7
votes
How do Buddhists separate caste system from itself when Gautama Buddha was so casteist?
The most important idea in Buddhism with regards to caste is that regardless of which background one is from, if one is righteous, consummate in virtue, and earnestly seeks the path leading to ...
- 37.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Is Buddhism Effective?
Buddhism is extremely effective: if you create causes of the experience of suffering - there's experience of suffering, if you don't - there's no experience of suffering. Works like magic, as long as ...
- 58.9k
3
votes
What is a "True Buddhist"?
Who the "true" Buddhists are, are clearly defined in the sutta below:
“Mendicants, these eight people are worthy of offerings dedicated to
the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a ...
- 37.5k
3
votes
Origins of Theravada Buddhism
Please refer to the book called Sects and Sectarianism by Ven. Sujato. There's also info on Wikipedia.
Apparently, the Mahavihara monastery used to maintain its orthodox views and was less open to ...
- 37.5k
3
votes
Is Buddhism Effective?
Buddhism is effective for everyone.
It's not just for the Sammasambuddhas, Pacceka Buddhas, Arahants, never-returners, once-returners and stream enterers. It's also useful for the monks, lay people ...
- 37.5k
3
votes
Is Right Concentration equivalent to the Four Jhanas?
In the Pali Canon, the Buddha describes three doors to Nibbana: appanihita (desireless, aimless, undirected, nonintentional), animitta (signless) and sunnata (emptiness). Elsewhere in Pali Canon we ...
- 58.9k
3
votes
What are the suttas in which the Buddha claimed he was greater than the gods?
“Among whatever beings there may be–footless, two-footed, four-footed,
many footed; with form or formless; percipient, non-percipient,
neither percipient nor non-percipient–the Tathāgata, worthy & ...
- 567
2
votes
Ordination procedure in Theravada Buddhism - What are grievous crimes?
There are prohibition against ordaining criminals who have been flogged, branded or tattooed ie....serious criminals
- 53
2
votes
How does decisive supporting cause (upanissaya paccaya) work? (and some related questions)
The idea that giving certain gifts leads to certain meditative attainments is not one that can be found in the suttas until the emergence of such texts as the Apādānas, on into the Dhammapada ...
- 567
2
votes
What is a "True Buddhist"?
The Editor's Foreword says that it's translated from talks given in 1966 to students in Bangkok. It spends a few pages explaining the translation of the words in the title (which I take as warning ...
- 47.1k
2
votes
What is a "True Buddhist"?
What he is meaning by using the word ariya as a noble person as in a person who has experienced the goal and is actually following the path. A sottapanna onward on the stages of liberation.
He is ...
- 854
2
votes
What is a "True Buddhist"?
Buddhadasa is pointing out the distinction between religious and philosophical practices. Religious practices are more or less passive activities, in which people rely on rituals, symbols, liturgies, ...
- 5,481
2
votes
What is a "True Buddhist"?
A true Buddhist should at least adhere to the five precepts of Buddhism. They should have faith in the teachings of Buddha and strive to live a peaceful life, free from violence. It is important for a ...
- 81
2
votes
Accepted
Is Right Concentration equivalent to the Four Jhanas?
In the Pali Suttas, Right Concentration is literally the four jhanas:
And what, monks, is right concentration? (i) There is the case where a
monk — quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from ...
- 42.8k
2
votes
Is Buddhism Effective?
There is vastly more that 28 Buddhas that have come into existence. The 28 is the history of 28 Sammāsambuddhas of this aeon (not specifically from the beginning of perception) The Buddha himself gave ...
- 854
2
votes
Is Buddhism Effective?
Anyone - even you can become enlightened. There are many individuals beyond the said number of Buddhas that attained nirvana! These realized beings are called arahants. There are a few steps down from ...
- 31
2
votes
Is copying code online breaking the second precept?
There's a pretty long description here of what "taking what is not given" means.
https://www.dhammatalks.org/vinaya/bmc/Section0010.html#Pr2
It's mentioned in the suttas as a lay precept, ...
- 47.1k
2
votes
Sexual visualizations during retreats
Vipassana is a result of maintaining the Noble Eightfold Path. MN 149 says:
Any view belonging to one who has come to be like this is his right view. Any resolve, his right resolve. Any effort, his ...
- 42.8k
2
votes
How do Buddhists separate caste system from itself when Gautama Buddha was so casteist?
Those quotes are taken out of context, and don't mean what you're trying to use them as. See the difference between DEscriptive and PREscriptive. For example, if someone says "hey, there's a wad ...
- 410
2
votes
Accepted
Does Theravada have the role of priest like Japanese Mahayana?
The Buddha never spoke about this matter and I've never heard of it happening. What did happen at the Buddha's time - with his approval - is that skilled lay meditators would both learn the Dhamma and ...
- 567
2
votes
Five major sins (anantarika kamma) and how to mitigate them?
If someone accidentally creates the above evil karma without anger, will the result be different?
I assume that "accidentally" means it's not considered "killing".
The Vinaya ...
- 47.1k
2
votes
Relation between five aggregates and four establishments of mindfulness?
1st aggregate = rupa = form or materiality = earth, wind, fire, water (SN 12.2; AN 9.15; SN 12.61). MN 62 contains detailed description. Also SN 22.79.
1st satipatthana = kaya = 'group' = 'sabba-kaya' ...
- 42.8k
1
vote
Is Buddha wrong in Dhammapada?
If I say "everybody hates being stuck in traffic jams", you might find an example of one person who likes being stuck in traffic jams, and prove me wrong.
However, my statement would be ...
- 37.5k
1
vote
Is Buddhism Effective?
Actually, there has been an infinite number of Buddhas in the past. And there will be in the future. The only problem is Buddha only appears after a vast amount of time has passed from another Buddha. ...
- 459
1
vote
Should one be practicing restraint or be practicing mindfulness?
If Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu says what you wrote, Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu has wrong view. Remaining mindful in Buddhism means to remember to not engage in unwholesome behaviour. For example, the suttas say:
...
- 42.8k
1
vote
Should one be practicing restraint or be practicing mindfulness?
I think it's both.
"I love this bad habit but I'll try to refrain" may not work very well, in several ways.
"I'm mindful that this would be wrong behaviour, therefore I avoid it" ...
- 47.1k
1
vote
Visualization in Body scanning?
In fact, You have great opportunity to understand NamaRupa.
The image that you get is Nama and due to that your body follows it, in filtering all body sensation and giving you related body sensation(...
- 1,071
1
vote
Accepted
Rimé movement and Theravada
Imagine you are learning to play a piano.
As an absolute beginner, you start by learning the notes, and practicing the scales.
Then as a novice, you learn to read the musical notation, and play the ...
- 58.9k
1
vote
Origins of Theravada Buddhism
I think there are two types of Theravada:
Whatever Theravada actually is.
Mainstream cultural Theravada, which originated from Buddhaghosa and Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya in Sri Lanka.
Whatever ...
- 42.8k
1
vote
What is a "True Buddhist"?
Nobility starts with understanding. As adults, we are so busy with our careers, our spouse and children and chasing after wealth, fame and power. There are times when we would pause for a moment in ...
- 1,581
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible