The zenith (uparimàdisà) is the highest point the sun reaches in the sky or more generally, the upward direction. The English word comes from the Arabic samt ur ras meaning `the way up.' In popular imagination upwards has always been associated with either divine beings or the stars, both of which abide in the heavens and, some people believe, influence human destiny. The Buddha`s teaching of self-enlightenment made God and the gods redundant, and his teaching of kamma showed astrology to be false. Once, a wandering female ascetic saw Sàriputta eating his meal after having gone alms gathering. She asked him whether he looked in any of the six directions while he was eating, and he replied that he did not. He then explained what he meant by `not looking in any direction.' Concerning the zenith he said: `Those monks and priests who earn their living by practising that base art, that wrong means of livelihood called astrology, can be said to eat looking upwards.' He then added: `I do not earn my living in such wrong ways. I get my food righteously and then eat it righteously.' So impressed by this was the female ascetic that `she went from street to street, from square to square' in the city praising the Buddha's disciples (S.III,239). See Astrology.
FAQs
What are the answers to the Eightfold Path? ›
In brief, the eight elements of the path are: (1) correct view, an accurate understanding of the nature of things, specifically the Four Noble Truths, (2) correct intention, avoiding thoughts of attachment, hatred, and harmful intent, (3) correct speech, refraining from verbal misdeeds such as lying, divisive speech, ...
What are the 14 unanswered questions in Buddhism? ›- The universe is eternal.
- The universe is not eternal.
- The universe is finite.
- The universe is infinite.
- After death, a Buddha continues to exist.
- After death, a Buddha does not continue to exist.
- After death, a Buddha both continues to exist and not to exist.
Buddhist morality is codified in the form of 10 precepts (dasa-sīla), which require abstention from: (1) taking life; (2) taking what is not given; (3) committing sexual misconduct (interpreted as anything less than chastity for the monk and as sexual conduct contrary to proper social norms, such as adultery, for the ...
What do Buddhists believe about Jesus? ›Some high level Buddhists have drawn analogies between Jesus and Buddhism, e.g. in 2001 the Dalai Lama stated that "Jesus Christ also lived previous lives", and added that "So, you see, he reached a high state, either as a Bodhisattva, or an enlightened person, through Buddhist practice or something like that." ...
What are the 8 steps of the eightfold path? ›According to the Buddha, this consists of Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
What are the 4 noble truths and 8 fold path? ›What are the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path? Buddhism believes in Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. These truths are the Truth of Suffering, The Truth of the Cause of Suffering, The Truth of the End of Suffering, and The Truth of the Path that Leads to the End of Suffering, also known as the Eightfold Path.
What is the hardest question in Buddhism? ›- The world is eternal.
- The world is not eternal.
- The world is (spatially) infinite.
- The world is not (spatially) infinite.
- The being imbued with a life force is identical with the body.
Understanding Fear
As you know, in Buddhism there are three unwholesome roots in the mind that cause suffering: greed, aversion, and delusion.
Four Questions the Buddha Would NOT Answer and Why: Is the Cosmos Finite in Space?; Is the Universe Finite in Time?; Is the Self Different From Body?; Does the Buddha Exist After Death?
What is the golden rule of Buddhism? ›Buddhism: “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others” (The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18 – 6th century BC). Confucianism: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” (Confucius, Analects 15.23 – 5th century BC).
What are the 5 don'ts of Buddhism? ›
They constitute the basic code of ethics to be respected by lay followers of Buddhism. The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication.
Can Buddhists drink alcohol? ›Buddhism teaches that drinking or using other kinds of drugs can cause carelessness and should be avoided, and strong Buddhist beliefs would be expected to have a significant impact on alcohol use.
What does the Bible say about Buddha? ›The Bible doesn't specifically mention the Buddha anywhere. However, his teachings are not contradictory to what Jesus taught. They have a different environment, different time and followers with different mindsets, so they used different ways of teaching, but their message is the same.
What do Buddhists believe happens after death? ›Buddhists believe that nothing that exists is permanent and everything will ultimately cease to be. There is a belief in rebirth but not of a soul passing from one body to another. The rebirth is more a state of constantly changing being rather than a clear-cut reincarnation.
Do Buddhists believe in heaven? ›Buddhist scriptures also identify various heaven- and hell-like realms—sometimes considered to be states created by the mind—where we may take rebirth. Secular Western Buddhists, however, do not believe in rebirth.
What is the 8 fold path with reference to the Buddhism answer? ›The Eight fold path was preached by Buddha for eliminating desires. This is also called the middle path. It included - Right (1) Action, (2) Speech, (3) Vision, (4) Livelihood, (5) Effort, (6) Recollection, (7) Resolve, (8) Thought.
What is the right thought of the 8 fold path? ›Right Intention (Right Thought)
While this means several different things, it is essentially asking you to turn away from the vicious cycle of craving and desire by committing to a lifestyle of self-improvement and ethical conduct. In this, the commitment to a life of heedfulness, Buddha finds the seeds of happiness.
The Buddha found that the path to awakening was through mindfulness. Mindfulness asks us to turn towards and look at the mind, rather than ignore it or concentrate our thoughts away. Mindfulness reveals the impersonal and impersonal nature of our human experience.
