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, ...
- 58.3k
4
votes
Is it possible to be reborn for all eternity?
Many people are interested in living forever (eg Christians) because such people do not think living is suffering. Instead, they wish to spend forever with their loved ones. That is why they are not ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
is jhana required to realize the four supramundane paths?
Jhanas are required to realize Non-Return & Arahant (AN 3.86); although lower jhanas are probably required for 'Once-Return' because AN 7.15 says the 'Once-Returner' has "crossed over" ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
Regarding Nicca and Anicca natures of Avidya and Prajna
If Tanha(craving) is caused by Avijja(ignorance) and if Avijja is sustained by Tanha, the cycle cannot be broken using Avijja and Tanha. But that doesn't mean it cannot be broken using something that ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
What is the consequence to living life with self realism behavior?
It is a good question that you asked @singhindolia. You and I and every one and everything that exists within time and space go through five stages in life. This is inevitable. This is certain to ...
- 9,695
3
votes
What is the consequence to living life with self realism behavior?
Any seed's highest behaviour is to blossom into a full-fledged state which is fruit, flower etc similarly Humans can be full-fledged beings which are in the state of Blissfulness and other pleasant ...
- 131
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 ...
- 7,121
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
Accepted
Is it possible to be reborn for all eternity?
First, if I may, I will correct one misunderstanding:
Enlightenment = free from rebirth =/= not no MORE rebirth...
Enlightenment means one will not be bounded on the wheel of destiny--rather one ...
- 5,151
2
votes
What are the strengths and weaknesses of attempts to describe Nirvana in scripture?
The Pali suttas provide accurate descriptions of Nirvana, such as the 'destruction of craving' (Dhammapada 154; MN 37); 'visible here-&-now destruction of greed, hatred & delusion' (AN 3.55; ...
- 40.5k
2
votes
Accepted
Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn11 for the Buddha's statement that there are no true recluses beyond the Sangha.
“Bhikkhus, only here is there a recluse, only here a second recluse,
only here a ...
- 2,026
1
vote
is jhana required to realize the four supramundane paths?
Piya Tan wrote in his commentary to AN 4.170 (quoted below), that samatha (serenity, implying attainment of jhana) and vipassana (insight) are both needed, but for the case of stream-winning, there ...
- 37.4k
1
vote
Is liberation possible for those practicing unskillful means?
What you call "conventional right view" is just skillful means to help one adopt a skillful or wholesome mindset. It's just a helpful tool. The following is an example.
“This noble disciple ...
- 37.4k
1
vote
Is liberation possible for those practicing unskillful means?
no, liberation and right view occur simultaneously the way access concentration/shamata occurs along with the cessation of desire for sense objects ie. food and sex
worth noting that incomplete right ...
- 194
1
vote
Is there a Buddhist school / tradition wich recognizes the endless cycle of rebirth but doesn't teach that we should get liberated from it?
Many Mahayana Buddhist traditions believe that liberation is specifically freedom from suffering rather than freedom from being present in the universe.
But suffering is not to be avoided. It is to ...
- 610
1
vote
What is the consequence to living life with self realism behavior?
We should follow daily routines which will lead to a no daily routine. That is following the Noble Eightfold Path.
- 5,627
1
vote
Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
In short, the Buddha said, there is one path for the purification of beings. Some meditation techniques the objective is blissful states. Buddhism does not say there is one path for this. Some of that ...
1
vote
Did the Buddha state that there is only one way, and state/imply that any other path (such as those practiced by yogis) was futile?
The Dhammapada states the Buddha's path is the only path to complete purification. This is obviously the truth since it is the only path that completely seeks to uproot all self-identity.
273. Of ...
- 40.5k
1
vote
Accepted
Is there a middle way between working towards personal liberation and liberation for all sentient beings?
Many thanks to everyone who answered. All the answers got me to think of the issue in different ways and to refer to Suttas to get a better understanding.
I recently came upon this article on the ...
- 558
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