Samatha meditation teaching: “Resting the mind in the natural state,” video of session 1 of a Mahamudra weekend retreat
Dharma
The first session of a teaching and meditation retreat on advanced Mahamudra, taught by H.E. Zasep Rinpoche, the author of Gelug Mahamudra: Enlightened Speech of Manjushri. In session one, Rinpoche introduces Mahamudra, then speaks about the nature of ...
Sems dpa, the Buddhist Spiritual Warrior, the Hero, the fearless Buddhist: overcoming self-ignorance and our maras
Bodhisattvas, Buddhist Living, Dharma
The term Spiritual Warrior (Tibetan "sems dpa") may hint at more than a whiff of bravado and violence — until it is understood that the enemy of the Spiritual Warrior is "avidya" or self-ignorance. Overcoming avidya is at ...
Buddha: How to protect wealth, associate with virtuous friends and relate to your spouse, employer, children: guidance for lay practitioners in Sigalovada Sutta
Buddhist Living, Buddhist Sutras and Sutta English, Dharma
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! ...
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”
Buddhist Sutras and Sutta English, Dharma
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 ...
Swift Healing with White Tara: the Rapid Path to Long Life, Merit, Wisdom, and Health
Bodhisattvas, Buddha, Buddhist Practices, Dakini, Deities, Dharma, Enlightened Feminine in Buddhism, Mahayana, Mantra, Meditation, Tantra, Tara
When I need help in a hurry, Tara is the "swift one"—the One I call on first. If I'm in trouble, Green Tara. If I'm sick, White Tara. So far, end of life isn't top of mind, but ...
How a Home Retreat Helps Busy People Manage Time and Save Money; How to Do It, and Why it is Necessary
Buddha, Deities, Dharma, Mahayana, Meditation, Sangha, Tantra, Teachers, Vajrayana Buddhism and Practices
Sitting retreats are important opportunities to "still the mind", allowing us to develop "realizations." There is something very special about the Buddhist Retreat. We all look forward to our first (or next) retreat, but hectic modern life makes it very difficult ...
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
Buddhist Practices, Deities, Dharma, Meditation, Tantra, Teachers, Vajrayana Buddhism and Practices
Only a true visionary Yogi could distil 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 ...
Video Medicine Buddha Retreat, part 1: open self-healing weekend with visualization, mantras and teachings with H.E. Zasep Rinpoche
Buddhist Practices, Buddhist Teaching videos, Deities, Dharma, Learning from Teachers Video, Mahayana, Mantra, Meditation, Teachers, Vajrayana Buddhism and Practices, Video What the Teachers Say, What the Buddhist Teachers Say
Part 1 of a series featuring a full Medicine Buddha weekend retreat, suitable for anyone who wishes to meditate on healing. Medicine Buddha practices are universally popular and very effective for self-healing. Millions of Buddhists around the world ...
What is Buddha?: The Koans and stories of Zen Buddhism — profound riddles that “break” the mind
Dharma, Zen and Chan Buddhism
A koan is a paradoxical riddle or statement used in Zen Buddhism in order to shake-up conventional thinking and to provoke an insight. Why do koans remain so intriguing and popular today? Perhaps, since koans are about insight, ...
Dharma and the Tao: how Buddhism and Daoism have influenced each other; Why Zen and Taoism can be complementary
Buddhist Practices, Dharma, Zen and Chan Buddhism
Buddhism and Daoism have co-influenced each-other over hundreds of years in China. Although Buddha lived from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C., the founder of Daoism, Lao-Tzu was thought to live in the 6th century BCE. Buddhism and Daoism ...
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
Buddha, Buddhist Sutras and Sutta English, Deities, Dharma, Mahayana, Mantra
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 ...
‘Outside Tradition and Scripture’ – Zen Buddhism: “If you meet the Buddha, kill him.”
Dharma, Mahayana, Meditation, Mindfulness, Zen and Chan Buddhism
Zen holds a special place in the heart and mind for many, perhaps because it is "seemingly" singular in its simplicity and elegance. From single-pointed zazen mindfulness — facing a blank wall — to mysterious cyphers called Koans ...