18
votes
Why are Buddhist concepts so difficult?
They both "are" and "are not" difficult to understand?
For example I just told my mum what the four or five precept are, starting with "no killing" -- because when we met in the morning we agreed ...
- 46.3k
11
votes
Why are Buddhist concepts so difficult?
Agreed with Dhammadhatu.
Buddhism is incomprehensible when it is based on hearsay, cargo cult, and book knowledge.
Buddhism is simple and clear when you learn from the first-hand experience of the ...
- 58.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Maintaining respect to their previous faith while explaining Buddhism to a person who is in another school of Buddhism or another religion?
It is most honorable to do whatever you can so that people who take what you give take it smoothly. However, what you can do in this area is limited.
To paraphrase Lama Tsongkhapa, if he who receives ...
- 5,206
8
votes
Accepted
Don't teach Dhamma to those who can't appreciate it or aren't interested
The Buddha not only stressed the importance of right speech but also the right time and occassion to say it:
"So too, prince, such speech as the Tath›gata knows to be untrue, incorrect, and ...
- 9,707
8
votes
Why are Buddhist concepts so difficult?
If you understand it as gradual training it is much easier to follow Buddha's teaching. The only way you can eat an elephant is only one bite at a time. some people think that they have to eat the ...
- 5,627
7
votes
Accepted
How I can live longer as well as peaceful by doing practices taught by Buddhism?
Here is a list of a few things you can do to live a longer and healthier life.
Meditate: Stress will make you age quicker and die younger.
Eat vegetarian meals: Most meats will cause inflammation ...
- 356
7
votes
"Guard the sense doors"- What does this mean, and what is it's application?
Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu answers a question about "guarding the senses" in this video (at time 34:40).
Guarding the sense doors is a way of protecting ourselves from being overcome by passion for the ...
- 1,603
7
votes
Why are Buddhist concepts so difficult?
Mainstream Buddhism is often complex because many of the teachings are not about real things due to misinterpretions and embellishments. If a student starts with the right foundation, Buddhism won't ...
- 40.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Shouldn't we take Lord Buddha's word above the all others?
A good Dhamma teacher would frequently refer to sutta/vinaya references to back up his point. If s/he doesn't do that, there's no guarantee their point is valid or that it really comes from the Buddha'...
- 9,707
6
votes
Is it possible and good to know and/or talk about other/more details about the way out of suffering than the Buddha did?
In the parable of the Simsapa leaves in SN 56.31, the Buddha took some Simsapa (Indian rosewood) leaves in his hand and said that the leaves in his hand were far less in number than the leaves in the ...
- 37.4k
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
Accepted
Stages of Life according to Buddhism
There really isn't anything quite like ashrama in Buddhism, at least as it applies to an individual person's life. Buddhism takes a simple view that one is born, lives, and then dies, within a cycle ...
- 1,099
5
votes
"Guard the sense doors"- What does this mean, and what is it's application?
With each contact your perceive the experience: a pleasant, unpleasant or neutral feeling arises which you also perceive as either favorable, unfavorable and neutral. "Guarding the sense door" is you ...
5
votes
Accepted
Why must we not wear a hat or cap when listen or teach Dhamma?
This rule has very archaic origins. When listening to a monk explaining the dhamma we normally put the monk in a more respected position (e.g. sitting in a chair while we sit on the floor); when we do ...
- 1,603
5
votes
Does any sutta talk about the right conditions for teaching the Dhamma?
Part Three: The 16 Dealing with Teaching Dhamma
57. I will not teach Dhamma to a person with an umbrella in his hand who is not ill: a training to be observed.
I will not teach Dhamma to a person ...
- 5,627
5
votes
Monastics & Hygiene
Monks and nuns generally take good care of their bodies so they may be better able to continue to share the dharma with those who may benefit. They keep good hygiene of their robes and living quarters ...
- 51
5
votes
Studying the subject "the four Buddhist schools/systems of tenets" (Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Cittamātra, Mādhyamika) in English
I would recommend Insight into Emptiness by by Khensur Jampa Tegchok and Thubten Chodron. This book discusses the tenets of all four of these schools and compares and contrasts them. Further, the ...
- 4,693
4
votes
Teachings that Inspire Practice
Read the nice anecdotes of Ajaan Fuang. A small selection below.
§ A woman came to Wat Dhammasathit to observe the precepts and
meditate for a week, but by the end of the second day she told ...
4
votes
Shouldn't we take Lord Buddha's word above the all others?
I have seen many answers to questions referring teachings of modern teacher in this SE.
But as I have learned
Lord Buddha's understanding is above any other,even above an arahant.
I also believe the ...
4
votes
Computer Feedback in Meditation
I've heard of some meditators who use tools like EEGs. Of late these models are becoming pretty cheap, USD 100-500, which was unthinkable even a few years ago. They can't be very accurate at this ...
- 7,433
4
votes
Computer Feedback in Meditation
Biofeedback programs just take data such as heart rate, blood pressure, etc... and display them on a screen so that the person can see them. The underlying theory is that if a person can directly see ...
- 7,442
4
votes
Knowledge as a bad thing
I have attempted to examine the Pali in this verse. The key word appears to be 'ñattaṃ', which is said to mean 'intellectual faculty' rather than good knowledge (Ñāṇa).
Ñatta
(nt.) [nomen ...
- 40.5k
4
votes
Accepted
Should sensual pleasure be actively avoided, rather than simply not sought? I am particularly interested in regards to taste
Reading your post, i remembered the Middle Way or the Noble Eightfold Path as a path of moderation, between the extremes, any sensorial pleasure provokes addiction if not moderated.
In the ...
- 176
4
votes
Should sensual pleasure be actively avoided, rather than simply not sought? I am particularly interested in regards to taste
I think that's an advanced/difficult question.
In summary I think it's recommended that you to avoid becoming 'attached' to sensual pleasure[s]. Seeking (sensual) pleasure (i.e. 'thirsting' or '...
- 46.3k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible