“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha “To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.” “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters …
Tag Archives: buddha
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is the head monk of Tibetan Buddhism and traditionally has been responsible for the governing of Tibet, until the Chinese government took control in 1959. Before 1959, his official residence was Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The Dalai Lama belongs to the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, which is …
The Lotus Flower
The lotus has been a symbol of purity since before the time of the Buddha, and it blooms profusely in Buddhist art and literature. Its roots are in muddy water, but the lotus flower rises above the mud to bloom clean and fragrant. In Buddhist art, a fully blooming lotus flower signifies enlightenment, while a …
The Origins of Buddhism
Buddhism, founded in the late 6th century B.C.E. by Siddhartha Gautama (the “Buddha”), is an important religion in most of the countries of Asia. Buddhism has assumed many different forms, but in each case there has been an attempt to draw from the life experiences of the Buddha, his teachings, and the “spirit” or “essence” …
Chakras
Within the human body are seven main chakras. Each chakra has an attachment to separate body areas including glands and organs. The word chakra means wheel in Sanskrit. When experts expand on the wheel concept, they refer to the fact that wheels twirl in a circular movement, which makes a vacuum. As a vacuum, a …
Buddhist Prayer/Mala Beads
You’ve seen them in yoga studios. You’ve seen them worn as spiritual jewelry. And you may have even seen them held by the Buddha. What are these mysterious bead chains? Where do they come from? Who uses them? And how can they help with meditation? What Are Malas Made Of? Traditional malas are made using …
The Law of Karma in Buddhism
Karma, the action of body, speech, and mind, affects every aspect of our life. Actions affect both doers and those around them in unimaginable ways, and the seeds of karma shape our lives and our worlds, though different Buddhist traditions give different weight to whether the action is willed or not. In either case, through …
Love Quotes
Buddha is the embodiment of love, kindness, and happiness. If you are looking to be inspired, read these life-changing Buddha quotes full of wisdom and advice for a life well lived. “In the end, only three things matter: How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not …
The Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path1. Right understanding (Samma ditthi)2. Right thought (Samma sankappa)3. Right speech (Samma vaca) 4. Right action (Samma kammanta)5. Right livelihood (Samma ajiva) 6. Right effort (Samma vayama)7. Right mindfulness (Samma sati)8. Right concentration (Samma samadhi) Right understanding is the understanding of things as they are, and it is the four noble truths …
The Four Noble Truths
SufferingLife always involves suffering, in obvious and subtle forms. Even when things seem good, we always feel an undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty inside. The Cause of SufferingThe cause of suffering is craving and fundamental ignorance. We suffer because of our mistaken belief that we are a separate, independent, solid “I.” The painful and futile …
Buddhism 101 