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3 answers

Why is meditation pleasurable?

It strikes me that it is very fortunate that meditation can be pleasurable. If there was no fairly immediate rewards then surely hardly anyone would make any kind of progress towards enlightenment. It almost like it is designed to have little…
Crab Bucket
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Are monks better teachers than ex-monks?

It seems that most of the dharma teachers in the West are lay people, as opposed to Asia where most of the teachers are ordained monks. Many of the western teachers were monks for a while, but decided to disrobe. My assumption is that these…
user2429448
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What is Dharma?

I have read that Dharma refers to reality as-is (in this wikipedia article). I have also read that it refers to the teachings of the Buddha. Does Dharma refer to both these things? The former seems more like "mindfulness of the present".
willem
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According to the Buddha, how is one freed from suffering?

I'm a bit confused about how, according to the Buddha, one is freed from suffering. I have read that suffering is one of the marks of existence. So can one be freed from it at all? If it's an aspect of existing, is it just something to accept? So…
willem
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6
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3 answers

What is Magga phala?

I've come across a few references to Magga phala and can only find obscure half explanations of what it is referring to and some of the explanations seem to be contradictory.
hellyale
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5
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2 answers

Are these valid Buddha quotes?

The BBC has these two quotes attributed to the Buddha that strike me as suspiciously pop-culture-esque assumptions of Buddhism. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/buddhistethics/capitalpunishment.shtml Quote #1: An action, even if…
Buddho
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Is there a way to "reset" all karmic conditions with immediate effect?

It is my basic understanding that certain actions such as killing one's parents or harming the Buddha has immediate karmic reactions. Are there actions that have immediate "wholesome" outcomes or ones that allow you to start with a clean slate?
Motivated
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Cause, condition and effect in Buddhism

If the result of one's karma is the combination of cause and condition, how does one account for all variables in the culmination of an effect? If one is unable to include all variables, isn't that simply a limited view of the effect?
Motivated
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Buddhism and thought crime

Having read multiple sources about karma, there appear to be different interpretations. Some suggest that physical volitional acts bear the seeds of karma while others such as this one, suggest that karma is borne by thoughts. This is extremely…
Motivated
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Combining yoga (asanas); qigong meditation and raw vegan diet with Buddhism

Fellow travellers, As I have experienced myself major benefits from the practicing of asanas the past two years; plus from my raw vegan diet the past three years and qigong meditation the past year; I was wondering if these concepts/ways of life…
5
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What are the Eighteen Buddha Attributes?

There are Eighteen Buddha Attributes, that belong only to a perfectly enlightened Buddha. What are they?
user2424
5
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3 answers

What are the three poisons?

You will often hear reference to the three poisons in Buddhism, What are they referring to exactly when they talk about the three poisons?
hellyale
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5
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7 answers

Meditation on pain?

I may be able to get into meditation. again. I wondered if it was worth setting oneself the goal of meditating on pain / frustration. Perhaps a little masochistic, but it really does feel like the ultimate. Ideally zen, but anything welcome.
user2512
5
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4 answers

When did the Buddha get angry?

I wish to know the circumstances where/when Buddha ever got angry and acted upon that anger. Thanks for your time. Love.
jitin
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How should i understand "Stored up kamma"?

I'm reading the book "The Noble Eightfold Path" by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi. I'm currently reading about "Right View" and i have a question regarding an explanation by the author. The quote can be found on p. 19. The highlight in the quote is made by…
user2424