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Awakening to success — following in the Buddha’s footsteps — the ultimate “self-help” path
Around 563 BCE, Siddhartha Gautama sat under a massively branching Bodhi tree for days — until he achieved the "awakened" intellect of a Buddha. Bodhi literally means "awakened," and today, an "ancestor" of the great tree in Bodh Gaya — where Buddha became the "Enlightened One" — is called the "Maha-Bodhi" tree...
Dastan-e-Irfan-e-Budh – The Buddha story as a dastangoi — a performance of an epic
Dastangoi is probably an unfamiliar vehicle to transmit the Buddha's life and teachings - and the Buddha’s teachings have witnessed several kinds of “vehicles” for their dissemination. Dastangoi is a compound of two Persian words ‘Dastan’ (story, narrative) and ‘goi’ (‘telling’), which together mean to tell a Dastan. “Dastans were epics, often...
Tsog (Tsok) dates in 2021: quick reference with dates — the blissful feast
“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 two. That is the very essence of tsog. It is the offering of that...
May All Beings Have Happiness — Wishing all beings will have happiness in 2020 — the Year to Practice Metta and Loving Kindness (includes Metta 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 Immeasurables May 2020 be a year of Metta and Loving Kindness...
10 reasons meditation benefits students (and, the rest of us): citations from experts and studies
Meditation can offer many benefits to people of all ages, including students. Daily practice will help students to remain healthy and improve their wellbeing. Here are ten reasons why meditation is worth the time and effort. 1. Improved Focus and Academic Performance One of the key benefits of regular meditation is that...
Buddhism 108: Much more than the number of beads on a mala
There are 108 beads on a mala; in yoga, the 12 postures of the sun salutations are often completed in rounds of nine; and pranayamic breathing is often practiced in cycles of 108. Several eastern spiritual paths, including Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism, hold the number 108 sacred, and yogic and dharmic practices...
Improving your meditation by cleansing your environment, purging technology, and de-cluttering your space and mind
One of the greatest things about meditation, aside from the well-studied health benefits, is that you can practice anywhere or at any time. But even though that is true, there are some conditions that are more suitable for meditation -- especially for anyone new to the practice. So, if you’re struggling to...
The Power of Mantras: Healing, Setting the Mind Free, Protecting the Mind, and Remaining Mindful of Dharma Throughout the Day
In some Buddhist cultures, children learn to chant mantras before they learn more common speech. Mantra, sacred sounds, are often considered protective and healing, or even life-changing. They are commonly used by Buddhists and Hindus, and — arguably — other religions who make use of "chanting." It seems almost silly to accept the...
Part 3: 21 Taras of Mahasidda Suryagupta: after curing him of leprosy, Tara taught him Her Twenty-One forms
Suryagupta, one of the great Eighty-four Mahasiddas (7th/8th century), had countless visions of glorious Mother Tara. She so cherished the great master — also known as Ravigupta or “Nyi ma be pa” in Tibetan — that she first cured him of leprosy. (As recorded by the Indian scholar Vajrasana of Bodhgaya in...
Part 2, Surya Gupta 21 Taras: meditating on virtuous body of Tara; distinct embodiments of Tara’s Compassion and Wisdom
"As Tara did, we develop the potential of our minds to attain full Enlightenment through meditation. Meditation is a process of focusing our mind on a virtuous object." — From Tara in the Palm of Your Hand [1] For Part 1 in this series see>> For Part 3 in this series see>>...
How Children Benefit from Meditation? 5 Reasons to teach your kids 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 proven methods that can help children is meditation. By Mike Zhang of FamilyLifeShare.com What...
Interview: master artist V.V. Sapar discussing his 21 Taras project for Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche — art as a spiritual practice
V.V. Sapar’s work is well known to many Tibetan Buddhist and Vajrayana practitioners. His series of 21 Taras, according to the rare Surya Gupta tradition, was commissioned by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche (and is now freely available, thanks to Rinpoche's generosity, for download, see link below.) V.V. Sapar developed his interest in...
Buddha Weekly’s Special Section
Tara, Mother of all Buddhas
Karma Mother
How does Tara Help?
Tara, like any Mother, is ready to jump to our aid, even in mundane areas of life. She is the “practical Buddha” — the “Karma Mother” — the Buddha most active in our lives. Her Sanskrit name translates as “a star by which to navigate” — and like a star, she is always with us whenever we look for her.
Tara on YouTube
21 Taras Mantra Video Playlist
An entire playlist of every one of the mantras for the 21 Taras. Don't miss the amazing Tara mantra chanting of Yoko Dharma for the each Tara of the 21 Taras according to Surya Gupta lineage. One video with many repetitions and visualized images for each Tara. The final video is the English-translated 21 Praises to Tara sung in English.