13
votes
Why did the Buddha suffer before he died?
Buddha did not experience suffering(mental). He experienced pain due to poor health during his final days. Enlightened beings do not create new Karmas. Also, they have removed the potential of all ...
- 25.7k
9
votes
What is the oldest text/sutra of the Mahayana tradition?
The oldest existing manuscript clearly identified as Mahāyāna is a birch bark manuscript of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sutra or Discourse on Perfect Wisdom consisting of 8000 [Lines]. This ...
- 4,277
9
votes
Evidence of Pali Canon's Origin
I encourage you to read the following: Bhikkhu Sujato & Bhikkhu Brahmali. The Authenticity of the Early Buddhist Texts.
In this work, their project is to investigate the question of authencity ...
- 5,188
8
votes
Significance of Bhikkhus uncovering their right shoulder
In Pāḷi texts, the right shoulder is not specified. The standard description of a monk meeting the Buddha says
ekaṃsaṃ uttarāsaṅgaṃ karoti (Vin 1.46)
he arranged his robe over one shoulder.
However ...
- 4,277
8
votes
Accepted
Why did Mahayana leave out the Pali Canon?
It did not. The Canon is an integral part of Mahayana, has always been.
In Chinese Mahayana, the Canon is included in the form of Agamas (translated to Chinese). In Tibetan Mahayana, the Canon is a ...
- 57.2k
8
votes
Is it true that Lord Buddha was born in Sri Lanka?
Lumbini, Nepal has been recognized as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama since a stone pillar was placed at the site by the emperor Ashoka circa 245 BCE.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
8
votes
Accepted
Is it true that Lord Buddha was born in Sri Lanka?
Prince Siddhartha was raised, according to Buddhist texts, in Kapilawastu (I will not present sources for this as I think this would be undisputed).
The modern name for Kapilawastu is unknown: I will ...
- 236
7
votes
History of refuge in the 3 jewels
Taking refuge in the 3 jewels of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha was recommended by the Buddha as providing protection from certain afflictions. It is specifically mentioned in the Dhajagga-paritta ("...
- 9,585
7
votes
Why aren't there omnicidal Buddhists?
existence is the root of suffering
no, it's not. The official definitions are "unsatisfied thirst is [mental] suffering", "craving and grasping is the origin of suffering", "...
- 57.2k
6
votes
Was Buddhism a rebellion against the Aryans?
When Gautama left his family to become an ascetic or śramaṇa, he joined many other ascetics or wanderers who were separate from the Vedic-Brahmanism religion.
However, when Gautama left his family ...
- 38.5k
6
votes
Is it true that Lord Buddha was born in Sri Lanka?
I personally believe that Buddha was born in Lumbini in Nepal through in recent times there are a few small groups in Sri Lanka saying otherwise. I personally would be careful about these movements ...
6
votes
Accepted
The Oldest Traditional Buddhist Lineage?
Every "official" Chan/Zen master (that is, a master recognized and authorized by an older master) keeps a list of his ancestral teachers going back all the way to the Buddha Shakyamuni. I have such ...
- 57.2k
5
votes
Did Buddhism oppose Vedic religion?
From my reading it appears he didn't oppose Vedic religion though he dismissed the Brahmins of his times as being false Brahmins.
In the brāhmaṇavagga of the aṅguttara nikāya 5. 20, and the Dhp. 26 ...
- 7,433
5
votes
What was the chronology of events in the Buddha's life?
The following link provides a better pdf version:
Table 6. Gotama's Age, Years After Enlightenment,
and Sites of the Rainy-Season Retreats
Namo Buddhassa!
- 51
5
votes
Accepted
What was the 1st Buddhist Council about?
The account of the first and second councils is found in the Cūḷavagga of the Vinaya Pitaka (Cv XI and XII). The first council (Cv XI) was held in Rajagaha, at what is known as the monastery of the ...
- 24k
5
votes
Did the Buddha form a monastery?
The Buddha often taught in forest groves, the most famous being Isipatana (Deer park) where he delivered his first lecture (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta),
and Jetavana (Jeta Grove) (famously recorded ...
- 7,433
5
votes
Accepted
Buddhism in ancient Arabic regions
Wikipedia's Ashoka article includes this map:
Its western border is the Seleucid empire which appears to be where modern-day Iran is (note that Iran I think might be ethnically Persian rather than ...
- 45.2k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the Origin and History of Milindapanha?
Summarizing briefly from the introduction to the translation and analysis by A.V. Paribok:
The ancient parts are Book 2 and parts of Book 1 -- most likely written in Punjab (North-Western India) ...
- 57.2k
5
votes
How do I refute the claim that the Buddha was actually preaching Vedanta?
This is a modified version of the answer that I posted on Hinduism.SE comparing the Buddhist Madhyamaka (by Nagarjuna) and the Hindu Advaita Vedanta (by Adi Shankara). Usually, the emptiness in ...
- 36.4k
5
votes
How is possible that monks memorised 10.000 sutras?
The way the Pali Canon was transmitted was by oral tradition. The composition is in a poetic form, using mnemonic formulae for memorization and recitation. The recitation would have also served a ...
- 36.4k
5
votes
What is known about enlightenment before the lifetime of the Buddha? Are there any claims that he was the first?
Good householder,
there had been serial Buddhas before our Gotama Buddha. In a world/cosmos-period there might appear a Samma-Sambuddha who is capable to point out the way out of suffering, Samsara. ...
5
votes
Did the Buddha invent any words?
The Buddha invented his own terms and defined them, using everyday words that already existed in the local dialects.
First, discussion on the language he used, is found in "The Authenticity of ...
- 36.4k
4
votes
Were the oldest Buddhists evangelical?
Adding to Jayantha's very good answer:
One needs to look at Indian society at the time of the Buddha. There were many masters profounding various siddhāntas(established and accepted view of a ...
- 1,082
4
votes
Why is Buddhism followed mainly outside of India when it originated there?
Buddhism declined from India in the past, due to assimilation.
Firstly, Buddhism had flourished in ancient India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but eventually, the Buddhist locals became subject to "hard"...
- 36.4k
4
votes
Accepted
Do we know in what posture the Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree?
I hunted down a reference to the lotus posture in the Satipatthana Sutta where it is stated in passing, as a matter of fact; so it is likely the lotus posture was one of those very obvious things to ...
- 7,433
4
votes
Looking for a book that covers the biography of the Buddha's life
You may see these two books:
Buddha by Karen Armstrong,
The Life of Buddha according to the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Nanamoli.
- 642
4
votes
Where are the references of Vesak in the Pali canon?
Without looking too deeply, it seems that the word "visākhapuṇṇamadivase" (day of the full moon of Visākha) only appears in the commentaries. I don't think there is any canonical reference to that ...
- 24k
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