Questions tagged [sila]

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9 votes
7 answers
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Does hosting guests at home with meat and alcohol (because they are fond of it) amount to aiding the guests break their Sila?

I'm a strict vegetarian and non-alcoholic. But all my friends are non-vegetarians and alcohol consumers. So, when I host a party at my place, it becomes obligatory of me to host them with alcohol and ...
kilocharlie's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is there any mention of child adoption in any Buddhist writings and what is the view on child adoption with regard to Buddhism?

Being married, I have of late been coming across the dilemma of whether to have a child or not and if yes, if a biological child or not (which by itself may be another question which I may ask ...
kilocharlie's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
241 views

Is there a Connection between Sila and Fear?

Is there a connection between Sila and fear? I find fear to be the main reason I practice sila. I would like to practice Sila out of loving kindness and a compassionate heart but I'm more worried ...
Orion's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
1k views

How does one Practice Sila?

There are many techniques to practice meditation but how exactly do you practice Sila? Are there any methods or techniques mentioned in the Suttas or by Buddhist Teachers to practice Sila. Exactly ...
Orion's user avatar
  • 3,112
6 votes
3 answers
224 views

how to eradicate past smaskaras

A monastery nearby my house, where I was about to be ordained and venture into the world of which I have been waiting so long, has now denied me ordination due to my bad habits of reading erotic ...
user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
350 views

Teachings regarding Veneration/Respect (as one of the traditional 10 meritorious deeds)

Feel invited or maybe even inspired to share any teachings regarding "Apacāyana" (Respect or Veneration). It is one of the less taught, but very basic and fundamental, meritorious deeds. Teachings ...
user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
298 views

Is intention and purpose the same?

Given that there are 'intentions' (cetanā) which lead (if they're not neutral) to either wholesome fruits or unwholesome fruits -- then is the same also true for 'purpose' (sankappa), i.e.: Are there ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
348 views

Is camsex a sin

I'd like to know if masturbating with his/her boyfriend/girlfriend, during a sex cam session for example, is a sin ? Is showing one's private parts to his/her bf/gf is a sin? Does it take part in ...
Concerned's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
75 views

How to get someone to the good path who is not leading a good way of life?

If i want to get someone to the good path, who is not leading a good way of life, what should I do and where should I begin? Many of my friends do not have much understanding of life and they often ...
Theravada's user avatar
  • 3,953
3 votes
6 answers
312 views

Generosity in Buddhism - When does giving become unwholesome?

Buddha said that generosity is essential for enlightenment. O monks, if people knew, as I know, the results of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would they allow the ...
user68706's user avatar
  • 521
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Can Buddha be insulted by disrespect? [closed]

I found a video about Leshan Giant Buddha and was watching it with my family. In that video some workers were cleaning the statue's head while walking on it (it is a giant statue) - and my family ...
Swapnil's user avatar
  • 2,174
3 votes
2 answers
66 views

Does the first precept require me to check the shower for bugs and make sure to remove all of the bugs before using it?

I recently noticed that perhaps fewer than 10 bugs seem to be in my shower. I can try to remove all of the bugs from the shower before using it so that they don’t get washed away and killed. However,...
user1920468's user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
1k views

Threefold division of noble eightfold path

Right view is the first step in noble eight-fold path as mentioned in many answers here. Right view Right resolve Right speech Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right ...
Damith's user avatar
  • 1,231
3 votes
5 answers
92 views

How observance of the 5 Precepts is done?

As I know one says the 5 propositions and then goes about his day. Or are the precepts also pegs for mindfulness? Keeping them constantly in mind?
user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
467 views

What is the origin of the Five Enobling Virtues?

"The practice of precepts helps one to cultivate five ennobling virtues which correspond to each of the precepts. The first is the cultivation of compassion; the second, generosity and non-attachment; ...
Adrian Hale's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
370 views

Right time, Right time! But what is the right time to speak?

Failue, disappeared, they say: "Right time, right time. It wasn't the proper time!", but: What's the right time to ask? What's the right time to advise? What's the right time to speak? What's the ...
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
60 views

Should we use honorifics when referring to monks?

First of all "Sadhu!" and much reason that reaches to good grow, but as just a meta-topic what's actually the primary base, good to give occassion to raise not only awareness for good grow ...
user24218's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
143 views

Is lazyness a killer?

If so, in how far is it a killer, a quality that harms? How does it arises, when arising? How does it vanish? [Note that this isn't given/asked for trade, exchange, stakes or other layziness ...
user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
2k views

What are the benefits of practicing Sila?

I need incentive; what's in it for me? Also please don't answer with there's no self or I or me to get incentive, its just that I'm not enlightened yet. This is a selfish question but I need to know ...
Orion's user avatar
  • 3,112
2 votes
2 answers
937 views

What is the Karmic Effect of Harsh Speech?

What are the karmic fruits/consequences of speaking harshly to others?
Akasha's user avatar
  • 171
2 votes
4 answers
2k views

Sexual misconduct, what is it

What is it? Is sex just for pleasure with your partner breaking a precept? Eg with a condom. And is being circumcised bad over personal preferences/ (hygiene,aesthetic)? is oral and anal sex bad? Is ...
Xxx's user avatar
  • 29
2 votes
3 answers
191 views

Killing and planing to kill

As to Buddhism killing is wrong and planning such things is also wrong. So what is the difference between the Karma of a person who killed someone and a person who only planned but never killed.
Theravada's user avatar
  • 3,953
2 votes
5 answers
230 views

What's the role of "blameless" in the Dhamma?

The word "blameless" is often used in suttas: https://www.google.com/search?q=blameless%20site%3Aaccesstoinsight.org AN 4.62 suggests it's highly good: Seeing clearly — the wise one — he ...
ChrisW's user avatar
  • 46.3k
2 votes
7 answers
176 views

How does practicing restraint and performing actions of merit purify the mind?

I just don't understand how morally good actions, can reliably change the state of mind positively over time, in the case where the mind state is negative. For example, let's say there was a ...
Tom's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
2 answers
120 views

Buddhist ethics & hydroponics: ethical issues?

AFAIK, in Theravada, ordained monastics are prohibited from growing their own food. Even hydroponics would likely be prohibited by vināya due to probability of harming small unseen life (algae, etc) ...
Metta2All's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
211 views

Is there a connection between Guilt and Fear?

This is something a friend brought to my attention, something that he noticed in himself. He said he didn't start feeling guilt unless he was afraid of something. Is fear the cause of guilt? If not, ...
john's user avatar
  • 53
2 votes
3 answers
336 views

Upostha Sila in normal daily life

I'm thinking of taking the upostha sila for 7 days targeting for a Pooja. And I am employed in a software engineering company so I'll be working for 5 days out of 7. Can you give me any advices on ...
Akila Hettiarachchi's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
131 views

Where in the Tripitaka completion of the formation of Karmic result is mentioned?

For Karma to be complete a certain set of conditions need to be present. What are the Suttas / Abhi Dhamma in this these sets of conditions presented in? Do Suttas / Abhi Dhamma mention what happens ...
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
67 views

Meaning in pancasila benefit

I am a Buddhist from Thailand. I have a question about pali meaning. In ceremony, we swore to follow the five rules of pancasila. Monk told us what pancasila consist of. Then monk said in pali; Imani ...
M lab's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
3 answers
141 views

Is this considered wrong? (Related to art)

I have a question. I like to draw, and recently think of selling my art (commisssion). But I mainly draw fanart (fanart of celebrities, movie characters, etc). My question is, in Buddhism, is selling ...
iyi lau's user avatar
  • 137
2 votes
3 answers
219 views

How to handle aversion that derives from perceiving arrogance?

Ven. and good Buddha-Parisata, touched, and who ever interested and willing to give into the matter to get it minded, Who doesn't know the case where another is perceived as arrogant, either because ...
user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
320 views

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 ...
ChrisW's user avatar
  • 46.3k
2 votes
4 answers
111 views

Silabatta Parāmāsa

What does this fetter really refer to? Is it clinging to rites & rituals and thinking that these practises by their own can lead to liberation OR does it refer to clinging to precepts? If it is ...
Val's user avatar
  • 2,560
2 votes
4 answers
169 views

Any praise of shred-paramis by the Sublime Budddha?

What does one know or think: Is there any praise of shred-parami (perfections in appearing modest) by the Sublime Buddha, such as in out-fit, outwardly appearing, using of such stuff, and if why? If ...
user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
210 views

what is difference between na-nimittaggāhī and animitta?

Indriyasaṁvara is part of sīlakkhandha. there you see this Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṃ disvā na-nimittaggāhī hoti nānubyañjanaggāhī. whereas animitta cetosamādhi is part of highest ...
enRaiser's user avatar
  • 766
1 vote
4 answers
198 views

Translation of Akkosa Sutta: Insult - ."He who repays an angry man in kind Is worse than the angry man"

Listed below are three translations of Akkosa Sutta provided in access to in access to insight Which translation has the correct meaning? The third translation is not far from the common ethics i.e., ...
Epic's user avatar
  • 13
1 vote
1 answer
264 views

Is it unethical in the Buddhist view to attend work ill?

You know, and increase risk of others getting the illness and such?
hellyale's user avatar
  • 2,527
1 vote
3 answers
54 views

Selling and use Dhamma as advertising

It's very common in South East Asia today that business people try to socialize with potential customers by appearing or pretending as Dhamma-teacher or Dhamma-friend. Most meetings around the Gems ...
user24159's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
124 views

Is "doing according to one's best understanding" a protection from wrong-doing?

A common belief is that, if one conducts himself "as best he can" (in the best ways he understands and knows), then would be a protection from -- or an excuse for -- wrong-doing. For example, "I ...
user avatar
1 vote
8 answers
206 views

Personal relationships and properly ending them

Upasaka Karl mentioned in an answer: Relationships have a beginning. And because they have a beginning, they also have an end. Thoughtless endings, ghosting and worse, hurt both parties. It is sad to ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
137 views

Is it proper to teach Dhamma to someone wearing a hat?

or when wearing one oneself? (The question might be worthy to copy also in your meta-section... for possible increase of general respect toward the Gems and enviroment for providing such, since else ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
110 views

Sila & (Non)Remorse AN 10.1

Suppose a person does certain acts that are not in line with the precepts but he does not feel remorse because it seems to the person as an trifling act, for example taking something from his/her ...
Val's user avatar
  • 2,560
1 vote
2 answers
222 views

Sammasam Buddha's Sila, was it the best Sila?

Buddha said Sariputra "My Sila is the best/incomparable". But people at the time of Buddha donated flowers, perfumes and jewelries to Buddha (Need citations in Pali Canon and Pitaka). The monk/num's ...
Francesco's user avatar
  • 1,119
1 vote
1 answer
135 views

Help me with a paradox

One Day i was thinking about the "Thrikoti parishuddha sila" (The ultimate version of five precepts) Let me give an example how this version works.... You can't kill You can't aid killing You can't ...
Theravada's user avatar
  • 3,953
1 vote
1 answer
51 views

It's ok to grow, harvest and consume vegetables and fruits, because they are not sentient?

A teaching householder here adviced: "It's ok to grow, harvest and consume vegetables and fruits, because they are not sentient." ("ok" here was to be assumed of having no negative ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
459 views

The meaning of silabbata-paramasa and freedom from this fetter?

Since often very curious ideas and means of excuses appear around the arguing with the means of "that's a fetter", my person thought it would be good if someone would have the skills and ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
60 views

Is there any skillful use of using 'we' in addressing certain opinion?

As possible also observed, when teaching, the address of ones position by 'we' is hardly found in the teaching of the Buddha and his disciples. It seems that this often used way of using 'we' in ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
59 views

What's the role of mother-day in regard of a blessed life?

Being broad celebrated mothers-day today, my person thought to give this question space so that many might share reflections on it and pissible give others good inspirations: What role does a day ...
user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
128 views

Should/Would the Noble Sangha let go of the Dhamma?

Supposed that respect, veneration and any kind of wisdom has gone missing; and that the Sangha has become a group of householder wearing robes; and the leaders of the Sasana are all but householders. ...
Samana Johann's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
67 views

Spiritual & 'Worldly' Pleasures

If the mind experiences more and more happiness, calmness and all the other positive emotions due to virtue and meditation, does the mind then by itself slowly (!) withdraw from sensual pleasures? ...
Val's user avatar
  • 2,560