16
votes
Accepted
Which is the Buddhist holy book? Where can it be read?
There isn't exactly one short Buddhist bible (see Why isn't there a Buddhist Bible?).
The Tripitaka is the Pali canon, possibly the earliest (or at least, among the earliest) of the surviving ...
- 44.8k
12
votes
Did the Buddha speak Pali? Are the suttas his word verbatim?
The Buddha likely spoke in several dialects that were quite similar to Pali. He was immensely well traveled for his time, so in his travels he likely adopted the native dialect to be better understood ...
- 7,423
12
votes
Accepted
Did the Buddha speak Pali? Are the suttas his word verbatim?
The short answer is no, and no. The Pāḷi Canon is a translation. Although people in Central Ganges Valley all spoke closely related dialects at the time we think the Buddha lived. The problem of ...
- 4,277
10
votes
Accepted
What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?
To straighten view before meditation: Samma,ditthi Sutta
Anapana
Anapanasati Sutta
Satipatthana
Satipatthana Sutta and Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta
Kayagatasati Sutta
Saṅkhitta Dhamma Sutta
Elements / ...
10
votes
What is the meaning of the Zen quote: "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water"?
I am not sure about the origin of this quote but possibly as it used as a Zen message it may have come from Bodhidharma. I am sure about its meaning however. It relates both to Enlightenment and ...
- 184
9
votes
What is the oldest text/sutra of the Mahayana tradition?
The oldest existing manuscript clearly identified as Mahāyāna is a birch bark manuscript of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sutra or Discourse on Perfect Wisdom consisting of 8000 [Lines]. This ...
- 4,277
9
votes
Accepted
I would like to become Buddhist
I've heard that they don't believe in any god.
It depends on what you mean by God. Buddhism does not have the concept of a almighty, creator (deism), sustainer, creator plus sustainer (theism), ...
8
votes
Accepted
What Buddhist materials explain how to understand one's irrational feelings?
According to Buddhist dependent origination, depending on contact feeling arise, depending on feeling craving arise, depending on craving clinging arise, etc...
The feelings that arise is a result of ...
- 3,388
8
votes
Accepted
Returning to the marketplace - examples
Does the Theravada canon have such ideas anywhere at all?
This is a far-fetched example which barely answer your question but IMO the Buddha himself kind of returned to the market-place: not as a ...
- 44.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Why does the Buddha always answer a question if asked three times?
It's fairly clear that three times was a social convention for crossing some sort of line; either that or just a convention of the Buddha. See also DN 3:
‘Reverend Gotama, there are four castes: the ...
- 23.9k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the meaning of the Zen quote: "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water"?
Before Enlightenment, you hate your life. You chop wood and carry water, but secretly wish to get out of it all. You bear with these activities through habit and out of hopelessness, but you really ...
- 56.9k
8
votes
On what basis does the 'right' in Buddhism come from?
The 'Right' in Buddhism (Samma or Samyak, literally "done well" or "properly done") is that which is causally connected with peace (and Peace). It is causally connected with peace ...
- 56.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Where's the story in which the Buddha praised a non-returner for keeping the knowledge of his attainment private?
"I hope, sir, that there were no white-clad householders there."
"No, friend, there were no white-clad householders there."
"It's good, sir, that there were no white-clad householders there."
http:/...
- 1,663
7
votes
Accepted
Arahants and suicide
There might be something along those lines in SN 4.23 Godhika Sutta.
Page 85 of The Patimokkha Rules
Translated & Explained says,
Case (b) is apparently derived from SN 4.23, where Ven.
...
- 44.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Were different parts of the Pali Canon intended for different audiences?
Each Sutta was intended for a specific audience to address a specific issue. This is one of the reasons why there was a need for an Abhidhamma that consolidated the messages from all of the Suttas ...
- 1,368
7
votes
Law of Karma in the Buddha's own words
Ven Bodhi discusses this matter and quotes relevant suttas in his "In the Buddha's Words" chapter V "THE WAY TO A FORTUNATE REBIRTH".
The following list, which was posted on SuttaCentral, is a ...
- 1,673
7
votes
I would like to become Buddhist
You don't believe in any God. Ok. You don't believe in rituals. Ok. Very likely you already don't. So why Buddhism? I'd like to make an important point here stating that Buddhism is anything but a ...
- 2,224
7
votes
"Human Dignity" in Buddhism
Dignity in Buddhism is not built-in, it is to be earned. A realized person is respected because they deserve to be respected. If someone can control one's emotions, does not fall victim to one's ...
- 56.9k
7
votes
What does Buddhism say about how to manage other people's anger?
A very apt verse in the case of anger is this one from Dhammapada - Na Hi Verena Verani - Hatred is never appeased by Hatred. It is appeased only by loving kindness.
Here is the Dhamma talk by Ven. ...
- 1,211
7
votes
What is the meaning of the Zen quote: "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water"?
It means your liabilities are before and after the enlightenment the same ones. You have to live a life, to meet responsibility and to master challenges. You still have to follow the Path.
Edit
I ...
- 469
7
votes
What is the meaning of the Zen quote: "Before Enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water"?
"Chop wood and carry water"
This was first told to me as a story. Here is an abbreviated version.
A young boy became a monk. He dreamed of enlightenment and of learning great things. When he got to ...
- 71
7
votes
What is the difference between an arhat, bodhisattva and a buddha?
According to the Prasangika-Madhyamika Mahayana school of Tenets,
A Hinayana arhat abandoned afflictive obscurations by way of realizing emptiness, but has not abandoned knowledge obscuration. He as ...
- 5,178
6
votes
Accepted
Why is the first lines of the Dhammapada twin verses sometimes translated using the word 'heart'?
Thanissaro's translations are... unique. The word being used, as others have pointed out, is "mano", the leader of an irregular group of nouns called the "manogana" - "the group with mano as its ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them
From a more secular perspective the Pail Canon has the definite merit of being closer to the time of the Buddha so could (controversially?) be argued has the greatest authenticity. However there is an ...
- 21k
6
votes
Where is the mind referred to as being luminous?
The earliest reference is from the Pali Tipitaka, AN 5.49-50:
49. “pabhassaramidaṃ, bhikkhave, cittaṃ. tañca kho āgantukehi upakkilesehi upakkiliṭṭhan”ti.
50. “pabhassaramidaṃ, bhikkhave, cittaṃ. ...
- 23.9k
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