8
votes
Accepted
Does DN2 and MN36 provide an irrefutable statement on the fact of rebirth?
In response to the comment of Ilya Grushevskiy
Rebirth has everything to do with the Buddhist soteriology because if it weren't for rebirth suffering could have been easily ended at natural death or ...
- 1,683
7
votes
What do secular Buddhists say about Nirvana?
While there is considerable variety of views amongst people who identify themselves as secular Buddhists, they all seem to converge in rejecting what is often loosely called "metaphysics". This means ...
- 4,277
5
votes
Secular Buddhism and Suicide
The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta states the following:
"And this, monks, is the noble truth of the origination of stress
(suffering): the craving that makes for further becoming — accompanied
by ...
- 36.4k
5
votes
What is the best introductory (but comprehensive) book on SECULAR Buddhism?
In my opinion, 'Secular Buddhism' can be problematic since often adherents to this new group (such as Stephen Batchelor, who believes purity of mind is not possible) often misrepresent the Buddhist ...
5
votes
Accepted
What do secular Buddhists say about Nirvana?
Here are some other references (which three people suggested in comments, which I have deleted and moved here):
I think you will enjoy this article. The Buddha has taught in Alagaddupama Sutta that ...
4
votes
What do secular Buddhists say about Nirvana?
Regarding the secular aspect. Many Mahayana schools of Buddhism, including at least some Zen sects and some Tibetan Vajrayana lineages, understand the supernatural as skillful means (upaya), that is ...
- 57.2k
4
votes
Secularized Buddhism
I think one of the major proponents of 'Secular Buddhism' was S.N.Goenka, although I doubt if he himself would call his lineage that.
First, let me give a brief idea of the tradition. S.N.Goenka's ...
- 1,209
4
votes
Stephen Batchelor's current meditation practice
Found it! (Admins -- should I delete this now superfluous question?)
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/does-buddhism-give-us-answers-or-questions/
Batchelor said [in 2003] he no ...
- 1,171
4
votes
Parinibbāna in secular Buddhism
A lot of people conflate the concept of 'rebirth' with the concept of 'reincarnation,' but philosophically speaking they are subtly different. Reincarnation implies an eternal essence or being that ...
- 4,830
4
votes
Parinibbāna in secular Buddhism
In my understanding, the notion of Nirvana was a nod towards pre-Buddhist (Inc. Jain) ideas of the times. Nirvana was something transcental, something ultimate everyone spoke about but barely anyone ...
- 57.2k
3
votes
What is the best introductory (but comprehensive) book on SECULAR Buddhism?
I would then recommend reading the Suttas at www.accesstoinsight.org .
3
votes
Secular Buddhism and Suicide
The Buddha characterized our human lives as "dukkha". Often translated as "suffering", but that is really a bit dramatic. A more accurate definition is "unsatisfactoriness."
This "...
- 31
3
votes
Accepted
Are the four noble truths supposed to be applied to every type of anguish separately?
To answer your question, 'yes', dhamma practise is done in ways you described.
When it is comprehended our suffering arises from our self-centred desires & attachments towards things, we work to ...
- 38.5k
3
votes
Does DN2 and MN36 provide an irrefutable statement on the fact of rebirth?
The so called "Secular Buddhists" have their own religion consisting of their own fixed beliefs. One of those fixed beliefs is the belief that there is no life after death. Their typical game is to ...
- 25.7k
3
votes
Questions to deniers of traditional view on Rebirth
1.
If there's no rebirth, what happens after death of a non-arahant? Does a new life ensue dependent on the one which has just ended?
Life continues all the time. New lives inherit some ...
- 57.2k
3
votes
Does chanting have a practical and exclusive benefit?
It is an antidote for the Hindrance of Sloth and Torpor
(3) RECITATION. If, Moggallāna, that drowsiness still would not go away, then, Moggallāna, you
should recite in detail a teaching that you ...
3
votes
Conflicting schools of thought
There are many techniques that were taught by the Buddha and also later, other techniques were developed by Buddhist teachers over history, that are based on the Buddha's teachings. You are right that ...
- 36.4k
3
votes
Conflicting schools of thought
I agree with many of the answers here. Here are a few hopefully useful comments of my own.
The reason you are going to get conflicting information from this site is that different people have ...
3
votes
Secular, Tradition or the pathway of the branches
You know, speaking personally, I've never been able to make hats work. I've tried on a lot of different hats, but no matter what, when I put on a hat I end up looking like the world's biggest doof. ...
- 4,830
3
votes
Are there stories in the suttas of people experiencing the fruits of their karma in their lifetimes?
Ud 8.7 tells the story of a junior monk accompanying the Buddha who disobeyed the Buddha, was disrespectful to him (please see this footnote for details), dropped the Buddha's possessions and ...
- 36.4k
3
votes
Accepted
Is secular Buddhism a religion?
Secular Buddhism is loosely associated movement of authors and teachers, Stephen Batchelor is one good example. It isn't an institution, so there isn't any well define orthodoxy to appeal to about ...
- 7,091
2
votes
Secularized Buddhism
Could I recommend Zen and the Art of Consciousness by Susan Blackmore. It is a personal account of a wholehearted Buddhist practice but framed very much from a secular perspective. Sue Blackmore her ...
- 21k
2
votes
What reference to other powers are there in Buddhism?
Pigeonholing Buddhism into theistic or atheistic category betrays ignorance of the relationship between reality and its description.
Theistic concepts such as gods, souls, afterlife, other realms etc. ...
- 57.2k
2
votes
Does DN2 and MN36 provide an irrefutable statement on the fact of rebirth?
If we interpret any of Gotama's words straightly, then we miss (we leave out) any context, any background.
For pure understanding we need to:
understand the level and paradigm of asker, auditory ...
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2
votes
The Buddha spoke to many individuals. Did the Buddha ever tell an individual who did not believe in rebirth, that they must in order to be liberated?
In SN 15.5, SN 15.6, an individual monk and in SN 15.8, an individual brahmin lay person, spoke to the Buddha, and asked a question about the length of an eon. The Buddha answered it and then ...
- 36.4k
1
vote
Does DN2 and MN36 provide an irrefutable statement on the fact of rebirth?
AN 4.121 Attanuvada sutta explains how one may refrain from an impulse to perform a harmful action by considering the associated danger:
Bhikkhus, there are these four [motivating] fears (/...
- 57.2k
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