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Questions & Answers

Basic Dhamma Questions and Answers

Question: Why cannot one attain Enlightenment by reading?

Answer: The knowledge that we acquire from reading books is not the actual Enlightenment that cleanse the defilements in our minds. We may feel "enlightened" when we are reading, but that is only a feeling. This does not uproot our greed, hate, and delusion. We may be able to know more about our existences and the truth of suffering by reading books, but we are not able to cleanse our defilements by book knowledge. In order to cleanse the defilements of our minds, we have to practice the Eightfold Noble Path.

Question: How come in the scriptures the people who listened to Buddha's sermon were able to attain Enlightenment by listening to a discourse?

Answer: There are several conditions for this. First, the people who listened to the sermon must have some amounts of paramis (perfections of virtue). Second, they must pay wholesome attention to the sermon. Third, they must practice according to the instruction during the sermon. Fourth, the preacher of the sermon must be skilled in the Dhamma and be able to prepare the people's minds for the Noble Dhamma (i.e. such as the Buddha).

And there may be more conditions that are not mentioned here.

Question: Do I have to become a vegetarian if I become a Buddhist?

Answer: No. You do not have to become a vegetarian if you become a Buddhist. However, many Buddhists who follow the Buddha's doctrine find meat-eating disgusting. The Buddha taught his disciples,

If a bhikkhu sees, hears or suspects that it has been killed for him, he may not eat it. (M.I,369)

And this may serve as a guideline for laymen too.

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