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Dharmavidya writes: Amida-shu is a form of Buddhism that affirms (together with all Mahayana Buddhsim) the threefold nature of Buddha (ultimate Buddha, spiritual Buddha, Buddha in the world), adheres to the Pureland Buddhist emphasis upon the ‘bombu’ nature of the practitioner (that we do not...
It is possible to take our existence as a sacred world, to take this place as open space rather than claustrophobic dark void. It is possible to take a friendly relationship to our ego natures, it is possible to appreciate the aesthetic play of forms in emptiness, and to exist in this place like...
In spiritual life there is no room for compromise. Awakening is not negotiable; we cannot bargain to hold on to things that please us while relinquishing things that do not matter to us. A lukewarm yearning for awakening is not enough to sustain us through the difficulties involved in letting go. It...
Is this the reason that some people 'get' religion and others don't? The God Gene It turns out that spirituality seekers like myself probably carry--embedded in our DNA along with the gene that determines whether we can roll our tongues and all the others that make us not only human but unique...
James writes: One of the aspects of Buddhism that I enjoy and find most refreshing is how simple yet profound teachings and insights can be. Such as when Sensei Taigen Henderson says in this interview, "But basically there isn't really any difference between spirituality and your regular life" in...
Perhaps the deepest reason why we are afraid of death is because we do not know who we are. We believe in a personal, unique, and separate identity - but if we dare to examine it, we find that this identity depends entirely on an endless collection of things to prop it up: our name, our "biography,"...
Dharmavidya writes: As I am currently here at the Amida France retreat centre, I am led to reflect upon the meaning of 'a balanced life'. Here we spend much of our time outdoors. Right now, however, I am inside writing this post. Keeping a balance between the physical and the mental aspects of life...
The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts. ~ H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama ::link to bighappybuddha
The Dalai Lama has begun a 12-day visit to France by blessing a Buddhist institute on the edge of Paris. The exiled spiritual Tibetan leader will spend most of the duration of the Olympics in France. Plans to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy were dropped, though the Dalai Lama will meet lawmakers on...
In Beijing's Tiananmen Square Saturday, four Tibet supporters lay motionless on the ground draped in Tibetan flags representing the bloodshed the activists claim has been perpetrated by the Chinese government on the Tibetan people. Students for a Free Tibet posted a video of the protest online and...
Dharmavidya writes: Recently we have had some discussions concerning the relationship of love, beauty and practice. On the one hand one might think of Buddhism as quite ascetic and vinaya monks are not supposed to go to shows or 'indulge' in art or entertainment. On the other hand, not all Buddhists...
Practice can be stated very simply. It is moving from a life of hurting myself and others to a life of not hurting myself and others. That seems so simple - except when we substitute for real practice some idea that we should be different or better than we are, or that our lives should be different...
Peace is a natural mind-state in every one of us. Peace has been there since the day we were born and it is going to be there until the day we die. It is our greatest gift; so why do we think we have no peace of mind? Experiencing peace is like looking at our hands. Usually, we see only the fingers...
Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned. ~ H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama
Whether people are beautiful and friendly or unattractive and disruptive, ultimately they are human beings, just like oneself. Like oneself, they want happiness and do not want suffering. Furthermore, their right to overcome suffering and be happy is equal to one's own.... When you recognize that...
Soothing and uplifting:
Today I reminded myself of the story of the Buddhist monk who dropped by a street vendor in New York to buy some lunch. Handing the owner of the stand $10 he ordered his lunch with the usual fillings. When he was handed his food he waited a few minutes for his change. After not receiving anything he...
In Buddhism, both learning and practice are extremely important, and they must go hand in hand. Without knowledge, just to rely on faith, faith, and more faith is good but not sufficient. So the intellectual part must definitely be present. At the same time, strictly intellectual development without...
Question: "Could Your Holiness please explain why the result of karma is sometimes instant and why on other occasions we have to wait lifetimes before the causal effect occurs?" Answer: "One factor would be the intensity of the karmic action itself. Another factor is the extent to which the various...
The five spiritual faculties - faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom - are our greatest friends and allies on this journey of understanding. These qualities are most powerful when they are in balance. Faith needs to be balanced with wisdom, so that faith is not blind and wisdom is...
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