Meditation is an important practice in virtually all schools of Buddhist thought, and in one form or another, most Buddhists practice it. But did you know there are two main types of meditation? From formal Chan practice, such as archery or KungFu practice in Shaolin, to facing the wall meditation, to active...
The 35 Confessional Buddhas practice is the ultimate sutra-based purification practice. Ven. Thubten Chodron explains: “Why do we need to purify? Because our mind is full of rubbish." Even though The Bodhisattva’s Confession of Moral Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas — to use the full title in English — is often one of...
More of the same last week: war, pandemics, violence. Fortunately, with a little digging, we can find some “good news” to celebrate the virtues of compassion and kindness in our world. Those little acts of Karuna (compassion) and Metta (loving-kindness) that help affirm we all have Buddha Nature! This week we celebrate...
To understand the origins of Chan or Zen Buddhism, we have to go back to the "Flower Sermon." This sermon, given by the Buddha himself, is at the heart of Chan — also known as Zen in Japan or Seon in Korea. In the Flower Sermon, the Buddha gathered his disciples together...
If you’re looking to take your meditation practice to the next level, mantras can definitely help. But don’t get the wrong idea. This isn’t about speaking. It’s not even so much about what you say, although it helps if you feel a spiritual connection with your mantra. Mantras can take meditation to the next level: empowering mantras to shift your mindset and improve your life 1...
View full video — Transcript 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 point-of-view in the Enlightened forms of Chenrezig for Compassion, Manjushri for Wisdom, and Vajrapani for Power. Or, in the profound practice of...
At times it may seem the news is only filled with negative news: war, pandemics, violence. We sometimes forget to recognize the "good news." Those little acts of Karuna (compassion) and Metta (loving-kindness) that help affirm we all have Buddha Nature [For a feature on Buddha Nature, see>>]. [caption id="attachment_17796" align="aligncenter"...
In Vyagghapajja Sutta, a concise but profound sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha answers his lay followers on how to develop the four conditions conducive to householder's happiness. The representatives of the laypeople attending asked "O Lord, let the Exalted One preach the Dhamma, teach those things that lead to weal and happiness in this...
His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented a profound and brilliant method to "target" your meditation on the affliction, in his powerful commentary on Lama Tsongkhapa's Great Exposition of Secret Mantra. When we think of calm-abiding meditation, we might think of breath as the focal point of meditation. In-out. Follow the breath. Breath,...
Meditation is an essential component of Buddhism that enables us to settle, concentrate, and connect body and mind. Study after study has shown the many benefits it can bring us, including a greater sense of calm, understanding, and empathy. Why leave all its benefits for adulthood? Meditation should be taught from the...
This beautiful new video with the 21 Taras Praise sung in English, with meditational images in the traditions of Nyingma Terma and Atisha. Principle Green Tara with Tara's mantra opens and closes the praise with images by Jampay Dorje (Ben Christian). The chanted praise opens with the Praise to the Mantra, then...
Ad-Free Patron/Member version: Beautiful chanting in English of the 21 Taras Praise with stunning Nyingma tradition images of 21 Taras by Lasha Mutual (lashamutual.com, used with permission)— chanted by amazing Hrishikesh Sonar. Members play ad-free here: Principle Green Tara with Tara's mantra opens and closes the praise with images by Jampay Dorje...
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.
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.
