Greetings, There are several variants of the standard paticcasamuppada formula throughout the Pali Canon. Whilst being different, none illustrate anything cyclical other than those that speak of the relationship between nama-rupa (name-and-form) and vinnana (consciousness). (e.g. DN 15). This "vort...

Greetings, What do u mean by dependent origination being a cycle or not being a cycle? I mean it's not a cycle, and the suttas never taught it as a cycle. For more information, see: Is There Scriptural Justification for The Wheel Metta, Paul. :) Hello: I get the danger of dependent origination bein...

Greetings Spiny, There isn't a consensus on what the nidanas represent, just a lot of interpretations. True, but nowhere anywhere in any scripture is there to be found this notion of it being a "cycle". It's as if the subsequent "wheel of life" diagram has retrospectively been absorbed into mainstr...

Hello: Sona Sutta: About Sona ( AN 6.55 ) "In the same way, Sona, over-aroused persistence leads to restlessness, overly slack persistence leads to laziness. Thus you should determine the right pitch for your persistence, attune[2]the pitch of the [five] faculties [to that], and there pick up your t...

For liberation, is the 1st jhana enough or do we need to get into deep absorptions that need years and years of practice and a monk life to master? Hello: Yes, sometimes the 1st jhana is enough to trigger complete liberation (arahantship). There are many ways to attain liberation, this one is calle...

or is the perception of what is considered "happiness" merely an illusion? If I recall correctly Nagarjuna or another early Mahayana philosopher argued that pleasure cannot actually exist but rather that it is a type of suffering in disguise. Does Theravada hold a similar view or is the existence o...

Hello:

"But some of his taints are destroyed by his seeing with wisdom" .(MN 70 ; At Kīṭāgiri).
First comes the seeing with wisdom (and nibbana), and then it comes the destroying of some of the taints ( Stream-entry).

Regards.

"The 3 marks of existence" doesn't sound right, because Nibbana / cessation of dukkha is a living experience. "The 3 marks of unenlightened existence" doesn't sound right either, because insight into anicca and anatta is a prerequisite for enlightenment, and I don't see how these two marks could be...

Hello:

Honestly i dont see anything against the dhamma in this sutta.

Basically its saying that Sariputta was aware of what was happening?. That
can´t be so bad right?.

Regards.

I know people spontaneously got enlightened during the Buddha's time. Listen to just a few words and WALLAH!.... they are enlightened. Is this a similar experience? If not, what is it? I got it from Eckhart Tolle's famous book. "I was fully conscious, but there were no more thoughts. I felt drawn i...

Greetings and Anjuli to all. I have a question regarding Upadana/Clinging. We are frequently advised by meditation teachers not to cling/grasp when craving appears and to notice/observe "craving craving craving.. wanting wanting wanting" this is even explained as the reason we suffer dukkha. I have...

Hello:

When the Buddha talked about Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta he was really talking about dependent origination.
If thats not taken in consideration they just become words: used by many people, in many kinds of ways.

Regards.

Each path is followed by its own fruit, wherein for a few moments the mind enjoys the blissful peace of Nibbana before descending again to the level of mundane consciousness. You attain the path only once and all subsequent mind moments are fruits. It is important to note that there are few kinds o...

.[/quote] My guess is that the vast majority of arahants were never mentioned individually in the suttas. This would mean that even if ALL the arahants mentioned individully in the suttas were from rich families and high society it would still not even come close to satisfying your "most" came from ...

Hello: During the time of the Buddha most of the people who became arahants came from rich families and high society. Interesting view.....who did you come to hold this view? chownah Hello: -The Buddha, son of a king. -Sariputta was the son of Śāri, a noblewoman. She was the mother of seven arahant...