Questions tagged [texts]
A broad term referring to canonical, commentary or scriptural compositions of any tradition.
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Who said "life is suffering"?
I'm wondering if anything is known about the origin of this formulation, which is ostensibly a summary of the first noble truth:
"Life is suffering"
Beyond whether this is a poor summary ...
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Does there exist a historical-critical study ("Higher Criticism") of Buddhists’ texts?
I am in search for some academic work on critical methods to analyze Buddhists’ texts.
There exist numerous jātakas and avadānas. Many representations in Buddhist art visualize these legends. E.g. ...
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Origin of the idea that happiness must be nurtured
I came across an excerpt of Thích Nhất Hạnh from his book No Mud, No Lotus, in which he says that happiness must be nurtured in order to sustain (full text is here, the excerpt can also be found here):...
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What's the most important teaching of the Buddha in the canon?
Or, what would be the best teaching to spark an interest in someone who knows little or nothing about the teachings of the Buddha?
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How to treat the dispute?
I have recently started studying the teachings of Buddhism, so I have a lot of questions that I can't find an answer to yet.
Help me understand Buddhism better. Thanks.
What types of disputes are ...
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Buddha saying he doesn't have to follow all the rules?
In which sutta does the Buddha state that he does not have to follow all the monastic rules and austerities closely because he is already liberated and free, as an arahant?
I remember reading this ...
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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 ...
user24100
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Jataka Story Request: Mindfulness, Radiant Complexion and Grass Simile
I'm looking for a story in the Jataka wherein the Buddha talks about mindfulness and the importance of not living in the past or future. He compares the mind living in the past or future to grass that ...
user23951
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On what basis does the 'right' in Buddhism come from?
In the Noble Eight Fold path, the practices which are said to be done often have a suffix of 'right' to them. My question is, on what basis is this 'right' found? Could a logical explanation be given?
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What is the Sanskrit for "Universal Gate"
The "Universal Gate" is referred to in chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra. I've been trying to find the Sanskrit for this, but no luck.
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Difference between optimism and expectation
In vipassana we are asked to be optimist. But buddha said expectation is the cause of all suffering. .
Is there any difference between expectation and optimism?
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source of put fence & plant seeds & pull weed simile (for avoid bad & do good & purify the mind)?
I heard the famous Dhammapada's 183: “Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas.” tractated metaphorically as what one needs to do to have a ...
- 951
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Good source of Buddha stories and what they mean
Try again.
I have an idea for a comic book I would like to attempt. It is based in a contemporary setting and sort of outlines the principles of buddhism without actually comingout and saying so.
...
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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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Publication of written texts involving the dhamma
I have bought in my life many works written by the Dalai Lama. I know that as a monk, he forgoes material possessions. Yet, I recognize money is still being made with those texts, from the editors and ...
user7302
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Can brain injured people progress in meditation?
I don't mean disrespect to anyone else with this question, I'm asking on my own behalf as someone with neurological & psychological problems caused by a brain injury at a young age. I know all ...
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Is there anything like discriminating intellect in Buddhism?
I was watching this Youtube video about 'witnessing self':
3 Stages in Witnessing Meditation - On the Journey towards Spiritual Enlightenment
This video describes the three stages in witnessing ...
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Is this forum a place for Buddhist Hermeneutics?
Buddhist Hermeneutics could be the objective study of Buddhist texts (from my limited understanding).
Is hermeneutics possible in Buddhism? There are so many allegories and parables in Buddhist texts, ...
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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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In what sutta does the Buddha talk about Paccekabuddhas?
Question is in the title.
Thank you for your time.
user19910
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Do the Abhidharma texts exist online in original format?
I just learned of the Abhidharma. What was their original or early language they were written in, and do they exist online in copy/pastable (non-PDF or image) format anywhere for free? Is this of any ...
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Huayan Buddhism Flower Garland
Is Huayan Buddhism the one that teaches about infinite universes being held on a jeweled flower garland, or is it another branch/sect of Buddhism?
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What chapter of the Abhidharmartha Pradipika talks about infinite universes?
I've been looking into Buddhist concepts and the topic of infinite universes in existence popped up, and the Buddhist text called the "Abhidharmartha Pradipika" talks about infinite ...
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Why is there a Miscellaneous chapter in the Dhammapada?
Chapter 21 of the Dhammapada is titled Miscellaneous or Varied Verses or similar depending on the exact translation. Why do all the other chapters have descriptive headings and themes such as Flowers ...
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Question on Dhammapada Verse 30
I am trying to understand the meaning of the verse below: Verse 30 from Dhammapada.
Appamadena maghava
devanam setthatam gato
appamadam pasamanti
pamado garahito sada.
"By Heedfulness did Indra ...
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How is the Tibetan Kangyur actually laid out?
I have been trying to gather Tibetan etexts like the Kangyur, and have found two sources:
Adarsha
AsianClassics
Later I realized there are multiple editions of the "Kangyur" composed at ...
- 587
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What is the quality and status of the Tripitaka texts at tipitaka.org?
I am looking for high quality etexts of the Tripitaka and so far after weeks of search, the best place seems to be tipitaka.org.
However, when looking at the texts, the punctuation and writing style ...
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Looking for a Sutta wherein the Buddha talks about dreams
In the Dhamma talk "Sleeping and dreaming", by Ajahn Punnadhammo, he mentions that in the Anguttara Nikaya (no specific sutta mentioned) the Buddha talked about the origins of dreams and ...
user19771
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Where can this story be found?
In the story the Buddha creates a golden lotus and gives it to a monk who soon after attains arahantship.
Story is in attached screenshot taken from the book "Fundamentals of Insight Meditation&...
user19771
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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. :)
user19825
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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 ...
user19771
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What are the most prominent Tibetan Buddhist texts that are only written in Tibetan script?
A lot of Buddhist texts come from Sanskrit or Chinese. I am looking at the Kangyur and Tengyur, and a few scattered others. But a lot of those are from Sanskrit and Chinese as well (or other languages,...
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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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What is the textual structure of original Pali versions of the suttas of the Majjhima Nikaya?
I am reading Majjhima Nikaya from the translation by Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi. In this book, each sutta is divided into several numerical sections. Each section consists of one or a few ...
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Choosing advantages of one tradition over another
Like all religions, there are different branches, traditions, whatever you want to call them. Why would you choose one over the others? Do you think one is right and the others are wrong? Does one ...
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Does the Lankavatara Sutra exist anywhere online in Tibetan script, Sanskrit (Devanagari), or Chinese?
Not sure what the earliest copy is we have of the Lankavatara Sutra, but wondering if it can be found online for free in copy/pastable text format (i.e. not PDF or image).
I am looking through The ...
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Is there a Buddhist equivalent to Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations"?
What I mean by equivalent is in significance and style. Marcus Aurelius was an extremely important man and was forced to deal with specifically difficult problems in life. This adds weight to his ...
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Why did Buddha put so much emphasis on no-self?
Why should we care if we have no-self or have a self. Ultimately it is of no help. I know any buddhist teacher will say that feelings or body are not-self, so you shouldn't get attached to it, but ...
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Infinity, eternity, countlessness in Buddhism
I'm interested in concepts of infinity, eternity, countlessness, etc. in Buddhist thought.
Could you please help me out with sources, both primary and secondary, where these concepts are used?
I ...
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What are the Wikipedia Pages for these Kangyur titles
Not knowing Tibetan or having access to a wide array of sources, I am using the (Tibetan script) Kangyur from these. The table of contents is here pretty much. After converting their Excel file to a ...
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What does ཕལ་པོ་ཆེ། (translated to the Flower Ornament Sutra) really mean?
I am not versed in Tibetan language but wanted to know what the literal meaning of ཕལ་པོ་ཆེ། is, which is translated into either of these
The Sūtra of the Buddhas' Vastness
The Flower Ornament Sūtra
...
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Can anyone please list important books on Buddhism?
What all are the important books, that are part of Buddhism, other than Dhammapada?
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Reference for the teaching of not-self
I have heard in the past a kind of argument to show that there is no self along the lines of: are you your body? No, your cells regenerate all the time. Are you your emotions? No, they come and go. ...
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Clarification on a different notion of Prince Rahula's parentage said to be in Mahayana buddhism
If we refer to Buddhist literature there are several versions of the same story. It differs between the branches Theravada and Mahayana and even within one branch the interpretation varies.
Recently ...
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I'm looking for a sutta which mentions nationalism
I remember a sutta which uses the word "nationalism" in reference to a taint to be removed. It was the last in a certain sequence of taints. I think i read it on access to insight.
However, when i ...
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I'm trying to find a specific sutta I think
I remember there being a passage where a monk says to Buddha that he thinks the Sangha is at least 50 percent of the teaching and Buddha says something along the lines of 'it's all of it'. Can anyone ...
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Where is the most concrete exposition on the Buddhist ethics in the source material?
In the Bible a complex saga of the human experience is elaborated in a multitude of ways, and these nuances make the text hard to crack in a linear reading. However, there exists a very illuminating ...
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What are the Five Pungent (Vegetables/Roots/Spices) and when were they first proscribed?
According to Salguero (2017):
The Five Pungent Roots generally refer to garlic, leeks, scallions, onions, and asafoetida, as well as their subvarieties. In some sources, the list includes ginger ...
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What are the languages associated with each Buddhist school?
Suppose I am really serious about following the path of Vajrayana Buddhism o the point of studying texts in their original and I speak only English. I assume that the best language to learn would be ...
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The Buddha's struggle with the first absorption
I need help reading the footnotes from the following passage in
the book Satipatthana, and finding the suttas which they reference.
in one instance at least, the Upakkilesa Sutta, the Buddha gave ...
user8619