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4 answers
"Kundalini" experiences during meditation
Can anyone advise on experiences of "kundalini" (energy rushing up the spine and out the crown of the head) during meditation? I have experienced this for years and am wondering if it has an understanding/meaning in the Theravada tradition. The…
Richard R
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What are the consequences of the 14th Dalai Lama being the last one?
The current (14th) Dalai Lama has recently indicated that he may be the last person to hold that title. Does this stance cause any theological issues for the Gelug branch of Tibetan Buddhism or more widely Tibetan Buddhism in general? Can a tulku…
Crab Bucket
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Can I call myself Buddhist? Is Buddhism a religion?
There are differences of opinion on the question of whether or not Buddhism should be considered a religion. Many sources commonly refer to Buddhism as a religion.
If yes then in which region? Can I call myself Buddhist? If I believe in Buddha and…
Suresh Karia
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What is the Buddhist Way to Reform and Correct People?
In early Buddhism we see that characters like:
Angulimala
Ajatasatru
Ashoka
In recent times we have seen S.N.Goenka doing prison courses. Also there are new perspectives in correction discussed in talks like: The neuroscience of restorative…
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
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Buddhism ideals in the West before the 20th century
Today, I received an email with a quote in the signature attributed to Blaise Pascal reading
All of human evil comes from a single cause, man's inability to sit still in a room.
A more accurate quote is,
tout le malheur des hommes vient d'une…
pmagunia
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3 answers
What exactly is happiness, moods and states of the mind?
Buddha mentioned that happiness is the greatest wealth. When going through the TED Happiness Topic, The habits of happiness, Depression, the secret we share, The struggle of mental health, All kinds of minds, How does my brain work?, What makes you…
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
- 36,981
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- 82
5
votes
2 answers
Buddha meditation under the bodhi tree
Buddha meditated for days under the bodhi tree. Does it mean he sat and did not move for days? Or does it mean he did normal things (like drinking water, urinating etc), but in a total meditative state?
konrad01
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2 answers
What are the main differences between the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana branches of Buddhism?
The question basically says it all, but I'll try to elaborate a bit:
Are there differences in terms of the concepts used in each of these branches?
Are there differences in the practices of each of the branches?
Or are the differences between each…
JNat
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Is our mind faster than light?
Here is what I have been told by some Thai followers:
The sun's light takes 8 minutes to reach the Earth, but our mind can think of the sun or even of distant stars instantly. That is to say, our mind is faster than the speed of light. They claim…
Pantip
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If the law of Karma is a natural law like Newton's law?
Can we write an equation for it? at least in principle because I know that there are lots of variables involved. but if it really is a part of nature then why not?
user17755
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3 answers
On Suffering and Happiness
Is happiness something we should seek? I feel discontent seeking the state of happiness or creating this state of mind when I know that other beings are suffering. For example, if one knows that animals are being slaughtered inhumanely to satisfy…
John
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How to prevent the development of insight to become ignorance anew?
It is necessary to develop insight in the way ignorance lies at the basis for the conditioning of suffering. See 12 links of dependent co-origination. Insight in the conditioning of suffering is developed by seeing the four noble truths at work at…
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2 answers
Buddha's tooth, ashes, footprints and other marks
There are many places that claim to have a part of the Buddha, a tooth, ashes, a footprint (sri pada) etc.
I would like to know, according to Theravada tradition (but I accept answers from other traditions), what is recognizable as being true? What…
konrad01
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5
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4 answers
What is the meaning of the lotus?
On the altar when entering a Buddhist temple I see the Buddha sitting on a lotus, but frankly I do not understand the symbolic meaning of the lotus image? Everywhere you look in the temple you see lotuses. Can anyone explain this to us?
iCrazybest
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If the Buddha praised Samatha, why is it losing importance?
It seems like these days, teachers are looking down to Samatha meditation, I would like to understand why, based on the suttas, this the meditation praised by the Buddha.
Could someone explain why Vipassana is so much more present in Theravada…
konrad01
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