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.
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 ...
Bodhi Day and Awakening to Dharma — celebrated on anniversary of Shakyamuni Gautauma Buddha’s Enlightenment
Buddhist Living
Bodhi Day is the precious day we celebrate Gautama Shakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment, primarily in Mahayana Buddhist traditions. Although it is, perhaps, the most important day of the Buddhist calendar — celebrating the ultimate goal of the path, Enlightenment ...
Vajrapani, the “Hand of Buddha” defeats the poisons : pride, anger, hate and jealousy
Bodhisattvas, Buddhist Practices, Deities, Mantra, Tantra, Vajrayana
Vajrapani's name means, literally, "Indestructible Hand" — the Hand of the Buddha. He is one of the three great Bodhisattvas, together with Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig, Guanyin) and Manjushri, who respectively represent "power of Buddha," Compassion of Buddha, and Wisdom ...
Buddhist Dharma Dates 2022: clearing the confusion on lunar calendars
Dharma, Special Days
Sacred lunar days 2022: why they're important, when and how to celebrate Buddha Days, Tsog Feasts, Puja Days in Tibetan, Mahayana, and Theravada Buddhist traditions Lunar calendars can be confusing — especially since there are three systems: lunisiderial, ...
Healing Parnashavari — Tara’s Healing emanation: specialist in Contagious Disease, Illness, Pandemic: How to practice her mantra and sadhana
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Tantra, Tara, Vajrayana
"Tara dressed in leaves" is Parnashavari, the 20th emanation of Tara in the 21 Taras Praise.[3] Her name literally translates from Sanskrit to English as a "leaf-clad goddess" — a treasured and revered emanation of Tara relied upon ...
New Podcast: Great Sage from the Land of Snows Lama Tsongkhapa — with guided practice
Podcast
TEXT of the practice is below if you'd like to follow along! Great Sage from the Land of Snows Lama Tsongkhapa — an ideal practice In these difficult times, we need practices that generate the healing powers ...
Video: Lama Tsongkhapa Visualization and Practice with Migtsema Chanting
Videos
Great Sage from the Land of Snows, Lama Tsongkhapa — an ideal practice 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 ...
PODCAST: Vajrasattva Buddhist Purification: guided audio visulized meditation and 100-syllable mantras
Podcast
Why do many Buddhists consider purification practice to be the ultimate meditative practice? Why do Tibetan Buddhists consider Buddha Vajrasattva practice to be the most perfect and complete of purification practices? Do I need special instruction to practice ...
Vajrasattva Video: Guided Visualization and Long Mantras (non musical) With Helpful Introductory Documentary
Videos
Don't miss this beautiful visualized short guided journey into the mandala of Vajrasattva, with the long mantra and purification visualization, beautifully illustrated with the amazing art of Thomas Edwards and Laura Santi. The on-screen visualization is guided by ...
PODCAST: Dogs and Cats Who Love Buddha: Doggy and Kitty Dharma
Podcast
What do the Buddhist teachers say about doggie and kitty Buddha Dharma? Did Buddha teach that Dogs and cats have Buddha Nature, just like humans? How can you help your companion meet the Dharma in daily life? How ...
VIDEO — All Beings Have Been Our Mothers! Doggy and Kitty and Hamster Buddha Dharma
Videos
With insights from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Venerable Zasep Rinpoche and Venerable Thubten Choden. Ends with Healing Medicine Buddha Mantras (Recommended by teachers to play for your animal companions!) chanted by the amazing Yoko Dharma with beautiful animal videos. ...
Deity Yoga: Science or Superstition? Vajrayana Deity Meditation Proves Invaluable in Preventing Cognitive Disorders. In What Other Ways is Vajrayana Buddhist Deity Practice More Science than Religion?
Deities, Vajrayana, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
Deity Yoga in Tibetan Buddhism is very often misunderstood. In apparent contradiction to the implied meaning of "deity" — which is really a mistranslation of the Sanskrit "deva" — there might, in fact, be more science than superstition ...
Podcast: Kurukulla Red Tara Visualization and 108 Mantra Female Buddha Vajrayana Buddhism
Podcast
Transcript Narrator: 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 ...
Video: Stumbling on the Buddha and the Eightfold Path Visualization and Teaching
Videos
What would it have been like to stumble on the Buddha as he sat with his first five disciples to "Turn the Wheel of Truth" and the Noble Eightfold Path? Join our editor Lee Kane as imagines the ...
Drumming for Mindfulness — a simple way to calm the mind, remove stress and heal. Studies show drum meditation supports treatments of cancer, Parkinsons and depression.
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Meditation, Mindfulness, Scientific Buddhist
"I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions" — Lotus Sutra, Chapter 12 More than 2500 years ago, the drum was an important component of various Buddhist traditions. "In Buddha's time, the ...
The Ultimate Purification and Healing Practice: Chenrezig Nyung Nye Two-Day Practice: As Effective as 3 Months of Any other Practice
Avalokiteshvara
In Mahayana Buddhism, one Nyung Nye two-day intensive practice is considered to be as effective as three months of any other purification practice. It is also considered to be a very effective "healing practice." [1] It combines the ...
Podcast: 10 Protections of the Buddha: Amitabha Pureland Practice and Amituofo 南無阿彌陀佛 Chanting
Podcast
Why is Amitabha Practice misunderstood by many Buddhists? What are the Ten Great Benefits of Chanting the Name Praise of Amitabha? Why is Pureland Buddhism an ideal practice for devoted Buddhists? For many Buddhists, simply chanting the name ...
Podcast: Did Buddha Suggest a Vegetarian Lifestyle. 5 Buddhist Teachings Recommending Vegetarianism
Podcast
Listen and subscribe on Spotify>> Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts>> Listen on our podcast host Buzzsprout>> On Stitcher>> On iHeart Radio>> Did Buddha Recommend a Vegetarian Lifestyle? 5 Buddhist Teachers speak out. 5 Buddhist Sutras ...
Podcast 5: Hayagriva, the Wrathful Aspect of Amitabha: How Can He Help Us in Troubled Times?
Podcast
Listen and subscribe on Spotify>> Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts>> Listen on our podcast host Buzzsprout>> On Stitcher>> On iHeart Radio>> · Please consider supporting our "Spread the Dharma" mission on Patreon at https://patreon.com/buddhaweekly and ...
Podcast 4: How can Guanyin Avalokiteshvara (Kanon, Kuan Yin) Protect us from the 10 Great Fears and Dangers?
Podcast
Listen and subscribe on Spotify>> Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts>> Listen on our podcast host Buzzsprout>> On Stitcher>> On iHeart Radio>> How can Guan Yin (Kuanyin) Avalokiteshvara Protect us from the 10 Great Fears and Dangers? ...
Podcast 3: Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles and Protector of Prosperity, Buddhist Ganapati
Podcast
Listen and subscribe on Spotify>> Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts>> Listen on our podcast host Buzzsprout>> On Stitcher>> On iHeart Radio>> · Please consider supporting our "Spread the Dharma" mission on Patreon at https://patreon.com/buddhaweekly and ...
Podcast 2: The Virtues of the Triple Gem — Jataka Tales: Buddha’s Life Lesson 190
Podcast
The Jataka Tales are stories of the Previous Lives of the Buddha. In these stories, Buddha teaches us with examples of karma activity — conduct. Listen and subscribe on Spotify>> Listen and subscribe on Google Podcasts>> Listen on ...
Podcast 1, Spread the Dharma: Stumbling on the Buddha and the Eightfold Path — plus 5 other podcasts
Podcast
Listen and subscribe on Spotify>> Listen on our podcast host Buzzsprout>> Listen on our website Spread The Dharma>> It should also be listed on (or appear shortly on): Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Apple Music Stitcher iHeart Radio ...
In Buddhas Words … NOT in Buddha’s Words Series. About 50 Percent of Online Quotes Attributed to Buddha are Actual
In Buddha's Words, Sutras & Sutta, Videos
In Buddhas Words ... NOT in Buddha's Words. We all love inspirational quotes. They're especially nice as visual memes or illustrated quotes online, especially in Facebook posts. But how many are real. Our initial run at the top ...
Spread the Dharma! Helping to Spread the Dharma is the Mission of Buddha Weekly on multiple platforms: Youtube, Podcasts, Patreon
Videos
Helping to "Spread the Dharma" is the mission of Buddha Weekly. The timeless wisdom of Buddha, who taught the Dharma more than 2500 years ago, remains increasingly relevant and important today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpv9bRR2KNA Gautama Buddha taught the path ...
Buddha’s Advice for Politicians? 10 Virtues of a Leader; “I have done what will not lead to future distress”
Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
Shakyamuni Buddha's advice for world leaders remains relevant today — more than 2500 years after he taught various kings and leaders about politics, leadership and governance. Buddha often taught kings and leaders in his life, including famous King ...
Science: Research Indicates Vajrayana Meditation Techniques Involving Deity Visualization Improve Cognitive Performance and May Be Promising For Degenerative Brain Disorders
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Meditation, Scientific Buddhist, Tantra, Vajrayana
Science, and in particular the medical profession, has long accepted the positive benefits of many forms or meditation. Many studies across decades of research have proven meditation is simply good for the body—and your health. A study from ...
Mindfulness of Feelings Meditation: Overcoming Negative Feelings and Using Discriminating Alertness of Feelings in Your Practice: Mahamudra Teachings
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Mahayana, Meditation, Mindfulness, Teachers
"If You Don't Feel Anything, It Can Be a Problem" "Feelings are part of us," said Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, during a mini-retreat on Mahamudra and "mindfulness of feelings" in Owen Sound. "It's part of our life. Because ...
Guan Shi Yin: How can Guan Yin Avalokiteshvara PROTECT US from the 10 Great Fears? Includes the 10 praises and 108 Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa 南無觀世音菩薩 chants with beautiful visualizations.
Avalokiteshvara, Videos
In this wonderful video documentary, we ask and try to answer the questions: "In what way can Guan Yin Avalokiteshvara, the compassionate Bodhisattva, save and protect us from every danger? What ten great dangers does the Merciful Compassionate ...
大慈大悲 救苦救難 觀世音菩薩 无畏功德 包括 108 首 NAMO GUAN SHIYIN PUSA
Avalokiteshvara, Videos
慈悲的观世音, 观世音菩萨，能以什么方式救度我们，远离一切危险？大慈大悲观音救度我们哪十大险？我们如何寻求她的帮助？哪部经中有十大护法？ 包括 108 首 NAMO GUAN SHIYIN PUSA 念诵观音的冥想图像。 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftW7dVTi9wg
Wrathful Deities: The First Responders in Meditation; the Psychology of Fearsome Enlightened Buddhas
Buddhist Practices, Deities, Meditation, Tantra, Vajrayana
If you were facing a life-threatening scenario, would you dial 911 on your phone — the law-enforcers or well-trained first responders — or call your kindly relative? If disaster strikes, we inevitably first think of our wonderful first-responders. ...
Peer-Reviewed Science of Meditation: There are At Least 10 Reasons to Meditate: From Boosting Your Immune System to Increasing Cognitive Function
Scientific Buddhist
Science and Buddhism are often harmonious. Buddha taught the benefits of meditation more than two-thousand years ago. Today, medical professionals, scientists and psychiatrists almost universally endorse the tangible benefits of meditation. All the mechanisms for realizing these specific ...
The Foundation Practice of Prostrations: Humble Bow, a Method to Connect with Buddha Nature; the Psychology of Buddhist Prostrations
Buddhist Practices, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Zen • Chan • Seon
Psychologically, in modern times, we resist the concept of the bow or prostration. It is considered demeaning. Even the very idea of "bowing" causes our pride to flare up. This is, in fact, its main purpose, at least ...
Video: Did Buddha Suggest a Vegetarian Lifestyle? 5 Buddhist Teachings Recommending Vegetarianism.
Buddha, Buddhist Living, Videos
Did Buddha actually teach or suggest a Vegetarian lifestyle? Does the First Precept of Buddhism prohibit killing of animals? Does the First Precept of Buddhism prohibit killing of animals? What 5 Buddhist Teachings Point to a Vegetarian Lifestyle? ...
Wealth Deities: Generating Karma for Prosperity by Practicing Generosity. How to Reconcile Renunciation with Wealth Practices in Buddhism.
Buddhist Practices, Deities, Karma, Tantra, Vajrayana
Lama Atisha, the revered lama and Mahasiddha, came across an old man, dying of starvation in Bodghaya. Lama Atisha offered his own flesh, cut from his body, to save the old man. But the old man said, “How ...
Padmasambhava: The Eight Great Qualities of Taking Refuge; Taking Refuge in the Three Precious Jewels, the Defining Practice of Buddhism, and How it Can Rescue Us From All Dangers.
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Guru Rinpoche, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
"It is necessary to cut the misconception of thinking that it is enough to take refuge once in awhile. You should take refuge again and again, both day and night." — Guru Rinpoche The ultimate protector practice in Buddhism ...
Why is Maha Rakta Ganapati recommended by some Buddhist Teachers as the remover of obstacles, the protector of prosperity?
Deities, Vajrayana, Videos
Why is Maha Rakta Ganapati recommended by Buddhist Teachers as the remover of obstacles — the protector of prosperity? What makes Ganapati a spiritual superstar? Why is Ganesha so loved around the world? In Buddhism, what makes his ...
Hayagriva Buddha Documentary: Why is Hayagriva recommended by Buddhist Teachers in difficult times?
Videos
What's so special about Hayagriva Buddha? Why is Hayagriva recommended to students by Buddhist Teachers — in these difficult times? Why is this most Wrathful Heruka Emanation of Amitabha Buddha so effective today? What is the origin story ...
Video: 21 Praises Tara Chanted Beautifully in English with Stunning Art by VV Sapar and Ben Christian
Videos
BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH 21 PRAISES TO TARA in equal beats with a lovely melody and stunning art by Ben Christian for Green Tara and V.V. Sapar for the 21 Taras. Praise to the Mantra: Homage to Tara the Swift ...
Interview: Author of Allow Joy into Our Hearts, Chan Dharma Teacher Rebecca Li, Ph.D.
Book / Movie Review, Teacher Interviews
Rebecca Li, Ph.D. is a Chan Buddhist Dharma teacher and founder of the Chan Dharma Community. In her new book Allow Joy into Our Hearts she takes on the question of how to "find ways to allow joy, ...
Buddhist Practice: Practicing Joy in Difficult Times — Excerpt from Rebecca Li’s Allow Joy into Your Heart
Book / Movie Review, Buddhist Living
IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NEWS THIS WEEK, the theme is: When are we going back to normal? When are we opening things up? As some places return to normal, there’s a lot of anxiety about when ...
Video: A Good Friend Jataka — Tales of Buddha’s Previous Lives: Video Animation and Beautifully Narrated
Jataka Tales, Videos
The first in our new video series with luscious audio narration of the Jataka Tales — stories of Buddha's previous lives. These are over 500 moral stories meant for all ages. In our first, Eemil Sulva beautifully narrates ...
In Buddhas Words: “The person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future…” #InBuddhasWords
In Buddha's Words
“The person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and holds on to nothing — that person, I call a Holy Person.” — The Buddha Cited from Dhammapada 421 As with ...
In Buddha’s Words: “He who is possessed by constant virtue…” Path of Purification #inBuddhasWords
In Buddha's Words
In the third of our quotable quotes (#inBuddhasWords) — verified quotes with citations to Sutra — we draw from the Vissuddhi-magga, Path of Purification (S I 53):
He who is possessed of constant virtue, Who has understanding, and ...
In Buddhas Words: “Be… Refuges Unto Yourself Seeking No External Refuge…”
In Buddha's Words
In the second of our "quotable quotes" — verified quotes with citations to Sutra — we began by exploring a very popular online web quote attributed to Buddha — but fake and misleading. Although the gist of the ...
In Buddha’s Words: Daily Inspirational Buddha “Quotes” with Citations — Separating the Real from the Fake
In Buddha's Words
In Buddha's Words is a new series of "quotable quotes" from the Buddha — but cited with their source. Many Buddha Quotes and inspirational quotes online are "made up" or not verified with sutra/sutta references. We will pick ...
Chenrezig: the many faces of Avalokiteshvara’s compassion — sometimes we need a father or mother, sometimes a friend, sometimes a warrior
Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattvas, Deities
Sometimes we need the gentle mother or father to guide us. We often need a best friend to console us, pat our back, pick us back up and inspire us to work harder. Or, we might need the ...
Jataka Tales 1: First of the Tales of Buddha’s Previous Lives — APAṆṆAKA-JĀTAKA, the Wise Merchant and the Foolish Merchant
Buddha, Jataka Tales
Who's Who in this Story In Buddhist Canon, Buddha told the tales of his previous 500 plus incarnations, when he was a "Bodhisattva" — not yet the Conqueror, the Buddha. (For an introduction to the fabulous Jataka Tales, ...
Baalapandita Sutta: Buddha Teaches How to Recognize the Fool and the Wise One — English
Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
I heard thus: At one time the Blessed One lived in the monastery offered by Anaathapindika in Jeta’s grove in Saavatthi. The Blessed One addressed the Bhikkhus from there. The Buddha teaching his monks. The three ...
Dog and Cat Dharma: Did Buddha Teach That Dogs and Cats Have Buddha Nature? How Can You Help Your Companion Meet the Dharma in Daily Life?
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Dharma, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
I saw a sparkling moment of real Doggy Dharma last weekend. At a Medicine Buddha retreat, a nice couple brought along their beloved 15 month-old pup. My kind teacher, Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, smiled as they lifted the pup ...
Youthful Manjushri: the flowering of wisdom; the gentle Buddha who cuts through ignorance with his flaming sword
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Mahayana, Mantra, Tantra
Of all the Buddhist meditational deities — and, of all the Bodhisattvas we meet in the sutras — the overwhelming feeling with Manjushri is “gentle wisdom” and “gentle friend.” We feel warm, comforted, and supported in the youthful ...
“Dharma in motion”: Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhist Tantra and Zen have as much in common with martial arts as religion?
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Zen • Chan • Seon
Premise: Buddhism, Vajrayana Tantra and Zen have as much in common with martial arts as it does with religion. Second Premise: Martial arts skills are helpful to meditators and helps develop practice discipline. That may seem like an ...
A Wheel With Eight Spokes: Why Picking and Choosing “Beliefs” — or “Revisionist” Buddha Dhama — Can Obstruct Your Buddhist Practice
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Karma, Rebirth / Reincarnation, Scientific Buddhist, Teachers, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
" The eightfold path is often represented as a wheel with eight spokes. Pick a wheel with just one or two and it won't take you very far." — Mark Vernon [13] "Some traditional Buddhist teachers tend to ...
Scientific Buddhist: Peer Reviewed Studies — Buddhist Metta Loving Kindness Meditation Can Slow Aging —10 Benefits of Compassion
Avalokiteshvara, Scientific Buddhist
In two recent Buddha Weekly advice videos, teacher Zasep Tulku Rinpoche explained that mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditations were among the best therapies for bereavement, stress, cognitive issues, memory loss, and even Alzheimer's. (Bereavement Video>> and Cognitive Video>>) ...
Long life prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his birthday
Dalai Lama, News
Happy Birthday to His Holiness the Dalai Lama! His Holiness spoke on the occasion of his 86th Birthday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ZlrVMLEe8 At an earlier event (2019), His Holiness said: "Those of you who have dedicated your body, speech and mind ...
A Better Way to Catch a Snake Sutra: Buddha explains the danger of misinterpreting the Dharma
Buddhist Living, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
In this age of "fake news" it's interesting to note that "fake teachings" are a recurring theme in the Buddhist Sutras, especially in the Sutras featuring a Bhikshu named Arittha. A better word, might be "misinterpreted" teachings. Today, the ...
Nidana Sutta: Buddha Teaches the Three Causes for the Origination of Actions — Greed, Aversion, and Delusion: Sutra
Dharma, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
Shakyamuni Buddha taught the path to freedom from suffering (Pali, Dukkha, Sanskrit Duhkha), beginning with the causes of our suffering. In his first teaching on the Four Noble Truths, he taught "three types of suffering are distinguished: they ...
Exclusive: read two chapters from international bestselling author David Michie’s new Tibetan Buddhist thriller “The Secret Mantra”
Book / Movie Review, Vajrayana
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 ...
What’s so special about Hayagriva? In difficult times the wrathful Heruka emanation of Amitabha is an important Buddhist practice
Avalokiteshvara, Buddha, Deities, Vajrayana
"Whoever, including even the insects, has heard the name and mantra of Hayagriva only one time will never again fall into the lower paths." — Sutra of Forming Hayagriva [6] Supreme Mantra of Hayagriva chanted The Supreme Mantra ...
Book Review: Tara in the Palm of Your Hand: a guide to the practice of the twenty-one Taras in the Surya Gupta lineage
Book / Movie Review, Dakini Wisdom, Tara
"Tara is without a doubt the most beloved female deity in Tibetan Buddhism, revered for her swiftness in helping those who rely on her... Of all the Buddhas, Tara is the most accessible." — from Tara in the palm of your ...
Mama Buddha Tara: Compassionate Action; Stories of Green Tara the Rescuer — How She Can Help You
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Dakini, Dakini Wisdom, Deities, Mahayana, Mantra, Tantra, Tara, Vajrayana
Composite feature image from Buddha Weekly illustrated Tara's green hands cradling the Earth. Tara is the Buddha of Enlightened Activity. Tara (Drolma in Tibetan) is often just called the "saviouress", not just in the sense of spiritual salvation, ...
Akkosa Sutra — How Buddha dealt with insults and hate; advice that transcends the centuries
Buddhist Living, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
The gist of this amazing sutra teaching from Buddha? If I don't accept your insults — it belongs to you, not to me. It's all on you. You sent the hatred, insult, and prejudice outwards — and yikes, ...
Scientific Buddhist: Healing meditation, prayer and mantras? Do they work — according to research? Can we turn to mantras for help?
Mantra, Meditation, Scientific Buddhist
Do you feel silly when you turn to “mantras” for healing? Do you think meditation is healthy but not necessarily healing? Does it seem impossible to expect results from meditating on the Medicine Buddha? To chant or not ...
Why Buddha Nature is one of the most important understandings in Mahayana Buddhism and why Tathagatagarbha Buddha Nature is not the soul
Dharma, What the Teachers Say
“All beings are Buddhas, But obscured by incidental stains. When those have been removed, there is Buddhahood.” — Third Karmapa Rangjun Dorje [4] Buddha Nature (Buddha Dhatu) is one of the most important and inspirational foundation understandings in ...
What is Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryavatara? Interview Geshe Sherab: “Patience and Bodhicitta mind with elaborate reasoning and impeccable logic”
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Mahayana, Teacher Interviews, Teachers
Scholar and teacher Geshe Serab, in an interview with Buddha Weekly, explains why Śāntideva's masterpiece Bodhicaryavatara — the Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life — is a timeless and vastly important text for Mahayana Buddhists. Written around ...
Report: Buddha Weekly’s Top 50 Features this Month (March 2021)
Top 50 Features
The top fifty feature articles or pages on Buddha Weekly website in the last 30 days, linked to feature stories: 1. Home - Buddha Weekly: Buddhist Practices, Mindfulness, Meditation — 34,6921. 2. 8 Rights: The Noble Eightfold Path ...
A Picture is NOT worth 1000 Words — the Buddha Dharma is a Tradition of Words — A Guide for Those Who Can’t Visualize (Aphantasia)
Vajrayana
"A picture is NOT worth 1000 words” when it comes to Buddhism. Buddhism is an oral tradition, handed down by lineage to written sutras and written tantras. The words transcend any images that might arise from their messages. ...
The First Doctor: Medicine Buddha Bhaisajyaguru Lapis Lazuli Light — Empowering You to Heal; the Buddha of Healing and Medicine and Doctors
Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Deities, Dharma, Mahayana, Mantra, Medicine Buddha, Meditation, Vajrayana
In times of pain, sickness, or stress, many Mahayana Buddhists rely on sacred Medicine Buddha meditation for healing. In Buddhism, where the power of mind is preeminent, it is no surprise that meditation is widely embraced as medication. ...
Internet DIY Dharma: What seven Buddhist teachers say about the pros and cons of Buddha’s teachings via the internet and the risks of do-it-yourself Dharma.
Buddhist Living, Dharma, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
What is the promise — and danger — of Buddhist Dharma teachings online beyond the obvious pros vs cons: accessibility of Dharma teachings vs. misinformation or false Dharma teachings. In this feature, you'll find the opinions of seven ...
The Quantum Buddha Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava: the Second Buddha who turned the Vajrayana Wheel of Dharma
Buddhist Practices, Guru Rinpoche, Tantra, Teachers, Vajrayana
The Vajrayana Wheel of Buddhist Dharma that Guru Rinpoche brought to Tibet was more than simply another lineage of Buddhist philosophy. Vajrayana teachings, and especially Guru Rinpoche’s teachings and manifestations, framed a view of reality, of the Universe, ...
Why do Buddhas and Enlightened Beings need offerings? The simple answer: they don’t. The better answer is…
Buddhist Practices
Nothing confuses people interested in Buddhism — or new to the Dharma — more than the topic of offerings. It seems counter-intuitive from a "western" point-of-view. Buddhas have gone beyond all attachment, cravings or even the sense of "self" ...
Lama Tsongkhapa: A Short, Powerful Practice Helps Bring Compassion, Wisdom, Good Fortune, and Healing
Bodhisattvas, Buddhist Practices, Deities, Lama Tsongkhapa, Lamrim / Ngondro, Mantra, Tantra, Teachers, Vajrayana
"In my opinion, having the opportunity to practice the guru yoga of the great holy being Lama Tsongkhapa, is more fortunate than having the chance to receive and practice other Dharma teachings," wrote Lama Zopa Rinpoche, in the ...
Lamrim: the fast “mapped” path to Buddhist realizations: “It expounds the entire path” — Dalai Lama
Buddhist Practices, Dalai Lama, Dharma, Lama Tsongkhapa, Lamrim / Ngondro
In the quest for Enlightenment, the "swift" lightning path is Vajrayana. The key reason it is the fast path is its step-by-step structure — with teachings organized carefully into proven systems. One of these is Lamrim — the ...
Interview with meditation teacher Kimberly Brown, author of Steady, Calm, and Brave: 25 Practices of Resilience and Wisdom in a Crisis
Book / Movie Review, Meditation
In our interview with author Kimberly Brown, the popular meditation teacher describes "Practices of Resilience and Wisdom in a Crisis" — all the more important in these times of COVID-19. Buddha Weekly is also pleased to publish an ...
Halloween Fun Feature: Exploring the world of monsters and Demons in Buddhism; Scary Fun with Our Darker Natures for Pumpkin Season
Buddhist Living
Let’s face it — the movie-monsters of Hollywood are the cry-babies of the supernatural world. Werewolves? Phooey — try a giant Oni demon on for size. Vampires — well, okay, Buddhism has those too, except they are also ...
Longing for Tara — “Hook me with your great love and kindness to liberate me…”
Buddhist Practices, Dakini, Dakini Wisdom, Deities, Tara
Green Tara is a deity of the “heart.” While all the Buddhas can be seen as Oneness and Omniscient — and therefore practicing one Buddha can be seen as practicing all Buddhas —there is something “precious,” personal and ...
Body mandala practice in Vajrayana Tantric Buddhism — and riding the winds of the inner body “Where mind goes, the body follows”
Buddhist Practices, Tantra, Vajrayana
"Where the mind goes, the body follows" is an ancient unattributed wisdom saying — although it is credited to Arnold Schwarzenegger in modern times. Arnie was probably paraphrasing a quote often attributed to Zhang San Feng, the Taoist ...
Transforming demons; “Get thee behind me Mara!”: how Buddhism exorcises demons; transformation but no destruction
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Symbols
Shakyamuni Buddha, raised among Brahmins (priests) and kings, left the palace behind and sat under the Bodhi Tree to face his inner demons. Of course, his mission wasn't to exorcise devils and demons; it was the lofty goal ...
Amazing Choral Chanting of Heart Sutra Recitation: requested by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche; singers around the world
Avalokiteshvara, Buddhist Practices, Sutras & Sutta
Beautiful chanting of the Heart Sutra, the request of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, to commemorate Saga Dawa Duchen — recorded on June 4-5 2020. Dozens of people chanted as a virtual choir on Zoom in an amazingly beautiful chant. ...
Avalokiteshvara’s Ten Prayers for happiness and well-being of all sentient beings chanted by Khenpo Pemo Choephel Rinpoche
Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattvas, Buddhist Practices
Avalokiteshvara's 10 prayers for the happiness and well-being of all sentient beings, exquisitely chanted by Khenpo Pema Choephel Rinpoche (mini-biography below) — with chant lyrics in video and below (song available on Soundcloud): 10 Prayers in Tibetan (chanted ...
“Is there any consciousness that is constant, lasting, eternal… that will stay just as it is as long as eternity”… Nakhasikha Sutta The Tip of the Fingernail
Sutras & Sutta
"No, monk, there is no form... no feeling... no perception... there are no fabrications... there is no consciousness that is constant, lasting, eternal, not subject to change, that will stay just as it is as long as eternity." ...
Tea Serkyem offering: Generating the merit for Compassionate Activities — especially for protection from sickness and other obstacles
Buddhist Practices, Dharma
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 ...
Headed for darkness or light? Of world’s 7.9 billion people, Tamonata Sutta says there are four types of people, two headed to darkness
Dharma, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
UPDATED: The world clock says there are now 7,875,725,034 people in this world, as of June 29, 2021 at 12:31 noon Eastern Time. Of these, according to Holy Sutra, there are only "four types of people" — two ...
The Path of Purification? No, my friend. Ratha-vinita Sutta (Chariot Relay Sutra) teaches us not to confuse the seven purifications, with the destination, Nirvana
Dharma, Sutras & Sutta
Although our teachers often drill hard on the theme of "just practice" and "I cannot practice for you" and "the greatest offering is your practice" — never-the-less Sutra cautions us against confusing practice with our goal of Nirvana ...
Kurukulla: the “Diva” Dakini of enlightened magic; the enchantress transforms seduction into ‘the cause of wisdom’
Buddha, Dakini, Dakini Wisdom, Deities, Tara, Vajrayana
Kurukulla could be thought of as the "Diva" pop star of the Dakinis. She is like a beautiful, modern celebrity endorsing a worthy cause; she projects this divine and Enlightened beauty to attract us to the Dharma. She ...
Mahayana Sutra Of The Three Superior Heaps — now, is always the right time to confess downfalls and purify them
Sutras & Sutta
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 ...
Buddha on Dharma Prayer Wheels: “defilements will be purified and the face of the deity will appear”; Guru Rinpoche: you will “be able to attain mystic powers…”
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Practices, Guru Rinpoche, Mahayana, Symbols, Vajrayana
It's unlikely you'll be levitating off the ground any time soon — even if you undertake millions of prayer wheel spins — so what did the great Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava mean when he wrote: you will "be able ...
A Map of the Mind Universe — the Mandala of the Five Buddhas: a perfect practice; a perfect remedy for the five poisons
Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Mahayana
Buddha literally translates as "Awakened" — referring to One who has Awakened to the True Nature of Reality. Shakyamuni awoke to the true nature of reality and the true nature of suffering — and gave us remedies for ...
What Does Quantum Physics Have to do with the Five Buddhas — Vairochana, Amitabha, Akshobya, Ratnasambhava, and Amoghasiddhi?
Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Mahayana
Most Buddhists, in daily practice, understand a core truth — that all phenomena are inter-dependent and cannot exist independently. Quantum Physics is only now starting to demonstrate this fundamental Buddhist understanding. Buddha called this "dependent-arising" more than two ...
Overcoming Fear: Three Remedies for Fear; What Buddha had to Say About Fearlessness in Abhaya Sutta
Buddha, Buddhist Living, Sutras & Sutta, Tara
Today, in this time of fear in the face of a pandemic — fear has become top of mind, again. It's easy to say, "I can't live my life in fear" and then pretend to go about your ...
Heroic Red Tara: First of the 21 Taras in the Surya Gupta Tradition — Video Visualization with Mantra Chanting Yoko Dharma
Mantra, Tara, Videos, What the Teachers Say
Heroic Red Tara, the first Tara of the 21 Taras, is "Tara who saves us from obstacles" in the Surya Gupta tradition, also known as Pravita Tara. This is the first of 21 new mantra videos with mantras ...
A vital lifeline to practice — live-streamed Buddha Dharma teachings from teachers
Buddhist Practices, Dharma
With lockdowns continuing, live-streaming precious Buddhist teachings — especially healing and Medicine Buddha meditations — are a vital lifeline to practice. Although there are many past-recorded video teachings online — such as on the Buddha Weekly YouTube Channel ...
Home Retreat: a meritorious use of time while socially isolated during COVID-19 crisis. Dedicate the merit of Green Tara home retreat to all suffering beings
Buddhist Practices, Tara
As we adjust to the new short-term realities of social distancing and isolation, many of our teachers are recommending home retreat while we have this time alone. Buddhist retreat is often an aspiration for many of us, due ...
Is there room for the supernatural in Western Buddhism? Four sutra views of magic and metaphysical and why a supernatural perspective helps “see beyond ordinary perception”
Bodhisattvas, Dakini, Deities, Mahayana, Sutras & Sutta, Vajrayana
Does removing the magic from Buddhist practice seem less — magical? Sometimes, with a secular approach to Buddhism, we strip away some of the flair, the near euphoric joy of the Buddha's Dharma. That "bliss" can be an ...
HAPPY LOSAR: TASHI DELEK! 2020 is the Year of the Iron Mouse: May All Beings be Happy.
Special Days, Vajrayana
We could all use a little good fortune and happiness, and I don’t think anyone would disagree that we universally hope the Year of the Iron Mouse, beginning today February 24, 2020, will bring peace and happiness to ...
Tsog (Tsok) dates in 2021: quick reference with dates — the blissful feast
Special Days
“The very highest meaning of tsog is to join method and wisdom. The real meaning of experiencing tsog is the transcendental wisdom, non dual great bliss – the wisdom of emptiness, the non-duality of that, and uniting these ...
May All Beings Have Happiness — Wishing all beings will have happiness in 2020 — the Year to Practice Metta and Loving Kindness (includes Metta Sutta)
Sutras & Sutta
May all beings have happiness and its causes, May they never have suffering or its causes. May they constantly dwell in joy transcending sorrow; May they dwell in equal love for both near and far. — The Four ...
How Children Benefit from Meditation? 5 Reasons to teach your kids meditation.
Meditation
Parents are more open to different methods and techniques to educate and train their children — especially to balance the negative impact of technology and internet. To help kids reach their full potential, one of the best and ...