All Questions
8,391
questions
2
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2
answers
160
views
Is Right Concentration equivalent to the Four Jhanas?
Point 8 of the Noble Eightfold Path is "Right Concentration". According to Wikipedia and at least some of the (Theravada-leaning) books I have read, with Right Concentration the Buddha meant ...
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15
votes
10
answers
47k
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What is the meaning of the Zen quote: "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water"?
In the question "A question regarding the level of worldly participation for a buddhist monk", Bhante gave an answer containing a Zen quote.
The quote is;
"Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry ...
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2
votes
11
answers
634
views
What's the most important teaching of the Buddha in the canon?
Or, what would be the best teaching to spark an interest in someone who knows little or nothing about the teachings of the Buddha?
1
vote
0
answers
12
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Origins of Theravada Buddhism
Namaste!
Speaking of Theravada Buddhism, I've seen some authors conflating what we know now as Theravada with the whole Sthavira Nikaya / Sravakayana. So they would say that extinct Sravakayana ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
17
views
Is Nirvana a goal or a process, shaping the pursuit of enlightenment and a meaningful life?
In examining the Buddhist doctrine of 'Nirvana,' a scholarly critique emerges. Does Nirvana, often portrayed as the ultimate goal, withstand rigorous scrutiny? Can it be dissected as a concrete ...
- 29
0
votes
0
answers
33
views
Is the concept of 'Anatta' (non-self) in Buddhism a liberating truth or a challenging paradox?
In delving into the intricate tenets of Buddhism, the concept of 'Anatta' emerges as a captivating enigma. At its core, 'Anatta' posits the absence of a fixed, enduring self – a notion that challenges ...
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1
vote
3
answers
85
views
In what way[s] does Buddhist doctrine agree with or contradict Anekāntavāda?
What do Buddhists - modern day and historical - think of Anekāntavāda? There is this cryptic remark by Dharmakirti:
With the differentiation removed, all things have dual nature. Then,
if somebody ...
- 29
1
vote
3
answers
199
views
AN 8.30 Great thoughts, thoughts of great man, thing-able, (de-)touch-able for everyone? (thinking in first jhāna)
Coming from here, analysis of AN 8.30.
Good, Anuruddha, very good.
It’s good that you think
these thoughts of a great person:
Does good householder think that certain (all) people are capable to ...
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0
votes
3
answers
142
views
Did the Buddha ever say that anything follows from a contradiction?
Is there any sutta in the Pali canon where the Buddha explicitly says or implies that everything follows if we admit a contradiction? I'm looking for any sutta where the Buddha used what is commonly ...
- 9,336
2
votes
6
answers
118
views
Sensing vs Knowing inhalation and exhalation in Anapana according to Goenka Tradition
I have been following Goenka tradition of vipassana for a few months now(one 10 day retreat and 5 months of daily practice). We are instructed to keep our attention below the nostrils and observe the ...
- 234
0
votes
2
answers
43
views
Does sotapanna still experience afflictive thoughts?
Does a sotapanna still experience afflictive thoughts and or engage in unwholesome activities etc or have they transcended such things?
- 46.3k
0
votes
1
answer
56
views
Right mindfulness
When I'm practising I've noticed that a thought arises but I am noticing this after the fact. With a sensation or sound I can notice it in that moment but thought seems to always be in the past. What ...
1
vote
4
answers
106
views
What is meant by Guru?
I often hear this word and I think I have some doubts because in Hinduism Jupiter is called Guru.
So maybe I could be misunderstanding.
What do lamas mean when they say guru?
Could Shree Ganesha be my ...
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0
votes
1
answer
118
views
If you are reborn into a different realm, does that mean you just live in that realm, or you are reborn as the inhabitants?
When Buddhist texts mention "realms of rebirth", it sounds like you are only living in those realms and not actually becoming one of the inhabitants.
Like for example being reborn into the ...
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1
vote
2
answers
41
views
Are monks and lay people 100% allowed to sell sacred, consecrated or blessed images and objects?
I learned that the monks of a monastery draw and consecrate or bless sacred images and then resell them.
Is all this permitted by the law of dharma?
Don't we fall into materialism by commodifying the ...
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8
votes
10
answers
2k
views
Where does morality come from in Buddhism?
I have a hypothetical question.
Let's say I don't believe in karma, reincarnation, or any deities of any sort. I also saw in some texts and videos that, to achieve higher awareness, I should not ...
- 443
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
How does the doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda interact with Dhammapala's interpretation of nibbana?
The doctrine of pratītyasamutpāda states that:
all dharmas (phenomena) arise in dependence upon other dharmas: "if this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist&...
2
votes
4
answers
251
views
Why doesn't Mara suffer?
Everyone born in this world is bound to suffer.
Mara tempted Buddha so many times to abandon his quest which he did not. Yet Mara herself never suffered due to her own Karma or due to her belief ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
124
views
Buddha's Teachings on Life's Purpose and Existence
I have been ruminating about some existential questions...."what is purpose of life"...."is there a creator"..."what is the best work for a mortal to undertake in their ...
- 29
0
votes
1
answer
30
views
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 ...
- 29
3
votes
1
answer
560
views
Chop wood, carry water: why? [duplicate]
A very famous, so famous it may be apocryphal, zen quote says:
Before Enlightenment chop wood carry water, after Enlightenment, chop
wood carry water.
What does this mean? Specifically, is the ...
- 865
1
vote
0
answers
67
views
In which sutta does Buddha say roughly '..and that would bring me sorrow[sad]?
I recall regarding a sutta awhile back of an encounter between Buddha and some wandering ascetic (not Bahiya). in that, the ascetic might have been too old or whatever, and buddha discourages him and ...
3
votes
4
answers
306
views
How does craving (taṇhā) relate to neutral feelings?
How does craving (taṇhā) manifest with respect to neutral feelings?
In Dependent Origination (or dependent co-arising, however you'd like to call it), it is said that Craving (taṇhā) follows on the ...
0
votes
2
answers
113
views
Is there a true contradiction between SN 5.10 and SN 22.85?
It is said by the bhikkhuni Vajira:
“Just as, with an assemblage of parts,
The word ‘chariot’ is used,
So, when the aggregates exist,
There is the convention ‘a being.’
SN 5.10
However, in the ...
0
votes
3
answers
119
views
Is the conventional existence of 'a being' just an agreement?
It is said by the bhikkhuni Vajira:
“Just as, with an assemblage of parts,
The word ‘chariot’ is used,
So, when the aggregates exist,
There is the convention ‘a being.’
SN 5.10
The pali translated ...
1
vote
8
answers
277
views
Is there a real contradiction between AN 3.47 and SN 15.9?
The setup ...
Mendicants, conditioned phenomena have these three characteristics. What three? Arising is evident, vanishing is evident, and change while persisting is evident. These are the three ...
-2
votes
4
answers
118
views
Is the arising of a sentient being evident or not?
The setup ...
Mendicants, conditioned phenomena have these three characteristics. What three? Arising is evident, vanishing is evident, and change while persisting is evident. These are the three ...
1
vote
3
answers
83
views
Do anesthesiologists (and doctors in general) earn merit
Do doctors earn merit on a regular basis as a result of their good acts of treating and curing illnesses of their patients? Is their profession an excellent one because of their chance to earn merit?
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votes
0
answers
45
views
Story in the texts that illustrate the convoluted nature of kamma and rebirth
There is one specific story that caught my attention long back, which details the account of a family in which the members were entangled by rebirth. Don't seem to recollect much, but I vaguely ...
- 46.3k
1
vote
2
answers
130
views
Did Buddha acknowledge "reductio ad absurdum" argumentation & other apriori forms of reasoning in Buddhist logico-episteomology (looking for sources)?
It is well known that many Buddhist philosophers and scholars of various traditions, such as Nagarjuna and Chandrakirti rely on and acknowledge reductio ad absurdum as a method of positing arguments ...
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-1
votes
2
answers
61
views
Does 'samadhi-nimitta' mean 'undistractable-lucidity-themes'?
I read the following on the internet:
In MN 44, the four remembrance-establishings (are)
undistractable-lucidity-themes.
Any topic for satipatthana "mindfulness", can be a topic for samādhi
...
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2
votes
4
answers
616
views
Mahayana view on why Theravada's anatta is insufficient to uproot ignorance?
A Mahayana-practising member wrote this comment:
With respect, the Theravada generally has a much more coarse
understanding of emptiness and anatta and is confused as to the object
of negation. ...
1
vote
2
answers
72
views
Is Nibbana an asankhara?
There are three closely related words in Pali , namely, Sankhara, Sasankhara and asankhara.
They are mentioned in the following sutta :
==============
“Bad, unskillful qualities, mendicants, arise ...
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1
vote
4
answers
127
views
Do we indulge in ignorance?
This question arises from this previous post. The questioner seems perplexed that a person should suffer for not knowing or possessing certain knowledge i.e. simply for being unaware. While there is ...
0
votes
3
answers
82
views
What is the precise analysis of SN 22.85 & SN 22.86?
SN 22.85 says:
“What do you think, friend Yamaka, do you regard form, feeling,
perception, volitional formations and consciousness taken together as
the Tathagata?”—
“No, friend.”
“If, friend Yamaka,...
- 248
4
votes
4
answers
745
views
Is there a circular reasoning in origin of consciousness?
Dependent Origination says, given the consciousness, name and form arises.
But in SN12.65 it says name-form is condition for consciousness:
When consciousness exists there are name and form. ...
- 58.3k
2
votes
2
answers
164
views
In the trisvabhava theory, is the consummate nature inflected by past present and future conditions?
In the trisvabhava theory, is the consummate nature inflected by past present and future conditions? Or is it always the same and independent of causal conditions?
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1
answer
59
views
Is fire-making allowed?
Fire ceremonies are likely categorized as ‘rites and rituals’, but is/was the basic usage of fire for warmth prohibited by monastic rules?
- 46.3k
0
votes
2
answers
40
views
Is cessation of feeling same as having no feeling?
In dependent origination , feelings arise due to contact. Craving results from feelings. Cessation of feeling is cessation of suffering.
Suppose consciousness is devoid of feelings , that is ,no ...
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1
vote
1
answer
48
views
How can feelings describe name and form if feelings come after name and form
In dependent origination name and form is described as follows :
“And what, bhikkhus, is name-and-form? Feeling, perception, volition,
contact, attention: this is called name. The four great elements ...
6
votes
11
answers
1k
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 ...
1
vote
1
answer
70
views
Is it ever said in the Pali Canon that Nirvana cannot be attained?
Is there any sutta in the Pali Canon which describes the supramundane view that Nibbana cannot be attained?
I'm looking for a verse or quote from the Pali Canon which describes Nibbana as unattainable ...
1
vote
2
answers
177
views
What is the Sanskrit root word for “ viññāṇa”?
In dependent origination , the word “ viññāṇa” arises and it is translated as consciousness. I am not satisfied and I guess some other members of this site are also not satisfied because then the ...
- 1,183
3
votes
10
answers
1k
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Why does one suffer because of ignorance if ignorance is unintentional?
It makes no sense that a person would knowingly choose to be ignorant of what causes them suffering, yet people suffer for "their" ignorance anyway.
How is a person supposed to "freely/willingly ...
- 46.3k
1
vote
2
answers
61
views
How do we hear the sound of our thoughts?
Quick question. How do we hear the sound of our own thought? I assume ear-consciousness but without the contact of internal-external bases? Is this right?
- 1,183
-2
votes
4
answers
141
views
Does Early Buddhism affirm mainstream orthodox ideologies?
I read the following on the internet by an independent (Australian) bhikkhu:
Oppositional framing is cringe
You know it when you see it. “Everyone else says that … but I say this”.
Which is ...
- 46.3k
1
vote
1
answer
168
views
In how far does involvement in certain undertaking effects one, good or bad?
In how far does one take part on skilfull or unskilfull undertaking?
In how far does one receives the fruits of good or bad actions by means of getting involved by toughts, signs and deeds, by ...
CommunityBot
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2
votes
10
answers
374
views
How is consciousness measured?
There is a sphere of infinite space and there is sphere of infinite consciousness.
It is easy to comprehend what is infinite space is but it is not clear what is meant by infinite consciousness?
Does ...
- 1,183
2
votes
4
answers
185
views
Why is a world with less negative (unwholesome) qualities better?
Buddhism encourages people to get rid of certain negative qualities like anger, hatred, jealousy, selfishness.
But, considering an evolutionary perspective we couldn't completely tell what role they ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
4
answers
71
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source of put fence & plant seeds & pull weed simile (for avoid bad & do good & purify the mind)?
I heard the famous Dhammapada's 183: “Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas.” tractated metaphorically as what one needs to do to have a ...
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