Questions tagged [the-buddha]
For questions about the Buddha (Siddartha Gautama) as a person - his life, sayings, actions, etc.
81
questions
51
votes
13answers
11k views
Can the Buddha ever be a woman?
Is it true that the Buddha will never be a woman? If so, why is this?
To be specific, I am particularly asking whether or not the Buddha itself can be female. I am not asking whether a woman can ...
9
votes
4answers
731 views
Why is the Buddha described as trackless?
In the Dhammapada, within the Buddhavagga section, the Buddha is described as being trackless.
By what track can you trace that trackless Buddha of limitless range,
whose victory nothing can undo,...
13
votes
10answers
3k views
Does God exist in Buddhism?
I'm new to this site. So I'd like to ask a question about God.
Do Buddhists believe in the existence of a God?
Does Lord Buddha mention anything about this?
2
votes
3answers
446 views
Did the Buddha ever 'thunder' during a Fire Sermon?
If I recall correctly, I once read (in a book which I no longer have) that:
The Fire Sermon happened (soon) after the Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion
The Buddha spoke it to a believer/theorist/...
16
votes
15answers
6k views
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
Why do Buddhists believe there is no creator?
Do Buddhists in general also believe there is no supreme being, or do they settle on that there is no intervening supreme being?
Are these the Buddha's ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Did the Buddha give any advice on how to manage economy?
I was wondering if the Buddha did give any advice on how to manage personal economics?
I assume that the advice would be the middle way as applied to everything else in Buddhism. To stay away from ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Buddha meditation under the bodhi tree
Buddha meditated for days under the bodhi tree. Does it mean he sat and did not move for days? Or does it mean he did normal things (like drinking water, urinating etc), but in a total meditative ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Did the Buddha Meditate?
This may come off as a very strange question. From small days I have been taught Buddhism, not in the way it should have been, but in a way which took most stories and teachings for granted. Those ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
Why did physical representations of the Buddha only start to appear a few centuries after his death?
Prior to around the 1st century CE, Buddhist art tended not to depict the Buddha himself, instead preferring to depict relics/symbols of the Buddha, such as his footprints, or the Bodhi tree. That ...
4
votes
2answers
345 views
Did the Buddha try to effect social change?
This month is Buddhist Action Month in the UK when we try to be a bit more socially engaged. To quote from the website
Despite Buddhism's reputation for stillness and withdrawal from the
world, ...
2
votes
4answers
342 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?
2
votes
5answers
3k views
Why the Buddha abandoned asceticism
It is commonly known that the Buddha decided that asceticism does not lead to enlightenment, but less common is the reason why given. From Ajahn Brahm's book Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond, it appears ...
2
votes
1answer
272 views
Where is the description of the vow and the Bodhi tree?
There's a famous story that, eventually, the Buddha vowed not to move until he gained enlightenment.
The story can be found for example here:
Still seeking a way to understand the meaning of life, ...
20
votes
12answers
5k views
How do you tell a 4-year-old who the Buddha was?
I'm in the process of organising a family day at my Local Buddhist Centre. I'll be taking my 4-year-old daughter with me and she will once again ask me who is the Buddha? Previously I have always ...
26
votes
6answers
14k views
Did Gautama Buddha exist?
Is there any historical third-party evidence that the Gautama Buddha actually existed?
Is there historical third-party evidence that Prince Siddhartha or the Gautama Buddha existed outside of the ...
3
votes
1answer
927 views
14 questions left unanswered
I am questioning myself and my practice of answering questions and was stopped by the following website.
http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/level4_deepening_understanding_path/...
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Meditation for higher concentration
What kind of meditation can help one to have a higher concentration; maybe lasting for hours or days? I am a Buddhist, specifically Theravada, and I am trying to keep my mind on one thing. Buddha kept ...
3
votes
6answers
329 views
Did the Buddha leave room for the possibility of a self?
Did the Buddha teach that a self or soul (whether permanent and fixed or impermanent and changing) cannot be found, did he teach that it cannot exist, or what?
2
votes
3answers
209 views
Similarity between creation in Abrahamic religions and beginning of life in Earth mentioned Agganna Sutta?
I was recently listening to a sermon on Agganna Sutta that was on Youtube. I will share my thoughts and questions on the Agganna sutta in a different post. Let me share few passages first and then get ...
0
votes
2answers
184 views
Why worship Buddha?
How do Buddhists worship Buddha. What is the purpose of Buddhists in worshiping and making Buddha images?
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Who is the laughing Buddha?
Given that Gautama Buddha was an ascetic until shortly before his enlightenment and several Dhammapada verses reflect a moderate attitude toward food, such as:
Verse 7: He who keeps his mind on ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
What exactly were the parks that the Buddha spent time in?
Whe I read the Pali Canon the BUddha seems to spend a lot of his time in parks in various locations. Often in the suttas these 'parks' are mentioned in the introduction to the text. For instance the ...
3
votes
6answers
253 views
Shouldn't we take Lord Buddha's word above the all others?
I have seen many answers to questions referring teachings of modern teacher in this SE.
But as i have learned
Lord Buddha's understanding is above any other,even above an arahant.
Dhamma/Dharma ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What exactly was the difference between Alara Kalama & uddaka rāmaputta teachings?
Correct me if I am wrong.
Siddharth went to Alara Kalama, who told him to focus on his breath in order to get rid of Feelings, (Buddha achieved Alara Kalama level in 2 months), Now he told his ...
2
votes
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": ...
2
votes
4answers
327 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 ...
1
vote
3answers
221 views
How to Focus consciously?
I have been trying to read while being conscious about myself or breathe but it seems impossible: I can think about only one thing at a time, and even if I do it "consciously" then I have to go ...
0
votes
4answers
751 views
Can anyone explain non-self or Anatta of Buddhism in simple terms with example? [duplicate]
Recently I got to know about 'Non-Self' or Anatta term but online material was not comprehendible. Below are my questions:
1) Can anyone explain it in simple terms with example?
2) If there's no ...
0
votes
4answers
606 views
The “empirical self” in Buddhism
Is it right to say that all Buddhists both do and don't believe in the "empirical self", as in the conscious mind and its concomitants?
And in order I might make sense of your answer, can the latter "...
4
votes
3answers
15k views
What did the Buddha teach about aliens?
What are the teachings of the Buddha about aliens or other planets that have lives?
Is this the only place that can have life or human beings?
Is it possible to be born a Buddha in some other ...
12
votes
12answers
1k views
Attachment is a poison. Why is attachment to the Buddha and to Buddhist philosophy not a problem?
Attachment (aka craving or greed) is one of the Three Poisons. Why is attachment to Buddha not a poison? Perhaps it's related to the Tibetan Buddhist lojong "Don't make gods into demons"?
1
vote
3answers
346 views
Is 'Neo' the Buddha?
In the Matrix, is Neo's character just Sidhartha in a new life? Does the movie have any implication to whether Neo is actually the Buddha? I know the movie is chalk full of notions of being Buddhist ...
10
votes
6answers
5k views
Why the Buddha didn't originally allow ordination of women
Is it true that the Buddha didn't allow women in the Sangha? If this is true then why is that?
10
votes
2answers
488 views
What “religions” did previous Buddhas practice?
I recently found a book called "A Buddhist Bible".
In it, Buddha refers to that there have been many Buddhas before him.
If Buddha was the one to put the foundations of Buddhism, what "religions" did ...
10
votes
4answers
560 views
Teachings from Buddhas other than Gautama
I asked this question earlier: What "religions" did previous Buddhas practice?
Now I'm wondering if any teachings from earlier (or later) Buddhas have been passed down to our time. And if ...
8
votes
7answers
1k views
Are there examples of the Buddha showing humour in the Pali Canon?
Leading on from this question - are there any examples of the Buddha showing a sense of humour or a certain lightness in his teachings within the Pali Canon? I was once told that it is possible to ...
6
votes
9answers
2k views
Why should we worship statues of Lord Buddha?
Why should we worship Lord Buddha statues with flowers, lights and food, even when we know Lord Buddha is not alive and does not exist? Did Lord Buddha instruct us to do so or is there any other ...
5
votes
10answers
903 views
What is happening to Lord Buddha after “parinirvana”?
We all know that after Lord Buddha's parinirvana, he will never be born again. So my question is, if Lord Buddha does not have a rebirth after parinirvana, what is actually happening to him (after ...
5
votes
8answers
1k views
Is there any truth in the legend about the birth of Siddhartha?
This Life of the Buddha (also mentioned among Wikipedia's Miracles of Gautama Buddha) says,
According to the legends about this birth, the baby began to walk seven steps forward and at each step a ...
3
votes
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 ...
2
votes
12answers
823 views
How can I be sure if the Buddha actually woke up?
waking up to the ultimate truth of reality and that anyone can do like him. I feel like I'm living in the matrix. but i'm not so sure if waking up is possible.
2
votes
1answer
125 views
To what level can be said that Buddha 'followed' the dzogchen?
The Dzogchen-tradition first appeared in the first half of the 9th century. According to tradition, the Dzogchen teachings were brought to Tibet by Padmasambhava in the late 8th and early 9th ...
1
vote
6answers
247 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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vote
5answers
593 views
Evidence of Pali Canon's Origin
Are the Buddha's words the source of the Pali Canon? What evidence is there of the Pali Canon's origin? What do scholars say?
0
votes
1answer
3k views
Did Buddha walk on water? Was Jesus trained as a Buddhist?
In this video it is said that Buddha walked on water. Is that true and written down? And why did he do that?
It also says that Jesus might have been trained in the ways of Buddhism? Is there evidence ...
9
votes
3answers
5k views
Did Gautama Buddha believe in God?
I hear the Buddha rejected the cultural gods when he achieved enlightenment and made statements that seem to reject gods, is this true? If not, what kind of God did the Buddha believe in?
9
votes
4answers
16k views
What language did the Buddha speak?
Do we know, or have a good idea, what language the historical Buddha (Siddhārtha Gautama) spoke. I've just assumed it is Pali but a moment's thought tells me this is probably wrong since the Pali ...
7
votes
5answers
936 views
Supernatural beings and the 31 planes of existence
Did the Buddha have any personal experience with maras and devas and supernatural beings in general?
And, if I'm not mistaken, the 31 planes of existence is something he taught. So, how did he come ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Why is an emaciated Buddha rarely represented in art?
Surely The Buddha appeared quite emaciated when he realized full enlightenment. Why is an emaciated Buddha rarely represented in art?
6
votes
2answers
366 views
Buddha's past lives in the Jatakas
In multiple Jataka stories, the Buddha tells of his different past lives, multiple of which occurred under King Brahmadatta. Am I missing something here? How is it that the Buddha was living multiple ...
