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Amitabha, Buddha of Boundless Light
Amitabha Buddha is one of the most prominent “celestial” Buddhas of Mahayana. In China and Japan he is the principal Buddha of the Pure Land school and one of the most commonly represented figures in...
View ArticleDedication of Merit
The dedication of merit is a spiritual practice that, as far as I know, is unique to Buddhism. Further, it appears to be a practice found in all schools of Buddhism. However, it’s often a practice...
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Buddhism in Cambodia
The population of Cambodia is approximately 95 percent Theravada Buddhist, as high a percentage as anywhere in Asia. Cambodian Buddhism is associated with the historic Ankgor Wat temple, a jewel of...
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Eight Common Meditation Mistakes
There are many different ways to meditate. Even within Buddhism, the various meditation schools don’t all approach meditation exactly the same way. Further, the “best” way to meditate varies from one...
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The Fifth Dalai Lama
Lobsang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama His Holiness Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai Lama, was the first Dalai Lama to become spiritual and political leader of Tibet. The story of his life is pivotal...
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Tibet’s Declaration of Independence
In 1913, His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama issued what many call a “declaration of independence” for Tibet from the Republic of China. The 13th Dalai Lama’s position was that the Gelugpa leadership of...
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Self-Power and Other-Power: A Beautiful Paradox
One of the delicious paradoxes of the Buddhist path is found in the phrases “self power” and “other power.” What do they mean, and why do they present a paradox? Some schools of Buddhism emphasize...
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The Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya marks the place thought to be where the historical Buddha realized enlightenment. It is arguably the most important of the holy sites related to the life of the...
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Self, No Self, What’s a Self?
Philosophers eastern and western have wrestled with the concept of self for many centuries. What is the self? The Buddha taught a doctrine called anatta, which is often defined as no-self, or the...
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The Emperor Ashoka, Patron of Buddhism
One of the most important figures in Buddhist history was not a monk or sage, but an emperor. The Emperor Ashoka Maurya (304–232 BCE) is credited with making Buddhism a major religion throughout Asia....
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The Ten Suchnesses: A Teaching From the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra is one of the most revered scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. The sutra is known for its sumptuous allegorical imagery and its promise that all beings will realize Buddhahood. Believed...
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Do We Really Make Our Own Reality?
The claim that “we make our own reality” pops up frequently in Buddhism, and the claim often is repeated in mind-body-spirit circles. But what does “make our own reality” really mean? From a Buddhist...
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The Way of the Bodhisattva: An Introduction to the Bodhisattvacharyavatara
The Bodhisattvacharyavatara, or “Way of the Bodhisattva,” by Shantideva is a seminal text of Mahayana Buddhism and a treasure of the world’s religious literature. Today it is primarily associated with...
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Shantideva’s Lecture
Shantideva (ca. 685-763; sometimes spelled Santideva) is best known as the author of the Bodhisattvacharyavatara, or The Way of the Bodhisattva. This accomplishment marks him as one of the patriarchs...
View ArticleLiu Tiemo, the “Iron Grindstone”
According to legend, Liu Tiemo (ca. 780-859) was born into a Chinese peasant family that lived near Mount Hua, in north central China. She was a short, plain girl who grew up helping her father farm a...
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The Way of the Bodhisattva: An Introduction to the Bodhisattvacharyavatara
The Bodhisattvacharyavatara, or “Way of the Bodhisattva,” by Shantideva is a seminal text of Mahayana Buddhism and a treasure of the world’s religious literature. Today it is primarily associated with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Shantideva’s Lecture
Shantideva (ca. 685-763; sometimes spelled Santideva) is best known as the author of the Bodhisattvacharyavatara, or The Way of the Bodhisattva. This accomplishment marks him as one of the patriarchs...
View ArticleLiu Tiemo, the “Iron Grindstone”
According to legend, Liu Tiemo (ca. 780-859) was born into a Chinese peasant family that lived near Mount Hua, in north central China. She was a short, plain girl who grew up helping her father farm a...
View ArticleAnagarika Dharmapala: Buddhist Revivalist and Modernist
Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933) was a Buddhist modernist who deeply influenced the early development of Buddhism in the West. He also played a leading role in the revival of Buddhism in his native...
View ArticleProtestant Buddhism
You may stumble into the term “Protestant Buddhism,” especially on the Web. If you don’t know what that means, don’t feel left out. There are lots of people using the term today who don’t know what it...
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