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.
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Can anyone explain Sanskara / Sankara in depth?
Can someone provide a canonical explanation to Sanskara/Sankara?
I appreciate if you can provide some sources, Suttras/Suttas so that I can expand my knowledge.
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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 ...
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How to Study the Suttas?
I practice the Theravada tradition. There are a lot of suttas, and I don't know how to go about studying them. Can I please get some pointers or guidelines on how I can study them? For example, which ...
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Tripitaka Section Numbering
Does anyone have a comprehensive side by side reference to Suttas numbering from different edition (PTS, VRI, etc.) of the Tripitaka?
I have trouble with reconciliation of certain references to the ...
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Does MN9 imply a cyclic causation? How does it work?
The Nanamoli and Bodhi translation of MN9 states in 2 excerpts:
With the arising of the taints there is the arising of ignorance. With
the cessation of the taints there is the cessation of ...
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Will actors really go to hell?
In the Talaputta Sutra, the Buddha says that actors will either be reborn as an animal or go to hell.
When an actor on the stage, [he thinks that] after death, he is reborn
in the company of the ...
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How to interpret "cessation"?
Throughout the suttas, we find the following stock passage:
"Now from the remainderless fading & cessation of that very ignorance comes the cessation of fabrications. From the cessation of ...
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Which suttas in the Pali canon are relatively early or late?
Do people (monks and/or scholars) have a sense of how old (or relatively old) each sutta is in the Pali canon: i.e. which suttas are considered "earlier" or "later"?
If not for individual suttas, how ...
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What's the relation between feelings of neither-pleasure-nor-pain and ignorance?
I often see in some suttas that there are some habitual tendencies that, after the arising of pleasent feeling or painful feelings, lead to suffering due to passion for the pleasure and aversion for ...
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Was the Buddha harsh?
"And to whom, worthless man, do you understand me to have taught the Dhamma like that? Haven't I, in many ways, said of dependently co-arisen consciousness, 'Apart from a requisite condition, there is ...
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Two unconditioned dhammas?
In A history of Indian Buddhism: From Sakyamuni to Early Mahayana, Professor Hirakawa states:
Both nirvana and space were considered to be unconditioned dharmas. This fundamental classification of ...
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How to die professionally?
In this book Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition Lama Tharchin makes a powerful statement
Dharma is how we can come to die professionally.
...
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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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Which are considered to be the oldest suttas?
Though I've seen dating of mahayana suttas here and there in passing with some analysis, I understand the pali canon has suttas of many ages. For example, one collection I've often heard to contain ...
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Buddhism on We are all one
As explained here Buddhism does no belong into pantheism because God can be interpreted no as oneness but a creation of the mind as the fourth aggregate explains (eg. "an invisible man who lives in ...
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Meditation technique to reduce/control pain/sorrow/loss
So I have been doing different meditation techniques to control/reduce different poisons(Klesha) of mind. Such as I do
Asuaba(Perception of Unattractiveness) for Lust
Perception of Loving Kindness (...
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Comparing Chinese Agama the ? Bundles of Reeds Simile with Pali Nalakalapiyo Sutta
In commenting a post, I have just been introduced to the "two bundles of reeds leaning up against each other" Sutta. The comments have just been moved to chat and I hope it would be kept for awhile ...
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Different Reasons of Dhamma's Decline
In many suttas the Buddha stated different reasons for the decline of the Dhamma. Why and how it happens. The different causes. Can I have the references of those suttas?
-Metta
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What are other peoples minds according to the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra?
I read that everything is just my own mind from the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra. If everything is my own mind, what about other peoples minds? Are they also my own mind? How can this be understood?
For ...
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What are the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma according to Tibetan Buddhism?
Tibetan Buddhists often talk about the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma...
What are the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma according to Tibetan Buddhism?
Where did they take place according ...
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Does the Foam Sutta (SN 22.95) say there are "no things" or, otherwise, discuss emptiness similar to Nagarjuna?
I read the following on the internet:
I think your saying that "Nagarjuna that purports there are no things"
was an oversimplification or misrepresentation -- conversely the quote
or summary ...
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How to "attend to the perception of light"?
In AN 7.58, the Buddha instructed Maha Moggallana on what do to about his nodding:
"But if by doing this you don't shake off your drowsiness, then attend to the perception of light, resolve on the ...
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Why is the first lines of the Dhammapada twin verses sometimes translated using the word 'heart'?
In most of the translations of the Dhammapada I have read the first lines of the Twin Verses (first chapter) are rendered using the words mind or thoughts. For instance this translation by ...
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Sutta/Sutra guideline for choosing actions in ethical dilemmas
I am searching for a sutta which gives a general guideline which helps in making ethical decisions. There are many suttas which give a skillful action for a specific scenario but I am looking for a ...
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Desire without attachment
The MahaNidana Sutta says
“Ānanda, if one is asked: ‘Is clinging due to a specific condition?’ one should say: ‘It is.’ If one is asked: ‘Through what condition is there clinging?’ one should say: ...
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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 ...
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Buddhist point of view in the research process
I'm looking for some texts where the Buddha explains the nature of mind in relation with the process of learning/researching. I was reading a quote by a famous mathematician known to be very ...
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The Vanishing of Greed, Hatred, and Delusion ~ Nyanatiloka
At the beginning of his talk, The Vanishing of Greed, Hatred, and Delusion, Ajahn Viradhammo reads verses about Nibbana from a translation by Nyanatiloka of a fragment of the Pali Canon, from the ...
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Satipathanna Sutta and contemplating mind externally?
More specifically, Buddha informs the Kurus thus:
"Contemplating mind internally. Contemplating mind externally. Contemplating mind both internally and externally"
How is one to contemplate the mind ...
user14148
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Which suttas in the Pali canon give instructions for how to cultivate equanimity?
Which suttas in the Pali Canon give flat out instructions for how to develop equanimity?
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Recommendation for Suttas
I have been practising Vipassana for quite a while (2 and half years). Now, I want to also dwell into the teachings of Buddha as presented in Suttas and apply those teaching in my everday life. I have ...
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How can we correlate Buddhist cosmology with astronomical cosmology?
How can we correlate Buddhist cosmology with astronomical cosmology? Basically I have following questions.
Moon is considered 51 yojan in height and 50 is the sun. Sun is self illuminated and heat is ...
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Loneliness: Rhinoceros-Horn Sutta from a Lay person's perspective
How can a lay person benefit from this beautiful sutta? It is about being reclusive as a key for good insight and enlightenment.
Does this sutta apply for short period of loneliness like Retreats? Or ...
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What is the oldest text/sutra of the Mahayana tradition?
I'm often interested in the history of Buddhist texts and, being a Theravadan, I'm not very familiar with the Mahayana texts. Please help to educate me in this manner.
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Buddhist teachings on nation building & politics
From what I have read, Buddhism seems provide a practical path to follow in everyday life for a commoner to lead a life with lesser Dukkha and a rigorous path aimed at Monks seeking nirvana.
But do ...
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How should a lay person respond if they see a monk teaching something contrary to Dhamma?
Let's say if a lay person sees fault of a monk (something against the monastic code, or against the Dhamma). Should the lay person just stay silent (thinking it would create bad karma), or should they ...
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Finding Authentic Suttas
Is there some website or book somewhere that lists suttas on different criteria like what suttas are more core or more likely to be authentic do to scholarly analysis like comparing Chinese ...
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In the Anapanasati Sutta, what is the difference between mind and mental processes?
The book Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg splits the Anapanasati Sutta into 4 tetrads. The wildmind website does a similar thing. In the second tetrad there is a verse that is rendered
He trains ...
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What are the core Mahayana and Vajrayana Sutras?
When starting a more in-depth study of the Dharma from a Mahayana and Vajrayana perspective, what are the core (3 most recommended) Sutras (or texts), and the reasons why they are considered important,...
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What is the intermediate state before birth (Gandhabba)?
What is the intermediate state before birth ("Gandhabba"), mentioned in some Buddhist traditions?
I have only heard the word so I can't explain the question any further.
I would like a detailed ...
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All kammas have to be experienced or not?
It's said that some kammas are not to be experienced, some kammas have to be experienced. Not all kammas have to be experienced. For example Angulimala story, the bad vipaka of killing many people ...
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Does any sutta talk about the right conditions for teaching the Dhamma?
I've read in other posts (such as this one) about the right way to teach the Dhamma.
But is there a way to know about the "when", i.e. when to reach out someone else to teach the Dhamma?
In specific,...
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Does Paritta/Sutta really have magical power?
Many people believed certain Paritta/Sutta have certain magical power, for example Bojjhanga Sutta for curing illness and Om Mani Padme Hum having a great (even greatest) magical power among other ...
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Were different parts of the Pali Canon intended for different audiences?
I read somewhere that the Middle Length and Long Discourses in the Pali Canon were intended for different audiences. I think it was that the Long Discourses were intended to convert people to Buddhism ...
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A person of integrity (Sappurisa Sutta)
In the Anguttara Nikaya 4.73, the Buddha said that a "person of integrity" possesses these four qualities:
when asked, does not reveal the other person's bad points and when pressed, speaks of the ...
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Question on a Mahayana Sutra (Three Svabhavas)
First time trying this. Much Metta to all beings here. I've been studying and meditating on a Mahayana based sutra for months, which is quite detailed in philosophy. I don't seem to understand the ...
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Sutra Study as Meditation?
When studying the sutras should that be considered a form of meditation, if so what are the guidelines for sutra meditation?
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How should one teach the Dhamma to others?
Answering questions here in buddhism.stackexchange.com is often Dhamma teaching, or at least an effort of it. How can that be rightly done?
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What is the "meditation on emptiness" in MN 121?
What is the "meditation on emptiness" in MN 121?
What does "emptiness" refer to in this sutta?
Also, what does "oneness dependent on the perception of ..." mean in this sutta?
“Indeed, Ānanda, ...
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What is the sutra where the Buddha emits fire and water from his body?
I've seen pictures that depict the Buddha floating in the air and emitting fire from this torso and water from his legs. The fire and the water might be the other way around. I think the picture ...
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