Lee Kane
Lee Kane is the editor of Buddha Weekly, since 2007. His main focuses as a writer are mindfulness techniques, meditation, Dharma and Sutra commentaries, Buddhist practices, international perspectives and traditions, Vajrayana, Mahayana, Zen. He also covers various events.
Lee also contributes as a writer to various other online magazines and blogs.
Video: Vajrakilaya’s Mantra beautifully chanted Sanskrit — cutting the three poisons and removing all obstacles — the “activity of all the Buddhas”
Videos
Vajrakilaya and his mantra is important in our modern world — since Vajrakilaya is the activity of all the Buddhas. He is the wrathful Heruka emanation of glorious Buddha Vajrasattva. At the same time, he is the ultimate ...
MEMBER VIDEO: Ad-free HD version video and mantra music: Vajrakilaya’s mantra beautifully chanted Sanskrit 108 times — remover of obstacles
Member Videos
First for four new videos, exclusive ad-free HD versions for our valued members and patrons. Coming soon to Youtube. Vajrakilaya and his mantra is important in our modern world — since Vajrakilaya is the activity of all the ...
Sacred Statue Support (pictorial): “More than a venerable object” — Nepal’s Best Statues, 3rd Generation Bhim Pathak on the Dharma craft of metal statue art
Buddhist Living
Although we often feature Dharma artists and craftspeople on Buddha Weekly, we remain in awe of the master quality of the precious sacred statues from the 3rd generation of statue artisans at Nepal's Best Statues. You could say ...
Book Review: Tasting the Essence of Tantra: Buddhist Meditation for Contemporary Western Life by Rob Preece — Highly Recommended
Book Excerpts and Reviews
Author-Psychotherapist Rob Preece's excellent books have become go-to references for Western Buddhist teachers and students of Tibetan Buddhism. "The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra" was an instant classic, jammed full of thoughtful nuggets that help Western practitioners pierce the ...
Inspired by Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche, Holy Land Prayer Wheels personalize Tibetan Prayer Wheels: interview with Micha Strauss
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Vajrayana
Over many years, Micha and Ayelet Strauss have made personalized prayer wheels for people around the world, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche, and many other notable Tibetan teachers. Many teachers advocate prayer wheels as ...
Ad-Free Patron HD Video: Parnashavari Tara Healing Mantra Video Sung by Hrishikesh Sonar with master art visualized images
Member Videos
Ad-free high definition version of the video version as a thank-you for our precious Supporting Members of our popular video on Healing Parnashavari with chanted mantras! Parnashavari is Tara's Healing emanation, also lovingly known as Tara Dressed in ...
Vajrakilaya: put a peg in it ! — Cutting the three poisons with the sharpest weapon: destroying ignorance, greed, and hostility with profound Vajrakumara
Deities, Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche, Vajrakilaya, Vajrayana
Vajrakilaya is the most "cutting" of wrathful meditational deities — a wrathful Heruka ('hero') emanation of glorious Vajrasattva. At the same time, he is the ultimate expression of Bodhichitta and compassion and love. He is the Heruka of ...
“Our mind is full of rubbish” —Venerable Chodron. It’s time to purify: sutra practice of “The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls” with commentary
Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Mahayana
The 35 Confessional Buddhas practice is the ultimate sutra-based purification practice. Ven. Thubten Chodron explains: “Why do we need to purify? Because our mind is full of rubbish." Even though The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls to the Thirty-Five ...
June 27, 2022: This Week I am Thankful For…”: heroic nurses who save babies, the long lives of our teachers and pigs at airports
I'm Thankful For
More of the same last week: war, pandemics, violence. Fortunately, with a little digging, we can find some “good news” to celebrate the virtues of compassion and kindness in our world. Those little acts of Karuna (compassion) and ...
Members: Lama Tsongkhapa celebrating the life and guided practice of the great sage — and mantra beautifully chanted by Yoko Dharma
Member Videos
View full video — Transcript In these difficult times, we need practices that generate the healing powers of Compassion, Wisdom and Power. These are usually personified, from a Mahayana Buddhist point-of-view in the Enlightened forms of Chenrezig for ...
June 20, 2022: “This Week I’m Thankful For…”: Saga Dawa, H.H. Dalai Lama, neighbors who care, a cancer breakthrough, forests and fungi…
I'm Thankful For
At times it may seem the news is only filled with negative news: war, pandemics, violence. We sometimes forget to recognize the "good news." Those little acts of Karuna (compassion) and Metta (loving-kindness) that help affirm we all ...
Vyagghapajja Sutta — Buddha: “These four conditions, conducive to a householder’s happiness…” Buddha teaches the lay followers
Sutras & Sutta
In Vyagghapajja Sutta, a concise but profound sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha answers his lay followers on how to develop the four conditions conducive to householder's happiness. The representatives of the laypeople attending asked "O Lord, let the Exalted One ...
VIDEO: 21 Tara Praises chanted in English, with beautiful art in the Nyingma and Atisha traditions!
Videos
This beautiful new video with the 21 Taras Praise sung in English, with meditational images in the traditions of Nyingma Terma and Atisha. Principle Green Tara with Tara's mantra opens and closes the praise with images by Jampay ...
21 Taras sung in English Atisha and Nyingma traditions — early and ad-free for Patrons and Members as our thank you!
Member Videos
Ad-Free Patron/Member version: Beautiful chanting in English of the 21 Taras Praise with stunning Nyingma tradition images of 21 Taras by Lasha Mutual (lashamutual.com, used with permission)— chanted by amazing Hrishikesh Sonar. Members play ad-free here: Principle Green ...
Shabkar “the greatest yogi after Milarepa” (Dalai Lama) becomes the object of his disciples attachment — from his autobiography
Koans and Riddles, Teachers, Vajrayana
Among the most loved of the sages from the land of Tibet was the great Shabkar. His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained Shabkar's unique appeal in the forward to the book the Life of Shabkar: "Regarded by many ...
Sutra of the ten ways of being free: the Discourse on the Ten Wholesome Ways of Action
Sutras & Sutta
In this beautiful Sutra, Buddha delivers one of his most important and concise deliveries of the "ten ways of being free": What are the ten? 1]. One gives universally to all beings without fear 2]. One always has ...
Vyākaraṇaparivarta vyākaraṇa – “prophecy” or “prediction” chapter 6 of the Lotus Sutra
Sutras & Sutta
Editors Note: This is chapter 6 in our ongoing series on the Lotus Sutra, the famous "Prophecy" chapter of the Lotus Sutra. This is the chapter in which Buddha' predicts future Buddhahood for the four students featured in ...
Prajnaparamita Yum Chenmo, the Face of Perfection: Wisdom Personified, “Emptiness is Form” Manifested: Great Mother of Wisdom
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Sutras & Sutta, Vajrayana
Why do we call Prajnaparamita — and Her Emanations, such as Tara — the Mother of the Buddhas? Is Prajnaparamita a Sutra or a Goddess or both? Venerable Zasep Rinpoche explained, "Prajnaparamita means 'The Perfection of Wisdom’ in Mahayana ...
Buddhism’s Most Important Day: Celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday (563 B.C.) on Vesak or Saga Dawa Druchen 2022
Buddha
Buddhism is a generous, loving, and compassionate path. In keeping with these beliefs, on Buddha's "birthday" (Saga Dawa on the Tibetan lunar calendar falls on June 14, 2022, Vesak on other lunar calendar this year on May 16, ...
“It is I, Rāhula”; “I see,” said the Buddha — the story of Buddha’s son whose name means “shackle”
Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
As the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama Buddha's life story has been retold and reimagined countless times. But what about his only son, Rāhula? Born between 34 BCE and 451 BCE, Rāhula was the son of Prince Siddhartha ...
Supporting Member Video: In Buddhas Words — NOT in Buddhas Words, or Did Buddha Actually Say That?
Member Videos
As a special thank you to our supporting members and patrons, please enjoy this HD version of In Buddhas Words — NOT in Buddhas Words, ad-free. Welcome to our humorous new education series: In Buddhas Words ... NOT ...
The month of merit: Saga Dawa, celebrating Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Paranirvana — be generous, moral and practice often
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices
The month of merits for 2022 has begun! The most important day of this amazing, meritorious month, is the great Saga Dawa Duchen, which this year will be on June 14. (The month of merits, or month of ...
Lotus Sutra Chapter 5 — Parable of the Medicinal Plants, “all beings are nourished by Buddha Dharma”: full English translation.
Mahayana, Sutras & Sutta
The focus of this parable: “All beings are nourished by the Buddha Dharma and have Buddha Nature, although they grow into Buddhahood at their own pace.” What are the symbols in this parable? Parables as told by Buddha ...
Supporting Members and Patrons Video: Kurukulla Red Tara Guided Visualization and Mantra 108
Member Videos
Over the centuries, Vajrayana Buddhists journeyed, in their minds, to visit dazzling pure lands, filled with wondrous Enlightened Beings. Imagine, now, closing your eyes to meditate on Emptiness, and glimpsing none other than Red Tara in her form ...
Supporting Member Video: Padmasambhava visualizations with mantra 108x beautifully chanted
Member Videos
Thank you dear Patrons and Supporting Members! This is for you! Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava's mantra connects us with the Enlightened Padmasambhava. For centuries, it has been chanted for its spiritual and miraculous qualities. Bring the benefits of this ...
Supporting Member Ad-Free Video: Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Mantra sung by Yoko Dharma with meditation images
Member Videos
Wonderful Mantra Chanting: Om Gate Gate Paragate by Yoko Dharma The profound essence of Buddha Nature and Emptiness is beautifully expressed in the Heart Sutra Mantra, magnificently chanted by Yoko Dharma with video visualizations. For the full ...
VIDEO: Green Tara practice, recitation and praises: Song of Longing for Tara recited by Jason Espada with stunning images and 21 Praises to Tara chanted in English
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED1-FBm-HC8 Jason Espada soothingly recites the Song of Longing for Tara prayer, relied on by millions as a daily practice — with stunningly beautiful Tara and meditative images. After the beautiful recitation — recommended to be recited twice ...
Tsog dates 2022 on Western Calendar: and, the meaning of Tsog (Tsok) — the non-ordinary blissful offering
Dakini Wisdom, Special Days, Tantra, Vajrayana
What is Tsog, and why is it so precious and important? From the Heruka Root Tantra: Quickly attempt to make offerings Every waxing and waning of each month do tsog. NOTE: Tsog Dates for 2022 below in table. ...
Podcast: “In Praise of Tara” recited by Jason Espada, celebrating the Glorious Mother of the Buddhas
Podcast
Jason Espada, well known for reciting sutras, discourses and commentaries, recites his Praise of Tara, a beautiful six minute praise. The full prayer: In Praise of Tara Holy Tara, Protector of living beings, May your blessings flow ...
Video: 3 great Bodhisattvas Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani — mantras and introduction: bring the wisdom, compassion & power of the 3 Lords into your life
Videos
What are the three key aspects of Buddhist Practice? What Bodhisattvas represent these key foundations in Buddhism? How can we bring them into our lives? In this Buddha Weekly video, we introduce the Three Lords of the World, ...
Podcast: Jason Espada recites the Medicine Buddha Sutra: listening and reciting as a healing meditation.
Podcast
Jason Espada recites the entire Medicine Buddha Sutra. Recitation or listening to any sutra is considered a healing practice — the more so for Medicine Buddha Sutra with the Great 12 Vows of Bhaishajyaguru, the Lapis Lazuli Medicine ...
Green Tara Practice Video visualization: Jason Espada recites Tara prayer with 21 Taras Praises
Member Videos
Jason Espada soothingly recites the Song of Longing for Tara prayer, relied on by millions as a daily practice. After the beautiful recitation — recommended to be recited twice a day — Hrishikesh Sonar chants the 21 Praises ...
Podcast: Green Tara Practice: Jason Espada recites the Song of Longing for Tara prayer with 21 Taras Praise in English
Podcast
Jason Espada soothingly recites the Song of Longing for Tara prayer, relied on by millions as a daily practice. After the beautiful recitation — recommended to be recited twice a day — Hrishikesh Sonar chants the 21 Praises ...
Podcast: Introducing the Three Great Bodhisattvas and their mantras: Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani
Podcast
What are the three key aspects of Buddhist Practice? What Bodhisattvas represent these key foundations in Buddhism? How can we bring them into our lives? In this Buddha Weekly podcast, we introduce the Three Lords of the World, ...
NEW early access video for Supporting Members: The Three Great Bodhisattvas and their mantras
Member Videos
As a member thank you, please enjoy this ad-free video focused on the benefits of the Three Great Bodhisattvas Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani, and how their practice can bring Wisdom, Compassion, and Power . (Ad free and early ...
Member Ad-Free Video: 10 Protections of Buddha Amitabha with chanted Amituofo 南無阿彌陀佛
Member Videos
As a member thank you, please enjoy this ad-free video focused on the benefits of the Pureland Buddhism practice of chanting the name and praise of Amitabha Buddha. Following the introduction of benefits is a wonderful traditional chanting ...
Member Ad-Free Video: Medicine Buddha Mantra wonderfully sung by Yoko Dharma with Meditative Buddha images
Member Videos
As a member thank you, please enjoy the Medicine Buddha mantras sung by the amazing Yoko Dharma with gorgeous Medicine Buddha images for meditative reflection and healing. Although our videos are available to all on Youtube and on ...
“Awaken the seeds of our innate wisdom” or Buddha Nature — embodied in the Yidam: “Conscious realism” and the profound Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Buddhism speaks in terms of "Innate Enlightened Potential" or "Buddha Nature". Cognitive Science speaks in terms of "Unified Single Mind." Emptiness, or Shunyata, is also a Oneness perception of reality. Removing "ego" from our perception results in Oneness ...
Ehipassiko: encouraging investigation — Buddha taught logic to give us confidence in Dharma — not perpetual doubt
Buddhist Practices, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
Buddha didn’t endorse a perpetual pursuit of knowledge, to the point of creating doubt — but he did teach the path of logic and investigation. The goal of an inquiring mind is discriminating wisdom — not perpetual doubt. ...
Parable of the Burning House — Buddha tries to help his children leave the “burning mansion” — first Parable of the Lotus Sutra (Chapter 3) with full translation
Sutras & Sutta
Editors Note: This is chapter 3 in our ongoing series on the Lotus Sutra, and the first of the seven parables found in the Lotus Sutra. This is the famous parable of the burning house. In this wonderful ...
Dharma Days 2022: auspicious lunar practice dates: all Buddha days, Tsog, and Puja days
Dharma
Eclipses and full moons are the most important days in Buddhist practice. This is almost the complete opposite of some other traditions where both full moons and eclipses are considered unlucky. On the full moon of the fourth ...
Member Ad-free Video: 5 Wisdom Dakinis Mantra sung by Yoko Dharma!
Member Videos
As a member thank you, please enjoy the 5 Wisdom Dakinis mantras and visualization, sung by the amazing Yoko Dharma! Although our videos are available to all on Youtube and on Buddha Weekly, production costs are supported partially ...
“Buddha Didn’t Teach That?” All paths of Buddhism — Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana — have the same core method: cutting the poisons!
Dharma
When Buddha decided to find a solution to suffering in our universe, one of his first acts was to cut his hair. When a novice renounces Samsaric life to become a renunciate, the symbolic representation of that mission ...
Dependent Co-Arising Answers Most Arguments with Impeccable Logic: The Great Causes Discourse Maha-nidana Sutta
Dharma, Rebirth / Reincarnation, Scientific Buddhist, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
In almost any "Buddhist" philosophical argument — for instance, "why should I meditate?" or "Is there a soul?" or "what happens after death?" or even, "what is the true nature of self?" — the impeccable logic of Dependent ...
Tara the Windy Liberator, the Mother, the Activity Heroine: “Green Tara functions throughout our world” the activity of all the Enlightened Ones
Tara, Vajrayana, What the Teachers Say
Green Tara is famous for her windy activity — faster than the fiercest hurricane — sweeping to the rescue of sentient beings. In Vajrayana Buddhism, Female Buddhas represent Wisdom. Tara represents the unique and awesome intersection of ...
The observer conundrum in Buddhism and Quantum Physics: koans, erasers, soul-not-soul, and endless cycles of time
Scientific Buddhist
"Emptiness is form. Form is Emptiness" — Buddhism "Reality doesn’t exist unless we are looking at it" — Quantum Physics "The bridge flows, the water is motionless. Why?" — Zen Koan "If you are not completely confused by ...
PODCAST: Mahamudra Meditation Retreat: Samatha meditation introduction, session 1 with Venerable Zasep Rinpoche
Podcast
In session 1 of a Mahamudra retreat — a full weekend of teachings — Venerable Zasep Rinpoche introduces Mahamudra and guides a wonderful session that includes a guided session on Samatha Mindfulness — Calm Abiding Meditation. In ...
Enlightenment in one lifetime? Guru Rinpoche Padmsambhava explains what it takes. Practice, discipline, and more practice!
Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Guru Rinpoche, Mantra, Tantra, Teachers, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
What was Guru Rinpoche's advice to his beloved consort disciple Lady Tsogyal on how to achieve enlightenment in this very lifetime? Seclusion, discipline, hard work, and the guru are among the most important. What advice would he have ...
Video: Mahamudra session 1 — Samatha mindfulness meditation introduction, series weekend retreat with Ven Zasep Rinpoche
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qnjr44dCCA In session 1 of Mahamudra retreat — a full weekend of teachings — Venerable Zasep Rinpoche introduces Mahamudra and guides a wonderful session that includes a guided session on Samatha Mindfulness — Calm Abiding Meditation. In session ...
PODCAST: 5 Wisdom Dakini Mantras chanted: Increasing, Magnetizing, Subjugating, Peaceful Activities Power
Podcast
Beautifully chanted by the amazing Yoko Dharma! Bring the five powers of the Five Wisdom Dakinis into your life by chanting along with the mantras of Buddha Dakini, Padma Dakini, Vajra Dakini, Ratna Dakini and Karma Dakini! These ...
Purify karma, heal illness, increase lifespan and avert calamities with Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra and Mantra
Dharma, Sutras & Sutta
Recitation of the Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra and Mantra, and its contemplation, is reputed to help during troubled and violent times. The Dharani, according to Buddha, can heal disease, lengthen life and purify karma for those with faith. ...
Theta brainwaves in meditation for health and cognition benefits, and how to achieve through mindfulness, repetition, sound, visualization, mantra
Mantra, Meditation, Mindfulness, Scientific Buddhist
Five key meditation methods can provide signicant health and cognitive benefits by inducing "Theta brainwaves." — according to numerous studies. Theta is associated with "ideas without censorship" or "ideation" mind mode [2]. It is also one of the ...
VIDEO: 5 Wisdom Dakini Mantras: Increasing, Magnetizing, Subjugating, Peaceful Activities Power
Videos
Watch now, the mantras of the Five Dakinis by the amazing Yoko Dharma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysK1UJd3KEM Bring the five powers of the Five Wisdom Dakinis into your life by chanting along with the mantras of Buddha Dakini Padma Dakini ...
VIDEO: Amitabha Phowa (Powa) Teaching / Guided Meditation from Ven. Zasep Rinpoche Overcome Fear of Death
Videos
Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche's concise commentary and guided meditation on the profound practice of Tibetan Phowa (pronounced Powa) — the transference of our consciousness to the Pureland of Amitabha Buddha. This practice is renowned for "healing the mind" ...
How does Vajrayana visualization generate Tummo body heat, heal, and help us advance in Buddhist realizations?
Meditation
Can Vajrayana tummo practice really generate body heat? Can deity practice actually heal? Are Deities real? If they are real, why do we have to visualize them? Why do we imagine deities at all? What is the process ...
A Bee’s View of Buddha Dharma: “caring for bees” is a noble karmic act of the Pāramitā (Perfection) of Metta (loving kindness)
Buddhist Living
From a "bee's point of view" conservation of the earth is clearly Buddha Dharma practice. Saving bees — and our earth — is a practice of the Paramita of Metta, or loving-kindness. The discipline needed, to accomplish conservation ...
HAPPY Theravada Buddhist New Year April 06 2023! (varies by region somewhat 13-16th) Songkram, a time for alms, practice, fesitvals, respect, and sandcastles
Dharma
New years in Theravadan Buddhism is often called Maha Songkram (in Thailand), derived from the Sanskrit word, saṅkrānti (or, more specifically, meṣa saṅkrānti which means literally "astrological passage"). Maha Songkran means 'great Songkran — since technically there is ...
New PODCAST! Guru Rinpoche Wish-Fulfilling Mantra 108 times — chanted by amazing Hrishi!
Podcast
Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s Powerful Wish-Fulfilling Mantras — Protection, Prosperity, Healing! Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s mantra connects us with the Enlightened Padmasambhava. For centuries, it has been chanted for its spiritual and miraculous qualities. Bring the benefits of this short, ...
Three Great Bodhisattvas of Wisdom, Compassion, and Power — Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani.
Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattvas
The Three Great Bodhisattvas represent the three main focuses of Buddhist Practice — to cultivate Wisdom, Compassion and the Power of Enlightened Activity. Thought of in another way, the Three Great Bodhisattvas represent the Three Main Qualities and ...
VIDEO By Popular Demand! Mantra-Only: Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava’s Powerful Wish-Fulfilling Mantras — Protection, Prosperity, Healing
Videos
Our most requested video — and most requested mantra! After watching the popular documentary video (also embedded below) many people have requested a mantra-only version. Play now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24PvrVGmdBQ Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava's mantra connects us with the Enlightened Padmasambhava. ...
VIDEO: Quantum Buddha Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Documentary & mantras 108 times chanted w visualizations
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZDln4kJNSQ Why is Guru Rinpoche, the Lotus-Born Padmasambhava, considered the second Buddha of our times? Why are Padmasambhava's teachings more than just another teaching lineage in Buddhism? Why are Guru Rinpoche's teachings more akin to Quantum Physics than ...
PODCAST: Padmasambhava, Quantum Buddha: Guru Rinpoche Documentary & Mantra Chanted 108 times
Podcast
Why is Guru Rinpoche, the Lotus-Born Padmasambhava, considered the second Buddha of our times? Why are Padmasambhava's teachings more than just another teaching lineage in Buddhism? Why are Guru Rinpoche's teachings more akin to Quantum Physics than religion? ...
One Sutta to rule them all — Buddha’s most important sutta on Mindfulness: The Satipatthana Sutta “The Only Way”
Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
Of all the Suttas, one of the most important taught by the Buddha is the Satipatthana Sutta — The Discourse on The Only Way. Although this discourse on Arousing Mindfulness is considered to be the main method of ...
Buddhism has Nothing to do with Nihilism and everything to do with Experiencing; Why “Emptiness” and “Nothingness” are poor translations of Shunyata
Dharma, Zen • Chan • Seon
Emptiness, Nothingness or Voidness, as English translations for Shunyata are unfortunate — and entirely misleading. To paraphrase the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh: "Emptiness means empty of self — but in the fullness of everything else... it is ...
Pacifier of War and Strife, Avalokiteshvara Guanyin Chenrezig — Bodhisattva delivering us from every danger; Chapter 25 Lotus Sutra
Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattvas, Sutras & Sutta
Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin, Chenrezig, Kannon) is immediately synonymous with the word Bodhisattva — He (or She) is the quintessential Bodhisattva — the superhero savior. How do we ask for the Bodhisattva's aid? Simply think of the Bodhisattva, say the ...
The Six Paramitas, the Liberating Actions: a Complete Buddhist Path for Modern Living: Generosity, Discipline, Patience, Diligence, Meditation, Wisdom
Buddhist Practices, Mahayana
In modern life, distractions overwhelm us from the moment we wake up until we go back to sleep. We are bombarded with visual, auditory, and sensory information, making focus difficult. In ancient times, it was perhaps easier to ...
VIDEO: Hayagriva Buddha’s Sanskrit Mantra: King of All Protections, Pacifies Strife, Disease and Negativities—chanted 108 times
Videos
The mantra of the Heruka manifestation of Amitabha Buddha — the great and glorious Hayagriva — has been called the "King of All Protections" mantra. Many Buddhist teachers have requested students recite Hayagriva's supreme mantra in troubled times. ...
VIDEO: Palden Lhamo Shri Devi is the Terrifying Protector Aspect of Tara, Supreme Dharma Protector Mother
Videos
Palden Lhamo Shri Devi is that wrathful parent we need when we're in danger. As a child, who did you go to for protection: the parent who let you do anything and smiled while you did it, or ...
Palden Lhamo, the Terrifying Female Protector aspect of Tara: “Sole Mother, Lady Victorious Over the Three Worlds”
Buddhist Practices, Dalai Lama, Tara
As a child, who did you go to for protection — the parent who let you do anything and smiled while you did it, or the parent who yanked you back from the brink with a stern voice ...
VIDEO: White Mahakala, Buddha of Wealth — bringing generosity and good fortune to our lives
Videos
Wonderful video introduction to White Mahakala and his mantra for prosperity and generosity practices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BddyVdHtQ70 Prosperity MANTRA Om Guru Mahakala Hari Ni Sa Siddhi Dza Compassion comes in many forms. Sometimes we need a friend. Sometimes we need ...
Visualization Activates the Mind; Mindfulness Stills the Mind — Which is Right for Your Buddhist Practice?
Meditation, Mindfulness, Vajrayana, Zen • Chan • Seon
The great Lama Yeshe said: "Our problem is that inside us there is a mind going, 'Impossible, impossible, impossible. I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't' ... Human beings have great potential; they can do anything. The ...
Video Dharma Recitation: Tara, Giver of Peace, Read by Jason Espada, ends in Tara Mantra Chanting
Videos
New Video on our YouTube Channel! Tara, Giver of Peace, Dharma Reading plus Yoko Dharma singing the Tara mantra: Tara Giver of Peace Prayer Tara Mothers pray to you and children pray to you Merchants pray to you ...
Vajrasattva’s Purifying and Healing 100-syllable mantra in Sanskrit beautifully chanted
Podcast
Buddha taught us how to purify obstacles, obscurations, negative karma, even disease, through Vajrasattva meditation, visualization and mantras. Chant along the 100-syllable Sanskrit mantra, here beautifully chanted by Hrishikesh Sonar, with the meditative images of Vajrasattva. Visualize all ...
Rebirth vs Reincarnation: “If it isn’t ‘We’ who is reborn — if it is merely a continuum of us, but not us — then how does Karma work in the next life?” — A Reader Asks
Our Readers Ask, Rebirth / Reincarnation, Sutras & Sutta
In case you are wondering why we have an adorable picture of a happy baby as our feature image, its not a cheap trick (well, maybe it is, but there's a reason!) In Buddhist belief, we are taught ...
Podcast: Hayagriva Buddha’s Supreme Mantra chanted in Sanskrit 108 Times: Pacifies strife, obstacles diseases
Podcast
Many Buddhist teachers have requested students recite Hayagriva's supreme mantra in troubled times. In The Sutra of Forming Hayagriva it is written: "Whoever, including even the insects, has heard the name and mantra of Hayagriva only one time ...
Podcast: White Mahakala — bringing generosity and good fortune to our lives with Chenrezig’s auspicious form of compassion
Podcast
Compassion comes in many forms. Sometimes we need a friend. Sometimes we need a protective warrior. Sometimes, a fierce kick in the rear (metaphorically). And sometimes we need to reduce our obstacles to Dharma practice. Chenrezig, the Lord ...
21 Taras Surya Gupta Thanka — stunning art by Angeli Lhadripa Shkonda: interview featuring 21 Tara closeups
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Tara
Angeli Lhadripa Shkonda's artistic vision focuses her beautiful artistic skills on her beloved Tara Buddha. Taught by traditional teachers, Angeli creates thangkas that are luminous with Enlightened energy, alive with colour and detail and discrete gold details. We ...
Losar 2022: Getting Ready to Bring in the Year of the Tiger March 3, 2022; 15 days before and after Losar
Dharma
On the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, Losar — New Year! — falls on March 3, 2022 — which is the year 2149 in the Tibetan calendar. Due to differences in the lunar calendars [note below] the Tibetan calendar is ...
White Mahakala — bringing generosity and good fortune to our lives with Chenrezig’s auspicious form of compassion
Avalokiteshvara
Compassion comes in many forms. Sometimes we need a friend. Sometimes we need a protective warrior. Sometimes, a fierce kick in the rear (metaphorically). And sometimes we need to reduce our obstacles to Dharma practice. Chenrezig, the Lord ...
The Dalai Lama and eight other teachers explain how to avoid taking Refuge in the wrong things and why Refuge can help us overcome obstacles
Dalai Lama, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
"We are extraordinarily adept at taking refuge, the problem is we take refuge in the wrong things." writes noted Buddhist teacher and psychologist Rob Preece, in his breakthrough book, Preparing for Tantra. [1] Rob Preece explains what he means ...
Podcast: Five Buddhist Wisdom Dakinis: Dharma Activities with Mantras sung by Yoko Dharma
Podcast
What are the Five Wisdom Dakinis? Why are they central to Tibetan Buddhist practice? Why are they associated with activity practices— peaceful, increasing, magnetizing, subjugating and supreme activities — such as Chod? In this presentation, we ...
Podcast: Healing Parnashavari Tara Mantra, the specialist in Epidemics, sung 108 times by incredible Hrishi!
Podcast
Healing Parnashavari is Tara's Healing emanation, also lovingly known as Tara Dressed in Leaves. Her mantra is renowned through the centuries, for healing and especially for effectiveness against epidemics. In this Buddha Weekly special presentation, enjoy the healing ...
PODCAST: Supreme Mother Protector Palden Lhamo, Aspect of Tara
Podcast
As a child, who did you go to for protection: the parent who let you do anything and smiled while you did it, or the parent who yanked you back from the brink with a stern voice and ...
Thich Nhat Hanh’s Literary Legacy Celebrated with Charitable Bundle of ebooks: No Mud, No Lotus excerpt
Zen • Chan • Seon
Thich Nhat Hanh's words, teachings and books have been a comfort and refuge for many Buddhists around the world. The great teacher's wisdom and compassion live on in his many books. Now, Parallax Press, a non-profit publisher founded ...
Video: Healing Parnashavari Tara Mantra 108 times with beautiful master art visualizations sung beautifully by Hrishi
Videos
Parnashavari is Tara's Healing emanation, also lovingly known as Tara Dressed in Leaves. Her mantra is renowned through the centuries, for healing and especially for effectiveness against epidemics. In this Buddha Weekly special presentation, enjoy the healing mantras ...
Video: Five Buddhist Wisdom Dakinis: Dharma Activities including Chod, with Mantras sung by Yoko Dharma – 49 languages subtitled
Videos
Five Wisdom Dakinis: awareness dances into elemental form, wisdom of the Five Buddhas, empowering Chod and Dharma activity Play video (subtitles and languages enabled): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUOOD95WrBU What are the five Wisdom Dakinis? Why are they central to Tibetan Buddhist ...
Video: 3 Principal Paths — Essence of Lamrim: Part 1 Renunciation for laypeople: Ven Zasep Rinpoche
Videos
The Lamrim teachings on the Three Principal Paths — it can be spelled Principal or Principle, either is correct with slightly different contexts — is considered the very essence of Buddha's teaching. (Therefore his Principles but also his ...
Celebrating Lunar New Year! Happy Year of the Tiger: roaring back for 2022. Wishing you every auspiciousness!
Dharma
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, is Lunar New Year, celebrated in Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam! [Tibetans are on a slightly different lunar calendar, see below.] HAPPY YEAR OF THE WATER ...
“Learning how to die” and “Why Meditating on Death May Bring Joy to Life”: What the Buddhist Teachers Say About End of Life, Dying, and Palliative Care
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Dalai Lama, Dharma, Meditation, Rebirth / Reincarnation, Teachers, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
Thich Nhat Hanh: "The notion of death cannot be applied to reality." The great teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, who passed away at 00:00hrs on 22nd January, 2022, at the age of 95, often wrote about impermanence, with an ...
Chod practice: offering yourself to all beings, the ultimate expression of bodhichitta
Buddhist Practices, Dakini, Dakini Wisdom, Vajrayana, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
The vivid and visceral imagery of Chod Practice — where you visualize offering your own body to all sentient beings, chopped up into grisly bits, and presented in a human skull — can lead to extreme misunderstanding. Teachings ...
The Great Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh passed away at age 95 — his message of peace shook the world.
Teachers, Zen • Chan • Seon
The great teacher, Bodhisattva and scholar, Thich Nhat Hanh — who shook the world with his message of peace — has passed away at 95, "at his home in the Tu Hieu Temple in Hue, Vietnam", announced by ...
The Emptiness of Prayer—Who Do We Pray To? “You and the Buddha are not separate realities.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhist Living, Dharma
"A prostration based on the perception that Buddha has a separate self from your own, and that you have a self separate from the Buddha, can only be called superstition," wrote Thich Nhat Hanh, one of the world's ...
Sutra of Golden Light brings “peace and happiness” and “long life”; also, Sutra transmission of Chod, alleviating fear, and healing
Buddhist Practices, Mahayana, Sutras & Sutta
The dominant theme of many Mahayana Sutras — the Great Vehicle Teachings — is “benefiting others.” To Mahayana Buddhists, there are three principal paths, expressed wonderfully in the “King of all Sutras” the “Sutra of Golden Light”: Renunciation, ...
Bliss helps us understand Emptiness without nihilism: Vajrayana develops faster insight through the balance of bliss and emptiness, compassion and wisdom, mandala and deity
Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Vajrayana
"Emptiness is not a specialty of Vajrayana. Yidam meditation is part of Vajrayana, but is not the special quality of the Vajrayana. The special quality [that enhances the practice] really is the bliss." — Gelek Rimpoche [2] ...
Assu Sutta: Tears of suffering in Samsara greater than the “ocean of the four great oceans.” Buddha Sutra
Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
In the Assa Sutta — apparently one of the saddest of the teachings — Buddha teaches us to drive our mission to escape Samsara by remembering our endless tears through our countless lives. (Full Sutta below in English.) ...
Podcast: Wrathful Buddhas: The First Responders in Meditation How to Relate to the Fearsome Enlightened Deities
Podcast
If you were facing a life-threatening scenario, would you call emergency services on your phone, calling for help from well-trained first responders — or call your kindly relative. If disaster strikes, we inevitably first think of our wonderful ...
Padmasambhava: “the source of accomplishment is the Yidam”; Yidam is systemized practice, not just a “deity”
Vajrayana
"The source of blessings is the lama, the source of accomplishment is the yidam, and the source of activities is the dakinis." — Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava Yidam is a method — usually a defined system of practices — ...
Wrathful Buddhas video: the first responders in meditation; how to relate to the fearsome Enlightened deities
Videos
If you were facing a life-threatening scenario, would you call emergency services on your phone, calling for help from well-trained first responders — or call your kindly relative. If disaster strikes, we inevitably first think of our wonderful ...