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• Numerous Questions
• Help on Dhamma Wheel
• Devas
• Timeline of the Buddha’s Practices and Teachings
• More buddhism questions

1. What are the "hell Realms" ? How and why would I be sent there ? Is it a similar concept to Christianity's "hell" ?

2. Who is Mara ? It says in one of my books that "Mara tried to tempt Gautama to prevent him from reaching enlightenment", or words to that effect. Is Mara supposed to be the devil ? I'm confused, I didn't think Buddhism had beliefs of heaven/hell and god/devil.

3. Why does the Dalai Lama tell us that certain parts of the body should not be involved in sex, eg the mouth and the anus ? I didn't think Gautama made "rules" about sex, I though he just told us to be "faithful".

4. Can a Buddhist also be a bodybuilder ? I am a bodybuilder, I eat meat. I therefore do not think I can be a Buddhist, am I right ?

5. Who decides what my next rebirth will be ? Who "judges" my Karma ? A Creator ? This all sounds very "Christian" to me.

6. If I was a Buddhist, I would be breaking the "rules" of Christianity, I would be comitting a sin (my friend is a Christian pastor and has explained this to me), so I would have to be sure that Buddhism was conducive to my spritual development. To be sure, I would like to know how Buddhism explains the presence of Jesus. Can someone help me with this question ? Point me to an article online or a book ?

Daryl

: 1. What are the "hell Realms" ? How and why would I be sent there ? Is it a similar concept to Christianity's "hell" ?

Hell Realms are places with only sufferings. (Human Realm has sufferings and happiness.) Someone say that hell and paradise are in your mind. That is true because hell is not only for dead persons but also for living persons. Negative Dhamma was the major element composing to be the hell. (Actually Dhamma has 3 types: Negative, Neutral, and Positive. We refer to Positive Dhamma generally as just Dhamma.) Person who attached to bad Karma will posses Negative Dhamma and forced to the hell where Negative Dhamma is the nature. Life always goes to where it belongs. (Types of Dhamma are the 4 th practice in Satipatthana that is a kind of Vipassana.)

To travel to Hell Realms, a curious person can meditate in order to see how the hell looks like and ask the hell people on what they did while alive. I believe that bad Christians go to the same hell as bad Buddhists. Someone may go to paradise first then go to hell. Someone may go to hell before paradise. How long to stay in hell or paradise depends on how much of bad or good Karma a person made while he was in Human Realm. One day in Hell Realms may be millions years in the earth. This information is from reading.

: 2. Who is Mara?

Mara can be person, thing, or formless thing that is the hindrance of Positive Dhamma cultivating. Mara may be in good outlook and comes with good intention to help. It is hard to fight with Mara. When throwing a ball to the wall, the ball will be bounced back. Mara is the wall.

: 3…. I didn't think Gautama made "rules" about sex, I though he just told us to be "faithful"

To go to Nibbana, Arahanta must see no sex. Arahanta has no sensual desire. Detaching of sexual desire is a rule for passing to Nibbana.

: 4. … I eat meat. I therefore do not think I can be a Buddhist, am I right?

Being a Buddhist never concern with eating. Right understanding of the suffering derived from eating is more important than what food to eat. Clean food is actually from dirty elements in nature.

: 5. Who decides what my next rebirth will be? Who "judges" my Karma? A Creator? This all sounds very "Christian" to me.

Who is the creator of the creator? Everyone is his own creator. Your world may not be the same as my world while we are living in the same world. People see things differently not only because they have different idea but also because their worlds are actually different.

Again it is my belief, not all Buddhist’s belief, and understanding which still subject to right or wrong. I hope that It will be proofed it in the future. The Buddha had the practice to proof it. Hope it helps.

I am wondering why Dhamma Wheel was the logo of Buddhism? It was always explained with the Dhammacak-kappa-vattana Sutta (Dhammacak = Dhamma+Chakra) that the Dhamma was begun to roll as the wheel rolling.

There is a kind of meditation called “Spiraling Meditation” or “Dhammacak Meditation” that applies the vision of spiraling in concentration. Qi Gong, Falun Gong, and Tao also apply spiraling in its practice. Scientist has just found the spiraling of Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP) that releases energy to cell tissues (1997 Noble Prize). It should be other reasons about Dhamma Wheel.

Anyone who has ideas or historical evidence on the Dhamma Wheel, please help. It will mean a lot for me. Thanks.

I haven't got any but just base on my speculation. The dharma wheel have eight "spikes" (not sure what it is called) which represent the eight fold paths. The circle it represent the return to the origin, the middle that is not positive or negative as these two views are can mislead a person. A person need to have a clear mind without being coloured/confused by either view to see things clearly (not being bias).

If one follows the eight fold paths, one can return to the origin true self nature (buddha nature).

"The circle it represent the return to the origin, the middle that is not positive or negative as these two views are can mislead a person."

The circle here is actually "zero" is what i would like to add on. "uncreated"- no value.

Kuo-Keong

I wish someone could tell me about Devas, nature spirits and such like. I would like to know the place they have in Buddhism. I first encountered Buddhism through the works of British Buddhist scholars, such as Chrismas Humphreys. According to them, Buddhism had absolutely nothing to do with Ghosts, spirits and so on. But, after a few years, I started to wonder if their insistence was based on their fears of appearing foolish or not "serious" in the eyes of the European intellectuals of the time. In fact, when I tried to talk about this with Western educated middle class urban Buddhists from Sri Lanka, they seemed a bit embarrassed. They told me that "Devatas" (Sri Lankan nature spirits) were just some sort of village superstition. But, I suspect that if Nats (Burma) Devatas (Sri Lanka) and so on, have little to do with scholarly Buddhism, they play a fairly central role in the lives of million of Buddhits in Asia. How do such beliefs co-exist with the Dharma?

Pascal, Vancouver, Canada.

Nice to answer your question again. Thai calls Deva as “The-va-da”, “The-va”, or “Thep” which mean the soul body whose life is in upper realms.

1. The Formless Realm 4 (Arupavacara-bhumi: Immaterial Sphere)

2. The Form Realm 16 (Rupavacara-bhumi: Fine Material Sphere)

3. The Sensuous Blissful Realm 7 (Kamasugati-bhumi): Human Realm, Realm of the Four Great Kings (Catummaharajika), Realm of Thirty-three Gods (Tavatimsa), Realm of the Yama gods (Yama), Realm of satisfied gods (Tusita), Realm of the gods who rejoice in their own creations (Nimmanarati), Realm of gods who lord over the creation of others (Paranimmitavasavatti)

Devas in low level stay in Human Realm with human but they live in the air and big tree.

: How do such beliefs co-exist with the Dharma?

Being Devas needs good Karma and Sila as their general practice while they are human. Before reaching Nibbana, the persons whose good Karma is enough can be Devas. Being Davas is not permanent depend on the amount of good Karma and/or their meditative state. The Form Realms is for persons who meditate 1-4 th state while dying. The Formless Realms is for persons who meditate 5-8 th state while dying. Devas can be reboorn in lower realms if they do not archive Lokuttara level.

“10 Bondages” posted by me on Saturday, 18 July 1998 showed The Supramundane Path that is the path of Lokuttara practitioners who will not born in lower realm. Buddhist should try to practice to be special type of Devas (Lokuttara practitioners with higher level can stay in any lower levels he likes.):

1. The Stream-Enterer (Sotapanna) will be reborn as human again only 7 times.

2. The Once-Returner (Sakadagami) will be reborn as human again only 1 time.

3. The Non-Returner (Anagami) will not come back to be human again and he will stay in The upper FORM Realm until he reaches Nibbana.

4. The Arahantship will stay in Nibbana.

“Forty Objects of Meditations“ posted by me on Wednesday, 15 July 1998 showed summary of applying Devas as an object of meditation.

“The first six Anussati are meditations upon the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha, the DEVAS, morality, and generosity. These meditations are most useful for those with devotional natures. These practices will gladden the mind when it is in distress and will increase faith and virtuous tendencies. The first three are particularly useful in reducing fear and dread.“

In short, at least try to reborn as Devas when Lokuttara is too far because Devas can practice Dhamma and have little or no suffering. Devas is the minimum choice I hope to be.

Somkiat is right with the dharma as these realms and beings are in most sutras. The six realms of existence stated these realms. Devas are also the witness to Buddha sermon in most sutras. They are not add on from other cultures.

Kuo-Keong

Could anyone please advise me about timeline of the Buddha’s practice and teachings? What was the first, second, third, and followed suttas? What purposes and why the Buddha taught each sutta?

After the Buddha was enlightened, he felt that his knowledge was too difficult for other persons to understand. Then because of his Brahmavihara, he started teaching Dhamma. I am suspecting that his first teaching should be the most difficult to understand because he definitely gave that first teaching to his former teachers who should be almost perfect. Other teachings or suttas should be given step by step to the next intelligent persons or situations, which might not be by chance.

In another point of view, the Buddha should discovered other truths and made revisions to upgrade his practices and teachings to be better constantly during his lifetime. His last group teaching may be the most short cut practice and suitable for general level.

Thanks for any advises, ideas, or source of further information you may have. In Thailand there are few books that show timeline but they do not show all of the Buddha’s 45 years of teaching.

Please forgive me, the first teaching was to Pancavaggiya (Annakondanna, Vappa, Bhaddhiya, Mahanama, and Assaji). The Buddha’s former teachers were dead before his enlightenment.

I was just reading a book which discussed this. The Buddha's first discourse was the "Dhammacakka Sutta", which was given to four ascetics he had been practicing austerities with. It outlined the middle way, between self-mortification and self-indulgence, and the four noble truths. As I understand it his 2nd discourse was the Not- Self Sutta, and his third the Fire Sutta. I think your thinking about him giving a summary of his teaching that was easy to practice is correct. Before his death he gave a sutta that advised his disciples to practice the 37 wings to Awakening, saying if they did the Dhamma would last and be safe. If anybody has any corrections please write. That's all I have time for right now.

Matthew

I can't remember as and don't have the sutra with me since i am in oversea. The Vajra/Diamond Sutra translated by Hsuan Hua master have a preface on this. Not a comprehensive one, he mentioned the teaching is divided into three periods and explanation on each periods the type of dharma been taught by Shakyamuni Buddha. If this is what you are referring to you can get a copy of the book or wait for 2 months before i can get the sutra.

Kuo-Keong

Here are some more questions that have been troubling me.

1. Is it Ok according to buddhism to be happy? Am I allowed to be happy or is that an attachment? Is it also OK to be involved in sports, to compete against other human beings?

2. If there is no right or wrong why are some answers given in this buddhist discussion group very critical?

3. Is it Ok to hang out with people who are vulgar, swear etc? Say if its with good friends and you're just having fun, ie. not hurting one another?

4. Can enlightenment be achieved living in an egotistic society such as ours? Do we have to give up all to become enlightened?

5. As I understand it a person who has been selfish and evil most of their life can achieve enlightenment if they were not ever attached to their actions, and always had choice and control over what they were doing.

6. The thing that worries me the most is that I love to be with my friends, to enjoy life, to live life to its fullest, to be happy, to participate. But the more I read about buddhism the more I sense that I shouldnt be involved in all these activities. What is so wrong about having fun with people? Do i have to live every second of my life in constant fear of doing things wrong? Do I have to analyse every word I say? I want to relax but I cant because I know if I participate in this society I will be forced to act like others and try to be the best.

Ben Gibbons

: 1. Is it Ok according to buddhism to be happy? Am I allowed to be happy or is that an attatchment? Is it also OK to be involved in sports, to compete against other human beings?

Happiness is better than suffering but Buddhist should understand that happiness is Aniccata (impermanence) and Anatta (not self, not last forever) so the person must not attach to it. It is better for not happy to be not suffering.

: 2. If there is no right or wrong why are some answers given in this buddhist discussion group very critical?

Right or wrong is not very important as long as the discussion is in according with Buddhism, I think. I myself always find that my new understanding is more correct than the previous one. Try to ask for help, give helps, or share someone’s ideas are better than aiming to defend the belief or teaching. I see intention more important than wordings. Someone may join in for business reason or to discredit Buddhism.

: 3. Is it Ok to hang out with people who are vulgar, swear etc? Say if its with good friends and you're just having fun, ie. not hurting one another?

You may answer this question. Please spare for future possibilities and other persons’ out of (your) control action.

: 4. Can enlightenment be achieved living in an egotistic society such as ours? Do we have to give up all to become enlightened?

Yes, it can be but very difficult path. We do not have to give up all at once but we detach step by step.

: 5. As I understand it a person who has been selfish and evil most of their life can achieve enlightenment if they were not ever attatched to their actions, and always had choice and control over what they were doing.

No way that a bad person will win his bad Karma as long as he does not stop then starts cultivating Dhamma. Karma has two owners.

: 6. The thing that worries me the most is that I love to be with my friends, to enjoy life, to live life to its fullest, to be happy, to participate. But the more I read about buddhism the more I sense that I shouldnt be involved in all these activities. What is so wrong about having fun with people? Do i have to live every second of my life in constant fear of doing things wrong? Do I have to analyse every word I say? I want to relax but I cant because I know if I participate in this society I will be forced to act like others and try to be the best.

Try to live as normal as you love to while you are worrying. When you understand Dhamma more, you will adjust your life style a little bit at a time. This process takes time so do not rush when you are not ready. Each one has different situation and you have your own way. Your middle way.

Our fellow buddhists have given you good responses. I just wanted to give a summarised on buddhists practise. Happiness is good but do not attach to it, if one attach, it will bring suffering as it became seeking. Human greed is difficult to control. Since a commoner can't control their own mind therefore the wise one will advice to abtain from one to avoid the next as suffering always come together with happiness for a confuse one. Like when you strike a fortune overnight and also lost it the next day, how will you feel?

Whatever types of friends you have are not an issue. You must guard you own mind as a confuse mind can be easily sway by the greed, hatred and attachment which will bring suffering. If you can guard then it will not be an issue else you have to be careful. One can lead but also be leaded depending on one doing.

Enlightenment have nothing to do with karma but it help. The source of enlightenment and confusion is the mind itself. A confuse mind is very tricky and misleading while an enlightened mind is unmoved.

Practise according to one capability as learning started from kindergarden to Uni. One will understand step by step on buddhist practice. Do not not force or rush things as no one can go straight to Uni without a good foundation.

Kuo-Keong

Last updated
12-06-1999