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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Difference between rahat and maha rahat
This is more directed to someone who understands Sinhalese.
Is there difference between Rahath and Maha rahath? Is it interchangeable?
In the texts some places it says rahath and in some places it ...
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How old were the 500 arhats when they became arhats?
How old were each (or several) of the Buddha's students when they became arhats? I know Buddha was 35. I researched so far by Googling it and also by looking into Sariputra's life and also trying to ...
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What is a "True Buddhist"?
I was reading a book titled "Buddha Dhamma for Inquiring Minds" by Ven. Buddhadasa. In this book he says ordinary people are Buddhists in name only and "To be a ‘true Buddhist’ is to be ...
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Did I violate the fourth precept?
I am a Theravada Buddhist. I got selected to a government university in my country. I got a message saying “Your online registration under Additional Intake for Special Subject for the A/Y 21/22 is ...
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Progressive rebirth from one heaven to a higher heaven
Can devas in heavenly realms do good deeds and get a rebirth in other higher heavens and progress successively from one higher heaven to other?
Preferably, from Mahayana Buddhist or Theravada Buddhist ...
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Serious asthma and meditation, how much should I struggle? Is anxiety at night ok?
I have struggled with serious chronic asthma all my life. I started meditating and in general felt very relaxed. However a few years into the practice my asthma became very serious. One night I ...
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Buddhajayanti sinhala tripitaka for kindle
Is there buddhajayanti sinhala translation of tipitaka for Kindle device? Pdf format is not good with kindle. Is there any other format of buddhajayanti sinhala tipitaka for kindle. Please let me know....
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What are some techniques to practice Anatta with the five aggregates?
According to the Anatta-Lakkhana Sutta, the Buddha asks us to treat the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness) as "this is not mine, this is not I, this ...
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What is the relationship between signless samadhi, emptiness and cessation of perception & feeling?
As titled,
According to the suttapitaka.
What is the relationship between 'signless samadhi', 'signless property', 'emptiness' and 'the cessation of perception & feeling'?
I want only Theravada ...
user24965
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According to Buddhism, everything that happens, happens for a reason, which is due to karma. How does Utu Niyama, Bija niyama fit into this?
I've listened to many theravada buddhist sermons and something that is always mentioned is how everything that happens, happens for a reason. Does that mean that if we get sick, it's our karma to get ...
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How to offer food in Buddhism?
I have never seen a Buddhist food offering at an altar. Can someone explain how it's done?
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Brahmcharyavas : starting, ending
Last question:-
"Bramchariyavas has started" -> "ब्रह्मचर्यवास शुरू हुआ"।
Did this "occur" to anyone in past and the same has been mentioned in books? What are the ...
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What comes first: effort or motivation?
Master Shi Heng Yi referred to Laozi (Chinese Taoist Teacher) as saying that
It's better to remain clam and do nothing while achieving nothing than doing a lot and investing a lot of effort and ...
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Source of Ajahn Chah quote
I'd like to read the context for the following quote from Ajahn Chah:
I want those who train with me to see the truth, not just read the
scriptures. I want them to see if their hearts have been ...
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Do all Dhamma teachings aim us at release?
I read the statement recently that all Dhamma teachings aim to produce disenchantment, for the purpose of release / unbinding.
Any thoughts on this subject are welcome, but my question is: Which ...
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Is the Tipitaka considered infallible in Theravada Buddhism?
Would most Theravada monks consider the Tipitaka infallible?
For example, would most agree with these statements?
All Scripture is... useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in ...
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I don't understand bodhicitta
I have difficulty with the notion of bodhicitta and the concept of Boddhisattva, and the difference with the concept of Buddha. If I understand correctly, the idea is to have an altruistic intention ...
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Aren't ahirika and kukkucca contradictory defilements?
If I'm understanding correctly, kukkucca refers to the lack of guilt in the face of wrongdoing and ahirika translates to remorse or guilt. If that is the case, when someone does something bad he's ...
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Ritual in buddhism (preferably theravada) for lay people
Perhaps ritual isnt the right word but hopefully I can explain. So I am attracted to orthodox Christianity and its culture but I dont believe any of it. I like its fasting ritual many of its holidays, ...
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What is meant by awareness-release, ...?
In "The Sublime Attitudes" the word "release" appears multiple times.
What is meant by "awareness-release"?
What is meant by "release of awareness"?
Do both ...
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looking for a particular sutta
i'm after the sutta where the Buddha says something like 'you can get to know another person if you have some awareness and wisdom, but even then you must live close by and observe them in all their ...
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What is meant by "a profound knowledge of words" in dhp 352?
dhp 352
A master is one who has let go
of all craving and clinging to the world;
who has seen
the truth beyond forms,
yet is possessed of
a profound knowledge of words.
Such a great being can be said
...
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Do we have to commit sins because of another's karma
I have a big question since my childhood and everyone I asked, failed to answer. Please help me.
Imagine that there are three men A, B and C.
A kills B and commit a sin in a previous bhava. Now A have ...
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Can you break the five precepts (except for lying) if the need arises?
I have come across someone stating that you can break any of the five precepts with exception of lying if the need may arise. Is this true? In Theravada Buddhism.
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What is the last reward in AN 6:103 ("The Teacher will have been served with goodwill.")?
I'm not sure how to understand the sixth reward, or even who is rewarded. Can someone explain it?
(AN 6:103, from https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN6_103.html, complete sutta quoted below)
“In ...
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Am I "studying" too much and practicing too little?
I am new to practicing Buddhism. I was first introduced to it through reading "What The Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. Since then I've begun practicing Ānāpānasati and zazen, as well as ...
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Is S. Dhammika's book The Broken Buddha, a misleading angry reaction?
Recently I happened to read the following review and comments about the book "The Broken Buddha."
The Broken Buddha and its Implications
The Broken Buddha: The revenge of the unfaithful monk
...
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how do I let go of everything?
Is there practice that I can do that will help me dissolve my attatchment to the world, my family, my life any hopes and dreams, its all transient and causes massive suffering for me. How can I let ...
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What is mainly uncovered by Analyzing Causes? Anicca or Dukkha or Anatta?
The Abhidhamma Commentary says:
Anicca-characteristic is hidden due to "Non-contemplation of the Rising and falling."
Dukkha-characteristic is hidden due to "Shifting of the Postures.&...
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Where does the Buddha say, There is no happiness without calm?
Where in the canon does the Buddha say, There is no happiness without calm?
I've heard the statement only second hand, and paraphrased.
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Kalama Sutta only about Kilesas?
I found an explanation of Kalama Sutta in a website which is said to be from a Tipitaka teacher in Sri Lanka. Is Kalama Sutta only about Kilesas?
Kālāma sutta is only to be applied for Lobha-dosa-...
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What are the "Four Vinayas"?
The Mahāpadesa Sutta describes about the "Four Great Authorities (Mahāpadesas)" that a disciple should refer, if any one claims some new thing to be the word of the Budhha.
Mahāpadesa Sutta ...
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Are "Concepts about Real" Concepts?
In Theravada, the Concepts are considered unreal ("person", "chariot" etc.). Then what about the "Concepts about Real" ("red", "perception")? Are they ...
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Why are Concepts not Impermanent?
Why are Concepts not Impermanent? I found the below explanation in another forum. Are they Permanent? or not both?
Conventional reality (sammuti sacca/ pannatti) is just a concept and
not real. Non-...
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If the Tathagata exists after death, is there anyone to witness it?
This is different from asking, "does the Tathagata exist after death? or not? or both? or neither?"
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Where is the most knowledgeable Abhidhamma Community?
Who are the most knowledgeable Abhidhamma masters today? Where are the active Abhidhamma communities?
country
lineage
monastery
institute
teacher
group
website
forum
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Why didn't the Buddha mention about the omniscience of "future of other beings", in suttas?
In many suttas, the Buddha affirms his omniscience about the past of all the beings.
Why didn't the Buddha say something about his omniscience about the future of all the beings, in suttas?
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What is the source of this information about "underground serpents"?
I've seen this glossary entry in a couple of places:
Hīnayāna: “Inferior Vehicle,” a pejorative term, coined by a group who called themselves followers of the Mahāyāna, the “Great Vehicle,” to denote ...
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How does decisive supporting cause (upanissaya paccaya) work? (and some related questions)
According to Theravada Buddhism:
1.How does Decisive Supporting Cause (Upanissaya Paccaya) work? For example, when Venerable arahant Anuruddha asked Sangha what to do to attain divine-eye in Lord ...
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Is goodwill necessary in order to make progress on the Path?
It seems impossible to have goodwill in certain situations. Is it enough to be tolerant and forgiving of other's faults?
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How to achieve magga nana?
During meditation practice have experienced mind was stopped. But some says it is samadi,not the magga phala.but now I don't have thoughts over myself. They say magga phala is shut down .so what is ...
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What is stream entry?
While doing meditation I had experienced sudden stop of mind for a second. Then restart again reflecting that is peaceful. What was that experienced?is it stream entry?
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What is access concentration?
When sit for the meditation ears were blocked. Just like sink into the water. But sounds were heard. With the time it's heard in less intensity. Is that access concentration? Before this developed ...
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What is the different between first path attainer from a meditative commoner?
During meditation can path attainment be identified? How ? Is it gradually progressing of the path in first path attainers?how this is differ from a meditative commoner?
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Is repeating words in mind necessary to some meditations in Theravada? Why or why not?
According to Visuddhimagga, focusing on breath does't require repeating "inhalation, exhalation..." in mind (at least it seems that the book doesn't explicitly tell that) . However, the 10 ...
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Looking for the source of a story about the Buddha and a lady who looked the other way
I'm searching for a Sutra (or possibly a commentary) but it has escaped me. My recollection is hazy, but it is about one of the Buddha's monks (most likely Ven. Ananda or Ven. Sariputta) asking the ...
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Is the Pali Canon the final authority in the Theravada tradition?
In the Theravada tradition is the Pali Canon viewed as the final truth? In other words, are the Buddha's teachings viewed as the final authority which cannot be revised or are his teachings subject ...
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Proper way of offering
I'm trying to clarify something I believe I heard a while back. I think I heard the monk instruct the lay person to say "Bhikku Sanghassa Demi" which I believe was later translated as "...
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Why do Sotapannas need faith?
I have read that the Stream Enterer needs to develop all the 5 faculties order to become enlightened. One of these facilities is faith. It is also said that they are beyond skeptical doubt of the ...
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Unwholesome Sankharas Emerging From Dhamma Practice
What unwholesome sankharas can be created from too much focus on dhamma concepts, reading and intellectual pursuits, and practice?
What kind of results do those sankharas produce?
What blockades are ...
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