Hello, I am not a buddhist (yet) but I was wondering if this journey could be started on one's own. There is no theravada center near where I live, so is it ok to start practising (not just reading books) alone, without personal guidance? or is it likely I will make mistakes and go down the wrong p...

Here and on other Buddhist forums I have seen a number of people bring up emotional health issues such anxiety, panic attacks, unhealthy cravings for attention, self esteem issues, anger, etc. I've suffered from some of those myself. My opinion is that human beings are social animals and that inter...

I don't get it. How can mindfulness be bad? Isn't a mind in the state of mindfulness alert, neutral, and concentrated on the flow of reality in a real time? Aside from the theory has anyone experienced harmful effects of mindfulness themselves?

The "neutered dog" feeling is just a mind game, ignore it and stay on the path. But then the question is here how do you define the path for the lay person? The noble Eightfold Path is the path, but that's not what you mean I'm guessing. Should've written the path, not a path, my bad. As ...

I don't get that feeling any more, on the contrary not following the path I know I'm doing the wrong thing. The certainty I have is not based on any belief, or a feeling, I can see the consequences of following the path, and veering off of it. It's really a no-brainer. Following the path keeps me ou...

Respect is something that must be earned never given to anyone who hasn't earned it. Being civil, compassionate, kind, gentle, forgiving, understanding etc is one thing, respect implies approval. Taking care of your parents no matter who they are is the right thing to do. You can still do everything...

Hi understanding 27, If there is one thing one needs to understand it is the instruction that you have to do it yourself, no one can do it for you. Asking others if this or that really exists will not clear your doubt up. You may believe it, but you won't really know it, the only way to know is to f...

This is confusing. Why post this on a Buddhist site? In short all existence is suffering, untrained mind sees undesirable as desirable. Seriously though try relationship help related site, Buddhists are not romantic relationships specialists. Give up sex, and live in solitude, these two minor adjust...

Hapiness is overrated, equanimity is far superior. Romantic "love" is just lust, and ignorance, and so are romantic relationships. Look at sex with a neutral mind, it's one of the silliest activities one can engage in. Craving intimacy is ignorance no matter how you cut it. Idealizing the ...

This thread was inspired by a similar thread "Is selling cigarettes a right livelhood?". At first glance this may seem like a ludicrous question, but keep an open mind, obesity causes even more health issues than smoking tobacco does. So, is selling bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pasta, ...

Thanks for taking the time to answer this, your answers have been a great help. MIkenz66, your point about vipassana and samatha being results rather than meditative methods, and the method which emphasises each is usually called by either samatha or vipassana, clarifies things. Samatha develops co...

What I think is that time is limited. I think it comes down to priorities. This issue doesn't register on my radar. Not worried about it in the least.

Hi Dan, Here is how I understand the difference. Samatha, you train concentration to the exclusion of everything else, you gather the mind, fix it on the object, and stick to it, and that's all there is to it. Sounds easy, it isn't. Vipassana, you still keep your mind focused on an object (breath, o...

Dhamma is always there, since Dhamma is the reality of the present moment. Dhamma is the way it is, the hard facts of existence. However the noble eightfold path that leads to vision of Dhamma (the way it is) can become muddled/ignored/distorted or fogotten over time. The importance of preserving t...

Thank you Anagarika. :bow: Buddhism is available in it's pristine condition for 2500 years thanks to those dedicated monks. Sometimes we pay too much attention to rubbles than the gems hidden within those rubbles. Lay people also play a major role in protecting Buddha's teaching. Only benefit I can...