Buddha Weekly's Latest Features
Random Acts of Kindness Creates Good Karma. Mindful Acts of Kindness Refines Practice.
"As a mother even with her own life protects her only child, so should one cultivate immeasurable loving-kindness towards all living beings." — Buddha, The Metta Sutta Random acts of kindness, in the moment, are acts of mindful meditation—and positive karma. Mindfulness helps us overcome striving,...
Internet DIY Dharma: What seven Buddhist teachers say about the pros and cons of Buddha’s teachings via the internet and the risks of do-it-yourself Dharma.
What is the promise — and danger — of Buddhist Dharma teachings online beyond the obvious pros vs cons: accessibility of Dharma teachings vs. misinformation or false Dharma teachings. In this feature, you'll find the opinions of seven teachers and two other experts. On one point most of the teachers are virtually...
The Path of Purification? No, my friend. Ratha-vinita Sutta (Chariot Relay Sutra) teaches us not to confuse the seven purifications, with the destination, Nirvana
Although our teachers often drill hard on the theme of "just practice" and "I cannot practice for you" and "the greatest offering is your practice" — never-the-less Sutra cautions us against confusing practice with our goal of Nirvana or Enlightenment. Our teachers also push hard on "purification practices": in Therevadan Buddhism often...
Zasep Tulku Rinpoche discusses decades of teaching, advice for beginner students and funny stories of his teachers.
H.E. Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche is always quick to smile and laugh, regardless of a hectic teaching schedule that has him spending many hours flying around the world. Despite a very tight three week schedule of teachings at Gaden Choling in Toronto, the Venerable teacher found time for an in-depth interview with...
A rare chance to honor Buddha’s relics in New York state: 3-day exhibit of Holy Relics at Thekchen Choling
After the Buddha had paranirvana, the body relics from his cremation were divided amongst various clans of the time. The relics ended up in many countries around the world, mostly in Stupas, where they are honoured by circumambulation. Others are encased in shrines, sometimes portable, so that they can be honored by...
Why recitation of the Sutra of Golden Light brings “peace and happiness” and “long life”; also, Sutra transmission of Chod, alleviating fear, and healing
The dominant theme of many Mahayana Sutras — the Great Vehicle Teachings — is “benefiting others.” To Mahayana Buddhists, there are three principal paths, expressed wonderfully in the “King of all Sutras” the “Sutra of Golden Light”: Renunciation, Bodhichitta (loving kindness) and the Wisdom of Emptiness. [Download link below for pdf of...
Meditation for children: Peer-reviewed studies support structured meditation in classrooms and homes to help children deal with depression, negative coping and self-hostility
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...
Family lay Buddhism: What the Teachers Say about keeping motivated in your Buddhist Practice as parents — and coping with every-day family life in a modern stressful world
A single-father reader wrote in with a question (abbreviated here, as much of it was personal). He was struggling with raising his beloved daughter, yet finding his Buddhist practice was suffering due to stress and distraction. Two teachers answered this parent directly — H.E. Zasep Rinpoche and teacher Theodore Tsaousidis — and...
Why Reciting Buddhist Sutras Out Loud is Important; Sutras Help Us Remain Mindful of the Teachings and Disengage the “Clinging” Conscious Mind
In many Buddhist disciplines we are taught to value the meritorious practice of reciting sutras. Often this is done from memory, in a mantra-like chant, which begs the question why do we recite sutras? A Buddha Weekly Special Feature Sutras are the teachings of the Buddha. To speak them is to put us in...
Youth Buddhist Societies in the World — encouraging the young Sangha
The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha – those are the three Jewels of Buddhism. For most people who just started discovering Buddhism, the Buddha and the Dharma immediately make sense. But what about the Sangha? That’s the community of practitioners, which was originally limited to the monastic order. Today, the term...
Acchariya Abbhuta Sutta: “Wonderful And Marvelous” Qualities of the Buddha
What are the wonderful and marvelous qualities of a Buddha? In this amazingly joyous sutta, Buddha interrupts the Bikkhus, who are discussing the virtues of a Buddha, and asks them to explain what they believe are the virtues of the Tathagata. [Full translated Sutta below.] This sutra is a wonderful "recap" of...
Padmasambhava, the Lotus Born: “giving up idling and laziness” the importance of practicing incessantly and the path to self-discipline ; as recorded by Lady Tsogyal
Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche, the Enlightened Padmakara, once taught Lady Tsogyal how to practice perfectly with self-discipline — basically, the message: I can't do it for you. In the teaching, "The Crystal Garland of Faultless Practice", the great and perfect Buddha taught the importance of overcoming laziness and "practicing incessantly" and — preferrably...
