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Buddhism

Beta Q&A site for people interested in Buddhist philosophy, teaching, and practice.

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Isn't Buddhism a Religion?

aug 14 '15 at 20:33 Flimzy 5,225
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Would questions on other religions which adopted Buddhism be accepted

may 18 '14 at 3:59 jabahar 201
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2
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How do we keep questions about doctrine from devolving into endless debate and discussion?

apr 28 '14 at 7:49 Donaudampfschifffreizeitfahrt 7,544
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What are the guidelines (next to the obvious ones) that new proposals should adhere to?

oct 28 '12 at 17:32 Community♦ 1
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What needs to be done to prevent this proposal from stagnating?

oct 24 '12 at 10:11 Community♦ 1

discuss this proposal

This proposal is now in the Beta phase — example questions are locked!

116 Example Questions (1 closed)

active newest votes
up vote 0 down vote
Which of the 200+ rules of the vinaya beyond the first five might have application to lay life, if only we were aware of them?
added by MatthewMartin Apr 24 '13 at 19:30
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up vote 0 down vote
If someone experiences something really bad does Buddhism suggest they've done something wrong in the past?
added by eug Apr 28 '13 at 9:55
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up vote 0 down vote
What is a Buddhist refuge? Can one take refuge in a couple of teachers even though they are from different traditions?
added by Rabbit May 6 '13 at 2:05
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up vote 0 down vote
There are many meditation apps for smartphones around. Are they actually useful in Buddhist practice or it's yet another gadget in 'modern lifestyle'?
added by Rabbit May 7 '13 at 22:31
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up vote 0 down vote
Is the Buddhist principle of Upādāna (often translated as clinging) at odds with motivations toward productive achievement?
added by Lorentz May 14 '13 at 21:19
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up vote 0 down vote
Does Buddhism absolutely prohibit alcohol and other mind-altering substances?
added by eug May 22 '13 at 14:08
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I don't think one can use the term 'absolutely prohibit' in the context of Buddhism. There are no commandments here, rather tips on things that can bring about suffering and things that can bring about happiness. If reworded, this could have been an interesting question though. – Rabbit May 22 '13 at 16:29
What I meant to ask is whether having one glass of wine, which doesn't make me drunk at all, would go against the Buddha's advice. I suppose a glass would reduce my alertness to some small extent, but so may many other everyday activities like going for a run. – eug May 23 '13 at 9:31
As I said, the question is interesting and only needs some rewordings and clarification (as you explained in your comment). Buddha gave some pieces of advice so people can reach lasting happiness, not the state of alertness:) – Rabbit Jun 5 '13 at 23:10
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Are the aggregates exclusive? Eg. consciousness, perception, etc. are not fabrication because fabrication is its own aggregate?
added by Wideshanks May 27 '13 at 13:45
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up vote 0 down vote
Are greed/aversion/delusion the same concepts as craving/ill-will and wrong view?
added by Wideshanks May 27 '13 at 16:17
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Why is abstaining from alcohol mentioned in the 5 precepts but not in Right Action?
added by Wideshanks May 27 '13 at 16:48
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I came across some sources suggesting that the Right Action involves keeping the 5 percepts. We should keep in mind that what good conduct means varies widely accross different traditions. In Vajrayana there are pujas and initiations where both alcohol and meat is used as an offering as well as being consumed. – Rabbit May 27 '13 at 20:36
up vote 0 down vote
What does it mean to 'advert' to the factors of jhana one by one after emerging from the jhana?
added by Wideshanks May 28 '13 at 0:01
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How does one become a Bhikkhu/Bhikkhuni?
added by Paul Elfish Jun 1 '13 at 4:00
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I often hear Buddhists talk about wisdom and compassion. What do these two terms mean?
added by Maduka Jayalath Jun 2 '13 at 11:07
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How to interpret the Zen saying: 'You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour'?
added by Rabbit Jun 2 '13 at 18:55
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In the Talaputa Sutta - why does the Buddha assert that actors will go to hell. Would this apply equally to all forms of acting?
added by Crab Bucket Jun 6 '13 at 12:19
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Thich Quang Duc the Vietnamese buddhist who set himself on fire - Can this be seen as an ethical act even though it involved great violence? How?
added by Crab Bucket Jun 20 '13 at 18:36
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How to learn buddhism when you are in an area with no buddhists at all?
added by MARTIN Damien Jul 5 '13 at 13:57
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My young child won't meditate for more than a couple minutes. What other parts of Buddhism can I teach to a child?
added by GreenMatt Jul 15 '13 at 22:46
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Do Buddhists have a single Sacred Scripture to read like the Bible,Qur'an, Vedas, Mahabharata etc.?
added by Mawia Jul 19 '13 at 6:48
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Did Buddha say that there is no God?
added by Mawia Jul 19 '13 at 7:18
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Are Buddhists idolaters?
added by Mawia Jul 19 '13 at 9:32
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What is the role and origin of Pagodas in Buddhism?
added by Mawia Jul 19 '13 at 9:36
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What is the role of Monasteries in Buddhism?
added by Mawia Jul 19 '13 at 9:48
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Siddharta left his wife and son; how can I work towards enlightenment, while still keeping my responsibilities to family?
added by Vixen Populi Jul 25 '13 at 5:24
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Is violence against another justified in any circumstance (e.g. oppression) in Buddhism?
added by Sachin Kainth Jul 25 '13 at 11:57
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Does Buddhism teach that there is a God?
added by Sachin Kainth Jul 25 '13 at 11:58
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What are the sacred scriptures of Buddhism and what are the most accessible English translations available?
added by Sachin Kainth Jul 25 '13 at 11:59
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What are Buddhist temples called?
added by Sachin Kainth Jul 25 '13 at 12:00
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Are there any Buddhist temples in London, England?
added by Sachin Kainth Jul 25 '13 at 12:00
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up vote 0 down vote
Is there a Buddhist ethics? (Or are there many?)
added by rem Jul 29 '13 at 19:19
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up vote -1 down vote
Are the Paleo diet and Buddhism compatible?
added by SystematicFrank Jan 19 '13 at 17:15
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up vote -1 down vote
What are some good, free, legal, torrents with Buddhist content, e.g. Dhamma talks and guided meditations?
added by eug May 23 '13 at 10:08
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zencast and the alan watts podcast are free and legal – JD. Jun 6 '13 at 17:55
up vote -1 down vote
If anyone can become a Buddha, why have there been so few since Siddhārtha?
added by JD. May 23 '13 at 23:17
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How can you prove that there have been so few? The fact that they didn't manifest themselves publicly or to you doesn't mean they didn't reach that state. Overall, interesting problem (if slightly reworded;) – Rabbit May 31 '13 at 14:49
Thanks for the reply Rabbit. Your question is a good one. One of the Bodhisattva vows is to liberate all beings, not to hang out in secret. Other issue: I think it would be hard for her (or him) to hide. Look how the masses worship public figures like the Dalai Lama. The best answer I've gotten on this is that we can expect about 1 Buddha per kalpa (about 4 billion years). – JD. Jun 5 '13 at 17:36
If my vow is to teach all beings higher mathematics and there are only primary school kids around me what shall I do? Show off my differential equations tricks or help them step by step with addition and subtraction? 1 Buddha per kalpa? Have you heard of Milarepa, Naropa, Gampopa, Marpa and other yogis? 16th Karmapa who died in 1981 was most probably enlightened. But now I start giving an answer to the question. My only point is to reword it so it only questions Buddhas' visibility rather than their actual achievements. – Rabbit Jun 5 '13 at 20:46
up vote -1 down vote
According to Buddhism, where do we come from and where are we going?
added by Maduka Jayalath Jun 2 '13 at 11:03
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I think this is a good question. – Mawia Jul 19 '13 at 9:40
up vote -1 down vote
Is the number of people/beings who could get reborn finite or infinite? Is there an end to the Boddhisattvas work?
added by raoulsson Jun 4 '13 at 15:02
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up vote -2 down vote
What do Buddhists believe? [closed]
added by Jordan Rothstein Nov 18 '12 at 18:27
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closed as not constructive by THelper, Robert Cartaino Apr 19 '13 at 14:23

This question is not a good fit to our Q&A format. We expect answers to generally involve facts, references, or specific expertise; this question will likely solicit opinion, debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion.

This is a type of question, where I would point the asking person to wikipedia first - and I won't like such questions because they are so broad that I feel, that is a something "lazy asking", without any own effort visible. And such "lazy asking" (if this characterizing might be allowed) should be discouraged because it makes a site boring. – Gottfried Helms Nov 19 '12 at 8:07
Too broad, especially considering the breadth of beliefs across different schools of Buddhism. – user246 Dec 3 '12 at 17:12
1  
Voting to close as not a real question: too broad. – Hrafn Feb 5 '13 at 7:01
up vote -2 down vote
While regressing to past lives, many people experience being for example Napoleon Bonaparte. How is it possible? Have his soul split or what?
added by Pavel V. Nov 25 '12 at 13:40
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1  
Or common fantasy. ;) – catpnosis Nov 28 '12 at 21:32
Hmm, maybe more of a medical question/condition than a Buddhist one ... but: a certain overlap of appearances between medical conditions (say schizophrenia) and strong religious behavior (say prophecy) is perhaps worth discussing, so +1. BTW, they say "You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do.“
 Perhaps in a similar way one could say that a past life is perhaps "self-made", if it refers to Napoleon Bonaparte instead of some more common being or a more distant time. – Drux Nov 30 '12 at 13:29
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