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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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
31 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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1answer
60 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
72 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
90 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 ...
2
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3answers
234 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
117 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,"...
3
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0answers
42 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 ...
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1answer
32 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
50 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
158 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
71 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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35 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
110 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.
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2answers
136 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
295 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
71 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
490 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
91 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
103 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
89 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
25 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
107 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
129 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
58 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
64 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
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6answers
481 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
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1answer
60 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
99 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
144 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
572 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
72 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
177 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
98 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.
...
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3answers
88 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 ...
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1answer
86 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 ...
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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?
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2answers
93 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 ...
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2answers
293 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
108 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 ...
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4answers
161 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 ...
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2answers
106 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 ...
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3answers
112 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?
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3answers
90 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 ...
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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
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5answers
315 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. :)
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6answers
487 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
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2answers
71 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 ...
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3answers
100 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 ...
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4answers
60 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 ...
