This crossed my mind today when thinking about my own struggles with addiction. It was relatively easy for me to give up drinking. Drugs I've never used and I'm honestly not clever enough to know how to get them. However, I am severly addicted to all kinds of candy and soft drinks. I'm trying to fight it, but it's hard.

Buddha probably knew about sugar but the kinds of hyper-sweet treats and drinks we have today weren't a thing in his time. Maybe if they were, he would have deemed sugar an intoxicant?

Caffeine is another thing lots of people are addicted to and in his time, coffee hadn't come out of Ethiopia yet. I could see it being on the list of 'mind-altering substances'.

I'm also aware of the fact that smoking is super common among monks and that it's because it's an addictive substance that's technically not forbidden by the Dharma, because, again, it was unknown in the Buddha's day. I feel that smoking goes against the spirit of the Dharma, if not the letter, and that the Buddha would have added it to the fifth precept had he been aware.

What do y'all think?

Okay, so I’m re-reading The Gateless Gate, and for whatever reason, I find the “Gutei’s Finger” Koan to be genuinely hilarious.

Obviously it would be horrifying if it actually happened, but with the distance of a reader, I find myself laughing my ass off every time I read it.

This is especially true if you leave out the end where the kid becomes enlightened. There’s just a naturally timing that makes the whole thing feel like humor.

I THINK Gutei’s behavior is funny for the same reason a cat knocking something off a shelf while staring right at you is funny.

Anyone else find humor in Buddhist texts?

Hello,it's a thing that been in my mind for long time,i read a lot of japanese literature and media about history in found a lot that since the Heian era,there's been this type of warrior? Called "Sohei" (warrior monks) Tendai was fmaous to have a lot of these,then many other sects dis the same,thats where the famous "Ikko-ikki" came out.

But there is this weird paradox you see,in japanes cultureany of thes emonks are highly respected and even are considered legends ( Ex: Benkei)

But again,accoridng to Ryogen he totally disliked this idea of warrior monks.

Of course,all of this where almost 500 years ago and i still ask "What do modern Tendai schoolars think of them?"

How do you deal with resentment towards others?
I understand causing no harm, but I analyze why I feel certain ways; about certain people, corporations, and societal systems. And it seems all I do is internalize these emotions and analyze them. Which in turn causes more suffering because I then compare myself to those I see at peace, or worse, those who just don’t care how they act.

Can one dislike someone and not cause harm? When someone offends and physically hurts another, am I supposed to be a door mat? I do not have the luxury of dropping everything and joining a monastery- I have children who depend on me.

And yet, things seem so bleak. I become apathetic. I am aware of this with crystal clarity, yet the phenomena does not leave with awareness, it just makes me feel shame.

I welcome your thoughts and experiences, have you felt this way?

Hi everyone, eclectic pagan here. I'm sure this question has been asked before but I'm interested in Buddhism and don't know where to start. I know about the 3 major paths, and that they apparently have different canons. I'd like to learn about each of them.

I'm aware that the Tipitaka is absolutely massive and a beginner would struggle with it but I don't know is a summary or accessible commentary to it. I have a copy of "The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hanh, and I've heard his books are good but I do want to read the actual scriptures themselves.

Can someone answer these questions:

1. What are the 3 different canons of the different branches?

2. How do I start reading about their scriptures?

3. How long should I expect my study to last?

4. Where do I learn about Buddhist deities?

5. What are some things I should avoid in my study?

The title sums it up.

My question is that, since I can't do anything about it, do they get away with this?

I chose to abstain from revenge. Are they free to do this to someone else?

What happens if the person feels nothing for the event, and see it as just something that they did, without feeling remorse?

What if the did it for a "good" reason? Do they get rewarded with positive karma, since they did it? I didn't want it. But do they get away with it?

Is there punishment for a parent that abuses a child, but doesn't see they're doing any wrong? Does "not knowing any better" actually work in buddhism?

And why do I suffer, but they don't?

阿彌陀佛🙏🙏🙏

Is Buddhism’s peaceful image the whole story?

My argument is that Buddhism spread less through force and more through adaptation. It absorbed local gods and rituals, attracted royal patronage, and built up serious wealth. In China it competed with Taoism for imperial favor. In Japan it merged with Shinto, and the fused result became known as Shinbutsu-shugo, where local gods were treated as protectors of the Buddha. In Tibet it gradually absorbed Bon, which is now officially folded in and labeled the fifth school of Tibetan Buddhism. Even the split into Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana is part of this same adaptation story, regional branches forming as the religion spread into new cultures.

Theravada is often treated as the closest to the Buddha’s original teaching since it relies on the Pali Canon, but that canon was only written down around the first century BCE, some four to five centuries after the Buddha lived, after generations of oral transmission. So even the most conservative branch is already a few centuries removed from the source. I also try to be fair about the counterweight. Buddhists were persecuted too, syncretism is hardly unique to Buddhism, and the destruction of Nalanda shows how exposed a wealthy, non-violent institution can be.

I also separate the Buddha, a teacher who lived long before any religion, from Buddhism, the institution built later in his name. I’m not saying the teaching is fake. I’m asking how an institution grew around it. I expect pushback, and I’d honestly like to hear where the history is weak, especially from people who know the regional sources better than I do.

I made a video exploring this in more depth, but I didn’t post it here since I wasn’t sure it fit the subreddit rules, and I’m not even sure these kinds of discussions are welcome here. It’s up on my own channel if anyone wants to go deeper after this discussion.

Breathing is a bodily functions that we can control voluntarily or not. We can take deep breaths, hold, exhale etc, or we can breathe naturally. I am interested in accessing unconscious urges, like giving way or not to anger. In my case I am interested in Tourette's tics.

I have been trying for a couple of weeks now to monitor natural breathing, to know when I am breathing in and out etc. I find this very hard, and I am not even sure that I am only monitoring the breaths. It seems that the difference between monitoring and controlling is very thin.

Does any practitioner have advice about how to access and control the unconscious?

Я уже какое-то время изучаю течение буддизма , очень хочу понять больше, но поскольку информацию я по большей части брала из интернета, где много фейков, у меня много времени занимает понимание тех или иных аспектов. Есть ли какие-то письменные учения, написанные либо Буддой, либо другими буддистами. Вот прям какую базовую литературу нужно прочитать, чтобы разобраться? (И, если возможно, какую литературу стоит читать чтобы погрузится конкретно в Дзен- буддизм) (буду благодарна за ответ)

Hello,

Been curious about Buddhism recently. I am tentatively a Christian, but am in a period of deep spiritual exploration.

Something about Buddhism attracts me, expect the aesthetics of Tibetan Buddhism, but I have some questions.

From what I have read (which admittedly isn't much), it seems so.. nihilistic? Like, am I missing something? What does this faith promise us, how does it give us hope, comfort, and peace?

If no self exists, what is being preserved between lives, and what is it that is experiencing nirvana? What even is nirvana, and how is it any different from annihilation if your self doesn't actually exist?

Sorry, mean no disrespect, I am just trying to learn as a seeker. Thank you so much :)

This is the aspect of Buddhism which I find to be its greatest part.

Anyone can study and realise The Four Noble Truths and walk on The Noble Eightfold Path. And in turn, become a Buddha themselves when they have realised The Truth.

This aspect is the most inspiring part of Buddhism. It gives everyone a chance to change their lives and strive for something greater with the hope that they can and will achieve it.

And this in turn shows Buddha's greatness. How he chose to share his profound knowledge and experience with common, lay people and gave them a path and a goal so great that it completely changed the course of their lives for the better.

Buddham Sharanam Gachchami.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYyjAZ04kho

The lyrics come from a section of the Diamond Sutra,
“Subhūti, what does your mind say? The Tathāgata can be seen by appearances or not?”
"No, the Tathāgata cannot be seen by bodily appearances. Why is this? The Tathāgata has said bodily appearances are not bodily appearances."
The Buddha told Subhūti, “Every appearance whatsoever is a deception. If you can see all appearances not as appearances, then you see the Tathāgata.”

content warning: sex, of course

hi, i (23f) am fairly new to buddhism. i was wondering if from a buddhist perspective there are benefits from celibacy? i know it is not required for laypeople, but i am curious if celibacy might align with it for me. i’m a very disciplined person and there are many things i have no issue abstaining from. i have no real interest in sex, so it’s not something i am suppressing or a vice.

in terms of letting go of desires, ive felt that romantic relationships have led to a lot of pain for me, and ive derived so much meaning from the concept of romantic love and marriage and forever. but lots of sexual trauma and mistreatment has led me to choose to withdraw from romantic relationships and dating. relationships more-so than sex for me are the source of craving/suffering.

i’m trying to read up on this but it’s not clear for me, because i mostly see celibacy discussed for monks. i hope my post makes sense. thank you :)

“Now Kalamas, don’t go by:

1. - reports, 
2. - by legends, 
3. - by traditions, 
4. - by scripture, 
5. - by logical conjecture, 
6. - by inference, 
7. - by analogies, 
8. - by agreement through pondering views, 
9. - by probability, 
10. - or by the thought, ‘This contemplative is our teacher.’

(Rather), When you know for yourselves that:

1. - These qualities are skillful;
2. - these qualities are blameless;
3. - these qualities are praised by the wise; 
4. - these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness’ 

— then you should enter & remain in them.”

~The Buddha in the Kalama Sutra

...

By this merit, may all beings realize the freedom of Awakened Mind.
And through this, may all be liberated from enchantments,
and rest in the true state of the Dharmakaya.

🙏💖🪷

I am have always been interested and pulled towards Buddhism and Buddhist teachings, but the calling is stronger than ever before. I have taught myself things here and there but now I am really eager to dive in, however, I am overwhelmed of where to start.

I am wondering if you have suggestions of where I can start? Buddhism for beginners if you will!

If you have any resources and/or practices or suggestions I would really appreciate it.

Thank you kindly in advance

(english isn't my first language sorry for any mistakes ☹️)
Hello! I (20f) have some questions:
my family has always been buddhist and teached me a lot, but recently i started to question the whole sentiment of "i want this to be my last reincarnation on earth".
Maybe this is just me having some kind of attachment, but i don't want this to be my last.

I feel everything extremely deeply, every person i meet, i feel them in my soul, every little thing for me hits always 1000 times harder like the birds chirping make me want to cry from how beautiful they sound, the sun shining in the morning makes me feel full of gratitude, when i hear a beautiful song i want to appreciate it for hours and so on.
I love being human and interacting with other humans, i hate holding grudges, being mad and generally holding negative feelings when there's just so much beauty in the world.
I often feel like i want to experience everything, and i can't comprehend how someone would want this to be their last time here if they felt the love in every single thing like I do.
Any thoughts? Do you think I'm just too attached? Or maybe just dramatic hahahah

Hi. I’m a 21 year old and I have met a girl (about 3 months ago) who I entered into a relationship with. This is my first relationship and my girlfriend is one of the loveliest, kindest, and maturest girl I have ever met. I am a bit conservative about my dating approach and I wish to date to marry. This girl is perfect for me and I never want to lose her. We both love each other so much that we want to spend the rest of our lives together. We are both from really traditional backgrounds so our relationship is quite serious.
Because of how much I love her, I have become really attached to her and I always think about how I don’t want her to suffer from any problems. Any thought of something happening to her or harming her gives me immense stress. We live in a city that is not very safe for women by normal standards. Because of this I am always worried about her safety and suffering from this stress all the time. Soon I will move back to a different country where I study and will be going home only 2/3 times a year, essentially in 6 months from now I’ll be spending more time away from her than with her. I am really worried about this aspect of our relationship. I understand that I am overthinking but the thought of losing her scares me so much. I used to be very laidback about life and not feel stressed about anything but now I have become a very anxious person. I know detachment is a big part of Buddhism but I don’t wish to detach from her because I have finally felt loved in my life. She is very optimistic about everything but I am unable to draw inspiration from her positivity. I am sorry for such a long post but I wish to know the wisdoms of the more mature people here on how I can deal with this stress.
Thanks