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 ...

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 ...

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this article to the rescuers, the 12 boys, their football coach and especially to the memory of Thai Navy Seal Saman Kunan whose bravery and sacrifice were a credit to humanity. May ...

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 ...

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 brands, ...

Green Tara "is one of the most popular devotional and meditational deities, honored all around the world, practiced by all schools of Vajrayana Buddhism, many Mahayana Buddhists, Hindus, and others. She is so popular, she is called “Mama ...

The benefits of the powerful Migtsema prayer or mantra is well-documented by many great teachers of the Gelug lineage — including H.H. Dalai Lama, H.E. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, H.E. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche. Its beauty and simplicity and benefits ...

‘Beware of confining yourself to a particular belief and denying all else, for much good would elude you – indeed, the knowledge of reality would elude you.  Be in yourself for all forms of belief, for God (Truth) ...

A 2nd Century Gandhara-style relief of Vajrapani with thunderbolt (right) protecting Gotama Buddha (left). Gandhara-style art was influenced by classical Greek art. Here, Vajrapani appears similar to Zeus. In the early Pali Sutta — Ambattha Sutta ("Pride Humbled")[1]— ...

Buddha Weekly continues its special series “Interviews with the Teachers” with part 3 of an extensive hours-long interview with the most Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche. Rinpoche is spiritual director of many temples, meditation centres and retreat centres in Australia, the ...

Most Buddhists know Tara—simultaneously, a friend, savior, caring Bodhisattva and enlightened being. She manifests in endless forms: she can be action-hero Green Tara who saves us from worldly harm; or blessed White Tara who heals and brings longevity, to fierce ...