Who was Siddhartha Gautama?
Siddhartha Gautama, known Sakyamuni Buddha (“Sakyamuni” translates to “sage of the Sakyas”), is arguably the most important historical figure in the Buddhist tradition and is the one most often referred …
Zen Koans Joshus Dog
A monk decided to test the wily old teacher, Roshi Joshu, by tugging sharply at his beard with the question, “Does a dog have Buddha-nature, yes or no?” Giving this …
Ishtadevata Hinduism Sanskrit Ishta
The particular title on Helium caught my attention and I felt an instinctive pull to make a contribution to it. The term ‘Ishtadevtaa’ is a Sanskrit word and is related …
There is no Good or Bad Karma only Karma
The popular understanding of karma is wrong. The majority of westerners believe it goes like this: If you do good things, good things will happen to you; and if you …
Buddhism the Noble Eightfold Path
The noble eightfold path is not just eight steps for a Buddhist but it is eight parts of a Buddhist’s life. Each of these eight parts can be sectioned into …
Tibetan Sky Burial Among Buddhists
After death ceremonies vary from each faith from Judaism, Islam, Christianity, etc. In Tibetan Buddhism, there’s a method of burial known as sky burial. Being Buddhist myself, I didn’t know …
The History and Significance of the God Dainichi Nyorai
The two major religions of Japan, Shintoism, and Buddhism, have an interesting history and effect on each other. For a long time, Shinto was the key religion in Japan until …
Biographies the 14th Dalai Lama
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is an extraordinary teacher, writer, and speaker. Some have revered him as a god, but within Tibetan Buddhism, he is actually a bodhisattva, an …
The Moral Code for Buddhists
Westerners often find it difficult to understand the Eastern way of thinking. Nevertheless, Buddhism remains one of the East’s most popular exports. What is it about Buddhism that, unlike Hinduism, …
Zen Koan Case of One Hand Clapping
The koan of the paradoxical idea of one hand being able to clap has been attributed to the Zen master Hakuin. Hakuin Ekaku was a famous Japanese Zen master, who …
Basics of Zen
If you have never come across Zen before, it might seem quite perplexing with its apparent contradictions and paradoxes. But if you are ready and willing to commit yourself to …
The Truth of Suffering in Buddhism
The aspect of suffering is one of the most important things one will know if studying or planning to convert to Buddhism. Suffering is the one truth that links the …
Avalokiteshvara the one who Hears the Cries of the World
John Daido Loori a Zen Master who founded Zen Mountain Monastery in New York said: “Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is the Hearer of the Cries of the World. And one of the characteristics of …
Basic Buddhism and Buddhist Thought Introduction
Buddhism was founded approximately 2,500 years ago by Siddhartha Gautama. According to Buddhist tradition, Gautama was the son of a wealthy chief in Nepal. This chief did everything within his …
Being in the Now Moment
God is the space between the words. It’s the space between the bars that holds the tiger. It’s the space between the notes that makes the music. This says so …
Karma and Grace
How do karma and grace relate to one another? Initially, it would seem that karma and grace are opposing principles in the universe. After all, karma is law, and grace …
Attention through Meditation
These days, ADD and ADHD run rampant in the United States. I, myself, have ADD but have recently found a bit of hope in the concept of meditation. Buddha taught …
The Arts of Zen Explained
The art forms associated with the practice of Zen Buddhism are a way of approaching the artisan’s role in the totality of their existence. To practice Zen is to achieve …
The Three Universal Characteristics in Buddhism
If and when practicing Buddhism, you will come across various principles grouped together. Examples are the: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Three Poisons (if you are studying Tibetan Buddhism), Ten …
What is the Tibetan Wheel of Life
The Bhavacakra, or Tibetan Wheel of Life, is a graphic depiction of Tibetan Buddhism’s philosophy of existence. Although there are several versions of the Wheel of Life, the symbols maintain …
The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
Ashtamangala, Sanskrit for Eight Auspicious, are symbols that point to qualities of mind. They are also referred to as bkra-shis-rtags brgyad. The symbols are supposed to bring good fortune when …
How to do Zen Meditation
These are the basics of Zen meditation; you will have to adjust and customize them to fit your life, your home, your schedule, and so on. Zen is a combination …
The Religious Development of the Buddha
The Buddha was born in roughly 560 BC in Northern India. The Buddha travelled the eastern world teaching about nirvana (the cessation of all suffering) and enlightenment the state he …
Meditation Techniques
I first learned to meditate shortly after I graduated from college over twenty years ago. I was motivated to learn to relax after I entered the working world for the …
Tara Buddhist Buddism Buddhahood Bodhisattva
Understanding Tara can be a Challenging Quest In some schools of Buddhism she is known as a female Bodhisattva, or an enlightened being of compassion and action. Other schools refer …
Everything is not Due to Kamma
Everything is not due to “Kamma” One of the main teachings of Lord Buddha is the Law of Kamma. However, this is one of the teachings which have been taken …
Buddhist Funeral Customs and Death Rites
“Even death is not to be feared by the one who has lived wisely.” Those words were spoken by Buddha himself and remain prevalent to his followers today. The Buddhist …
The History and Significance of the God Nazha
Nazha (or more correct to be Nezha, as the Chinese character for Na has two pronunciations) is a Taoist deity, popularly worshipped by Taoists across Asia, particularly in Taiwan and …
Buddhism Embracing the Temporality of Existence
Temporality is not a central subject in Buddhism but it is something that is discussed in Buddhist philosophy as it relates to other more central Buddhist precepts. All ideas about …
Buddhism Engaged Buddhism Passive Buddhism Nichidatsu Fujii Faith Thich Nhat Hanh
Traditional Buddhism advocates a withdrawal away from the affairs of the outside world, emphasizing that everything, including war, suffering, power, and oppression, is empty, or temporary and illusory. To become …
Where did everything Begin the Higgs Boson from a Buddhist Perspective
One of the admirable things about Buddhism is the very sound logical system they have developed through diligent study, experiment and debate. The Buddha taught his disciples to test his …
Basic Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhism is fast becoming a popular religion, even among Americans. It is attractive to people who prefer a secular world view, but who also want some spiritual guidance for their …