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Buddhists/Questions Answered by Expert Alex Wilding
| Subject | Date Asked |
| What is Buddhism | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: I'm reading Siddhartha, and it suddenly occurred to me that I don't know anything about Buddhism.I'm ... A: You mean the Hesse novel? I remember reading it many years ago and enjoying it, but although there ... | |
| Tibetan Buddhism | 12/22/2011 |
| Q: i have recently started reading over articles on the internet about Tibetan Buddhism and i came ... A: It sounds as if you have been reading Alexandra David-Neel's books. An amazing woman! All I can say, ... | |
| Changed As An Adult | 11/28/2011 |
| Q: What role does awareness play in karma. I always here Buddhists talk about being awaken or becoming ... A: The importance of awareness is huge, not to say total. <b>What</b> you do is only one of the factors ... | |
| Correct forms of address | 11/22/2011 |
| Q: Greetings, I am writing a novel set in the late eighteenth century, where a Jesuit priest, Father ... A: That would sound natural to me, although perhaps, if this is them introducing themselves formally ... | |
| Correct forms of address | 11/21/2011 |
| Q: Greetings, I am writing a novel set in the late eighteenth century, where a Jesuit priest, Father ... A: Good question, and I can see that it's one that could cost your story a lot of credibility if you ... | |
| Buddhism and the Dalai Lama | 10/30/2011 |
| Q: What impact has buddhism had on the 14th Dalai Lama's life actions, and choices? A: I'm afraid that is such a broad question it is impossible even to attempt here. His Holiness' life ... | |
| 3 Questions | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: 1.What caused the emergence of the different forms of Buddhism, and how do they differ? 2.Is it ... A: Big questions! 1) Buddhism has a long history, and has flourished in some very different cultures. ... | |
| Empowerments | 10/1/2011 |
| Q: I'm interested in worshiping/venerating Kurukulla. The other day, I came across the Sadhana for ... A: An empowerment (sometimes called "initiation", but that has potentially misleading connotations) is ... | |
| Buddha prayer beads | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering with the prayer beads,what prayer's are said when using them? Can also ask you,I ... A: I only just noticed that you are in Kildare! I used to live in West Cork, though I've spent five ... | |
| Buddha prayer beads | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering with the prayer beads,what prayer's are said when using them? Can also ask you,I ... A: All sorts of things are counted on the beads, such as the mantra "Om Mani Peme Hum" - one for each ... | |
| practice and meditation | 9/18/2011 |
| Q: I have several chronic illnesses, including Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. Lately, I have been ... A: You have got a heavy burden at the moment, haven't you? I can only pass on what I have often heard ... | |
| Past Misdeeds | 9/5/2011 |
| Q: I became a buddhist a few months ago and now I regret a few of my past misdeeds. One in particular ... A: It's nice to hear from someone in the West Midlands! Your question has not really got a lot to do ... | |
| Kill hope? | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: Is it a teaching of Buddhism that hope may well be a state which is to be avoided, and it may be ... A: That is a drastic way to put it. And I don't think it would be very useful to make a big effort to ... | |
| Questions about Buddhism | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: Greetings, I am trying to learn the underlying teachings of Buddhism to better understand the over ... A: These are good questions, but their scope goes far beyond what can be done here. I can only give a ... | |
| reincarnation | 7/1/2011 |
| Q: Is it true that having good or bad karma determines what social caste you will be reborn into? If it ... A: It is generally taught that the situation is much more complicated than that, although, to be sure, ... | |
| busy life | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: I have been meditating for 9 years now and it has made an enormous difference in my life (for the ... A: > sometimes when i sit down to meditate my head > is very "noisy", filled with thoughts about > the ... | |
| Nirvana | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: do yo have a digram of Nirvana? A: Absolutely not. It's not that kind of thing at all. Many would say that it's *not a thing* at all. ... | |
| Tibetan Buddhism: Death and Funerals. | 6/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a few questions about the death and funeral rituals in Tibetan Buddhism. These are: 1. What ... A: These are very large questions - a research project, really. There is only scope here to say a few ... | |
| Studying Buddhism | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I first want to thank you for giving your time to answer questions on Allexperts.com. I have been ... A: You could try these: http://www.wisdompath.org/CENTERS/index.html They have centres in Cancun, ... | |
| Studying Buddhism | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I first want to thank you for giving your time to answer questions on Allexperts.com. I have been ... A: I suppose it depends how far you are able to travel. Is English your first language, or Spanish? The ... | |
| Mind | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: Where/how did "mind" originate from? A: The idea that everything must have originated from something else is itself a prime example of ... | |
| Buddhism,god,Karma theory | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: What did the Buddha exactly experienced when he attained Enlightenenment? On which basis he ... A: These are very big questions. > What did the Buddha exactly experienced > when he attained ... | |
| Buddha positions / mudras | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a buddha. He's sitting with his left leg in the meditation position, but his right knee is ... A: I saw the picture. All I can really say is that it looks Southeast Asian - perhaps Thai - and that ... | |
| Buddha positions / mudras | 5/29/2011 |
| Q: I have a buddha. He's sitting with his left leg in the meditation position, but his right knee is ... A: It sounds rather like one of the "bodhisattva" poses, but I'm not sure. It would be a lot easier to ... | |
| Buddhism and organ donations | 5/27/2011 |
| Q: I am currently doing research of Buddhism and organ donations (including Xenotransplantation). 1. I ... A: Buddhism is not immune to ethical dilemmas! 1. This is indeed said. Some people indeed do want ... | |
| embryonic stem cells | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: What is your perspective on embryonic stem cells? also is there any specific/doctrine which founds ... A: > What is your perspective on > embryonic stem cells? Buddhism has nothing in particular to say ... | |
| Buddhism & Technological Advances | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Wilding, I'm currently doing research to write an expository essay on xentransplatation and Buddhism ... A: Interesting questions – I'll try to give a bit of an answer to them in order. 1. Buddhism is not a ... | |
| Buddhist Funerals | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: I am currently doing a school based assignment about Buddhist death rituals, and was wondering if ... A: This is far too long a list of questions to answer properly here. If I were to answer even from the ... | |
| Karma | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I've interst in Buddist Philosphy.I don't know much .Perhaps my question will be bit kiddish Buddha ... A: If I understand what you are saying, I think you have illustrated why it is ridiculous to think that ... | |
| Karma | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: I've interst in Buddist Philosphy.I don't know much .Perhaps my question will be bit kiddish Buddha ... A: There are two parts to the answer to your very good question. The first part is that *in some cases* ... | |
| Rebirth | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: I've interst in Buddist Philosphy.I don't know much .Perhaps my question will be bit kiddish Buddha ... A: It's OK, we all start somewhere. However, I don't think there are any branches of Buddhism who claim ... | |
| karma | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: I hope you will be able to answer my question. I have suffered more 'crap' in my short life than ... A: The traditional answer is quite clear, though some people do tend to get attached to a fatalistic ... | |
| Ethics - Euthanasia | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: Good evening Mr. Wilding, I was just wondering if I could ask a few questions regarding the ethic ... A: 1 Generally bad, but sometimes good 2 Largely agrees 3 I don't understand your point - are you ... | |
| Book about Dalai Lamas | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you can help me, but I'm hoping you may be able to. I'm trying to find a book I ... A: There are probably quite a few! You could look at Snow Lion (http://www.snowlionpub.com/), and one ... | |
| Five Questions for Online Eastern and Western Thought Class | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: 1)What steps should be taken to begin seeking inner peace? Are there any effective ways to begin ... A: Your question is long, so I can only answer briefly. 1) Yes. Make your sessions regular - once a day ... | |
| Tibetian social order | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: Is it true that in the 1950's and prior there was a large part of the Tibetan population that were ... A: Two sides to the answer, I think. On the one hand "slave" is a flexible term, and not all "slaves" ... | |
| Returning an initiation | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: How do I "return" the samayas (promises) I made when I received an initiation? I am finding it ... A: You should make every possible effort to speak to the lama who gave the empowerment. Failing that, ... | |
| renouncing money | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: I ask myself how I can continue to live as a moral and honest person in a system that is not.Money ... A: Since before humanity, animals fought, ran for their lives and died young in the hope of eating. If ... | |
| renouncing money | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: I ask myself how I can continue to live as a moral and honest person in a system that is not.Money ... A: YOu seem to already know the answers. Nobody can be entirely "pure" and free from the rest of ... | |
| Buddhists | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: My son have been asked by his class teacher, as homework to...... "Find 6 or 8 things a Buddhist ... A: No, I can't really answer. Strictly speaking there was a very small list - something like robe (may ... | |
| prespective on healthcare | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I am writing a paper for a class I am taking on spirituality and have to ask some question about ... A: These questions are very open, and it is not clear exactly what you are asking. They are cues for ... | |
| Is Avalokiteśvara a deva? | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: I am a Mahayana Buddhist wondering if Avalokiteśvara exists in the deva domains, or if he ... A: It would, of course, be a mistake to think that every text that refers to or describes ... | |
| How Buddhism methods can bring happiness in my life? | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: While learning Reiki, I read few books that relate to Buddhism, though Reiki itself has no roots in ... A: Sorry to have been a bit slow replying. Really, Zen is not my particular field. I would say one ... | |
| Nyigma lineage | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: What takes place when something happens to the lineage holder? What happens if he separates from ... A: Adele, the fact is that these are good questions with no clear answers. Sometimes people get hurt in ... | |
| Some questions about Buddhism | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: I have read that both the Dalai Lama and the Karmapa are considered emanations of the Buddha ... A: As to the first, we simply shouldn't take this kind of praise too literally. Maybe there is ... | |
| Politics | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: I have read that HH the Dalai Lama has condemned Capitalism and he has declared Marxist. Then, muy ... A: > I have read that HH the Dalai Lama has > condemned Capitalism and he has declared Marxist. Has he? ... | |
| meditation & self-awareness | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I'm doing some research on yoga & meditation, as planning on making it a daily thing for me. What ... A: I'm glad you feel my stab helped! > Why shouldn't one grasp whatever self-awareness arises Again, ... | |
| meditation & self-awareness | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I'm doing some research on yoga & meditation, as planning on making it a daily thing for me. What ... A: Firstly, there are lots of approaches called "meditation" in Buddhism. Meditation on concepts such ... | |
| nursing student interview | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: I found your site and it said I could ask questions regarding Buddhism. I am a nursing student in a ... A: Your questions are good questions. The only problem is that each of them demands an answer of at the ... | |
| Buddist Prayer | 8/3/2010 |
| Q: I have been to Bodh Gaya; India recently : and observed monks having a drum with a handle type of ... A: In Tibetan Buddhism there are a number of styles of drum. Those held in the right hand with a pair ... | |
| hinduism and buddhism | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: when did hinduism and buddhism first encounter eachother? did they get along at first or were their ... A: Hinduism was not a religion as such until relativey recently. Buddhism emerged as one of many ... | |
| Buddhist Meditation | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: Why are there different kinds of Buddhist meditation? ANSWER: Hi Chris, Firstly because there are ... A: Well the most obvious example that comes to mind is the way in which Theravada Buddhism, for ... | |
| Buddhism requirements. | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: my question is pertaining to requirements of Buddhism, are there any? Also i am very confused on the ... A: The "requirements" for a lay Buddhist are very simple, although the exact interpretation depends on ... | |
| Name of mythical critter in Tibetan | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: The Qilin of Chinese (& Kirin of Japanese) myth is, according to Wikipedia and half a gazillion ... A: An excellent question, to which I have no answer. All I can say is that at first sight "Hariharipo ... | |
| Helping a suicide find their way | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: My eldest son took his own life five years ago May 9/05. He was clearly distraught about several ... A: Well that is a tough one, but you don't need me to tell you that. One of the most popular things ... | |
| buddhism | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: Which of the four insights most reflects a response from Buddha's childhood? My daughter brought ... A: As this is a school thing, I would assume that the teacher is referring to what is more commonly ... | |
| environmental ethics | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: i am currently doing an assignment on buddhist environmental ethics. if would be a great help if you ... A: 1 Kagyu 2 Compassion and wisdom - the details are arguable 3 I wouldn't put it that way myself 4 I'm ... | |
| bioethics- abortion and embryonic stem cell reasearch | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I am currently doing an assignment on Buddhism and Bioethics. Could you please answer the following ... A: I received almost the same question from someone else yesterday, so perhaps you don't mind if I just ... | |
| Tibetan bioethics | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I'm doing an assignment on Buddhism and Bioethics. Could you please provide me with your view on ... A: Traditional Buddhism, of course, had no knowledge comparable to what we now understand about ... | |
| young peoples views on religion | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I am in secondry school and have to do a project as titled above. I would be grateful if you could ... A: I have to disappoint you - the whole picture is extremely varied; it depends on the place, on the ... | |
| Beliefs and pratices. | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: i just have a few questions if you could answer them for me. I hope you do live in Australia because ... A: Yes, I have been living in Australia for 4 or 5 years now, but I don't know that your question will ... | |
| buddhism | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: how do Buddhist views beliefs on wellness/prevention? A: There is no specific teaching on "wellness" in the sense I think you mean it. One could argue that ... | |
| Guru Rinpoche | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I thought that Maitreya Buddha is the third Buddha of this age,how is Padmasambhava the second ... A: Different ways of looking at things. Guru Rinpoche would not be counted in the same scheme. There ... | |
| Buddhist social doctrines and modern society | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: i would be very happy if you kindly forward me answer of this question, What is crime in Buddhism? A: "Crime" is a legal concept, and is therefore specified by whatever powers, good or bad, may have ... | |
| My partner has no interest in buddhism | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I've been with my partner for 5 years and I started to practice Vipassana meditation 2 years ago. He ... A: Yes, I've been in that situation and I know that it is difficult - no use pretending otherwise. I ... | |
| Buddhism | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: my name is Theodore. I am currently enrolled in a eastern and western thought class that has ... A: I found it fascinating when I was a young lad poking around the back basements of large bookstores. ... | |
| follow up on anxiaty and meditaion | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I apologize for not alliterating my situation to its fullest as the content is quite sensitive, I ... A: Sorry I have been slow. My computer software went into meltdown, and I had to reinstall everything ... | |
| anxiaty and meditaion | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: first of all I would like to thank you for you're time second of all I do apologize for spelling ... A: Well to start with, it does sound bad, to the extent that I would guess that although your mind is ... | |
| have our modern conception of Buddhism been corrupted? | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: Do you think that Tibetan Buddhism (and Buddhism) have been corrupted by Western influences? It ... A: I have to disagree with you, largely at least. Bringing greater social and political awareness into ... | |
| Commercialization | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I'm just wondering if you could tell me about how the Buddha symbol is being commercialized around ... A: I'm not quite sure what you are asking. If you want to know what is in fact being done, you can ... | |
| respectfully putting a pet to sleep at the vets | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: I have an extremely anxious dog. She is now five years old and on strong medication for her ... A: This is a moral question, of course. I'm not sure that I can take the moral responsibility of giving ... | |
| buddah | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: my name is chris i am 17 years old and live in blackpool north west of england. i belivei have a ... A: I thought I answered you a few days ago, but the system tells me that I didn't - sorry. ... | |
| Tathagathagarba Sutra/Doctrine | 1/21/2010 |
| Q: Hey again Alex, my question concerns the Tathagatagarbha. I was wondering if it really does ... A: Put simply, critics (within Buddhism) say it does conflict, that it is a kind of "crypto-Hinduism"; ... | |
| Impermanance/Atman/Pali Canon | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: Hey Alex, Tony here again with yet another question on Buddhism. My first question is what sutra(s) ... A: First: >do the Mahyana's also use the Pali Canon like the Theravadas? No. Quite a lot of equivalent ... | |
| Introduction & origins of Brahmans | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I am writing from Melbourne, it's interesting to hear you are in Australia. In January I have ... A: I know a few people likely to be at that retreat! Look out for Annabel Fraser and Gary Gadsby. I ... | |
| Another Question | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: It says you are in Australia on your profile so i was wondering if you knew much about the temples ... A: Sorry, no. I've only been in Australia for about 4 years, and rarely ventured far from Sydney. I do ... | |
| Buddhist temples | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I was just wondering if anyone is able to go into a buddhist temple? I was also curious as to when ... A: There is no absolute rule, but generally speaking: 1) Hello, I was just wondering if anyone is able ... | |
| Greeting a Buddhist | 12/25/2009 |
| Q: Am visiting a Indian restaurant and want to know a proper greeting for a respectful hello Thank ... A: That's very polite of you! Actually there isn't a clear answer, as it's mainly cultural. In other ... | |
| Guru Yoga | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: I have another question, I came across the name Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche after Matthieu Ricard ... A: Yes, it is a form of meditation, or rather a huge "slew" of practices; Tibetan forms of Buddhism put ... | |
| sat cit ananda | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: can u tell me the buddhist understanding of the unconditioned (nirvana) as it related to sat (being) ... A: As you correctly point out, these terms belong to Hindu thinking, not Buddhist. (By the way, what do ... | |
| Where to begin and meditiation | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I have two questions, one concerning Buddhism and the other concerning Meditation. Questions One: I ... A: Your first question is so good, the traditional answer is: don't! Sutras are so vast and varied, you ... | |
| depression | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I'm having some real problems at the moment with meditation and, more specifically, Buddhism. I'm ... A: Don't worry about the name - this site is very careful with privacy, so I don't even know it! I ... | |
| devas | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Buddhist don't believe in a creator God, yet, some Buddhist believe in devas, why doesn't the same ... A: > Buddhist don't believe in a creator God True. > yet, some Buddhist believe in devas, True again. ... | |
| beings of white light | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: Are practitioners who attain the rainbow body, buddhas And are they then beings of pure white ... A: The rainbow body is said to be a sign that the practitioner has achieved the full realization of ... | |
| intrusive father | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I am wondering if there is a specific mudra or breathing exercise or meditation you can tell me of ... A: Actually, I'm sorry, I have nothing specific to suggest. I have no doubt that your idea of working ... | |
| is buddha God ? | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: how are you Alex, sorry, i am not sure if you would like to discuss these question, my entire family ... A: In a word: no. Buddha is indeed "worshipped" as a guide, teacher, and representative of our own ... | |
| Right way to pray | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: What is the right way to pray when you are visiting a Buddhist Gompa or a monstary eg in places like ... A: 1) There certainly are "standard" prayers, BUT on the one hand they vary from one tradition to the ... | |
| Right way to pray | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: What is the right way to pray when you are visiting a Buddhist Gompa or a monstary eg in places like ... A: Well as you obviously realize, these things vary from place to place, so it is always important to ... | |
| a question about fun and a question about the senses | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: -) I have a question or two about Buddhism and the challenges of incorporating Buddhist practice ... A: I think it might help you to realize that Buddhism is a vast, complex thing - a whole culture, ... | |
| Class project (again sorry) | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I'd like to rephrase one of my previous questions. I had asked if you had ever reached nirvana and ... A: Nirvana is not a place, nor a "state" that you can experience and report on. Literally "nirvana" ... | |
| Philosophy class interview project | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: i just have a couple questions regarding Buddhism for my class and you seemed the appropriate ... A: Most of your questions would require extensive discussion of at least essay length if not book ... | |
| a killer who became buddhist in jail | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I’m a french cartoonist and I have a particular question : I’m looking for the name of an american ... A: Sorry, I can't help. Generally the prison Buddhist "chaplaincy" is quite active, and people do often ... | |
| illusion | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: Recently I've been reading some texts by Charles Berner. Quite often he mentioned that life is an ... A: I don't know anything about Charles Berner except what I just read on Wikipedia. You would have to ... | |
| visualization | 8/30/2009 |
| Q: I am very attracted to Tibetan Buddhism and would like to take refuge - however I am wondering if ... A: I am sure it is no problem - lot's of people are like that. Often, trying too hard and hoping for ... | |
| Eternal Happiness | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: 1. What is Eternal Happiness (Krsna Conscousness)? 2. How do emails all the expert in the category ... A: "Krsna Conscousness" (the usual English spelling would be "Krishna Consciousness") is a term from a ... | |
| laziness | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I often feel lazy now that I started meditating..it is a feeling of having no motivation.. Like ... A: Do I? A bit. My main problem, though, is falling asleep when I meditate! Accepting the inherent ... | |
| patient endurance | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: I know different schools of Buddhism have different thoughts. I am in constant phsycial pain and ... A: Sorry to be so slow with my reply - I don't think I got the message about your question. Patient ... | |
| proof | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I've been reading the Dalia Lama "Healing and Anger" and he points out that reincarnation can be ... A: You are raising questions to which I believe there are answers, but not necessarily answers of a ... | |
| Liberation | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: Sir, I have read many articles about birth and death. My question is "'How to get free forever from ... A: You seem to be asking the very question right at the root of Buddhism. So it seems to me that the ... | |
| Problems with attachment theory | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: I seem to come across this strange problem whenever I feel like doing something. When I feel like ... A: I don't think there is an "official" answer to this. But it sounds as if you are already able to see ... | |
| Restrictions Enquiry! | 7/24/2009 |
| Q: i've been doing my research on buddhism and i found it very interesting. My question is if i follow ... A: You said it - Buddhism is against intoxication. So these things are not encouraged, in fact they are ... | |
| Scriptures | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: What has been the Buddhist approach in the last 150 years towards the actual experience of reality ... A: > What has been the Buddhist approach in > the last 150 years towards the actual > experience of ... | |
| ignorance in Tibetan script | 6/29/2009 |
| Q: i want to know how ignorance translates to Tibetan script. Thank you in advance for your help. A: The Tibetan, transcribed into latin script according to the Wylie system, is this: ma.rig.pa. If ... | |
| Buddhism and spiritualism | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: After spending several months researching Buddhism in an effort to find the religion associated ... A: Generally speaking Buddhists believe that everything is impermanent, and when someone dies the winds ... | |
| Buddhist Romance | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: Do buddhist kiss as a feature of their romance? How do they show their affection for the other sex? A: This is a purely social matter on which Buddhism has nothing to say. Monks and nuns, of course, ... | |
| transmigration of the soul | 6/15/2009 |
| Q: i have a question regaring tibetan buddhism. I have read that the tranmisgration of the soul from a ... A: The "49 days" is notional rather than literal. It is used to time the funeral rites, especially for ... | |
| Questions about Buddhism for Class | 6/13/2009 |
| Q: What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion? How has religion shaped your ... A: Dar Geral, What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion? They vary according to ... | |
| Meditation question | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: Good morning, I feel kind of weird about asking this..but here it goes. I'm not sure how to word it. ... A: The exact version of your experience is not one that I've heard of before. That being said, however, ... | |
| Euthanasia | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Alex, I am having a great deal of difficulty with the choice to euthanize my belovd cat. He is ... A: You say you "obviously have not reached enlightenment". Who has? These prayers essentially just give ... | |
| Euthanasia | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: Alex, I am having a great deal of difficulty with the choice to euthanize my belovd cat. He is ... A: I feel for you deeply, as a cat lover myself. Many Western Buddhists have been through this. I can ... | |
| Meat | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: i'm was just asking because i'm becoming a buddhist but can we eat meat? i'm sorry if this is a ... A: Why ever should that be a silly question? Essentially, vegetarianism is strongly encouraged by ... | |
| Darwinism and Buddhism | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: Given biological Darwinism challenged salvation and eternal life, grand design in the making of ... A: Your question itself raises further questions. Firsly, what do you mean by "Darwinism"? Do you just ... | |
| Where? | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: Is Buddha physically "alive?" And if he is, WHERE exactly is he, right now? A: Physically alive? No, certainly not in any ordinary sense. So your second question has no meaningful ... | |
| food offerings to the dead | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: my husband passed. when we put food and essence on the alter should we put only one dish or should ... A: Sorry it's taken a while to reply! I have never heard of the use of three dishes. In the systems ... | |
| Buddhism funeral ceremonies | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: I am currently doing an assignment on how compatible Buddhism and Hindu death beliefs/ funerals are. ... A: Sorry it has taken so long to reply. I think the main purpose of the ritual is simply to help ... | |
| eleventh bhumi | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Can you describe a little about the eleventh bhumi is is that complete enlightenment?Also where I ... A: Generally your suggestion is correct, but as you probably know, there are normally only said to be ... | |
| Re-Birth | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: Hope this finds you in the best of your health and spirits. I have a small question on re-birth. ... A: Yes, what you say is what is usually described, though I believe Theravada schools put the start of ... | |
| I-Search Help | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: hell o my name is Emily Lau and i am a student who attends Martin Luther King jr. middle school in ... A: Your questions really need pages and pages of answer, so I can only put a few words to each. 1) It ... | |
| Time Travel | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: I know in Tibetan Buddhism siddhis such as teleportation, levitation etc exist, can an advanced ... A: Well it's all stories, really, isn't it? I've heard the stories, but I've never seen any of those ... | |
| my religion assignment. | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: Hey Alex, I'm Aaron. As an assignment for religion, we have been told to research on a buddhist ... A: Some quick answers, for what they may be worth: 1. Has buddhism, more specifically meditation ... | |
| all is one | 4/28/2009 |
| Q: I have recently been reading a book that I find very similar to the concepts of buddhism. I am ... A: Yes, I think you are right to say that the words you quote are going in a Buddhist direction. But ... | |
| Buddhism funeral ceremonies | 4/27/2009 |
| Q: I am currently doing an assignment on how compatible Buddhism and Hindu death beliefs/ funerals are. ... A: Buddhism is embedded in a number of different cultures, and the death rites vary to some extent on ... | |
| buddhism | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: Do Buddhists have sex? Why or why not? Thanks, Joey ANSWER: Hi Joey, Yes they do. Because it's ... A: As they are mostly ordinary humans, I'm sure they do it for both reasons. Desire is not a problem - ... | |
| suffering | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I cannot reconcile the statement that all suffering is due to desire. How can the suffering ... A: Of course you are right - everything has many causes, and the causes of cancer, for instance, ... | |
| a question | 4/17/2009 |
| Q: There is one sentence in the passage below I would like to ask you about, namely: "A TIGER HAS SUCH ... A: There is not much I can say about this. There may perhaps be some good advice in the passages you ... | |
| karma | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a quick question. I understood karma to be an a-moral force, like nature itself. I ... A: One of the main points here is the question of just what the mechanics are that causes "karma" to ... | |
| Om Mani Padme Hum | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: Is it disrespectful to get the mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum' tattooed on your body? ... A: Good question, often asked. In the end it's a matter of taste. Personally I think it is ... | |
| Living a Buddhist life in Asia as a foreigner | 3/16/2009 |
| Q: Hey there, I would like to know if there are Buddhist communities for foreigners in China. (Or ... A: You will see from my description that China is not really my field of expertise. However I have ... | |
| Universal connection | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: Greetings, I’m working with an idea that says virtually all belief systems think that everyone is ... A: In a word, yes. Although I don't see that it's essential to have a view on this in Buddhism. But I ... | |
| Buddhist family records | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I am researching an article on tracing family history in Burma for a website called Empire's ... A: Generally no, as this is not a particular requirement of the Buddhist religion. However, these ... | |
| reason and faith | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I've asked a couple of questions in the past and I would like to investigate one more topic that I ... A: Reason is not the same as cast-iron proof, and some degree of faith is necessary in Buddhism, just ... | |
| anthropology interview | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I have an assignment for my anthropology class and was hoping that you would have time to answer the ... A: I am pressed for time, but: How many people are in your family? What is your definition of family? ... | |
| creation | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: a while I asked if Buddhist believe in god and the answer I received was more or less not. If there ... A: *You* would have to tell *me* what purposes you have and what motivates you. Ideally you will be ... | |
| Universal connection | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: Greetings, I’m working with an idea that says virtually all belief systems think that everyone is ... A: I'm afraid I don't understand your question. Obviously enough, everything is connected to everything ... | |
| creation | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: a while I asked if Buddhist believe in god and the answer I received was more or less not. If there ... A: "More or less not" is about right. What is "the creation"? Your question "If there is no actual ... | |
| suffering | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I know life is suffering, but some suffer more than others. With war, starvation, cancer, etc., a ... A: It may have to do with things we set in motion in the distant past, but it is also a fact that ... | |
| Brief Interview | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: my name is Emily Hornsby and I’m a student in an Eastern and Western Thought class. One of my ... A: • What role does your religion play in your daily life? How does it shape decisions you make on a ... | |
| Inquiry | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: my name is Brennan. I am participating in an online Virtual High School class entitles Eastern & ... A: > What attracts you to Buddhism? It is a spiritual path that is inspiring but does not have to ... | |
| Tibetan Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: What are the differences between Tibetan Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism? A: Good question, but one that would really need a huge answer. Some of the key principles are the ... | |
| A Few Quick Questions About Buddhism | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: Hi, my name is John, and we've been studying Buddhism in a class I'm taking. I have a few quick ... A: > One of Buddhism’s main focuses is giving up worldly > attachments and desires. In today’s highly ... | |
| Buddhism practices in Australia | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: My question is; have the practices (such as rituals etc) which are currently being practised in ... A: I am not involved with Thai buddhists, so you'd have to ask them, though my guess would be very much ... | |
| Two Questions | 2/22/2009 |
| Q: I have read many books on Buddhism. After reading about your experience I feel you can help me with ... A: Well it does sound as if you have some affinity for Buddhism! As to the origins of Samsara, to be ... | |
| Bodhisatvattas,nirvana&awakening psy nervous channels | 2/17/2009 |
| Q: I experienced nirvanic enlightenment when Iwas 25 & living in Tokyo.One year prior,in Australia, ... A: I find it hard to be sure what you are saying. In Buddhism, "nirvana" is the end of all ignorance, ... | |
| buddhahood | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: when one becomes completetly aware of their buddha nature would they be omnicient and have perfect ... A: My main teachers have been Karma Kagyu, though I've taken a slice of Nyingma teachings too. If you ... | |
| buddhahood | 2/12/2009 |
| Q: when one becomes completetly aware of their buddha nature would they be omnicient and have perfect ... A: A good question, but one that I really can't answer. Some say yes, some say that's silly. Most say ... | |
| samadhi | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: All Buddhas teachings can be summed up as sila, samadhi , panna So here in samadhi , 1) Did the ... A: Some of what you are asking is beyond my level of expertise, and in any case my particular field is ... | |
| Nirvana | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I have been reading several of the Dalai Lama's books and see quite a similarity within the concepts ... A: You will find all sorts of ideas that claim to answer your question - there is no doubt that it is ... | |
| mindfulness | 1/28/2009 |
| Q: My questions are directly related with sati when i practice it in line with my daily activities ... A: When you say "If I think about particular point of a lecture while listening, then I notice my ... | |
| mindfulness | 1/27/2009 |
| Q: My questions are directly related with sati when i practice it in line with my daily activities ... A: You probably realize that Mahasi Saydaw's system is quite different from the ones I practice, though ... | |
| god and buddhism | 1/25/2009 |
| Q: why does belief in Buddhism preclude a belief in God? Please explain, thank you. A: There are a couple of reasons. Firstly, we see no good reason to believe in "God", in any case, ... | |
| What's the teaching on tea and meditation? | 1/19/2009 |
| Q: Do your teachers say it's good to drink tea for the experience you seek while meditating? Or is it ... A: I do know that Zen Buddhists are very keen on tea. In Tibetan culture tea of a different sort is ... | |
| The Path | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: I took refuge with a Tibetan master in 1995 and although I have a deep faith and find it a great ... A: You have had it tough! As you say, some people do say that the Vajrayana path brings up ... | |
| hell and reincarnation | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: do buddists believe in hell? I practice buddism people have told me I'm going to hell for worshiping ... A: I think we can safely assume that some forms of existence are terrible. Many Buddhists do in fact ... | |
| Project | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I am Doing a project for a class and i need to interview a Buddhist. PLease help me! 1. What ... A: I'm afraid I haven't got the time at the moment to answer all your questions. Some of them would ... | |
| Starting | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: I am looking for help, guidance. I have been educating myself on Buddhism. I am finding that it is ... A: I think I know how you feel - it can be overwhelming. But to even have any suggestions, I think I ... | |
| Buddhist Practices | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I am doing a school report on Buddhism and I am wondering if Buddhist believers do any kind of ... A: Yes they do, but exactly what they do varies a lot. One big difference from Christian communion is ... | |
| Thought | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: Is thought a product of mind or is thought outside of mind? ANSWER: Mind cannot be tied down. What, ... A: You say "What is the origin of thought ..." These are good questions to sit with and practice. I ... | |
| Thought | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: Is thought a product of mind or is thought outside of mind? A: Mind cannot be tied down. What, after all, does your mind look like? Where is it located? What is ... | |
| budhist enlightenment | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: If there is no personal self and if hypothetically speaking everyone reached the highest state of ... A: There are different stories, which is not a big problem as the "story of the universe" does not play ... | |
| Doubt about previous response | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: In your previous response subjected ( buddhism and hinduism) you quoted- "One reason is that ... A: I can't remember the context. However, the idea that there was a "religion" called "Hinduism" ... | |
| budhist enlightenment | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: If there is no personal self and if hypothetically speaking everyone reached the highest state of ... A: I think the "just spaciousness and emptiness and no-thing and no awarness of any I-thou" is said to ... | |
| budhist enlightenment | 11/21/2008 |
| Q: If there is no personal self and if hypothetically speaking everyone reached the highest state of ... A: The answer - or at least a short version - is repeatedly stated in Buddhist scripture: it is beyond ... | |
| What should I do next? | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: "I am a twice divorced, 38 yr. old male who was raised as a Southern Baptist. I have made some bad ... A: Hmm - you've got plenty of bad things to say about yourself! But you are obviously looking to ... | |
| hello | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: I have been interested in Buddhism for quite a while now, I had recently looked up a few things on ... A: "Frowned on" is a good way to put it. It's not the terrible sin that it is in Christianity, but it ... | |
| hello | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: I have been interested in Buddhism for quite a while now, I had recently looked up a few things on ... A: Well Buddhism tends not to take the rules in such a fixed way. True, if you have taken a formal vow ... | |
| hello | 11/6/2008 |
| Q: I have been interested in Buddhism for quite a while now, I had recently looked up a few things on ... A: The 5 are the big ones. If you can keep all of them properly you are doing really well! Marijuana? ... | |
| Buddhism vs. Law of Attraction | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: I am studying Buddhism on my own. I've been meditating for a year now.I've also studied the Law of ... A: I'm not quite sure what you mean by the Law of Attraction, but perhaps it is what is sometimes ... | |
| Nichiren Buddhism/Tibetan Buddhism | 11/1/2008 |
| Q: I have been interested in BUddhist philosophy for some time. I love the Dalia Lama's teachings. I ... A: Well it does sound as if, leaving aside whether SGI is a good thing or a bad thing, as if it might ... | |
| Nichiren Buddhism | 11/1/2008 |
| Q: Alex, I have been interested in Buddhism (particularly Tibetan) for some time and have recently ... A: I honestly do not have the knowledge to answer this question. I know - and it sounds as if you know ... | |
| attachments | 10/31/2008 |
| Q: I read that one of the ways to remove suffering from oneself is to avoid attachments. How does that ... A: That's a question that troubles a lot of people. I think it can be answered on a number of different ... | |
| Re-Birth | 10/27/2008 |
| Q: Hope this finds you in the best of your health and spirts. My name is Rajendran Menon and I am from ... A: My advice, for what it's worth, would have to be "slowly". There are a lot of Buddhists in the ... | |
| Re-Birth | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: Hope this finds you in the best of your health and spirts. My name is Rajendran Menon and I am from ... A: That's a detailed question you have posed. You have obviously by now discovered that the "The ... | |
| True self | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: What is the True self that lives within? Within the body there is ego,consciousness,observer.How do ... A: Your question goes right to the heart of Buddhism, according to which any attempt to pin down that ... | |
| Buddha's views and wisdown on life after fifty | 10/16/2008 |
| Q: A beautiful Sunny Hello from South Africa. Someone was telling me about what life is like after the ... A: I'm sorry, I'm going to have to disappoint you - I don't know of any such comment. As I approach 60 ... | |
| answering big questions | 10/15/2008 |
| Q: I have been asked a question by a work colleague who is teaching a very rudimentary intro to ... A: The problem starts with the word "creation", which rather suggests that things were created by a ... | |
| Tibetan Buddhism | 10/11/2008 |
| Q: How is a service at a Tibetan Buddhist Center followed? How long is the service? A: You have asked a good, straigtforward question. Unfortunately it does not have a straightforward ... | |
| Five aggregates | 9/17/2008 |
| Q: my name is Mose and I am trying to practicing Mahayana Buddhism in the Tibetan tradition. With ... A: Good question! I think the two statements are on different levels. The first is made from a narrow ... | |
| Buddhists and relatives | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: My girlfriend of 7 years just left me for her 1st cousin,she says they were meant to be together ... A: I hope you find some of the closure you seek. My own experience has been that love is quite ... | |
| Buddhists and relatives | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: My girlfriend of 7 years just left me for her 1st cousin,she says they were meant to be together ... A: Marriage is not a matter with which Buddhism is closely concerned - it is more a matter for the ... | |
| Reincarnation | 9/2/2008 |
| Q: im at the moment leaving in Melbourne and migrated from Sri lanka.Iam abuddist.and planning to get ... A: I think the big difficulty with these things is that you can make any interpretation you like. The ... | |
| Buddhism | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: How did Buddhism get its start and how has it changed over the years? A: Buddhism is huge - sometimes it seems like more of a whole civilization than just a religion. Its ... | |
| Reincarnation | 9/1/2008 |
| Q: im at the moment leaving in Melbourne and migrated from Sri lanka.Iam abuddist.and planning to get ... A: The fact is that different schools of Buddhism have different ideas on this. Some say that it is ... | |
| Buddhism | 8/30/2008 |
| Q: back in the first civilizations why were the lower castes more likely to covert to Buddhism? What ... A: Surprisingly little is known about beliefs in India 2500 years ago. There are documents that show ... | |
| Buddhism | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: What are the origins and diffusion of Buddhism? A: It began in India, probably about 500 or 600 BCE (opinions differ). At one time it was widespread ... | |
| Hinduism and Buddhist history | 8/29/2008 |
| Q: I know that Hinduism and Buddhism started around the same time. Are there any similarities between ... A: Yes, though I'm not completely sure about your comment that they started around the same time. India ... | |
| Buddhism and Hinduism | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: What are some of the main differences among Hinduism and Buddhism? A: Some Hindus see Buddhism as part of Hinduism. Buddhists generally don't. One reason is that ... | |
| Buddhism | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: How do Buddhist worship their gods, and what do they believe happens to them after life? A: Buddhists do not have gods in the sense of powerful beings who will (or may) look after them, though ... | |
| Buddhism | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: How has Buddhism changed since it was originally created? What does one have to do to be able to go ... A: Buddhism has spread over several civilizations, so asking about the changes will take you into a ... | |
| overview | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: Where may I find a brief summary of the paths and other important writings? Thanks in advance! A: Well it depends on which tradition you are interested in, but you could do worse than start at: ... | |
| Do you think that life is just a dream? | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: -Do you think or believe that your life is only just a dream? Do you believe your present life is ... A: Buddhism teaches that while it is very definitely wrong to say that nothing exists at all, ... | |
| Buddist Retreats for Grief Contemplation | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: I hope you don't mind if I send you the same question that I am asking of another expert here. I'm ... A: I take it you hope that I can advise you on where would be a good place. Unfortunately I've only ... | |
| Buddhist Marriage | 8/25/2008 |
| Q: Is Buddhist marriage ritualized? and if so what are the origins of this tradition/ritual? A: The short answer is no. Of course, Buddhism has existed in cultures with real people, and it has ... | |
| Do you think that life is just a dream? | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: -Do you think or believe that your life is only just a dream? Do you believe your present life is ... A: > Do you think or believe that your life is only just a dream? No. It is like a dream, but not quite ... | |
| disrespect toward buddhism | 8/20/2008 |
| Q: my wife and i have several statues of Buddha in our home... we recently rented our home for vacation ... A: Who would do that? I have, of course, no idea. If I, however, were to let my home out, even to ... | |
| Consciousness Question 2 | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: I want to follow up on your last response to "Consciousness Quesion. " I have been advised that I ... A: You say "I don’t think it is ok. If one believes in something that is false..." If I remember ... | |
| Consciousness Question | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: I have read from Buddhist literature that when a person passes away the stream of consciousness from ... A: I think you have put it very clearly - there are lots and lots and lots of views out there. Even ... | |
| Does the reality exist? | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: I have read article from some website...and I have some issue concerning the existence of science ... A: 1.Does buddlism believe in afterlife? Yes Does everyone has a different afterlife of their own? Of ... | |
| Consciousness Question | 8/16/2008 |
| Q: I have read from Buddhist literature that when a person passes away the stream of consciousness from ... A: I have not myself seen any suggestion that "consciousness cannot think or reason outside of a body", ... | |
| Follow up to Forgiveness | 8/6/2008 |
| Q: Do Buddhists believe in the same usage/meaning of the word "Forgive" as Christian religious groups ... A: Perhaps I didn't express that well. What I was trying to do was distinguish natural from ... | |
| concentration | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: how could i achieve the such concentration so that i will able to burn the candle with my eyes ... A: You have to become practically fully enlightened before you get that kind of power, according to the ... | |
| Forgiveness | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: Do Buddhists believe in the same usage/meaning of the word "Forgive" as Christian religious groups ... A: Interesting. Certainly Buddhists are taught to have love and compassion for those who have done them ... | |
| Does the reality exist? | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I have read article from some website...and I have some issue concerning the existence of science ... A: Your question is far too long and involved for the time I have available for doing this. If you have ... | |
| Buddhism and Depression and Kagyu | 7/25/2008 |
| Q: Apologies in advance, my question is two-fold each of which is a non-sequitur to the other. Firstly, ... A: Yes, I think you have stated a typical Buddhist position quite clearly, but you have described a ... | |
| Shadow (dark) entities | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm writing a book on a dark paranormal entity called a Shadow Person. This entity is usually ... A: Tibetan Buddhism is rich in dark, threatening entities. The teaching is that although they really do ... | |
| taking refuge | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I have been interested in Buddhism since I was about ten years old. Since that time I have not ... A: No, it was cut of in the first view, but not if clicked on. As to this question - some say it's ... | |
| taking refuge | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I have been interested in Buddhism since I was about ten years old. Since that time I have not ... A: Hmm, I feel for you. What can I say? Welcome to the real world! (Or does that sound too cynical?) ... | |
| I'd wish to know whether what I wrote is OK or not | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: At a forum of the Discovery Channel's Canadian site, ... A: You ask: > The part where I relate the Tibetan Book of > Deads with the new theories in Physics is > ... | |
| Buddhism | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: having not been christened or baptised as a child (parents wanted us to be able to choose our own ... A: Your question is a good one, but of course very open. Where to begin? At some point you will want to ... | |
| Worship Place | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: What does your selected place of worship look like? A: It was once a very large but otherwise ordinary house. It has been converted to have a number of ... | |
| buddhism | 6/26/2008 |
| Q: can buddhists get married? A: Of course they can! Monks and nuns can't, of course, by definition. But otherwise yes. There is a ... | |
| sociology ethnography | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I am currently a high school senior currently taking Sociology. For this class, I was assigned to ... A: Well yes, but I don't know if I count - I am a long-standing Buddhist, it is true, but I am entirely ... | |
| Looking for an Important Buddhist | 5/13/2008 |
| Q: I am a professor of meteorology and geology at a local college in Maryland near Washington, D.C. ... A: Fascinating, but I think you will be lucky to identify this person. It is likely that "the person ... | |
| Buddhist Culture | 5/8/2008 |
| Q: im doing a research paper on the Buddhist culture. Ive read some of the other Q&A's on this website ... A: Just a small point to get it out of the way - there are not many Buddhists at all in the Middle East ... | |
| Purification practice | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: my name is Mose, I have been studying/practicing Teachings from the Gelug school and from the ... A: > I am reading also a commentary on > Shenpel Osel magazine written by > Thrangu Rinpoche Yes, I ... | |
| Buddhist Culture | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: im doing a research paper on the Buddhist culture. Ive read some of the other Q&A's on this website ... A: Yes, it is ok with me, but the question is still very, very broad! The reason is in your question ... | |
| Buddhist Culture | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: im doing a research paper on the Buddhist culture. Ive read some of the other Q&A's on this website ... A: Perhaps you are finding this difficult because you are asking a question that is too big! Buddhism ... | |
| Purification practice | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: my name is Mose, I have been studying/practicing Teachings from the Gelug school and from the ... A: It is often said that these deities are ultimately equivalent, so we can have confidence in either ... | |
| Ambition and Buddhism | 5/1/2008 |
| Q: I am a young adult who has studied Buddhism since High School. I have had a particular reoccurring ... A: They say that often a problem is halfway solved as soon as it is properly identified, and I think ... | |
| Lighted experience | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: I started meditating a month ago to achieve a calm n peacefl mind and nowadays I will always see ... A: The teachings are very clear about how to react to this kind of thing. There are two points: 1) Be ... | |
| Materialism & Partnership | 4/19/2008 |
| Q: I feel in a bit of a pickle about my beliefs in relation to my partner. He is very materialistic and ... A: Your situation does sound difficult. Of course, your message only gives a tiny insight into your ... | |
| Prayer Hands | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: Can you tell me how a Buddhist would hold their hands during prayer? For example what would be the ... A: Some Buddhist practices use a wide range of gestures to express various parts of the ritual, such as ... | |
| confusion | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: Please can you help me out. I have recently been reading stuff about buddhism and it makes more ... A: Well the NKT question is troubling, there is no doubt! I'll begin with an obvious point - Buddhism ... | |
| New Buddhist... Looking to see where I might fit in... | 4/2/2008 |
| Q: .. I'm new to the NYC area and have long wanted to begin practicing Buddhism but don't really know ... A: Well first of all, welcome to the club, but your question suggests to me that your problem will be ... | |
| Selecting New Dalai Lama | 3/29/2008 |
| Q: What is the procedure for choosing a new Dalai Lama, when the current one dies? thank you! A: An excellent question! There is no simple answer. In the past, high lamas from his "school", the ... | |
| Meat | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: Is it alright to eat meat? If so, what type of meat? ANSWER: Hi Henry, Not all Buddhists by any ... A: I think the "bad karma" depends on your mind. If you don't care about animal suffering, happily and ... | |
| Meat | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: Is it alright to eat meat? If so, what type of meat? A: Not all Buddhists by any means are vegetarian, but vegetarianism is highly admired. I think you have ... | |
| How was earth made | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: In the Buddhist view how was earth and life created? A: They appeared gradually over countless ages as a result of the combined actions of limitless beings ... | |
| selection | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: From reading the Dalai Lama's books and now Nagarjuna's Precious Garland, I have some knowledge of ... A: > reading the Dalai Lama's books and now > Nagarjuna's Precious Garland Ooh, well done! > I have ... | |
| Conditioned arising | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: My question is that i dont understand that a self or soul force can be truly empty. Dose ... A: I think it might help to remember two things: Buddhism does not say that you have a self that is ... | |
| Religous Piece | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: On a recent trip to Southeast China I purchased an antique piece that I was told was used by Budhist ... A: It sounds fascinating, but for the life of me I don't know what it is. A picture, of course, would ... | |
| Questions for School | 3/9/2008 |
| Q: I'm also supposed to interview Buddhist for a school assignment. If you have a chance, can you ... A: 1.) Do you feel that the majority of people in today's world who do not practice Buddhism have a ... | |
| pali question | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: i'm engaged in what's proving to be a difficult challenge. i'm trying to find various pali scripts ... A: I'm sorry, Pali is not my field. Perhaps you could try searching for someone, but include ... | |
| about buddha | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: why does buddha claim that there is no self? A: The teaching is not that there is no self in any possible sense of the word, but that there is no ... | |
| Buddhism | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I'm a highschool student studying different world religions, and I wondered if you could answer some ... A: A lot of homework questions seem to be coming in at the moment, so forgive me if I am fairly brief! ... | |
| Reincarnation, Meditation, Social Intergration | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: 1). What exactly is the point of reincarnation? I've heard various explanations but what is your ... A: For what my answers may be worth: 1). What exactly is the point of reincarnation? I've heard ... | |
| Questions on Buddhism | 2/25/2008 |
| Q: I'm very curious to see what Buddhism achieves for its followers, any help answering these questions ... A: As a follower of Buddhism what, if any, daily routines or practices do you take part in? I have a ... | |
| A few questions | 2/23/2008 |
| Q: My name is Emily and I'm a high schooler from Massachusetts, USA. I'm currently taking a course ... A: I hope these answers might help you a bit: Were you born into Buddhism? If not what made you decide ... | |
| Some Buddhism questions | 2/21/2008 |
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Buddhists
Answers by Expert:
Alex Wilding
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life. I am also available to provide background information for journalists.
Experience
I have been a practitioner since the early 1970s; have run a small Buddhist centre in the English Midlands and was vice-president of Kagyu Benchen Ling e.V. in Germany, for whom I managed three large Buddhist summer-camps. More importantly, I maintain a habit of personal practice.
I am the "owner" of the Kagyu list at Yahoo.
Education/Credentials
My first degree was an M.A. from Oxford. I later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree for a research thesis in "Initiation in Tibetan Buddhism" from Leicester University. I also have engineering and educational qualifications.
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