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1500 questions
6
votes
4 answers
Does Theravada Buddhism accept Jataka Stories?
Once in a Dhamma talk I heard a Theravada Monk saying he did not believe in such stories, because some of them contradict the Buddha's teachings (suttas), I don't know if that was his personal opinion or a general view in Theravada Buddhism.
konrad01
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6
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3 answers
How to complete the first Jhana?
I have read once you have reached the bliss stage you should take your focus off the object and on the blissful sensations and hold it. Then in time you will be in Jhana. But i also read in other sources you should just stay with the object and one…
DeusIIXII
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6
votes
6 answers
To debate or not to debate? and When to debate? and How to debate?
When we have several people with different understanding of Buddhism, how should we decide who is right? Debate is very tempting in Buddhism, but on the other hand, we must respect other people's views and not create conflicts in the Sangha, so what…
konrad01
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6
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9 answers
What is the substantial cause of an instance of consciousness?
Context: I'm considered a skeptic of rebirth in my tradition which is the Gelug branch of Tibetan Buddhism. I'm asking this question to help me understand what other traditions think. In my tradition it is believed that rebirth is a semi-obscure…
user13375
6
votes
12 answers
List of book recommendations
For the reasons explained here, can you recommend one or more books about Buddhism?
I suggest a format like,
Title of Book by Name of Author
A summary of what's in the book, recommended for these reasons.
One book per answer (but multiple…
ChrisW
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6
votes
2 answers
What are the Pali or Sanskrit words for these things?
I think I know some of these, but the rest are a translation muddle. The west seems to not attempt to translate nirvana, sangha, dharma, mantra, mudra, buddha, bodhisattva (and probably a few more) and that for me is actually helpful. I expect that…
MatthewMartin
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6
votes
2 answers
Meditation through clearing the mind of all thoughts
Is it good practice in meditation to focus on having no thoughts? A purely empty mind. Whenever a thought arises, it is cast off.
Yoda Bytes
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6
votes
3 answers
Did the Buddha have advice about dealing with social anxiety?
Does anyone know if the Buddha said anything about social anxiety and how to deal with it?
I believe social anxiety is common in our day and age because people are more isolated now, but may not have been as common in the time of the Buddha. So if…
sunyata
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6
votes
4 answers
How does making merit affect karma?
I believe I understand the basics of karma as the effects of our intentions and actions (good & evil) which will play some role in this and future lives. But how does merit making affect karma? If a person has done something evil in the past can…
Robin111
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6
votes
11 answers
High doubt on Buddhist teaching
I hope you can clarify my doubts:
If one is skeptical concerning enlightenment (because no one besides the Buddha and mysteriously only those people in his time got enlightened) does it then even makes sense to practice Buddhism? The whole point is…
Val
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6
votes
7 answers
What is the reason why Buddhist monks don't work to support themselves? Do the monastic rules prohibit them from working?
It may be hard to find a comparative monastic tradition in the west although there are some monastic in Christianity currently most are really assimilated and intertwine with the Church which bears its existence in charity; so it's not practical to…
user12931
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6
votes
10 answers
Inferiority because of failure in meditation
I've tried hard to practice meditation - Anapansatti & Vipassana but I just can't concentrate on my breath. Now, I'm feeling inferior as if I can never concentrate my breath or get rid of my inner problems/ sufferings. I feel as if peace or…
user12919
6
votes
2 answers
Does enlightenment mean achieving purity?
Usually, the word enlightenment is not directly understandable; a newcomer might understand incorrectly.
In the Visuddhimagga (Path to Purification, p. 6), Nibbana is illustrated as follows:
"Herein, purification should be understood as Nibbana,…
kalan nawarathne
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6
votes
7 answers
Is it "bad" to want a "materialistic" happiness?
After reading several articles and a book about Buddhism, I now feel a bit uncertain about what Buddhism actually is about. Am I not allowed to dance? To sing? To fall in love? Is the purpose of Buddhism to become a munk or nun? To meditate and…
Lou P.F
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6
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3 answers
Eternalism and Mahayana Buddhism
In this Wikipedia article on Arhat in Mahayana Buddhism, it is written:
Instead of aspiring for arhatship, Mahayanins are urged to instead
take up the path of the bodhisattva and to not fall back to the level
of arhats and śrāvakas. Therefore,…
ruben2020
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