Practices

I remember biking home one day when I noticed the lilacs in bloom. I stopped and got off of my bike just to smell them, and smiled. This was a new thing for me, but the combination of the long winter and the pale glow of their particular hue, closer to blue ...

Practitioners following the Path of the Great Vow in Pure Land Buddhism as classified by Master Shandao take exclusive Amitabha-invocation as their main practice. By exclusively practicing Amitabha-recitation for the remainder of their lives, they are assured rebirth in...

In the morning when you wake up, visualize the Buddha on the crown of your head and think, "How fortunate I am that so far I have not died. Again today I have the opportunity to practice the Dharma. I again have the opportunity to take the essence of ...

The hand gestures, or mudra, assumed by figures of the Buddha and other deities are some of the most fascinating aspects of Buddhist iconography. Similar to the graceful hand gestures used by performers of traditional Indian dance, mudra are often the key...

There are many statements in Buddhist literature that make pleasure sound like something we should totally avoid. It might take some careful reading to recognize that the threat isn’t pleasure itself, but an unmindful response to it. Pleasure in its various forms is...

Generosity is a fundamental trait that is celebrated by all of the world’s religions. December means Christmas for my family, so I’ve been thinking about generosity and giving, especially in light of the Buddha’s teachings on this subject: ...

Perhaps you are reading this editorial on your mobile phone and are looking to upgrade to a new model. The Fairphone, made by a Netherlands-based social enterprise of the same name, is a worthwhile option. Conceived as technology produced with...

Buddhism makes up the world's fourth largest world religion and one of the oldest. Religion in general has been slowly decreasing in many countries around the world as society changes and technology advances, but Buddhism has been one of the strongest ...

“Sincere Mind” is the first of the “Three States of Mind,” in other words, “Sincere Mind,” “Deep Mind,” and “Mind of Merit-Dedication and Aspiration towards Rebirth.” The Contemplation Sutra says that sentient beings who resolve to be reborn in Amitabha’s Pure Land,...

He smiled though, and as I smiled back, I felt something much stronger than just liking him. I still wouldn’t seek Rick out for friendship, but I realized I loved him as much as any other being. Compassion had overcome my personal dislike and opened my heart to...

When I was a nun at the Seon temple Songgwangsa, I would often take a walk up the steep hill that led to Bulilam, the hermitage of Beopjeong Sunim (1932–2010). Venerable Beopjeong was a renowned writer who had retired to this small hermitage ...

I arrived in Songgwangsa (one of the oldest Seon, or Zen, temples in South Korea) in 1975 on the first day of the biggest ceremony of the year, the commemoration of the death of national master Bojo. The next morning, Haemyong Sunim (Robert Buswell) took a young...

Later in April and early May, people across the world will celebrate Vesak in many different ways, but they are bound together by a special commemoration in honoring the young Gautama. One particular ceremony during this festive time is called: “Bathing the Buddha”.

The different stages that lead to Enlightenment are described in terms of which fetters or bonds are abandoned, and these fetters are divided into lower and higher classifications. There is also, in many schools of Buddhism, an additional specification...

In Buddhism, taking refuge is no longer expecting external things to bring ultimate or lasting happiness.

Here brahma means sublime or noble as in brahmacariya (sublime life); vihāra means mode or state of conduct, or state of living. They are also termed appamaññā (limitless, boundless), because these thoughts are radiated towards all beings without limit or obstruction...

At our parish during Lent, a Buddhist singing bowl is used at the start of Mass in place of the gathering or entrance song. According to one popular resource (Wikipedia), singing bowls are "used as a support for meditation, trance induction and prayer." On the Internet several websites...

Today's a big anniversary: ten years. For ten years I have been practicing Vipassana (Theravada) Buddhism, like that found in Thailand. The core of my Buddhist practice (and I hope that if I practice enough I will get good at it) is mindfulness meditation: 30 minutes, every day,...

Because we are human beings, none of us are perfect. We all come with a baggage of deficiencies. We can cope with our own deficiencies but we cannot tolerate someone else’s. This is the human condition. Once we start living with another person, our own deficiencies and those of our...

“What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind.” According to Buddhism, life is a combination of mind (nama) and matter (rupa). Mind consists of the combination of sensations, perceptions, volitional activities ...

The six-realm system is often depicted as a 'wheel of life' (shown to the right), especially in Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada teachings typically define only 5 realms. Various schools of Buddhism also define other sub-realms within these, and other types of realms ...

The 7th lunar month is regarded as the Ghost Month by the Chinese since the Tang Dynasty. The Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan) is observed on the 14th day of the month and the Ghost Day is on the 15th day, the full moon day of the month. On this month the gate of Hell realm is open ...

Buddhism, which some practitioners refer to as a belief system, lifestyle, philosophy, or other concepts -- but not a religion. Is, in my opinion, an admirable all-of-the-above. In the East, not New York City -- the Far East -- Buddhism is referred ...

It is not essential to go to a temple to be a Buddhist. First and foremost believe in the Tripple Gem, Buddha (Lord Buddha himself), Dhamma (his teachings), & Sangha (His disciples) This is how you pray: Namo Thassa Bhagawatho ...

If you live in an older home, you know your domicile has relaxed, settled into its foundation. Time builds cracks and tiny holes in your fortress - perfect little doors for different kinds of animals.

Wisdom is the power of seeing things as they truly are, and how to act rightly when the problems of come before us. The seeds of wisdom lie latent in us, and when our hearts are warm with love they grow into their powers.

What it means to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. The Three Jewels are the foundation of all forms of Buddhism, and the first jewel is the Buddha. The word buddha means "the Awakened One." And it doesn't mean only Shakyamuni Buddha, formerly the ...

All growth is from within. This is evident in all nature. Every plant, every animal, every human being is a testimony to this great law. But in error we keep searching on the outside when we could be looking within.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have the same effect -- it is often carved into ...

The practice of mindfulness/awareness meditation is common to all Buddhist traditions. Beyond that, it is common to, inherent in, all human beings.