What is a ''Sutra'' ? Does a Buddhist learn buddhism from Sutras?Have they ever been translated to English?

Question

Are they the only sources where a foreigner can learn the teachings of Buddhism?

Mi Wang-Reported!
Starrwood-I didn't mean about ''kama sutra'' a Sutra has nothing to do with sexual techniques.Why the hell are you trying to answer if not a buddhist anyway?

Answer 1

A Sutra is a recording of the Buddha's spoken teachings . In The Buddha's time on earth , He has given many teachings to many people and to many other beings through the spoken word .

These teachings were not recorded down on paper when it was expounded .This is because at that time , in ancient India , it is considered rude to record down the speaker's words in his presence .

The Buddha has a disciple , Ananda ,a long time attendant that followed Him wherever He go. Ananda was born with super human memory and he could memorised every spoken word that the Buddha has said throughout those years when The Buddha himself were giving teachings .

After the Buddha departed the world,his disciples wanted to preserve and dissemminate the Buddha's Teachings .

This would require that the Teachings be recorded down onto paper .

Thus, they invited Ananda . And by his super human memory , every spoken word of The Buddha was expounded again .

These were then collated and they became Sutras.

This is a brief history of the origin of sutras .

To anwser your question, yes , a Buddhist learn Buddhism through the Sutras .

However , there are many thousands of sutras in the Buddhist Canon .

So, if you want to try to read through all of them and try to understand them , it will be a futile effort.

Even if you devote your entire living life reading them , you may not be able to understand all of them.

So, what you could do is that you could approach the various Buddhist Sects ( or Schools) to learn Buddhism.

Each Buddhist Sect focused on certain portions of the Buddha's Teachings and they use certain Sutras as their basis , in their spiritual practices.

When practised diligently , any school will lead you to spiritual achievements .

Yes , Sutras has been translated into English .
If you want to read them , you can try any of the links below:

http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/sutras.html

http://www.woninstitute.org/lbry_buddhist.htm

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/diamond_sutra.htm

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/dhammapada__max.htm

http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/index.htm

Note : there are too many sites that display the Sutras . You may go to google and check it out.

Answer 2

1. Hinduism. Any of various aphoristic doctrinal summaries produced for memorization generally between 500 and 200 B.C. and later incorporated into Hindu literature.
2. also sut·ta (sʊt'ə) Buddhism. A scriptural narrative, especially a text traditionally regarded as a discourse of the Buddha.

[Sanskrit sūtram, thread, sutra.]

Below are some websites where you can learn about Buddhism and read translated Buddhist writings.

Answer 3

the kama sutra is one of the most famous books on sexual pleasure ever written and is translated into many languages and has had movies made from it as well as several stories.
You can learn about the religion through many many books, movies and through many current monks , ashrams and so on, its all on line or in libraries.

Answer 4

You can learn from this site www.bswa.org.

Answer 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutra

More than you need to know.

Answer 6

BUDDISTS SUCK MY NUTZ