Buddha Weekly's Latest Features
Tea Serkyem offering: Generating the merit for Compassionate Activities — especially for protection from sickness and other obstacles
In Mahayana Buddhism, we often speak the language of “Wisdom” and “Compassion” practices. Yet our frenetic, danger-filled world also necessitates “Activity Tantra,” an important “activity manifestation” of Wisdom and Compassion. Without activity, there is no progress on the path. Without activity, there is no safety for practicing. We immediately think of the...
How spirituality and Buddhism helps seniors through difficult times; research demonstrates link to longer life
According to studies, spiritual life can enhance positive aging and health. A spiritual connection enhances the well-being of senior citizens — according to research — whether in the form of spirituality or formal religion [1]. This is aside from numerous studies citing the benefits of Buddhist meditation on health and cognition. [2]...
Exclusive: read two chapters from international bestselling author David Michie’s new Tibetan Buddhist thriller “The Secret Mantra”
Editor: Many are familiar with David Michie's international bestsellers, including his wonderful The Dalai Lama's Cat series and numerous books on mindfulness, meditation and Buddhism (now in over 25 languages). One of my personal favorites is the thriller The Magician of Lhasa, an epic thriller spanning decades, and seamlessly blending the adventures...
The Profound Practice of Taking Refuge
Committing ourselves to the teachings with faith and devotion is the cornerstone of everything else we would accomplish through the practice of this path— higher rebirth, or a safe direction for all our lives, accomplishing the individual liberation vows, and the bodhisattva vows and activities. We can strengthen our dedication, and everything...
Evidence: what are the verifiable facts about Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha? What do archaeologists, scholars and scientists agree are the validated, authentic events?
There can be no question that Buddha was a living, historical person, born in the sixth century B.C. in what is now Nepal — whose profound teachings influenced the thinking of philosophers for the last 2600 years. Buddha's life and teachings are not a matter of faith. His practical, method-based teachings changed...
What Are We? The Body is the Channel — Energy and consciousness are enmeshed principles in Tibetan Buddhism
What are we and what are our limits? An answer arrives when we make contact with the nature of energy and consciousness embodiment. Energy and consciousness are enmeshed principles in Tibetan Buddhism and other contemplative spiritual traditions. Energy and consciousness are indistinguishable through the lens of unequivocal causal interdependence and the middle-path...
Mahayana Thought Training – Turning Adverse Circumstances into the Path of Awakening: An Ideal Practice for Our Times
I recently heard the Buddhist story of Devala the Dark, who was being cursed by seven Bramhans, ‘but the more they cursed him, the more beautiful, good-looking, and inspiring he became…’ This reminded me of the Tibetan Buddhist Thought Training practice, called changing adverse circumstances into the path to enlightenment. One analogy...
Vajrasattva, the Great Purifier, among the most powerful and profound healing and purifications techniques in Vajrayana Buddhism
All Buddhist practices could ultimately be described by the goal "purification of the five aggregates" — through various forms of meditation and virtues (actions and thoughts.) Purification is a core concept. H.E. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche discusses Vajrasattva purification in video teaching (below.) Vajrasattva meditation and mantra is the...
Karma is Not Fate: Why Karma is Empowering
Why is Karma empowering? One way of viewing Karma is as an aggregate of all of our actions, thoughts, words, dreams, desires into a user-controlled version of fate — that is you control your fate instead of some invisible higher being. Another concept of karma, aligned to both mystical sciences and scientific...
Mahayana Sutra Of The Three Superior Heaps — now, is always the right time to confess downfalls and purify them
Venerable Thubten Chodren explains the importance of the Sutra of the Three Heaps, and why it should be part of everyone's practice: "There are a variety of purification practices, The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Ethical Downfalls being one of the most popular. We all have done actions that we now feel badly about...
Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta: The Great Discourse on the Establishing of Awareness; mindfulness of body, feelings, mind, mental qualities
Perhaps the greatest teaching on mindfulness, the Maha (translates as: great) Satipatthana is a Sutta that serious meditators of all traditions reference in modern teachings. As a Pali sutta, it is an important teaching for the elder path (Theravada) — and mindfulness is a major foundational practice. In advanced Mahamudra and Dzogchen, Vajrayana Buddhist...
Immortal Rain Long Life Prayer to Venerable Zasep Rinpoche from HH. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche
Venerable Zasep Rinpoche, Spiritual Director of Gaden for the West, is known for the clarity of his profound Buddhist teachings, many of which are found in Buddha Weekly's YouTube Channel. To honour his kindness in offering these teachings, Buddha Weekly offers this tribute and long-life prayer video, based on the Long Life...