Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 11/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: is enligtenment possible by just looking at the mirror seeing you ve changed and got old bingo you are enligtened realizing the truth of impermanence?

how does mantra or chanting affect an individual to the road to illumination? some schools stressed recitation alone will make you enligtened


is it true that all things we see are made up by the mind nothing else? whatever we see is false similar to dreaming awake?

is it a requirement to donate to the monks? do they put some big merit ahead?

ANSWER: Dear Jaya,

"is enligtenment possible by just looking at the mirror seeing you ve changed and got old bingo you are enligtened realizing the truth of impermanence?"

It doesn't matter how you do it, but if you can realize the truth of impermanence, you will be enlightened.

"how does mantra or chanting affect an individual to the road to illumination? some schools stressed recitation alone will make you enligtened"

A mantra or chanting will not make you enlightened by itself. The enlightenment can ONLY come from realization. So, mantra or chanting can lead to realization, but without realization, mantras or chanting or meditation or going to temples or anything is useless.

"is it true that all things we see are made up by the mind nothing else? whatever we see is false similar to dreaming awake?"

No, not ALL things are made up by the mind. ALL things are INTERPRETED by the mind, but they are not all "illusions." Some things are real. You need to be able to decipher and realize which are real and which are false. Those that lead to clinging, lead to suffering, lead to delusion are not real. Those that lead to non clinging, non suffering, and non delusion are real.

"is it a requirement to donate to the monks? do they put some big merit ahead?"

It is not a requirement. However, donating to monks helps lead to respect for monks AND the Buddhist religion they follow. This leads to respecting the Buddhist teaching and helping you accept the teaching easier. This is the big merit that follows.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: so whats the difficulty of enduring many lives? just see you are getting old and bingo youre enligtened and never to be reborn again

how's anatta been consistent of the human being having a soul?

ANSWER: Dear Jaya,

"so whats the difficulty of enduring many lives? just see you are getting old and bingo youre enligtened and never to be reborn again"

Not every life will be a human birth or a heaven birth as people hope for. Many lives will be in lower states or states of misery. Even lives as a human are not fun, they are full of suffering, but we just don't realize it. That is the difficulty of enduring many lives.

"how's anatta been consistent of the human being having a soul?"

You soul exists forever. However, your body or different bodies you have had do not. Anatta is the result of nothing physical lasting forever. Therefore, if you last but the body doesn't, how can the body be self? Anatta is another thing that should not be considered, since it will only lead to confusion. Focus on Dukkha and Annicam and when you fully understand them, you will arive at Anatta by yourself.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: is it possible for human beings to live without law i mean law of the country?

why is death penalty not allowed in buddhism?

do u think mahayana is also buddha's words? because im exploring about mahayana buddhism


mahayana promoted easy way to salvation by just chanting names of buddha erasing bad karmas

Answer
Dear Jaya,

"is it possible for human beings to live without law i mean law of the country?"

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but it is possible for people to live without laws. Many cultures and civilizations have not had "laws." However, all human beings have certain inherent traits that we all share:

1. Fear of death
2. Sense of self
3. Desires, greed,....

Therefore, there are certain universal rules that people and animals inherently know, but do not always follow:

1. Do not kill others
2. Do not take that which belongs to others
3. Do not lie or use words to hurt others (humans)
4. Do not commit sexual misconduct (humans and some animals)
5. Do not use intoxicants (most animals and some humans)

All the rest of the laws humans live by are created by man and therefore a fallible since they usually are made for the majority and not ALL people.

"why is death penalty not allowed in buddhism?"

Killing or taking life of any kind or degree is against Buddhist teachings.

"do u think mahayana is also buddha's words? because im exploring about mahayana buddhism"
I do not practice Mahayana Buddhism and am not an expert on Mahayana teachings. I do not know enough to comment on Mahayana beliefs.

"mahayana promoted easy way to salvation by just chanting names of buddha erasing bad karmas"

In my personal opinion, the only way to salvation is to earn it. You can only earn it through a change in perception which comes with seeing impermanence in the world, ourselves and our perceptions.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo