Lotus Sutra Chapter 7 — the “Transformed City” analogy; full translation and commentary from Venerable Master Hua
Dharma
Editors Note: This is chapter 7 in our ongoing series on the Lotus Sutra, one of the parable / metaphor chapters translated as the "Transformed City" in the Lotus Sutra. There are seven well-known parables in the Lotus ...
Greed: how to cut the poison of greed: Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Pureland and Zen Chan methods taught by Buddha including generosity
Dharma
"I will teach only two things," Buddha said. The Buddha's primary message was always the same: end suffering by cutting the poisons. To do that, we have to first understand the nature of the poison, and then find ...
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 ...
“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, 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 ...
Lord Buddha Day! Vesak May 16 2022: Buddha’s Birthday! , the “most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world” — UN
Dharma
Mark May 16, 2022 on your calendar as a day for extra practice, offerings, and meritorious deeds such as giving. This is not only Vesak — Buddha's birthday! — it is also a lunar eclipse day, a full ...
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 ...
9 ways Buddha taught us to transform anger — and put an end to negative cycles
Buddha, Buddhist Living, Dharma, Mindfulness, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
Why do we meditate on impermanence? Why does Buddha speak so often in Sutras, on the "poison" of anger? Why do we see so many "angry" or even demonic Enlightened Buddhas in Mahayana and Vajrayana? In this feature, ...
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. ...
Peacemaking Buddhism: importance of Ahimsa “Non-Harm” in Buddhism — “Nonviolence is the weapon of the strong.”
Buddhist Living, Dharma, Sutras & Sutta, Theravada
“Monks, even if bandits were to sever you savagely limb by limb with a two-handle saw, he who gave rise to a mind of hate towards them would not be carrying out my teaching” — Shakyamuni Buddha [4] ...
Buddhism has Nothing to do with Nihilism and everything to do with Experiencing; Why “Emptiness” and “Nothingness” are poor translations of Shunyata
Dharma, Zen and Chan
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 ...
Emptiness and Shunyata: What the Teachers Say About Emptiness: Removing “Lazy Nihilism” and “How Deep the Rabbit Hole goes”
Dharma, Mahayana, Scientific Buddhist, Teachers, Vajrayana, What the Buddhist Teachers Say, Zen and Chan
What do big moons, lazy nihilists and rabbit holes have to do with Shunyata? Yesterday I read a feature on Space.com which became the inspiration of this feature: "The 'Big Moon' Illusion May All Be in Your Head," by ...