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.
349
questions
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1answer
18 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. ...
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1answer
39 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 ...
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2answers
67 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.
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2answers
71 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 ...
3
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2answers
98 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) ...
2
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1answer
74 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 ...
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0answers
62 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 ...
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6answers
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 ...
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5answers
304 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 ...
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1answer
58 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
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2answers
74 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).
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1answer
77 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
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1answer
311 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 ...
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2answers
126 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 ...
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4answers
165 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:...
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1answer
91 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, "...
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3answers
177 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 ...
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2answers
91 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
...
2
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1answer
51 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 ...
2
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1answer
45 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 ...
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3answers
126 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 ...
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4answers
233 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 ...
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4answers
216 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 ...
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1answer
61 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 ...
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10answers
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 ...
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4answers
202 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 ...
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3answers
216 views
What does it mean to be upright?
In karaniya metta sutta,
He who is skilled in (working out his own) well being, and who wishes to attain that state of Calm (Nibbana) should act thus: he should be dexterous, upright, exceedingly ...
2
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4answers
209 views
The Buddha and the act of smiling
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa.
Even though it may at first hand appear to be a shallow subject and inquiry, I happen to find it of relevance to the practice and wondered about it.
...
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2answers
116 views
SN 35.116 - Is "the world" ("loka") an objective reality perceived via the senses?
I read the following on the internet:
One perceives 'the world' through the senses - however the senses
themselves are in the world (lokasmiṃ). That does not imply the world
is a state of mind, but ...
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1answer
86 views
Is the Avatamsaka Sutra the only Buddhist scripture that talks about multiverse?
I know the Avatamsaka Sutra teaches about a multiverse flower garland, which represents all of reality, is made up of infinite universes which all reflect one another.
Is this the only scripture that ...
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2answers
154 views
In what sutta does the Buddha talk about Paccekabuddhas?
Question is in the title.
Thank you for your time.
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5answers
184 views
Among 9 jhanas which is deep sleep?
Please provide suttas
I plan to do a meditation until I can achieve the same experience as my deep sleep but I don't know whether it's the first jhana or even cessation of feeling and perception or ...
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2answers
71 views
What is the (middle length) sutta, where Buddha exposes a monk, who has an ignorant view of non-self?
In one sutta a monk was teaching, that there's something that is behind our existence, that is permanent (opposite of non-self). Buddha asked for this explicitely, got confirmed, and corrected the ...
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2answers
60 views
How are/would newly discovered Suttas (and Sutras) be dealt with?
How are/would newly discovered Suttas (and Sutras) be dealt with, specifically be they of content contradicting -- or even just differing slightly from -- previous material and/or for totally new, ...
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0answers
65 views
Do the enlightened not experience the results of their past karma? [duplicate]
Can buddha attain Nibbana without Devadatta's throwing a rock and hurting Buddha's foot?
I read somewhere that buddha redeem his past karma by getting hit from that stone hence my question
I am sorry ...
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1answer
64 views
Animal sacrifices mentioned in the suttas or vinaya?
Hindus believe that the Buddha opposed Vedic rites of animal sacrifice in his time, for example, on this page and on this page.
This apparently influenced later Hindus to abandon the practice of ...
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1answer
472 views
The One With the Brahmin Heckler
Does there exist such a sutta in which a brahmin pays a visit to the Buddha at his dwelling at Jeta's Grove with the sole intent to heckle, only to be met with silence and then brought to his senses ...
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2answers
90 views
all EBT sutta references to thina middha / sloth & torpor & drowsiness
I'm looking to collect all the major sutta references on the 3rd hindrance.
Help me complete the collection:
http://lucid24.org/sted/5niv/5niv3/index.html
What I have so far:
AN 5.78 5 future dangers
...
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2answers
54 views
Is there a list of (all the) Suttas that mention supranormal powers?
I know there are the miracles of the historical Buddha and the Samannaphala Sutta, but is there a comprehensive list of Suttas that mention supranormal power(s)?
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3answers
97 views
How to learn to trust one's fundamental goodness?
In this answer it says "Learning to trust one's fundamental goodness" is one of the way to practise seclusion.
I want to understand what this means in context of the question on Rhinocerous ...
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2answers
229 views
Scriptural evidence for the role and compatibility of polytheism within Buddhism?
First of all, I would like to clarify that I am extremely new to Buddhism, Hinduism and Indian philosophy in general. I do not particularly consider myself an adherent of any of these traditions. I am ...
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2answers
128 views
Help trying to find a sutta speaking of the pleasures of the householder
One of the suttas where the Buddha is critical of a monk as not living the holy life the right way and at the same time by not disrobing missing out on the pleasures of the householder's life.
In ...
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1answer
76 views
Which Pali suttas describe the Buddha & monks demonstrating psychic powers to laypeople?
The suttas about the 32 marks of a great man, such as MN 91, appear to describe the Buddha used psychic power towards Brahmins however they do not appear to say the Brahmin layperson was cognizant of ...
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5answers
365 views
Which texts are the most important to read in the Khuddaka Nikaya and why?
My preference would be a Theravada based answer to the following question:
Which texts are the most important to read in the Khuddaka Nikaya and
why?
Thank you. :)
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2answers
75 views
Need help with finding a specific Sutta
I'm looking for a sutta wherein the Buddha explains how a person who only for a moment cultivates loving-kindness or mindfulness has not wasted his or her spiritual life.
What sutta is that?
Thank you ...
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6answers
507 views
How did this teleportation happen in DN 16?
In DN 16 it is written that:
"Then the Buddha came to the Ganges River.
Now at that time the Ganges was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Wanting to cross from the near to the far ...
2
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2answers
96 views
Help with finding a specific sutta
I'm looking for a sutta wherein the Buddha explains how beings we meet in this life (family, friends, animals etc.) have all been our parents, friends, loved ones, pets etc. in previous lives. What ...
2
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8answers
766 views
How is possible that monks memorised 10.000 sutras?
According to Wikipedia, in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali canon there are 10.000 sutras.
According to tradition, Ananda recited by heart all 10.000 sutras after the death of Gautama and they have been ...
2
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3answers
67 views
What is 'vision externally' in AN8.66?
In AN 8.66 the Buddha says, "Not perceiving form internally, they see visions externally. This is the second liberation".
I am totally confused here. If by 'form' we mean body, how not to ...
2
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4answers
600 views
What is the most accurate translation of the word 'dukkha'?
This question is a sequel to my previous question about First Noble Truth.
It seems that there is discord about the exact rendering of the word 'dukkha'. Sorry if I sound like a pedantic dou*h. I am ...