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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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 ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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13 votes
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What are the texts that contain words which can be attributed directly to the Buddha?

If I understand correctly, the Buddha never wrote anything but some Buddhist texts quote him by describing meetings or situations where he was present. Is there a comprehensive list of all scripts ...
Eduardo Serra's user avatar
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10 answers
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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 ...
Seeker's user avatar
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4 answers
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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.
Sāmaṇera Jayantha's user avatar
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4 answers
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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 ...
konrad01's user avatar
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6 answers
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How to overcome Depression with Buddhist teachings

There are several scientific methods to treat the psychiatric condition depression. Is there a method to overcome depression by Lord Buddha's teachings?
nimala9's user avatar
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6 answers
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Sleep - What about it?

What are the proper relax / Sleep practices for a practitioner of meditation methods? As to Buddhist point of view what is sleep and how to cope with it?
Theravada's user avatar
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1 answer
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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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10 votes
9 answers
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Does sutta recitation actually entail understanding of the text?

I'm particularly interested in Chinese morning and evening service Tibetan sadhanas that a monk recites every day Theravada Pali suttas and chants Are these read in modern times by and to an ...
MatthewMartin's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

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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9 votes
5 answers
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What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?

What are the actual suttas in which the Buddha described how to meditate? A list of all such suttas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Ian's user avatar
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What did the Buddha teach regarding remorse?

This is a question of practical interest. My personal practice is generally to feel guilty for bad deeds, but today I tried admitting fault and guilt without feeling guilty, and it was much less ...
Jeff Bogdan's user avatar
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3 answers
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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 ...
Bharat's user avatar
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4 answers
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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 ...
Lowbrow's user avatar
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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 ...
Akila Hettiarachchi's user avatar
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8 answers
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Why is the Heart Sutra so important in Mahayana Buddhism?

So the Heart Sutra is one of the most popular sutra in Mahayana Buddhism, said to be the summary and heart of the Prajna Paramita Sutra. It was popularized by the famous monk Xuanzang. It was said ...
Yinxu's user avatar
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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 ...
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena's user avatar
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7 answers
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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 ...
ChrisW's user avatar
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8 votes
3 answers
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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 ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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8 votes
6 answers
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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 ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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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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2 answers
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Heart Sūtra root in Pali Canon?

It's hard not to think of the Heart Sūtra when reading the Kassaka Sutta (Saŋyutta Nikāya 4:19), part of which runs as below (Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation, emphasis added). Is there any ...
David Lewis's user avatar
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8 answers
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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.
Theravada's user avatar
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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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7 votes
7 answers
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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 ...
7 votes
4 answers
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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 ...
Theravada's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
104 views

Is there anything one can do to save the deceased from the consequences of their Kamma?

I generally had the understanding that there is no way one can save the deceased from the consequences of their Kamma. At most, we can send Metta to the deceased which may comfort them wherever they ...
kilocharlie's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
235 views

What's the canonical definition of end of the buddha sāsana?

I was under the impression that the end of buddha sāsana occurs when noble eight-fold path(and the dhamma practitioners) disappear form all the realms including Śuddhāvāsa where only anāgāmins live. ...
Sajeewa Welendagoda's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

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,...
Devindra's user avatar
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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 ...
B1100's user avatar
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Stages of Compassion in Mahayana

Dear friends, I am looking for references pertaining to the notion of the Four Stages of Compassion in the Mahayana traditions. Thank you for your kind and generous help, may you all be well and safe. ...
Fabien Todescato's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
1k views

How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them

I'm curious on how Buddhist Sacred Texts are used in teachings and in practice. The Buddha often says not to solely follow transmitted tradition, instead Buddhists are "exhorted to know for ...
Alexander's user avatar
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4 answers
231 views

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,...
Brian Díaz Flores's user avatar
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5 answers
3k views

"The Blessed One", is it bad translation?

I found "The Blessed One" in English translation of Suttas. Because in Buddhism blessing is not legit/proper word to use to anyone, especially Buddha need not to be blessed, is it loosely translated ...
Francesco's user avatar
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6 votes
7 answers
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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 ...
Blaze Tama's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
3k views

Is it possible for absolutely everyone to attain enlightenment?

As seen in the title of this question, I'm not sure whether everyone is able to attain enlightenment. As far as my study and introspective analysis have shown to me, it seems that in order to uproot ...
Brian Díaz Flores's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
335 views

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 ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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6 votes
3 answers
645 views

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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6 votes
2 answers
493 views

Sutras in Western Buddhism?

How should western practitioners approach the sutras? What are the most important sutras from the main Buddhist traditions for westerners to study? When studying the sutras should that be considered a ...
DharmaEater's user avatar
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6 votes
4 answers
448 views

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 (...
Akila Hettiarachchi's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
150 views

What is meant by "No limiting action remains there"? MN 99

In the discourse on the four Divine Abodes, what is meant by "... no limiting action remains there, none persists there." Here a bhikkhu abides pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with ...
Ryan Baker's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
177 views

When the Buddha changes his mind to teach

I remember reading a sutta (possibly in Majjhima or Samyutta) where a passage has the Buddha talking about his teaching attitude towards certain people when talking to them. Then, he says something to ...
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6 votes
2 answers
161 views

Dejection and Sensuality

I am looking for a very specific sutta in the Pali Canon wherein it is explained how the uninstructed worldling, upon feeling dejected, will turn to sensual pleasures to assuage his craving for ...
Fabien Todescato's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
464 views

Conflict between Brahmajala Sutta and current Buddhist practices

I'm very confused about this sutta ( http://suttacentral.net/en/dn1) specially in the part "Mahāsīla" Many of what the Buddha stated as wrong livelihood is very common in some Buddhist centres these ...
konrad01's user avatar
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5 votes
6 answers
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Why should I study the Suttas?

If the Buddha said that we shouldn't take his teachings as dogma, but rather try to experience for ourselves what realization is--why should we study the scriptures?
Javier García-Salcedo's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
1k views

The Middle Way in practical life

Are there any sutras or parables where Buddha applies the middle way, not to the self or to abstract metaphysical principles, but to concrete conflicts in practical life?
Dave S Henley's user avatar
5 votes
5 answers
304 views

Role of the Buddhist in preserving the original teachings

This is a very common dilemma. If you go look for some Buddhist books here in the west (I guess the same thing happens in the east) you will easily find books written by monks and general authors, it ...
konrad01's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
819 views

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 ...
Crab Bucket's user avatar
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