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
688
questions
1
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4answers
72 views
Personality and Conditioning?
The bulk of my personality is made up of other people's beliefs about what is lacking. These core beliefs rise up like bubbles and when the attention is placed on them, they burst into a rather coarse ...
1
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1answer
21 views
Niddesa Translations
I've hunted around a bit online but haven't found much besides some vague "probably not" answers. Has anyone ever come across an English (or other western language) translation of both parts ...
2
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2answers
96 views
Does any other sect of Buddhism have the stages of insight?
The primary source for the 16 stages of insight (aka 7 stages of insight) is the Theravadan text, the Visuddhimagga. But do other, unrelated, sects of Buddhism have similar stages? (ie. Do other sects ...
0
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5answers
114 views
Among 9 jhanas which is deep sleep?
Please provide suttas
I plan to do a meditation until I can achieve the same experience as my deep sleep but I don't know whether it's the first jhana or even cessation of feeling and perception or ...
2
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3answers
52 views
What is the real meaning of 'Knowledge and Vision' in the Pali-texts?
Is there a difference between this two Pali expressions: 'janami passami' and 'nana dassana'?
0
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1answer
56 views
When one enters and remains in cessation of perception and feeling during death where in 31 planes of existence will he go to?
The question is complete, no additional explanation of the question is needed. I just need the suttas.
For reference:
“And further, with the complete transcending of the dimension of the
infinitude ...
5
votes
6answers
460 views
Impermanence causing depression and anxiety
I’ve learned that all things are impermanence. This is causing depression and anxiety in my life. I’m sad and scared that my relationships will one day come to an end. The fact that all things are ...
0
votes
1answer
57 views
To ordain in the west or in Asia?
Dhamma greetings to you,
Considering the possible advantages and disadvantages of where one is being ordained, I wish to have your understanding on whether it'd be more conducive to ordain in Asia or ...
0
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2answers
77 views
Implementing the Satipatthana Sutta IRL [HELP]
I want to put this book to practise and use in real life. I want to be able to apply this book in three ways: (Reading Analayo's version)
a. How can I practise a specific part of the SS when I'm ...
2
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4answers
132 views
Can bad kamma be overcome in one lifetime
If there is a puthujjana who has led a life full of the major and minor defilements till about 40 years of age, suddenly turns around, starts leading a totally celibate life and also observes the rest ...
4
votes
2answers
559 views
I am asking personal help, I want to renounce my home?
Sorry for what I want seek help from someone. The matter is most serious.
I belong to middle class family of Indian village. My father died when I was 7 years old. My mother took very pain to raise me ...
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2answers
71 views
Is the Tathagata 'special'?
Mahayana or Theravada, or any other offshoot. Is a Buddha an exception? Or a personification?
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7answers
174 views
Does Nirvana really means stopping of birth and death? Does it ensures that no new one will arise again?
Buddhist theories all summed up to the point of Nibbana. They have reached the goal, gone there(Tathagat). They conclude holy life is lived and goal attained. Cessation of becoming(No new formation).
...
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2answers
90 views
I'm looking for an outline of the practices going from beginner to jhana or streamentry
I'm looking for something similar to this little book, The
Basic
Method
of
Meditation (10~20 pages) from Ajahn Brahm.
Or something like this -- Meditation:
What is taught and practised in Pa-Auk.
...
0
votes
3answers
82 views
Ghost or horror stories/videos are appropriate during Pandemic moment?
There are more and more horror movie during pandemic and tension moment. Hong Kong is one of the example before riots recently.
Pretty much of productions of horror or ghost movie produced because the ...
1
vote
1answer
83 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 ...
3
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2answers
49 views
Yatha bhuta and Dhamma
Can you say that Yatha bhuta (= seeing things as they really are) and Dhamma are synonyms?
0
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2answers
90 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
276 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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votes
4answers
103 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
138 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 ...
-3
votes
2answers
104 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
110 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
votes
3answers
89 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
306 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
475 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
64 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
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3answers
96 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
58 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
142 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
74 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
452 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
73 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
302 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
101 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
89 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
votes
2answers
63 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
107 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
287 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 ...
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votes
4answers
163 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
115 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
213 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
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3answers
155 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
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2answers
51 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
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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
176 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
vote
3answers
78 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!
