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1500 questions
14
votes
8 answers
What should I choose, Life or Nirvana?
A little personal story ahead also sorry for the long post...
Story:
Three years back my life was a disaster, I was as far away from Dhamma as possible, I was into the dark side of modern life. Drowned into money, greed, sex, addictions which…
user14093
14
votes
3 answers
Did Buddhists ever actively participate in a major violent conflict?
The great "religions of peace" like Christianity and Islam had some quite turbulent events that seem in major conflict with their primary commandments, but still in the name of faith - even "within" (like bloody wars between catholics and…
SF.
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14
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6 answers
What is Buddhism's view on divorce?
In some religions, marriage is perceived as eternal and is a bond that can not be broken.
I believe I have read that marriage in Buddhism is not a formal or well-defined institution as it is in Christianity or other religions, but I am not sure.
In…
pmagunia
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14
votes
6 answers
Giving up bad friends
The Buddha has spoken many times about giving up bad friends, we can find it in the Dhammapada, in the beautiful Maha Mangala Sutta and many other places.
My first point is: If we abandon bad friends, how will they improve? What role compassion…
konrad01
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14
votes
10 answers
How to combine Buddhism with being a parent?
Buddhist philosophy says that we shouldn't get attached and try to form bonds with something and desire or crave it because everything is essentially impermanent and this will lead to suffering. But how can you raise a child without being attached?…
THelper
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14
votes
7 answers
Can one learn meditation on their own?
Can I learn Vipassana meditation or other Buddhist meditation techniques like Shamatha on my own using books and online videos?
This is because it is sometimes hard to find good genuine teachers.
Or do I definitely need to seek a teacher?
Bharat
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14
votes
8 answers
What is Navayana Buddhism?
Recently, I found out there is a new branch of Buddhism called the Navayana. I read the article on Wikipedia but it did not say too much. What is Navayana Buddhism and what type of practices does it follow like meditations, sutras, or tantras? …
DharmaEater
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14
votes
9 answers
Is practicing Buddhism to be happy a wrong view?
One of my teachers has said that practicing Buddhism isn't about having a good time. That's always struck me as a bit harsh. If I practice Buddhism to feel a bit better about myself and to be happy is that a wrong view. If it is, then why would…
Crab Bucket
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14
votes
4 answers
Confession in Buddhism
Growing up in the Roman Catholic tradition, we were encouraged to go to confession (penance) on a regular basis for reconciliation and to be absolved of sins. In Buddhism, the only mention of confession I've seen is in regard to a practice for monks…
Robin111
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14
votes
3 answers
How was the Buddha Jayanti edition of the Tripitaka derived?
I've read that the three Theravada countries Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar all three have their own version of the Tripitaka.
I've also read that in 1956 they held the Sixth Buddhist convention with the goal of creating one standard edition of the…
THelper
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14
votes
6 answers
Overwhelming states of being reached through meditation
I'm wondering what the Buddhist tradition might say about the following state of being. Firstly a bit of background, explaining how I got there and how it felt:
I practiced (what I understood to be) mindfulness meditation for six months through a…
user446
14
votes
8 answers
How can I remove my desire for a relationship/girlfriend?
For at least half of my life I've had an extremely strong desire to be in a relationship/have a girlfriend and though I've tried, I've been unsuccessful and this has brought me tremendous suffering to the point where I almost committed suicide 2…
Hamza Khan
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14
votes
12 answers
Is it possible to recognize a person who has achieved Arhatship?
As per the Wikipedia article "Arhat":
In Theravada Buddhism, an Arhat [...] is a "perfected person" who has attained nirvana.
And I saw somewhere that one is not allowed to say one is an Arhat. So my question is: how do you identify a person/monk…
Janith Chinthana
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14
votes
9 answers
Why does the Buddha call himself the Tathāgata?
Questions in the title. What is the significance of this term and how it is used by the Buddha in the suttas?
Sāmaṇera Jayantha
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14
votes
9 answers
Are Buddhists against abortion?
While other religions seem to have a definition position on abortion I've never come across the Buddhist view on this. From a naive perspective I would imagine that Buddhists would be prolife rather then prochoice - the abstain from killing precept…
Crab Bucket
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