Questions and Answers: Various questions about Wat Phra Loi, Suphanburi Province

"Pucchavisajjana" means a question-and-answer exchange. It refers to the practice of asking and answering questions back and forth, aimed at gaining knowledge and understanding from the other party. Therefore, "Pucchavisajjana" is a term used for sermons that involve this form of dialogue, known as "Pucchavisajjana sermons", where one monk poses questions, and another monk provides answers. These discussions can cover topics related to Dhamma or other matters beneficial to the listeners.

What is Buddhism?

Founded 2,500 years ago in India by Siddhartha Gautama, who is widely known as the Buddha, Buddhism spread across Asia and is now the fourth largest religion in the world. The Buddha spent most of his life teaching the path to enlightenment, which he had attained, so that others could also become self-enlightened Buddhas. He observed that while everyone has an equal potential to become a Buddha, people have different preferences, interests, and abilities. In respect of this, he taught many different methods for individuals to overcome their limitations and achieve their fullest potential.

The fundamental teachings of Buddhism

are the Four Noble Truths.

The teachings of the Buddha are called the Four Noble Truths, which are four truths that those who have realized the Dhamma understand as reality.

The first Noble Truth is the truth of suffering (dukkha), or the real problem.
Even though there is much happiness in life, every living being—from the smallest insect to a homeless person to a millionaire—faces problems between birth and death. We grow old, we get sick, and the people we love pass away.

We face frustration and disappointment, not getting what we want or encountering things we don't desire.

The second Noble Truth is the cause of suffering.
Our problems arise from complex causes and conditions, but the Buddha taught that the main cause is our ignorance of the truth.

This is the way our mind projects an impossible mode of existence onto ourselves, others, and everything around us.

The third Noble Truth is the cessation of suffering.
The Buddha saw that it is possible to eliminate all of our problems so that we no longer suffer from them again.

This can be done by eliminating the cause of our problems, which is our own ignorance.

The fourth Noble Truth is the path of the mind.
Suffering ends when we remove ignorance by understanding reality correctly. We do this by realizing that everything is interconnected.

On this basis, we develop love and compassion for all living beings equally.

When we clear our confusion about our own existence and that of others, we can act in ways that benefit both ourselves and others.