A type of literary composition in of varying length. In Buddhism this mostly refers to canonical texts. Sutras is a Sanskrit term however the Pali term sutta is often used by certain traditions. The two terms are equivalent.
Questions tagged [sutras]
368 questions
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Loneliness: Rhinoceros-Horn Sutta from a Lay person's perspective
How can a lay person benefit from this beautiful sutta? It is about being reclusive as a key for good insight and enlightenment.
Does this sutta apply for short period of loneliness like Retreats? Or should it be taken literally and is only for…
konrad01
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Conflict between Brahmajala Sutta and current Buddhist practices
I'm very confused about this sutta ( http://suttacentral.net/en/dn1) specially in the part "Mahāsīla"
Many of what the Buddha stated as wrong livelihood is very common in some Buddhist centres these days, things like: Astrology, selling lucky gems,…
konrad01
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What is meant by "No limiting action remains there"? MN 99
In the discourse on the four Divine Abodes, what is meant by "... no limiting action remains there, none persists there."
Here a bhikkhu abides pervading one quarter with a mind imbued with
benevolence, likewise the second, likewise the third,…
Ryan Baker
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A person of integrity (Sappurisa Sutta)
In the Anguttara Nikaya 4.73, the Buddha said that a "person of integrity" possesses these four qualities:
when asked, does not reveal the other person's bad points and when pressed, speaks of the other person's bad points not in full, with…
Steve H.
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AN 7.64 kodhana (anger), case 3 of 7 unclear what is meant by "profit" or "loss", and how exactly that sabotages what angry person wants
(pali + english, derived from b. Sujato trans.)
http://lucid24.org/an/an07/an07-v05/index.html#s64
(b. thanissaro eng. trans)
https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN7_60.html
The passage in question:
“And further, an enemy wishes of an enemy, ‘O,…
frankk
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Why did Buddha use the 'Raft Simile'?
The Raft Simile says, in part:
I have taught the Dhamma compared to a raft, for the purpose of crossing over, not for the purpose of holding onto. Understanding the Dhamma as taught compared to a raft, you should let go even of Dhammas, to say…
threefold
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Is Mara a real being or something internal, produced by our own minds?
I have heard both interpretations, for me it would make more sense to be something from the mind as there is no creator God or its opposite in Buddhism, the image of a "temptator creature" like Satan sounds strange when we think about impermanence,…
konrad01
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How are/would newly discovered Suttas (and Sutras) be dealt with?
How are/would newly discovered Suttas (and Sutras) be dealt with, specifically be they of content contradicting -- or even just differing slightly from -- previous material and/or for totally new, original material discovered?
Can example(s) be…
vimutti
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Majjhima Nikaya 152 Indriyabhāvana Sutta
In this sutta, the Buddha teaches how different people should approach sense-restraint. Here, the enlightened ones can perceive objects in a different light (positively, negatively or dwelling in equanimity), whereas beginners should be repelled in…
Val
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I'm looking for the translation of the Dharmaskanda Sutra
Where can I get the English translation of the Dharmaskanda Sutra or at least the original text?
onzi
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Referencing MN 121, how to focus on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space?
Referencing MN 121
'...focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension
of infinite space...'
As I understand the perception of the dimension of space is the experience inside Jhana. Why did the Buddha tell Ananda to focus on…
The White Cloud
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Sutra Opening Verse
I have noticed that most sutras (Mahayana) have this opening verse.
What is the story behind it?
Do all sutras have this opening verse?
Is it compulsory to have it, say, if it's for Mahayana?
Banana Tech
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Is Krishna a demon?
I've read in several articles that the Lalitavistara identifies Krishna as leader of the "black demons" and is an enemy of the Buddha. I've only been able to check the 84000 translation from Tibetan, and haven't been able to locate the source of…
M-2
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What are those "deck of cards" objects that various sutras are printed on?
I used to go to a Tibetan Buddhist community where they were constantly reading Buddhist scriptures off of little stacks of cards. They were wide aspect ratio, and had the syllables of various mantras written out phonetically on them.
Is there a…
MrSynAckSter
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Is there a difference between Sanskrit during the time of the Buddha vs Sanskrit during the time of Nagarjuna?
I'm trying to understand if Sanksrit during 500 BCE to 1 CE is the same Sanskrit of 1 CE to 500 CE.
Egovatar
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