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votes
5 answers
Were different parts of the Pali Canon intended for different audiences?
I read somewhere that the Middle Length and Long Discourses in the Pali Canon were intended for different audiences. I think it was that the Long Discourses were intended to convert people to Buddhism and the Middle Length discourses were targeted…
Crab Bucket
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What is the definition of 'fool' in Theravada Buddhist text?
The Lakkhana Sutta says,
Endowed with three things, monks, a fool can be known as a fool. What three? By bodily misconduct, by verbal misconduct, by mental misconduct. Endowed with these three things, monks, a fool can known as a fool.
But…
Steve
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6
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3 answers
Five Precepts - did Buddha really preach them?
The five precepts are (from wikipedia)
I undertake the training rule to abstain from killing.
I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given.
I undertake the training rule to avoid sensual misconduct.
I undertake…
Anton
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Is the skeleton meditation of Buddhist origin?
I came across a skeleton meditation mentioned in this answer on this site, and I was interested because it supposedly grants interesting special abilities.
Googling it, I just found pages about something called white skeleton meditation, which I…
inzenity
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6
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Can a human being reside both in this world and Nirvana at the same time?
I've heard Samsara as the term to describe a world with suffering. And it's my simple understanding that Nirvana is the absence of suffering. Correct me if I'm mistaken.
My question is fairly simple, i.e., do all beings in this world "get reborn"…
listenlight
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What is "stream"
The question is really just that - "What is stream"?
I've recently found this forum, and recently started reading some Buddhist scriptures, and I've seen the term a few times and have no understanding of it.
Anton
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6
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2 answers
What is the monastic policy on family visitations?
If one was to ordain, would they ever be able to see their friends and family again? If so, how often? Thank you
Ian
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The purpose of associating with the wise
The Buddha states that he sees no other thing that is so much responsible for the arising of unwholesome qualities in a person as bad friendship, nothing so helpful for the arising of wholesome qualities as good friendship.
Is associating with good…
Steve
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6
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4 answers
Why are "Fear and Shame" listed among the beautiful cetasikas?
I was wondering how the mental factors of Fear and Shame should be understood. Normally I would understand them both as being unwholesome but I guess in Abhidhamma-perspective they have a different meaning.
How should they be understood according…
user2424
6
votes
5 answers
Will Karma 'balance out' in most cases by the end of a lifetime?
So, let me start with the disclaimer that I am not a Buddhist and I am just asking this to further my understanding.
Either way, the thing I was wondering about, does Buddhism hold that in most cases karma will balance out within a single lifetime?…
David Mulder
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Is a Ghatika an ideal minimum meditation duration?
I've been reading books written by, or associated with Alan Wallace, that describe a period of time that is new to me - Ghatika (24 minute period).
A session of twenty-four minutes is a good starting interval; for most people, it is neither too…
Devindra
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6
votes
2 answers
Buddha's past lives in the Jatakas
In multiple Jataka stories, the Buddha tells of his different past lives, multiple of which occurred under King Brahmadatta. Am I missing something here? How is it that the Buddha was living multiple past lives, all during the lifetime of one king?…
Ryan
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6
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3 answers
What is morality according to Buddhism?
What is good and bad according to Buddhism? Is there good and bad? What is it's cause? What defines good and bad? Why some people think "this same X is bad" and others think "this same X is good"? What's the cause of this difference in thinking…
beginner
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Are good deeds superficial?
It's said that our actions are originated from unconscious mind. People are trying to become more patient, more tolerable, etc. but there are anger type of people, lustful type of people, etc.. Once the circumstances change, people also change…
Steve
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6
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2 answers
Can bhavanga-consciousness be compared to the non-dual mind-state rigpa?
While reading Pa Auk Sayadaw I came across the following:
The bhavanga-consciousness is bright and luminous, and looks like a mirror in the heart: that is the mind-door.
This seems to have qualities similar to:
In Dzogchen the fundamental,…
Devindra
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