The following passage occurs in several places: All beings are the owners of their actions (kamma), heirs of their actions, born from their actions, related to their actions, and have actions as their refuge. Whatever action they do, whether good or evil, they will inherit its results. Owners of their actions In this world, one is said to be the owner of property that one has paid for, but at death we have to leave […]
The reality is the same for all of us. Even those who are neither Buddhists, nor Hindus, are reborn, whether they believe it or not. At least they cannot deny that they have been born, can they? So the difference between Rebirth in Buddhism, and Re-incarnation in Hinduism is a matter of concepts. Hindus believe in an immortal soul that is transferred from one existence to the next. Buddhists do not believe in an eternal soul, but they do […]
After his enlightenment the Buddha uttered the following spontaneous verse: Through many births I wandered, Seeking, but not finding, the builder of this house. Painful is repeated existence. Oh housebuilder, you are seen now. You shall build no house again. All your rafters are broken, Your ridgepole is shattered. To dissolution goes my mind. Achieved is the destruction of craving. (Dhammapada, verses 153,4) The Buddha-to-be, or bodhisatta, began his quest for enlightenment at some far […]
Good question. Short answer is, you don’t, at least not to begin with. The Pali words for the eight factors of the noble path all begin with sammā- e.g. sammā-diṭṭhi (right view), sammā-saṅkappo (right thought). However, sammā doesn’t just mean right. How do we usually translate “Sammāsambuddho?” You never see it translated as the Rightly Enlightened Buddha, do you? The usual translation is the Fully or Perfectly Enlightened Buddha. So our view has to be […]
All conditioned phenomena arise due to one of four causes. These are known as the four foods, or four nutriments: 1. Physical food. 2. Climate. 3. Mind or consciousness. 4. Kamma (including, but not confined to kamma in past lives). Physical food is essential for life and strength. Good healthy food eaten in moderation gives us health, beauty, long-life, and strength. Too much rich food can cause poor health, while insufficient or poor quality food […]
Not my first discourse, I hasten to add, but the Buddha’s first discourse. That seems like an appropriate place to start. If you are reading this thread then I assume that you wish to know more about the teaching of the Buddha. I will be do my best to reply to any questions that you may have, as long as they are respectful and sincere. Preamble The bodhisatta, Prince Siddhattha Gotama, renounced his palace at […]
