Mokugyo Fish Drum: The Zen of Drumming for a Wakeful Mind and Mindfulness with the Wooden Fish Drum’s Unique Sound

Chanting and disciplined ritual is still important in many schools of Zen. Here, Zen students chant with the famous "fish drum."   Mokugyo are instantly recognizable by their entirely unique and pleasant penetrating sound that almost seems to ...

Amitabha practice: easy, welcoming, and his merits are so vast that all beings can benefit: Amitabha Sutra

"When I have attained Buddhahood, if those beings who are in the ten quarters should believe in me with serene thoughts, and should wish to be born in my country, and should have, say, ten times thought of ...

The eleven aspects of Manjushri — kind, wrathful, protective, teaching and “beastly” — white, yellow, black; father, mother, spiritual child

Manjushri is the “master of the Seven Buddhas” and the “mother of the Buddhas” — and also the “child” of the Buddhas — according to Ajatasatruraja Sutra: “Manjushri is the father and mother of the Bodhissatvas, and their ...

15 Miracles and 15 Days: Chotrul Duchen, the Day Buddha’s Great Miracles: Buddha, reluctant to use miraculous powers, displayed 15 miracles to help correct the errors of six prideful teachers

The first moon of the New Year (Lunar)  is Chotrul Cuchen (Chunga Choepa)  the Day celebrating Buddha's Miracles — often celebrated with a butter lamp festival. The festival of Buddha's fifteen miracles actually begins on Losar (New Year), ...

“Mind Jewel” Green Tara – a Highest Yoga Tantra practice of Chittamani Tara (Cittamani)

"Tara is the mother of all the Buddhas; when you practice Tara you become closer to Tara; you feel her motherly love. If Tara is good enough to be the mother of all the Buddhas, then she can ...

Four heroic incarnations of Ksitigarbha, the “Earth Store” Bodhisattva — unfailing, never-tiring compassion

Ksitigarbha is a bodhisattva revered by millions across East Asia — honoured by the Buddha Himself due to his "untiring limitless compassion" — and his vows to help all sentient beings. He is also popularly known as Lord ...

21 Taras in the Narjuna, Atisha and Nyingma lineages: a profound, powerful, precise, pleasing daily practice

Tara practice is among the most beautiful and inspiring practices in Mahayana Buddhism, but — why are there so many Taras? In every Mahayana tradition, there are many aspects or emanations of Tara — seemingly one for every ...

The Great Way that benefits all sentient beings: motivated from the heart! An introduction to Mahayana Buddhism

An Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana means ‘the great way’, which aims to benefit all people and all forms of life. This word comes from one of the ways a person can practice Buddhism. The motivation for their ...

Three Principal Paths — the peerless path of Renunciation, Bodhichitta, Shunyata

The peerless teaching in Mahayana Buddhism is collectively known as the Three Principal Paths. These three are Renunciation, Bodhichitta and Shunyata. Together, they represent the most important teachings. Inevitably, all teachings begin — and later reinforce over-and over ...

Arya Supreme White Tara, ultimate Tara is more than a “long life” Tara — she is the ultimate of the Taras

Vajrayana Buddhist teachers are universal in their enthusiasm for White Tara. Almost every teacher has real-life stories of people close to them who have been helped by White Tara, especially for health and auspiciousness. In fact, when we ...

Compassion, Wisdom and Power as Buddha, Bodhisattva, Heruka and Dakini — the most important aspects of practice as Enlightened beings

In Mahayana Buddhism, and especially Vajrayana, the three most important aspects of practice are Compassion (Karuna), Wisdom (Prajna) and Power (or activities). In non-dualistic terms, these are all simply Buddha. In dualistic terms, these appear and manifest as ...

Marici — “Ray of Light” Bodhisattva Goddess — protective Bodhisattva for “turbulent times”; aspect of glorious Mother Tara: includes Dharani mantra

Marici's most popular praise, written by the great Vidyadhara Jigdral Lingpa, states her most important role is  "to bring protection from fear in these turbulent times."[1] The turbulent times referred to was centuries ago, and sadly, we still ...
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