Questions tagged [the-buddha]
For questions about the Buddha (Siddartha Gautama) as a person - his life, sayings, actions, etc.
317
questions
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3answers
88 views
Anti-natalist overtones in Buddhism
Buddhism has anti-natalist overtones, according to the writings of Hari Singh Gour below.
Buddha states his propositions in the pedantic style of his age. He throws them into a form of sorites; but,...
1
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4answers
86 views
Sacrificing myself…or not?
If someone was holding many hostages and I came along and offered to trade myself for the hostages place so they can be let free, would this be right to do or wrong to do and would be detrimental to ...
5
votes
5answers
409 views
Is everything about the world the 6 sense objects
I read that the world is only our 6 sense object that we percieve with our 6 sense doors, does this mean that Buddhism says that everything is mindmade and there is nothing really out there or I may ...
3
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6answers
875 views
Is there such a thing as craving for enlightenment and would it be unwholesome?
I was wondering if for example an obsession or craving that someone has for attaining Nirvana would be considered something unwholesome. On one hand it seems to me like it would, since that person ...
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4answers
203 views
Would the Buddha have considered engaging in anal sex as breaking the 1st and/or 5th precept?
Would the Buddha have considered engaging in anal sex as breaking the 1st and/or 5th precepts?
I would like to know this as I am trying to better understand the 5 precepts.
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4answers
1k views
Did the Buddha ever refute the view of “extreme metaphysical nihilism” e.g. a view that “nothing is real”?
Important note: I am only using the word "real" only in the sense of meaning "exists and is not an illusion".
I am defining "extreme metaphysical nihilism" as the belief that "nothing is real".
I ...
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0answers
45 views
What do “Buddhist” in modern world do on the highest fest-day in the year?
Not only as a reminder of Vesaka Puja, birth-, awakening- and day of depart of the Sublime Buddha:
What to "Buddhists" do on this great day to be reminded on the lineage of goodness, having nourished ...
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2answers
83 views
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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4answers
90 views
Does skillful means include meditation?
I've tried a few different Buddhist groups and they are quite prescriptive when it comes to meditation practices. They have their own system and everyone does it. But the Buddha used skillful means ...
3
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3answers
109 views
How do you pray correctly in Buddhism?
I have been calling myself a Buddhist for as long as I can remember, but I have never done it right. I notice that my mom would chant the mantras from the book, while usually I would just say anything ...
2
votes
4answers
225 views
Why does the Buddha blame Ananda asking him to remain living forever?
in the Digha Nikaya 16 The Buddhas Final Nibbhana , the Buddha blames Ananda for not requesting that the Buddha live for aeons, three times. he had only asked him twice. Why does the Buddha blame ...
2
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2answers
99 views
Lovingkindness and Compassion of the Buddha?
In an effort to understand the concept of lovingkindness it would help me to see how the Buddha explicitly described lovingkindness and specific acts of his unconditional compassion. I've heard from ...
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1answer
89 views
Caste of Sujātā
What was the caste of Sujātā, the woman who offered the Buddha a bowl of rice milk? I am trying to check a reference to her as a Brahman. She is described as a milkmaid, daughter of a landowner.
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4answers
574 views
What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? Is it nirvana?
What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism? Why should a person practice Buddhism, what will it provide to him? Various religions have various goals. For example, the ultimate goal in Christianity is ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
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 ...
2
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3answers
101 views
Who was the Buddha's teacher?
When Asita muni had told to King Shuddhodhana that
" If he
becomes a householder, he will become a universal monarch.
But if he goes forth from the home to a homeless life, he will become a ...
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4answers
122 views
Is the arising of Buddhas a cosmological evolutionary occurrence?
...if not, then who or what is governing these occurrences?
In the Diamond Sutta (see excerpt below) Buddha mentions the previous Buddha as being called Dīpankara Buddha possibly existing around ten ...
2
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1answer
82 views
“Take joy! I am your guarantor for getting 500 dove-footed nymphs.”
The Nanda sutta seems contrary to what the Buddha teaches with regard to sensual desire. Therefore, I don't understand how this was a wise approach in the case of Nanda even though Nanda acquired ...
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2answers
108 views
Why wasn't the Buddha a solipsist?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking because I consider myself a great person etc., Chakravartin, but why didn't the Buddha take solipsism seriously, perhaps before his complete enlightenment? If he's ...
3
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5answers
131 views
Did Gautama Buddha endorse the caste system?
Did Gautama Buddha endorse the caste system?
Buddhism: An Atheistic and Anti-Caste Religion?
Modern Ideology and Historical Reality of the Ancient Indian Bauddha Dharma
by Edmun Weber
Hans ...
1
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2answers
123 views
Why are exceptionally tall statues of the Buddha and Guanyin built?
When I read this article on the tallest statues in the world, I was struct by how many of them were of important Buddhist figures: of the fifteen tallest statues six are of Guanyin (Kannon/...
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1answer
63 views
The Buddha and the Jhanas
This is a continuation of an original question I asked, linked here: Buddhist Jhanas, how best to describe them?
My question is: can any of you link me directly to the instances in primary sources (...
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6answers
238 views
Is there any God or Satan in Buddhism? Is there any heaven or hell in Buddhism?
Every religion has a God and Satan, heaven and hell. Religion by definition means deification of a Supreme Being or worship of any deity. Monotheistic religions, like Islam and Christianity, have a ...
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5answers
112 views
What are The Buddha's most compassionate acts?
Source could be from sutras or anything else. Thank you.
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1answer
77 views
Did the Buddha believe in the existence of soul? [duplicate]
Did Gautama Buddha believe in the existence of soul in human body? If not, why?
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5answers
127 views
Buddha's self-declaration without identity view and without conceit
In this question, the OP asked:
In the context of the four stages of enlightenment would it be right
to say that, without identity-view, there's no such thing as an
"enlightened person": ...
4
votes
5answers
256 views
Ignorance and the root of suffering?
Searching the Pali Canon for the "root of suffering", we find the direct definition only occurs in a few suttas:
delight is the root of suffering (MN1)
attachment is the root of suffering (MN105, ...
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1answer
333 views
Did the Buddha believe in rebirth and reincarnation? [duplicate]
The Buddha didn't believe in a Supreme Being, or a universal soul. The Buddha didn't even believe in a soul. Then how could he preach rebirth and reincarnation when he didn't even believe in a soul? ...
0
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2answers
132 views
How to refute the claim that the Buddha was an “avatar” of Vishnu? [closed]
We as Buddhists know that Gautama Buddha didn't believe in a Supreme Being or an universal soul. We also know that the Buddha criticised the Vedic/Astik shastras, rejected the Vedic religion and the ...
2
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4answers
311 views
How do I refute the claim that the Buddha was actually preaching Vedanta?
Some people are obsessed with making a great personality and revolutionary like the Buddha a follower of their own faith by making baseless, historically inaccurate and factually incorrect claims. One ...
2
votes
5answers
447 views
What is the opinion of Buddhism on the caste system and untouchability of Hinduism?
The Varnashrama dharma (caste system) is the backbone of Brahminism (Hinduism), untouchability is a part of that social order. We all know that Gautama Buddha was against Varnashrama dharma, and ...
2
votes
2answers
164 views
Was Gautama Buddha's wife Yesodhara in any way instrumental in Him becoming a Buddha?
Considering the story we know about the life of Buddha as Siddhartha and also considering that Yesodhara was Buddha's partner in His many previous lives, can we say that Yesodhara was somehow ...
4
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4answers
158 views
How did the Buddha subdue fear and terror while standing, sitting, etc.?
The Bhaya Bherava Sutta (MN4) states the following:
...I stayed in the sort of places that are awe-inspiring and make your hair stand on end, such as park-shrines, forest-shrines, & tree-...
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2answers
71 views
From which text is the quote by Buddha “My practice is the nonpractice, the attainment of nonattainment” taken?
I was reading an article on Tricycle written by Thich Nhat Hanh, in which he quotes Buddha as follows:
“My practice is the nonpractice, the attainment of nonattainment.”
From which text is this ...
0
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1answer
121 views
Buddhist views on transgender issues [duplicate]
The Buddha or the scriptures do not state specifically if an individual being a transgender is right or wrong. So how would a Buddhist interpret this in a modern light and why?
4
votes
6answers
254 views
Why does the Buddha, in the Pali Canon, periodically engage in harsh speech?
Throughout the Pali Canon you can find instances where the Buddha appears to engage in harsh speech that seems to be contrary to the noble eighfold path. There are several important points/...
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6answers
766 views
Conscience in Buddhism
Conscience is described as being the moral sense in which an individual makes decisions. Do Buddhists believe there is a conscience? If so how is it defined
2
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3answers
858 views
What is the fastest way to reach enlightenment?
I am asking for reference request and sutras where a person can cut through samsara quickly and obtain liberation.
I have heard a story when Buddha was asked this question and he replied "Sound". ...
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3answers
269 views
Buddha's past lives in the Pali Suttas outside of Jataka
According to this answer for the question "Does Theravada Buddhism accept Jataka Stories?":
The Theravada accepts the Jataka stories as commentarial literature;
they are not canonical, but are ...
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1answer
210 views
What Nichiren Buddhism says about rebirth and reincarnation?
What is the view of Nichirenism/ Nichiren Buddhism on rebirth and reincarnation? What was the opinion of Nichiren on rebirth and reincarnation? What was the opinion of Gautama Buddha on rebirth and ...
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2answers
307 views
Importance of making and sharing merit
What are the benefits of transferring karmic fruitfulness and how is this done by Buddhists?
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3answers
150 views
What is opinion of Nichiren Buddhism on the concept of a Creator or Supreme Being?
What is the opinion of Nichiren Buddhism on the concept of a Creator or Supreme Being?
2
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4answers
336 views
Buddhism and miracles
Do all Buddhists believe that miracles happen in the real world? Are the miracles described in scripture such as the Buddha being able to walk after birth literal or symbolic?
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3answers
83 views
Is there a difference between the 32 physical characteristics and the the 32 physical marks?
Why does the Buddha ask the same question twice, and why does Subhuti answer it two different ways? In Diamond Sutra Chapter 13
“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Buddha be perceived by means of
...
0
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1answer
43 views
What is real meanning of Prathipathi poojawa?
I know best poojawa is prathipathi poojawa. Does it mean follow the Lord Buddha's instructions? However what is a depth meaning of it? And how can I achieve it?
1
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1answer
122 views
Was the Buddha a vegetarian?
Was Sakyamuni Buddha a vegetarian? I've heard that he ate some pork and got poisoned by it when he died? Yet the precepts say that he was vegetarian.
Which one is correct?
3
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4answers
354 views
Can Buddha be insulted by disrespect? [closed]
I found a video about Leshan Giant Buddha and was watching it with my family. In that video some workers were cleaning the statue's head while walking on it (it is a giant statue) - and my family ...
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0answers
44 views
Do transformation bodies appear before a buddha reaches enlightenment?
Do transformation bodies appear before a buddha reaches enlightenment?
So that the many bodies of Shakyamuni that the fan Wang ching (Sutra of Brahmas net) claims Vairocana manifests may have ...
1
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1answer
302 views
Do we believe psychic and supernatural powers of Buddha?
I have read from scriptures about psychic and supernatural powers of Buddha and arahats: for example, just after birth the Buddha walked some steps on lotus flowers, elevated during meditation in his ...
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5answers
111 views
Assuming empathy is a worldly thing (which i believe it is), why does/would a buddha try to help others find the way?
I've always believed that empathy/feeling for others is a biological feature of evolution in social animals. So, why does/would an enlightened being go to lengths to help others reach enlightenment?
...
