Good Questions, Good Answers on Buddhism

1. What is Buddhism?
2. So Buddhism is just a philosophy?
3. Who was the Buddha?
4. The Buddha is dead so how can he help us?
5. Was the Buddha a god?
6. If the Buddha is not a god, then why do people worship him?
7. But I have heard people say that Buddhists worship idols.
8. Why do people burn paper money and do all kinds of strange things in Buddhist temples?
9. If Buddhism is so good why are some Buddhist countries poor?
10. Why is it that you dont often hear of charitable work being done by Buddhists?
11. Why are there so many different types of Buddhism?
12. I suppose you think your religion is right and all others are wrong.
13. Is Buddhism scientific?
14. What are the main teachings of the Buddha?
15. What is the First Noble Truth?
16. Isnt this a bit pessimistic?
17. What is the Second Noble Truth?
18. But how does wanting and craving lead to physical suffering?
19. If we stop wanting altogether, we would never achieve anything.
20. What is the Third Noble Truth?
21. What or where is Nirvana?
22. But is there proof that such a dimension exist?
23. What is the Fourth Noble Truth?
24. Nearly all religions have some kind of holy writings or Bible. What is the Buddhist holy book?
25. What does the name Tipitaka mean?
26. If the scriptures were memorised for so long - are they reliable?
27. How important are the scriptures to Buddhists?
28. Before you mentioned the Dhammapada. What is it?
29. Ive been told that you should never put a scriptural book on the floor?
30. I find it difficult to read the scriptures - they are long and repetitious?
31. What is the purpose of monks and nuns and what are they supposed to do?
32. What kind of person becomes a monk or a nun?
33. Do you have to be a monk or a nun to become enlightened?
34. Why do Buddhist monks and nuns wear a yellow robe?
35. Becoming a monk is all very well but what would happen if everyone became a monk?
36. What good do they do to the community?
37. I have heard that there are no more Buddhist nuns. Is this true?
38. Where do beings come from and where are they going?
39. How does the mind go from one body to another?
40. Is one always reborn as a human being?
41. What decides where we will be reborn?
42. So if our lives are determined by our karma, can we change it?
43. You have talked a lot about rebirth but is there any proof that we will be reborn when we die?
44. You say that talk about devils is superstitious. Isnt talk about rebirth a bit superstitious too?
45. Well, have there ever been any scientists who believe in rebirth?
46. What is meditation?
47. Is meditation important?
48. I have heard that meditation can be dangerous. Is this true?
49. How many types of meditation are there?
50. How do you practise Mindfulness of Breathing?
51. How long should I meditate for?
52. What about Loving Kindness Meditation? How is that practised?
53. What is the benefit of doing this type of meditation?
54. How is that possible?
55. Do I need a teacher to teach me meditation?
56. I have heard that meditation is widely used today by psychiatrists and psychologists. Is this true?
57. Buddhists should be vegetarians, shouldn’t they?
58. If you eat meat you are indirectly responsible the death of a creature?
59. Mahayana Buddhists don’t eat meat
60. But I still think that a Buddhist should be vegetarian.
61. The person who was honest and kind.
62. Because such a person obviously has a good heart.
63. What did the Buddha teach about magic and fortune telling?
64. Then why do people sometimes practise such things and believe in them?
65. But some lucky charms do work, don’t they?
66. Then is there such a thing as luck?
67. What do the terms wisdom and compassion mean in Buddhism?
68. So what, according to Buddhism, is wisdom?
69. What is the point of Buddhism if only a few can practice it?
70. What, according to Buddhism, is compassion?
71. Isn’t it selfish to say that we are best able to help others after we have helped ourselves.
72. Do Buddhist believe in god?
73. But if there are no gods how did the universe get here?
74. What does the Buddha say about the origin of the universe?
75. You say there is no evidence for the existence of a god. But what about miracles?
76. But so many people believe in some form of god, it must be true.
77. So if Buddhists don’t believe in gods, what do you believe in?
78. Buddhists dont believe in a god, how do you know right from wrong
79. So does Buddhism have a code of morality?
80. But surely it is good to kill sometimes, eg disease-spreading insects?
81. You Buddhists are too concerned about ants and bugs?
82. The Third Precept says we should avoid sexual misconduct. What is Sexul misconduct?
83. Is sex before marriage a type a sexual misconduct?
84. But what about lying? Is it possible to live without telling lies?
85. Well, what about alcohol? Surely a little drink doesnt hurt?
86. Drinking a small amount wouldnt be really breaking the precept?
87. The five precepts are negative. They dont tell you what to do?
88. How do I become a Buddhist?
89. If Ive done this and find the Teaching acceptable, what do I do to become a Buddhist?
90. What are the Three Refuges?
91. What changes have taken place in your life since you first took the three refuges?
92. Im being pressured by a friend to convert to a religion. What should I do?
93. But he says he wants to share his religion with me.
94. So how can I stop him?
95. Should Buddhists try to share the Dhamma with others?