Search Results: mindfulness
Laughter — the Best Medicine: What the Dalai Lama and Patch Adams Have in Common
Have you noticed how the Dalai Lama projects authority through laughter, with his charming chuckle and warm smile at every stop, in every situation? He's always ready with the joke that makes large crowds gasp for breath as they laugh. This isn't just an act of empathy with the people around him....
Scientific Buddhist: Healing meditation, prayer and mantras? Do they work — according to research? Can we turn to mantras for help?
Do you feel silly when you turn to “mantras” for healing? Do you think meditation is healthy but not necessarily healing? Does it seem impossible to expect results from meditating on the Medicine Buddha? To chant or not to chant? — that is the question. To Pray or not to pray? To...
Why Buddha Nature is one of the most important understandings in Mahayana Buddhism and why Tathagatagarbha Buddha Nature is not the soul
“All beings are Buddhas, But obscured by incidental stains. When those have been removed, there is Buddhahood.” — Third Karmapa Rangjun Dorje [4] Buddha Nature (Buddha Dhatu) is one of the most important and inspirational foundation understandings in Mahayana Buddhism — possibly the most important. The symbol of the Lotus — while...
Tara Principle: Wisdom, Compassion and Activity — the “practical” Karma Mother active in our daily, real-world lives
Why is Tara so beloved among Mahayana Buddhists? Why do we turn to Green Tara first, when we need help? Even an advanced yogi who practices a profound Yidam is likely to call out to Tara first in times of need, stress, or fear. It is easy to understand why. Tara, like...
Buddhist inspiration during lock-down or quarantine: practice, learning, gratitude, connecting, acceptance
In these uncertain times, we can still find ways to practice, improve and grow. This pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. Although finding inspiration and motivation is never easy, Buddhist Refuge and practice can help us both cope and grow in difficult times by encouraging us to practice, learn, be...
Report: Buddha Weekly’s Top 50 Features this Month (March 2021)
The top fifty feature articles or pages on Buddha Weekly website in the last 30 days, linked to feature stories: 1. Home - Buddha Weekly: Buddhist Practices, Mindfulness, Meditation — 34,6921. 2. 8 Rights: The Noble Eightfold Path — the Heart of the Buddha's Teaching - Buddha Weekly: Buddhist Practices, Mindfulness, Meditation...
A Picture is NOT worth 1000 Words — the Buddha Dharma is a Tradition of Words — A Guide for Those Who Can’t Visualize (Aphantasia)
"A picture is NOT worth 1000 words” when it comes to Buddhism. Buddhism is an oral tradition, handed down by lineage to written sutras and written tantras. The words transcend any images that might arise from their messages. [For visual examples, see the section below: Examples in Sadhanas vs Thangkas.] When we...
8 Rights: The Noble Eightfold Path — the Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
The Noble Eightfold Path distinguishes itself from many teachings in its positive, affirmative nature. Many spiritual teachings consist of dont's: don't do this, don't do that. The Noble Eightfold Path speaks in positive, warm terms. Implied within the concept of "right" might be its opposite — "wrongs" — but Buddha taught self-empowerment,...
How Tibetan singing bowls help our body: the healing benefits of the three-thousand-year old practice.
Did you know that sound has healing effects? Tibetan singing bowls are being used for more than 3000 years now and it is believed that these singing bowls can help reduce stress and induce relaxation. In this article, we will see how Tibetan singing bowls affect our body and whether these bowls...
The Discourse that Set the Dharma Wheel Rolling: Three Key Principles Taught by Buddha in Forty Life-Inspiring Verses
Buddha taught three key principles of the Buddha Dharma path, summarized elegantly in "The Discourse that Set the Dharma-Wheel Rolling" as forty life-inspiring verses. [Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. The full text as verses in English translation are below. This concise version excludes some of the lengthier narrative commentaries.] This sutra sets out the fundamental...