Questions tagged [sutras]
A type of literary composition in of varying length. In Buddhism this mostly refers to canonical texts. Sutras is a Sanskrit term however the Pali term sutta is often used by certain traditions. The two terms are equivalent.
345
questions
0
votes
1
answer
19
views
Kalama Sutta only about Kilesas?
I found an explanation of Kalama Sutta in a website which is said to be from a Tipitaka teacher in Sri Lanka. Is Kalama Sutta only about Kilesas?
Kālāma sutta is only to be applied for Lobha-dosa-...
- 125
1
vote
2
answers
30
views
Why didn't the Buddha mention about the omniscience of "future of other beings", in suttas?
In many suttas, the Buddha affirms his omniscience about the past of all the beings.
Why didn't the Buddha say something about his omniscience about the future of all the beings, in suttas?
- 125
2
votes
1
answer
23
views
Can someone help me find where these suttas are from in the Tipitaka?
First text screenshot says MLD. 131. Where is that from?
Second text screenshot says M. 19. Where is that from?
Screenshots are taken from Ven. Dhammajivas book called Mahasi Insight Meditation.
- 280
1
vote
1
answer
31
views
Sutta request: One should be fed before being able to listen to a Dhamma talk
The following quote can be found at this link:
On the farmer's arrival the Buddha ordered that some food should be given him, and when the man was comforted and his mind was ready the Buddha preached ...
- 280
3
votes
1
answer
42
views
Find Sutta: eat first before hearing the teaching
Trying to find the Sutta where Buddha says for some person who has come to hear him teaching something like give him to eat first, and then he can hear my teaching. There was some setup I dont ...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
64
views
Is Krishna a demon?
I've read in several articles that the Lalitavistara identifies Krishna as leader of the "black demons" and is an enemy of the Buddha. I've only been able to check the 84000 translation from ...
- 323
1
vote
4
answers
78
views
Looking for a quote, sutta or teaching about suffering not decreasing with succedent stages of enlightenment
I have heard about this before from a video teaching I watched before but I honestly cannot remember from who or where.
The idea of the concept is that as one progresses upon the stages towards arhant ...
- 234
1
vote
2
answers
89
views
Is the Buddha advocating delighting in sensuality in SN 42.12?
There are a few questions I have about this Sutta (SN 42.12 Rasiya Sutta) based on the following passages:
They make themselves happy and pleased. This is the second ground for praise.
They don’t ...
2
votes
0
answers
36
views
Where is the sutra source of Buddha[s] (plural) existing and blessing peoples minds?
Tibetan/Mahayana Buddhists believe in such a thing, that somehow specific Buddhas exist....somewhere and emanate in forms in the world and are able to bless other peoples minds.
My question is where ...
- 234
1
vote
9
answers
228
views
What's the role of "conceit" in the Dhamma?
I read the following on the internet:
Some rules assume the conceit, "I am". Importantly, Buddhist rules do
not. For example, take the first three rules of MN8:
MN8:12.2: ‘Others will be ...
2
votes
5
answers
125
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 ...
- 43.6k
1
vote
1
answer
55
views
Where did the Buddha teach about the "flow of tears"?
Bhikkhu Sujato's translation of SN 15.3:
As we understand the Buddha’s teaching, the flow of tears we’ve shed
while roaming and transmigrating is more than the water in the four
oceans.
Where else ...
1
vote
3
answers
73
views
Why is Chapter 15 of the SN not 'Eternalism'?
Saṁyutta Nikāya (SN) 15.3 when translated by Ven. Sujato says:
Transmigration (samsara) has no known beginning. No first point is
found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, hindered by
...
0
votes
3
answers
81
views
Mercy killing (not assisted suicide) and the ramifications of the karmic action
Of course one of the 4 imponderables is the results of karma.
I am just asking if there is any sutta explanation on the effect of killing with malice compared to mercy killing?
Difference between ...
- 234
3
votes
1
answer
258
views
Looking for sutta about purification of fish, turtles, etc
Is there are sutta in which the Buddha says if bathing in Ganges River could purify beings; then the fish, turtles, crocodiles, etc, would be purified?
1
vote
2
answers
42
views
Which sutta(s) say that Rahula was the Buddha's son?
I have seen some suttas where the Buddha addressed Rahula. Are there suttas which explicitly state that Rahula was the Buddha's son, or does this come from the commentary?
- 178
0
votes
5
answers
117
views
Can a layperson/householder live the 'Holy Life'?
I read the following (here) on the internet:
Not able to take on the Jīva (stand/robe of the Arahats, eg. right view, leaving home), what should/can a house/stand-maintainer expect to validate holy ...
0
votes
3
answers
57
views
SN 12.35- why is there no living the holy life?
SN 12.35 says:
“Not a valid question,” the Blessed One replied. “Bhikkhu, whether one
says, ‘What now is aging-and-death, and for whom is there this
aging-and-death?’ or whether one says, ‘Aging-and-...
-2
votes
3
answers
66
views
SN 12.35: why do both phrases have the same meaning?
SN 12.35 says:
“Not a valid question,” the Blessed One replied. “Bhikkhu, whether one
says, ‘What now is aging-and-death, and for whom is there this
aging-and-death?’ or whether one says, ‘Aging-and-...
0
votes
4
answers
61
views
Why is "jīva" translated as "soul"?
SN 12.35 is translated by Bhikkhus Sujato, Bodhi & Thanissaro as follows:
Mendicant, if you have the view that the soul and the body are the same thing, there is no living of the spiritual life.
...
1
vote
3
answers
89
views
What is MN 116 ( paccekabuddha sutta) about?
MN 26 describes the Buddha after his awakening, as follows:
If I were to teach the Dhamma, others would not understand me, and
that would be wearying and troublesome for me.’ Thereupon there came
to ...
1
vote
1
answer
29
views
Need a list of all the people in Buddhas life
I need a list of all the people mentioned in the Pali canon who were in the story of the historic Gautama the Buddha. For e.g. Angulimal, Ananda etc. I did a google search for the same but did not ...
- 2,239
2
votes
1
answer
40
views
What are those "deck of cards" objects that various sutras are printed on?
I used to go to a Tibetan Buddhist community where they were constantly reading Buddhist scriptures off of little stacks of cards. They were wide aspect ratio, and had the syllables of various mantras ...
- 121
1
vote
3
answers
65
views
Sutras are in which Tripitaka
I have one query. All the Sutra's ( lotus Sutra, heart Sutra) belongs to which Tripitaka (first second or third)?
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
24
views
What is the reference for taming a ferocious bathhouse Naga into a tiny snake in a bowl?
I remember Ajahn Punnadhammo telling a story about maybe the Buddha or Moggallana taming a ferocious bathhouse Naga and emerging from the bathhouse displaying that it was now a small snake in a bowl. ...
- 530
1
vote
1
answer
50
views
What is meant by "claims the bull’s place, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies" and was an actual loud lion-like sound ever uttered by the Buddha?
What is meant by "claims the bull’s place, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies" and was an actual loud lion-like sound ever uttered by the Buddha? One example of the quote is mentioned ...
- 530
2
votes
2
answers
78
views
Is there a difference between Sanskrit during the time of the Buddha vs Sanskrit during the time of Nagarjuna?
I'm trying to understand if Sanksrit during 500 BCE to 1 CE is the same Sanskrit of 1 CE to 500 CE.
- 101
0
votes
4
answers
140
views
How to understand this teaching: "Whenever others treat me badly, may I accept this defeat myself and offer the victory to others"
Below is one of the verses from the "Eight Verses for Training the Mind" by Geshe Langri Tangpa
Whenever others, because of their jealousy, treat me badly
with abuse, insult, slander, or in ...
- 498
3
votes
2
answers
106
views
Where does the Buddha talk about investigation of energy (offering him some relief while in physical pain)?
If remembering correctly I once heard a Dhamma talk about the Buddha finding solace in/with the investigation of energy while (at least once) experiencing physical pain. What's the sutta reference(s) ...
- 530
2
votes
1
answer
96
views
What are the sutta references for the Buddha unsuccessfully attempting to stop wars/battles?
I remember hearing that on one, two, or maybe more occasions the Buddha attempted pretty much unsuccessfully to intervene in war or battle. Maybe one had to do with fighting over water rights. I also ...
- 530
0
votes
0
answers
93
views
Where are the most common places to find Pali/Buddhism Anki decks in 2021?
Anki, is by far the most popular "spaced repetition tool" to enable long term retention of learned material in 2021.
It does so using a scheduling algorithm which prompts the user to recall ...
- 506
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Why did the Buddha contradict about His teachings in these two different suttas?
In the Simsapa Sutta the Buddha said;
"In the same way, monks, those things that I have known with direct
knowledge but have not taught are far more numerous [than what I have
taught].
I would ...
- 2,239
3
votes
5
answers
314
views
Are there differences in the way Buddhism and Theism treats scripture?
Historically, Buddha rejected the validity of the Vedas, I suspect there might be some differences in the way scripture is treated in Buddhism and other religions, especially Theistic ones.
For for ...
- 160
1
vote
1
answer
68
views
What do the (Pali) suttas say about "sacrifice" in general (and why it's not necessary)?
Requesting sutta references mentioning "sacrifice" along with pali words commonly (and uncommonly) translated as "sacrifice" along with thoughts and commentary please
- 530
3
votes
2
answers
85
views
What is the (commentary) source for Buddha's daily schedule?
What is the (commentary) source for Buddha's five-part daily schedule, as mentioned at The Buddha's Daily Routine (Buddhanet) and A Day in the Life of the Buddha (YouTube video, Bhikkhu Bodhi).
- 530
0
votes
3
answers
108
views
Can Abhidhamma be reconciled with Sutta? Citta & vinnana
This question could comprise of many examples but here I will choose one and only four aspects of this one example. The Abhidhamma says:
Rūpakkhandho anārammaṇo. 530.2Cattāro khandhā sārammaṇā.
530....
3
votes
1
answer
362
views
Was Sariputta alive during the time of Buddha's death?
I have found two Suttas and I am a bit confused about Sariputta's death.
In DN 16, there is a part about Sariputta being alive at the time of Buddha's death. (look at 4. Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar in DN ...
- 185
0
votes
2
answers
132
views
Were monastic training texts written down during the Buddha's life?
It seems a commonly held notion that the actual written text of Buddhadharma were only recorded well after the life of the Buddha. However, this sutta seems to indicate that was not so:
"Take a ...
- 4,256
-1
votes
4
answers
223
views
About the Upasakasila Sutta and LGBT
Is the upasakasila sutta based on the Tipitaka (Pali Canon) or is it based on the Mahayana teachings?
Also, I understand that Buddhism doesn't condemn LGBT, but in the Upasakasila Sutta, it is written:...
- 137
1
vote
1
answer
120
views
Searching for a sutta where Buddha talks about Nibbana
I am searching for sutta where Buddha talks about Nibbana.
Also, there is one sutta where he says, "ah nothingness, great is this nothingness..." or something and his disciple replies, "...
- 185
2
votes
3
answers
196
views
Why did the Buddha not answer Vacchagotta (SN 44.10), but did answer the monks (MN 140)?
It has been said that the reason the Buddha did not answer Vacchagotta was because the discussion was not about the doctrine & terminology of the Buddha, but rather about the illogical doctrine of ...
- 4,256
2
votes
2
answers
107
views
What did the Buddha mean in MN 140 about what happened to clansman Pukkusāti after a cow killed him?
Bhikkhu, ‘I am’ is a conceiving; ‘I am this’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall
be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall not be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be
possessed of form’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be formless’ is a
...
- 4,256
2
votes
1
answer
54
views
Sankhara on a wave, a wood, and a rock?
Purpose:
I want to know which sutta is this story coming from.
Background:
I remember that when I joined the 10-day Vipassana course held by S.N.Goenka, he said,
You can carve your Sankhara like an ...
- 73
2
votes
1
answer
51
views
Are there any Buddhist suttas in the scriptures about retaining memory?
As I understand, the early Buddhist teachings were transmitted orally and memorized by monks and they were written down only much later. It must have been tremendous feet of human memory to retain so ...
- 2,239
1
vote
3
answers
137
views
After the Buddha's enlightenment, did he receive any teachings?
There's not much background to this question. Did the Buddha ever receive a teaching after his enlightenment; a teaching that he accepted and made use of, either his own or another - or perhaps a ...
- 1,270
2
votes
4
answers
252
views
How to practice “In the seen will be merely what is seen”
"In the seen will be merely what is seen”
I’ve red this http://theeyeofdhamma.blogspot.com/2013/10/ditte-ditta-mattan-bhavissathi.html?m=1
I’m still not sure how I should apply & practice ...
- 57
1
vote
4
answers
229
views
What did the Buddha mean in AN 5.38 with the fifth benefit to a person of faith?
What did the Buddha mean in AN 5.38. when he said:
“Mendicants, a faithful gentleman gets five benefits. What five?
The good persons in the world show compassion first to the faithful, not so much to ...
- 4,256
0
votes
1
answer
72
views
What is The Prediction as defined by the Mahayana tradition?
Please see this section taken from the wiki page titled Boddhisattva which might help you answer the question:
...what early Mahayana sutras like the Aṣṭa do is to help individuals
determine if they ...
- 1,270
12
votes
11
answers
2k
views
Logic of Emptiness still unconvincing. Please help explain
I've been a practitioner of Vipassana and Mahamudra for 2 years now. One thing quite bothering me is various explanations from different teachers on emptiness logically disturbing...
Usually, it goes ...
- 131
2
votes
4
answers
222
views
Music and Right Livelihood
A lay follower should not engage in five types of business i.e. business in weapon, human being, meat, intoxicant and poison. But there are many jobs can be considered harmful but not included in the ...
- 1,201