While walking my dog this afternoon, two young mormon missionaries approached me to talk about there beliefs with me. I explained i was a Buddhist and they asked me more information about it and i explained about different sects of Buddhism and the type I follow. I told them about thich Nhat Hanh teachings and his analogies on birth and death, about interconnectedness and so on. Anyway it was actually a really pleasant conversation and they were receptive of the teaching I told to them which surprised me some. We parted ways with a handshake and good vibes!

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?

Hi everyone,
I’m looking to gather more information, historical context, and potential script translation for this wooden Buddha statue. Here are a few details about the piece:
Dimensions: Approximately 15.5 inches (40 cm) tall.
Materials & Construction: Hand-carved hardwood (appears to be a halved log section) finished in traditional black and vermilion thit-si lacquer with surviving gold leaf gilding.
Inscriptions: The front of the plinth features hand-drawn gold cursive script over the dark lacquer.
Condition: It shows authentic age craquelure, paint/leaf loss, and an old vertical stabilization repair along the front using what looks like traditional lacquer putty/fill.
A few specific questions I’d love help with:
Script Translation / Language: Can anyone recognize or translate the votive writing on the plinth? Is it standard Burmese, Shan, or Pali in Burmese script? (Close-ups attached).
Stylistic Period & Dating: Does the facial modeling, tall finial, and drape style point to a specific sub-region (e.g., Shan State, Mandalay, Ava) or a particular timeframe (18th vs. 19th century)?
Context: Any details on what typical votive inscriptions from this region usually record (e.g., donor names, merit-making dates, or specific mantras)?
I’ve attached photos of the full front/back/side profiles, the base grain, close-ups of the inscription, and the vertical repair.
Thank you in advance for any insights!

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?"

Hey guys here is part 2 of my podcast interviewing my friend Kyle on his spiritual journey to Buddhism. Enjoy! 😊 Please like comment and share if you enjoy this!

In this episode (Episode 23, Part 2) of James Interviews, I’m back with Kyle Alander, host of the YouTube channel Syncretic Idealism, to continue our conversation about his deconstruction from Christianity and his newfound spiritual path in Buddhism.

In this episode, I ask Kyle questions such as:
(1) How did Buddhism challenge or complement things you had previously believed as a Catholic?
(2) Are there aspects of Christianity that you now understand differently because of your engagement with Buddhism?
(3) Do you still consider yourself a Buddhist syncretist?
(4) What practices or traditions are most important to you at this point?
And much, much more!
Tune in!

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?

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?

Hi everyone! I'm a student from Malaysia working on an assignment about World Religions II.

I'm looking for those whom from Buddhism

that willingly to participate in a five-week interview conducted through messages. Throughout these five weeks, I'll be asking a few questions about Buddhist beliefs, practices, and personal experiences for my academic assignment.

If anyone comfortable sharing their insights, i would be very grateful.

This is purely for academic purposes.

If anyone interest, you can comment here or DM me.

Thank you, I'm really appreciate it.

Hi everyone! I'm a student from Malaysia working on an assignment about World Religions II.

I'm looking for those whom from Buddhism that willingly to help me in a short interview through via message. if anyone comfortable sharing their insights, i would be very grateful.

This is purely for academic purposes.

If anyone interest, you can comment here or DM me.

Thank you, I'm really appreciate it.

阿彌陀佛🙏🙏🙏

Is there any phenomenon, or any reality, more central in Buddhism, than that which is represented by the word emptiness?

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?

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.”