10
votes
Why is there even a way to the end of suffering?
In MN64, the Buddha discusses the conundrum of identity and the presumed immaculate innocence of infants:
MN64:3.3: For a little baby doesn’t even have a concept of ‘identity’, so how could identity ...
- 9,348
9
votes
Accepted
I would like to become Buddhist
I've heard that they don't believe in any god.
It depends on what you mean by God. Buddhism does not have the concept of a almighty, creator (deism), sustainer, creator plus sustainer (theism), ...
8
votes
How did this material world come into existence if the ultimate reality is voidness?
Looks like you misunderstand Shunyata (Voidness, Emptiness, Hollowness). Shunyata is not nothingness, it is lack of solidity. It is interdependence. Famous Zen teacher Thích Nhat Hanh coined a new ...
- 58.3k
8
votes
Hesitation between Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta
If you want to know the truth about reality, you have to learn how to make impartial observations of nature. When you ask questions like "Who is waking up? Who is witnessing?", you have already made ...
- 25.7k
8
votes
Accepted
Buddhism on We are all one
OP: Is it right from a Buddhist point of view to say that you and me are the same because there is only one consciousness playing
different minds (egos, personalities, psychologies, etc) and bodies ...
- 37.4k
7
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
you said:
One shouldn't attach him/herself (to material matters).
One should move toward truthfulness in all things and correct harm.
but... the second one does not sound like a Buddhist ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
Accepted
What is attachment as per Buddhism?
Teacher S.L. gave the following examples of attachments: attachment to basic pleasures, attachment to possessions, attachment to "good looks", attachment to comfort, attachment to stability of life, ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
I would like to become Buddhist
You don't believe in any God. Ok. You don't believe in rituals. Ok. Very likely you already don't. So why Buddhism? I'd like to make an important point here stating that Buddhism is anything but a ...
- 2,234
7
votes
"Human Dignity" in Buddhism
Dignity in Buddhism is not built-in, it is to be earned. A realized person is respected because they deserve to be respected. If someone can control one's emotions, does not fall victim to one's ...
- 58.3k
7
votes
What does Buddhism say about how to manage other people's anger?
A very apt verse in the case of anger is this one from Dhammapada - Na Hi Verena Verani - Hatred is never appeased by Hatred. It is appeased only by loving kindness.
Here is the Dhamma talk by Ven. ...
- 1,209
7
votes
Accepted
The invariant law of nature which forms the basis of Buddha's Dharma and existence of universe itself
As the Buddha explained many times, it's not 'Y => X', it's '(A,B,C,D..Q) => X'.
In other words, every individual phenomenon that we can call out and delineate in a spatiotemporal continuum of ...
- 58.3k
6
votes
Why is only intentional action considered as Karma, which gives rise to corresponding consequences?
What you say or justify do not count. What counts is your volition.
For volition to give result the volition should have any of the 6 roots (3 wholesome - alob, adosa & amoha + 3 un wholesome - ...
6
votes
Does meditation giving you 'joy' because there is lack of suffering, or does it give something positive?
Both. Meditation when done properly will allow one to abandon the Five Hindrances (greed, anger, sloth/torpor, restlessness, doubt); and give rise to the Five Jhana Factors where each factor counters ...
- 9,707
6
votes
Accepted
Why is there no self in the container of the 5 aggregates?
This is the problem with mixing up ultimate reality with conventional reality. In ultimate reality, the cat does not exist. What is real is the tactile experience of the touch. That experience is an ...
- 25.7k
6
votes
Is the experience of suffering or enjoyment completely reducible to physics e.g. such as in materialist views i.e. materialism?
Your question is quite interesting because it starts out with an openness regarding identity view. Awesome! You ask about what is and are puzzled at the rise of feelings pleasant, painful or neutral. ...
- 9,348
6
votes
Did the Buddha according to the suttas mean anything else by the word "self" beyond simply the aspect of control/power?
This is a very famous line of argumentation in Buddhism, especially in Theravada, about no-self. The basic idea is that according to common sense, we can control ourselves by the power of will - move ...
- 58.3k
6
votes
Accepted
What is world (loka) in SN 12.44? Why is it called "world"?
The world is whatever a sentient being perceives as "the external world" or "the real world". If the being is sleeping it may be a world of its dream, if the being is a child it ...
- 58.3k
6
votes
Accepted
How would Buddhists reply to this paradox of enlightenment
I'll try to relate that to what the suttas say.
Enlightenment is inherently desirable
I'm not sure what "enlightenment" is -- i.e. what, in Buddhist doctrine, is translated as "...
- 46.3k
6
votes
How would Buddhists reply to this paradox of enlightenment
"There’s a passage where Ven. Ananda is being questioned by a brahman. The brahman has come to see Ananda in the park where he’s staying and asks him, “What is the purpose of this path you follow?...
- 443
5
votes
Accepted
How does the buddhist teachings differentiate between reality and perception?
It is a topic expounded in:
philosophical texts
classifications and presentations of tenets (Tib. grub mtha')
In several instances, "reality" refers to "ultimate truth". You will find it so meaning ...
- 5,206
5
votes
How did this material world come into existence if the ultimate reality is voidness?
Friend, you are asking the question of all questions.
Even if I would be explaining to you in eternity how this material world came into existence, you would not know how this material world came ...
- 2,657
5
votes
Accepted
What is tathata?
For starters, here is the Theravada perspective, with some quotes:
THUSNESS (by ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu)
Now, we come to the fourth and last topic: tathata (suchness, thusness). "Merely thus,...
- 58.3k
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