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
5
votes
Accepted
Is it unethical in the Buddhist view to attend work ill?
It doesn't square well against the notion of Right Action (or Right Conduct) on the Noble Eightfold Path.
The practitioner should train oneself to be morally upright in one's activities, not acting ...
- 1,099
4
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
The answer is up to you, since it will be you who affirms his power.
Letting go of the outcome means that you can be ok with either decision, I.e. You can act accordingly either way without becoming ...
- 191
4
votes
What did the Buddha say about motivation?
Right effort(sammā-vāyāma) in terms of mindfulness is not a forceful , grit your teeth kind of effort. It's a moment by moment, continuous, good cyclical habit kind of effort.
Cetanā is Pali for
1- ...
- 7,144
4
votes
Accepted
Does any/every form of lying violate the precept of "not-lying"?
The motivation DOES make a difference to the karma of an action. The classic discussion about karma stresses motivation.
Karma as action denotes an act of mental volition (cetanā), and the bodily ...
4
votes
Right view of the external modern world
The first thing that the story (i.e. "not got a particular position she rightfully deserved due to a conspiracy") reminded me of was verse 3 of the Dhammapada (i.e. "he robbed me" ...
- 46.3k
4
votes
Why are children represented as inessential in some Buddhist text?
Such texts should be read in context: written for and by the Sangha - and mostly for and by male-sangha, though you found one quote that sounds like a tired grandmother.
Buddhism is really a dual ...
4
votes
Accepted
What is the importance of intention in Buddhism?
From the Nibbedhika Sutta:
"Intention, I tell you, is kamma. Intending, one does kamma by way of
body, speech, & intellect.
Also from Cetana Sutta (SN 12.38) below, we see that intention (...
- 37.4k
4
votes
Accepted
Can anger be acceptable?
There is no place for anger in Buddhism for any reason.
Right effort is what is required.
- 5,627
4
votes
Accepted
The Intention to Strive
In my experience, it's a kind of phase. First, you don't really strive, but you're intrigued by Dharma enough to keep learning hodgepodge and practicing once in a while.
Then your perception of ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
Why are children represented as inessential in some Buddhist text?
Having children is the opposite of enlightenment, as quoted in the question.
However, for those who cannot overcome sensuality & cannot find happiness in meditation, having children can be ...
- 40.5k
3
votes
Accepted
Right view of the external modern world
The way Buddha explained these things, was not as much about justice/injustice as with references to how the world/society works.
For example he would say, if someone were to rob people, he will ...
- 58.3k
3
votes
What did the Buddha say about motivation?
'Chanda' as an 'iddhipada', translated as 'zeal', 'desire', 'will', 'love'. I prefer 'devotion'.
Some suttas: SN 51.15 and SN 51.20.
- 40.5k
3
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
Right Speech and Right Effort. Those are the two pieces of the Eightfold Path that will answer your question in regards to decisive action.
What is Right Speech?
What is Right Effort?
Right Speech ...
- 5,151
3
votes
Accepted
Does Buddhism have a model of practical rationality?
the belief-desire-intention model of action
Are the "four noble truths" an example of that?
I "believe" the first three truths
I "desire" the end of suffering
Therefore I "intend" the fourth noble ...
- 46.3k
3
votes
What could a lay follower do to increase his zeal to become a monk?
I could easily have written your query. At this time however there are a few differences which may be helpful if shared.
Am in my mid 40’s. Never thought that it was actually possible. Met a ...
- 409
3
votes
Nature of Integrity in Buddhism
This is not lying unless you pretend or say you follow the advice.
Dhamma practice is a gradual exercise hence one does not become perfect at once but it is a matter of putting int the effort to ...
3
votes
Accepted
Attitude towards harmful behaviors
If I don't react, am I not placing myself and others in harm's way by taking part in an enabling apathy?
Given that anger is ineffective in that situation, I don't see how non-anger is enabling apathy....
- 46.3k
3
votes
Is there a set of daily reminders and daily reflections one can contemplate on?
I use chanting and contemplations like...
This body is relentlessly aging...now!
The body’s health is temporary.
It will decline, sicken and die.
The dying process is happening.
Everything I value ...
- 51
2
votes
How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
As a householder and a lay person, I don't really feel that buddhist principles conflict with everyday life in any meaningful way.
Just because you see your material belonging as what they are - be ...
- 338
2
votes
Are there any teachings about how we should censure happiness which arises without right view?
The Buddhist tradition arose before the Socratic/stoic tradition and, since Greeks were very interested in Buddhism, it is likely the Socratic/stoic tradition was influenced by the Buddhist tradition. ...
- 40.5k
2
votes
Is intention and purpose the same?
According to Mahayana (Yogacara) Abhidharma, cetana is connected with traces and dispositions (samskara) left by previous actions and experiences. (What follows is my understanding based on my study ...
- 58.3k
2
votes
Is intention and purpose the same?
It seems I don't know, don't understand, or don't agree with your definitions (of cetanā and sankappa).
You start by assuming that there is wholesome and unwholesome cetanā: and then you ask whether ...
- 46.3k
2
votes
Is intention and purpose the same?
The wholesomeness and unwholesomeness and neutrality is decided by what you would perceive when you experience or feel the result. This is the differentiation between them.
Generally aversion are ...
2
votes
Does Buddhism have a model of practical rationality?
The pattern you can see repeated over and over in Pali Suttas, is Buddha saying: "there is a case" when someone does X - then later it can be expected the result Y will follow. Much of Buddha's ...
- 58.3k
2
votes
Accepted
Why are children represented as inessential in some Buddhist text?
You're asking whether "children" are unnecessary.
And I'm still not sure what that means. There are children in the world regardless of whether you're a parent yourself, so it's not as if children ...
- 46.3k
2
votes
Right effort and concentration
Right Efforts is about removing unwholesome states and cultivating wholesome states. Right Concentration deals with developing the Jhana as a means to displace certain subset of unwholesome states. ...
2
votes
Is working too much (for money) a form of indulgence?
Buddha admire wealthy people who earn their wealth by right lively hood.
However he encourage people to use their wealth wisely for their benefit and the benefit of others.
Link to two major Suttas ...
- 5,627
2
votes
What is the importance of intention in Buddhism?
The bodily action and the verbal action are just a body. The body can not act without vedanā, saññā, cetanā, and cittā.
Without it, the body is like a piece of wood in sutta.
See, cittajarūpa in ...
- 6,208
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible