

The oldest of the two big branches in Buddhism. Theravada tries to follow the original teachings of Gautama Buddha as closely as possible
Questions containing or motivated by some aspect of personal experience. The experience can be during formal Buddhist practice or during everyday activity however the experience will be related to Bud…
A question asking for a single text or a set of texts. This can be from a general request on a subject area or a specific request for a text where the questioner knows a fragment or detail of it.
For general questions about what is meditation, what is it for and what types of meditation are.
For questions about ethically potent action (karma) and its effects.
446 questions
The Pāḷi Canon is a compilation of scriptures that preserve the earliest record of the teachings attributed to the Buddha in the Pāḷi language. It is also called the Pāḷi Tipiṭaka since it is divided …
For questions about the Buddha (Siddartha Gautama) as a person - his life, sayings, actions, etc.
364 questions
The study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with reality, existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind and language. It can also be a theory or attitude that acts as a guiding…
360 questions
Vipassanā (Pāli, Vipaśhyanā in Sanskrit, Lhagthong in Tibetan) is a form of insight-meditation and one of the two meditation techniques that supposedly were taught by the Buddha
342 questions
Skillful and unskillful thought, speech and action. These questions include but are not limited to questions on the vinaya and precepts.
333 questions
One of the two major vehicles of Buddhism.
321 questions
A type of literary composition in of varying length. In Buddhism this mostly refers to canonical texts. Sutras is a Sanskrit term however the Pali term sutta is often used by certain traditions. The t…
The coming into existence of another being based on conditions arising from a previous existence. This is commonly confused with reincarnation. Reincarnation is the passing of a soul or spirit into a …
283 questions
Nirvāṇa (Sanskrit: निर्वाण; Pali: निब्बान nibbāna ; Prakrit: णिव्वाण) literally means "blown out", as in a candle. In the Buddhist context nirvana refers to the imperturbable stillness of mind after t…
268 questions
The practice of paying more attention to the present moment, to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you. This can be during formal meditation or during one's everyday life.
250 questions
Otherwise known as the householder path, the lay buddhist path is a path for non-monastic buddhists.
234 questions
The practical aspects of meditation including but not limited to timing sits, equipment, suitable location and scheduling practice.
219 questions
The goal of the Buddhist path. Can refer to liberation, awakening or the end of suffering but is generally understood as being indescribable to an unenlightened being.
198 questions
The Sanskrit term for the concept of 'not self' or 'no fixed self'. This is classified among the three marks of existence, namely impermanence, suffering and no fixed self. The equivalent Pali term is…
185 questions
A body of Buddhist doctrine associated with Tibet and surrounding central Asian areas. It is popularly associated with Vajrayāna or Tantric Buddhism however it a comprehensive path composed of teachin…
170 questions
Particular issues from the modern world, which relate to or affect the practice of Buddhism. These topics include but are not limited to technological, political and consumer issues that impact on Bud…
169 questions
164 questions
For questions about Buddhism in the past, and how it has developed since then.
163 questions
A broad term referring to canonical, commentary or scriptural compositions of any tradition.
155 questions
The study of terms and their use. Specifically this will include requests for clarification of Buddhist terms and comparisons of terms within or between traditions.
153 questions
Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasising practice.
146 questions
The Five Precepts constitute the basic Buddhist code of ethics, undertaken by lay followers of the Buddha Gautama in the Theravadan as well as in Mahayanan traditions.
143 questions
The practice of mindful investigation into the nature of reality and how things really are with the ultimate goal of the end of suffering.
139 questions
Jhāna generally refers to the 8 stages of tranquility (samatha) meditation taught by Gautama Buddha and mentioned in the Pali Canon.
133 questions
130 questions
Questions asking for recommendations for a particular type of meditation perhaps to remedy a particular difficulty or to enable the practitioner to deepen his or her practice
124 questions
General questions about teaching methods, doctrinal transmission and emphasis within any Buddhist tradition.
120 questions
Pratītyasamutpāda (Sanskrit:प्रतीत्यसमुत्पाद; Pali: पटिच्चसमुप्पाद paṭiccasamuppāda) is commonly translated as dependent origination or dependent arising. A central concept in the Buddhist tradition t…
119 questions
Questions concerning mental and bodily effects arising from meditation practice. These could be effects extensively documented in canonical texts such as rapture or bliss. However they could fall outs…
110 questions
A full time religious practitioner living in a dedicated community. Typically a follower of a monastic lifestyle undertakes an additional set of vows over and above those taken by lay followers. Monas…
109 questions
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