Tuesday 30 December 2014

Mainstream: To Question Or Not To Question: That Is The Question

http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article5424.html

Mainstream, VOL LIII No 1, December 27, 2014 - Annual Number

To Question Or Not To Question: That Is The Question

Saturday 27 December 2014
The following is a slightly expanded version of the text of the Third Nikhil Chakravartty Memorial Lecture, organised by the Book Review Literary Trust, in New Delhi on October 26, 2014. Prof Romila Thapar has edited and expanded the text. It is being reproduced, with due acknowledgement, from the Book Review. A recorded version of the lecture is available at http://www.sacw.net/article9874.html and at ndtv.com

by Romila Thapar

Friday 26 December 2014

The Way to Salvation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJDAC8RgV2w

The Way to Salvation

Published on Oct 29, 2014
“The Way To Salvation” is a documentary that captured the real life cultivation practice of a Buddhism Dhutanga-practicing Sangha - the Da Bei Sangha. The Da Bei Sangha is stationed at the Da Bei Monastery  in a mountainous valley in Liaoning Province in the northeast of China. Venerable Master Miao Xiang is the The abbot of the monastery

The Vinaya is the foundation of Buddhism cultivation practice and the Dhutanga is a critical way of Buddhism practice. Both were taught and set examples by the Shakyamuni Buddha. Numerous Buddhist patriarchs achieved enlightenment by following them. In spite of a seemingly “old” tradition, the Vinaya and the Dhutanga remain as the effective ways for a Buddhist monk to achieve mind purification and preserve a monk's essential quality in today's overly materialism world. The film shows the cultivation process of Buddhist monks who progress the self-salvation as well as helping the purification of the society by strictly adhering to the Vinaya.

Should any contents in the film conflicts with the Buddhism Sutra and the Vinaya, please use the Buddhism Sutra and the Vinaya as the guidance.

《解脫之路》是記錄當代頭陀僧真實修行生活和佛教戒律概貌的佛教紀錄片。戒律是佛弟子­修行的根本基石,頭陀行是佛法修行的重要法門,二者由釋迦牟尼佛親自垂範,無數祖師大­德依之成就,雖古老傳統,卻是當代僧人在物慾熾盛的環境中淨化自心、保持應有清淨本色­的有效方法。本片呈現了僧人因嚴持戒律而逐步走向自身解脫、淨化社會人心的過程。片中­若有與經律不符之處,皆以經律為準。

The Ancient Path to Enlightenment

1.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgKpGbG3gk
2.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKzNiF-uCNw
3.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVErrRP0uQ
4.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPjxsZUglZc
5.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUiuRWoWKWA
6.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVJ0yYkxP1o
7.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKNfj43kH0A
8.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GveGpzOr-mY
9.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohcgCAH8lNc
10.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMfhvrLmyg4
11.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXZbxJ1TBAk
12.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUP_H_gsuao
13.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcpfcSKuCqU


The Ancient Path to Enlightenment

 Published on Nov 23, 2014

"The Ancient Path to Enlightenment" is a documentary that captured the real life cultivation practice of a Buddhism Dhutanga-practicing Sangha - the Da Bei Sangha. The Da Bei Sangha is stationed at the Da Bei Monastery  in a mountainous valley in Liaoning Province in the northeast of China. Venerable Master Miao Xiang is the The abbot of the monastery

The Vinaya is the foundation of Buddhism cultivation practice and the Dhutanga is a critical way of Buddhism practice. Both were taught and set examples by the Shakyamuni Buddha. Numerous Buddhist patriarchs achieved enlightenment by following them. In spite of a seemingly “old” tradition, the Vinaya and the Dhutanga remain as the effective ways for a Buddhist monk to achieve mind purification and preserve a monk's essential quality in today's overly materialism world. The film shows the cultivation process of Buddhist monks who progress the self-salvation as well as helping the purification of the society by strictly adhering to the Vinaya.

Should any contents in the film conflicts with the Buddhism Sutra and the Vinaya, please use the Buddhism Sutra and the Vinaya as the guidance.



http://www.suyuan.org/intro/english.html
An Introduction to the Da Bei Monastery of Haicheng
The Da Bei Monastery is located in a mountainous valley in Maoqi, Haicheng, Liaoning Province. The monastery is surrounded by winding hills on three sides. Facing across the front gate is a fresh water reservoir used to release captive aquatic creatures. Approximately one kilometer away from where the local inhabitants live, this peaceful and secluded site is a perfect place for Buddhism practice.
The temple is constructed according to the terrain of the adjoining foothills and the majority of its buildings have already been completed, including the Mahavira Hall, the front gate, the Dharma Hall, the Meditation Hall, the Dining Hall, the Guest Hall, the Hall of the Medicine Buddha, the Buddha Recitation Hall, the Hall of Cloud and Water, the Hall of Great Compassion, the Manjusri Attic, the Tripitaka Building, and the Sangha's Dwellings. the Vinaya Platform, the Shurangama Platform, and other structural designs such as the Palace of the Seven Buddhas are currently under construction. The overall hue of the architectures is gray, with blue bricks and gray tiles, completely void of florid decorations – appearing solemn and steady and embodying the principle of practice.
Currently, there are more than seventy monks and over seventy lay practitioners (including those who have formally applied to join the order) in the monastery. In addition, the monastery overlooks the Daoyuan Convent, which is located in the distant mountains of Jiewen, Haicheng. The convent has more than one hundred nuns and over fifty lay female devotees.
The abbot of the monastery, Venerable Master Miao Xiang, travelled on foot from Mount Wutai to Liaoning Province in 1995. Later he spent three years retreating in a remote mountain hermitage in Benxi. In 2000, in response to a joint invitation from the local government and area disciples, Master Miao Xiang brought his Sangha to be stationed at the Da Bei Monastery and has acted as the chief advisor since. Abiding by the teachings of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha, the Da Bei Sangha adheres strictly to the Vinaya rules. Their method of practice and daily behaviors are prescribed essentially according to the Buddha’s commandment. The Da Bei Monastery established eight fundamental rules for its residents.
1. Upholding the precept of abstaining from money.
The Buddha restrained monks from using or storing money. Monks of the Da Bei Sangha neither keep nor accept any monetary donations. The monastery does not have any charity boxes around so as to prevent visitors from leaving any cash. This helps to remove and eliminate any unseen trouble that might arise from the sight of money, thus monks within the order can keep away from money completely and concentrate on self cultivation.
2. Eating one meal a day.
Monks at the Da Bei Monastery eat only one meal per day during forenoon. As soon as the sun passes its zenith, no one is allowed to partake of any food or fluid, including tea, soft drinks, and fruits. Medicine and water are the only exceptions. The same disciplines are abided by the laity. All persons eat the same food at mess.
3. Wandering.
Wandering means the practice of the Dhutangas – leaving the home land and roaming around in the vast wild field, so as to detach oneself from worldly affairs and free the soul from passion. Every autumn, the Sangha practices the “Two Moment Dhuta” based on rules outlined in the Bodhisattva-Pratimoksa. During which period, monks step out of the monastery and travel on foot place by place, like a mobile temple, to spread the teachings of the Buddha according with conditions.
4. Asking for alms
The sutra defines a bhikkhu as a mendicant monk, one who seeks Dharma from the Lord Buddha for his spiritual nourishment while at the same time, begging and receiving almsfood from the people to feed his physical body. When monks are out on alms-rounds, they ask only for food, not money. Afterward, they mix all collected food together in big pots and then re-distribute it among them in an equal manner. Wandering and alms-gathering show the true qualities of a Buddhist monk.
5. Non-acceptance of gifts from visiting monks.
Resident monks do not accept any gifts made by visiting monks. All offerings must be handed over to the monastic order. The guest prefect at the monastery should return each courtesy and treat each visiting monk with fairness and equality.
6. All offerings belong to the Sangha
Offerings received by individual monks should be turned over to the Sangha and let the Sangha redistribute the items accordingly.
7. Keeping three robes and an alms bowl within reach at all time (along with 18 articles).
The three robes and one alms-bowl are not allowed to leave one’s side at any time and the robes must be mute-colored. The Eighteen Articles outlined in the Bodhisattva-Pratimoksa must also be kept alongside when wandering.
8. No solicitation of money and no pleading for help.
Wants result in suffering. Without wants, suffering will gradually die away. By carefully obeying the code of practice, not asking for money, nor soliciting for help, nor allowing the heart courting favors, human desires will extinguish and faith will arise.
All resident practitioners in the monastery are required to observe commands and work. Obedience and diligence are equivalent to obeying the teachings.
The rules above are formulated by the Buddha and handed down by each of the previous Buddhism Patriarchs. They are the basic requirements for people living and cultivating in the Da Bei Monastery as well as the life-long code of conduct for any monk, whether within or away from a monastery. Monks ought to observe these disciplines regardless of external conditions.
The Five Branches of Buddhism (the Chan, Pure Land, Esoteric, Vinaya, and the Tiantai Schools) are equally promoted by the monastery without sectarian prejudices. On the basis of observing the precepts, the monks practice in harmony. They sleep four hours each day, getting up at 2:00 o’clock in the morning and rest at 10:00 in the evening. The temple’s meditation hall hangs a wooden plaque of the Weiyang Sect of the Chan School, which serves as a toll bell. The Da Bei monks meditate five times daily according to the length of the burning incense. Each meditation is about one hour. In addition, each day they must assemble in the Buddha Recitation Hall to chant the Shurangama Mantra ten times. Buddhist precepts are recited on a fortnight basis.
Monks cannot go out of the temple freely. They should stay within to cultivate, either by studying the precepts, listening to lectures, or working outdoors. They are not allowed to dress in fine and bright-colored garments, instead they need to wear mute-colored died cloth such as gray. Soiled robes are washed by their own hands. Each monk is permitted to keep two pieces of apparels in order to keep away from excessive covetousness and attachments. Worn out clothes are mended by themselves. These stitched up rags are called the “One-Hundred-Stitch-Cloth”. According to the rules of the Buddha, ragged-robes with mute colors are the true monastic habits, therefore his disciples are not allowed to dress in bright and colors.
The monastery observes the principle of separate living for male and female practitioners. The four nunneries which sought refuge from the monastery adhere to the Eight Commands and visit the temple every fortnight to seek advice. After each summer retreat, they come to ask for Pravarana.
Every year from April 15 to July 15 (lunar calendar), the Da Bei Sangha takes its summer retreat according to the disciplinary rules drawn by the Buddha. Summer retreating is an important practice for Buddhist monastic orders. It is one of the most fundamental practices according to Buddha’s rules. During the retreat, monks gather in a group, purifying their minds and deeds vigorously, and work diligently toward the path of enlightenment. No one is supposed to leave the temple unless there is an emergency. The three-month summer residence is a form of vigorous cultivation—a preliminary and fundamental Buddhism practice, which is similar to a retreat in seclusion. During these Vassa months, monks concentrate on the study of the precepts. Their daily activities accord with the usual: morning and evening chanting, practicing the Uposatha every fortnight, meditating, reciting the name of a Buddha, listening to Dharma lectures, studying the precepts, chanting mantras, doing outdoor labors, and so on. There are three intensive seven-day sessions during the retreat: a seven-day session on the Bhikkhu’s Precepts, a seven-day session on the Bodhisattva Precepts, and a seven-day recital of the Amitabha Buddha’s name toward the end of the summer residence. During the cultivation on precepts, monks keep on chanting the code of practice continuously through the day. Where practice already goes deep, this chanting may will be an aid to the attainment of harmony between the mind and the precepts, thereby reaching a state where the “the mind is the precept and the percept is the mind.” The Bodhisattva-Pratimoksa says: “those who are learning the precepts should recite the precepts day and night without stopping.”
Bhikkhus recite the Patimokkha Rules (Bhikkhu’s Precepts) in the first seven days and in the following week, they chant the Bodhisattva Precepts. For the novices, the days are spent in reciting the Ten Precepts and the Essences of the Daily Vinaya and in reading the final three sutras bequeathed by the Buddha.
Every year after the 15th day in lunar August, monks assemble in group and go out of the temple to practice the Two Moment Dhuta together. They travel on foot, beg for food along the way with alms bowls in hands, and sleep in the open field. Each trip is approximately 300 kilometers and usually lasts between 15 days and a month. Over the years, they have walked through the cities of Shenyang, Liaoyang, Anshan, Jinzhou, Huludao, covering most of Liaoning Province and some areas in Hebei and Inner Mongolia, including Chengde, Qinhuangdao, and the Shanhai Pass. From 1995 to 2009, the Sangha has had a wandering history of 14 years. Wandering and alms-gathering reduce arrogance and conceit, remove attachments, and benefit beings; in so doing they help to bring forth the pure faith in all sentient beings for Buddha’s teachings and restore the right image of Buddhist monks. The Shakyamuni Buddha once remarked: “the Dharma lives so long as the Dhutanga practices are carried on”.
The Da Bei Monastery conducts two Dharma assemblies on a yearly basis, one is on April 8th to celebrate the birth of the Shakyamuni Buddha (Vasak Day); the other is the Ullambana Festival, which occurs on the 15th of July (all dates are based on the lunar calendar). Buddhism followers can take the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts during these Dharma celebrations. Each time approximately several thousands of devotees come from various places to attend the ceremony.
In the afternoon on the day prior to each assembly, there is an open session explaining the meaning of the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts, followed by an all-night repentance ceremony for conscience-clearing. The next day there will a Dharma ritual transmitting the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts to the lay disciples by Master Miao Xiang. Conversion certificates will be handed out free of charge. Lay followers are encouraged to help around and join in any of the activities during these assemblies, and no fees are collected.
Signs like “Watch out for creatures under your feet”, “Cherish all living beings” and other such warnings are eye-catching to visitors in the monastery. Kitchen staffs also examine raw cooking materials with care to avoid killing of worms or insects. Drums used by the monastery are made of synthetic materials. The reason for not using animal skins is to cultivate compassion and equality toward all beings. Food and medicines which contain animal ingredients are not used. In addition, anything that has an animal image or vegetarian foods that are animal-figured are banned from the temple, cherishing and loving sentient being with subtlety and care to the finest point.
Admission tickets are not needed for visiting the monastery. Tourisms and ceremonial activities involving monetary transaction are prohibited. All religious activities are free of charge. The monastery prohibits strictly any money-related behaviors. Buddhism sutras and images of the Buddhas can be obtained at no cost from the circulation center. Pictures and names of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and worn scriptures are not to be destroyed and should be handled with care. In order to serve the public, a comprehensive Buddhism website has been established: www.suyuan.org, where one can read about introductions to practices, lectures by Dharma masters, and personal practice experiences. There are also book series under the title “Suyuan” (meaning “Tracing the Origin” or “In Search of the Origin”), audios, and CDs available for free distribution.

Saturday 20 December 2014

About Buddhism: Devotional side of Buddhism

Devotional side of Buddhism


From Barbara O'Brien, your Guide to Buddhism
A lot of people really hate rituals. This issue of the Buddhism newsletter looks at the role of ritual in Buddhism and argues that if you run away from ritual you may be missing something.
Ritual and Buddhism
Can there be Buddhism without the rituals? Maybe, but the rituals do have a purpose.
Search Related Topics:  ritual  buddhist practice  eightfold path
Buddhist Chanting
 All schools of Buddhism have some kind of chanted liturgy. 
Search Related Topics:  buddhist practice  ritual  sutra
Bowing as a Buddhist Practice
Bowing is a practice found in all schools of Buddhism. Why and how do Buddhists bow?
Search Related Topics:  ritual  practice  liturgy
Do Buddhists Pray?
Is there prayer in Buddhism? No, and yes, depending on what you mean by prayer. Here is a brief explanation.
Search Related Topics:  liturgy  buddha  bodhisattvas

Monday 15 December 2014

Trycicle: Evaluate your Meditation

http://www.tricycle.com/meditation-buddhist-practices/calm-abiding-shamatha/evaluate-your-meditation

Evaluate Your Meditation

Gil Fronsdal tells us how to get the most out of it

After a person has been meditating for some time, it’s important that he or she evaluate how the practice is developing. Is it working? Does it need adjustment? Is it the right practice to be doing? Can it be improved? Some of this evaluation can be done on one’s own, some with a teacher or with friends.
Taking a step back to assess our meditation shouldn’t be seen as a difficult task. We are evaluators by nature. We evaluate all the time, even if subconsciously. We decide what clothes to wear after considering a number of factors, not least of all the weather. An activity as simple as going for a walk requires a variety of considerations: How far will I walk? Does the walk require preparation? Do I need to pace myself if it is a long walk? What is the best route? Which are the best shoes?

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - by Sogyal Rinpoche [ Full Audiobook ]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtxCNLy7eBg

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying - by Sogyal Rinpoche [ Full Audiobook ] 

Stephen Barr

Published on 14 Dec 2014

Sravasti Abbey: 12-12-14 A Buddhist Response to Religious Fundamentalism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DLpgNup4K8

Sravasti Abbey: 12-12-14 A Buddhist Response to Religious Fundamentalism

Published on 14 Dec 2014
A humor-filled reflection on the similarities shared by fundamentalists. Techniques for working with our judgmental mind.

Thursday 11 December 2014

The Scientific Buddha: Past, Present, Future - "A Purified Religion" and "Building a Better Buddha"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BdHm7E6cM  October 1, 2008, "A Purified Religion"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA2oRwnn7E8   October 2, 2008, Building a Better Buddha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVnEYpcYRFU  October 6, 2008, The Problem with Karma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hatUVFWUH0k  October 7, 2008, The Future of the Past

The Scientific Buddha: Past, Present, Future - "A Purified Religion"


Published on 11 Dec 2014
October 1, 2008, "A Purified Religion"
Donald Lopez is Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan and chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. He has written extensively on aspects of religions of Asia, and his books include Prisoners of Shangi-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West; The Story of Buddhism; and Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed. Professor Lopez also serves as chair of the Michigan Society of Fellows.

In exploring the relationship between religion and science, some have argued that among the world's religions, Buddhism is the most compatible with science. Over the course of his lectures, Professor Lopez examines the origins of the association of the Buddha with modern science, considers what is at stake in that association and suggests new directions for the role of the Buddha in scientific research.


Buddhist Voices - Amitasuri on Buddhist Chaplaincy

https://audioboom.com/boos/2720669-buddhist-voices-amitasuri-on-buddhist-chaplaincy

Buddhist Voices - Amitasuri on Buddhist Chaplaincy

A wonderful conversation with Amitasuri who has overcome huge health difficulties to train and work as a Buddhist Chaplain in the UK. Her passion for the vocational side of chaplaincy is inspiring and infectious, and it's moving to hear how her own situation has allowed her to be present - truly present - with people suffering greatly, and to make a difference in that way.
Find out more about Buddhist Chaplaincy in the UK:
http://www.buddhist-chaplaincy-support-group.org.uk
Find out more about Buddhist Chaplaincy in the US:
http://www.buddhistchaplainsnetwork.org
More like this: www.thebuddhistcentre.com/features
#health #Buddhism #faith #Buddhist #compassion #suffering #chaplaincy

Friday 5 December 2014

Michael Zimmermann: Anthropocentrism in the guise of an all-inclusive ethics?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QhOPmYu2uc

Michael Zimmermann: Anthropocentrism in the guise of an all-inclusive ethics?


Published on Nov 29, 2014
http://adf.ly/70849/mcnwithfullapprove Michael Zimmermann (Professor for Indian Buddhism, Head Asien-Afrika Institut, Hamburg University)Anthropocentrism in the guise of an all-inclusive ethics? Buddhist attitudes to the naturalPart of the Centre of Jaina Studies symposium "Biodiversity Conservation and Animal Rights: Religious and Philosophical Perspectives" which was held at SOAS, University of London on 22 March 2012.Further details and abstracts can be found at http://www.soas.ac.uk/biodiversity/

ISCS 2014 : Contemplation in Contexts: Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Across the Boundaries of the Humanities and Sciences

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEciEIaAUMM

ISCS 2014 - Keynote - David Germano


By David Germano

Published on Dec 2, 2014
Contemplation in Contexts: Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Across the Boundaries of the Humanities and Sciences

ISCS 2014 - Master Lecture - Andrew Olendzki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDCmFum-Jbg

ISCS 2014 - Master Lecture - Andrew Olendzki

Published on Dec 2, 2014

This Moment is the Perfect Teacher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao3pL8cim30

This Moment is the Perfect Teacher


Pema Chodron

Shingon Buddhist Fire Ritual- Mount Koya, Japan (complete ceremony)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--A-5Dxmf74

Shingon Buddhist Fire Ritual- Mount Koya, Japan (complete ceremony)

Daggy Busker

Published on Dec 1, 2014
Goma fire ritual at Ekoin Temple in Mount Koya, Japan. The Shingon Buddhist ceremony of consecrated fire is performed every morning to destroy negative energies, and cleanse the mind and spirit. This video shows the entire ceremony.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DaggyBusker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaggyBusker
Instagram: http://instagram.com/daggybusker
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/daggybusker

Monday 1 December 2014

Ashoka's Courses

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?ashoka

Ashoka's Courses


Ashoka courses offer a rich mixture of reading, listening (audio), viewing (video), contemplation, and meditation. Our courses guide and encourage you to reflect on and apply what you are learning.

Sunday 30 November 2014

21st Century Education: Buddhism documentary - Buddhism religion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWn6S34zXmU


Buddhism documentary - Buddhism religion

Published on Nov 29, 2014
Examines the origin of Buddhism as a world religion and looks into the teachings of Buddhism. The program also profiles Buddhist architecture, the two schools of Buddhism, and one of the main Buddhist celebrations. Note: This video addresses topics including faith and spiritual practice.





Friday 28 November 2014

The Buddhist Leap of Faith

http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2014/11/05/4122342.htm

The Buddhist Leap of Faith

Jarni Blakkarly ABC Religion and Ethics 5 Nov 2014

One of the recurring debates surrounding the practice of Buddhism in the West concerns faith and the role it has in the religion.

The Buddhist Practice of Releasing Lives to Freedom

http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/A%20-%20Tibetan%20Buddhism/Authors/Yutang%20Lin/Releasing%20Lives%20to%20Freedom/The%20Buddhist%20Practice%20of%20Releasing%20Lives%20to%20Freedom.htm

The Buddhist Practice of  Releasing Lives to Freedom

Dr. Yutang Lin
Part I A Ritual by Yogi Chen
The Ritual of Releasing Lives to Freedom
Following the oral transmission of the Buddhist Yogi C. M. Chen
Under the supervision of Dr. Yutang Lin
Written by Dr. Juan Bulnes
The practitioner sends animals back to their natural state. They can be any animals which were in captivity, or condemned to death to provide food, etc. Among the auspicious animals are turtles to pray for longevity and fish to pray for Enlightenment. (The individual loses the ego and becomes one with the universe just as the fish, upon being released, become one with the ocean.)
Full article
 
related

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Becoming our own therapist: Buddhist perspectives on attachment and delusion

http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/04/01/3727423.htm

Becoming our own therapist: Buddhist perspectives on attachment and delusion

Robina Courtin ABC Religion and Ethics 1 Apr 2013
The Buddhist view is that the mind is the main event. But we must develop the skill to be introspective in a clear and disciplined way, so that we can change our emotions, or become our own therapist.

Friday 21 November 2014

China: Ascetic Nuns live a peripatetic life of hardship

http://www.chinasmack.com/2014/pictures/devout-chinese-ascetic-nuns-live-a-peripatetic-life-of-hardship.html

China: Ascetic Nuns live a peripatetic life of hardship


Daoyuan Temple of Haicheng Liaoning is a strict discipline nunnery in China. This temple is composed entirely of women. The nuns practice Buddhism at the Dabei Temple in Haicheng Liaoning and belongs to the same Guiyang School of Zen Buddhism as the Dabei Temple.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Buddhism and Money with Michael Stone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIPiYz1kfhk

Buddhism and Money with Michael Stone 


Published on Oct 29, 2014
Let`s discuss our relationship with money and work. In this evening talk and discussion, Michael will offer some teachings from the Buddhist tradition on how to make a living, choosing work that is important, balancing budgets and managing debt, and how to make ethical decisions around money in a financial world that revolves around extraction and exploitation.Please join us for lecture and community discussion around how we make a living, how it affects our lives and the lives of others, and where we get hung up when it comes to earning, spending and living with money.View the original article on Global Mind Body at() at the Centre for Social Innovation () with live video streaming provided by the team at Global Mind Body (). Cover photo by Andrea de Keijzer (), background music by Ram Vakkalanka ().

Cradle of Buddhism - Odisha Tourism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrY9cas4XI0

Cradle of Buddhism - Odisha Tourism 

Digital Odisha

Documentary:Birth of Buddhism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7kNr4MrZAM

Documentary:Birth of Buddhism, History Channel


Published on Nov 1, 2014
Birth of Buddhism-The story of Buddha

Nishi Hongwanji Temple (HQ of the Jodo-shin Buddhism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s0d08wIO_Y

Nishi Hongwanji Temple (HQ of the Jodo-shin Buddhism


Published on Oct 29, 2014
We visited the Nihshi Hongwanji Temple on Nov 25, 2011 as a part of the course on `Introduction to Japanese Religion` which is provided for the Institute for the Liberal Arts (ILA), Doshisha University. Rev. Gene Sekiya, a Hongwanji priest, guided us. In this movie he talked about the essence of Buddhism, especially Jodo-shin Buddhism, and escorted us to the Hall of Amida, the Founder`s Hall, the Shoin Complex, the Kara Gate and the Flying Cloud Pavilion.The Shin Buddhist path was founded by Shinran Shonin (1173-1263) during the Kamakura period, and in several centuries grew into one of the largest and most influential schools of Buddhism in Japan, a position it maintains today. The Hongwanji temple is the headquarters of the Hongwanji denomination of Shin Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha), and is known as Nishi (lit. `West`) Hongwanji.

Friday 31 October 2014

BBCorner: 10-30-14 Traditional and Secular Buddhism - BBCorner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qRc3C-XoS0

10-30-14 Traditional and Secular Buddhism - BBCorner


Published on Oct 30, 2014
A comparison of the differences between the traditionalist approach to Buddhism, and what is now regarded as secular Buddhism in the West.

Wednesday 29 October 2014

The Alchemist, by Paulo Cuelho, Audiobook

The Alchemist, by Paulo Cuelho, Audiobook

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkqLN-K_hO0
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRjzjZCi2WA
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=573wb0iAC5k
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QKOv6lsNzk

Published on Oct 29, 2014
This is an inspiring book and I think all should have a listen.

The Alchemist is a novel by Paulo Coelho first published in the year 1988. Originally written in Portuguese by its Brazilian-born author, it has been translated into at least 56 languages as of September 2012.

Monday 27 October 2014

Asian Classics Institute Course One - Class 1-6 September 7, 2014

ACI Course One - Class 1-6 September 7, 2014 


Published on Sep 11, 2014
TELSI (tesli.org) and Dorena Rode present Class One of the Asian Classics Institute Course 


1. The Principal Teaching of Buddhism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHlC1dqSOS0

2: Mu-shi and Mu-sun, and what is Buddha Nature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsKSDvn5VoU

3. What is a Qualified Teacher ? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkD4r_uF554

4. What is an Authentic Student, and Dharma ?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li2zg9QvjCE

5. What is Samsara and Renunciation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rk-ET9jCn0

6. Stopping Desire for Future Lives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3odV_ri98I


Japan Spirit and Form #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_omLao8rzs4

Japan Spirit and Form #3


Published on Oct 26, 2014
#3: Discovery of the “Pure Land” This episode looks at the Kamakura Period of Japanese history (12th-14th centuries) and the ways Buddhism of the time influenced so much of the art of the period, particularly statues of Buddha, statues of prominent monks, painted scenes reflecting Buddhist beliefs, and a new kind of portrait painting that emerged during that period. Temples in Japan that are visited include: Todaiji, Jingoji, Higashi Honganji and Sanjusangendo, with its rows of statues of Kannon. Monks referenced include Chogen, Zendo Daishi, Ikkyu Sojun and Shinran. We see contemporary artists at work, including Shiko Munakata, a woodblock artist. Shuichi Kato comments from time to time and points out the influence of Japanese monk portraits on a much later school of European artists, most notably Vincent Van Gogh. Ashley Thom provides the English narration. Akira Mitake composed the music. This series is an NHK production from 1989.

Saturday 25 October 2014

BEGIN Japanology - Japanese Tea Ceremony 茶道

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHDhjVd1XX0

BEGIN Japanology - Japanese Tea Ceremony 茶道 

Published on Oct 25, 2014
The Japanese tea ceremony is a special way of making green tea (matcha 抹茶). It is called the Way of Tea. It is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered tea. People who study the tea ceremony have to learn about different kinds of tea. They also have to learn about kimono (Japanese clothes), flowers, and many other things. It takes much practice to learn the tea ceremony. Zen Buddhism was a primary influence in the development of the Japanese tea ceremony.

- Wikipedia

On this edition of BEGIN Japanology our theme is Tea Ceremony.

For more please visit NHK World.

 

Friday 24 October 2014

ANIMALS AND THE BUDDHA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0MWAAykFuc

ANIMALS AND THE BUDDHA 

Published on Oct 17, 2014
A film by Dharma Voices for Animals

Featuring interviews with world-renowned monastics and lay teachers including Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi, Jetsuma (Ven. Master) Tenzin Palmo, Ven. Bhante Gunaratana (Bhante G), Christopher Titmuss, Ven. Geshe Phelgye, teachers from Spirit Rock Meditation Center and many others.

When the Iron Bird Flies 2012

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roNmQFKbg6s

When the Iron Bird Flies 2012

Published on Oct 20, 2014

Fazia algum tempo que eu procurava pelo documentário, já que o que havia sido anunciado no canal BUDA VIRTUAL estava offline.
Estou compartilhando-o para que as pessoas que procuraram pelo vídeo e ainda não tiveram a oportunidade de vê-lo, enfim, aproveitem.
Vocês podem encontrar diversos estudos, vídeos, mensagens de pura luz no site: http://www.budavirtual.com.br/

OBS: Ativem a legenda.

---------------------- Obrigado, espero que aproveitem! ----------------------

Quando o Dalai Lama fugiu do Tibete em 1959, após a revolta de Lhasa sem sucesso, a dispersão do povo tibetano começou em massa. Em seu novo documentário, When the Iron Bird Flies, Victress Hitchcock, um antigo praticante budista, traça talvez o resultado mais inesperado desta trágica historia, a chegada do budismo Tibetano no Ocidente. “Tudo tem dois lados”, disse o professor tibetano Rinpoche Tsoknyi sem muita emoção em uma cena. “Lado triste é que perdemos país. Lado da sorte é que o dharma percorreu todo o mundo. “

When the Iron Bird Flies é um retrato convincente do moderno budismo tibetano fora do Tibete. Nós assistimos monges e monjas vestidos de carmesim usando telefones celulares e andando em carros de golfe, e inúmeros convertidos ocidentais em vestes – alguns em mantos de monges e outros em jeans – praticando o dharma em casas, templos, escolas e prisões da Índia para a Grã-Bretanha ou para a América ou para o México.

The Meaning of life by Dalai Lama Audiobook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3jyPe27FEQ

The Meaning of life by Dalai Lama Audiobook 

 Published on Oct 20, 2014
In The Meaning of Life the Dalai Lama presents the basic worldview of Buddhism while answering some of life's most profound and challenging questions: Why are we in this situation? Where are we going? How should we live our lives? Do our lives have any meaning? Basing his explanation on the twelve links of dependent-arising as depicted in the Buddhist image of the Wheel of Life, His Holiness vividly describes how human beings become trapped in a counterproductive prison of selfishness and suffering, and shows how to reverse the process, changing the limiting prison into a source of help and happiness for others. Suffused with the Dalai Lama's intelligence, wit, and kindness, these teachings address such issues as how to deal with aggression from within and without; how to reconcile personal responsibility with the doctrine of selflessness; how to face a terminal illness; how to help someone who is dying; how to reconcile love for family with love for all beings; and how to integrate this practice into everyday life.

NHK: Japanese Buddhist Statues - Japanology Plus ( 仏教 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9W2IDzGRAo

Japanese Buddhist Statues - Japanology Plus ( 仏教 )  

Published on Oct 19, 2014
Japanese Buddhist statues come in countless shapes and forms, and they are not just objects of prayer but also meticulously crafted works of art in their own right. When Buddhism reached Japan in the mid-6th century, religious statuary came with it, and in thickly forested Japan, the statues began to be made mostly in wood. This time on Japanology Plus, we explore the deep appeal of Buddhist statues with our expert guest Yasumi Miyazawa. And in Plus One, keeping the Buddhas in your own home.

For more please visit NHK World.

Logic of Thinking, Logic of Engagement: Chan/Sŏn Buddhism in the Life-World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfPE2iG7aVs&list=UUnHExFMoKq_A3TVFglVhXZA

Logic of Thinking, Logic of Engagement: Chan/Sŏn Buddhism in the Life-World
Harvard Divinity School

Published on Oct 20, 2014

Professor Jin Y. Park delivers the 2014 Ahnkook Lecture on Korean Buddhism.

Chan/Sŏn Buddhism has been criticized for its seeming lack of social engagement. In this talk, Professor Jin Y. Park examines potential social dimensions of the Korean Sŏn Buddhist tradition known as hwadu meditation. Professor Park asks: what forms of social theory does Sŏn Buddhism offer and what are their potentials and limitations as a social theory in our secular world?

00:00 Welcome and introduction by Francis X. Clooney, S.J., Parkman Professor of Divinity and Professor of Comparative Theology, Harvard Divinity School

07:40 Jin Y. Park, Associate Professor and Director of the Asian Studies Program, American University

1:00:00 Q&A

This lecture is part of the series "Religious Identities in Asia," co-sponsored by Center for the Study of World Religions, the Korea Institute, and the Asia Center.

Learn more about Harvard Divinity School and its mission to illuminate, engage, and serve at www.hds.harvard.edu.

Thursday 23 October 2014

About:Buddhism: Do Buddhist pray ?

The devotional side of Buddhism





From Barbara O'Brien, your Guide to Buddhism
This issue looks at some basic practices -- chanting, bowing, and whether Buddhists pray, or not.  
Do Buddhists Pray?
Is there prayer in Buddhism? No, and yes, depending on what you mean by prayer. Here is a brief explanation.
Search Related Topics:  liturgy  buddha  bodhisattvas
Introduction to Buddhist Chanting
 Chanting is a standard part of Buddhist liturgies that newcomers sometimes resist. Why is there chanting in Buddhism, and how do you do it correctly?
Search Related Topics:  buddhist practice  ritual  sutra
Gods in Buddhism
Are there or are there not gods in Buddhism? It depends on what you mean by "gods."

Search Related Topics:  tantra  bodhisattvas  buddha
Bowing as Buddhist Practice
This article addresses two basic questions about bowing as a Buddhist practice -- why and how

Sunday 5 October 2014

How to cope with stress

http://www.dalailama.com/messages/articles/counter-stress

The Dalai Lama on Countering Stress and Depression

At a fundamental level, as human beings, we are all the same; each one of us aspires to happiness and each one of us does not wish to suffer. This is why, whenever I have the opportunity, I try to draw people's attention to what as members of the human family we have in common and the deeply interconnected nature of our existence and welfare.


http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/buddhist-strategies-for-coping-with-stress

Buddhist strategies for coping with stress

 We all know that mindfulness and meditation are increasingly taught as ways of coping with stressful situations. But what about other forms of Buddhist practice? A research study led by Dr. Russ Phillips, a Buddhist and professor of psychology at Missouri Western State University, identified 14 Buddhist coping strategies by asking Buddhist practitioners what coping mechanisms they used and by examining the outcomes.



http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Buddhism/Articles/Destress-the-Buddhist-Way.aspx

De-stress the Buddhist Way

  Why are so many people stressed out... people who work normal job hours and have normal-sized families? Most people assume that chronic stress is due to having too much work and too little time. In my experience the answer is not quite as straightforward. Yes, people who are stressed often have a diary bulging with urgent appointments and their personal life is also chock-a-block with a massive amount of things which do not allow for a minute’s rest. But that alone does not explain why people are so stressed. In order to find the answer to chronic stress we have to look a little deeper than time management and organisation tools.
Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Buddhism/Articles/Destress-the-Buddhist-Way.aspx#4uXFxfTqkvqcfe12.99


 http://co.chalkbeat.org/2012/07/02/can-buddhist-training-de-stress-teachers/#.VDGpYxaun58

Can Buddhist Training De-stress Teachers ?

 BOULDER – What Angie Mays remembers most about last Thursday’s lunch was not so much how it tasted, but how it sounded.
She and her fellow students in her “Mindful Teacher” class at Naropa University were honing their sensory awareness skills by having a “mindful” lunch together. They ate in silence, carefully chewing and chewing and chewing each bite, noticing the subtle flavors and textures of their foods.

Thursday 2 October 2014

How to set up altar, make offerings, prostrate to the Buddha, meditate etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9690NrZ284

How to set up altar, make offerings, prostrate to the Buddha, meditate etc.  

Published on Sep 27, 2014
It is a universal truth that all beings seek fulfillment and happiness in their lives. The Buddha taught and embodied this truth and hence many find solace in his teachings and his image. That is why for Buddhists, setting up an altar to the Buddha is of paramount importance for their spiritual practice. An altar to the Buddha is the focal point from which one ushers in fulfillment, happiness and wealth into their homes and lives.

This video guide explains in a clear and modern way how to set up an altar to a holy Buddha image. It also explains how we can make offerings on the altar, how to prostrate to the Buddha and the basic meditation posture. All these practices are essential towards a fulfilling and successful spiritual practice.

http://www.tsemrinpoche.com

John Lobell Buddhist Architecture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKj3T_N1H3w

John Lobell Buddhist Architecture  

Published on Sep 25, 2014
http://johnlobell.com Lecture for Non-Western Architecture course at Pratt Institute, Fall 2014

Table of Contents:

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The Women's Meditation Tradition in Tibet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG-RiTO3vjY&list=PLrbj8yFBT58RzJu6GE913ConFh2MRc5zu&index=10

The Women's Meditation Tradition in Tibet  

Uploaded on Jun 14, 2010
Google Tech Talk
June 11, 2010

ABSTRACT

Presented by The Venerable Wangdrak Rinpoche.

The Venerable Wangdrak Rinpoche is a native Tibetan and overseer of Gebchak Gonpa, which is the largest Buddhist nunnery in Tibet. Rinpoche will be speaking about the cultural and spiritual role of women meditators in a tradition that is typically very male-identified. His talk will reveal the rich cultural heritage and important role women play in Tibetan Buddhism and culture.

Wangdrak Rinpoche the third is the reincarnation of Wangdrak Dorje. Along with the Gonpa's founder, Tsangyang Gyamtso, Wangdrak Dorje was instrumental in building Gebchak and was renowned for his total mastery of profound yogas and meditation. The present incarnation holds the Khenpo degree in Buddhist philosophy, and has received a remarkably broad training in the almost all of the traditions.

His Holiness Sakya Trizin formally recognized Rinpoche as the reincarnation of Gebchak Gonpa’s Wangdrak Dorje, with an extraordinarily clear prediction letter describing his name, his parents' names, the place and year of his birth, and a unique birthmark on his back. This prediction letter was issued in accordance with the signs he received in meditation. Every detail in the letter proved to be correct. This recognition was also verified by His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, the head of The Drukpa Lineage, and His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche.At the age of nine he entered Chodrak Gonpa, a monastery of the Karma Kagyu and Barom Kagyu traditions, where he received the traditional training in all ritual practices. At the remote hilltop retreat place of Trachok Gon, he received the experiential instructions from Trachok Karma Tseten, the most renowned Karma Kagyu Dzogchen and Mahamudra lama in the vast provinces of Eastern Tibet. There Rinpoche spent three years in isolated meditation retreat, gaining experience and realization of the instructions he'd received.

Dzongsar College in Derge is where Rinpoche undertook his formal studies in Buddhist philosophy and scripture, and is well-known as the best college in all of Tibet for non-sectarian scriptural study. Rinpoche undertook the entire nine-year course, consistently placing first to third in his class and graduating with the Khenpo degree. From the highly respected Drukpa Kagyu lama Adeu Rinpoche, Wangdrak Rinpoche received all the transmissions of the Gebchak lineage. Rinpoche has been fortunate to receive many great empowerments, from many great lamas. His teachers include Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, His Eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche, the late Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse, and others.

When he had completed his studies, Rinpoche returned to Chodrak Gonpa to teach Buddhist philosophy for three years. After moving to teach at a branch gonpa in Nepal, Rinpoche was repeatedly requested by Tsoknyi Rinpoche and the Gebchak nuns to accept formal responsibility for the spiritual and material well-being of Gebchak Gonpa. Along with caring for his students from all over the globe, this is the end to which he continually works.

For more information about Wangdrak Rinpoche and his activities, please visit Rinpoche's official website: www.gebchakgonpa.org

Tuesday 30 September 2014

Beautiful Japanese Garden: Japanology Plus ( 日本庭園 )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJb5-eDp6dc

Beautiful Japanese Garden:

Japanology Plus ( 日本庭園 )


Published on Sep 27, 2014
This time on Japanology Plus, our theme is Japanese gardens, compact evocations of nature's majesty. Japan has many garden styles: from tea gardens, to the dry gardens of Zen Buddhism, to the pocket gardens of city-dwellers. Our expert guest is Takahiro Naka, a professor of garden history who is actively involved in garden design and restoration projects around the country. And in Plus One, a Japanese rock garden that fits on your tabletop.

For more please visit NHK World.



Buddhism Course in 24 lectures by Malcolm David Eckel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySK3q6SJydA&list=PLdwCuEoZ_6l4h-QfiT4hheqRJ8HnhD_Il


Buddhism Course in 24 lectures 

by Malcolm David Eckel

INFO ON THE AUTHOR:  Professor Malcolm David Eckel holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in English from Harvard University and a second in Theology from Oxford University. Professor Eckel earned his master’s degree in theology at Oxford University and his Ph.D. in the Study of Comparative Religion at Harvard University. He held teaching positions at Ohio Wesleyan University, Middlebury College in Vermont, and the Harvard Divinity School, where he served as acting director of the Center for the Study of World Religions. At Boston University, Professor Eckel teaches courses on Buddhism, comparative religion, and the religions of Asia. In 1998, Professor Eckel received the Metcalf Award for Teaching Excellence, the university’s highest award for teaching. In addition to writing many articles, Professor Eckel has published two books on Buddhist philosophy: “To See the Buddha: A Philosopher’s Quest for the Meaning of Emptiness” and “Buddhism: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places”. – www.thegreatcourses.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySK3q6SJydA&list=PLdwCuEoZ_6l4h-QfiT4hheqRJ8HnhD_Il

01(/24) What is Buddhism
02(/24) India at the Time of the Buddha
03(/24) The Doctrine of Reincarnation
04(/24) The Story of the Buddha
05(/24) All is Suffering
06(/24) The Path to Nirvana

07(/24) The Buddhist Monastic Community
08(/24) Buddhist Art and Architecture
09(/24) Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia
10(/24) Mahayana Buddhism and the Bodhisattva Ideal
11(/24) Celestial Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
12(/24) Emptiness
13(/24) Buddhist Philosophy
14(/24) Buddhist Tantra
15(/24) The Theory and Practice of the Mandala
16(/24) The First Diffusion of the Dharma in Tibet
17(/24) The Schools of Tibetan Buddhism
18(/24) The Dalai Lama
19(/24) The Origins of Chinese Buddhism
20(/24) The Classical Period of Chinese Buddhism
21(/24) The Origins of Japanese Buddhism
22(/24) Honen, Shinran and Nichiren
23(/24) Zen
24(/24) Buddhism in America