7
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Accepted
Buddha's past lives in the Jatakas
It doesn't say that it is the same king Brahmadatta. It's probably a different king with the same name or a descendant of the original Brahmadatta. Just like king Edward the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th...
...
- 25.7k
6
votes
Accepted
At what point in the path is one able to recall their past lives?
Powers are generally orthogonal to insight.
Most enlightened people have some powers, but not all people with powers are enlightened.
The six higher powers (chalabhiññā) include the cessation of ...
- 7,433
5
votes
Is there a middle way between working towards personal liberation and liberation for all sentient beings?
There is no conflict, the dichotomy is false and is based on incorrect understanding. As Buddha said in Sedaka Sutta:
When watching after yourself, you watch after others. When watching after others, ...
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5
votes
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Are there Bodhisatta practices within Theravada?
Bodhisatta practices in Theravada are mentioned in Buddhavamsa, Jataka and Apadana atthakatha, especially in Visuddhajanavilāsiniyā, Apadana Atthakatha, the commentary of Apadana, which is believed to ...
- 4,233
5
votes
Accepted
Difference between abiding nirvana and non-abiding nirvana?
Non-abiding Nirvana is a standard Mahayana doctrine, described as non-abiding in contrast with (Hinayana's) Nirvana which is considered abiding.
(As always, I have to remind everyone that Theravada is ...
- 57.2k
5
votes
Buddhas (and Bodhisattva) are real individuals or manifestations?
I believe that the concepts of Dharmakaya (eternal truth form) and Nirmanakaya (physical form) originated from the following sutta quote.
The Buddha downplayed the importance of his physical form and ...
- 36.4k
4
votes
Accepted
Betraying People
Your observations are quite correct in a capitalist mould. Survival of the fittest and stepping on your neighbor due to ambition or desire to achieve something is quite common.
We cannot, quite ...
- 2,234
4
votes
Accepted
Are Bodhisattvas real human beings we can encounter?
From (Chinese) Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra:
“Subhūti, this is like the body of a person that is tall and great.”
Subhūti said, “Bhagavān, the body of a person that the Tathāgata ...
- 57.2k
3
votes
Why does/would a "Bodhisattva" burdens himself and instigate others as well?
Why does/would a "Bodhisattva" burdens himself with the choice of becoming a Buddha (avoiding extinguishing dukkha) and instigate others as well to do so?
Many people misunderstand Nirvana as ...
- 57.2k
3
votes
Why does/would a "Bodhisattva" burdens himself and instigate others as well?
A Bodhisattva 'instigates' others because he wants what is best for others (full enlightenment together with its causes). From this viewpoint, 'abiding nirvana' is thus not what is best for others, ...
- 5,188
3
votes
Betraying People
Then why does these humans do this inappropriate acts without giving any values to relationships, bonds ?
This is the nature of Samsara. People do this. Since things like this happen it is one ...
3
votes
Accepted
How does the idea of Bodhisatva in Mahayana mesh with anattā?
The lines between helping the self and helping others haven't always been very clear even to accomplished masters of either tradition, for example, this is from Huang Po,
Even if you go through ...
- 7,433
3
votes
Buddhas vs bodhisattvas vs arhats vs devas vs brahmas
Actually Paceccabuddhas do teach but in brief and in general terms like from one Theravada example after 4 Paccekabuddas received meals for 4 days from a King at his palace when the King asked them ...
3
votes
Accepted
Beliefs about the 14th Dalai Lama
The institution of the Dalai Lama, as an emanation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, is officially recognized only by Tibetan Buddhism.
The concept of tulku where teachers like the Dalai Lama, ...
- 36.4k
3
votes
What does celestial mean in 'celestial bodhisattva'
In Tibetan Buddhism they recognize a class of beings that we can call "latent informational energy entities". In modern language they can be explained as long-term memes or archetypes inhabiting the ...
- 57.2k
3
votes
Are there Theravada practitioners that aspire to be Buddhas?
There are many who aspire to be Buddhas even in the Theravada community. But it is not something that is usually encouraged. It is left up to the individual choice.
Those who make such aspirations ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Bodhisattva Śvetaketu and Gautama
Śvetaketu and Bodhisattva in Sanskrit are Setaketu and Bodhisatta in Pali.
There was one person called Setaketu in the Setaketu Jataka, but this is the story of a human on Earth, but I'm not sure if ...
- 36.4k
3
votes
Is optimism and positive attitude counterproductive?
Good householder, optimism and positive attitude is counterproductive (in regard of long lasting happiness) if the objects are in the world, object of sense. Joy, optimism, positive attitude toward ...
2
votes
Accepted
Why is Budai often associated with the future Buddha Maitreya?
Here is a reference to the Japanese Miroku Bodhisatva.
Another reference says that Hotei was Kaishi Zen priest and a Boddhisattva, the future Maitreya:
Hotei stands out from the other six Lucky ...
- 3,398
2
votes
What is the Pure Land?
There are so many confusion regarding Pure Land Buddhism that I feel I must chip in. Many people even see it as non Buddhist because it seems to be about the Amitabha Buddha saving humans through the ...
- 1,705
2
votes
How does the idea of Bodhisatva in Mahayana mesh with anattā?
This is related to this question.
The anatta concept doesn't say that there is no self - it says "not self" as in "all phenomena is not self". There is a self, but it is not permanent and is not ...
- 36.4k
2
votes
What is bodhisattvahood in personal practice?
You might like to compare your story with that of Sally Clay. Many years ago I discovered her essay The Wounded Prophet and found it very inspiring. She has written a number of other reflections on ...
- 4,277
2
votes
Is there a middle way between working towards personal liberation and liberation for all sentient beings?
It depends on what you or your school has decided about the nature of who we really are. If we are so throughly interconnected, interdepedent, either in a Huayen way or maybe just as one big shared ...
- 7,091
2
votes
Is there a middle way between working towards personal liberation and liberation for all sentient beings?
Dhammapada verse 166
For the sake of another's benefit, however great it may be, do not neglect one's own (moral) benefit. Clearly perceiving one's own benefit one should make every effort to attain ...
- 7,433
2
votes
What is the historical origin of Vajrapani?
One source in which the history of Vajrapāṇi is discussed is the book Indo-Tibetan Buddhism by Snellgrove. He traces him to the Pāḷi figure Vajirapāṇi, and tries to show how we developed. Another ...
- 4,277
2
votes
What is the historical origin of Vajrapani?
David Lewis is correct that Vajrapani is mentioned in the Pali Canon. It's hard to tell though, because his name is just translated rather than being left alone. He is mentioned in DN 3, the Ambaṭṭha ...
- 7,444
2
votes
Accepted
What is the historical origin of Vajrapani?
Longchen Rabjam's Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems (tr. Richard Barron) says:
Traditionally, Manjushri is renowned for having compiled the tantras of enlightened form, Avalokiteshvara the ...
- 479
2
votes
Are there Bodhisatta practices within Theravada?
Every reference that is ever made to a “Bodhisatta” in the Theravada Suttas is in relation to the Present Supreme Buddha, or the six other Buddhas that appeared in the last 91 aeons. Thus the ...
- 9,585
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