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.
346
questions
1
vote
2answers
64 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
votes
2answers
97 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
votes
1answer
71 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
53 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 ...
4
votes
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 ...
3
votes
5answers
301 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
56 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
3
votes
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).
-1
votes
1answer
72 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....
4
votes
1answer
296 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 ...
0
votes
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 ...
-1
votes
4answers
159 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:...
1
vote
1answer
88 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, "...
2
votes
3answers
175 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
87 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
votes
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
votes
1answer
42 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
125 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 ...
2
votes
4answers
230 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 ...
1
vote
4answers
213 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
59 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 ...
10
votes
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 ...
2
votes
4answers
195 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
210 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
votes
4answers
195 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.
...
1
vote
2answers
113 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 ...
0
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
149 views
In what sutta does the Buddha talk about Paccekabuddhas?
Question is in the title.
Thank you for your time.
0
votes
5answers
172 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
69 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 ...
3
votes
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, ...
0
votes
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
61 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
470 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 ...
0
votes
2answers
88 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
...
1
vote
2answers
53 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)?
1
vote
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
225 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
127 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 ...
0
votes
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 ...
3
votes
5answers
352 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. :)
2
votes
2answers
72 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 ...
1
vote
6answers
504 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
votes
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
votes
8answers
718 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
votes
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
votes
4answers
590 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 ...
2
votes
4answers
466 views
Good website for sutta learning?
There seems to be two prominant websites/translations for learning the suttas:
accesstoinsight.org
suttacentral.net
As I was going through DN15 I see that the translations of important words differ ...
1
vote
2answers
86 views
Looking for sutta reference on entering into Jhana
Following are the stages Ajahn Brahm mentions in his book Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond, to enter in to Jhana.
Present moment awareness
Silent present moment awareness
Silent present moment awareness ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
The Four Great References (AN 4.180)
This question refers to The Four Great References in Mahāpadesa Sutta (AN 4.180).
In each case, it ends with:
If they’re not included in the discourses and not found in the texts on
monastic ...