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1500 questions
7
votes
3 answers
practicing the brahma viharas in meditation
Is there clear instruction about how one should practice the brahma viharas in the teachings?
Should one go through each one in order [metta - karuna - mudita - upekkha] or is it possible to do i.e. only karuna (in a formal meditation sitting)
Why…
OidaOudenEidos
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7
votes
4 answers
All kammas have to be experienced or not?
It's said that some kammas are not to be experienced, some kammas have to be experienced. Not all kammas have to be experienced. For example Angulimala story, the bad vipaka of killing many people could not come into fruition because he had cut the…
B1100
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7
votes
3 answers
Should a Buddhist lay-practitioner schedule his/her daily life
I'm currently considering making schedules for my daily life in order to counteract boredom and restlessness. Does anyone has experience with doing this and maybe can give me some tips? Is it beneficial and if yes, how strict should you schedule…
OidaOudenEidos
- 1,765
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7
votes
15 answers
If there's no "self" then why should I care about the future lives and nirvana?
English is my second language.
If there's no "self', and "I am" is just a "flow" or "mix" of information (dharma, karma, etc.); and if, when I die, "I" (body, illusory self, soul) will die but this informational flow will keep going into another…
Harry Balls Johnson
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7
votes
5 answers
How does the first noble truth associate dukkha with each of the five skandhas?
I'm looking at this definition of dukkha:
Birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, death is dukkha;
sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, & despair are dukkha;
association with the unbeloved is dukkha;
separation from the loved is dukkha;
not getting what is…
ChrisW
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7
votes
6 answers
So many Buddhist schools!
Why does Buddhism have so many variations, like Zen, Nembutsu, True world, Nichiren Buddhism, etc.? Why is Buddhist philosophy not uniform?
user274
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7
votes
4 answers
How do I do "contemplation of death" meditation? And is it dangerous?
How do I do "contemplation of death" meditation? And is it dangerous?
Because I read it might cause someone to commit suicide, so how do I make sure I won't reach that situation? And how exactly should I do this meditation - and for how long each…
breath
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7
votes
6 answers
What does Buddhism say about how to manage other people's anger?
What does Buddhism say about how to manage other people's anger? Does Buddhism suggest any specific attitude when we are facing angry people, especially when they are unable to control their anger and/or unaware of their anger?
Intuitively I try for…
Alain
- 161
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7
votes
6 answers
Can lay people be involved in the weapons business?
There is a short sentence in the suttas where the Buddha said lay people should not involve themselves in the weapons business, but it seems this is not as serious as the five precepts.
The question is, how much is considered weapons business? For…
user2174870
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7
votes
10 answers
Is homosexuality a sin?
"Homosexuality" is a hot topic everywhere in the world now. But is it a sin according to Buddhism? Does it cause a breaking of the third precept? I have heard in a sermon that people are born gay because of breaking the third precept severely in…
Heisenberg
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7
votes
9 answers
No aim. No perspective. Begin of 30y. Scared about political-decisions. Paranoid. What should I do?
Please make sure you read the whole text before giving me an answer.
I'm very serious about this and search a very good advise, something I didn't think before.
This year I'll become 30 years and I'm standing in the middle of nothing.
My boss fired…
user7564
7
votes
1 answer
Who is the laughing Buddha?
Given that Gautama Buddha was an ascetic until shortly before his enlightenment and several Dhammapada verses reflect a moderate attitude toward food, such as:
Verse 7: He who keeps his mind on pleasant objects, who is uncontrolled in his senses,…
Robin111
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7
votes
3 answers
What is the Pure Land?
The Three Pure Land sutras contain descriptions of a beautiful and serene place with trees, ponds, and palaces all made of jewels and surrounded with heavenly music and fragrance. How is this Pure Land understood by followers of Pure Land schools?…
Robin111
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7
votes
1 answer
Shoshin in regular buddhism
In Zen-Buddhism there is the concept of the "Beginner's mind" called "Sho Shin" which I find fascinating. I haven't heard of something analogous in "regular" buddhism (meaning the forms of buddhism relating closer to the historic buddha). Does it…
serendipity
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7
votes
2 answers
What would one encounter at a Buddhist temple service?
With the understanding that there are many different traditions and cultures within Buddhism, I wonder if it is possible to describe what a newcomer might encounter if they went to a temple service and also what might be some handy things to know…
Robin111
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