If you could ask the Buddha one question

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
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No_Mind
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If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by No_Mind »

It is a rainy night and you are driving back home from work. On your way back home you see a man in ochre robes, a Theravadin monk, walking down the street (not exactly walking .. sort of gliding)

You slow down .. roll down the car window

"Bhante, can I give you a ride somewhere"

The monk smiles and slides in through the open door .. his movements are fluid and agile .. he seems to move yet stay still

You start the car and shift it into gear. After a mile you glance at your co-passenger .. he is calmly watching the road .. a slight smile hovers around the corner of his lips .. and it dawns on you why he looks so familiar .. he is the Buddha!!

You gasp .. and hit the brakes .. the car skids a bit and comes to a halt

anyway to make a long story short ..

Lord Buddha offers to answer one question you have about Dhamma, one thing you always wanted to know .. only one question (you are not allowed to ask him a clarifying second question) and it cannot have a yes/no answer (you cannot ask him is there a soul yes/no) or it cannot ask for a long description from him .. not ask for a whole new sutta (if we do not have a soul how are we reborn)

What would you ask Him?

:namaste:
Last edited by No_Mind on Wed Mar 07, 2018 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
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No_Mind
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by No_Mind »

I would hand him the untranslated Pali Canon and ask him in which sequence he told the suttas

Which came first, second, third .. so on .. till about 12,000 or more.

If any are missing he would say nth one is missing .. e.g. 412th one is missing (but not tell me what that sutta was about)

:namaste:
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
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DNS
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by DNS »

I'd show him the Pali Canon, the Agamas and ask which ones are authentic which one are not. Or which tradition/school has got it mostly correct. Hopefully I wouldn't mess it up like Homer:

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No_Mind
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by No_Mind »

DNS wrote: Wed Mar 07, 2018 5:03 pm I'd show him the Pali Canon, the Agamas and ask which ones are authentic which one are not. Or which tradition/school has got it mostly correct. Hopefully I wouldn't mess it up like Homer:
I thought of that but then thought the ones he did not call out in series are the ones that are later additions .. e.g. assuming there are 12,500 suttas and he calls out 8,368 .. the rest 4,132 are later additions

:namaste:
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
Disciple
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by Disciple »

I would ask him what he thinks about the Mahayana and Vajrayana.
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SDC
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by SDC »

"So wait...if my blood alcohol level is less than .08, did I or did I not violate the fifth percept? Inquiring minds want to know. Wait...one more...porn isn't sexual misconduct right? Right? It's not listed. So it's cool? Yes? Just trying to toe the line, Sid. You know what I'm saying, right? Wanna get a coffee or something? Wait, where you going? Wait don't leave! I'M A GOOD BUDDHIST! I HAVE HARD COPIES OF THE NIKAYAS!"

:|
“Life is swept along, short is the life span; no shelters exist for one who has reached old age. Seeing clearly this danger in death, a seeker of peace should drop the world’s bait.” SN 1.3
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aflatun
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by aflatun »

SDC wrote: Wed Mar 07, 2018 6:11 pm "So wait...if my blood alcohol level is less than .08, did I or did I not violate the fifth percept? Inquiring minds want to know. Wait...one more...porn isn't sexual misconduct right? Right? It's not listed. So it's cool? Yes? Just trying to toe the line, Sid. You know what I'm saying, right? Wanna get a coffee or something? Wait, where you going? Wait don't leave! I'M A GOOD BUDDHIST! I HAVE HARD COPIES OF THE NIKAYAS!"

:|

:rofl:
"People often get too quick to say 'there's no self. There's no self...no self...no self.' There is self, there is focal point, its not yours. That's what not self is."

Ninoslav Ñāṇamoli
Senses and the Thought-1, 42:53

"Those who create constructs about the Buddha,
Who is beyond construction and without exhaustion,
Are thereby damaged by their constructs;
They fail to see the Thus-Gone.

That which is the nature of the Thus-Gone
Is also the nature of this world.
There is no nature of the Thus-Gone.
There is no nature of the world."

Nagarjuna
MMK XXII.15-16
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Veer-Zinda
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by Veer-Zinda »

I'd ask for an ELI5 on how rebirth works. The whole concept still baffles me, no matter how many candle and mango tree analogies I'm given :shrug:
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool." - Richard Feynman
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JamesTheGiant
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by JamesTheGiant »

I'd ask "What's the very best teaching to suit me?" Because he can read minds he'd look at my mind and tell me the absolute perfect teaching to fit my mind and personality. And I'd get enlightened there and then!
thepea
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by thepea »

Boxers or briefs?
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by Spiny Norman »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Mar 07, 2018 4:18 pm What would you ask Him?
What happens when you die?
Buddha save me from new-agers!
Upeksha
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by Upeksha »

"Can you please accept all of my being which I offer to you?"
justindesilva
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by justindesilva »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Mar 07, 2018 4:18 pm It is a rainy night and you are driving back home from work. On your way back home you see a man in ochre robes, a Theravadin monk, walking down the street (not exactly walking .. sort of gliding)

You slow down .. roll down the car window

"Bhante, can I give you a ride somewhere"

The monk smiles and slides in through the open door .. his movements are fluid and agile .. he seems to move yet stay still

You start the car and shift it into gear. After a mile you glance at your co-passenger .. he is calmly watching the road .. a slight smile hovers around the corner of his lips .. and it dawns on you why he looks so familiar .. he is the Buddha!!

You gasp .. and hit the brakes .. the car skids a bit and comes to a halt

anyway to make a long story short ..

Lord Buddha offers to answer one question you have about Dhamma, one thing you always wanted to know .. only one question (you are not allowed to ask him a clarifying second question) and it cannot have a yes/no answer (you cannot ask him is there a soul yes/no) or it cannot ask for a long description from him .. not ask for a whole new sutta (if we do not have a soul how are we reborn)

What would you ask Him?

:namaste:
Well I will ask him whether I have a question to ask him;
because I am so baffled about the questions raised by the buddhists today.
binocular
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by binocular »

No_Mind wrote: Wed Mar 07, 2018 4:18 pmLord Buddha offers to answer one question you have about Dhamma, one thing you always wanted to know .. only one question (you are not allowed to ask him a clarifying second question) and it cannot have a yes/no answer (you cannot ask him is there a soul yes/no) or it cannot ask for a long description from him .. not ask for a whole new sutta (if we do not have a soul how are we reborn)

What would you ask Him?
Under those terms od engagement, I would not ask him any questions, or even just have any conversation with him, because I reject those terms of engagement.
I don't think the Buddha would set such terms of engagament.
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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JamesTheGiant
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Re: If you could ask the Buddha one question

Post by JamesTheGiant »

binocular wrote: Fri Mar 09, 2018 6:36 pm Under those terms od engagement, I would not ask him any questions, or even just have any conversation with him, because I reject those terms of engagement.
I don't think the Buddha would set such terms of engagament.
Of course he would not. This is just a thought-experiment, on an internet forum.
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