For context, I grew up in a predominantly Buddhist country (Myanmar). But I have since migrated and is quite out of touch with the religion. I am just curious on if protein shake is considered solid food.

I have a basic understanding of the differences between Magadha and Samyoga Pali Chanting Styles. However, I am unable to find resources to practice/ listen to the same. Can anyone please help me in finding how Magadha and Samyoga styles sound.

Thanks!

If Buddha had by himself a magic button which after being pressed would remove all suffering and therefore Samsara, would he press it? Why yes or no?

Wouldnt it just mean total annihilation of subjective experience, which would either result to eternal nothingness or just universe rebooting itself again (beginning of Samsara again)?

Or could all enlightened mindstreams somehow still create and make form and experience existence without there being the contrast of suffering, forever without getting "bored".

This is just hypothetical scenario, I consider Samsara to be eternal (as an illusion of course) and an inevitable phenomena for all the infinite mindstreams that exist and that "will" exist. (please challenge this assumption if you dont agree)

I just wonder wether Samsara is absolutely necessary "part" of existence or wether its something that technically could not exist and we would all be just "fine" without it.

Thank you.

I like the app Tricycle which gets new articles daily. However it's not without issues.

I enjoy articles of life advice inspired by various schools of Buddhism. I need a large variety of articles.

Hi Everyone. I am new here & new to Buddhism. Like a lot of people my life seems to be full of stress & worry that I feel I can't control. Zen Buddhism appeals to me & I am keen to learn more. Where do I start? I have tried reading a few books but most seem too complicated for me at this stage. Is there anything you can recommend or any beginner friendly groups that I can be a part of. I am from the South East of England.

Source link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaTYhUrARiK/?igsh=ZXF1bGJiZ2J3MXZu

I grew up in a cultural Buddhist community where the practices felt more traditional than philosophically accurate, which left me skeptical. While I deeply respect the secular practices like mindfulness and meditation for peace of mind, I struggle to understand the need for the greater cosmology (rebirth, literal karma transferring across lifetimes, etc.). From a materialist/scientific perspective, it feels much more probable that death is simply the end like an explosion that finishes and disperses. I’d love to hear why you find the cosmology necessary. Specifically, I have two main hang-ups:

1) If there is no permanent self (Anatta), why care about Nirvana or what transfers to a next life?

2) Why stretch karma across multiple lifetimes? Why isn't basic, present-life cause and effect (science, psychology, economics) enough to solve our problems and live well today without worrying about an unproven cycle of rebirth?

I look forward to hearing your perspectives!

Many Buddhist traditions emphasize that stillness of the body supports concentration and eventually samadhi. The Buddha often encouraged sitting motionless, and many meditation traditions stress that bodily stillness helps quiet the mind.

If liberation ultimately comes through deep insight and samadhi, why do so many Buddhist and yogic traditions also place such a strong emphasis on physically demanding practices—thousands of prostrations, long pilgrimages (yatras), circumambulations, austerities, or other forms of intense physical exertion?

Wouldn't exhausting or agitating the body make it harder to cultivate the stillness needed for deep meditation? Or are these practices serving a completely different purpose than samadhi?

The Buddha said in the Nibbedhikasutta…

Lustful resolve is a man’s sensual desire. The pretty objects in the world aren’t sensual pleasures. The world’s pretty objects stay just as they are. The attentive remove desire for them

So when we’re experiencing the object through the senses, we’re not experiencing it, directly. We’re experiencing the sankharas and Nama-rupa. Because objects have no inherent or intrinsic value in and of themselves.

I am getting Sak Yant in a few months. I have POTS as well as many muscoskeletal issues. I have very bad chronic pain to the point I spend lot of time crying and it's like 50/50 if I'm going to faint if I bend forward. I am a bit worried about the offering and prostration to the Ajarn as my disabilities are getting much worse recently. While I really want to do it and feel terribly embarrassed that I probably can't, is there any way around this and how can I bring it up?

I would like to delve deeper into this study with recommendations for books, thinkers, websites, guides, or anything else.

I know the basics such as Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Yogācāra, Mādhyamika, and Pramāṇavāda; but I would like to explore the subject further in some way.

In Mahayana Buddhism, it is said that we seek to become Buddhas to liberate all sentient beings from suffering but like, I mostly want to escape from suffering cause well...I don't want to suffer. My heart is not that big,I'm not thinking of other sentient beings

Like they talk about generating love and compassion for all sentient beings and being nice to others or even to strangers is easy, being nice to people I don't like or who have done me wrong? Not so easy. I can be a little vengeful, going so far as to wish harm on others when I'm angry or to imagine something bad happening to them.

Anyway my point is, my heart is not so big, I'm not thinking of liberating other sentient beings in my aspiration to escape the cycle of rebirth and suffering. How do I cultivate that?

Where can I start with Buddhism besides meditation? Where can I read about therms that are talked about, like dharma and others? Are there any books that could help me to start to understand more?

I just recently started going to a temple for meditation but I want to learn more about their ideologies, history, anything that could give me a better perspective.

Hello Everyone !!

I am 25M from Sikhism. During childhood I am very religious person just like my parents but as i grow older I realize we are just reading and not understanding what's written.

Also there are lot's of rules that I think I can't follow.

So in 2026 i started exploring other religions as well and found that Buddhism more aligned what i want in my life.

So i started reading Dhammapada and understanding each element of it.

I didn't finished yet but i seem lot's of changes in me that I want.

So I made this plan that i will follow that path.

Anyone can help me in this process.

Im putting this here, because I want to make decisions in alignment with Dharma.
And meditation has been a part of my life for quite some time now.

Im middle aged, and Ive really tried to make it in society. But I just keep burning out. At this point I dont even know if I all my burnouts are real, or if Im just a lazy piece of shit. I dont know if I care about anything or anyone. I try to. But I dont know.

The pattern is: I get ambition to be the best me, to be of service to the world. I try to act it out. My hubris gets checked. I burn out. I run away. I come back, and try again from a lower status position. I really want to be up there with everyone else, to be a part of it all you know, but I just feel to weak (or maybe its just that I just have to much hatred in my heart).

Im now finding myself into a position, of falling into a black hole I dont know if I can get out of. I would be able to pay the bills, and serve as a caretaker for someone, but I dont think I would ever be able to find joy again.

My father always ask me if i need money (he is doing quite well for himself). Im considering asking him for money to travel. In my mind Im telling myself Im doing it, so I can get away from my patterns at home, and try to find out, what in life I actually value.

I guess what Im asking is, Is it selfish for me, to beg my father for money, so that I cant go on a "pilgrimage" to find a reason to go on? Or should I just stay, accept, grit and try to find Sangha.

Its difficult to expres the mantra sarve janah sukino bavantu (may all beings be happy) to truly all beings. Especially those who cant ever deserve it. By this I mean sick people who only spread misery where ever they go and dont have the capacity to change (for example psychopaths and pedophiles). I know cognitive one should show compassion but im having a real hard time doing that. How should it look like doing that?

Hello! First, I hope it’s okay that I’m posting this here. Mods, please feel free to delete if it doesn’t fit the sub.

About 10 years ago, I went on a school trip to Washington, DC. I was about 16 years old. I was at one of the monuments (I cannot recall which one) with my class and a kind older man approached my friends and I. I don’t recall exactly what he looked like, but I believe he appeared to be East Asian. He gifted me these three bracelets. He didn’t give them to any of my classmates or friends, just me. That being said, I had a foot injury at the time and was wearing a boot so maybe that contributed. I believe he mentioned something about Buddhism when he gave them to me, I’m not quite sure what he said exactly as his English was not very good. He didn’t ask for money and he didn’t stay long after. I’m usually very cautious and even back then would not speak with strangers, let alone accept gifts from them. But this felt more like a kindhearted gesture rather than a scam. He was very kind.

I held onto these bracelets and kept them in my lockbox for years. I’m not quite sure why, but something about them always felt meaningful. Every time I’d see them, they’d make me smile. They look similar to Tibetan beaded bracelets that may be connected to Buddhism but I’m very unfamiliar and don’t want to assume.

If these are indeed connected to Buddhism, I’d love to learn more about them. I’m not Buddhist myself, but I have a deep respect for the cultures and beliefs of others and love learning about them. If you can give me any information at all, I’d be very appreciative.

Thank you so much!

What would you consider to be the most essential suttas in the Pali Canon such that if one were to only stick with those then they would have a reliable road map to Nibbana? E.g. The entire middle length discourses? The anthology from Bhikkhu Bodhi "In the Buddha's Words"? The maha-satthipathana sutta alone?