Buddhism and our Environmental Obligation
Within our society, there are certain innate concepts that every individual is equipped with. Virtues, morals, or the concept of “right and wrong” are just a few examples of such …
The four Noble Truths
The Buddhist’s way of viewing the human experience, particularly the experience of suffering as it pertains to reaching an enlightened state, require that one must embrace and accept the following …
Best Buddhist Quotations
Buddhism can be defined as the “teachings of the Awakened One.” It embodies a set of philosophies based on the teachings of Gautama Siddhartha Buddha who was born a prince …
Too Much Snow in your Mind will Prevent you from Living from Loves Truth
Parables are related to Zen koans, as are all teaching stories. Love lives in stories that are told from the energy of that same love. It is love that enlightens …
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History of Buddhism Regional Varieties
Buddhism exists wherever there are sentient beings in contemplation. One need not be a Buddha to attain enlightenment. Many have come close all over the globe. Many have dwelled in …
Is Buddhism a Religion or a Way of Life?
Religion or at least the tenets of any true religion should also be a way of life. So Buddhism is both. Buddhism has components of religion but also outlines various …
Quan Yin Total Compassion and Loving Kindness
Most commonly known as the Buddhist Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, Quan Yin became the perfect human being through the mantra (or prayer) Om Mani Padme Hum. She is a symbol …
Praying for Tibet
As they say Tibet is the roof of the world. The Tibetans are people of peace and live in harmony with each other and the natural world around them. This …
The Dharma and its Relationship to Animals
I’d love it if you could meet at Chippy! He’s very cute. He is the guinea pig of my youngest son. Chippy isn’t full grown yet. He has a spacious …
How Buddhism Differs from other Religions
Buddhism is not a Club religion The most important difference between Buddhism and other religions is that Buddhism is not a Club religion. In Club religions when you join the …
Facts on Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion that was founded in India in the sixth century BC by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. The Buddha is not a God, or a messenger …
The Differences and Similarities between Shinto and Zen Buddhism
In western culture, a good majority of the population does not have a clue about eastern spirituality. There are many different religions in eastern culture; the focus of this article …
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Zen Koan Carrying the Raft
Case: In China, at the base of a mountain, an impoverished young man sat in meditation in front of his hut facing a great rushing river. A monk from the …
Buddhisms Basic Principles
Buddhism is a religion with rather surprisingly few demands on behavior. This philosophy is guided by what is often referred to as Noble Truths, which actually can be distilled into …
Tibet vs China
In her article “Praying for Tibet,” the author hoopee writes that many years ago, the Chinese decided that a portion of their country could not be ruled by a religious …
Zen Koans Joshus Dog
Case: 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 …
Zen Koans Roshi Polishes Brick
Case: It is meal time at the temple’s Great Hall and a line of monks are performing ‘kin-hin’ – awareness walking – between their living areas and the Great Hall. …
Monotony Zen Repetitive Fluidity Constancy Tessellation
Furiously Zen The problem with the zen philosophy is the constancy of the fluidity. Always ready to accept what comes, always ready to live in the exact present moment, enjoying …
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What is Zen?
In the sixth century, an immigrating monk from India or Persia by the name of Bodhidharma introduced Mahayana-Buddhism to China. His doctrine was then fertilized with Chinese Taoism resulting in …
Zen Koan Meeting your Master
Case: A wandering monk was walking down the road when he met a Zen master. The monk bowed three times, knelt, and then rose. “Excellent,” said the master, and the …
Buddhism Holy Days and Celebrations
Buddhism is an ancient religion that is practiced all around the world, mostly in Asian countries. Most religions have celebrations, holy days, and days of commemoration. Buddhism is no different. …
Ten Reasons Buddhism is in all Religions
When one thinks of Buddhism, it is often considered as another of the many religions that permeate the world. While it is in the top 5 (Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, …
Buddha’s Mother
If one answers, Queen Maya of Sakya was Buddha’s mother, one denies the reality. If one denies that Queen Maya of Sakya was Buddha’s mother, one is ignorant of the …
Buddhist Cave Temples in China
When the Silk Road was established in the second century BC, it allowed more than the free flow of goods throughout Asia. It also facilitated cultural exchange between countries that …
Zen Moment
Zen moment” vs “regular moment The difference between a “Zen moment” and a “regular moment” is the difference between an event and a story. We are so used to telling …
Einstein Atheism Agnostic Humanist Scientist God Religion
By common definition, an atheist rejects all forms of religion and denies outright the existence of God. If this definition is used to weigh Albert Einstein’s belief in God or …
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Five Precepts to remember in Buddhism
To understand Buddhists morality, one must understand one of the principles that Buddha laid out: the Five Precepts. They are the social and moral code that prevents people from destroying …
Introduction to the Karma – Buddhism
Centuries before becoming a major Buddhist concept Karma was a central theme in what we now call Hinduism. The word “karma” translates to “action” or “deed”. Thus, simply put, Karma …
The Buddhist Attitude to other Religions
Buddhists have a non-attitude towards other religions, they recognise, unlike most of the dominant religions in the world today, that there are many overlapping paths to the same goal. If …
Buddhism – Introduction to Mudras
Mudras have been used in the East for thousands of years, mostly in relationship with meditation. You notice Buddhist statues and artwork have the hands placed in significant poses. Mudras …
3 Main Schools of Buddhism
Buddhism doesn’t have one set of particular rules. There are three main schools of Buddhism and many branches of those trees have their own customs and beliefs as well. The …
Social Welfare – A Buddhist Concept
Without social welfare Siddhartha Gautama would never have become Shakyamuni Buddha. It was through the ingrained, but not enforced it must be noted, social welfare structures of his time that …