Buddhism Stack Exchange
Buddhism Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
7
votes
10 answers

Plants may be sentient beings like animals so how do you decide what to eat?

There is some evidence that plants are 'sentient beings' and can communicate (e.g. see this article or this wikipedia page). However Buddhists believe eating meat is wrong because of killing a living entity, what about plants? If this is true what…
Flo
  • 91
  • 1
  • 2
7
votes
5 answers

How can I become less affected by politics?

since I started my buddhist practice some five years ago, I have made great advancements. I think I've become much more accepting and loving towards others. I used to be cynical and arrogant and I suppose I've since reached a point where I can claim…
tigrefurry
  • 265
  • 1
  • 7
7
votes
5 answers

Which Buddhist Meditation is comparable to Transcendental Meditation?

A friend of mine was practicing zazen for many years. They started to get discourage with their practice and started to explore transcendental mediation. Now, they claim their progress with TM is far better in a matter of weeks when compared to…
DharmaEater
  • 2,189
  • 2
  • 15
  • 31
7
votes
4 answers

What is the difference between concentration and mindfulness practice ?

I am new to buddhism and meditation (I have been practising it for one month now), and despite finishing my fourth book on the matter, I am still very unclear about what a meditation session should look like when practicing either concentration or…
abernard
  • 607
  • 3
  • 12
7
votes
7 answers

What is the difference between right thinking and right view?

They seem to be both elements that promote a healthy perception about things in life. I have a hard time differentiating between one and the other.
Bar Akiva
  • 171
  • 3
7
votes
1 answer

Could meditation help with reducing memory and concentration problems? As with ADD or ADHD?

There have been studies showing that meditation can help dealing with depression, stress and anxiety. But are there meditation techniques that help with ADD and ADHD problems? And if there are, which ones? Since three of the unwholesome mental…
DirkM
  • 1,525
  • 9
  • 19
7
votes
5 answers

How does human will fit with Pratītyasamutpāda?

On Tevijjavacchagotta Sutta the Buddha said that in the last ninety-one aeons, no fatalist who denies the power of volitional acts, has ever gone to heaven, except one, who happened to follow the doctrine of kamma and of morally effective deeds. How…
user10552
7
votes
3 answers

Has Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance got anything to do with Zen?

I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig a few years ago and really enjoyed it. However I'm not convinced it's got anything to do with Zen. From what I remember the protagonist spends a lot of time fixing his motorbike…
Crab Bucket
  • 21,051
  • 11
  • 62
  • 173
7
votes
3 answers

How do Buddhists use mudras?

This is a practice question. I know both Mahayana buddhists and Vajrayana buddhists use mudras. In the former they show up in inconography, and hand resting positions while meditating, in the later it's part of elaborate rituals. How are mudras used…
MatthewMartin
  • 7,143
  • 2
  • 28
  • 61
7
votes
2 answers

What is the significance of the 28 Buddhas within Buddhism?

Recently, I discovered in the Pāli Canon there is a text titled Buddhavamsa that describes the lives of 28 Buddhas. Now, I am familiar with the significance of Gautama Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, however not the previous 27 Buddhas. I am curious,…
DharmaEater
  • 2,189
  • 2
  • 15
  • 31
7
votes
9 answers

Can one follow Hinduism and Buddhism at the same time?

I am born Hindu and have been following Buddhism for more than a year. The change has been a life changing experience but now I find myself at the junction of two religions. I sometimes face contradictory situations where its ok in one religion but…
Varun Krish
  • 441
  • 1
  • 6
  • 11
7
votes
3 answers

What is the Buddhist approach of admitting a mistake?

I just did a mistake while commuting. I told sorry to the person and wished him well in my mind. This brought me to think, Are there any suttas staring how to go about a mistake done which resulted in hurting another person?
Ravindranath Akila
  • 71
  • 4
  • 19
7
votes
5 answers

Is this considered insight?

I have noticed during formal meditation and also off the cushion that everything can be broken down into what seems like an infinite amount of moments. For example when swallowing I can notice so many things such as the saliva build up, the…
Arturia
  • 2,740
  • 14
  • 21
7
votes
7 answers

Who or what is observing

I've heard it taught by various secular teachers that through mindfulness one can uncover the "true authentic self" because we realise that we are not thought but that we are awareness of thought. Please correct me if I'm mistaken but in my…
Arturia
  • 2,740
  • 14
  • 21
7
votes
3 answers

What is the difference between an arhat, bodhisattva and a buddha?

What is the difference between an arhat, a bodhisattva and a buddha? References to the scriptures would be most helpful. I'm open to both Theravada and Mahayana perspectives.
Kyoma
  • 295
  • 3
  • 8
1 2 3
…
99 100