buddha &laquo; WordPress.com Tag Feed http://wordpress.com/tag/buddha/ Feed of posts on WordPress.com tagged "buddha" Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:16:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/tags/ en <![CDATA[3 Meals on the Path to Sustainability]]> http://redravencircle.wordpress.com/?p=87 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:02:55 +0000 Morgan http://redravencircle.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/3-meals-on-the-path-to-sustainability/ [/caption]

The Buddha's Last Instruction
by Mary Oliver

"Make of yourself a light "
said the Buddha,
before he died.
I think of this every morning
as the east begins
to tear off its many clouds
of darkness, to send up the first
signal - a white fan
streaked with pink and violet,
even green.
An old man, he lay down
between two sala trees,
and he might have said anything,
knowing it was his final hour.
The light burns upward,
it thickens and settles over the fields.
Around him, the villagers gathered
and stretched forward to listen.
Even before the sun itself
hangs, disattached, in the blue air,
I am touched everywhere
by its ocean of yellow waves.
No doubt he thought of everything
that had happened in his difficult life.
And then I feel the sun itself
as it blazes over the hills,
like a million flowers on fire-
clearly I'm not needed
yet I feel myself turning
into something of inexplicable value.
Slowly, beneath the branches,
he raised his head.
He looked into the faces of that frightened crowd.

For more of Mary Oliver's poetry, visit here.

In the past two weeks I have had three meals with three different women friends.  Although we talked about a number of different things, the theme of all three conversations was basically how do we create and maintain sustainable lives for ourselves.

Jobs, families, health, the environment, time, the economy, community service, friendship.  All of these topics came up in our discussions.  We asked ourselves lots of questions.  A few ideas were put on the table.  We picked them up like they were fruit at the market, felt their firmness, sniffed them, and checked the color.  Still, we may need to taste them a few times to see if they are ripe, if the taste will compliment the other flavors in our lives.

One result from these conversations is that I rewatched the X-Files episode called "All Things," which was written and directed by Gillian Anderson.  No answers, but I am trying to look for the signs.

]]> <![CDATA[]]> http://msagar.wordpress.com/?p=34 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:40:25 +0000 Profundis http://msagar.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%b3%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%be-%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%80%d0%b0%d1%81%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b0%d0%bc-%d0%b4%d0%b0-%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b1%d1%83%d0%b4%d0%b0/ Когато порастна искам да стана Буда

(Какво е Буда, Учителю? - Буда е бърсалка за задник)

да, да...правилно чухте  -

Буда!

С детство като коан,
абсурден някакъв -
ухилен,
плашещ,
смеещ се
и мрънкащ
пред пакетче "Лукчета".

Онова детство, което не успя,
то просто не можеше да продължи -
същото, на което се смяха,
малко... много малко детство сгушено в лунен кратер
като в утроба от която можеш да извикаш -
"Сантиментална си, Луна,
твърде си будоарна,
твърде куртизанка,
твърде смешна".

Детството на великаните -
уморено с първия дъх,
пораснало с тътена на първия шамар -
открило иглата в купата сено,
а сред сеното тела -
голи детски психолози! -
драскат още,
още пишат
съчиняват порочния коан
увит в пелени,
слузест
разлят морски залез
в детски очи,
които изгарят отвътре
нелепите уста на психолозите-деца-без-детство

цък-цък-цък

(5 минути.... 3/4 сърдечен удар и лъжица усмихната каша)

цъкат с раздвоен език:
(разтворен като двете ми бедра)

детство на 24

през 24-та емоция,
на 24-я етаж,
в 24-то легло,
върху 24-я мъж от сено,
по време на 24-я оргазъм

тогава,

когато порастна, де -

ще стана Буда,

защото коанът Горе, стих втори
(макар цитиран в скоби и по спомен)
си е съвсем истински!

]]> <![CDATA[Zen Talk: Who's the Fool and How Can He Become Wise? Let's Ask Buddha]]> http://jaysolomon.wordpress.com/?p=1040 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:20:01 +0000 Jay Solomon http://jaysolomon.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/zen-talk-whos-the-fool-and-how-can-he-become-wise-lets-ask-buddha/ "A fool who is conscious of his folly is thereby wise; the fool who thinks himself wise is the one to be called a fool."

So sayeth Buddha.

This reminds me of what Socrates used to say: the only thing I know for sure is that I know nothing. Yes, the statement is a little contradictory but it's meant to illustrate a very important point about the difficulty of actually having knowledge.

Socrates spent his life in the pursuance of knowledge, asking everyone to explain anything at all to him. His questioning, known today as the Socratic method, was ultimately designed to remind everyone that he also knew nothing for sure. The sophists, his intellectual rivals who insisted that they knew a great deal, were constantly thwarted by Socrates' own pursuit of knowledge.

Buddha tells us something similar - and not particularly far away from Socrates in time - which is that a fool aware of his foolishness is actually wise and the only real fool is the one who thinks he's wise.

What do you think about this saying? True? Trite? Silly? Do you have a favorite Buddha quote? What's your favorite Socrates moment (all Platonic dialogues are up for grabs!)?

To read more Zen Talk posts, click HERE.

]]> <![CDATA[Jesus vs. Obama? McCain preacher says Christian God supports McCain]]> http://beertap.wordpress.com/?p=298 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:32:41 +0000 beertap http://beertap.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/mccain-prayer-rev-arnold-conrad/ This is at a McCain event. Senator McCain asked Rev. Arnold Conrad to open his event with prayer. Rev. Arnold Conrad also tells God that God's reputation is at stake if Obama wins. The outrageous part starts 52 seconds into this video. Notice how none of the McCain supporters are angry with Rev. Arnold Conrad but instead applaud him.

Since McCain requires such an overtly Christian prayer to open up his events I'm assuming non-Christians are not welcome at McCain events.

]]> <![CDATA[Crossing the river]]> http://pearls0wisdom.wordpress.com/?p=127 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:01:28 +0000 lostgalaxy http://pearls0wisdom.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/crossing-the-river/ The Buddha to Kakuttha's river came,
Where cool and limpid flows the pleasant stream;
There washed in water clear his weary frame
The Buddha — he in all the world supreme!
And having bathed and drank, the Teacher straight
Crossed over, the bhikkhus thronging in his wake.

Discoursing holy truths, the Master great
Towards the Mango Grove his path did take.
There to the elder Cundaka he spoke:
"Lay down my robe, please, folded into four."
Then the elder, swift as lightning stroke,
Hastened the Teacher's bidding to obey.
Weary, the Lord then lay down on the mat,
And Cunda on the ground before him sat.
Maha-parinibbana Sutta

]]> <![CDATA[Paths of life]]> http://edgeofentropy.wordpress.com/?p=116 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:26:27 +0000 edgeofentropy http://edgeofentropy.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/paths-of-life/ Did the Buddha say that to reach Nirvana, one has to take on the life of a renunciate and become a monk or nun? That is, is it possible, according to the Buddha, to reach Nirvana, be enlightened, while living the life of a householder? I do understand that after one is enlightened, one may live as a householder, or a renunciate, or neither... But I wish to know about the life of a person who is seeking enlightenment and his/her greatest desire is to seek an end to suffering? I imagine the answer is to reach Nirvana, one may either be a householder or a renunciate. Once you reach the other side of the shore, you have no need for the boat. Whether that boat was that of a householder, or a nun, or something else altogether. Yet, I'd like to get this knowledge from those who are experienced and speak with mindfulness.

]]> <![CDATA[Vietnam: Phat Tich Pagoda Restoration Begins]]> http://johnibii.wordpress.com/?p=3284 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:23:18 +0000 johnibii http://johnibii.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/vietnam-phat-tich-pagoda-restoration-begins/ A woman touches up her make-up before a ceremony at Phat Tich ... 
A woman touches up her make-up before a ceremony at Phat Tich pagoda in Vietnam's northern Bac Ninh province, 40 km (25 miles) north of Hanoi October 11, 2008. The traditional ceremony was held to mark the start of reparation works on the pagoda, one of the oldest in Vietnam. The Chinese character on the wall reads, "Buddha".REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM)

Women in traditional costumes hold offerings in front of a Buddha ... 
Women in traditional costumes hold offerings in front of a Buddha statue while performing during a ceremony at Phat Tich pagoda in Vietnam's northern Bac Ninh province, 40 km (25 miles) north of Hanoi October 11, 2008. The traditional ceremony was held to mark the start of reparation works on the pagoda, one of the oldest in Vietnam.REUTERS/Kham (VIETNAM)
]]> <![CDATA[Patio Bar Sets]]> http://mattressqueensertaa.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/patio-bar-sets/ Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:10:54 +0000 kanyelancastern http://mattressqueensertaa.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/patio-bar-sets/
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]]> <![CDATA[Buddhist Parable : Delusion]]> http://ritusthoughtcatcher.wordpress.com/?p=222 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:02:29 +0000 ritusthoughtcatcher http://ritusthoughtcatcher.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/buddhist-parable-delusion/

A man was forcing his way through a thick forest beset with thorns and stones. Suddenly to his great consternation, an elephant appeared and gave chase. He took to his heels through fear, and seeing a well, he ran to hide in it. But to his horror he saw a viper at the bottom of the well. However, lacking other means of escape, he jumped into that well, and clung to a thorny creeper that was growing in it. Looking up, he saw two mice--a white one and a black one--gnawing at the creeper. Over his face there was a beehive from which occasional drops of honey trickled.

This man, foolishly unmindful of this precarious position, was greedily tasting the honey. A kind person volunteered to show him a path of escape. But the greedy man begged to be excused till he had enjoyed himself.

The thorny path is Samsara, the ocean of life. Man's life is not a bed of roses. It is beset with difficulties and obstacles to overcome, with opposition and unjust criticism, with attacks and insults to be borne. Such is the thorny path of life.

The elephant here resembles death; the viper, old age; the creeper, birth; the two mice, night and day. The drop of honey corresponds to the fleeting sensual pleasures. The man represents the so-called being. The kind person represents the Buddha.

The temporary material happiness is merely the gratification of some desire. When the desired thing is gained, another desire arises. Insatiate are all desires.

Related Post(s):
Nuggets of Wisdom from Buddha
Deepak Chopra's 10 keys to Happiness
Wisdom From Warren Buffet

]]> <![CDATA[Medytacja z koanem]]> http://zenforest.wordpress.com/?p=1416 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:51:38 +0000 zenforest http://zenforest.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/medytacja-z-koanem/

Koan (jap. ko'an, chin. gong'an, koreań. kong'ari) - jest to sformułowanie wskazujące na ostateczną prawdę, a wyrażone w sposób, który wprawia ucznia w zakłopotanie.
Nie może on być rozwiązany na drodze logicznego rozumowania, lecz jedynie dzięki przebudzeniu głębszego poziomu umysłu, poza intelektem, poprzez medytację.

Jest to technika stosowana powszechnie w buddyzmie Zeń i to zarówno w jego początkach, jak i w czasach współczesnych. Co prawda pierwotnie miały one jedynie pomagać mnichom w ich codziennej praktyce lecz docelowo stały się bardzo pomocnym narzędziem duchowego treningu.

Koan składa się z pytania i odpowiedzi, np. pytanie: “Czy pies ma naturę Buddy?" i odpowiedź: “Mu!". Może to być również paradoksalne wyrażenie lub gest Mistrza.
Celem koanu jest wywołanie w człowieku wątpliwości co do jego potocznej orientacji w świecie, którą zwykle się zadowala.

Jednocześnie zmusza go do przyjęcia postawy badawczej.
Musi ją utrzymać tak długo, aż nie dotrze na skraj umysłowej przepaści, gdzie nie pozostaje mu już nic innego jak skoczyć.

Niektóre z koa-nów, np. “Mu" (Nic, Pustka) potrafią tak wstrząsnąć świadomością człowieka, że ulega ona przerwaniu. Następstwem może być zapamiętanie doświadczenia czystej pustki i absolutnego milczenia.

Każdy koan w buddyzmie uważany jest za jedyny w swoim rodzaju wyraz żywej, niepodzielnej Natury Buddy, która nie może być pojęta za pomocą rozróżniającego intelektu.

Koany, mimo bezsensowności ich różnych postaci, mają głębokie znaczenie.
Całkowite unicestwienie rozumującego intelektu sprawia, że świadomość pozbawiona zostaje wstępnych założeń i zatrzymuje się w pustce.

Dzięki temu dochodzi do głosu sama Natura, która przekazuje swoje reakcje bezpośrednio świadomości. Następuje to dopiero wtedy, gdy ustaną wysiłki do intelektualnej interpretacji koanu.
“Jeśli człowiek zabije pragnienie szukania, na pewno znajdzie to, czego szuka" (Ko Bong).

Podczas gdy koany “Jaki jest dźwięk jednej klaszczącej dłoni?", “Jaka jest twoja Twarz sprzed narodzin twoich rodziców?" nękają umysł i podniecają wyobraźnię, to “Mu" leży zarówno poza zasięgiem rozumowania, jak i wyobraźni.
Wszystkie jednak koany wskazują na “Twarz człowieka sprzed narodzin jego rodziców", na rzeczywistą Jaźń.

Koany są tak sformułowane, że “sypią piaskiem" w nasze intelektualne “oko", jednocześnie zmuszając nas do otwarcia “oka" umysłu, do ujrzenia świata oraz wszystkiego, co w nim się znajduje, bez zniekształceń powodowanych przez wyobrażenia i oceny.

Tematem koanów są przedmioty namacalne i konkretne, np. pies, drzewo, twarz, palec. Służy to temu, aby z jednej strony pokazać, że każdy przedmiot ma wartość absolutu, z drugiej zaś, by powstrzymać tendencję intelektu do zakotwiczania się w pojęciach abstrakcyjnych. Wszystkie koany mają jednak to samo znaczenie.
Mają nam pomóc uświadomić sobie, że świat jest jedną współzależną Całością i każdy z nas, z osobna, też jest tą Całością.

Nakłaniając intelekt do szukania rozwiązań dlań niemożliwych, koany ukazują nam wrodzone ograniczenia logicznego myślenia, jako narzędzia nieprzydatnego do urzeczywistnienia ostatecznej Prawdy.
W ten sposób uwalniają umysł z sideł języka, prowadząc do porzucenia dogmatów i przesądów, których się kurczowo trzymamy, pozbawiają nas skłonności do różnicowania dobra i zła, pozwalają nam pozbyć się fałszywych wyobrażeń, dzielących rzeczywistość na ja i inni.

Kiedy zapytano mistrza Zen Zhong Fenga, dlaczego koanami zwie się naturę buddów, ów powiedział: “Koany nie wyrażają prywatnej opinii jakiegoś jednego człowieka, lecz raczej najwyższą zasadę. Zasada ta zgadza się z duchowym źródłem, odpowiada tajemniczemu znaczeniu, niszczy narodziny i śmierć, góruje nad namiętnościami. Nie można jej zrozumieć posługując się logiką, nie można jej przekazać słowami, nie można jej wyjaśnić opisując, nie można jej zmierzyć rozumem. (...) Bowiem nic nie może przewyższyć koanu, gdy chodzi o istotę skończonej transcendencji, ostateczne wyzwolenie, całkowite przeniknięcie i takież dotarcie do celu".

Nie jest to jednak łatwe do osiągnięcia, a wręcz przychodzi z ogromną trudnością. Najlepiej ujął to mistrz Zeń Shibayama:
“Wyobraźmy sobie człowieka całkowicie ślepego, z trudem poruszającego się przy pomocy laski i polegającego tylko na własnej orientacji w terenie. Rolą koanu jest bezlitosne wyrwanie mu owej laski, obrócenie go kilka razy dookoła i powalenie.
Ślepiec, pozbawiony swej jedynej podpory i który stracił orientację, nie będzie wiedział ani dokąd iść, ani co dalej robić. Zostanie wrzucony w otchłań rozpaczy. Dokładnie w taki sam sposób, bezlitośnie, koan zabiera nam cały rozsądek i wiedzę.
Mówiąc krótko, rola koanu polega nie na łatwym doprowadzeniu nas do satori (oświecenie, przyp. aut.), lecz przeciwnie, na pozbawieniu nas drogi i doprowadzeniu do rozpaczy, w zderzeniu z niedefiniowalną rzeczywistością".

Pełne rozwiązanie koanu pociąga za sobą przejście umysłu ze stanu niewiedzy do odczucia wewnętrznej Prawdy, przy czym sama walka jest wysiłkiem umysłu, by zerwać więzy niewiedzy i dojść do samowiedzy.

Najtrudniejszym bodaj koanem jest “Mu". Bezpośrednim jego tłumaczeniem jest słowo nic lub pustka. Jednak leksykalne znaczenie nie ma tu żadnej wartości.
Samo w sobie leży poza jakąkolwiek interpretacją i rozumieniem.
Jest wszystkim i niczym.
Przez analogię do innych filozofii: jest tym samym co Tao, Reiki, Om (informacje o nich można znaleźć w innych rozdziałach). Mang Gong powiedział kiedyś:
“Woda jest górą, góra jest wodą. Woda i góra są pustką".

Najlepiej i najprościej wartość Mu opisai Lao Zi:
Trzydzieści szprych zbiega się
W środku kola,
Lecz użyteczność wozu
Jest w pustym środku pusty.

Wypalona skorupa tworzy
Ksztalt glinianej misy,
Ale użyteczność
Jest w jej pustce.

By wznieść dom, budujesz ściany,
Wstawiasz w nie drzwi i okna,
Ale użyteczność domu
Jest w pustej przestrzeni.

Dlatego korzyść wynika
Z wszystkiego, co istnieje,
Lecz użyteczność - z tego,
Czego nie ma.

Pomocnym w rozwiązywaniu koanów może być czterowiersz napisany przez Kyong Ho. Potraktujmy go jako wstępną inspiracje przed interpretacją koanów.
Swiatlo księżyca czystego umyslu
wypija wszystko na świecie.
Kiedy umyśl i światlo znikają,
to ... co ... jest... ?

ĆWICZENIE
Spośród wielu koanów przedstawiam kilka przykładów, z których można skorzystać w ćwiczeniu. Oto one:
• “Jaki jest dźwięk jednej klaszczącej dłoni?"
• “Jaka jest twoja twarz sprzed narodzin twoich rodziców?"
• “Jak brzmią skrzypce bez strun?"
• “Jak można kontynuować wspinaczkę na wierzchołku słupa?"
• “Jak można wyrazić istotę rzeczy poza słowami i milczeniem?"
• “Mu!"
1. Przyjmij wygodną pozycję i zamknij oczy.
2. Zrelaksuj ciało i umysł.
3. Oddychaj przez kilka minut, obserwując oddech.
4. Spróbuj “zrozumieć" wybrany wcześniej przez siebie koan.
5. Pozostań w medytacji do momentu gdy zdecydujesz, że znasz odpowiedź, albo gdy zechcesz przerwać ćwiczenie.
6. Wykonaj kilka kontrolowanych oddechów.
7. Zakończ medytację. Jeżeli nie udało ci się rozwiązać problemu, wróć do niego ponownie.

Bednarz Andrzej - Medytacja teoria i praktyka

Już jutro o 17, kolejny post.

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]]> <![CDATA[Mufti Perlis, Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin kesal dengan tindakan pentadbiran sebuah sekolah menengah di Kangar yang mengarahkan lapan pelajar Islam, iaitu anggota pancaragam sekolah itu, mengiringi perarakan berhala Buddha di Kangar Selasa lalu.]]> http://ajid.wordpress.com/?p=281 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:54:52 +0000 ajid http://ajid.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/mufti-perlis-dr-mohd-asri-zainul-abidin-kesal-dengan-tindakan-pentadbiran-sebuah-sekolah-menengah-di-kangar-yang-mengarahkan-lapan-pelajar-islam-iaitu-anggota-pancaragam-sekolah-itu-mengiringi-pera/ Mufti Perlis, Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin kesal dengan tindakan pentadbiran sebuah sekolah menengah di Kangar yang mengarahkan lapan pelajar Islam, iaitu anggota pancaragam sekolah itu, mengiringi perarakan berhala Buddha di Kangar Selasa lalu.  Amat dikesalkan pihak pentadbiran sekolah tidak sensitif dengan isu agama.  Amat memalukan, dan kita tunggu apa jawapan Dato' Hishamudin....

]]> <![CDATA[ Meaning of the six syllables mantra is great and vast]]> http://liangmerlot.wordpress.com/?p=110 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:33:02 +0000 liangmerlot http://liangmerlot.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/meaning-of-the-six-syllables-mantra-is-great-and-vast/ By His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Tenzin Gyatso The Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet.

It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast. The first, Om is composed of three letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.Can impure body, speech, and mind be transformed into pure body, speech, and mind, or are they entirely separate? All Buddhas are cases of beings who were like ourselves and then in dependence on the path became enlightened; Buddhism does not assert that there is anyone who from the beginning is free from faults and possesses all good qualities. The development of pure body, speech, and mind comes from gradually leaving the impure states arid their being transformed into the pure. 

How is this done? The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method-the altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love. Just as a jewel is capable of removing poverty, so the altruistic mind of enlightenment is capable of removing the poverty, or difficulties, of cyclic existence and of solitary peace. Similarly, just as a jewel fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the altruistic intention to become enlightened fulfills the wishes of sentient beings.

The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom. Just as a lotus grows forth from mud but is not sullied by the faults of mud, so wisdom is capable of putting you in a situation of non-contradiction whereas there would be contradiction if you did not have wisdom. There is wisdom realizing impermanence, wisdom realizing that persons are empty, of being self-sufficient or substantially existent, wisdom that realizes the emptiness of duality-that is to say, of difference of entity between subject an object-and wisdom that realizes the emptiness of inherent existence. Though there are many different types of wisdom, the main of all these is the wisdom realizing emptiness.

Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hum, which indicates indivisibility. According to the sutra system, this indivisibility of method and wisdom refers to wisdom affected by method and method affected by wisdom. In the mantra, or tantric, vehicle, it refers to one consciousness in which there is the full form of both wisdom and method as one undifferentiable entity. In terms of the seed syllables of the five Conqueror Buddhas, hum is the seed syllable of Akshobhya - the immovable, the unfluctuating, that which cannot be disturbed by anything.

Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha. It is said that you should not seek for Buddhahood outside of yourself; the substances for the achievement of Buddhahood are within. As Maitreya says in his Sublime Continuum of the Great Vehicle (Uttaratantra), all beings naturally have the Buddha nature in their own continuum. We have within us the seed of purity, the essence of a One Gone Thus (Tathagatagarbha), that is to be transformed and fully developed into Buddhahood.

(From a lecture given by His Holiness The Dalai Lama of Tibet at the Kalmuck Mongolian Buddhist Center, New Jersey.) 

Om Mani Pedme Hum (or Om Mani Pedme Hung), is the most common mantra in Tibet, recited by Buddhists, painted or carved on rocks, prayer wheels, or yak skulls and seen around most usually. Tibetan people, almost all Buddhists, do believe that it is very good to practice the mantra of Chenrezi, the Bodhisattva of Compassion (The protective deity of Tibet), which may, relieve negative karma, accumulate merit, help rescue them from the sea of suffering and achieve Buddhahood. Speaking the mantra loud or silently, spinning prayer wheels with the mantra, and carving mantra into stones are the usual practices. 

Om, symbolize one's impure body, speech and mind, and also the pure noble body, speech and mind of a Buddha. Buddhism claims that an impure body, speech and mind can be transformed into pure ones of a Buddha, who was once impure and later by removing their negative attributes, achieved enlightenment on his path. 

Mani, the jewel, symbolizes factors of method, compassion and love, the altruistic intention to become enlightened. "Just as a jewel is capable of removing poverty, so the altruistic mind of enlightenment is capable of removing the poverty, or difficulties, and of solitary peace. Similarly, just as a jewel fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the altruistic intention to become enlightened fulfills the wishes of sentient beings", the Dalai Lama says. 

PADME means lotus and symbolizes wisdom. Growing out of mud, but not being stained by mud, lotus indicates the quality of wisdom, which keeps you out of contradiction. 

The last syllabus, Hum, means inseparability; symbolizing purity & can be achieved by the unity of method and wisdom.
]]> <![CDATA[More from Bulguksa]]> http://danielleandaj.wordpress.com/?p=836 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:17:04 +0000 danielle912 http://danielleandaj.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/more-from-bulguksa/

]]> <![CDATA[Operato il Dalai Lama]]> http://indonapoletano.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/1431/ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:10:01 +0000 Nello http://indonapoletano.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/1431/ Il Dalai Lama ha subito questa mattina a New Delhi un intervento per la rimozione di calcoli biliari. L'intervento si e' concluso con successo e le condizioni del Dalai Lama sono buone. Lo rivela un comunicato del sito ufficiale del leader spirituale tibetano, che precisa che Sua santita' dovra' riposare qualche giorno prima di ritornare a Dharamsala e riprendere i suoi impegni.

]]> <![CDATA[Through Nihilism and Beyond]]> http://myimpermanence.wordpress.com/?p=72 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:40:23 +0000 myimpermanence http://myimpermanence.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/through-nihilism-and-beyond/

I was never indoctrinated into a faith, so it comes as no surprise that I, even at a very young age, have always understood the absurdity of organized religion. Living my entire life as an atheist also led me down a path of nihilism. This isn’t the dreary jet black path that so many people make it out to be. Heck, it’s not even a path really. It is more or less an innate and fundamental understanding that the only absolute value that a concept, being, or object has is the value that the assignee grants to it. You don’t have to be very intelligent to come across this conclusion, you just have to be somewhat pragmatic, strong-willed, and have had the good fortune of never being initiated into some sort of religious thought control; because then it becomes much harder to “break” through the inconsistencies of your non-logical paradigm.

That being said one fateful evening my somewhat shallow and pseudo-nihilistic world view came to a climax. Without getting into the boring technicalities I had an awakening of sorts; albeit this awakening did not pull me away from my nihilistic tendencies -it did however illuminate an entirely new concept that I had previously never fathomed. You see, words are merely abstractions that inadequately attempt to explain experience. Yeah, you can read about a fiery romance, but unless you’ve ever actually experienced the wrath of love, then you can never fully understand the pleasant (or terrifying) delusions of such an emotion. The same can be said for ego-loss, or loss of self.

At first it was terrifying. Every last strand of my being was attempting to pull itself back together- to assimilate as one again. But it was no use. The self I had known was gone. All that was left were hollow details. It was like reading the biography of a long deceased friend. I was then thrust into an abyss of sorts - a dazzling “bottomless pit” where everything really is everything and the individual goes to perish. It is here that you became me, and I became you. It was so surreal that it became cinematic. It was so cinematic that it became surreal. It was beauty defined. And then, it was over. I was myself again – now the only thing that’s left nearly two years later is a reminder of the day I went to pieces without falling apart.

Before that realization I took an astronomy class in college that was taught in a fairly large planetarium. Each day upon leaving the class I’d gaze up into the sky with the understanding that I was an ant... no I was smaller; I was a grain of sand lost in the vastness of an infinite universe. I am now aware that “I” was wrong. I am not a grain of sand. I’m merely the reflection of an idea. I am nothing… and yet… I am everything. I bet this whole thing sounds absurd. Don’t worry, it is.

]]> <![CDATA[]]> http://vagabondsaga.wordpress.com/?p=53 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:46:02 +0000 dragonflydm http://vagabondsaga.wordpress.com/?p=53 The Dharma of Emotion by Joshua Hudson

There is a kitten that lives beneath my chest,

She is present standing or rest;
You hug me she rubs the bones purring inside,

Slap me she scratches through my hide;
Pain and pleasure she inflicts onto my bones,

Instinctive responses not my own;
Be mindful of the feline,

Emotions are hers not mine.

]]> <![CDATA[Il Dalai Lama ricoverato a Delhi]]> http://indonapoletano.wordpress.com/?p=1429 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:01:36 +0000 Nello http://indonapoletano.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/il-dalai-lama-ricoverato-a-delhi/ l Dalai Lama è stato ricoverato oggi al Sir Gangaram Hospital di New Delhi a seguito di dolori addominali. Lo riferisce il Times of India. Secondo il giornale indiano il leader spirituale tibetano potrebbe subire un'operazione chirurgica già domani. Il Dalai Lama era stato precedentemente ricoverato presso il Lilawati Hospital di Mumbai. Il portavoce del leader spirituale tibetano, Tenzin Takla, ha reso noto all'ANSA che il Dalai Lama e' stato ricoverato in serata (il primo pomeriggio in Italia) per accertamenti. ''Le condizioni di Sua Santita' sono buone - ha detto Takla all'ANSA - ma lo stanno sottoponendo ad una serie di accertamenti per individuare le cause dei dolori addominali per i quali e' stato ricoverato''. Takla ha aggiunto che domattina, quando si sapranno i risultati delle analisi, si potra' avere un quadro piu' preciso delle condizioni del Dalai Lama.

]]> <![CDATA[Karma]]> http://liangmerlot.wordpress.com/?p=87 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:41:05 +0000 liangmerlot http://liangmerlot.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/karma/ 躲避,不一定躲得过…..

面对,不一定最难过…..

孤单,不一定不快乐…..

得到,不一定能长久…..

失去,不一定不再有….

转身,不一定最软弱….

别急着说别无选择……..

别以为世上,只有对与错…..

许多事情的答案都不只是有一个,

一切都有它的因因果果…..

所以我们永远都有路可以走….

你能找个理由难过….

也一定能找到快乐….

懂得放下的人,找到轻松….

懂得遗忘的人,找到自由….

懂得关怀的人,找到朋友.

Source from Zacken

]]> <![CDATA[Cambiamento]]> http://spazicreativi.wordpress.com/?p=296 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:29:38 +0000 Fr@nce§ca http://spazicreativi.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/cambiamento/

"Non c'è nulla di costante, solo il cambiamento".

(Buddha)

]]> <![CDATA[How is the NKT Financed? ]]> http://newkadampatruths.wordpress.com/?p=52 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:39:48 +0000 newkadampatruths http://newkadampatruths.no.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/how-is-the-nkt-financed/ Fees are charged by NKT Centres and their branches for drop-in classes, and for all other courses and retreats; and in residential Centres rent is charged for accommodation. In accordance with NKT Centre constitutions, none of the income or property of any Centre may be paid by way of profit to its Directors, staff, Teachers or Members, or to any other individual person. 

Every year at the NKT-IKBU International Spring and Summer Festivals at Manjushri KMC in the UK, people gather together from around the world to attend teachings and meditation sessions. There are also Festivals and Dharma Celebrations in many other countries around the world. These events are regarded as spiritual holidays, where people can take a break from their normal routine to study and practise in a special relaxed environment. 

Surplus profits from these Festivals and Dharma Celebrations, from the publishing departments (Tharpa Publications), from the Dharma Centres – in particular the Kadampa Meditation Centres and International Retreat Centres – and Hotel Kadampas, are all donated towards the development of the NKT-IKBU International Temples Project, for public service only; and in the future all such funds will continue to be donated for the same purpose. 

]]>