7
votes
Sexual Coersion within a Sangha
There is no way around it. Sexual coercion and abuses (minor or otherwise) are reprehensible and they should be addressed.
For you to have compassion is wholesome, but it should not prevent you from ...
- 4,956
7
votes
Are there Bad teachers? Is Mara in the Sanga?
There have always been bad men robed as monks. If we have clear moral discernment, we will avoid them.
There are many evil characters and uncontrolled men wearing the saffron robe. These wicked ...
- 42.8k
6
votes
Accepted
What happened to Siddhārtha Gautama wife Yashodhara?
When Lord Buddha's wife Yashodhara also joined Sangha (become bhikkhuni), what happened to her ?
As part of the Bhikkhuni order nothing special or noteworthy incidents through the Buddha acknowledged ...
6
votes
Accepted
Can I practice Buddhism on my own?
You don't have to join a physical Buddhist community or temple. Instead you can use online resources for learning and be part of virtual Buddhist communities on the Internet. You can also practice the ...
- 37.5k
4
votes
Online Sangha groups
There is a Theravada group which is run by monastics at Bhavana Society. They run the group through Discord, they do group meditations, sutta readings and book study sessions. You can join their ...
- 1,603
4
votes
Accepted
Is there a kind of consulting service in Buddhism?
First a bit of background or context -- just in case you didn't know.
So apparently, as well as the suttas, there's something called the vinaya i.e. the code of Monastic discipline. These are (or ...
- 47.1k
4
votes
Accepted
The Four Great References (AN 4.180)
This translation (of DN 16) includes this footnote:
In the earlier edition of this work, mahapadesa was rendered as "great authorities." It is now known that the proper meaning of apadesa ...
- 47.1k
4
votes
Accepted
Is fire-making allowed?
See pages 564 and 565 of The Pāṭimokkha Rules
Translated & Explained by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
Should any bhikkhu who is not ill, seeking to warm
himself, kindle a fire or have one kindled—unless ...
- 47.1k
3
votes
Are monks allowed to have prescriptions? What did the Buddha say of medicine?
Providing the services of a medical practitioner or pharmacist to lay people is not allowed for monks according to DN2:
"Whereas some contemplatives & brahmans, living off food given in
...
- 37.5k
3
votes
What titles apply to non-monastic/lay Buddhists? (upasaka/upasika savaka/sravaka)
There's Saddhānusārī translated "faith follower".
And Dhammānusārī translated "follower of the law".
According to SN 25.1 these appear to be on the road to stream entry.
- 47.1k
3
votes
Accepted
Is there an established monastic order, with the beleifs and practices same as the Goenka school of meditation?
(a) 'An established monastic order' - This the Goenka school is not.
There is no Goenka School. Generally this is referred as the linage of Saya Gyi U Ba Khin and Ledi Sayadaw U Ñanadhaja. Also it is ...
3
votes
Buddhist social networking site?
My favorite is NewBuddhist, but I don't know that it has all those features.
I'd be interested in developing this as a project, I have been thinking of the "digital sangha" social network and I'm ...
- 173
3
votes
What happened to Siddhārtha Gautama wife Yashodhara?
There are at least three suttas to Rahula:
MN 61
MN 62
MN 147
Yasodharā is mentioned as 'Baddha Kaccānā', having great wisdom in AN 1.245
- 42.8k
3
votes
Most beneficial Buddhist organizations and monastic orders?
My understanding is that, in order to hear the correct dhamma, one must hear it from somebody who displays the outward marks of humility, generosity and selflessness. Otherwise, one cannot be sure one ...
- 42.8k
2
votes
Spiritual friendship with the Buddha
Kalyana-Mitta, ‘Noble or Good Friend’, is called a person who is fully established in this Dhamma Path, and who walks the Noble Eightfold Path, and who is the mentor and friend of his friend, or ...
- 9,685
2
votes
Might be possible to gain highest bliss without a loyal relationship?
For whosoever, Ambaṭṭha, are in bondage to the notions of birth or of lineage, or to the pride of social position, or of connection by marriage, they are far from the best wisdom and righteousness. It ...
- 58.9k
2
votes
Is there a kind of consulting service in Buddhism?
Some monks provide such a service of spiritual guidance to lay people, even if they are not required to do so. But expect the teacher to teach on his terms and not your's. He is not a commercial ...
- 37.5k
2
votes
Is there a kind of consulting service in Buddhism?
Well the people who are trained in the dhamma are called the asekhas, meaning the arhats.
The people in training on the dhamma are called the sekhas and they are not puthujjanas, so the sotapannas and ...
- 1,636
2
votes
Accepted
If hypothetically we lived in a time when a Buddha were to arise, how could we acknowledge him as being perfectly enlightened?
the teaching of a perfectly enlightened being would be always in line with the three marks of existence, the four noble truths and the noble eightfold path. in other words, an arahant or a buddha ...
- 123
2
votes
Where can I find the story of Kaundinya's mountain retreat?
The Commentary to Koṇḍaññasutta (SN 8.9) says that the Venerable lived for a long time - from not long after his awakening up until his final farewell to the Buddha in this sutta - in the birthplace ...
- 567
1
vote
Are there Bad teachers? Is Mara in the Sanga?
Be committed to the path. The solution lies in the quality of consciousness. Just like Metta Sutta says that Metta drives off anger or angry people, you keep investing time and energy in spiritual ...
- 209
1
vote
Which (semi)secret societies influence Buddhism?
In DN 16 (below), the Buddha said that he did not hide anything with the closed fist of a teacher who keeps some things back. He did not separate some doctrines as exotic or esoteric from other ...
- 37.5k
1
vote
Which (semi)secret societies influence Buddhism?
The Dhamma(teachings of the Buddha) is the sole authority on Buddhism and the Sangha are the guardians of it. There is no need for secret societies in Buddhism. It is not supposed to be secret or ...
- 25.7k
1
vote
Sexual Coersion within a Sangha
I'm sorry that your experience of it wasn't the safe refuge that I think it ought to be.
It may be (by which I mean, "I've read rumours from a perhaps-biased or one-sided source that this is so, but ...
- 47.1k
1
vote
Accepted
Are monks allowed to have prescriptions? What did the Buddha say of medicine?
It's permitted. Monks are allowed "requisites" i.e. the things they need, the little they need: the "four requisites" include food, robes, shelter and medicine (and other small ...
- 47.1k
1
vote
Accepted
What titles apply to non-monastic/lay Buddhists? (upasaka/upasika savaka/sravaka)
So to answer my own question, with Theravada emphasis, there are two main categories that apply to non-monastics:
TODO: Add "uninstructed worldling" as an option for fun. Research "Bhauddhaya"
...
- 195
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible