Latest Features
Dharma Dates for August 2022: Lord Buddha’s First Teaching and Lord Ksitigarbha’s Birthday and much more to celebrate: lunar to western calendar conversion
During August, 2022, there are many meritorious Dharma Dates to celebrate, including one of the four larger Shakyamuni Buddha celebrations. On the four Holy Days of Shakyamuni Buddha, your merit is multiplied, especially if practiced with Bodhichitta, Metta (love), and...
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 need the...
Holy Day of Chokhor Duchen and Sangha Day: How to celebrate Buddha’s First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma — this year on August 1, 2022
Of the four Holy Days dedicated to Shakyamuni Buddha each year, Chokhor Duchen, the "First Teaching" celebration — the first turning of the Wheel of Dharma — is the most important. In Buddhism, we take refuge in Buddha, Dharma and...
The Five Strengths and Powers or pañcabalā in Buddhism — the qualities conducive to Enlightenment: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom
The Five Strengths (Sanskrit, Pali: pañcabalā) in Buddhism — critical to our progress on the path to enlightenment — are: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. They are one of the seven sets of Bodhipakkhiyadhamma ("qualities conducive to enlightenment"). You may wonder why our...
Guanyin Enlightenment Day: “Most Widely Beloved Buddhist Divinity”; Devotion to the 33 Forms of Compassion and Love
Guan Yin's Enlightenment Day is July 17, 2022 (on lunar calendar 19th day of the 6th Lunar Month). Guanyin is often referred to as the "most widely beloved Buddhist Divinity."[2] Why? Because Her love is unconditional, all-embracing — with all...
Sacred Statue Support (pictorial): “More than a venerable object” — Nepal’s Best Statues, 3rd Generation Bhim Pathak on the Dharma craft of metal statue art
Although we often feature Dharma artists and craftspeople on Buddha Weekly, we remain in awe of the master quality of the precious sacred statues from the 3rd generation of statue artisans at Nepal's Best Statues. You could say it's both...
Members and Patrons: Avalokiteshvara compassion mantra 108 times with meditative images
Ad-free HD version of the Avalokiteshvara Compassion Mantra chanted 108 times beautifully by the amazing Hrishikesh Sonar — with stunning meditative images of the Great Compassionate Bodhisattva. His compassion mantra is Om Mani Padme Hum. This is considered the most...
MEMBER VIDEO: Ad-free HD version video and mantra music: Vajrakilaya’s mantra beautifully chanted Sanskrit 108 times — remover of obstacles
First for four new videos, exclusive ad-free HD versions for our valued members and patrons. Coming soon to Youtube. Vajrakilaya and his mantra is important in our modern world — since Vajrakilaya is the activity of all the Buddhas. He...
Ad-Free Patron HD Video: Parnashavari Tara Healing Mantra Video Sung by Hrishikesh Sonar with master art visualized images
Ad-free high definition version of the video version as a thank-you for our precious Supporting Members of our popular video on Healing Parnashavari with chanted mantras! Parnashavari is Tara's Healing emanation, also lovingly known as Tara Dressed in Leaves. Her...
Members: Lama Tsongkhapa celebrating the life and guided practice of the great sage — and mantra beautifully chanted by Yoko Dharma
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...
21 Taras sung in English Atisha and Nyingma traditions — early and ad-free for Patrons and Members as our thank you!
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...
Scientific Buddhist? A spiritual path that aligns with science? Why science and logic enhances Buddhist practice
The practice of Buddhism is one of the few "labeled" spiritual paths that is not in some way at odds with science. In fact, I will present the case that Buddhism is fully supportable as method and practice for even...
Ten confirmed health and wellness benefits of meditation: the science of mindfulness, with 17 cited research studies
Buddha taught the many benefits of meditation more than 2500 years ago — in the Satipatthana Sutta and others — and modern medical science confirms and reinforces those benefits in study after study. In this feature, we cite 17 sources of...
Dependent Co-Arising Answers Most Arguments with Impeccable Logic: The Great Causes Discourse Maha-nidana Sutta
In almost any "Buddhist" philosophical argument — for instance, "why should I meditate?" or "Is there a soul?" or "what happens after death?" or even, "what is the true nature of self?" — the impeccable logic of Dependent Co-Arising is...
Shabkar’s Song of Practice: the entire path, from refuge to generation to completion in one song by one of the great sages of Tibet
Only a true visionary Yogi could distill a path that fills lifetimes and books into a single song. Such a Yogi is the great Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol, an emanation of the great Milarepa. Both were famous for their songs of...
Six ways to focus the mind: Metta, mindfulness, breath, progressive, transcendental, or Zazen
Our society is rife with stress, competition, fear, and commercialism – yet we're at a time when spirituality has become a buzzword. On one hand, there’s definitely an increased need for spiritualism in a stressful environment, but there still seems...
Settling the Mind or Activating the Mind — which meditation works, why and how? One’s good for health, the other for mind, and…
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...
“The Sakya Jetsumas — The Hidden World of Tibetan Female Lamas” — spiritual biographies of the great female meditation masters
There can be no doubt of the vast contribution of the great female wisdom masters of Tibetan Buddhism, yet with the notable exception of Yeshe Togyal and Machig Labdron, there are precious few stories of their lives. Elisabeth Benard, Ph.D.,...
“I Meet the Buddha” — Chapter excerpt from “Pilgrim Maya” a Buddhist “pilgrim” quest that ends in “nothing” — a novel by Bela Breslau and Stephen Billias
In Pilgrim Maya, we start with the ending. Or, rather, when we asked for permission to excerpt, we received the final chapter — that tells you some of what you need to know about this fascinating novel by Bela Breslau...
Book Review: Tasting the Essence of Tantra: Buddhist Meditation for Contemporary Western Life by Rob Preece — Highly Recommended
Author-Psychotherapist Rob Preece's excellent books have become go-to references for Western Buddhist teachers and students of Tibetan Buddhism. "The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra" was an instant classic, jammed full of thoughtful nuggets that help Western practitioners pierce the mystery of...
Why Dhamma (Dharma) is the most important of the Three Jewels: “The Dhamma is our arbitrator” — Ananada in the Gopaka Moggallana Sutta
One of the most unique and captivating of Pali Suttas actually records events after Buddha passed away. Why, then, if Buddha is not teaching, is this interesting? Aside from the fascinating historical perspective, it carries a vey profound and important...
If you have time for only one Buddhist Practice — recite Diamond Sutra, or Vajra Cutter Sutra; containing the four main points of Mahayana practice — unlimited merit according to many teachers: full text of the Sutra
Recitation of the Diamond Sutra, or Vajra Cutter, is a vital indispensable practice, as recommended by many teachers, from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to the great teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche — to nearly every Mahayana teacher of all lineages....
The Five Strengths and Powers or pañcabalā in Buddhism — the qualities conducive to Enlightenment: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom
The Five Strengths (Sanskrit, Pali: pañcabalā) in Buddhism — critical to our progress on the path to enlightenment — are: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. They are one of the seven sets of Bodhipakkhiyadhamma ("qualities conducive to enlightenment"). You may wonder why our...
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 Enlightened Beings...
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 need the...
Guanyin Enlightenment Day: “Most Widely Beloved Buddhist Divinity”; Devotion to the 33 Forms of Compassion and Love
Guan Yin's Enlightenment Day is July 17, 2022 (on lunar calendar 19th day of the 6th Lunar Month). Guanyin is often referred to as the "most widely beloved Buddhist Divinity."[2] Why? Because Her love is unconditional, all-embracing — with all...
Six ways to focus the mind: Metta, mindfulness, breath, progressive, transcendental, or Zazen
Our society is rife with stress, competition, fear, and commercialism – yet we're at a time when spirituality has become a buzzword. On one hand, there’s definitely an increased need for spiritualism in a stressful environment, but there still seems...
Chan Buddhism – the “Flower Sermon” and the profound roots of Chan or Zen — the open hearted path
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...
The Gateless Gate and the door of Mu!: “Does a dog have Buddha Nature?” and other breakthrough koan riddles
The Gateless Gate (or Barrier) is a compilation of 48 Zen koans. Koans are paradoxical, puzzling riddles, statements, or even short pieces of prose that are a fixture in Zen Buddhism; they’re meant to entice those who encounter them to...
Guru Rinpoche’s advice for visualizing the deity: a how-to from Padmasambhava with advice from today’s teachers (with video how-to)
For many Vajrayana Buddhists, nothing is more difficult than generating (creating) a detailed, stable and complete visualization. Yet, at the same time, it is vital, as explained by Kunkhyen Tenpe Nyima: This is one of the primary functions of the...
Shabkar’s Song of Practice: the entire path, from refuge to generation to completion in one song by one of the great sages of Tibet
Only a true visionary Yogi could distill a path that fills lifetimes and books into a single song. Such a Yogi is the great Shabkar Tsokdruk Rangdrol, an emanation of the great Milarepa. Both were famous for their songs of...
Prayer Wheels 3.0 — “Mindful meritorious multi-faith mantra wheels” — Holy Land Prayer Wheels, guided by advice from H.E. Garchen Rinpoche
Prayer Wheels are highly recommended for mindful, meritorious, Bodhichitta practice by many prominent Tibetan teachers from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche. The great teacher Kyabje Garchen Rinpoche appears to have one spinning in his hands almost...
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 need the...
Tara Puja Day — Why it’s important; simple ways to celebrate, how to participate; sponsoring pujas for merit; offering from the heart
Tara day — when we celebrate the wisdom activity of all the Buddhas in the form of Mother Tara — is every day, but especially celebrated and meritorious on the 8th day of the lunar month. We call it "Tara Day"...
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 fear or...
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.
