Buddhism Stack Exchange
Buddhism Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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4 answers

Why did physical representations of the Buddha only start to appear a few centuries after his death?

Prior to around the 1st century CE, Buddhist art tended not to depict the Buddha himself, instead preferring to depict relics/symbols of the Buddha, such as his footprints, or the Bodhi tree. That period (the so-called "aniconic" period) yielded…
senshin
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How do you have a relationship

Buddhism has made me realise that everything is impermanent and undergoing the process of destruction including intimate relationships however if I know this then why is it still so painful when it happens? And what is the point of trying to build a…
Arturia
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Looking for a Buddhist story about trust

I heard a Buddhist story about trust some time ago and am trying to locate it. The story goes, there are some men travelling (I think) to a temple or monastery and on the way they get swindled and lose all their belongings to a con (or something,…
Bella Pines
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Can't meditate anymore

I used to meditate daily, about 2 or 3 years ago I stopped. A week ago I decided to start meditating again. I sat down closed my eyes... and suddenly I am halfway through cleaning my dishes. So I try again sit down close my eyes, and I am doing…
hellyale
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3 answers

Should Buddhists give their time to helping others?

I'm new to Buddhism. I was familiarizing myself with the "Four Seals" in This Article. The article connects the first truth, that all compounded things are impermanent, to charity. He said that giving our things to others is a good way to practice…
User1996
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When the Buddha changes his mind to teach

I remember reading a sutta (possibly in Majjhima or Samyutta) where a passage has the Buddha talking about his teaching attitude towards certain people when talking to them. Then, he says something to the effect of "... but when a person is a fool,…
user382
6
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5 answers

What Gautam Buddha said about "self", in Chapter Three of the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra?

From this site, I found the following saying of Buddha: "You, monks, should not thus cultivate the  notion (samjna) of impermanence, suffering and non-Self, the notion of impurity and so forth, deeming them to be the true meaning [of the Dharma],…
user10804
6
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4 answers

How to make a decision based on Buddhist principles?

I have been practicing Buddhism since a child, about twenty years. Throughout my adult life I have been trying to combine my practical life with my Buddhist beliefs. In some situations, however, I am not seeing how Buddhist principles apply to…
Larry Juang
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Dejection and Sensuality

I am looking for a very specific sutta in the Pali Canon wherein it is explained how the uninstructed worldling, upon feeling dejected, will turn to sensual pleasures to assuage his craving for satisfaction, which is contrary to the way of the…
Fabien Todescato
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Nine different ways the word ‘Mind’ is used?

I was reading a comment on this answer and it mentioned the word mind being used in nine different ways. Comment below : If you learn to apply episteme, the way Foucault, Derrida, and Kant had used, in deconstructing the key Buddhist Pali…
hellyale
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What does the term 'Sammasambuddha' mean?

Buddhists, from children to monks, chant the following homage to the Buddha: Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa What does the term…
Dhamma Dhatu
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Skillful ways to induce Rapture and Pleasure in meditation

The fifth and six steps in Ananpansati, talk about training ones' self to be sensitive to these feelings, how can a mediator do this and avoid the dangers of getting caught up in them?
m2015
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How do you know if you have bad/good karma?

Is it possible to know if you have bad or good karma? A lot of things have happened to me in life that is very negative. I believe partially it is my own fault because the way I am and how others perceive me, but a lot of it I don't think I…
NuWin
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If someone was an Once-returner in last life how can he know that ?

There are 4 stages in the path to nirvana. one of them is called "Once-returner" and they will be born only once as a human. So my question is , If Someone was an once-returner in last life , how can he know it in this life ? And if he does nothing…
lasan
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How do Buddhists handle mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder?

How is mental health dealt with by Bhuddists? Is it believed to be a tangible issue e.g. imbalances of chemicals in the brain? Or an issue of the spirit (not sure if spirit is the right word)? Is treatment with western medicine (i.e.…
beacofell
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