Questions tagged [theravada]
The oldest of the two big branches in Buddhism. Theravada tries to follow the original teachings of Gautama Buddha as closely as possible
673
questions
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1answer
69 views
What is “Devputra Mara”?
Tripitaka talks of four kinds of Mara. It says that to begin with there were 3 attempt of mara to stop Buddha ...
First in Skandha mara (self view)
Then Klesh mara (Desire, hate and ill will)
Finally ...
2
votes
1answer
29 views
Yatha bhuta and Dhamma
Can you say that Yatha bhuta (= seeing things as they really are) and Dhamma are synonyms?
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2answers
87 views
North American: Where Can I Ordain Under The Tradition of Mahasi Sayadaw?
I am a Theravada Buddhist living in North America practicing the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition. My queries (regarding Theravada monasticism) are the following:
1) Can anyone recommend a or more than one ...
2
votes
2answers
261 views
What is the actual status of the Dalai Lama in regard of Dhamma-Vinaya?
Since a Tibetan religious leader is often counted in the West and under modern people (yet actually known just in Tibet and as far as western modern media reach, unknown or not regarded in 95% of the ...
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4answers
94 views
Is the Eightfold Path exclusive to Buddhism?
Is the Eightfold Path exclusive to Buddhism?
Buddha taught the Noble Eightfold Path. The way I understand the eightfold path is a generic path not exclusive to Buddhism. However, the Noble Eightfold ...
3
votes
4answers
117 views
Signless Meditation • 8th Jhana
We find in Thig 3.3 the following verses :
I attain the meditations on emptiness and signlessness whenever I
want.
I am the Buddha’s rightful daughter, always delighting in quenching.
How, dear ...
-4
votes
2answers
102 views
Do Buddha represent the Cosmic Man? Does it have similarity to Brahman?
Why the historic saviours and prophets of mankind only existed in scriptures or only in the past?
Why do no saviour was found in the world, which have seen by some men actually?
Why Buddha keeps his ...
2
votes
3answers
74 views
Was it ever stated that monks can’t show their psychic powers to lay people?
I heard it was one of the monk rules. What sutta says monks can’t show their powers to lay people? The Buddha showed his psychic powers to many lay people so why can’t monks?
2
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3answers
84 views
Foundations of Mindfulness • Stages of Awakening
Are there hints, in the Theravada traditions, at parallels to be possibly drawn between the progression through the four stages of awakening (stream winner, once returner, non returner, arahant ) and ...
6
votes
6answers
2k views
How do I control my mind?
How can I prevent harmful thoughts and intentions from coming into my head?
How can I remove them if they do come into my head?
Even if I try to forget about them, I will still remember it. So how can ...
3
votes
5answers
294 views
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. :)
1
vote
6answers
465 views
How did this teleportation happen in DN 16?
In DN 16 it is written that:
"Then the Buddha came to the Ganges River.
Now at that time the Ganges was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Wanting to cross from the near to the far ...
1
vote
2answers
63 views
Does this count as breaking the first precept?
Let’s say that my face was itchy but just before I scratch it, I just remember that there might be face mites living on my face and I might be killing them. And as I’m scratching my face, I keep ...
1
vote
3answers
94 views
Clinging to Dhamma!
Is it way of Arhat, who does not cling to dhamma? By non-clinging even to dhamma, he set free?
Dhammas are diad, 1) Samudaya Dhamma and 2) Nirodha Dhamma.
I feel lost I think due to these:
1)view ...
0
votes
4answers
53 views
The New Age Philosophy of Evolution stating that working towards Thoughtlessness and Nothingness is fundamentally Flawed
Though this video is in Hinglish - some casual dialogues are in Hindi but most of the conversation happens in English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uf-eoAij5o , Anand Gandhi - Director and ...
7
votes
8answers
2k views
Is making art bad or sinful?
I would not be writing this if I had another way of knowing the answer. Unfortunately, I cannot talk to anyone due to quarantine. Even though I have thought a lot about it, I am still unsure. My ...
4
votes
3answers
129 views
Are the higher arupa jhanas supernatural states expanding beyond the physical body?
The higher arupa jhanas are:
fifth jhāna: infinite space (Pāḷi ākāsānañcāyatanaa),
sixth jhāna: infinite consciousness (Pāḷi viññāṇañcāyatana),
seventh jhāna: infinite nothingness (Pāḷi ...
2
votes
2answers
70 views
Tathagata and the seeker after knowledge!
Many ancient pali literature proposed the end or nirvana as 'tathagata got released'. What does it mean? Do tathagata is bound? Or Do we bound by ignorance and free with right knowledge(Samma Ditthi)?
...
2
votes
4answers
426 views
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
72 views
'Antarabhava' existence between rebirth and the death
Does a state called "Antarabhava" an existence between death and rebirth exist?
Traditional Theravada sources, highly respected scholars and texts in Abhidhamma directly decline this as ...
5
votes
5answers
294 views
Why emphasise the EBT when anyone who has achieved Arhathood can teach from direct experience?
This question concerns some Theravada-based practices, with which I am not familiar.
It is not a dig but a genuine query that puzzles me. Yet I'm not sure that I have asked this question well. I have ...
2
votes
1answer
98 views
About the authencity of modern meditation methods
I've been reading a few sources, books, essays and teachings that discuss the idea that the current orthodoxy of Theravada and its modern meditation methods show great differences with what the suttas ...
2
votes
2answers
82 views
Is there any Buddhist society / group / organisation in Mumbai, India? Where we can meet similar like minded people, attend cultural events
I am looking for some kind of Buddhist society/group/organization in Mumbai, India, where we can meet similar like-minded people, attend cultural events, discuss/talk/teachings (dharma talk) on ...
3
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2answers
56 views
Accurate and Concise Translation of Dhamma Qualities
The common stanza describing qualities of dhamma goes as "Swakkatho bhagawatho dhammo sandittiko..." which describes six of them. I am looking for an accurate and concise translation of this ...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Can a monk live with a male lay person?
I've found a similar question;
Are theravada monks allowed to stay in lay people's house?
However it was asked by a woman and nobody answered otherwise.
What i wonder is if there are any ...
3
votes
5answers
284 views
What are the Buddhist guidelines for choosing the true Dhamma?
With many traditions and teachers to choose from, how should one go about figuring out what is the true Dhamma?
I prefer answers based on Buddhist scriptute and references to Sutta, ideally to the ...
-1
votes
4answers
161 views
What's the difference between eating food and adultery?
A question for the initial phase of starting meditation.
To start meditation, it's important to know food first as per satipatthana.
Materialistic food preserves cell-offspring reproduction inside ...
1
vote
4answers
112 views
Is there anything else beyond realization of the five skhandas?
What happens when individuality totally disappears by recognizing the five skhandas as not "me" or "mine"?
Which platform or ground remains after one has fully realized that the five skhandas are ...
1
vote
3answers
192 views
Was the Abhidhamma taught by the Buddha?
According to the Theravada tradition, the Abhidhamma was taught by the Buddha.
From "The Abhidhamma in Practice" by N.K.G. Mendis:
Theravaada tradition holds that the Buddha conceived the ...
3
votes
3answers
153 views
A question about DN 23 and existence of soul
Here is a part of DN 23:
“Even though Master Kassapa says this, still I think that there’s no afterlife.”
“Can you prove it?”
“I can.”
“How, exactly, chieftain?”
“Suppose they were to arrest a bandit,...
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Sutta on which Buddha states the gravity of merits
What is the sutta where Buddha says about the order of merits as in for example "Observing the 5 precepts gives more merit than offering alms" and such.
0
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3answers
100 views
Is this the correct translation and exact meaning of these epic verses in Tripitaka?
There are two sentences found in Tripitaka. Do they mean, "the Divine one come to teach on earth"?
Please forgive me, but it very close to Jesus's savings. As Jesus says, "I'm son of Lord, come for ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Is karma of arms giving depends on the reciever?
Consider the following situation
There are two people. One of them is enlightened. Other one is not. If I gave something to them equally without knowing anything about them, Are there any deference ...
3
votes
7answers
169 views
Dhatu-vibhanga sutta question?
Why consciousness not discussed as internal and external in Dhathu-vibhanga sutta?
"And what is the space property? The space property may be either internal or external. What is the internal ...
1
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3answers
65 views
Samma ditthi vs Miccha ditthi
Can someone guide me? Whenever I try to concentrate on Samma Ditthi, some obstacle generate within this body? It's like mirage of something real! Its like a whirlpool of mass of atoms. Help me!
3
votes
2answers
51 views
Does the first precept require me to check the shower for bugs and make sure to remove all of the bugs before using it?
I recently noticed that perhaps fewer than 10 bugs seem to be in my shower. I can try to remove all of the bugs from the shower before using it so that they don’t get washed away and killed. However,...
6
votes
8answers
830 views
Is it even possible to attain Nirvana?
Sorry, I've just read Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10) and feel a bit overwhelmed.
As far as I understand, this is some sort of instruction on how to attain enlightenment. It teaches, that one has to ...
0
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5answers
139 views
Can this Buddhist do this job?
At my university I and my group were offered a case of opinion on Buddhism.
Neither I nor my colleagues are Buddhists so we have done a lot of research in the last few days, but we are afraid of ...
1
vote
5answers
108 views
Who should we regard as role models?
When practicing the Dhamma there are many exemplary characters found in Buddhist texts who are worthy of emulation,I want to know whether it would be right for a layman to regard an Arahant Bhikkuni ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Steward to a monk/monastery
I am trying to recall the formal/traditional way of offering help to a monk for the longevity of their ordination.
Being a steward doesn't seem like it's the answer I'm looking for.
I have both met ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Monk wanting to upgrade technology
If there have been donations for technology upgrades...
Is it possible for someone to ask an abbott exactly what he wants donated funds to be used for? To ask the what specific items he could use?
1
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0answers
38 views
Do monks HAVE to accept anything offered to them?
Does a theravada abbott have to accept everything / anything that is offered to them? I'm referencing technology, things beyond requisites.
I know it is important for abbotts to set a good example ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Do the Theravādins believe in the Buddhaguṇas?
In the Pāli Theravāda tradition, are there any specific guṇas that a sammāsambuddha has that an arhat has not?
4
votes
3answers
87 views
Sati • Yonisomanasikara
Dearest friends, seeking to clarify my fragmentary understanding of these matters, I would very much appreciate your comments on the distinction between Sati Mindfulness and Yonisomanasikara Attention ...
0
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2answers
83 views
What are your thoughts on Ajahn Maha Bua?
Shedding Tears in Amazement of the Dhamma
I am posting this because I've yet to post a question.
I should note that I respect Ajahn Maha Bua a lot. In fact, both of my teachers were students of his.
...
0
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2answers
34 views
Taking refuge in the three jewels with respect to DN 26
“Mendicants, be your own island, your own refuge, with no other
refuge. Let the teaching be your island and your refuge, with no other
refuge. And how does a mendicant do this? They meditate ...
3
votes
5answers
278 views
Theravada and Nagarjuna
I appreciate that various aspects of Nagarjuna's teachings are rejected by Theravadans but I'm wondering where the line is drawn. For some of his teachings I can see room for scepticism, but what ...
0
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0answers
14 views
Is all property communal for the monks?
The bowl, the robes, the lodgings, the medicines - are these private property, or shared within a Sangha of monks?
1
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5answers
101 views
Are there any similar characteristics between Nama and Rupa?
We can define location, size, velocity for rupa. Can we define these for Nama ?
Can we say "a moving mind", "mind is located inside the body", "after the death, mind leaves the body and step into a ...
1
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1answer
49 views
Kesi Sutta, what is an untamable person?
"It is true, Kesi, that it's not proper for a Tathagata to take life.
But if a tamable person doesn't submit either to a mild training or to
a harsh training or to a mild & harsh training, ...
