I was recently thinking about this and I'd love some more input on it. Are mathematical truths impermanent? Take 2+2=4 for example. It seems that logically, 2 + 2 must always equal 4, so does this contradict the doctrine of impermanence?

Here's my take: 2 + 2 equaling 4 is true and consistent at all times and in all places, and can be thought of as a permanent relationship in a sense, but I don't think it would be fully permanent from a Buddhist perspective for the following reason. Every time a mathematical relationship is expressed, it is done by using certain means (i.e. dependent on conditions). For example, you can express a mathematical truth by writing it down, but the paper, pen, ink, etc. are all (impermanent, dependent) conditions which allow for the truth to be expressed, so the expression of the truth is impermanent. Similarly, the truth can exist conceptually in your mind, but it only does so as a thought which is also impermanent. So 2+2=4 is true at all times and in all places, and is therefore a permanent(ly) unchanging logical relationship, but any expression of this truth relies on certain (impermanent, dependent) conditions, making any expression of the relationship also impermanent. So the mathematical relationship is permanently true and consistent in the abstract, but any expression of it would be impermanent since it would be conditioned by impermanent things. So perhaps math is permanent and unchanging but any expression of it cannot be such.

I'd love to hear more input on this though, what do you guys think?

I had been feeling depressed so a week ago i started meditating and i dont know if i was doing it right. I wait till about 8pm when its pitch black i put on sound cancellation headphones, no music or sound coming from them. And i make my bedroom pitch black. Now i couldnt really clear my head at first then i saw a glowing light from my power strip and i kinda became mesmerized by it and spent 20 minutes staring at it watching by bedroom slowly becoming darker and darker while thinking nothing and since i did it that first time i keep doing it and its been ok i guess but sitting in my bedroom staring at a red light doesnt really sound like meditation. I live in the mountains and there are alot of birds and dogs owls and such that make a ton of noise thats why i wear the headphones by the way. How so i meditate correctly is the main question here just had to tell you about my attempts first. Also the reasoning started trying to meditate was a quote by bhudda that may or may not be real but it was “No one can save us but ourselves”. Which i thought was the best thing i had ever heard.

There are two ideas which have been confusing me for a while.

1 - You are not supposed to worry much about human physical appearance. This means not worrying about the symmetry of your face, the size of your nose, eyes, mouth, ears, etc. Things are impermanent and they are usually not as they seem, specially when seeing from socially implanted lenses. What makes a nose ugly or pretty ? If it's doing its function (suck and expel air) isn't that enough ? Isn't that in some sense "beautiful" ? It's a wonderful creation. Plus, if you take a nose apart, look from inward, what is composed of, you will see the big one and the slim one (or whatever comparison you're making) look very similar and there is no more a clear reason to call one ugly or beautiful.

2 - It's good to clean and "beautify" your room and order the items in your house because this brings you Harmony and some order, obviously, is good in life. Starting from something simple, like your room, can motivate you to then pick harder things to put order in. This concept is emphasized a lot by people like Dr. Jordan Peterson in his book "12 rules for life"

So, my dilemma is: Why should I even apply the second point? Isn't this contradictory with the point 1 ? Why even ordering and cleaning my room if when it come to my face I won't re-order my facial features, like getting a nose job or whatever surgery in order to "Bring some order or beautify my face according to what brings me Harmony" , just like I would to my room. Is like some part of me says "focus on appearance" (Inanimate objects) but then say "Don't focus on appearance! " (Humans) .

I need help with this. I've been focusing a lot on my wife's nose. The same way I focus on how clean/ordered is the house. I cannot do one thing without feeling I'm failing in the other one.

Is there a difference between disillusionment/disenchantment with the world and disappointment with the world?

I don't ever see the word disappointment used interchangeably with disillusionment/disenchantment so they must be different?

Is disappointment a type of aversion?

If so, then why isn't disillusionment/disenchantment a type of aversion?

I ask because I feel a profound sense of disappointment. Not towards any one thing in particular, just a general feeling about society and the way we as a group behave.

Is it wrong view?

I have understood what emptiness implies but my teacher said the above line which I didn't quite get ...if some one could explain how emptiness and form are indivisible ... Thanks in advance ☺️ PS: if you could give some practical examples that would be very helpful

Meditation would have to be a means of going right in the middle. Having the desire to end the suffering (having it consume you) which is seen as weak according to Nietzsche. And having the desire for you to consume it which is seen as strong. Is this how we get the will to fight against the will which then leads to the middle way?

Like in christianity where you would ask god for forgiveness, how would you repent in thai buddhism?

To make it short, I'm one of the few men in a team of many women. We work in a factory in a place where there's plenty of trees and plants, so insects and animals like frogs and rats often get inside the building.

I know they're mostly harmless, but the women I work with are absolutely terrified of them. I try my best to set the larger animals, like the frogs and rats free, but it's nearly impossible to do that with cockroaches and spiders.

If I'm on my own I often just leave insects alone, but it's really hard to ignore how my team workers are distressed by them.

As a Buddhist, what should I do? killing is wrong, but I fell heartbroken for my colleagues.

Thank you all.

1. How familiar do you have to be with a prayer liturgy to gain chanting samadhi? Can you memorise your liturgy? Any tips for a newbie?

2. How often do you rotate with other liturgy?

3. Do you think the longer sutras like avatamsaka sutra are meant to be chanted in a temple as a group?

4. what happens if you or participants in the prayer group chants wrongly? Would you feel sad about your mistake?

5. is it difficult to harmonise in a group prayer session?

What do you think?

I learned that the "Three Poisons" cause dukkha and in the "Three Poisons", Moha (ignorance/delusion) are beliefs in achieving lasting happiness. I started to question if my hope to achieve certain types of dreams is also related to delusional. I understand my initiation of the dreams isn't harmful, but to create art, share, and interact with people. I'm currently trying to let go of the idea of perfection because I have realized that perfection can not be achieved nor exist since I desire to be great at something and be noticed by people.

About delusional, I learned to be delusional within myself to be closer to the reality of what I want or the dream by stating it already had happened. However, after reading the beginner book about Buddhism, I was uncertain about how I could properly achieve my dreams without falling into false categories. I know dreams give you hope, and courage to motivate people, but can it be selfish to dream what I want to become or to experience?

How can I set my goals, and achieve the dream I'm willing to happen in real life within the Buddhist words? Does manifestation fall into similar categories of delusion?

Posted this to r/meditation, but thought it’d make sense to post here too.

So as of late I’ve had a deep fascination with Buddhism, meditation and going deep within myself to see what I find (for lack of a better way to put it). However, I had been procrastinating on actually taking a moment to myself due to the business of everyday life. That is, until 30 minutes ago. I decided in a particularly spiritual yet instantaneous moment to meditate seriously for the first time. I had “meditated” when I was a little kid but really it was just thinking about when my mom’s yoga class she took me to would be over with my eyes closed.

I won’t go into crazy details because it’s already hard to put into words but time seemed to have escaped me. Five seconds felt like twenty minutes and vice-versa. My whole body went numb too with the pins-and-needles feeling which wasn’t as surprising, but at times I got this cold shock feeling across my body and, not to venture past the realm of PG, it felt orgasmic each time it happened (probably 8-10 times total). Lastly, and arguably most interestingly to me, was how it ended. I didn’t go into this little experiment with a set amount of time, but by the time it came to a close, it’s like I was launched out of my sat position by some unknown force. It didn’t feel like I had quit, but that I was being told I was done. Also, in the moment I regained myself, all the pains and numbness in my body came rushing to me, and I’ve sat here questioning how I was able to withstand it for 25 minutes.

Idk take whatever you want from this read I just wanted to tell someone one even if no one actually sees this. Also, this did deeply further my interest in Buddhism and meditation as a whole, and I will definitely look into both further. Thanks!

“The currents in the world that flow, Ajita,” said the Blessed One, “Are stemmed by means of mindfulness; Restraint of currents I proclaim, By understanding they are dammed”

I try to follow the precept of no killing. I don't even want to kill little insects. I get along with spiders and other bugs that come into my house. My parents are not Buddhists or the like so most times I try to relocate the bugs so they won't kill them.

We have a large mouse infestation in the house and my parents have killed a bunch of mice each year. So far they've killed about 15 or so mice every single year.

It's not my house so I can't really tell them what to do anyway but what Is the buddhist take on pests in your house, pests damaging your house or potential issues. Like carpenter bees, termites, mice, chipmunks, or wasps and hornets?

Perhaps to understand what I write below, acknowledge I am speaking of the Jātaka, from the Khuddanikāya, and its subsection of the itthivagga. The particular texts of which I refer can be read « https://suttacentral.net/ja61 » Thank-you.

I have been here before, merely with one post, and I am very sorry to return once more to sing the same song, with different wording. But tonight, I am more distraught than is healthy to be, and I still do-not-yet know where else to turn. It was last time I sought the words of those here, that i did receive words and perspectives that granted me some serenity, solace, and clarity that helped me dearly. I suppose I am hoping I will find this peaceful guidance once-more.

I am easily brought to my fearful, doubtful, discouraged,and beat-down mindset by reading but a single passage, a paragraph, a sentence, a line, that reinforces the ideals which have always consumed me and haunted me. It is not a good trait to foster, to nurture, but it is not a quick-process to get-over. Please be patient with me.

I am distraught over a particular passage, or rather, grouping of passages, I happened-upon tonight. I have been working diligently in my free-time to take-in and read, and reflect on, any passage which I feel calls to me. It was my first time treading the territory of what is written in the Jātaka, when I could not pry my desire away from reading what I knew would only bring distress. These group of texts are of the Jātaka, in its ekanipāta, itthivagga. There is texts from Ja 61 through Ja 70 in this category, but I could only bring-myself to read “Asātamantajātaka”, Ja 61.

In a matter of minutes of reading, I have allowed what I have found and read to completely and entirely demolish my sense of solace I found within the path, to tear-down that trust I had finally re-established in the Buddha’s teachings. I do not say this to attack or portray the Buddha and his teachings in an ill light, for I know my distrust and fear is not placed in him, but in the facts that I potentially refuse to accept, or in the reality that things have been influenced by ancient culture’s to be different from their original message. Yet even knowing this, I feel deeply betrayed, scared, discouraged, and alone. I did not want to be reminded of these feelings while exploring the path that was for some-while showing me peace.

For some time, I was ignoring the words I knew were the product of societal influence seeping its way into the transcriptions and translations. But I cannot fool myself into believing an entire segment of stories was a misrepresentation or byproduct of cultural influence, I cannot bring myself to try and reflect deeply and see a different perspective on my own accord. I am afraid. I am afraid because I cannot grow within the Buddha’s teachings, in the path, when I am trapped within a cycle of self-torment and despair from passages like these.

I know, with the logical part of my brain, that I am once-more allowing myself to fall to the self-originating, destructive and predatory thoughts that eat-away at me incessantly. I know I am taking out-of-proportion words which were written in a text not found within the prime canon of the literature for Buddhists, allowing them to re-write and dictate-over the entire doctrine and teaching.

I suppose I am asking two things, for whomever will be patient-enough or feel it in their capability to soothe my frantic thoughts and show me the path taught by the Buddha was more than what I am currently interpreting.

How…important, valid, is what is written in the Jātaka, compared to other Buddhist canonical texts…?

What…exactly was this passage trying to communicate, that was so crucial to the teaching it was included amongst the texts…?

If I have offended anyone whilst communicating this, I am deeply, truly, sorry. It is not my intention to speak words of negativity or slandering, to twist and distort the path we follow. I only intend to seek perspective and wisdom, that tonight, I desperately need. Please do forgive me if I have spoken something wrong. Thank-you for your time.

Every week I see a new post about "can I do this and still be a Buddhist" or "Can I believe this and still be a Buddhist?"

My question is, if you are so attached to your materialistic beliefs, or other negative-karma inducing activities, why do you even care about Buddhism at all? Do you just want the label?

I've seen it all. Someone asked if they could engage in BDSM and still be a Buddhist. And many people said yes.

"Can I smoke weed, drink alcohol, or do shrooms and still be a Buddhist". Etc. etc. etc.

"Can I have orgies and still be a Buddhist".

If you are not sincere about giving up your attachments, why not just move along and forget about Buddhism?

I am not a Buddhist myself. I study it and learn about it and I find it endlessly fascinating. So I come here to learn more about it. But if I wanted to become a Buddhist, I fully realize I would have to leave a lot of my lifestyle behind me.

Even though I do practice mindfulness and some of the noble eightfold path, I would not even remotely consider myself someone in the religion, not even on the edges of it.

This sub has completely tainted my idea of Buddhism and I am hoping this place is not really indicative of how the tradition of Buddhism is practiced or maintained by its community and leaders.

I am currently in highschool and I am a big practitioner of Buddhism. For a really long time I’ve wanted to become a forensic scientist or a crime scene investigator but I’m not sure if they violate the right livelihood “rule”. I wouldn’t be a police officer so I wouldn’t be carrying a gun or a any weapons or even be near criminals, I would just go to the crime scene after the criminals have been taken away or left the scene and I would investigate until I find evidence to prosecute someone and bring them to justice. The only thing I can think of that this would do wrong is putting people in jail but the people I’d be putting in jail would be criminals who need to be brought to justice. Thoughts? Thanks 🙏

Hi everyone. I`m trying to come to grips with some passages of the Digha Nikaya and wondered if anybody out there could help. I am reading this text at the moment and wonder why the following passage at DN 1.2.3 seems to render herbal or perhaps all medicine as wrong:

"...It also includes administering emetics, purgatives, expectorants, and phlegmagogues; administering ear-oils, eye restoratives, nasal medicine, ointments, and counter-ointments; surgery with needle and scalpel, treating children, prescribing root medicines, and binding on herbs. The ascetic Gotama refrains from such unworthy branches of knowledge, such wrong livelihood."

I know that there are many very knowledgeable people out there and would be grateful for some help.

Freedom to all beings.

Pete

As above

Throughout my life, I haven't been the worst person, but I wasn't the best either.
I wasn't the kindest either.
I have said and don things throughout childhood that I regret like just being an annoying, manipulative crybaby

In my middle school years. I wasn't considerate. I never bullied anyone, but I have bugged/annoyed people, or I have been standoffish.
I don't really like myself either. Thinking about this makes me physically sick to my stomach. Knowing am not even good at all

I am in high school now
I wish I can truly grow and become better

I'm from China and I came across this teacher who said she meditated deep enough to see what happened to people in hell. I wondered if this can be true.

I want a quote where Buddha would say solitude is better than bad friends.

If not available then anything will do with scriptural source.

Thank You.

I'll start this off by saying I am a 25 M. For whatever reason my karma won't let me get laid.

I have come far when it comes to the journey of my mind. I was suicidal for years. Now, thanks to Buddhism and other things, I have been able to overcome the feeling of complete pessimism that made me pray for the death of not only me but others as well. During the days I feel mostly ok, but then something that involves lust will come around and I'll collapse. It's also not just lust, but romantic love as well. I have been a hopeless romantic for most of my life, and it had always been the power behind my neurosis.

I read some Buddhist text that said something along the lines of how we get attracted to the opposite sex, we get aggressive towards our own sex, and we ignore elders. Reading that had hit me hard. It was always painfully obvious, but I have tried for so long to control/distort it, or else resort to drugs and suicidal tendencies. Being the age that I am the lust can quickly turn into jealousy and the whole toxic thought patterns emerge. I guess it really all comes down to greed, but I have such a hard time accepting emptiness. It feels so unnatural. I just want to "be like everyone else" and have sex or romantic love lol. I just keep chasing.

I read the wiki a long while ago and was more than a little overwhelmed by the humungous book list. I picked one of the 'beginners' book: The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hahn, which I'm about halfway through. I've also read Wake Up To Your Life by Ken Mcleod, regularly listen to Alan Pedo's Buddhism podcast, and have watched many YouTube videos about Buddhism over the years.

The problem I always find is that everyone throws around all of the terminology, but no one really explains what any of it means in a pragmatic way. E.g., "Practice the eightfold path"...awesome, so what is that?..."Practice Right View"...noted, so what does that mean?..."Think in a wholesome way"...cool, what does that really mean though?..."Practice Right Mindfulness to become aware of your Right View"...huh, okay...

Exaggerated for dramatic effect, of course; I didn't intend to mock. But I hope that demonstrates how the rabbit hole never really gives any substantial answers (for me).

I'm sadly in an Islamic country with no Buddhist temples / Sangha, so I can't pop by and ask a monastic for advice. I joined a couple of groups on Discord, but sadly I suck at using Discord and (unless I'm mistaken) it seems like discord is essentially a repurposed chatroom. So I can't ask a question like here on Reddit and pop back 24 hour later to check replies. I.e., the conversations on there fly by too fast for someone like me who rarely checks their smartphone.

So, could someone please recommend some truly practical learning materials to Buddhism that skip all the jargon and demonstrate how I can apply the practices into my daily life. Thank you.

I don’t know how to rationalize and comprehend the concept of no-self. I learned about this concept in the book “What the Buddha Taught”, and I understand the concept. However, I find it very hard to think of my soul myself as the middle path between annihilation and eternity, and I also find it hard to do things without thinking of myself doing them. Is there a way I can comprehend this teaching.

Namo Buddhaya. I hope you all are doing well. I had a few questions about altar set-up and want to know what is appropriate and inappropriate when creating an altar and making offerings. I am very OCD and scrupulous when it comes to religious practice, so please bear with me if my questions seem nonsensical or tedious:

• Can an altar be temporarily set up during the day and taken down and respectfully stored when not in use?

• I understand meat and food containing dead animals are not to be offered to the Buddha or any Bodhisattvas, but what about candles or incense that contain animal products or animal fat? Likewise, I’ve printed out and framed an image of the Buddha I am intending to use on my altar, but I’m unsure if the ink in my printer contains animal products or not. Is it okay to use this regardless?

• Can I use a butsudan or would that be appropriative since I am an American?

• Since I live in my parents home, do I need parental consent to set up and practice at a buddhist altar, or if I keep it private does it even matter?

Thank you for your patience and I appreciate any answers or input. Best wishes to all of you in your practice as well.

I remember reading, at one point, a buddhist text on something, but can't seem to find itnagain. It went something like this (paraphrased):

One day, a student went to his master and asked, "Master, I had a disturbing thought. If we are pursuing the destruction of the self and an escape from the earthly cycle of reincarnation, are we not merely seeking death?"

The master responded, "That is a good question. Tell me, does it make sense to identify the self with that which suffers?"

"No," replied the student.

"Does it make sense to identify the self with that which is cancerous?"

"No," replied the student.

"Does it make sense to identify the self with that which is ephemeral and everchanging?"

"No," replied the student.

"Then you see, what we are seeking is not that. The true self is eternal and unchanging. When the consciousness passes on, all that is happening is the discarding of the corrupt and harmful false self."

Could anyone help me find it, or tell me if I'm just making this up out of nowhere? I have a really distinct memory of reading something like this.