13
votes
Accepted
Why is Buddhism a venture of a limited few?
The Buddha once asked himself much the same. And in his question, we catch a glimpse of why there are a limited few. Indeed, the Buddha first thought that there were none:
SN6.1:1.4: “This principle ...
- 9,284
10
votes
Buddha's omniscience
In MN 71, the Buddha clarifies the meaning of his omniscience to the wandering ascetic Vacchagotta:
Vaccha: ‘Venerable sir, I have heard this said: The recluse Gotama is all knowing and all seeing ...
- 9,707
9
votes
Teachings from Buddhas other than Gautama
Yes, the historical Buddha is said to have related teachings of other Buddhas; one that stands out is the Amagandha Sutta, which relates the teaching of Kassapa Buddha. Another is MN 81, which relates ...
- 24.1k
8
votes
Why can't private buddhas just tell people what they did to achieve enlightenment
They do know. They're just not comfortable with teaching.
In Chapter III, karika 94c of Abhidharmakosabhasya, Vasubandhu explains that Pratyekabuddhas do not teach others because teaching Dharma ...
- 57.6k
8
votes
Are there any body who achieved Nibbana currently (in the current world)
The Pali scriptures describe 4 levels of enlightenment, which equate to 4 levels of Nibbana.
The Nakhasikha Sutta states in the 1st level of enlightenment the vast majority of the previous suffering ...
- 39.4k
6
votes
Why are Buddhas always Indian, male and human?
The question has two parts. Why only one Buddha? This is only in the Theravāda. In other Buddhist schools two, five, or up to millions of Buddhas can be seen. Two in the White Lotus, Five in the five ...
- 4,285
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
Teachings from Buddhas other than Gautama
In Theravada tradition, a Buddha appears in this world only after the teachings of the previous Buddha completely vanishes. It is also mentioned that the teachings of a Buddha will survive after his ...
- 4,233
5
votes
Buddha's omniscience
Omniscience is understood differently depending on one's school, capacity, and progress.
a primitive ("hinayana") understanding, is that omniscience literally means simultaneously knowing all facts ...
- 57.6k
5
votes
Accepted
Is it possible for a human being to live without the mind?
To answer this question accurately is very difficult if you are not a scientist but often people have accidents that results in them being in a coma for an extended period, where their physical body ...
- 39.4k
5
votes
Accepted
Buddhas after Bhadra Kalpa
There's no mention on the future buddhas except Metteyya buddha in the pali canon. However, there's a book, Dasabodhisattuppattikatha which was written much later than the compilation of the pali ...
- 4,233
5
votes
Accepted
What exactly was the difference between Alara Kalama & uddaka rāmaputta teachings?
The two teachers are in the Ariyapariyesana Sutta.
Alara Kalama taught to focus on 'nothingness' and Uddaka Ramaputta taught to enter the 'dimension of neither perception nor non-perception'.
Both ...
- 39.4k
4
votes
is nirvana - just whatever a Buddha wants?
No, nirvana is not omnipotence and complete control of the universe.
Nirvana is understanding and embracing the true nature of ones mind.
Any state of getting whatever you want is impermanent.
...
- 2,537
4
votes
Era in which the past Buddhas appeared
Gautama Buddha, the traditional Buddha is thought to have lived towards the end of the 5th century BC, about 480-400 BC. This date is the scholarly consensus. Traditional groups accept other dates, ...
- 4,285
4
votes
How many Buddhas are there?
There are many people that are technically buddhas in this world right now (having removed the four veils, as described in "the luminous mind: the way of the buddha" by Kalu Rinpoche), however, ...
- 71
4
votes
Accepted
What is a wrathful Buddha?
Wrathful Buddhas (or wrathful gurus for that matter) are not actually angry, in the way untrained people are. In Vajrayana before we even reach highest tantra, we learn to transmute emotions. If you ...
- 57.6k
4
votes
Buddha's omniscience
Omniscience or Sabbannuta Nana is one of six knowledges exclusive to a Sammasambuddha:
A Supreme Buddha possesses 6 kinds of knowledge not shared by
others. These Incomparable Qualities are:
...
- 25.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Why didn't some of the previous Buddhas preach the code of discipline?
The Vinaya pitaka is preached only if the life span is less than 50,000 years. When the life span is higher, the human world is said to be similar to heavens. The Buddhas usually introduce Vinaya ...
- 25.7k
4
votes
Are there any body who achieved Nibbana currently (in the current world)
I think this question has a great potential for misunderstanding the concept of Nibbana. Why is it important to know? There is no way to know if Nibbana is just another silly concept like God except ...
- 1,765
4
votes
Accepted
What enters the mind of an idle Buddha?
From parinibbana suttha
16: The Gracious One’s Sickness
Then the Gracious One, after living near Ambapālī’s Wood for as long
as he liked, addressed venerable Ānanda, saying: “Come ...
- 1,601
4
votes
Accepted
In what sutta does the Buddha talk about Paccekabuddhas?
In MN116,
Once upon a time, five hundred Buddhas awakened for themselves dwelt
for a long time on this Isigili. They were seen entering the mountain,
but after entering were seen no more. When people ...
- 420
3
votes
Teachings from Buddhas other than Gautama
There is no evidence external to the Buddhists texts that Gautama ever existed, late references to the Buddha as Viṣṇu in some Purāṇas are part of a move to assimilate the Buddha into Vaiṣṇavism (not ...
- 4,285
3
votes
Why can't private buddhas just tell people what they did to achieve enlightenment
There is another view on why private Buddha's cannot teach.
A disciple understands the fabrication pertaining to ones own aggregates
A private Buddha understand above plus fabrication of nature but ...
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
Is Jesus considered to be a buddha?
Mu.
Division is violence.
The mainstream of any religion tend to be pretty hard-core about the uniqueness of their belief system because they derive an identity from it, and most people will even ...
- 7,433
3
votes
Is the next Buddha the same entity/being as the previous Buddha, or another discrete being who comes to the same realizations as the previous Buddha?
Next Buddha is a totally unrelated separate person to previous Buddha. He will realize the same truth as previous Buddha when his(previous Buddha) teachings are no longer among us.
Once someone ...
- 421
3
votes
Buddha's omniscience
Generally [not particualrly] Theravadin speak of an all-knowingness that has little to do with the omniscient mind as presented by Mahayana teahcings.
A short 'definition' of omniscience, given by ...
- 5,206
3
votes
What enters the mind of an idle Buddha?
A Buddha would meditate or, as was posted, not reflect on or contemplate anything. The scriptures do report the Buddha often disappeared for periods of solitude (eg. SN 54.9).
Otherwise, a Buddha ...
- 39.4k
3
votes
What enters the mind of an idle Buddha?
From the Ayacana Sutta (SN 6.1):
Then, while he (Buddha) was alone and in seclusion, this line of thinking arose
in his awareness: "This Dhamma that I have attained is deep, hard to
see, hard ...
- 36.9k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible