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Miracles of Great Black Mahakala: three Men in Black, the Mahakala brothers, the Dalai Lama, and a crow
"You come from your tree... You, the Great Black One, the Great Crow. Glorious Six-Armed One, homage and praise to you! Sternly protect the doctrine of the Buddha!" [1] Crows and the Men in Black are recurring themes in many...
Deity Yoga: Science or Superstition? Vajrayana Deity Meditation Proves Invaluable in Preventing Cognitive Disorders. In What Other Ways is Vajrayana Buddhist Deity Practice More Science than Religion?
Deity Yoga in Tibetan Buddhism is very often misunderstood. In apparent contradiction to the implied meaning of "deity" — which is really a mistranslation of the Sanskrit "deva" — there might, in fact, be more science than superstition to the...
“Don’t misunderstand the Buddha.” What Buddha actually taught about “rebirth” and life after death.
One of the biggest misunderstandings in Buddhist teachings is Buddha's teachings on Death. He taught the Eightfold Path as a method to escape Samsara and suffering — which is why he often refused to speak on "life after death" as...
“I beat upon the Dharma Drum” — a simple way to calm the mind, remove stress and heal. Studies show drum meditation supports treatments of cancer, Parkinsons and depression.
"I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions" — Lotus Sutra, Chapter 12 More than 2500 years ago, the drum was an important component of various Buddhist traditions. "In Buddha's time, the gong and...
The Ultimate Purification and Healing Practice: Chenrezig Nyung Nye Two-Day Practice: As Effective as 3 Months of Any other Practice
In Mahayana Buddhism, one Nyung Nye two-day intensive practice is considered to be as effective as three months of any other purification practice. It is also considered to be a very effective "healing practice." [1] It combines the purifying practices...
December 29 is Lama Tsongkhapa Day 2021 — Ganden Ngamchoe, Anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa’s Parinirvana!
The parinirvana of the great sage of the Land of Snows, Lama Je Tsong Khapa, is celebrated on December 29, 2021 this year. [Practice links in resources below.] From now until his celebrated day, to help inspire compassion, wisdom and...
Metta meditation in times of crisis: “we all have a responsibility to exercise compassion” (Dalai Lama)
The Buddhist tradition of Metta meditation (or loving-kindness meditation) is one of the fundamental compassion-based practices that we can turn to in this time of crisis. This practice can help us to feel greater compassion for ourselves. It can reduce...
‘Outside Tradition and Scripture’ – Zen Buddhism: “If you meet the Buddha, kill him.”
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 — "What...
“I beat upon the Dharma Drum” — a simple way to calm the mind, remove stress and heal. Studies show drum meditation supports treatments of cancer, Parkinsons and depression.
"I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions" — Lotus Sutra, Chapter 12 More than 2500 years ago, the drum was an important component of various Buddhist traditions. "In Buddha's time, the gong and...
“I beat upon the Dharma Drum” — a simple way to calm the mind, remove stress and heal. Studies show drum meditation supports treatments of cancer, Parkinsons and depression.
"I beat upon the Dharma drum, announcing my search for Dharma in the four directions" — Lotus Sutra, Chapter 12 More than 2500 years ago, the drum was an important component of various Buddhist traditions. "In Buddha's time, the gong and...
Science: Research Indicates Vajrayana Meditation Techniques Involving Deity Visualization Improve Cognitive Performance and May Be Promising For Degenerative Brain Disorders
Science, and in particular the medical profession, has long accepted the positive benefits of many forms or meditation. Many studies across decades of research have proven meditation is simply good for the body—and your health. A study from the National...
Peer-Reviewed Science of Meditation: There are At Least 10 Reasons to Meditate: From Boosting Your Immune System to Increasing Cognitive Function
Science and Buddhism are often harmonious. Buddha taught the benefits of meditation more than two-thousand years ago. Today, medical professionals, scientists and psychiatrists almost universally endorse the tangible benefits of meditation. All the mechanisms for realizing these specific benefits may...
Interview: Author of Allow Joy into Our Hearts, Chan Dharma Teacher Rebecca Li, Ph.D.
Rebecca Li, Ph.D. is a Chan Buddhist Dharma teacher and founder of the Chan Dharma Community. In her new book Allow Joy into Our Hearts she takes on the question of how to "find ways to allow joy, kindness, and...
Buddhist Practice: Practicing Joy in Difficult Times — Excerpt from Rebecca Li’s Allow Joy into Your Heart
IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NEWS THIS WEEK, the theme is: When are we going back to normal? When are we opening things up? As some places return to normal, there’s a lot of anxiety about when we will...
Book Excerpt: Gelug Mahamudra, Eloquent Speech of Manjushri, a commentary and practice guide on Sutra and Tantra Mahamudra by H.E. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche
The book, Gelug Mahamudra Eloquent Speech of Manjushri, is a rare commentary and practice guide in English, written for Western Buddhist students. Why is Mahamudra an advanced and special practice? Rinpoche explains: "Mahamudra meditation is awareness and understanding of the...
Virtuous offerings to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, offered with “Pleasant Mind” have more merit than a mountain of jewels
Virtuous offerings to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha — the Three Jewels — are always meritorious — but how those offerings were obtained matters more than their tangible value. Offering with a "pleasant mind" said the Buddha is the most...
Fearless Buddhist: overcoming fear and becoming Gesar, : How to overcome fear in uncertain times, according to Pali Sutta, Mahayana Sutra and Tantra
Many of Buddha's teachings focus directly on overcoming our fears. In fact, when Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree to meditate on Enlightenment, he wrestled with Mara, the personification of fear. The source of fear Most of our fear and...
In Buddhas Words … NOT in Buddha’s Words Series. About 50 Percent of Online Quotes Attributed to Buddha are Actual
In Buddhas Words ... NOT in Buddha's Words. We all love inspirational quotes. They're especially nice as visual memes or illustrated quotes online, especially in Facebook posts. But how many are real. Our initial run at the top nine quotes...
Chod practice: offering yourself to all beings, the ultimate expression of bodhichitta
The vivid and visceral imagery of Chod Practice — where you visualize offering your own body to all sentient beings, chopped up into grisly bits, and presented in a human skull — can lead to extreme misunderstanding. Teachings such as...
Fearless Buddhist: overcoming fear and becoming Gesar, : How to overcome fear in uncertain times, according to Pali Sutta, Mahayana Sutra and Tantra
Many of Buddha's teachings focus directly on overcoming our fears. In fact, when Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree to meditate on Enlightenment, he wrestled with Mara, the personification of fear. The source of fear Most of our fear and...
“Go Bananas” for Buddha: Devotion — Prostration, Praise and Prayers — the most essential practices for busy “part time” Buddhists. And — who is the deity?
"Go bananas for the Buddha, "is sage advice for any practitioner, new and advanced students alike. The great teacher Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche once described devotion in a talk on Tara: “The devotees of Tara, especially the devotees from great universities...
In Buddhas Words … NOT in Buddha’s Words Series. About 50 Percent of Online Quotes Attributed to Buddha are Actual
In Buddhas Words ... NOT in Buddha's Words. We all love inspirational quotes. They're especially nice as visual memes or illustrated quotes online, especially in Facebook posts. But how many are real. Our initial run at the top nine quotes...
In Buddhas Words: “The person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future…” #InBuddhasWords
“The person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and holds on to nothing — that person, I call a Holy Person.” — The Buddha Cited from Dhammapada 421 As with all Dhammapada...
In Buddha’s Words: “He who is possessed by constant virtue…” Path of Purification #inBuddhasWords
In the third of our quotable quotes (#inBuddhasWords) — verified quotes with citations to Sutra — we draw from the Vissuddhi-magga, Path of Purification (S I 53):
He who is possessed of constant virtue, Who has understanding, and is concentrated,...
Chittamani Tara (Cittamani)- the “Mind Jewel” Green Tara, an approachable and appealing Highest Yoga Anuttara practice – one of the main practices of many great Gelug teachers
Many Tara practitioners wonder why there are so many Taras: 21 Taras, 108 Taras, 1008 Taras — and more. Peaceful Taras. Motherly Taras. Green, White, Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, Gold, Orange Taras. And Taras in all four of the levels...
Mindfulness of Feelings Meditation: Overcoming Negative Feelings and Using Discriminating Alertness of Feelings in Your Practice: Mahamudra Teachings
"If You Don't Feel Anything, It Can Be a Problem" "Feelings are part of us," said Venerable Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, during a mini-retreat on Mahamudra and "mindfulness of feelings" in Owen Sound. "It's part of our life. Because we are...
The Foundation Practice of Prostrations: Humble Bow, a Method to Connect with Buddha Nature; the Psychology of Buddhist Prostrations
Psychologically, in modern times, we resist the concept of the bow or prostration. It is considered demeaning. Even the very idea of "bowing" causes our pride to flare up. This is, in fact, its main purpose, at least as a...
‘Outside Tradition and Scripture’ – Zen Buddhism: “If you meet the Buddha, kill him.”
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 — "What...
The Foundation Practice of Prostrations: Humble Bow, a Method to Connect with Buddha Nature; the Psychology of Buddhist Prostrations
Psychologically, in modern times, we resist the concept of the bow or prostration. It is considered demeaning. Even the very idea of "bowing" causes our pride to flare up. This is, in fact, its main purpose, at least as a...
“Dharma in motion”: Buddhism, Vajrayana Buddhist Tantra and Zen have as much in common with martial arts as religion?
Premise: Buddhism, Vajrayana Tantra and Zen have as much in common with martial arts as it does with religion. Second Premise: Martial arts skills are helpful to meditators and helps develop practice discipline. That may seem like an absurd or...
“One Yidam to focus them all and in emptiness transform them”: Yidam as a “means of accomplishment”
My favorite metaphor for Yidams is the Lord of the Rings. Really? How does that work, you ask? Having fun with Tolkien's verse, "one ring to rule them all...": One Yidam to focus them all, One Yidam to manifest all,...
Chod practice: offering yourself to all beings, the ultimate expression of bodhichitta
The vivid and visceral imagery of Chod Practice — where you visualize offering your own body to all sentient beings, chopped up into grisly bits, and presented in a human skull — can lead to extreme misunderstanding. Teachings such as...
Vajrapani, the “Hand of Buddha” defeats the poisons : pride, anger, hate and jealousy
Vajrapani's name means, literally, "Vajra Hand". He is one of the three great Bodhisattvas, together with Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri, who respectively represent "power of Buddha," Compassion of Buddha, and Wisdom of Buddha. He is not only important in Mahayana sutra,...
Healing Parnashavari — Tara’s 20th emanation: specialist in Contagious Disease and COVID-19: How to practice her mantra and sadhana
"Tara dressed in leaves" is Parnashavari, the 20th emanation of Tara in the 21 Taras Praise.[3] Her name literally translates from Sanskrit to English as a "leaf-clad goddess" — a treasured and revered emanation of Tara relied upon to prevent...
Aspire to Tara’s splendid Turquoise Pure Land — for tree-huggers and environmentalists — a place to meditate on Oneness with Blissful Nature
For Tara's Buddhist devotees, we may aspire to go to Her Turquoise Pureland Yurlod Kurpa after our passing. Most Mahayana Buddhists think of Amitabha's splendid Western Paradise or Pureland Sukhavati, because of Amitabha's great vow — but Tara's Turquoise Pureland...
Chittamani Tara (Cittamani)- the “Mind Jewel” Green Tara, an approachable and appealing Highest Yoga Anuttara practice – one of the main practices of many great Gelug teachers
Many Tara practitioners wonder why there are so many Taras: 21 Taras, 108 Taras, 1008 Taras — and more. Peaceful Taras. Motherly Taras. Green, White, Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, Gold, Orange Taras. And Taras in all four of the levels...
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.
