Josephine Nolan

Josephine Nolan is an editor and contributing feature writer for several online publications, including EDI Weekly and Buddha Weekly.

Avalokitesvara compassion practices can “enhance treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma” say some scientists and clinicians. For the rest of us, his compassion brings us closer to bliss and wisdom.

Avalokiteshvara as the wonderful goddess Guanyin. Avalokitesvara is the metaphorical rock star of the Bodhisattvas. "Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is one of the most important and popular Buddhist deities," writes Karen Andres in Tibetan Contemplative Traditions. [1] ...

50 Songs of Milarepa and the Grand Epic Story of Mila the Cotton Clad: Murder, Evil, Revenge, Redemption, Ordeals, Doing What’s Right

Milarepa Milarepa's history is an epic story of grand scope — the essence and beauty of his story remain undiminished by time. With themes of evil and redemption, perseverance, and doing what’s right, Milarepa’s story grips both devout ...

15 Miracles and 15 Days: Chotrul Duchen, the Day Buddha’s Great Miracles: Buddha, reluctant to use miraculous powers, displayed 15 miracles to help correct the errors of six prideful teachers

Thangka depicting the 15 days of Buddha's miracles. The first moon of the New Year (Lunar)  is Chotrul Cuchen (Chunga Choepa)  the Day celebrating Buddha's Miracles — often celebrated with a butter lamp festival. The festival of Buddha's ...

Miracles of Buddha: With the approach of Buddha’s 15 Days of Miracles, we celebrate 15 separate miracles of Buddha, starting with Ratana Sutta: Buddha purifies pestilence.

Buddha often told his followers to ignore miraculous powers, to avoid attachments and ego issues, yet each year we celebrate Chotrul Duchen (Chunga Choepa), the 15 Days of Buddha's Miracles. For the first 15 days of the New ...

Tsog dates 2023: Happy Dakini Day — Introducing the Wisdom of the Female Enlightened Dakinis

Dakini Day, celebrated on the 25th day of each lunar month in Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, celebrates the feminine energy of wisdom. (DATES FOR 2023 Tsog updated below.) Devoted Buddhists will celebrate with a Tsok (Tsog), a feast including ...

Karma is Not Fate: Why Karma is Empowering. Why do bad things happen to good people? How can we escape the wheel of suffering?

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 ...

Vajrayogini, enlightened wisdom queen, leads us to bliss, clear light and emptiness, despite modern obstacles

Vajrayogini has been called the "Buddha for our times." Many of the great Mahasiddhas, such as Naropa, attained realizations through her practice. There's an old Tibetan saying: "Practicing any Buddha is practicing all Buddhas." The great Atisha, when ...

“Mind Jewel” Green Tara – a Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Chittamani Tara (Cittamani), Mother of all the Buddhas

"Tara is the mother of all the Buddhas; when you practice Tara you become closer to Tara; you feel her motherly love. If Tara is good enough to be the mother of all the Buddhas, then she can ...

Padmasambhava Guru Rinpoche’s condensed “all teachings into one — which is concise and easy to practice”at the time of death: as requested by Lady Tsogyal

Lady Tsogyal   One of the most wonderful teachings of Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born, Guru Rinpoche was written down by the Lady Tsogyal — from a request she made just as the master was about to leave — ...

Buddha: How to protect wealth, associate with virtuous friends and relate to your spouse, employer, children: guidance for lay practitioners in Sigalovada Sutta

It may seem hard to imagine the Peerless One, Shakyamuni Buddha, teaching the more mundane aspects of lay life conduct. Imagine the Buddha teachings us "financial planning" (really!) — and  to relate to our children, employers and spouse! ...

11 essential subjects for meditation according to The Sutra on the Eight Realizations

The vital importance of awareness of impermanence, the nature of suffering, attachment, dissatisfaction, ignorance and laziness are emphasized by the Buddha in the short Sutra on the Eight Realizations (full translation below with some of the commentary by ...
Thich Nhat Hanh contemplating. From the movie "Walk with me", releasing in 2017.

“Torches That Help Light My Path”: Thich Nhat Hanh’s Translation of the Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings

"When I was seventeen and in my first year of novice studies at a Buddhist monastery in Vietnam, I had to memorize the Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings. Over sixty years have passed and ...

Refuge is the Ultimate Protection from Dangers: The Maha Samaya Sutta — The Great Meeting Sutra

The Maha Samaya Sutta is often chanted as a daily practice in Pali — and often at weddings and dedications of new buildings — and is considered a "protective blessing" as much as it teaches doctrine. The core ...

The Science of Reincarnation and Rebirth? The research into verified past lives claims

Have you ever wondered about what happens after we die? Some believe that our souls reincarnate — or are reborn — into other beings or come back to Earth in another form. Others think that we simply disappear ...

Shabkar’s Song of Practice: the entire path, from refuge to generation to completion in one song by one of the great sages of Tibet

Only a true visionary Yogi could distill a path that fills lifetimes and books into a single song. Such a Yogi is the great Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol, an emanation of the great Milarepa. Both were famous for their ...

Not Yours! “Whatever is not yours: let go of it.” — letting go of past, letting go of future: Na Tumhaka Sutta

One of the most popular short Suttas, often presented as a "must read" to new Buddhists is the famous "Not Yours" Sutta or what I like to call the "Letting Go" Sutta. Although Na Tumhaka Sutta is really ...
Meditation has proven health benefits.

Settling the Mind or Activating the Mind — which meditation works, why and how? One’s good for health, the other for mind, and…

Meditation is an important practice in virtually all schools of Buddhist thought, and in one form or another, most Buddhists practice it. But did you know there are two main types of meditation? From formal Chan practice, such ...

Targeted Calm-Abiding Meditation: Dalai Lama and Lama Tsongkhapa teach how to target the main affliction for a more precise meditation result

His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented a profound and brilliant method to "target" your meditation on the affliction, in his powerful commentary on Lama Tsongkhapa's Great Exposition of Secret Mantra. When we think of calm-abiding meditation, we might ...

Zazen is “good for nothing” — the journey to Enlightenment starts with “just sitting” — and it’s good for your health, stress or anxiety (studies)

Zazen is a type of meditation that is central to Zen Buddhism, and first taught by Shakyamuni Buddha as an insight practice — and it's good for nothing! Just sit. That is all. Don't get us wrong, it's ...

Wing Chun creator Buddhist Nun Ng Mui developed the art as a non-lethal martial art that mirrors six Buddhist Paramitas?

In this feature, I'll make a crazy argument — but bear with me. Wing Chun, the venerable martial art created by Buddhist Nun Ng Mui perfectly (pun intended) showcases the Six Perfections taught by Buddha: Generosity, Discipline, Patience, ...

Scientific Buddhist? A spiritual path that aligns with science? Why science and logic enhances Buddhist practice

The practice of Buddhism is one of the few "labeled" spiritual paths that is not in some way at odds with science. In fact, I will present the case that Buddhism is fully supportable as method and practice ...

Why happiness and laughter are actual Buddhist teachings. The Sutra on Happiness, the Tathagata’s teaching “This is the great happiness!”

We often see monks of all Buddhist traditions laughing. Rinpoche's, monks, nuns, teachers, the Dalai Lama — they all have a ready belly laugh. Are they just happy? Or, is happiness itself, the teaching? In the "Sutra on ...

Ten confirmed health and wellness benefits of meditation: the science of mindfulness, with 17 cited research studies

Buddha taught the many benefits of meditation more than 2500 years ago — in the Satipatthana Sutta and others — and modern medical science confirms and reinforces those benefits in study after study. In this feature, we cite 17 ...

“To attain the highest state of bliss, which is Nirvana, we must follow the Blessed One” Kevaddha’s story in Pali Sutta

In Pali sutta there is the wonderful story of Kevaddha, a Braham priest, who longed for "peace of heart and was anxious to reach Nirvana." Because he could not understand how it was possible in the "flesh" to ...

Mandala Offering: offering “everything to the Buddha” — purify karma and accumulate merit daily

Mandala Offerings require only minutes each day and can be considered the "perfect" complete practice. We offer literally everything — the entire cosmos, even our internal mind, and body — to the Enlightened Ones. Mandala offerings, when dignified ...

Buddhist Ganesha: popular Ganapati’s many forms include enlightened Yidam, protector, and “bringer of success”…

Buddhist Ganesha's appeal is wide-reaching, not just amongst the spiritual. Ganesh tatoos and t-shirts are very popular worldwide. There is, a "life-affirming" quality about his image, even for the non-religious. Ganesha has star power. He even appears in ...

Why is pride a poison — and overcoming ego with the wisdom of Equality; practicing Ratnasambhava and the Ambhattha Sutra

One day, Buddha came across the "untouchable" Nadhi carrying excrement. Nadhi tried to avoid the Buddha — out of respect, as was the custom — but Buddha intercepted the modest man. In a panic, Nadhi spilled the excrement. ...

Mother Tara’s many-armed protective embrace: 21 Taras according to Surya Gupta — with 8 videos and mantras and stunning art

There's something very precious and special about Tara, the protective Mother, adored by millions around the world. Her energy is, at its root, wisdom — the female Enlightened Buddha. Tara is as approachable as our own mothers. She ...

Laughter — the Best Medicine: What the Dalai Lama and Patch Adams Have in Common

Have you noticed how the Dalai Lama projects authority through 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 ...

Buddha’s Birthday: Vesak celebrated on May 26 2021 most important day of the year

Buddhism is characterized as generous, loving, and compassionate. In keeping with these beliefs, on Buddha's "birthday" it is most important to give and celebrate love and kindness. Buddha,  a living, breathing being who attained Englightenment (by archeological evidence, ...

Dealing with the Monkey King: Meditation Techniques for People With Unsettled Monkey Minds

Coping with the Monkey Mind — a meditation term indicating an "unsettled; restless; capricious; whimsical; fanciful; inconstant; confused; indecisive; uncontrollable" mind — is one of the biggest obstacles to meditation and mindfulness practice in Buddhism. The monkey mind ...

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) ...

Part 3: 21 Taras of Mahasidda Suryagupta: after curing him of leprosy, Tara taught him Her Twenty-One forms

Suryagupta, one of the great Eighty-four Mahasiddas (7th/8th century), had countless visions of glorious Mother Tara. She so cherished the great master — also known as Ravigupta or “Nyi ma be pa” in Tibetan — that she first ...

Part 2, Surya Gupta 21 Taras: meditating on virtuous body of Tara; distinct embodiments of Tara’s Compassion and Wisdom

"As Tara did, we develop the potential of our minds to attain full Enlightenment through meditation. Meditation is a process of focusing our mind on a virtuous object." — From Tara in the Palm of Your Hand [1] ...

The dream of rebirth: is reincarnation real?; if so, why don’t we remember our lives?; how can we prove it?; and other difficult questions

Do you remember your dreams, your memories as a baby, your previous life? This series of questions is often used by Buddhist teachers to illustrate why we don't have memories of past lives. Just as we often don't ...

“The Mind of One Buddha is the Mind of All Buddhas”; How “Jewel Collection Refuge” Can Help You Manage Your Commitments to Multiple Practices and Yidams

"The mind of one Buddha is the mind of all Buddhas," said learned teacher Gelek Rimpoche, in a commentary on Vajrayogini. [1] "The mind of all Buddhas is the mind of a Buddha. It is like a huge ...

“Yoga for the west” How Tarot can map to almost any spiritual path — including Buddhism — as meditative art. Part 2 of a series

"You should know all phenomena are like dreams." — Shakyamuni Buddha. In Tibetan Buddhism, Milam, lucid dreaming, is an important practice. Visualizing deities is a principal practice. One of the reasons for both is as a method for ...

Mo Dice and Mala, Bamboo Sticks, Tarot, and other “divinations” — insightful self-guided Buddhist practice or superstition?

Although Mo is a common Tibetan Buddhist practice, not every Buddhist may be comfortable with Mo Dice or Mo Mala Divination — either because of a lingering prejudice, or as a rational mind rejecting non-objectively observable phenomenon. However, ...

Why Reciting Buddhist Sutras Out Loud is Important; Sutras Help Us Remain Mindful of the Teachings and Disengage the “Clinging” Conscious Mind

In many Buddhist disciplines we are taught to value the meritorious practice of reciting sutras. Often this is done from memory, in a mantra-like chant, which begs the question why do we recite sutras? A Buddha Weekly Special Feature Sutras ...

Initiation or Empowerment: what is it, why it is important in Vajrayana, how it helps, when you need it, how to receive it

The great Lama Thubten Yeshe, one of the pioneer teachers who brought Vajrayana and Tantric Buddhism to the West, defined initiation this way: The much revered Guru Lama Yeshe. "What is initiation? It is the beginning of the ...

The Science of Mantras: Mantras Work With or Without Faith; Research Supports the Effectiveness of Sanskrit Mantra for Healing — and Even Environmental Transformation

"At the heart of each of us, whatever our imperfections, there exists a silent pulse of perfect rhythm, made up of wave forms and resonances, which is absolutely individual and unique, and yet which connects us to everything ...

Buddha teaches the Nadi Sutta: overcoming the assumptions of self with the River Sutra; the river of Samsara cannot be escaped by clinging to the notion of an “abiding self”

One of the shorter sutras, the Nadi Sutta, teaches us that if we believe in an "abiding self" (or soul) we are like "a man swept away by the current" who "would grab hold of kasha grasses, but ...

Guan Shi Yin and the ten great protections of the Goddess of Mercy Kuanyin: Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion

Millions of devotees around the world call on the name of Guan Yin (Kuanyin) Goddess of Mercy, in times of need, fear, or despair. Aside from her best-known role as Compassion embodied — she is, after all, none ...

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and other teachers recommend Kṣitigarbha mantra and practice for times of disaster, especially hurricane and earthquake, because of the great Bodhisattva’s vow

In times of great danger, many Mahayana Buddhists call out to Tara for rescue, or Avalokiteshvara for compassion — but in times of impending great natural disasters, such as hurricane, typhoon, tornado, earthquake, Buddhists inevitably Kṣitigarbha (or Jizo ...

84,000 doors to Enlightenment: mystical Buddhist, Zen Buddhist, intellectual Buddhist, devotional Buddhist, hipster Buddhist: many doors, one destination

Buddha taught many skilful means or paths. In Buddhism, these are typically described with the vehicle, path or doors metaphors. In the Pali Canon, it is said "There are 84,000 doors to Enlightenment" [5]. Clearly, in Buddha's time, ...

Mangala Sutta: The Sutra on Happiness; Buddha teaches the 11 blessings, those things which bring happiness

I heard these words of the Buddha one time when the Lord was living in the vicinity of Savatthi at the Anathapindika Monastery in the Jeta Grove. Late at night, a deva appeared whose light and beauty made ...

Profound simplicity of “Amituofo”: why Nianfo or Nembutsu is a deep, complete practice with innumerable benefits and cannot be dismissed as faith-based: w. full Amitabha Sutra

There is a something very precious and special about the practice of chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha: traditionally, the single word chant, Amituofo. When you participate in this elegant and powerful practice, you feel immediate peace and ...

In this time of contagious insults and flaming on social media, Buddha has good advice: “If I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you.”

In today's world of instant tweets and social media, insults propigate almost with a flaming will of their own. And those words find instant audiences on Twitter, spreading the anger, the fury, the insults, hurting, hurting and hurting. But, ...

Benefits obtained from wealth for householders: Adiya Sutta — righteously obtained and righteously used, wealth is not negative karma as long as “I have done what will not lead to future distress”

Many people misinterpret Buddhist beliefs, associating money or wealth as a source of attachment or negativity — particularly focusing on the ideal of renuciation. For the non-monastic — for the devout householder Buddhist — wealth is not itself ...

Three Higher Trainings: ethics, concentration, and wisdom. Venerable Robina Courtin teaches the vitally important Three Precious Trainings in a weekend workshop in Toronto

The three higher trainings — triśikṣa in Sanskrit — are arguably the most important teachings to a Buddhist. Sometimes the three trainings are described as "ethics, concentration and wisdom" and other times as "discipline, meditation, and wisdom" — ...

Tibetan Buddhist views on LGBTQ: is Buddhism accepting, neutral, supportive, or alienating to lesbians, gay men and trans-gendered persons? What about same-sex marriage?

One of the most often asked questions in our "Ask the Teacher" submission form [link here>>] is "How does Tibetan Buddhism view same-sex issues?" or "Does Buddhism encourage same-sex marriage?" and many variations on this theme. The LGBTQ ...

Lankavatara Sutra: “Eating meat has countless offences” Buddha teaches it is “root of great suffering”

Lankavatara Sutra (Tripitaka No. 671) Chapter 16: Do not eat meat   At that time, Arya(sage) Mahamati(Great Wisdom) Bodhisattva-Mahasattva said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan(World Honored One), I see that in all worlds, the wandering in births and deaths, ...

Milarepa explains happiness in the story of nettles: “A small rigid cushion beneath me: happiness; mind that gives up examination: happiness”

In one of the most enduring tales of Enlightened Milarepa, he teaches starving hunters — who had found their way to his cave — a lesson in happiness. Milarepa's dialogue with the hunters — along with all of ...

Kucchivikara-vattha: The Monk with Dysentery (Sutra teachings) “If you don’t tend to one another, who then will tend to you?”

A Buddha Weekly reader requested we highlight the teaching of "The Monk with Dysentery". "I read somewhere that once Buddha came back to his monastery after a usual walk and found one of the monks was suffering while ...

What’s with all this consort union in Tantric Buddhism? No, it’s not about sexual fantasies. The psychology of Yab-Yum consorts, union of wisdom and compassion

Tibetan Buddhism is above all practical. In Vajrayana, practice, practice, practice is the mantra of progress. Practical means, step-by-step progress, and that means daily meditation involving body, speech, and mind, in the form of mudras (body), mantras (speech) ...

Buddha teaches us to view every meal as if we were reluctant cannibals: Samyukta Agama Sutra 373, the Four Nutriments

In The Discourse on the Four Nutriments, Gautama Buddha tells the story of a mother and father, lost in the desert and starving, resorting to cannibalism of their own son to survive. [Full sutta below.] No, this wasn't a ...
Buddha-Weekly-Front and back cover Old Path White Clouds Thich Nhat Hanh-Buddhism

Pali Sutta for Our Age: Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Book Review of a Classic

Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha is about as close any of us will get to actually simulating what it felt like to live alongside and learn from the greatest teacher of all ...

Cankama Sutta: Walking Meditation Sutra: put some mileage on your Buddhist practice with formal mindful walking

Meditation is the metaphorical transport vehicle on the journey towards Enlightenment. Mediation is a key practice within the Noble Eightfold Path, specifically: Right Concentration (samma samadhi) and Right Mindfulness (samma sati). But, no one ever said the only way ...

Soma Sutta: Sister Soma gets the better of Mara — what difference does being a woman make in Buddhism? None

The short and pithy Sutta of Sister Soma (Soma Sutra) stands as one of the clearest (and most unequivocal) illustrations of Buddha's teachings on the equality of women. A Buddhist nun meditating in the forests near Julichun India. ...

Difficult lesson of karma: even “mass murderer” turned Arhat, Angulimala, had to bear the consequences of 999 murders

The story of Angulimala stands as one of the great sutras on Compassion. Shakyamuni Buddha, alone and unarmed, sets out to single-handedly stop a mass murderer from killing his own mother — just to add a 1000th "severed finger" ...

Movie: Walk With Me — Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village on the Big Screen: “Mindfulness is to always arrive in the here and now.”

An SXSW 2017 Film Festival Official Selection, Walk with Me, tells the story of the most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh and life at Plum Village, in a major new release later in 2017. Judging by the professional trailer, ...

This is the Great Happiness: Mangala Sutta, The Sutra on Happiness, the Tathagata’s Teaching

The Buddha gives a teaching. "To be humble and polite in manner, To be grateful and content with a simple life, Not missing the occasion to learn the Dharma This is the great happiness." — Shakyamuni Buddha Among ...
Incense is a form of honor and worship in Buddhism and other religions

Scientific Buddhist: Why Incense is More Than Just a Pleasant Backdrop to Meditation; Research Reveals Brain Health Benefits

"Many religious traditions have contended that burning incense is good for the soul. Now, biologists have learned that it is good for our brains too." — Science Daily [1] I'm addicted to incense. I use it in the morning. ...

What’s Your Karmic Net Worth? Avoid Compound Negative Karmic Interest with Vajrasattva Mantra and Four Opponent Powers.

Negative karma earns a sort of "compound interest" that rapidly accumulates if you don't purify daily — not just ordinary interest, but usury levels a loan shark could appreciate. Even if you are generous and create endless merit ...

Namaste: Respect Overcomes Pride, a Universal Greeting, and a Sign of Reverence

To many Buddhists, "Namaste" is more than a commonly spoken greeting. It is not just a salutation, it's a sign of genuine respect and good will. More importantly, bowing to another helps us overcome the obstacle of pride, a ...

Thich Nhat Hanh, the Great Buddhist Peacemaker, Honoured with Catholic Peace Award, recipient of the 2015 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award.

It may seem a little unusual for Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh to be honored by a Catholic annual award, particularly as the past recipients are notably populated by great Bishops, priests, monks and sisters, but anyone familiar ...

Remembering His Eminence Choden Rinpoche: The Hidden Meditator Passes into Dharamadhatu

On Sept 11 at 1:30am, Kyabje Choden Rinpoche showed the aspect of passing away at Sera Jey Monastery. "With great sadness, we must convey to you the news of His Eminence Choden Rinpoche's passing into dharamadhatu," writes Choden ...

“We offer Thich our powerful collective energy”: People Around the World Hope for Fast Recovery for Renowned Buddhist Teacher Thich Nhat Hanh

"Our practice of stability and peace in this very moment is the best support we can offer to [Nhat Hanh]. Let us all around the world take refuge in our practice, going together as a river to offer ...

Buddhist Mantras Help Crops Grow — Increase Output by Fifteen Percent; Studies Reveal the Power of Mantras to Help Plants — People

Buddhist farmers in Fujian Province increased crop yield and grain size with Buddhist Mantras, according to a report in the Global Times. [1] Faithful local Liangshan villagers installed 500 lotus-shaped loud speakers to saturate the crops with empowering ...

Seven Line Prayer to Padmasambhava

The precious seven lines of the Precious Lotus Born is chanted every day by the faithful. The Seven Line Prayer to Guru Rinpoche, our Precious One, is a daily joy for many of us who habitually and with ...

Cruelty to Chickens Protest: Dalai Lama

I have been particularly concerned with the sufferings of chickens for many years." HH Dalai Lama in a letter to KFC Various Buddhist traditions advocate vegetarian diet on the grounds of compassion, with the notable exception of Tibetan ...
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