BUDDHISM

Theory

What are the fundamental differences between Western and Eastern philosophy?

One prominent distinction between Eastern and Western philosophy lies in the approach to cognition: while Western philosophy relies on the senses, Eastern philosophy emphasizes the cessation of the senses for transcendent cognition.

The path of spiritual practice is often accompanied by hardships

We often wish each other “May you be filled with Dharma joy,” but it may not come swiftly. Conversely, “Dharma suffering” remains a constant companion on our journey.

The Interrelationships Among the Bodhisattva’s Six Pāramitās (PART 1)

If we seek liberation and aspire to become a true bodhisattva—or ultimately a Buddha—we must cultivate these six practices. By training in the first five, we lay the conditions for the arising of prajñā.

Can one truly find liberation through online spiritual workshops?

These workshops and courses might give you a temporary feel-good boost, but they are not the same as true liberation.

How Sincere Are the Vows You Have Made?

All Dharma practice is fundamentally for the cultivation of the mind, and it begins with a choice: to become a Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings.

It is difficult to fully and deeply understand the world through technology

Due to the limitations of the cognitive tools and the incomplete logical parameters, we are limited in our ability to draw comprehensive conclusions about the material world.

No matter how advanced the tools are, they can never replace the humans

Because the essence of cognition still falls within the domain of the human six-sense organs, it is difficult to bring about a fundamental shift in the results of human cognition.

Why We Fail To Cultivate Forbearance?

As Master Hanshan observed, practice requires great resolve, great diligence, and great forbearance. This, and this alone, is what genuine “mind cultivation” truly means.

Why an Arhat’s Four Immeasurables Are Not Bodhicitta?

As for the Arhat, since the Four Immeasurables are not equivalent to the Bodhisattva’s conventional bodhicitta, Arhats lack the intense aspiration and clear vision to lead all beings to Buddhahood.

The True“Lying Flat” Turns Out to Be a Dzogchen Pith Instruction？

In fact, the practice of Dzogchen is exactly like this: when the nature of non-doing is recognized, although nothing is done, nothing can go wrong.

Why are humans the ruler of the Earth?

Faith-based cognition, thinking-based cognition, and logical cognition are prerequisites for human beings to pursue the truth.

What is Thinking-based cognition？

Thinking-based cognition is the conclusion that humans draw from their sense organs and mental consciousness through coarse thinking.

What is logical cognition?

To deny that mathematics is the foundation of science is to deny all of the existing cognitive methods of mankind.

What is faith-based cognition?

Grounded in cultural traditions or religious doctrines, faith-based cognitions offer personal lenses through which humans interpret reality.

Do we really share a common world?

Yogacara does not acknowledge the inherent existence of matter, but we do the opposite way.Spiritual practice aims to change these misconceptions.

Why is Buddhism the only Philosophical System that is Logically Self-Consistent?

therefore, once these two forms of grasping are removed, cognition naturally becomes complete—resulting in the omniscience of a Buddha

Three Essential Qualities for a Buddhist Practitioner

A Buddhist practitioner should have three qualities: A broad-minded disposition,A spirit of self-sacrifice and Perseverance—the resolve to carry through to the end.

Manipulating Others like Zhen Huan, or Mastering Yourself like a Bodhisattva?

What, then, occupies the mind of a Bodhisattva? Their victory lies solely in the awakening and realization of sentient beings.

What is direct valid cognition？

The objects of the first five-sense consciousnesses all belong to the nature realm. If the organs are healthy, the results of perception are direct and valid.

What are the cognitive objects and results of mental consciousness ?

The results of cognition fall into three categories: direct valid perception (what you perceive is what it is), inferential valid perception (derived from logical reasoning), and non-valid perception (arising from logical fallacies or mental constructs).

The fundamental cognitive approaches that humans use to perceive the world

Beneath every human action, cognition reigns as the hidden king. By learning to navigate this inner landscape, we can attain liberation and uncover the ultimate truth.

Why Do We Feel a Sense of Scarcity?

If one can relinquish the dualistic cognitive habit dominated by grasping at a personal self, the mind will naturally abide in non-attached joy and effortless freedom

Does cognition itself have essence?

If Materialism were to acknowledge that cognition itself has an essence, in that curious scenario, then Buddhist practice methods and principles in physics would even start echoing each other.

The different cognitive approaches of Mere Emptiness and Dzogchen

It is clear that the cognitive approach is extremely important. Our spiritual practice lies in honing our cognition.

"Cognizer" and "Cognized"

"cognizer" refers to sentient consciousness,and "cognized'' refers to the objects of the mind.

The differences between Buddhist Yogacara and secular philosophical idealism

The mind explored in Buddhism encompasses aspects unaddressed by secular philosophy, such as Alayavijnana, the base consciousness, an important aspect of the mind in Buddhism.

Is Your View of Karma Designed for Others?

All of our internal thoughts and bodily external actions — body, speech, and mind—affect our future and bring about corresponding results.

What, for an individual being, is the greatest form of suffering?

Therefore, for every sentient being, the greatest suffering is not death itself, but failing to recognize the nature of mind, failing to understand the three Mahāyāna views, and not knowing the true nature of life.

What impact does materialism have on modern society?

A completely materialistic person who deeply and comprehensively believes in the survival of the fittest will behave in a very terrifying way.

Could AI ever think like us？

If AI could have human-like innate cognitive abilities, it would shake up the very core of Buddhist teachings, maybe even rewrite them entirely

Tibetan Buddhism

This part explains the four lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, their theories and practice methods.

Chinese Buddhism

This part explains the eight schools of Chinese Buddhism.

Introduction to Buddhism

This part gives an overview of Buddhism.

Why is Buddhism not PUA (Pick-Up Artist)?

Buddhism is not PUA because it is open to discussion and debate

What is cognition?

Can AI cognize? No, it cannot

The Introduction to Worldview

Worldview refers to our ideas and cognition of the world. That how we view the world is twofold: what do we use to view and how do we view? They are different. understanding the worldview is a crucial question because it has a tremendous impact on every aspect of our life.

Three Common Worldviews

This part explains the three non-Buddhist worldviews: Materialism, Objective Idealism, Subjective Idealism.

Differences In The Two Observational Methods

Why do we have so many different worldviews today? This has something to do with the different ways we use to observe the world. The East and the West observe the world in different manners and from different perspectives. We thus have different categories of philosophy. They share similarities, while there are huge differences between them.

The Impact of Materialism

Many regard Materialism as the mainstream, correct worldview. However, materialists cannot, both theoretically and in practice, prove their statement of “matter is the fundamental substance of the world in nature, and that spirit is the result of material interactions.” It is just a hypothesis. There has not been a single mathematical formula or physics equation out there that came to the conclusion that the world is made up of matter. This hypothesis cannot be proved by the direct valid cognition.

The Impact of Objective Idealism

Objective materialism does have a positive impact on our life and society. Nonetheless, it can never experience the happiness that emerges from the course of searching for the nature of mind or the ultimate liberation.

Buddhism Is More Than A Spiritual Comfort Zone

Buddhism is more than burning the incense or saying your prayers. You cannot just offer two bananas to the Buddha, and then ask for a luxury car in return; or after you make your offerings, you thought that the undesired would not come to bother you at all; or after you commit sin, you can clear it out just by merely making your confession to the Buddha;

Buddhist Worldview

The Buddhist worldview is multifold. There are the stages of path and the ultimate one, including the Theravada, Cittamatra(the Mind Only), Makhyama (the Middle Way), the Great Completion, and so on.

Why are you not created by God? Neither is the world?

Buddhism states that the mind changes as well, so it does not stand up for the tag of "one"; this is exactly why it transforms. This is how Buddhism views the universe. If there is an inherent "one" out there independent of the mind, no matter if it is the spirit or matter, as long as it remains unchanged, there is no way that it could interact with us at all. Logically and cognitively, it does not make any sense.

Yes, There Is Rebirth

If one fails to eliminate attachment and ego-clinging and to attain Arahatship, afflictions and habitual tendencies stemming from the notion of "I" and "mine" are connected to the mind that functions at the moment of death, which will inevitably bring forth the mind that causes the next transmigratory existence to happen.

Buddhism Is Not Subjective Idealism

Buddhism cannot be regarded as one of the three categories at all, because they are not inclusive enough. To make a further clarification, Buddhism is not even a religion, nor a science, nor a culture, nor an art, nor a philosophy. It has nothing to do with politics either.

The Importance of Contemplation

Practice

How should we practice in the present moment?

Instead, our primary focus is on gradual cultivation, a process of accumulating insights that lead to heightened spiritual experiences. Through extensive meditation, these experiences gradually evolve into relatively stable states. These stable states are then dismantled one by one, ultimately leading to no more stage.

Problems encountered during a seven-day meditation retreat and their solutions

When you feel uncomfortable while meditating,what should you do? The key is to learn to adjust by taking a break and relaxing

What is our practice about?

Dzogche says: “All experiences and feelings will vanish like clouds drifting across the sky,” leaving behind only the pure awareness of the mind. Seeing it is what we call realization or awakening.

How Is Inner Quality Developed Through Practice?

With the continued cultivation of bodhicitta, one gradually discovers oneself becoming gentler, and both body and mind grow more supple and open. As a result, one quickly accumulates merit and purifies obscurations, and one’s practice advances accordingly.

How can we expand sensory perception through technology?

Humans have expanded the range of their sensory perception through the use of physical tools brought forth by the development of scientific technology, such as telescopes, microscopes, sonar, and so on.

Four Stages of Madhyamaka Practice

The First Stage: Consider All Phenomena are Empty in Nature The Second Stage: Consider Emptiness is Phenomena The Third Stage: Considers Dependent Origination as the Absence of Mental Fabrications The Fourth Stage: Consider Free of Mental Fabrications as Equipoise-nature