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meditation on the heartbeat Usually we use an anchor in meditation, the breathing being the most common. Sometimes when I focus on that I feel my heartbeat taking my attention, so I thought about using that as an anchor, does anyone know if there is a meditation technique that uses the heartbeat? PS: I'm aware this do...	It is better to ignore the heartbeat and focus on the breath for countless reasons!Calmer mind, more stable heartrate, blissful, easier, wind element cultivation...
What makes someone enlightened? Some years ago I somehow managed to stay almost the whole day without any thought, and for several months I used to be in that state of consciousness. I had the breathtaking feeling of emptiness and freedom, there were no ups and downs anymore, I was completely balanced and a profound ha...	If you decided to be a buddha, then you have to take "niyatha vivarana" (something like guidance or prediction) from another buddha, then since that life you start doing Ten Perfections until the life you become the buddha. You can't stay in that state forever. The key is not to get rid of thoughts or be in a state of ...
Did the Buddha teach the Mahayana I understand that according to some "schools" at least historical ones that the historical Buddha didn't teach the Mayanaha. Is that true? <Q> At the time of the Buddha there were no schools, only one "type" of Buddhism was known: The teachings of the Buddha, the discourses and verses...	Buddha taught the Dhamma-Vinaya
Are Aksobhya and Bhaisajyaguru the same buddha? This page by Venerable Husan Hua says yes; this page by Zhuoge Rinpoche says no. <Q> Apart from both being blue, the iconography of the two Buddha's is completely different - different mudras and implements for example. <S> Their "function" is also different. <S> One r...	From the mundane dimension, both Bhaisajyaguru and Aksobhya are Buddhas of the Eastern Pure Lands.
Is it OK to purchase cat food? Forgive a (possibly) silly question - but I have a cat as a pet, and of course I purchase cat food for him and feed it to him. Being a pretty recent participant of Buddhist thought and practice, I also understand that eating meat (something I admittedly still do myself) is frowned upon, b...	So you or your cat is less likely to get frowned upon, just for eating meat. As noted elsewhere, it's pretty much only Mahayana Buddhism (especially Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese Buddhism) where vegetarianism as an ideal is the norm.
What is Tantric Theravadan Buddhism? I read somewhere that there are a number of Tantric Theravadan Buddhists practicing in Cambodia. What is Tantric Theravda and what are it's distinguishing practices? Can it be said to be a vajrayana practice? Does it use visualisations practices and if so what sort of things are vis...	From what I've read, it sounds like a blending of traditional indigenous religious practice mixed with Buddhism. The use of sacred language, combined with microcosm to macrocosmidentity.
Soul and Self in buddhism I've heard a lot of questions like, "who is there to enlighten if there is no self?" Is that kind of question based on ignorance on the difference between Soul and Self? Or does Buddhism deny the existence of both Soul and Self? I think I understand Buddhists saying that 'Soul' doesn't exist...	If you deal with paramattha-sacca which is ultimate reality then concepts do not exist and there is no problem with a soul/self to begin with. A self is a concept. The ancient Indian word for self or essence is attā (Pāli) or ātman (Sanskrit), and is often thought to be an eternal substance that persists despite death....
How irony and sarcasm are seen in Buddhism? How irony and sarcasm are seen in Buddhism? For example, are they considered wrong speech in all ocasions? <Q> Thanissaro Bhikkhu wrote ,, For many of us, the most difficult part of practicing right speech lies in how we express our sense of humor. <S> Especially here in Am...	The Buddha himself was quite sarcastic, ironic and funny, as all wise people tend to be.
Does karma force things to happen? I know karma matures with the right conditions but does it ever force things to happen with the certainty that it will happen? Like for example can earning a specific karma say that it's going to force an effect, like when somebody does something good that means they'll become a priv...	It is more correct, in my understanding, to say that karma merely encourages certain activities, or acts as an urge that sometimes is perceived as an unstoppable or confounding force depending on our level of attachment .
Are there examples of the Buddha showing humour in the Pali Canon? Leading on from this question - are there any examples of the Buddha showing a sense of humour or a certain lightness in his teachings within the Pali Canon? I was once told that it is possible to find examples where he perhaps approaches teaching wit...	There is humour in the suttas, but inevitably it is used as a lead up to a more serious discussion of dhamma.
What determines whether a style of meditation can or cannot lead to insight? On YouTube @Yuttadhammo seems to say that tranquility meditation requires focus on a concept and as a result -- i.e. because a concept is not "real" -- that meditation cannot lead to insight. And, by way of contrast, he says that the rise an...	Tranquility meditation is a method, and it has nothing to do with an object. If one focusses on the breath, for example, going in and out of the body, one is focussing on a concept, as it is not directly related to the observation of the sensation. You need concentration to develop insight.
Can contemplation of the four noble truths lead to penetration of them? Like can you gain insight into the four noble truths by contemplating them? In this sutta the Buddha says that "your duty is the contemplation" and then goes into the four noble truths http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.048.th...	It is helpful to think and contemplate but know the limits of the intellect. You have to experience the four noble truth not churn it through your head back and forth trying to get a sense of it.
Is it ok for a Buddhist to participate in a demonstration? I'm talking about a peaceful demonstration against a corrupt government. The point is: It can be seen as divisive speech because there will be people against it. <Q> The Buddha himself protested silently on at least two occasions in the Dhp commentary; both rel...	If the protest is instructional - i.e. a means of reminding certain parties of the error of their ways, then it seems to be reasonable, provided one is an involved party (e.g. a relative or intimate to one party in a conflict).
Is surrounding yourself with good people a form of aversion? I am unsure the definition of 'good' in Buddhism. My assumptions are of 'good' are; Caused no bodily harm intentionally Caused no mental harm intentionally No expectations when help is offered Willingness to help and support to those who need it Willing...	That said, after staying away from harmful people, if you continue to bear a mental grudge against them, and speak ill of them to others, then you have an aversion against them. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life.
Is the only way to deal with the effects of your bad karma endurance? Do you just have to endure these bad effects no matter how long they may last? I feel like I'm dealing with some bad karma. <Q> Try to make good Karma - it will help you for sure. <S> The Buddha once gave a simile. <S> He said that bad karma was ...	Intentional action to do good will bear positive results on oneself.
Does Zen distinguish between concentration and insight meditation? Both the Theravada and Tibetan systems distinguish between two aspects of meditation -- concentration (aka shamata, serenity, calm abiding, shiney or zhiney (Tib.)) and insight (aka vipashyana, lhatong (Tib.)). (Some call them types of meditatio...	Zen and some other spiritual practices understand that words will not get you there, it is beyond language, language is a bit of the problem, It is the experience that is the truth.
Did the Buddha discover jhana by himself? I was reading Ajahn Brahmavamso's book 'The Jhanas' (available freely online) in which he says that the Buddha discovered Jhanas by himself, and what Alara Kalama and Uddakha Ramaputta taught, were not related to jhana. The reason I am requesting your time is that, there are ...	The orthodox view is that the Bodhisatta cultivated samatha meditation countless times in his past lives before finally discovering vipassana. On the subject of jhana , he points that a description of the first jhana appears in a Mahābhārata passage "where it is said that for the sage who has the first dhyāna , there i...
Was the Buddha Humanist? Humanism is defined as, Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism, empiricism) over established doctrine or faith (fideism). Would you...	First, Buddhism is a program for humans to find happiness, and as such seems humanistic.
Is there a Connection between Sila and Fear? Is there a connection between Sila and fear? I find fear to be the main reason I practice sila. I would like to practice Sila out of loving kindness and a compassionate heart but I'm more worried about the consequences of my actions then being compassionate.And i don't know ...	Sila is doing yourself a favor if you do it to save your own skin, or if you are truly acting out of total selfless compassion. Do no harm to oneself
What's the karmic cause for loneliness I'm wondering why some people have many friends (lasting friendship like friends since kindergarten to college)while some has almost none. I understand that it would depend on situations in present. But if there's effect from past, what would these be? From buddhism point of view....	From my own personal perspective, I think that not having any or few friends generate from many different factors. If you do good deeds and dedicate them to attaining Nibbana, you will be born in places where you can hear the Dhamma and get to meet enlightened beings or at least those who teach the Dhamma. From a Karmi...
What does Buddhism say about having dreams about the Buddha? Is there any meaning given to dreams of the Buddha? For example is it considered an omen a sign or meaningless ...? EDIT: Sorry i have to change the edit back to the Buddha instead of Bodhisattva.My question is about someone dreaming of The Buddha.As in Bud...	So within this tradition dreams of the Buddha (and Bodhisattvas and other beings) would be an actual practice and would be seen as significant.
What is the appropriate use for the term bhante? I've noticed on the site that quite a few people address Yuttadhammo as bhante. I'm aware that this means teacher. However in my sangha (Triratna Buddhist Community) the term is used differently. People only ever us bhante when speaking about the founder of the movemen...	Bhante is a contracted vocative form of the reverential "bhadanta", which is simply an appellative used to show respect.
How to Study the Suttas? I practice the Theravada tradition. There are a lot of suttas, and I don't know how to go about studying them. Can I please get some pointers or guidelines on how I can study them? For example, which suttas to start with, or maybe some kind of overall introduction on the suttas, or perhaps a te...	Maybe you can start your study with the trilinear Suttas ( http://www.themindingcentre.org/dharmafarer/sutta-discovery/trilinear-suttas )
Should Buddhists use statues with an imagined likeness of the Buddha for veneration? Should Buddhists use statues with an imagined likeness of the Buddha for veneration? The Buddha discouraged making images in his likeness (Kalinga Bodhi jataka), and has said that the Buddha cannot be likened to a statue. <Q> Even thou...	Even though the image will never be same as The Buddha himself, I believe there is nothing wrong with having the image for veneration.
What is ignorance in Buddhism and what are examples of ignorance? Wikipedia describes ignorance and delusions. This appears to be academic and do not find examples that are easily related. What is ignorance? How is it different to delusions or are they the same? What are real world examples of ignorance? <Q> Igno...	Delusion is similar to wrong view and ignorance is the not knowing itself. The Pali term for ignorance is avijja .
Will I be considered a real Buddhist if I take refuge alone? I see myself as a Buddhist and I would like to take refuge. Can I do it alone ? Will I be considered a real Buddhist ? Please excuse my mistakes, English is not my first language. <Q> Yes you can take refuge in the triple gem (the Buddha, the Dhamma, the San...	You don't need an external entity to call you Buddhist or declare that you are a Buddhist, it all depends on your cultivation and practice.
Dealing with intense negative emotions What would you recommend as a short-term fix for someone in serious psychological/emotional pain? If meditation, what kind? I feel pretty angry/powerless/frustrated right now, or "unenlightened". I don't want a long-term solution, as any long-term goal requires short-term will wh...	Remove any sensations triggering the negative thoughts and emotions. If it helps, you can prepare yourself by labelling the emotions or freely writing/journalling about them until you are ready to give them up --sometimes with extremely powerful emotions you HAVE to do that as preparation.
Seeking to enlighten other sentient beings - is it ever redemptive Following on from a few question I've asked about nihilism, I wondered - quite casually if not in an idle way - whether seeking to enlighten other sentient beings (into Buddhahood) is ever redemptive of either stimulus or response (I just mean self and ...	It is impossible even for an Enlightened Being to Enlighten someone else.
If I download illegal material for my education and if the material is not in my reach in my country, is it still bad karma? I downloaded a lot of things for 16 years I guess.I now understood this is a form of stealing.And i decided to delete my downloaded content.But some material is not found in my country,or if i or...	Stealing implies that you have taken something that belong to others.
How is catharsis different to gossiping in Buddhism? Catharsis is described as "providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis" An online resource mentions "The Buddha has thus presented the principles of the catharsis of emotions..." It is my understanding that g...	If your intention is to acknowledge them of their unacceptable behaviour, and it contains no ill will towards them personally, then the intention is considered wholesome.
If one's inner monologue stops forever, is one necessarily an arahant? Question in the title. I'm looking for answers citing either canonical scripture or the position of any particular school of Buddhism. The inner monologue in the question could also be read as mental chatter; mental noise; superfluous thoughts; e...	Even if one were to suddenly go without an inner monologue while still alive, there is no reason to infer that the monologue would not start up again; clearly both arahants and Buddhas still have some mental monologue as long as there is still the arising of sankharas. The only case in which the inner monologue could p...
Should you meditate with a timer? I currently do 15 minutes of meditation every morning. I use a stop watch. I see some people do more like 30 minutes. I was wondering how they kept track of time. Or is it roughly 30 minutes? I find that if I don't use a timer, I find myself thinking to myself during meditation, "I won...	I'll echo other peoples comments by saying that trying to peek at a watch or think about the time would be pretty distracting and take away from the actual meditating. The next day you make the same resolution "I will sit 30 minutes" and then when you feel the time is up you get up, go in another room and check how muc...
Is self enlightenment achieved through contemplation of impermanence? Not asking for a friend, or as a plan... I started doing this some 11-14 years ago, and wondered if it was over - in any significant sense. Not that it matters - I might take the bodhisattva vows, now :) THanks. My question is: is self enlightenme...	One could also adjust and say that self-enlightenment is achieved through contemplating the impermanent , i.e. the five aggregates, since contemplating them - or observing objectively, rather - is what leads one to see impermanence, suffering, and non-self.
Body scanning - right way of attention moving Practice - Mindfulness of body When I move attention part by part in the body I don't feel sensations in every part . Is this right ? Or should I feel sensations in all body parts ? Sometimes I do quick sweep of attention from head to feet . I do this at any moment durin...	Sometimes you might feel sensation on the whole body and some time not. I was told on a vipassana retreat in the tradition of S.N. Goenka that at first one may not be able to feel sensations in all of one's body, but being able to feel sensation in every part of one's body is a milestone that practitioners should reach...
How to deal with sore hips during sitting? I have been finding my hips to be getting super stiff after sitting practice. I have been stretching before and after, but it doesn't seem to help much. Does anyone have any tips to deal with this problem? <Q> In Zen meditation, posture is important. <S> This is what I was tau...	These problems can usually be taken care of by stretching and strengthening exercises. Try calming the bodily fabrication by looking at the breath Mental movement can stimulate Piti. Controversial suggestion :Ultimately train yourself to do the lotus posture (which is the most blissful and joyful too) because all other...
What Buddhist materials explain how to understand one's irrational feelings? There is some person in my life and whenever I see his or her photo, or something related to him or her (e. g. reminder of the place he or she lives), I experience strong feelings. They are totally irrational (I haven't been in contact with t...	The feelings that arise is a result of past conditioning and when there is contact the past feeling that was conditioned arise, be that attachment, revulsion or neutral feeling.
What is soul made of; as per Buddhism? As per Buddhism, What are elements of soul or what is soul made of? (If we split body and soul to seperate them then what are elements of soul?) <Q> In Buddhism a human being is composed of matter, feelings, perceptions & memories, mental fabrications (thinking) and consciousness...	A soul is a conceptual belief which does not exist.
What is the buddhist way of responding to compliments? "Hey David you're a genius!" "Hey David you look so fine!" I think blushing and feeling a little nervous isn't really buddhist... But sometimes if you don't react this way you might look as if youre being rude What exactly do the scriptures say of how one should ...	If someone compliments you and you don't politely acknowledge thecompliment, this person may be offended.
Keep motivation to stick on one meditation practice :Ven. Mahasi Saydaw Practice : Ven .Mahasi Sayadaw I have been practicing meditation " in daily life " for a week . I felt more relaxed and also noticed having a thought of "intention" before most of my actions of body . But now I feel that I'm losing the interest...	If you practice under the Mahasi Sayadaw Tradition then the way to deal with such hindrances is to turn them into an object of observation, i.e. a meditation object and thereby making them a foundation for realizing insights.
The impact of the subconscious mind on the conscious mind How should one consider the impact or influence of the subconscious mind on one's conscious awareness and mental processes, especially during sitting meditation? My mind seems to often exhibit a proliferation of short-lived flashes of images "from nowhere". Is c...	Visions during sitting meditation are signs of being on the right path towards awakening and final liberation. The subconscious mind in Buddhism is the Bhavanga , (mindstream, store-consciousness) where the results (vipaka)of past actions kamma is deposited.
Does your lay Buddhist name follow you for life or does it change with different temples and masters? When you are laity and given a Buddhist name does it change with different masters and temples or do you carry it with you for life? While mostly pertaining to the Vietnamese tradition I'm very curious about all. Thank...	Within the Triratna Buddhist Order , an order member is given a name upon ordination by his or her preceptor. Some, but far from all, also change their legal name to the name given at ordination.
"Gatha" (Verse) on mindfulness/contemplation of Death : Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw Practice : Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw Is there any "Gatha" (Verse) can be used to contemplate on "Death"?The purpose is to use as an aid to generate necessary energy to continue practice [mostly as the first thing in the morning] <Q> Because you ment...	Besides this, there are many verses about death in the tipitaka; the most common is that spoken by Sakka when the Buddha passed away: “aniccā vata saṅkhārā, uppādavayadhammino. Also in the Mahasi Sayadaw tradition, it is customary to reflect on death before starting the practice:
What books address various difficulties that may arise during various stages of meditation practice? I am looking for books that go beyond the usual introduction on how to do various form of Buddhist meditation practice but rather, in addition to describing the practices themselves, discuss various difficulties that ma...	Essay on The Five Hindrances by Ajahn Brahmavamso. An extensive guideline through the practice of Vipassana meditation and explanation of the Satipatthana medthod, including how Nibbana is realized through this method of practice. Mahasi Sayadaw on the subjects of purity and insight.
Introduction to Samadhi meditation Can anyone give me a brief introduction into practicing samadhi meditation? I could start saying i understand the common principles of meditation. I had practiced a peacefull breath based meditation in the past, but i didn't have any instruction whatsoever. Recently in my life i been ...	Here too, not much instruction is needed - you just keep concentrating on your meditation object as before, and your concentration will develop even more.
Is it possible to see the counterpart sign (nimitta) with eyes open? As a beginner, I practice two forms of meditation: one focusing on the breath (typically with eyes closed), and one focusing on a colored disc (kasina), obviously with eyes open (unless cultivating the after-image). All descriptions I have seen for th...	As a samatha meditator, both the signs exist for both types of meditation and which still appear when the eyes are open if they are vivid. The Pa Auk tradition generally train their followers in all the 40 meditation subjects (you have to choose a suitable subject for your self), hence try to see if you can locate a te...
What is the difference between samadhi and samatha? I am in the habit of getting the concepts samatha and samadhi mixed up. To me they seem like related or even similar concepts. Is that correct? My understanding is that samatha seems like the process of integration and samadhi seems like the result of integration. Is ...	Samadhi is the meditation portion of the Buddha's teachings (Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration) and would include Samatha plus other types of meditation.
Is there any authenticity to the book 'The Deathbed Sutra of the Buddha: Or Siddhartha's Regrets'? I found this book in a local bookstore and went online to research it. I could not find much reference to it. The author, George C. Adams Jr., purports to have been given a lost sutra of the Buddha, given on his deathbed...	I'm the author of the Deathbed Sutra, so I can assure you that it's fiction.
Meditating with an overwhelming emotion It gets really hard for me to meditate when there is something really important happening in my life, something that triggers overwhelming emotions such as fear, anger or total despair. Avoiding them is not a solution, they don't simply go away. I try the usual method to deal wi...	You may try anapanasati meditation to try and help bring about more calm of mind. Live your life, let go of things you can't change and let go of the things you can change... This is no different than being stopped by pain while sitting and having your leg fall asleep and give rise to pain.
What is the right way of living in the Present? What is the right way of living in the Present? Present day living is full of challenges and with forces in play and to act in certain way. How does one follow the Path in these conditions without incurring karma and its after-effects? <Q> For me, the challenges of livi...	A willingness to question your sense of what you are experiencing and a desire to grow into a deeper understanding of yourself and the Dharma and others in your life are good starting points.
Mindfulness while Studying or Listening to Dhamma Talks It's significantly harder to be mindful when the language part of our brain is active. So how does one read theory about Buddhist meditation while actually being mindful of what is being read? How does one listen to Dhamma talks with moment by moment mindfulness...	Sometimes being mindful can get in the way of learning--sometimes it can support it (for example, catching yourself when you are just drolling through the read not understanding anything).
My thoughts don't happen to other people so why are they 'not mine'? Considering the five aggregates and the sense in which they are all not-self. Thoughts (samskāra) are one of the five aggregates so they too are 'not me' or 'not mine'. In one sense this is a statement which accords with my own experience while on and...	They are the thoughts that happen to you in particular, so indeed you have "your thoughts", but they are not "yours" in that you have no real ownership of them nor do they reflect your true self. They have no real point of reference.
Why are some bodily fluids missing from the "Thirty Two Parts of the Body" teaching? "There are in this body head-hairs, body-hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, intestines, intestinal tract, stomach, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, ...	The author of the Sutra wasn't a biologist and may not have intended this list to be biologically complete or even all that accurate.
Why does Mara, the Evil One one comes looking for consciousness at death? Is this explained in the Pali Canon? Then the Blessed One went with a large number of monks to the Black Rock on the slope of Isigili. From afar he saw Ven. Vakkali lying dead on a couch. Now at that time a smokiness, a darkness was moving to t...	If Mara has to search, that means that that consciousness has already gone beyond his domain. He wants to be a tempter, distracting humans from practicing the spiritual life by making mundane things alluring, or the negative seem positive.
Without an enduring quid between lifes, how to explain past life recalling? How a being (be it a Buddha) can remember its past lives, if there is no "quid"/soul/self enduring for more time? <Q> A self wouldn't help in this case; a self is an untenable entity - it is permanent yet able to change to know multiple objects...	You can only observe the truth within and outside you, and with your observation you can deduct or reconstruct your past lives.
During insight meditation, what does the meditator note in-between the rising and falling of the abdomen? I practice insight meditation (Theravada tradition), noting the rising and falling of the abdomen. It was suggested that one should make a mental note once per second, neither too frequently, nor too slowly. Howeve...	If you find yourself noticing the gap between the breath, then you are no longer focussed on the breath, which is fine, but you should then note "knowing, knowing" or "noticing, noticing". You should not have gaps in noting, but observe all the movements from the start to the end, without missing any step.
Can binaural recordings enhance my meditative experiences? I read about binaural tones and am about to experiment with them in my meditation sessions. I read that studies show mixed results, with 7Hz frequencies improving focus and 15Hz impeding concentration. What have you read? Have you any experiences or anecdotal s...	Some sounds can help, but the purpose (the aim or intention) of practice is independence, so you must master the meditation regardless of sound.
Lost and in need of guidance I live in Dickinson, North Dakota USA and I am wanting to follow Buddha but have no one to teach me or to ask questions to. I has wondering if there is anyway to get in to contact with a Theravada Buddhist Monk to help guide me down my path? I have checked my local library and online for bo...	Bhante Gunaratana's "Mindfulness in Plain English" is a good place to start in getting a meditation practice going and on track. Unless there's someone who's a very good teacher at a local temple, meeting with a monk regularly may not be the easiest or best way to go about it.
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 me: "Kamma can operate ac...	There is nothing in Theravada Buddhism, AFAIK, even hinting at karma being stored up, or of a continuum being imprinted. It should be understood as it is said: Whenever you perform a volitional action, the volition leaves its imprint on the mental continuum, where it remains as a stored up potency.
Is "Fake it 'til you make it" an acceptable Buddhist behavior? Does Buddhist psychology view the concept of "fake it 'til you make it" as an acceptable social behavior (eg, cheerful behavior rather than stressed behavior, or calm behavior rather than emotional behavior)? For example, I recently attended my first medit...	Your expression of emotion was entirely appropriate, even expected. It could be a good way to gain some knowledge/wisdom.
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. <Q> Anger is eradicated at the 3rd stage( Anagami ) of enlightenment. <S> Lord Buddha is fully enlightened. <S> It is impossible to make him or any other being who has ...	The Buddha cannot get angry.
Why isn't the S(h)urangama sutra more popular? I've read that this sutra is one of the most direct routes to enlightenment and one of the most important, yet because future generations cannot handle this sutra, its disappearance was foretold. I can find only a few English versions of this on the web and they ea...	I've read parts of the Shurangama-Samadhi Sutra, and I think the main reason it isn't so popular in the West is that it is written in a rather formal and verbose, and it has long passages with long lists. The end of the world simply fails to happen, no matter who is predicting it, and there is always someone predicting...
What are the benefits of practicing under a teacher vs. practicing alone? Question is in the title. I was wondering about the benefits of practicing with a teacher vs. practicing alone. By alone i mean when one has a great deal of time to practice and no worldly responsibilities such as a marriage, children, being th...	Further some types of meditation need the supervision of a teacher.
What are the benefits of solitary practice? I have heard about buddhist monks who undertake strictly solitary practice for 6 months where they practice entirely by themselves. They have no human contact and some of the other monks will come and bring them their food. The other monks will leave the food at the entrance ...	Reintegration with society can be difficult, if we are not mature and stable enough, some experiences in solitary meditation can be very scary and disturbing, especially if we choose to practice in places with spirits, like graveyards.
Looking for a book that covers the biography of the Buddha's life Which biography of the Buddha is written in (or translated into) English, and is the most widely read (from a Theravada perspective)? <Q> You may see these two books: <S> Buddha by Karen Armstrong, The Life of Buddha <S> according to the Pali <S> Ca...	A book titled In the Buddha's words is "An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon" byBhikkhu Bodhi.
Which are considered to be the oldest suttas? Though I've seen dating of mahayana suttas here and there in passing with some analysis, I understand the pali canon has suttas of many ages. For example, one collection I've often heard to contain many old suttas is the Itivuttaka . However, I've don't recall seeing any ...	Adittapariyaya Sutta is also one of the oldest suttas which was preached for 1000 monks.
Can someone please guide me to theravada buddhist monastery in France or Netherland? Looking for someone who could guide me to Theravada Buddhist monastery in France or Netherland on July <Q> I just checked the link. <S> Actually i don't have idea which monastery i should go. <S> I will only two days in france and alr...	There's a Pagoda in Vincennes which is virtually inside Paris In summary I don't know whether you'll be able to go to a Theravada Buddhist monastery in France.
Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya Sūtra in Sanskrit with English translation Is there any book or internet resource which has Prajñāpāramitā Hṛdaya Sūtra in Sanskrit and word to word English translation? I am not exactly looking for commentaries(though I don't mind commentaries accompanying word to word translations).The ones I fo...	The simple answer is that Edward Conze published a little book with his Diamond Sutra and Heart Sutra translations, and included the Sanskrit text of the Heart Sutra Conze, Edward.
Are there pictures/paintings of Nirvana? I´m writing an article about pictures of the afterlifes/havens in different religions. But I wasn´t able to find pictures/paintings/artworks that picture Nirvana on the internet. So my question is: Are there pictures of Nirvana? <Q> See Wikipedia - Nibbana <S> It isn't a plac...	Nirvana isn't a heaven, but a state or condition where there is no death, because there is also no birth, no coming into existence, nothing made by conditioning, and therefore no time.
How can a person realize that a particular thing doesn't bring "happiness" without personal experience? Buddha was, if I'm not mistaken, a privileged prince with money/health/a social life who realized that none of those things make you “happy” (or even content enough). But how can, for example, somebody who has only...	It's because we try other ways of finding happiness first, and learn first hand that the things we thought would bring us happiness We have either faith, or direct experience or we can use our intellect to derive conclusions, modulo the problem of inference.
Buddhism is not fatalism? According to the Buddhism's theory, one man's fate is destined by the past's karma.Suppose that he faced an unfortunate incident at birth, which is due to past karma. Besides, his genes are inherited from his parents. In other words, his brain is also initiated by past karma. In this conditi...	So clearly Buddhism is not a fatalism because fate has no power over the will of a "One who is in the path".
Interference from another meditation technique in my vipassana meditation In my 20's(I am now 55) I practiced light and sound meditation for 7 years. When I am doing vipassana which I started in March this year (having not meditated for 25 years) I get the 'sound' mainly engulfing me and it is very blissful I must say....	Do neither (push away or hold onto) - just view both the bliss and the sound with equanimity.
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 pleasant staging posts where the practitioner ...	When the mind becomes still and rests in the present it gradually becomes more and more free of hindrances and conditioned phenomena. In addition to the physical energy and mental exhilaration, the piti will be accompanied by an emotional sensation of joy and happiness.
Suggestions for when practice has plateaued Over the past few months I've been experiencing a lot of personal issues and as a result, my practice seems to not only have plateaued but also digressed. Sitting for an hour has become incredibly difficult physically and mentally. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to t...	If we are bothered very much by a life situation and retreat to meditation as a safe zone, it can help initially, but later meditation can become difficult until the life situation is handled or fully accepted. See if you can trace your personal issues to improvement opportunities.
What is the difference between fear and anxiety? I've always experienced a lot of anxiety. In many ways that was and remains a driving force in my practice. More recently I've experienced more fear. I feel fearful and under threat. They do feel different but I'm still working with them and will be for a long time. In t...	Panic is defined as the accompanying sense of helplessness, or sense of our inability to deal with the object of fear.
What is the meaning of 'defiled cognition'? I have noticed in discussions of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy that the way ordinary folk see things is described as 'defiled cognition'. I would like some pointers on what this means and where to do some reading on the idea. Also is there any cross-cultural equivalent, in We...	In Mahayana, "defiled cognition" is ignorant apprehension of standalone ( svabhava ) entities, both internally (as personal self) and externally (as various quasi-separate objects).
If a kind and generous Christian died 20 years ago, might their rebirth have resulted in there being a 19 year old person in the human realm now? If a kind and generous Christian died 20 years ago today, 21July2015, might their rebirth have resulted in there being a 19 year old person in the human realm now? I want to ...	The Buddha taught in many suttas the kind and generous go to heaven.
Are those who haven't attained enlightenment 'psycho'? There's a difference between 'please' and 'kindly'. Kindly don't take it otherwise, this is a question again very much important to me to be answered. Thank you so much for the support till now. My question is related to myself and my kind of personalities (pract...	Psychosis is generally the term given to noticeable deficits in normal behavior (negative signs) and more commonly to diverse types of hallucinations or delusional beliefs, especially as regards the relation between self and others as in grandiosity and pronoia/paranoia.
When seeking information is sarcasm seen as a deliberate lie? I will be completely honest in admit that I do not get sarcasm. When a person says something sarcastic I end up believing what they say, until they give that look that almost says 'Um, that was sarcastic. Duuh!" And I'm left at the butt of the joke. My...	Sarcasm: even if it is sometimes hilarious--is (accidental) malice and is also a test of your dominance and strength in the conversation.
What is the Buddhist Perspective on Lucid Dreaming? What is the buddhist perspective on lucid dreaming?I am very curious about my first lucid dream last night. <Q> Lucid dream is a place where you can do more work, more Buddhist practice. <S> For example, if you are afraid of fights you can pick a fight with anyone, ma...	If you get all caught up in the dream world and all that you can do while present there, the lucid dreaming may distract you from the real goal of your practice, and ultimately become just another addiction/attachment.
Dealing with extreme temperatures During this current heat wave I've been struggling with heat related discomfort in my sits. (A/C isn't an option at my home) Any advise on dealing specifically with this, I'm sure the people who mediate in the east have it worse. <Q> We must learn to thank the physically uncomfortable ...	If it is humid, dehumidify the room, or keep it closed to keep humidity out. Some fresh air should be brought in while you are sitting, if at all possible. Also, if you have a basement you could try sitting down there, instead.
How to talk to a friend about "lack of control" in what happens to her son? I know a friend, who doesn't practice buddhism, and who is always worried about her young son. She is always concerned about everything that could go wrong, or things which could happen out of her control that she can do nothing about. I've al...	I don't know what your experience with meditation is, but if you have some then you have even more authority it explaining to her that meditating will allow her to see experientially that things are largely uncontrollable, and that all she is doing is creating her own misery in worrying about these uncontrollable thing...
Are there Theravada meditation retreats that allow one to work for room and board? Practicing meditation in South Mississippi, USA, without easy access to a sangha or teacher, and reading Buddhist literature (primarily Theravadan), I feel a need to attend a week to ten day meditation retreat in accordance with Theravad...	Fortunately, in the Theravada tradition, meditation instruction is offered at monasteries, (not all monasteries), at no charge. Not all monasteries have such an option, but many hold occasional meditation retreats.
What is meant by the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw in regards to "The Attainment of Fruition"? In The Progress of Insight by the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw , in the section The Attainment of Fruition, it is said that: This occurs in precisely the same way as the path and fruition consciousness that occurred earlier in the ...	Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw is saying that each experience of Nibbana is approached and achieved in the same manner, each time( Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami, Arahant).
How to accept and surrender to the mind's non-acceptance of doubt and ill-will? I have a question that I would like some input on. Lately, I have been able to see the fruit that total acceptance and surrender can bring to one's experience. I have tasted moments of pure joy, compassion, and equanimity. In these states,...	Let it be, even if unpleasant, and cease to resist it in the present moment.
How can the sensations of the meditation object (attention to the breath) be made more noticeable? While practicing sitting vipassana meditation, using the felt sensations of the abdomen rising and falling with each breath as the meditation object, there is the frequent flood of mental images arising and passing away. ...	Being mindful of the rise and fall of the abdomen is what you do when other phenomena are not occurring. Being mindful of whatever arises, i.e. mental images, clearly noting their arising and ceasing, will strengthen your mindfulness and concentration.
What is the relation between Pratītyasamutpāda and Four Noble truths? First two truths are relate to "samsara". But how 3rd and 4th truths relate to Pratītyasamutpāda? <Q> If we divide Pratītyasamutpāda to three existences it's much easier to explain. <S> (this can be explained for each moment as well) <S> First ex...	In summary, there is no difference between the 4 noble truths & Pratītyasamutpāda/Nirodha, apart from the 4 noble truth is a short version &
Is it only a matter of time before expected feelings of "remorse or shame or guilt" surface during meditation? Approaching yr68, I have committed my share of unwholesome conduct over the years, the typical errors of middle-class youth and adulthood in this USofA. I've been practicing sitting meditation for close to two...	One important thing in Vipassana meditation is to treat all phenomena equally.
How does craving (taṇhā) relate to neutral feelings? How does craving (taṇhā) manifest with respect to neutral feelings? In Dependent Origination (or dependent co-arising, however you'd like to call it), it is said that Craving (taṇhā) follows on the heels of Feeling (vedanā). Feeling, in general, is of 3 main types: ...	There is more subtlety to the mind's relationship to feelings than only craving or aversion.
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 short nor too long .....	If one meditates for a short time and renews the session many times, then each time the mind will be fresh and clear and able to settle down more easily.
Is Yogacara Buddhism still practiced today? Is Yogacara Buddhism practiced today or is it an entirely dead school of Buddhist thought. If it is no longer in existence did it have any influence in Buddhist schools that are around today? For instance do any schools or traditions have a notion of storehouse consciousness ...	In brief, there aren't any Buddhist sects around nowadays that explicitly say "We are the Yogacara school" but the Yogacara teachings are still very much alive as a set of doctrines passed down.
Are Buddhists happier than average? Has anyone ever tried to measure happiness of Buddhist practitioners and compare it in a scientific or analytically way to other religious groups or the population as a whole? If there are studies what were the results and are the measurements reliable or meaningful in any way? I ap...	Bhutan is a Buddhist country famous for its Gross National Happiness metric. You need to be careful with how you use statistics to demonstrate things because there can be a lot of confounding variables.
Is stream entry in 20 or 30 years of practice realistic? The founder of the Triratna Buddhist Community, Sangharaskshita, stated that he thinks stream entry is realistic after twenty or thirty years In fact, it would be surprising if, after 20 or 30 years of life in the Order, you were not a Stream Entrant. It woul...	It might be dangerous to put a timescale on the achievement of stream entry since it takes one out of the present moment and into the future. It can be difficult to give an exact timescale since there are different factors involved in the practice, for each being. Since enlightenment is the loss of personality or reali...
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 to the...	Hiri, the sense of shame, has an internal reference; it is rooted in self-respect and induces us to shrink from wrongdoing out of a feeling of personal honor.
What is the historical origin of Vajrapani? I've always found the imagery of Vajrapani (a wrathful Bodhisattva) very evocative. I'm reading a little bit about him and how his form is to do with energy and power in service of the Dharma so he is of course a positive figure. But I'm just wondering if anyone knows abou...	Traditionally, Manjushri is renowned for having compiled the tantras of enlightened form, Avalokiteshvara the tantras of enlightened speech, and Vajrapani the tantras of enlightened mind, qualities, and activity.
Vajra Posture vs Lotus Posture -- the same or male vs female? I always thought that "Vajra Posture" and "Lotus Posture" were simply two names for the same thing. But recently somebody told me that Vajra Posture is for males and Lotus Posture for females, though without explaining any physical difference. Searching tur...	These are interchangeable terms for the same posture - the former has its root in Hatha Yoga and latter in Tibetan Vajrayana. For males, the left leg is tucked in closer to the body and the left foot placed on the inner right thigh, while the right leg rests in the front.
Is one intention better than the other? Intention that is good will have a good result and bring happiness, bad intention will have a bad result and suffering as a result. But many things have been experienced in life, one thing can be experienced many times in different situation, condition and time. These all togethe...	Whether one intention is better than the other depends on the purity of the intention.
Can karma operate at the level of groups i.e. collectively? In the book the Land of No Buddha the author interviews a Tibetan lama in which he talks about collective karma - to quote All groups have karma that is more than just the collection of the karma of the individuals of the group. For example a group can d...	The concept of collective karma also crops up in the Pāḷi commentarial tradition, though it is not called that.
Purpose of scattered thing or food under tree? We often see things scattered under the main tree in the Buddhist Theravada temple yard. There is also fresh fruit cut open. It seems they are put under the tree deliberately and regularly. Does anyone know what is the purpose of this? <Q> The fruit etc is probably offerin...	In some Asian countries they will set out food as offerings so that hungry ghosts can make merit.
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...	If you give it a psychological interpretation then yes, one can live in Nirvana and be in this world at the same time because suffering is mental and thus Samsara/Nirvana are in our heads, not "out there".
Is this progress in meditation? Sometimes during meditation (Vipassana), I've noticed how the mind tends to get back to breathing by itself, without effort. Can I consider this a progress in meditation? I know that it would be a hindrance to like this when it happens or to dislike when it doesn't happen. The question...	Also keep in mind when you regularly think or try to measure your progress you regress in your meditation. The progress is to catch yourself doing something that makes you tired, and stop it, over time your energy increases (sealing up the holes in the water bucket, such as eating heavy meals).

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