Questions tagged [secular-buddhism]
The secular-buddhism tag has no usage guidance.
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Is secular Buddhism a religion?
I would like to know if the secular buddhism could be considered a religion. I have started to study about it a while ago and I think it's make much sense to me, could I consider me a buddhist, even ...
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Are there stories in the suttas of people experiencing the fruits of their karma in their lifetimes?
In my reading of the suttas in the Pali canon, I've only found one story that's an example of someone experiencing the results of deeds committed in the life they are currently living, in that same ...
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The Buddha spoke to many individuals. Did the Buddha ever tell an individual who did not believe in rebirth, that they must in order to be liberated?
I have yet to read the entire Pali canon, but I've read a lot of it. It is a source I trust is fairly accurate. I'm still looking for an anecdote from the Buddha's life where he tells a non-believer ...
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Appo Deepo Bhava or Atta dīpo bhava | Which is the correct wording? [duplicate]
I was looking for some good Buddha Quote and I find this very interesting. ' Be light of yourself. But I found two versions of this in google as
Appo Deepo Bhava
Atta dīpo bhava
Which one is the ...
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Secular Buddhism and Suicide
I have a limited understanding of Buddhism, but let me first explain my perspective. More traditionally, Buddhism is concerned with achieving enlightenment and ending the rebirth process. From a more ...
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What is meant by "divorcing the view and the action" and why is it considered so dangerous?
In Chandrakirti’s Madhyamakavatara, there is a debate with the Charvakas (ancient materialists) about the existence or non-existence of past and future lives. In the commentary, Rinpoche compares and ...
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What reference to other powers are there in Buddhism?
Does Buddhism, other than Amidism, describe or explain entities like Amida, or any other "other power," or intra-psychic, in yer mind, other.
I did not mean to consider whether Buddhism is ...
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Parinibbāna in secular Buddhism
I take it that an important claim of secular Buddhism is that the Buddha never actually taught literal rebirth.
What happens during parinibbāna according to secular Buddhism? How is it different from ...
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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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Secular, Tradition or the pathway of the branches [closed]
We come to understand the groundwork of Buddhism, along with traditional beliefs/traditions based on what the mind may declare, what tradition may teach, what the sutra may declare. Beyond the ...
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Conflicting schools of thought
Trying to get useful and helpful information on this site is very difficult. Why do Buddhists have so many conflicting opinions? It's kind of ridiculous and just one more reason why I can never take ...
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Critique of interview with secular Buddhist author of "Why Buddhism is True"
I wonder what critique other self-identified Secular Buddhists on this forum would have of this new interview with self-proclaimed Secular Buddhist author Robert Wright.
What are the specific ...
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Books on Buddhism for Beginners [duplicate]
I'm just starting the study of Buddhism and I'm really interested in the whole philosophy of Buddhism. Can someone please suggest some books for beginners ? Thank you.
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If consciousness is a Reification, how does a Buddha attain the Truth?
'Reification' is making something real, bringing something into being or making something concrete.
The Pali suttas say about the relationship between consciousness and wisdom/enlightenment:
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Stephen Batchelor's current meditation practice
I recently saw a remark that implied that Stephen Batchelor no longer meditates or at least not very regularly.
If true, this seems important. Batchelor is prominent, even central, in the ...
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What would be the secular interpretation for the Assu Sutta and the Mata Sutta?
How would Secular Buddhists and other Buddhists who reject rebirth, interpret the following suttas, which describe:
An ocean of tears?
Everyone being someone we have know in the past?
From Assu ...
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Questions to deniers of traditional view on Rebirth
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If there's no rebirth, what happens after death of a non-arahant? Does a new life ensue dependent on the one which has just ended?
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Rebirth is tightly connected with kamma.
a) Do you observe ...
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Best advice to deniers of rebirth? [closed]
If you knew about a Dhamma practitioner who strongly believes in no reincarnation or post-mortem rebirth what would be your advice to him/her?
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Does DN2 and MN36 provide an irrefutable statement on the fact of rebirth?
Some Secular Buddhists and some members of Buddhism.SE do not accept that "Rebirth has always been a central teaching in the Buddhist tradition" (according to Thanissaro Bhikkhu in this essay). They ...
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Justifying the Four Noble Truths without rebirth [duplicate]
In the article entitled A Secular Evaluation of Rebirth, Doug Smith, of the Secular Buddhist Association, wrote:
It is for reasons such as these that any contemporary, scientifically
informed ...
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Does chanting have a practical and exclusive benefit?
Other chanting answers tend to explain tradition, but this question only concerns practicality.
Are the benefits of chanting exclusive, or can your practice easily be full and productive using other ...
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What would be a secular interpretation of animal rebirth
For people who don't believe in literal rebirth as animals,(secular or non) how would they describe the mental state associated with rebirth in the animal realm? E.g, if stress is associated with ...
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Are the four noble truths supposed to be applied to every type of anguish separately?
In the answer to another question user Dhammadhatu wrote that according to the Four Noble Truths
suffering is to be comprehended,
the origin of suffering is to be abandoned,
the cessation of ...
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Where can I get Buddha's teachings of the Dharma practice?
I've tried several Buddhist traditions (Zen, Diamond Way) and none of it really worked for me. So now I intend to give it another try, but in a way, which is tailored to my personality. This time I ...
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Are there communities of practicing secular Buddhists?
Religious groups are typically comprised of communities of practitioners who visit the temple/church a couple of times a week and practice together. Is this true of secular Buddhism? If so, Where ...
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What is the best introductory (but comprehensive) book on SECULAR Buddhism?
There is already a question on the best overall books, but many readers/newcomers may be put off (as I have been) by books that discuss for instance rebirth and karma in a literal sense.
So what is ...
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Secularized Buddhism
I've been reading some of Stephen Batchelor's ideas, and find them quite interesting. Does anyone have references to further reading of secularized Buddhist ideas and literature?
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What do secular Buddhists say about Nirvana?
What is 'secular Buddhism', and what does it say about Nirvana?
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Are there canonical texts for secular Buddhism?
Does secular Buddhism have a set of texts that are particularly relevant to it. I can imagine that there are texts that won't have any relevance to secular Buddhists such as the twin miracles. But are ...
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