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7 answers

Do monks have big ups and downs in their life?

Buddhist and non Buddhist people have a lot of ups and downs in their lifes, doubts, fears, anxiety, regrets etc... we understand that as impermanence. Do monks experience similar things of aftet joining the Sangha their lifes are pretty much…
konrad01
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Where can I read the oldest and purest texts of Buddhism?

I happen to read this text from the Buddhist Catechism (which was written by Olcott, published 1881): Q. What striking contrasts are there between Buddhism and what may be properly called "religions?" A. Among others, these: It teaches the highest…
kiran
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Who propounded "All doesn't exist" in the Buddha's time?

SN 12.15 says, 'Everything exists': That is one extreme. 'Everything doesn't exist': That is a second extreme. Avoiding these two extremes, the Tathagata teaches the Dhamma via the middle We know that by the Buddha's time, the early Upanishads…
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Realigning your priorities after realizing death and impermanence

It is very common to see people realigning their priorities after a near death experience or surviving a cancer. Things like money, career, fear of the future or anxiety don't bother them as much as before. In Buddhism how can one try to develop…
konrad01
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4 answers

What is the sutra where the Buddha emits fire and water from his body?

I've seen pictures that depict the Buddha floating in the air and emitting fire from this torso and water from his legs. The fire and the water might be the other way around. I think the picture illustrates a sutra or other text. Does anyone know…
Crab Bucket
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In the wheel of life, how can death be a condition for ignorance?

Considering the 12 nidanas as represented on the Tibetan wheel of life. I can understand how the previous links cause (or condition) the subsequent ones for instance sensation is a condition for craving. However as the wheel turns it does birth ->…
Crab Bucket
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Can Mahayana and Theravada learn from eachother?

What can those following the Theravada learn when studying the Mahayana as the Mahayana see it? What can those following the Mahayana learn when studying the Theravada as the Theravada see it? Is it possible for individuals to use different…
Lowbrow
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Is there any buddhist explanation for deja vu?

I'm not sure we will find that in the pali canon (per haps in Abidhamma?), but is there any thera/senior bikkhu that wrote about it? Is it related to past lifes or any special power of the mind?
konrad01
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Mahayana-specific definition of "a buddha"?

We all know the Pali Canon's definition of "The Buddha". The Buddha is one who discovers The Dhamma all by himself without external help, therefore by definition there may be only one Buddha until the teaching is completely forgotten and thus can be…
user2512
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4 answers

Problematic Nature of Views

This answer states that: View are mental constructions as they break down under scrutiny at a lower level of abstraction. Since an average person cannot discern the realities at lower levels of abstraction some view and confidence in these view. I…
user7302
5
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7 answers

Neither standing nor swimming, I crossed the flood

From the Crossing the Flood Sutta below, we read that the Buddha said that he crossed the flood (i.e. of suffering, of clinging to the world), neither by standing still, nor by struggling (or swimming). And that when he stood still, he sank, and…
ruben2020
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3 answers

Mental note of thoughts during the day

During daily activities it is ok to do a mental note when thoughts arise saying "thinking thinking" just in like the sitting meditation? I try to label every physical and mental phenomena during the day and nothing strange with that but with…
Arturo
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7 answers

What does Buddha and Buddhism say about fighting against enemy of dharma?

What does Buddha and Buddhism say about fighting against an enemy who is hell bent on wiping out all buddhists in the name of religion? Should a buddhist actively participate in war against evil? I would like to have an answer both from a buddhist…
gaj
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4 answers

The role of doubt in Zen Buddhist practice?

The Zen monk Hakuin said that 3 things are essential to practice great faith, great doubt, and great resolve I can see how faith and resolve would be essential but I don't see why doubt would be? Also wouldn't faith and doubt contradict each other…
Crab Bucket
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AN 4.233 what exactly is the relation between kamma, saṅkhārā?

AN 4.233 sutta passage here, in Pali, with my translation into English: https://notesonthedhamma.blogspot.com/2019/08/an-4233-what-exactly-is-relation.html questions: what exactly are those 3 sankharas (bodily, voice, mind)? If they're the same…
frankk
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