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 ...
- 44.8k
17
votes
Accepted
Could someone provide a list of all Buddhist schools?
Out of thousands schools, sub-schools, and hybrids, here are some of the most notable outlines:
Early Buddhism and conservative descendants
=======Popular wing=======
Mahasanghika (developed into ...
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 ...
- 56.9k
8
votes
Accepted
Role of the Buddhist in preserving the original teachings
First a couple of comments...
It is to be expected that in a non-Buddhist country you wouldn't find as much authentic Buddhist literature as you would in Buddhist countries. In Thailand, for example, ...
- 23.9k
8
votes
Five Precepts - did Buddha really preach them?
The five precepts are mentioned in Dhammika sutta. The main reason for teaching the fifth precept is said to be that intoxication easily instigates people to break other precepts by concealing the ...
- 4,213
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 ...
- 5,178
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 ...
- 9,648
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 ...
- 5,608
7
votes
How are bhikkhus using social networking sites?
I don't think their intention is to entertain but to to teach.Social Networking Sites can be used as a form for communication.Especially in this day and age.It's likened to them writing a letter or ...
- 3,082
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
6
votes
Accepted
Impermanence, nonexistance of self, meaning of life
Do Buddhists believe that there's no purpose in living?
No.Buddhists believe the purpose in living is to free one's self from suffering.
And if there is, what is it based upon?
The universal need ...
- 3,082
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'...
- 9,648
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 ...
- 36k
5
votes
Impermanence, nonexistance of self, meaning of life
1) Do Buddhists believe that there's no purpose in living?
At large, there is no one absolute purpose "built in" the universe. Meaning, there is no single prize to be taken, no silver bullet to be ...
- 56.9k
5
votes
Accepted
Teaching Buddhist concepts to a child
Try the videos under the section of Children on this website.
There are some ebooks for children here.
There's a simplified introduction to Buddhism for kids here.
There are websites on Jataka ...
- 36k
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 ...
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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 ...
- 5,608
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 ...
- 4,326
4
votes
Accepted
Can We Teach Animals the Dhamma?
There's a Jakarta story of a previous incarnation of the Buddha giving his body to a hungry tigress. The reason for that act was to prevent the tigress eating her cubs, which would have damaged her ...
- 44.8k
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