By Lee Kane

Today, I was listening to Mike Bullard, a Canadian celebrity talk show host on NewTalk 1010 with a comical bent. It was a long commute, and as usual he has me in stitches.
As much as he likes to appear crusty and cantankerous, he has a compassionate side that often shines through, as it did today.
He told the story of how he went down to the street below his office to chat with fellow workers—obviously a smoker. A woman, hovering by the ashtray suddenly said to him, "Me, NO like you."
He thought to himself, she's mistaking me for someone else, and was about to point that out, when she said, "Me, NO like you Mike Bullard."
His first instinct, as it would be for many of us, was to strike back, or to challenge her and ask her why. He was, after all, a celebrity host, and perhaps his opinion offended her.
But instead, he decided to practice kindness and positive karma. He smiled at her and loudly said "Me, YES, like you."
She beamed and grinned and he could see he had made her day.
He then said, to the radio audience, "Let's start a new movement. Let's go up to someone today, anyone, someone you don't like, and say 'Me, YES, like you.'"
Sounds like a good plan for life—with grammatical corrections of course.

Not only did Mike make my day with a smile and a warm thought, he gave me the urge to go right up to the next person I met, preferably someone I had recently argued with, and say, "I like you, you know." (I don't think I can say Me YES like you, sorry.)

By D. Sandy



A few months ago, I finally took the step I had been contemplating over the past few years as a practicing Buddhist. One of my elderly relatives who has constantly been my guide advised me to undergo the empowerment ritual saying it would lend more depth to my spiritual practice. Fortunately, I took this advice very seriously and went through this initiation and today, I can truly say that it has helped in my spiritual development.

During the empowerment ritual, my teacher explained that this is an initiation into deity practice. I won't go into which deity or who my teacher is. I just wanted to share my experience and why I think it is worthwhile to those who are ready.

My teacher said an important part of empowerment is to plant the seeds and encourage nurturing through the sadhana and mantra practice. In my experience, the moment of transmission, instantly trained my mind to concentrate, develop and practice..

Although at the time of empowerment I did not fully comprehend all the words spoken—I don't know many of the words delivered in Tibetan—in hindsight I can say that today, after months of practicing since empowerment, there have been many tangible benefits.

Before, my mind used to be filled with too many thoughts of things happening at office and at home and I used to find myself worrying over several things. Although I realized that was not possible to do anything about certain things beyond my control, it used to be difficult to refrain from thinking about them. This interfered with practice and concentration. Empowerment helped me through that somehow. Now, when I sit or do mantra, I can concentrate fully.

As I began deity practice at this new, deeper level, I could feel these unnecessary thoughts simply going away. It was…

Above: The child is the ultimate in innocence, something I try to recapture in my mindfulness meditation.

Brian Newman

There's a saying that "only a foolish man can understand what the wise cannot."

Even today, the fool remains one of our most treasured personalities. We love our comedies and comedians. Is this because laughter is important to life and living, or does the fool go beyond this important goal? Do we, as I believe, intuitively, see the innocence of the fool as a path to enlightenment?

We are all born fools. We treasure our own childhoods, and we remember the simplicity of a time when we wonderingly looked at the world, imagined friends, played in the mud and chased a ball around and around. Now, as adults and parents, we smile and find joy in seeing that simple perfection in every small child. It's easy to love your children, or any children. Children are treasures.

Koans and Jokes and Fools

In Zen or Chan Buddhism, mindfulness is one route on the road to enlightenment. Overloading the mind with unsolvable puzzles was one well-known method of achieving enlightenment—a fool's pursuit. The zen monk often has a wonderful sense of humor. Tibetan monks, of the Vajra way, also value laughter, jokes and humor.

Why is the Fool such a Powerful Archetype?

History, as teacher, tells us the fool was important in every culture throughout history. Court fools and entertainers to kings and emperors were largely immune to criticism, and there are historical cases of fools influencing kingly decisions.

Why is…

Above: Venerable Khenpo Sonajm Tobgyal Rinpoche, a teacher, himself with his teacher Kyabje Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche. Teachers and students have a bond.

By Ruth Wambui

Buddhism has become one of the most popular spiritual practices in the world, particularly in the West. More and more people learning about Buddhism, and adopting one form or another of Buddhist practice. They certainly would have been drawn to the Buddha's message, the Dharma. They might be drawn by the core message, the focus on personal development, the flexibility of practice, the focus on kindness and generosity.

In my experience, you should attempt to find a Buddhist teacher to guide you. This ensures you be able to progress on the path, develop personally and avoid practices that might be detrimental.

This particularly important in Vajrayana Buddhism, where there is a focus on the enlightened guru. Vajrayana is the "thunderbolt" path because it promises to bring personal enlightenment in one lifetime, but this inevitably requires guidance. Vajrayana lays great emphasis on the role of gurus or religious teachers, who have mastered the dharma. The Tibetan translation of the word guru is lama, thus these two words may be used interchangeably to refer to Vajrayana religious teachers. Vajrayana Buddhism varies widely in practice and often emphasizes empowerment from a teacher, and yidams (personal deity practice) and mantras appropriate to your current needs. Nothing in Buddhism is ever mandatory but progress is facilitated by guidance. On this rapid path, though, students must have absolute trust in their teacher if they are to attain any understanding of its practices. In view of this, the importance of…

 By Kim Sung Su



The six essential practices are:

• Bowing

• Seon (Zen) meditation

• Yeombul — recitation of the Buddha's name

• Mantra practice

• Sutra practice: reading, reciting and transcribing by hand



Bowing cultivates the humble mind

Bowing practice develops the humble mind and is possibly the most important focus of Buddhist practice for many Koreans. In a Korean bow, though, a bow from the waist is not a sign of true respect for the Buddha.



According the Korean Buddhist scholar Seong Jae-Hyeon, “The highest point of the body is the forehead, (while) the lowest is the feet. Placing the loftiest point lower than the other’s bottommost is showing total respect and unmitigated humility.”



Even as a non-religious aspect of life, the bow cultivates humility, patience, concentration and even has health benefits, including improved blood circulation and muscle strength.



The Korean Bow has five steps

Although it appears fluid, the Korean bow is actually five distinct steps:

• bring palmist together

• kneeling

• prostrate the entire body to the ground

• return to the kneel

• stand up.



When done with grace, it appears beautiful and elegant. However it is performed it's a good physical exercise. Bowing is always practiced in the presence of a statue of the Buddha. Bowing can also be done at any other time, with the Buddha in mind, or while chanting the Buddha's name, or with any of the other five key daily practices.



Yeombul, or the practice of recitation of Buddha's name, helps remove obstacles, calms the mind, helps to remove the sense of guilt or karmic burden.



An important ancient practice, that remains common today,…

By Lee Kane

The Dalai Lama certainly projects the power of laughter, with his charming chuckle and warm smile at every stop, in every situation. He's always ready with the joke that makes large crowds gasp for breath as they laugh.

Laughter, in Buddhism, is a very powerful daily meditation. I think of the innocent child, always laughing and giggling, smiles coming as naturally as tears, but everything spontaneous and real. Isn't this the goal of meditation? To seek what is the inner truth. What is real. To be in touch mindfully with the real you? 

The master of the laugh can master any situation

The Dalai Lama suffered invasion, death of his fellow monks as he fled Tibet, the ongoing struggle of his people, violence and bloodshed in his homeland. But he is the first person with the laugh and smile. That's enlightened behaviour.

My teachers all laugh and smile

From my root teacher through all the teachers I respect, one thing certainly connects them all. They are always willing to smile and laugh. If only it were so easy for the rest of us.

What happens between childhood and maturity, that we lose the spontaneous, ready, daily, hourly, minute-by-minute willingness to laugh? Stress, life, struggles, more stress, worry, clinging, on and on. But those who endured far more suffering than most of us—from Mahatma Ghandi to Mother Theresa to the Dalai Lama—were always the ones able to laugh and smile in any situation.

Laughter is also energy. It has been called "the best medicine" and perhaps it must also be considered the best…

Tips on How to Feel Empowered as a Rural Buddhist

By Sarah Noel



For anyone on a spiritual path, support is critical to our progress. The mind is an extremely deceptive companion that can quickly convince you that you have made great spiritual progress when in fact you can rapidly be heading in the opposite direction. In the presence of great teachers, inspiration just blossoms by itself within your own heart. 

They carry a living flame of the ancient Buddhist traditions within their being, and it's important to remember that traditions such as Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism have been passed on directly from guru to student for many generations for a reason.  The sacred teachings are not merely philosophical ideas and written mantras written on paper, they are a living energy that is transmitted through the lineage.  When the Lama or teacher initiates their student, a sacred and incredibly deep, living bond is formed between them that you can directly experience; it is a relationship transcending the mind and ego, and the foundation from where empowerment comes to the student to perform their spiritual practices sincerely.  

The Rural Buddhist Path is Very Difficult

As a rural buddhist, the path can become very difficult and you may very painfully realize the immense value you received out of those precious moments you had meditating with your sangha in the temple, and clearing your doubts with your teacher.  It is critical for your remote practice that you maintain your spiritual disciplines no matter where you are, because only then can you have a chance at taming the unruly mind, ego, and emotions.  

Establishing…

Books on Buddhism in Hindu Swami's House Set Me On the Path

By M Sivana

I don't know if it was serendipity, or something more profound, but I found Buddhism because of a delayed bus and a Hindu swami.

I was in Chennaim India for four months for school. One day, I was traveling by bus,and spotted a 'Vivekananda illam'—the house of the great swami. I could not get down there  as it was a busy road with heavy traffic. But after a week the bus that  I traveled happened to stop for sometime in the very front of that divine house.

I did not think twice. Suddenly, I left the bus and went to the 'Vivekananda Illam'. The time was around 5 PM. There was some description about 'Vivekananda's' life and his speeches inside the house.

I naturally gravitated towards the books on display and was amazed by seeing the books related with divinity, but not all related to Hinduism as expected. I could see many books about 'Lord Buddha'. I bought around 12 books by paying less than 70 rupees (USD 1.5). These were life changing books. I don't know if it was because I found them in the swami's house, or was moved by the sheer profundity.

When I reached my room, I started reading the books on Buddhism. One thing that got my attention is the 'Middle path' approach of Buddhism. I wasn't a Buddhist then, but this message grabbed me.

I felt I had been searching for this idea all my life. After reading this discourse on the middle path, knowingly or unknowingly, I found my actions and thoughts changed. I became less extreme. The middle path teachings gave me peace of mind, satisfaction and happiness.

The 'four noble truths' changed me, almost over night. I started accepting that everything should be seen as it…

BODH GAYA—His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize from Ila Gandhi, grand-daughter of the great Mahatma. The award was the "Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation." Ila Gandhi traveled to the Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya to present the honour. In his acceptance speech, the Tibetan Buddhist leader emphasized the great reads of Mahatma, who followed the path of non-violence to bring about freedom for India.