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What is a "thought?" (Particularly in reference to thoughts that arise during meditation)

I've been reading/studying E F Shumacher's A Guide for the Perplexed, a philosophical book about the nature of knowledge and our capacity for understanding the world, especially in relation to "higher"...
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3 answers
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The invariant law of nature which forms the basis of Buddha's Dharma and existence of universe itself

I am rereading this answer and I am confused by the quote: when this exists - that exists. Arising of this leads to arising of that. When this doesn't exist - that doesn't exist. Cessation of this ...
5 votes
7 answers
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Buddhism and the middle path

I am battling with understanding the concept of the middle path. Having read the many articles available, the concept escapes me especially with a view of self and no-self. My understanding is that ...
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3 answers
200 views

Truth Table of Buddism/Four fold logic?

One thing that I find Buddhism fascinating is the "true contradictions", which says that there are statements that can be both true and false. I was googling and found Dialetheism and ...
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1 answer
196 views

Is buddhism trivialist?

"Trivialism is the theory that every proposition is true. A consequence of trivialism is that all statements, including all contradictions of the form "p and not p" (that something both ...
2 votes
5 answers
595 views

How would Buddhists reply to this paradox of enlightenment

(1) Enlightenment is inherently desirable (2) Self-Interested desires prevent us from attaining enlightenment (3) In order to attain enlightenment, one must train oneself to give up self-interested ...
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Do Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana teach any form of solipsism? [duplicate]

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/other-minds/#AnotHist Buddhism is sometimes compared to solipsism. Discussions on this topic can be found on the Internet. I do not understand why Buddhism is ...
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4 answers
813 views

Multiverse in Buddhism?

According to this answer: 31 Planes of existence coming together is one universe. There are infinite similar universes according to the Abhidhamma. This may be similar to multiverse but unlike in Sci ...

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