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
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questions
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How do we perceive pitch-dark?
According to Abhidhamma, following four conditions must be satisfied for the arising of eye-consciousness.
Eye-door should be good
Visible object must be present
Light must be present
Attention must ...
4
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2answers
42 views
What are the prescription regarding a bhikkhu or a monastery having a lay-attendant?
I am curious about vinaya regulations & accounts otherwise relevant to a householder's attending to the bhikkhusangha.
Of interest are lay attendants in particular, how far one can go in being ...
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2answers
80 views
Are there stories in the suttas of people experiencing the fruits of their karma in their lifetimes?
In my reading of the suttas in the Pali canon, I've only found one story that's an example of someone experiencing the results of deeds committed in the life they are currently living, in that same ...
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4answers
224 views
Is kasina meditation based on the suttas or was it invented in the Visuddhimagga?
Is kasina meditation and other such meditation techniques not found in the suttas (i.e. not taught by the Buddha) and only invented in the Visuddhimagga?
Or does it have basis in the Pali suttas?
4
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1answer
269 views
Was Sariputta alive during the time of Buddha's death?
I have found two Suttas and I am a bit confused about Sariputta's death.
In DN 16, there is a part about Sariputta being alive at the time of Buddha's death. (look at 4. Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar in DN ...
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3answers
105 views
What is the meaning of the word 'Emptiness' as it was used in the oldest texts?
Want references/excerpts and inference pertaining to the references & etymology for the designation[s] of "Emptiness" as it is used in the Pali Sutta.
3
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4answers
100 views
How can the Buddha (after he was enlightened) reflect that he was not at ease and then became at ease in seclusion?
This is from the Theravada Vinaya:
While he was staying by himself, the Buddha thought, “When I was
previously surrounded by people, I was not at ease because of those
monks at Kosambī who were ...
3
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3answers
285 views
The Buddha spoke to many individuals. Did the Buddha ever tell an individual who did not believe in rebirth, that they must in order to be liberated?
I have yet to read the entire Pali canon, but I've read a lot of it. It is a source I trust is fairly accurate. I'm still looking for an anecdote from the Buddha's life where he tells a non-believer ...
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2answers
62 views
Was Devadaha a Sakyan town and were the Buddha's maternal relatives Sakyans?
In the literature we generally read that the Koliya clan, a neighbouring clan of the Sakyans, had two capitals - Devadaha and Ramagama. Moreover, the Buddha's mother Mayadevi and foster mother ...
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4answers
161 views
How should Buddhism be introduced to a country?
What has historical precedent to teach and what is your opinion?
3
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3answers
149 views
Why did the Buddha not answer Vacchagotta (SN 44.10), but did answer the monks (MN 140)?
It has been said that the reason the Buddha did not answer Vacchagotta was because the discussion was not about the doctrine & terminology of the Buddha, but rather about the illogical doctrine of ...
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2answers
82 views
What did the Buddha mean in MN 140 about what happened to clansman Pukkusāti after a cow killed him?
Bhikkhu, ‘I am’ is a conceiving; ‘I am this’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall
be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall not be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be
possessed of form’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be formless’ is a
...
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2answers
36 views
What is the real meaning of the Pali-word adukkhamasukham in the Mahasatipatthana-Sutta?
In the Mahasatipatthana-Sutta are mentioned three kinds of sensations: pleasant sensations (dukkha vedana); unpleasant sensations (sukha vedana) and adukkhamasukha vedana.
What is the meaning of ...
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3answers
117 views
After the Buddha's enlightenment, did he receive any teachings?
There's not much background to this question. Did the Buddha ever receive a teaching after his enlightenment; a teaching that he accepted and made use of, either his own or another - or perhaps a ...
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1answer
46 views
What is the origin or history of the concept of 'Buddha Sasana"?
There is some information here at wikipedia
I am curious to know if that came from Buddha himself or mentioned in any suttas. The 'sasana' concepts restricts appearence of solitary buddhas or ...
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5answers
176 views
What is (re)born? Did the Buddha explicitly state that it is “the mental idea of the self” that is reborn?
It's been asserted by some knowledgeable individuals that the Buddha explicitly identified "the mental idea of the self" as what is (re)born in samsara and has done so in suttas spelling out ...
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4answers
211 views
How does an enlightened mind distinguish itself from all other phenomena?
How does an enlightened mind distinguish itself from all other phenomena?
There is one such person amidst a crowd of other people. Somebody shouts their name, and they say, "yes, that is I. I am ...
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2answers
115 views
Is it ok to watch a media that promote homosexuality?
this is my first post
I have researched what the buddhist sutra says about Homosexuality...I found Saddhama Smrty Uposttana sutra and Upasakasila sutra that said homosexuality is sexual misconduct and ...
2
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1answer
36 views
Can a lay person observe the ten precepts on uposatha days?
Can a lay person observe the ten precepts on uposatha days? I ask this because I want to observe the eight precepts on uposatha days and I don’t need to use money on those days anyway so I might as ...
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4answers
204 views
What did the Buddha mean in AN 5.38 with the fifth benefit to a person of faith?
What did the Buddha mean in AN 5.38. when he said:
“Mendicants, a faithful gentleman gets five benefits. What five?
The good persons in the world show compassion first to the faithful, not so much to ...
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4answers
77 views
Your mind accusing you
How do I deal with my mind accusing me of something I’m not doing?
For example, if you are walking, and your mind tells you that you are killing insects or bacteria, how do you deal with it?
Or
For ...
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1answer
92 views
The five incurable actions
"There are these five inhabitants of the states of deprivation, inhabitants of hell, who are in agony & incurable. Which five? One who has killed his/her mother, one who has killed his/her ...
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3answers
236 views
Is it bad karma if you say something that turns out to be false?
In DN 27, the Buddha said that the Brahmins make bad karma for speaking falsely.
“Actually, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins are forgetting their tradition when they say this to you. For brahmin women are seen ...
3
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4answers
124 views
Did the Buddha break his promise?
In MN 138, the Buddha said this:
The Blessed One said: "Monks, I will teach you a statement & its analysis. Listen & pay close attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord,"...
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0answers
44 views
Does karma have effects, only if they are done physically? Or also mentally? [duplicate]
I know Theravada Buddhism has 5 precepts:
killing other beings
stealing, or taking by force what is not given
no sexual relations other than your married soulmate
lying and incorrect speech
consuming ...
0
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1answer
37 views
What are the things to do get large amount of merits? [duplicate]
I'm new to this forum.
What are the most merit receiving things in Buddhism?
I already know donating or charity is a good way to earn much merits.
What are the other ways to earn merits?
Thank you.
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0answers
52 views
Vajrayana, Mahayana, Theravada, “Magic”, Using breath control as an anchor to meditation? Where are the boundaries of Bhuddism that merit down votes?
Let us rock the boat for a moment, in intellectual detached discourse, free of the emotions, if this is possible?
My question:
Is this a group tailored and friendly only to Theravada /Pali Canon?
Are ...
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3answers
173 views
Dwelling Upon Seeming Levels of Emptiness?
Note: the term sunyata here is being used from the Mahayana context.
Not too long ago, I asked this question about concentration and openness where I suggested that concentration was a hindrance to my ...
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1answer
74 views
Madhyamaka, theravada and mahayana [duplicate]
Why is Mahayana Buddhism not a form of solipsism (epistemological, methodological, metaphysical) if the first school of Mahayana Buddhism was the Madhyamaka school from which then yogachara originated,...
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39 views
Why is Buddhism not solipsism? [duplicate]
Why Buddhism Is Not Solipsism (Methodological, Epistemological, or Metaphysical) I read on the Internet that Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism are all forms of solipsism. But that's not true, right? ...
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2answers
117 views
The Various Theravada Traditions
What are the various specific traditions in Theravada Buddhism?
If you could please describe, compare, and contrast each of them
that would be greatly appreciated.
May you be well.
3
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2answers
141 views
Is it bad karma if you are waiting for someone to die?
I was just wondering if it’s bad karma if you were just waiting for someone to die? For example, let’s say you asked your parents for permission to become a monk but they declined so you decided to ...
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5answers
303 views
So what is a Buddhist and what makes a person a Buddhist?
In brief Devadatta was Buddha's cousin and a monk. He could fly, tried to kill the Buddha, did many bad things and went to hell.
Devadatta did not understand dependent origination correctly; essence ...
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1answer
85 views
Understanding Rūparāgo and Arūparāgo
In the Theravada tradition, the fetters model makes reference to rūparāgo and arūparāgo found in the higher fetters.
I've never been a jhana follower, but I can clearly recognise that the rupa jhanas ...
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5answers
650 views
Vaccination, Ethics and Morals
During the present times, there is an excessive need to vaccinate people, but what I have noticed is that when one wishes to scrutinize this action, when one wants to ask viable, pertinent and ...
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4answers
125 views
The Buddha and the act of smiling
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa.
Even though it may at first hand appear to be a shallow subject and inquiry, I happen to find it of relevance to the practice and wondered about it.
...
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3answers
108 views
SN 35.116 - Is “the world” (“loka”) an objective reality perceived via the senses?
I read the following on the internet:
One perceives 'the world' through the senses - however the senses
themselves are in the world (lokasmiṃ). That does not imply the world
is a state of mind, but ...
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4answers
92 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 ...
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1answer
28 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 ...
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2answers
109 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 ...
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5answers
148 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 ...
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3answers
61 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'?
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1answer
88 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 ...
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6answers
504 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 ...
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1answer
67 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 ...
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2answers
119 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
150 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 ...
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2answers
581 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
75 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
180 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).
...
