if you could ask the Buddha one question

[Mawkish1983]

I'd probably ask him "Am I practicing right". That's often my primary concern. I often feel drawn to the pretty colours, fun music and mind-bending philosophy of some Hindu sects, only to reflect on why I was drawn to them and to come back to the Buddhadhamma (as best as I understand it presently). It would be really nice for the Buddha to either say "Yes, you are practicing well, keep going" or "No, you are cultivating wrong-view [or whatever], try this instead...".

I suppose with the absence of the Buddha as a person I'll have to keep pestering you lot

[clw_uk]

Gawd almighty, its a joke, son, a joke. Time for you to give it a rest. You toot a one note horn, and its gone a bit flat.

Oh sorry tilt

Damm internet. hard to tell if people are joking or not lol


metta

[Oleksandr]

"How should I practice?"

[Ben]

Hi Mawk

I suppose with the absence of the Buddha as a person I'll have to keep pestering you lot

Please don't forget that in the absence of the Buddha, you still have access to the Tipitaka, the vast commentarial literature as well as the works of modern day scholars and the efforts of our teachers and Dhamma friends. Everyone has worked tirelessly, not only for their own liberation, but also to preserve the Dhamma and expound it for the benefit of future and present generations.
Remember the words of the master:

"Enough, Vakkali! What is there to see in this vile body? He who sees Dhamma, Vakkali, sees me; he who sees me sees Dhamma. Truly seeing Dhamma, one sees me; seeing me one sees Dhamma."

— SN 22.87

Metta

Ben

[rowyourboat]

I would ask 'what do I do now?'

[imagemarie]

Er..I'd hold up a flower. Am I on the wrong forum ?

[Spiny O'Norman]

If I get enlightened in this lifetime, what happens when I die?

Rick

( alright, so it's a big "if"! )

[Peter]

The truth is a person so attached to their views would, when confronted by the Buddha himself, sooner question whether that was really the Buddha than change their views.

"You didn't give me the answer I wanted. How do I know you are really the Buddha?"

[Peter]

The OP prolly needs changing to "If you met the Buddha and somehow knew that it was in fact the Buddha..."

[retrofuturist]

Er..I'd hold up a flower. Am I on the wrong forum ?

Metta,
Retro.

[BlackBird]

The truth is a person so attached to their views would, when confronted by the Buddha himself, sooner question whether that was really the Buddha than change their views.

"You didn't give me the answer I wanted. How do I know you are really the Buddha?"

This such a good point! Personally I have to be sure my mindfulness is very strong before I can see just how much I am really listening, and just how much I am simply waiting to hear someone else reinforce my own views, to give those views validity, and if they don't - well I'm simply waiting (impatiently) for a chance to verbalise my views, and show the other person that they're wrong and I'm right.

This seems to be at the heart of a good portion of the dialogue in the world. It accounts for almost all of the conversations I've ever had, anyway. In fact I was about to disagree with you, on the whole 'meeting the Buddha' note, but then whoop - there we go again.

Hope you have a great day!
Jack

[jcsuperstar]

well, if you met the buddha you'd meet the buddha not some guy who may or may not be the buddha, so i think it's kinda implied you know he's the buddha

also he seems to be pretty good at explaining a point so i guess he could wrangle some understanding into most of us if we were to be sincere in listening

[Peter]

...if we were to be sincere in listening

Aye, there's the rub.

[David N. Snyder]

Is it Dhamma or Dharma? (just kidding )

I would probably ask something like what retro said. Are the commentaries and the Abhidhamma accurate, important, necessary or where else might have the Theravada made any errors (if any)?

[fig tree]

Is jhana needed for liberation?

-or- What's a nimitta?

-or- In my previous life or lives during your time, what was I spending my time doing?

One good thing is that he seems to have been willing to tell someone who asks a poor choice of question not to ask it, but to listen as he explained something else that made things clear.

Fig Tree

[Bankei]

I would ask what he thought of Buddhism/

[Kare]

"How can I help you, my friend?"

[Ben]

"How can I help you, my friend?"

An excellent response!
Metta

Ben

[Jechbi]

"How can I help you, my friend?"

I think that's the best question possible.

I was going to say, "May I sit with you, Bhante?" But Kare's question snaps into focus just how selfish my question would be.

[Peter]

Really? Do you really see it as selfish to ask the greatest teacher to ever walk the earth to teach you something?

Funny but I was struck quite the opposite, To ask the Buddha how you can help him, he who has gone beyond all need of help, strikes me as empty and hollow.

"How can I help you?"
"You can not help me."

Oh well, there goes your one question.