All Questions
8,508
questions
1
vote
3
answers
899
views
What is the water filter of Koṇāgamana?
No matter how many different ways I search, I seem to get this exact/ALMOST exact phrase:"These relics include the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa, ...
- 111
2
votes
1
answer
52
views
watching myself everywhere?
During meditation sessions, morning 4 to 5, I have started watching myself everywhere. I didn't experienced it before. The garden where I am used to take a morning walk after meditation, there I saw ...
- 1,504
2
votes
2
answers
98
views
Observing sensations during normal time.
I observe very strong sensations even post meditation. They are strong at some time and some time subtle. I am alternating between apanana and vipasana. I would like to understand why they are so ...
- 21
3
votes
1
answer
153
views
if rebirth/reincarnation is true then what is your first birth/incarnation?
I think the question is clear so no further explanation is needed.
- 39
3
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is "thukdam"?
I was reading an article in National Geographic about death, in which there was a brief reference to "thukdam". This was described as a form of meditation that takes place in India, during which monks ...
- 2,673
1
vote
2
answers
5k
views
I get rapid eye movement as soon as meditation starts
I saw a question about rapid eye movement when meditating, which from what I know is similar to REM sleep and the experience I had is a little bit different. As the title says I get the eye movement ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
140
views
Is anxiety connected to the three unwholesome roots?
I have read that anxiety/worry is unwholesome. Is this because it is a form of aversion, one of the three unwholesome roots, or something else?
- 2,673
3
votes
4
answers
545
views
Unnecessarily Complicated Analysis of Anapanasati
Alright, I'm having a lot of unnecessary trouble, and would like some advice regarding anapanasati. I've attempted to understand the technique as with the Anapanasati Sutta, with The Attention ...
user7302
6
votes
1
answer
447
views
Being mindful sitting/working on a computer
I find being mindful while sitting on a computer very hard.
Most movements with mouse/keyboard are happening so fast and intuitive that it's very hard to be conscious of what the actual intention (...
- 1,765
3
votes
5
answers
821
views
role of imagination
The ability to believe in something is a function of the imagination. The power of belief is the power of the imagination. How does one differentiate between conceptualizing and using one's ...
- 71
0
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Tikapatthana in English
I am looking for a proper translation of the Tikapatthana into English which might be available online as a PDF.
Is it possible to point me to such reference. I am looking for the complete set.
3
votes
1
answer
132
views
What is the destination of a Buddhist?
Where should we go for the rest what is the rest ? In mundane life living is so tough , facing sorrow , troubles and need to struggle for achieve something physical things and we get hurt because ...
- 2,164
5
votes
1
answer
102
views
Unguided retreat
If one wanted to do a 3 day to a one week unguided retreat what would they need to know?
I am planning on doing this, with meals purchased and prepared by me in advance.
The plan was 6 - 8 hours ...
- 2,527
11
votes
5
answers
12k
views
How to bless someone?
How to bless someone with special words in Buddhism ?
My friends ask me for keep them in my pray but we don't believe in praying.
So what should my answer to them ?
- 2,164
1
vote
2
answers
322
views
What is the perfect truth in Tientai Buddhism?
It it well known that Tientai teaches the identity of the mundane and real truths.
In its complete teaching, what is being equated?
Is it equating the real truth of the separate teaching with the ...
user2512
1
vote
3
answers
213
views
Can Buddhism be harmful?
There is the much talked about example of "zen sickness".
But I wondered can any buddhist theory or practice can ever be harmful to a human?
I'm looking for an answer from anyone, not necessarily a ...
user2512
4
votes
5
answers
413
views
Lack of Grasping of the Object of Meditation
I asked a question previously about the object of meditation being faint. Perhaps I'd like to reformulate my question more specifically as I still encounter these kinds of problems, and I will provide ...
user7302
3
votes
2
answers
144
views
Is forgiving someone an issue in Buddhism and what does it mean?
In most religions forgiving each other or by God is very common but is in Buddhism forgiving something wiht any value? If so what does it really mean, what does it effect and how is it done?
- 803
1
vote
4
answers
150
views
How do I prevent non-buddhists from going against fourth precept?
As we know fourth precept is the one precept that the Bodhisatta has never said to have broken since he started cultivating Paramita.
When I need to prevent a Buddhist person form lying, I state the ...
2
votes
1
answer
72
views
four types of beings (reference searched)
I remember hearing somewhere about 4 types of beings in relation with the satipatthana sutta and that for each group one of the satipatthanas is most important/suitable to practice. Can somebody ...
- 1,765
2
votes
2
answers
433
views
Should I practice Anapana after 10 day Vipassana course?
I have completed 10-days Vipassana course and I would like to keep on practicing back home. Goenkaji's discourse tells us to practice Vipassana 1 hour each morning and evening every day.Is there a ...
- 23
6
votes
5
answers
419
views
How can the idea of reincarnation be true if all the information of who we are is already destroyed
Because our consciousness can only persist in our brain. When the brain is destroyed, our consciousness is destroyed as well. We become no one. How can the idea of reincarnation be true if all the ...
- 289
0
votes
2
answers
74
views
Lord Buddha's Noble values
We all know the famous nine values of Lord Buddha that we often recite when worshiping Lord Buddha. But i've heard the extended versions of those 9 values. Can someone point me a source to learn them?
- 3,953
2
votes
2
answers
668
views
Conditions to break a precept
In the commentary it's said, in order to lie, all four conditions must be met:
An untrue statement
Intention to deceive
Effort is made
Other deceived by what is said
But according to original Vinaya,...
- 1,191
2
votes
1
answer
435
views
What are the occasions did Panchasika or Pansilu meet the Buddha
The veena in Buddhist stories and Is disharmony allowed in Buddhism? mention that Panchasika or Pansilu had couple of interactions with the Buddha.
Can someone give where is this mentioned in citing ...
3
votes
4
answers
273
views
Metta towards yourself - useless?
There is a part of Yuttadhammo's answer at
How to practice Metta without a Benefactor?
that has very confused me:
cultivate metta towards yourself (useless, but a good example)
Why is metta ...
- 469
2
votes
2
answers
137
views
How worried should one be about the lay precepts?
I took the lay precepts after a short retreat. It was suggested that we say them however loudly we mean them.
I'm kinda worried about this. I may have over-estimated how much I meant them, and also, ...
user2512
2
votes
4
answers
287
views
Is non-emptiness empty?
The term "non-emptiness" appears in the literature. For example from Chi-tsang (madhyamaka):
When the sutras speak of "the emptiness of visible form" this refers to its emptiness and lack of a true ...
user2512
4
votes
2
answers
164
views
How to balance an attitude of "effortless non-striving" with proper posture?
In Karma-Chagme's book, "A Spacious Path to Freedom", he emphasizes the importance of correct posture in directing the vital energies to the central channel. In particular, he mentions (1) the tongue ...
- 41
3
votes
2
answers
294
views
Is Buddhism hell falsely claimed on wikipedia?
Thank you all for your kind answers to my questions. I feel that this community is really different from the others. If I asked the questions I made here in my country, I would be condemned heavily by ...
- 289
2
votes
9
answers
4k
views
Does hell exist in Buddhism?
I understand that hell is being used for keeping the order of our society. Does hell really exist in Buddhism? As it creates fears instead of freeing one's mind from suffering. It also creates a ...
- 289
2
votes
4
answers
204
views
Is it a lie to not report income in taxes?
Facing a situation where if I report cash income, a lot of people would get in trouble. Would it be a lie to report income as zero when filing taxes?
Is abstaining from declaring income on paper a ...
- 447
2
votes
4
answers
407
views
If sex is prohibited, how do we survive?
Sex can lead us to suffering in many ways; however, if all of us are just like Lord Buddha according to his story, wouldn't humanity become extinct?
- 289
2
votes
4
answers
145
views
Why do we believe it?
When we attend a meeting; just right after we leave the meeting room, every one understands the conclusions of the meeting differently. Even if it is written, every one interprets the message of the ...
- 289
1
vote
7
answers
184
views
How to deal with people giving reviews to the teaching?
I recently asked a question here and like always some good friends helped me, Their references were right on point and they referred the correct Sutras and i'm forever thankful for that. But when i ...
- 3,953
1
vote
5
answers
418
views
How to get rid of "Ego"
I have a Girlfriend that I met few years back. She loves me a lot,she is quite brilliant from her childhood, and now she is working in a big firm. I am working in a smaller firm than her. When we were ...
- 111
2
votes
3
answers
876
views
Explain this Theravada Wheel of Life?
Wikipedia's Bhavacakra (Within the Theravada tradition) article includes this picture of the wheel:
From inner to outer, it has four rings:
Past, Present, Future
Active and Passive
?
Twelve Nidanas
...
- 46.5k
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What's the difference between perception and consciousness?
Having read descriptions of perception and consciousness (two of the five skandhas), I still don't understand the difference.
Is there an important difference? What is the difference and why is it ...
- 46.5k
7
votes
5
answers
499
views
How does the first noble truth associate dukkha with each of the five skandhas?
I'm looking at this definition of dukkha:
Birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, death is dukkha;
sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, & despair are dukkha;
association with the unbeloved is ...
- 46.5k
5
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Zen & Dukkha -- Is Everything Suffering?
Thich Nhat Hanh seems to deny a major teaching on dukkha/suffering common to both Theravada and Tibetan teachings -- the idea of all-perasive suffering ("the suffering of composite things",...
- 1,187
1
vote
1
answer
150
views
Decline and the ending of Buddhism
Here is link giving a bit of details that Buddha preached about the decline of Buddhism after parinibbana.
http://www.lawsofthenature.com/GotamaSasana.aspx
I share with you the following passage ...
- 952
1
vote
5
answers
965
views
Was the Buddha against violence in all situations?
Is a strictly pacifist Buddhism exactly correct or are there certain situations were violence or war might be appropriate according to the Buddha's teaching?
What did the Buddha say about the ...
- 7,152
2
votes
1
answer
355
views
Can you point me some Sutras on Buddhist Cosmology?
Can someone point me some good sutras for Buddhist Cosmology. I'm interested in the Theravada school's teaching on this.
- 3,953
3
votes
1
answer
80
views
Where to find multilingual and/or beautifully typeset Buddhist texts?
I recently stumbled upon a lovely collection of well-typeset Vietnamese Buddhist texts. It must have taken tremendous effort to typeset this bilingual Chinese-Vietnamese edition of the ...
- 131
1
vote
0
answers
63
views
where we put the meals after offering to the Buddha? [duplicate]
can we give them to animals, after offering the meal for Buddha's statue and where them put after offering?
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
183
views
Is being skeptical bad?
Vicikicca or skeptical doubt, some interpret this as perplexity, is known to be one of the mental hindrances. But why is having doubt bad for one's mind?
For me, doubt is what makes me think more ...
- 952
3
votes
1
answer
130
views
Buddhist point of view in the research process
I'm looking for some texts where the Buddha explains the nature of mind in relation with the process of learning/researching. I was reading a quote by a famous mathematician known to be very ...
- 133
1
vote
2
answers
230
views
Relics/ dhathu have supernatural powers?
I have heard and read that relics of Buddha have certain supernatural powers. I was reading a book once that said that it is not the relic alone that performs these supernatural acts but the deities ...
- 952
2
votes
1
answer
51
views
Can someone point me the Sutra that explains the fall of Human civilization?
There is a sutra about the downfall of our civilization. It explains how some people flee the urban life and live in far away places while others go into a Killing spree/ War. It also features how the ...
- 3,953
2
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Why do Buddhists cremate instead of burying?
A Buddhist, when dead, is most of the time cremated and not buried. Does this have to do with anything in the teachings of the Buddha? As far as I know, burying a body is more Eco-friendly than ...
- 952