Footprints of the Buddha

Images of footprints made by Buddha are from the earliest Buddhist art forms. Another word used when describing Buddhas footprints is “Buddhapada”, they are highly revered in all all Buddhist countries, especially Sri Lanka and Thailand, where the Buddha himself once walked. Buddhapada is a symbol that has been respected in India because for it's representation of the grounding of the transcendent.

In Modern Buddhism the Footprints have many different meanings, but they are all related to Buddhism, ultimately it is undisputed that they are a symbol of the existence of the Buddha. Some people believe that after the Buddha attained enlightenment, his feet made an imprint in the stone where he stood.

In a different tradition, the infant Buddha stood and walked for seven steps after his birth as a symbol of his spiritual domination of the universe. Ether way the footprints of the Buddha symbolize the Buddha's presence. Even today the Buddhapada are still revered in the Buddha's absence, now that he has entered nirvana they are a reminder of the Buddhist strides toward a life of nonattachment.

Physically the Buddha's footprints can come with different images, but most commonly they are depicted with the toes of all one length and a dharmachakra wheel on the soul. Other symbols that often
appear on the heel and toes are a lotus flower the swastika and the three Jewels or triratna.

On very large Buddhapada's there is enough room for more detail, so there is room for 32, 108 or even 132 distinctive marks of a Buddha usually in a checkerboard pattern. Any or all of these symbols can also seen on the bottoms of the feet of large statues of the Buddha when he is reclining.

The oldest and most precious sculptures of Buddha's footprints are protected in special temples and structures, where Buddhist monks and others who are faithful will bring offerings such as flowers, fruit, incense and money.

Hindu Aumkar; The ohm symbol

The Vedas are a form of Hindu scripture, created by the great Rishis, they are the most ancient scriptures of the Hindus. All the mantras are started with the Om symbol which is now the most powerful word-symbol used in meditation. The Om symbol is known as the symbolic representation of Ultimate Reality. With the spread of Buddhism reaching out across the world the Om symbol is being given new life by many new cultures.

Om may seem simple enough at fist glance but it is known by the great seers as complete detachment from the world of matter, domination of the senses and inner purification. By chanting the an Om mantra and conquering the self,it is possible to eventually reach heights of Self-Realization where humanity will learn the Truth (also known as Dharma). The great Rishis who performed all actions as acts of sacrifices for the well being of humanity, recognized the significance and power of Om.

Of all the different mantras the Omkar mantra is considered to be the most significant. It is known as the pranav mantra which means, something that pervades life or runs through prana or breath. All mortal beings depend on the flow of prana through their bodies in-order to survive, in the same way the planet needs the sun to harbor growth. It is the Om symbol that allows us to worship both of these things.

The Om is a symbol for pure consciousness, it resides in the three states of waking, dreaming and deep-sleep. When you recite the Omkar mantra, all these of these states are purified and your activities, mental thoughts, speech and actions become powerful and enlightened which brings peace and well being to all.

Although the Omkar mantra is a one-syllable mantra it has tremendous power over you mind body an soul. By using it in meditation your are able to attain inner harmony and dharma, aspirants have reached the state of Self Realization that Om brings to the light of knowledge on the aspirant's path of realization.

This is all well and good but there is a catch, you must first earn the right to the use of this holy mantra by being completely unselfish and detached. It is easier said than done, but for those who are selfish and only desire personal fulfillment they can not benefit from this mantra. In the olden days, only those Rishis who had withdrawn from the outer world of senses and conquered the inner enemies, such as passion, anger, attachment, greed, jealousy, and so on. With proper understanding they were allowed the practice of this mantra for humanity's welfare.

Omkar is ultimately a symbol of Parabrahim. Inside the sounds is the complete essence of divine wisdom - which helps to lead you from attachment to detachment, from ignorance to knowledge, from darkness to light. I prey that it will inspire you all to the path of Dharma and God-consciousness.

Buddhas' Fourth Noble Truth

For those of you who have been following along in this guide to the four noble truths of the Buddha you now know that life is filled with suffering, that suffering comes from being attached to things and that there is a way to end suffering. The fourth and final noble truth is the path to the end of suffering.
Thats right there is a path that anyone can follow to end all of our suffering, it is a gradual path of self-improvement, with the ultimate goal to reach nirvana, which most people are trying to do consciously or unconsciously. In order to move this process along we can follow the details as they are described in the Eightfold Path.
It is the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence (hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism). Eventually it will lead us to the end of the cycle of rebirth and to Nirvana, but for now we must be conscious of our behavior and work towards bettering humanity.
The difference between improving yourself on a small scale and following the Eightfold Path is that when you do it by yourself you run the risk of "wandering on the wheel of becoming", because there is no final objective you can become lost or confused.
The path to the end of suffering can be extended over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is subject to certain karmic conditioning. Essentially we are starting over each time we are reborn we can fall trapped in the cycle by craving, ignorance and delusions. Its effects will disappear gradually as long as we remain conscious to the process and learn from our mistakes, then progress can be made on the path.
It will take a long time there is no doubt about that, but the ultimate end to suffering can be found buy following the Buddhas' Eightfold to enlightenment. The path is gradual but thought many lifetimes of gradual self-improvement.

Buddhas' Third Noble Truth

For those of you who know the noble truths taught by the Buddha, you already know that to live is to suffer and that the good things in life must be taken in context and not for granted. The good news is that the Third Noble Truth is that the end of suffering is attainable.

The end (cessation) of suffering can be attained through something called nirodha. Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual attachment, in other words it means that to stop our suffering we must first let go of our attachments. Which is easier said than done, because right now we are attached to everything and everyone around us! We must remember that when we pass on we will not be able to take anything with us, we must let go of everything but our minds.

The third noble truth is an expression of the idea that suffering can be ended by attaining dispassion or letting go living in the moment with peace. Nirodha extinguishes all forms of clinging and attachment, from the cloths we wear to the people we love. This means that suffering can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. This does not mean to only do things that feel good because you will inevitably suffer again when the pleasure wares off.

Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels, including meditation and deep thought, that ultimately results in the state of Nirvana. Nirvana is a state of freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for those who have not attained it, but that does not mean that it is not impossible to reach this state with lots of time, practice, patience and following the teachings of the Buddha.

The Chakras and the Psyche

Until there is scientific evidence of the chakra energy systems, most people will have a hard time understanding how they can benefit from the chakras healing energy. There are many different theory's of what the seven chakras are and what powers they have over our bodies, but for people who are familiar with effects they will tell you without a doubt that there is something truly magical about the chakras.
Indian mystics are thought to have been amongst the first to have associated the chakras as physical manifestations in the endocrine system. It can be noted by many people who practice chakra healing that there is a marked similarity between the roles and positions of the glands in the endocrine system and the chakras. There is also thought to be a link between the chakras and the positions of the nerve ganglia (known as “plexuses”) which runs along the spinal column.
With the knowledge that the chakras are connected to so many parts of the body this means that two vastly different systems have been brought together to synchronize insights about the same happenings. Chakras are thought to have a physical manifestation in the body as these glands, and their subjective manifestation as the associated psychological and spiritual experiences.
There are various hormones secreted by these glands that have a dramatic effect on human psychology, if there is an imbalance in one it can cause a psychological or physical imbalance in that person. Whether these changes in body chemistry have a bearing on spiritual matters is debatable even among the Indian theorists, and with different belief systems, Indian and Western, make the debate even more complicated.
The most psychologically dramatic and potent secretion of these glands is the psychedelic drug DMT which comes from the pineal gland, corresponding to the brow chakra. In Western cultures, some people have sought spiritual breakthroughs with the use of these chemical aids.
Primarily the level of existence of the chakras is in the spirit and the psyche where it cannot be seen but for those who believe, can be healed and comforted by them. The thought of an unknown energy having any amount of control over their bodies can be a scary concept for some people. For those of us who do believe we can be understanding and patient with those who do not understand.

Buddhas' Second Nobel Truth

Buddha's Second Noble truth is that the root of all suffering is attachment, which means that from the day we are born we are suffering. There is not one person on this planet that can say that they are not attached to something. First it is our mother who gives us food and warmth, then as we grow we become accustom to different things, not only physical but emotional and spiritual as well, in other words we become attached to all of the objects that our mind perceives.

As humans we have genetic dispositions that allow us to desire anything that brings pleasure, things as simple as a song that we liked, a gift someone gave to us for our birthday or a religious belief we were taught as a child, or it can be as complicated as believing we have our whole lives ahead of us. Our suffering is inevitable the only way to not suffer is to over come it, but pleasure is deceiving because we allow ourselves to believe that in order to be happy we need a home, family, nice car, a good job and so on. The need for these things means that we have become attached to transient things and with that comes ignorance.

Ignorance is the lack of understanding of how our mind is attached to impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and popularity, or as modern Buddhist will say humans suffer because of craving and clinging. The objects of our attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable when we die we will lose our family, or home, and our thoughts, and then suffering will necessarily follow. It is inescapable.

Another common object of attachment is the idea of a "self" which is a major delusion, because there is no such thing as an abiding self. The thing we call "self" is just an imagined entity a mass of cells and electrical currents. We are merely a part of the ceaseless becoming of the universe. It is naive of us to say that we are more than just a collection of matter that will continue to erode the same way the earth does.

Throughout our short life on this earth we become attached to all of the objects that our mind perceives, which is everything. Think of it as if we are born into a video game that we cannot turn off until we die. We must free our minds of attachment and let go of everything. Live with compassion, patience, tolerance and trust that there is and end to this life.

The Hindu Swastika

A swastika is a cross with four arms that are bent at a right angle, all four arms are the same length and sometime there will be a dot or charm in the negative space. It is a common symbol throughout India and world wide. The name swastika comes from the Sanskrit word svasti, which means good fortune, luck and well-being. It has a variety of religious meanings such as a charm to bring good fortune and can be seen in two different versions, the right-hand and the left-hand swastika.

The right-hand swastika is one of the 108 symbols of the god Vishnu and is also a symbol of the sun and of the sun god Surya. The rotation of the arms is a imitates the course the sun takes through the sky as it passes from east south and west in the Northern Hemisphere.

The left-hand swastika sometimes called a sauvastika, usually represents the terrifying goddess Kali, night and magic. However, this form of the swastika is not "evil" as it has become known for its connection to Hitler. The left-hand swastika is the form most commonly used in Buddhism. Hindu art often shows the swastika as an auspicious symbol very commonly used in architecture and decoration. It can be seen on everything from temples, houses, doorways, clothing, cars, and even cakes. It is also a major part of the decoration for festivals and special ceremonies such as weddings.

The Nazis adopted the swastika because their understanding was that it was an Aryan symbol indicating racial purity and superiority. The Nazis propagated a theory that the early Aryans of India were white invaders. There is also a connection with the swastika's magical connections, for Hitler and other Nazi leaders were keenly interested in the occult.

For such a simple symbol the swastika's history is far reaching and controversial. It has been tainted by fear and hatred but the true meaning of the swastika will aways be one of good fortune, luck and well-being.

Buddhas' First Nobel Truth

The word Dhukka suffering. In The Buddhas' teachings he taught the Four Noble Truths, The first of the Noble truths is that Life is suffering. Buddha spoke of how to live is to suffer in countless forms of pain, anguish, fear, and physical torments,as well as psychological maladies and emotional discomforts. There is no way to over come the outer causes of suffering but we can over come our internal suffering by following the Buddhas' teachings.

The main reasons for the suffering in the world is the nature of incarnate life, it is not perfect and neither is the planet we live on. During all of our lives, we will be unable to avoid physical suffering like bodily pain, sicknesses, injuries, fatigue, old age, and eventually death. There are all kinds disagreeable psychological forms of Suffering, including Sadness, Fear, Frustration, Disappointment, and Depression, that we all must endure.

Every unpleasant experience we have in this life time has an equal and pleasurable reaction. All the different levels of Dhukka will pass and be replaced by pleasurable experiences while we are still living. We generally like to think of suffering as the opposite of pleasure, but in fact it is the opposite.

Ease, Comfort and Happiness, are thought of as being the opposite extreme to displeasure. Life is complex but in order to make it tolerable for the masses there must be ease and pleasure to look forward to. Complexity is simply imperfect and incomplete, because humans, plants and every living being in this world are subject to impermanence, there is a means to an end.

Impermanence means that we will never be able to keep permanent hold of the things that we strive for, including our homes, cloths and jobs. Even though we are able to enjoy pleasurable moments, sadness and reality of misfortune to come are always looming. Eventually we ourselves and our loved ones will have to pass on and leave this body and life behind.

Suffering is the first noble truth. We must come to terms with this reality, learn from our misfortunes and let them pass. Every experience we have in this life is an opportunity to take wisdom with us as we pass through on our journey to enlightenment.

Mind over matter.

Mind over matter. This is true in all parts of life. Every religion talks about the importance of your thinking.

"What we think, we become" Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C

Before anything became a reality, it was a thought. By taking control of our thoughts, we can achieve our dreams. Do you have a business idea? Use the power of the subconscious mind. Visualize success.

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

As a christian, I base my thoughts on the Word of God, the Bible. The proverbs, for example, have many teachings about the power of wise thinking and how it can affect your life.

"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

There is scientific evidence that subatomic particles can have different behavior depending on the observer. Subconscious beliefs create realities. Meditate on words of wisdom and they will become part of your reality. The more knowledge you have, the more power your thinking will have.

"Language shapes the way we think, and determines what we can think about." Whorf

Picture yourself in that new car or in that mansion of your dreams. Keep away from thoughts that will hinder success. If you are charitable it allows you to have an open mind about money without being attached to it. Attachment to money is a hindrance toward becoming wealthy. Fear of illness invites sickness. Faith is a phenomena created by what we think.

About the Author
Nahom Kidanemariam
http://eduhelper.tripod.com

Direction of Consciousness

For many cultures the fact that the human body is a finely tuned energy system has not disputed. Now with the scientific knowledge of string theory the human energy system can be deeply explored and proven in such a manner that it will change the world forever. Traditional medicines in the East refer to the major energy systems as chakras, Each of the seven chakras has a role and responsibility for different aspects of the endocrine system, it is likely that with time and the right tools the human race will finally be able to answer their deepest questions about life on earth.

Each chakra is directly responsible for aspects of the body, in the same way that each organ is responsible for its own bodily functions by using subtle electrical pluses. Our bodies take in these electrical pluses with the food we eat, the air we breath and from other people we interact with everyday. I am sure that you have felt the energy drain from your body when you are talking to someone who can't stop complaining about how horrible their life is, or had a surge of excitement after an inspirational speech by someone you respect.

Feelings and emotions are as normal and unpredictable as the weather. In order for you to become fully aware you must be able to ride out the feelings that pass through your consciousness. Feelings are something you can not control, just as you can not control the actions or feelings of another person. Sometimes your feelings may be chaotic but chaos is necessary, it is easier said than done but you need to let your self go, trust your self.

In all of us there is a connection to the bigger things in the universe, part of us has no idea, and the other knows it all, let the part of you that knowns nothing just tag along. Our lives here in earth are short, but our spirit or life energy will go on, we are all connected by a force called critical mass. Critical mass is when a mass of people understand a concept, the rest of society instantly understands, which means that your world is a direct result of your thoughts.

Tara is the Star who Saves

There is a very special deity known throughout Buddhism named Sgrol-ma, which means “she who saves”. This savior goddess is most popular in the regions of Tibet , Mongolia and Nepal. She is known simply as Tara or “star” in the Sanskrit language.

Tara is the goddess of universal compassion, she is the representation of all virtuous, enlightened action. Her love for all living things is stronger than the love of a mother for her child. Tara protects us during our earthly travels, giving us longevity and stands guards us as we fumble our way through the spiritual journey to enlightenment.

Before the sixth century CE Tara was not known to Buddhists but she was very well known in Hinduism by another name, the goddess Parvati. When Buddhists discovered Tara they say she was born out of Avalokiteshvara, through her tears of compassion. As the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara wept for the world and its beings who endure suffering, her tears formed a lake. Inside this lake of tears grew a lotus and when the lotus opened the goddess Tara was inside! In another legend Tara was born from a blue light beam coming from one of Avalokiteshvara's eyes.

The body of Tara is envisioned in different colours, each colour symbolizes separate things. In some traditions it is said that White Tara, with her lotus in full bloom, symbolizes the day, and was born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara's left eye. Green Tara with her half-open lotus, represents the night, and came from the tears of Avalokiteshvara's right eye. Green Tara is the embodiment of virtuous activity, White Tara symbolizes the immense compassion of the goddess who labors day and night to relieve suffering.

In Tibet,Every pious woman was believed to be an incarnation of Tara. She was associated with two wives of the first Buddhist king of Tibet, Srong-brtsan-sgam-po. The Buddhist kings wife from imperial China was known an incarnation of the White Tara, while the king's wife from Nepalese was an incarnation of the Green Tara. It is possible that the strong need to see both these pious women as incarnations of Tara was the reason Buddhists came up with the concept of green and white forms of this goddess.

Is What Buddha Did Not Teach, More Important?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bhaskar_Banerjee]Bhaskar Banerjee

Buddha, his childhood name was Gautama, was born in 536 BC. His father, the king of Kapilavastu, India (now known as Nepal) wished to learn the future of the boy, and an assemblage of seven great astrologers of the age sat to discuss mutually and make a correct foretelling. Six of them raised their middle and index fingers, indicating two possibilities: either that he would become a Chakravarti Raja, the all-conquering King of all four directions, or a foremost ascetic, the likes of which the world had never seen. Now this is no prediction at all, because every one of us has these two possibilities. Why we are not able to attain our pinnacle, and remain in a quandary all our lives, is quite another matter.

So, this group of the Six of the Wise Words, left Shuddodhana, because that was the name of Buddha's father, and meaning "the purity of opulence', in more confusion because, as a king he could make every necessary wherewithal available to make Gautama a great warrior, and that is what he had wanted his son to become. But there was one astrologer, his name was Kodanna, who sat silent, as if in meditation; he did not seem to have participated with the other greats in their findings. He was the youngest of the group and had, in a short span of time, earned quite a reputation. The King demanded of him his opinion. Unlike others, he raised but just one finger to the great happiness of Shuddodhana, in anticipation of what he wanted to hear. He was disappointed, however, because Kodanna merrily announced that there was no possibility ever other than the child growing to be the lotus of all asceticism.

The lotus has always been very symbolic of Indian philosophical thinking. It grows only in dirt and watery mire but is ever untouched by water. A drop just rolls over without wetting a lotus leaf, which symbolizes detachment - untouched by either happy or the sad events of life. Kodanna's prediction ended here, but what a living prediction for the world to remember of the Buddha's life!

I am reminded of another incident of Buddha's life. A middle-aged and very revered practitioner of the austere ways of life, called a sannyasin, once came to the house of Shuddodhana, and kept looking transfixed at the young Gautama for quite a while. A faint sign of recognition and veneration came about in his countenance, and he quietly got up, and bowed his head down at Gautama's feet, to the surprise of neither, excepting the father, who was simply amazed at the unbelievable goings-on before his eyes. To add to his astonishment, he saw a stream of tears running down the sannyasin's eyes.

All he could ask in his shock was "What happened?" The sage replied, "This boy, I could see, carried the Lotus of Renunciation, the highest realization of the order of our practice". "But why Sir, why those tears in your eyes", enquired Shuddodhana. "Because", said the hermit, "I will not be there alive any more to witness the greatest of events of the Buddha attaining to Buddhahood".

Let us now focus on our turn to be surprised: When this incident happened Buddha was not even the Buddha as we know of him today. He was all of twenty-four then, and was first initiated into a life of a Mendicant Wanderer at the age of twenty-nine. Protected by his father who was bent on proving Kodanna the forecaster wrong, Gautama was afforded a life of utter material affluence, the underlying idea being that he remained distracted from his predicted path of a life away from home. But this was not to be! Destiny had other greater design in store for him, and through him, for the benefit of mankind as a whole.

How could the sannyasin see the future so uncannily in its realism when it seemed inconsequentially improbable and out of place that not even an iota of wild imagination could have dreamt of, and the sage was yet a neophyte in the hierarchy ranks of enlightenment? In fact, it would be wrong to use the word "hierarchy", as there is no such prescribed rule in the course of one's enlightenment; the overwhelming effect being all so gripping, that one is from tip to toe wholly engulfed in it.

I am not in the least trying to impress upon anyone that these stories are true historic accounts of the life of the Buddha. It may be, it may be not; what science or what clairvoyance did Kodanna or the sannyasin possess or did not posses, is not the point in question. To me the yarns spun around such tales are very significant in that they hammer home the mysticism surrounding the lives of these man-gods, encapsulating subtle fleeting messages for the imagination to capture which would otherwise be very difficult to convey in words. What is not said, therefore, becomes more important than what is.

Indeed, what Buddha taught the world can not be understated; the teachings are immeasurably priceless. But think of it from another dimension: Did what Buddha not teach more important? To me, the answer is an affirmative "Yes", if only if we were to become receptive enough as also a receptacle to his all-pouring rain of Silence.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bhaskar_Banerjee http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-What-Buddha-Did-Not-Teach,-More-Important?&id=834556

About Reiki

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tami_Brady]Tami Brady

Reiki is an ancient healing technique that makes use of energy to heal and regain balance within the body, mind, and spirit. Some say it is the basis of that used by Jesus and other spiritual healers throughout the ages. What is commonly called Reiki today was discovered, or rediscovered as the case may be, by Mikao Usui in the beginning decades of the 20th century. Over the course of the last century, his techniques have been adapted and added to make up dozens of Reiki variations. Many of these variations are interpretations made to better suit particular belief systems. Reiki in and of itself is not connected to any particular faith.

To gain a better understanding of what Reiki is, we need to take a deeper look at into the philosophy of illness. Contemporary medicine sees the body as a machine. When a part of the system breaks down, it needs to be either fixed or replaced. Thus, drugs or surgery are often used to treat illness. Essentially, one problem equals one solution. Have a headache take a pain reliever.

Holistic medicine takes a different approach to health. Practitioners see the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person as part of a whole. In this way, when one part of the body isn't working properly, it tends to affect other parts of a person's life as well. Thus, chronic back pain may increase pressure on the hips or shoulder as the individual tries to compensate for the pain. He or she might also suffer mentally and emotionally as activities they used to love have to be put aside or when money becomes tight because the injury results in job loss. All of these issues need to be addressed.

To do so, the root cause of the problem has to be located. Fortunately, the body leaves a bread crumb trail of symptoms that leads the way. We all know that our bodies are built to survive. If we are in danger from a bully or a wild animal, our brain automatically sends out the message to fight or flee (or tend and befriend for women) as appropriate. What we don't often realize is that our body also sends out other little warning signs. If we are stressing ourselves beyond what it can handle, we might feel tired, overwhelmed, or moody. If we don't pay attention to these signals, we may eventually get a cold, have chest pains, or even suffer a heart attack.

Reiki practitioners follow these clues. Then, use Reiki energy to release or heal that issue. Finally, once that symptom has been cleared, practitioners encourage the individual to make changes that will assure balance and health in the system as a whole. In this way, the problem won't simply return or reappear after a time.

Dr. Tami Brady earned a BA and MA in Archeology and Heritage before turning her interests to alternative medicine (RP, RM, DD), largely due to her own experiences with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Today she provides Whole Health Therapy sessions to help people with Fibromyalgia. She is the author of nine books. The latest of which is Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey.

More information about Tami, her Whole Health Therapy services, and her various publications can be found on her website at http://www.tami-brady.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tami_Brady http://EzineArticles.com/?About-Reiki&id=1891633

Uncover Your Higher Human Being

All of us can agree to some degree that Humans have a "guardian angel," depending on your beliefs where this guardian comes from. Some people believe in an woman with wings who comes down from heaven and makes their dreams come true. In this case the guardian does not come from an outside source, but from within your higher self.

The higher self is part of the trinity of the three selves that Dan Millman writes about in his book Journey of the peaceful warrior. The other two parts of the trinity are the basic or “child like” self, and your conscious self, sometimes called the “ego”. The role of the higher self is to watch over basic and conscious selves kind of like a "cheerleader to the soul." The higher self will reminding the conscious self of what spiritual possibilities are beyond this material world.

The higher self that is inside all of us is where we hide our selfless courage, it is where our love, compassion, wisdom, and joy all come from. Your higher self is filled with deep empathy for our other selves, although it cannot help us to achieve a heightened sense of awareness until we can control our basic instincts and our conscious thoughts.

Our higher self has to remain detached much like a parent sending their child to school. In this sense our higher selves are able to gently guide and watch over the conscious and basic selfs while not interfering with the natural learning process. Just as we did when we were children learning from our own mistakes, the higher self stays out of the way and lets the conscious self make choices and learn the lessons it needs to learn.

When we are finally able to master the powers of the basic and conscious selves, we are free to enjoy great personal success in the world. Our Basic selves will evolve into conscious selves like a child grows into an adult. Our conscious selves will mature into higher selves as we live and allow ourselves to have an open mind. When we stay in touch with our higher self it adds to the deep dimensions of joy and love, we are able experience of the higher possibilities this life has to offer.

She Is The Star Who Saves

There is a very special deity known throughout Buddhism named Sgrol-ma, which means “she who saves”. This savior goddess is most popular in the regions of Tibet , Mongolia and Nepal. She is known simply as Tara or “star” in the Sanskrit language.

Tara is the goddess of universal compassion, she is the representation of all virtuous, enlightened action. Her love for all living things is stronger than the love of a mother for her child. Tara protects us during our earthly travels, giving us longevity and stands guards us as we fumble our way through the spiritual journey to enlightenment.

Before the sixth century CE Tara was not known to Buddhists but she was very well known in Hinduism by another name, the goddess Parvati. When Buddhists discovered Tara they say she was born out of Avalokiteshvara, through her tears of compassion. As the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara wept for the world and its beings who endure suffering, her tears formed a lake. Inside this lake of tears grew a lotus and when the lotus opened the goddess Tara was inside! In another legend Tara was born from a blue light beam coming from one of Avalokiteshvara's eyes..

The body of Tara is envisioned in different colours, each colour symbolizes separate things. In some traditions it is said that White Tara, with her lotus in full bloom, symbolizes the day, and was born from the tears of Avalokiteshvara's left eye. Green Tara with her half-open lotus, represents the night, and came from the tears of Avalokiteshvara's right eye. Green Tara is the embodiment of virtuous activity, White Tara symbolizes the immense compassion of the goddess who labors day and night to relieve suffering.

In Tibet,Every pious woman was believed to be an incarnation of Tara. She was associated with two wives of the first Buddhist king of Tibet, Srong-brtsan-sgam-po. The Buddhist kings wife from imperial China was known an incarnation of the White Tara, while the king's wife from Nepalese was an incarnation of the Green Tara. It is possible that the strong need to see both these pious women as incarnations of Tara was the reason Buddhists came up with the concept of green and white forms of this goddess.

The Conscious Human Being

There are a few key things that make humans different from animals, one of the biggest differences is the human consciousness. As animals survive on basic instincts as do humans, but humans are able to reason with one another and think logically. (I'm not saying that animals do not use logic or reason, it just has not been proven). The conscious self- as Dan Millman describes in his book Journey of the Peaceful Warrior- serves as the center of logic, reason, and discrimination which of course are all necessary tools to survive in this life.

The most obvious role of the conscious self is the ability to adapt to new situations by learning new skills. Conscious learning helps us to thrive in our environment, skills like reading, math and cultural differences. Your basic self also looks to your conscious self for guidance and reassurance just like a child will go to it's parents. Because the basic self is so primal it is natural for the conscious self to be the serious counterpart.

By helping the basic self understand the fundamentals of life while still allowing the it to be expressive and creative our energy's are working together and we are in balance. When our energy's are out of balance, it is likely the conscious self using logic and reason to devalue natural feelings and intuitions from the basic self, similar to the way adults sometimes devalue the feelings of children. When your conscious self takes control it is impossible to feel our intuitions and gut feelings.

In order to heal from this control struggle and become balanced again we can help our conscious self learn to listen and reestablish rapport with our basic self. This will cause a renewed sense of vitality in your everyday life, a wonderful sense of pleasure from the little things, and better overall health.

Although we do need to value our conscious selves and their use of reason, logic, and the other functions, we must also recognize its limitations. When we can see our conscious self in perspective, we will then be able to recognize that our life work better when our basic self and conscious self are cooperating under the loving yet watchful eyes of the higher self.

The Spiritual Nature of Human Consciousness

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=George_Lockett]George Lockett

During sleep, I am noticing more and more the spiritual nature of human consciousness. It becomes very clear as our awareness evolves and the veil between us and our spiritual nature becomes more transparent in our experience.

I am increasingly noticing this as I move between states of consciousness in my sleep. I have witnessed my sleep for many years and, if my awareness just watches consciously what is going on in my sleep and dreams, I can have a clear experience of what is happening.

Over the past few days some things have happened to make this natural experience even more vivid in my awareness.

A couple of days ago, in the early morning my two and a half year old grandson came and jumped on me as I was sleeping, bringing me abruptly back to the waking state.

This allowed me to observe the very clear contrast between where I had been in my dream and the reality of waking consciousness.

In my dream I was being given a guided tour of another world. I was swimming on the surface of a slow-moving river of crystal clear water. Swimming along underneath me were figures with human bodies but eyes like ping pong balls on the outside of their heads a bit like insects' eyes.

As I swam along with my companions I was hearing telepathically a voice which informed me that they were my ancestors; we were related and a part of the Universal Life Force which everyone shares as a common source.

The veil between our waking reality and other dimensions is getting very thin and it is easy, by relaxing and releasing, to allow the awareness to merge with the subtlest of energies within.

When you consciously relax and allow the mind to settle - perhaps by using conscious breathing, i.e. being aware of the breath as it enters and leaves your lungs; feeling the oxygen spreading throughout the body, and taking time to thank all the different cells within the body for working together in a happy, peaceful frame of mind - when you take the conscious mind down through the layers of the body in this way, it is easy to become aware of the cells, molecules and atoms which make up the physical body and its corresponding energy fields or consciousness.

From there it is only a short step to transcend the physical as you become aware that the fine particles which make up the atoms are switching from a particle to a wave: from physical matter into light.

Then with another very short step you transcend the light of the body's electromagnetic aura back to its spiritual source, where you come to the junction point between all the dimensions of physical and non-physical reality.

This is currently being called by physics the zero point field, and by religions communion with God. It is a state of conscious awareness where you feel at one with everything - in union with the whole universe.

When we transcend the body in this way, we come back to our true nature, which is an eternal spiritual being. We can leave the physical behind for a while and move our conscious awareness around our spiritual nature, tapping into all the other dimensions, which are also a part of our Self and make up the greater wholeness of our conscious awareness.

In this state we feel a heightened awareness - a raising of our vibration; it is as though we can feel around us angels' wings swishing and thrilling in ecstasy. The more we research these subtle levels with our conscious awareness, the more consciousness we breathe into them and the livelier they become for us.

Therefore, as you enjoy your sleep experience at night, be aware of what you are feeling and bring that awareness back into your waking consciousness; help make your life more aware and integrated with the greater wholeness of who you are.

George E. Lockett IIHHT, SSHA (C) Copyright 2008, All Rights Reserved.

* New book * "A Journey into the Self -- The Multi-dimensional Nature of Being Human" by George E. Lockett, visit the Website for details: http://www.healergeorge.com

If you would like HealerGeorge to send healing to you or someone else, please click the link: [http://www.healergeorge.com/absent_healing.htm]Request Distant Healing

What is Distant Healing?

Distant Healing is similar to prayer and its advantage is that it allows patients to receive Healing energies just as effectively as if they were in the presence of the Healer. Patients receive Healing equally well even when they are too ill to know that it is being sent. Distant Healing is equally effective whatever the patient's beliefs, although a desire to get better intensifies the effect of Healing. Any aspect of the body, mind or spirit can be reached by Healing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Lockett http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Spiritual-Nature-of-Human-Consciousness&id=1779673

How to Teach Your Children About Buddhism

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Padma_S]Padma S

Teaching children about religion and spirituality can be a difficult task for many reasons. There are plenty of Christian children's books on the market, but finding anything else is very difficult. Also, many subjects are often difficult or confusing for children to understand. I admit it, I am no teacher and I faced this issue when I wanted to share my Zen Buddhist beliefs with my children in a manner that opened their minds rather than closed them. In the end, I was able to find some fantastic resources that not only helped my children understand things like birth and death, but also taught them great lessons on compassion, empathy, and spirituality.

The beginning of my problem originated when my children started asking me tough questions about life, death, and suffering. I had answers prepared, but honestly when I went to use them they just didn't sound right. There were so many lessons and ideas that I'd been taught and wanted to share with my children, but I just couldn't seem to find the right way to do it. Then I realized that maybe I could find some Buddhist children's books that might slowly introduce these thoughts to them without getting overcomplicated.

The first route I tried was the local bookstore, which didn't pan out. I went home and started using Google to find Buddhist children's books, but really didn't find anything specifically tailored for children. Eventually, I used Amazon and after some hard searching found exactly what I needed.

There are some fantastic books, if you search hard enough, that teach kids about Buddhist topics such as meditation, compassion, love, respect, and even death/rebirth. I had no idea that there were such simple ways to share these invaluable lessons with children. I wasn't raised as a Buddhist, so everything I learned about it was as an adult. I had no idea how to approach a child. These books turned out to be a lifesaver.

I realized at that point that there are probably thousands of parents out there facing a similar problem and I wondered if there would be any way to compile a list online for parents to find and use. Sure enough, it is possible and if it weren't for me facing this problem I never would have found the solution. I hope you find what you are looking for as well.

For a free Buddhist Book for children, visit the [http://www.buddhistchildrensbooks.com/free-chidrens-ebook/]Buddhist Children's Books Website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Padma_S http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Teach-Your-Children-About-Buddhism&id=1808882

The Basic Human Being

If you have ever thought that there was something more to your life than the everyday hustle? As children we have huge dreams, anything is possible, and the only thing that matters is fun. Children live in the moment, when they want to do something they just can't wait! This feeling all kids have and their way of life may get covered up and forgotten as they grow older but it never goes away. Inside all of us is an inner child, sometimes called the basic Self in order to succeed in life we must get to know this basic human being.

In his book Way of the Peaceful Warrior Dan Millman learns valuable life lessons about the seven levels consciousness and the three selves. On his journey Dan discovers that the basic self closely resembles the characteristic personality of a child of a four to seven year old. Even though your basic self has more confidence and strength than a child the qualities are the same. Just as a child, the basic self is closely in tune with the physical body but not so in touch with the conscious brain. It takes time for a child to learn to listen to their conscious and their sense of right and wrong.

Our Basic self is the source of bodily wisdom, and is where our instinct, intuition and gut feelings come from. The basic self is in charge of our body, it uses the involuntary nervous system to generate our energy for life and keep us out of danger. Just like a young child the basic self is open to subconscious energy healing.

When our subconscious is content and the basic self is relaxed we are likely to have more energy, inspiration and playfulness. We tend to be more loyal yet spontaneous with much greater determination.
Sometime we let our conscious get control of us, when we are working too much or there is too much stress. When this happens we ignore and suppress our basic self, devaluing it so that it becomes blocked. The basic self will withdraw and sometimes sabotage our bodies, this will lower our immune system giving us a higher risk for illness.

In order to stay healthy and create a higher state of awareness, we must become conscious of our subconscious. Listen to your instincts, follow your gut feelings and take time everyday to clear your thoughts. By challenging ourselves we a can actually have more energy and sense of self worth, in the long run this will lead to better overall health.

The Peaceful Warrior

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Char_Cooper]Char Cooper

The previews ended and the movie was starting, or was it? Black screen and no sound. It took me awhile to realize, but I believe the director was trying to get the audience to be present. I of course was in the future, "When's something going to happen?" Being in the moment is one of many enlightened messages in the movie, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior. It was one the first books on spiritual growth that really made a difference in my life.

The story is about a chance encounter with a wise stranger that changes the life of a college gymnast, and is based on real occurrences in Dan Millman's life. Dan Millman is the author of many self-help/spiritual growth books, Peaceful Warrior being his most popular. The movie opened nationwide last weekend. I gathered eight friends and we headed out with low expectations (the critics didn't give it rave reviews). The critics are entitled to their opinions, of course, but everyone of us liked the movie. This passage from the book which is depicted in the movie is one reason why:

"Then I look up at the shining mountain peak. If the jewel is to be found, it must be at the top. I climb and climb, beginning an arduous journey that takes many years. At last I reach my journey's end. I stand bathed in bright light. My eyesight is clear now, yet the jewel is nowhere to be found. I look upon the valley far below, where I began the climb many years ago. Only then do I realize that the jewel had always been within me, even then, and that the light had always shined. Only my eyes had been closed."

The movie condenses a book's worth of messages into a couple of hours. Important things like, be present, there are no ordinary moments, enjoy the journey, what you give you receive, trust yourself, are some examples. Everyone can get something from these messages. The more we expose ourselves, remind ourselves, reteach ourselves (we already know this on some level, we just need to be reminded), the more we live in that enlightened place. By living in that enlightened place I mean applying the principles of spiritual growth to all we do, and all we are. That is our purpose, to grow and live fully in a life of spiritual awareness.

Copyright (c) 2007 Char Cooper RN, MSN, APRN

We all want to feel good. Why? Because we all have a core desire to be happy, fulfilled & joyful. So what is stopping you from Feeling Good? When you work with Char you will learn how to break through unresourceful behaviors, patterns, beliefs & habits that prevent you from Feeling Good. Using her expertise as a Nurse Practitioner, Life Coach & Yoga Instructor, & integrating a mind, body, spirit approach, Char empowers her clients to Feel Good every day!
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[mailto:char@thefeelgoodcoach.com]char@thefeelgoodcoach.com 860-292-1029

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Char_Cooper http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Peaceful-Warrior&id=757728

The Human Consciousness

Sometimes I wonder who it is I really am and where I belong. I know that I am not the only one out there who feels the same. I feel a little envious when I read about people who go on fantastic spiritual pilgrimages through Japan or India. It reminds me that I feel something else I was meant to do, like I am not yet whole. In order to make up a whole human one must break down the human self into three distinct parts, called the three selves. The three selves are stacked on top of one another to create the whole, similar to the chakra energy system. Each level governs the emotions, body and mind of the human being, and each human being in turn governs the environment that it lives in.

The Three Selves are broken down into the body or basic self, the mind or conscious self, and emotions which can be considered the higher spiritual self. Dan Millman is the author of multiple books on this subject, including The way of the peaceful warrior and Everyday Enlightenment. Mr. Millman has been a huge inspiration to me and many other people who feel lost in their bodies.

In his teachings Mr. Millman describes the basic self as your subconscious where instincts and intuition take over. This is the level where your fight or flight reflexes live and where you store your will to survive. A good way to think of your basic self is as your "inner child". If you have ever spent anytime observing a young child you will know that they live in the moment. Their priorities are very different form an adults. Kids are very in tune with the physical needs of their body. Even thought you could go through life without being in touch the basic self, you would not be able to grow and you might become stuck in a negative feedback cycle.

The conscious self or ego, is the center of logic and reason which of course we need to survive. With out the conscious self humans would still be living in caves eating raw meat! If we can get our basic self and conscious self to work together our minds would be open to change, and creativity while still being able to function in the society humans have created.

The higher self or spiritual consciousness is a radiant aspect of our consciousness. This is where our crown chakra or "guardian angel," taps into the Spirit or God. The higher self is always with us, it is fully aware, full of selfless courage, love and wisdom.

Not enough people are aware of their higher selves, and some of the people who aware, are perhaps not in tune with their basic or conscious selves. It is important in order to follow our life path and reach enlightenment for all of these three distinct forms of consciousness to work as one providing powerful leverage for attaining the greater awareness and inspiration in our lives that we are all a part of.

Effects of Thich Quang Duc's Self-Immolation

A Buddhist monk named Thich Quang Duc, from the Linh-Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam, set himself on fire in downtown Saigon, on June 11, 1963. Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation did not receive much attention from religious scholars, because apparently the act was "exclusively conceptualized as a trans historical, purely religious agent, virtually homologous with his specifically religious forebears and ancestors." So now it is know as "religious suicide" and can be justified by Chinese Buddhist texts written between the fifth and tenth centuries C.E.

Thich Quang Duc was born in 1897 he was 67 when he set himself ablaze in 1963. From the time he we seven years old he lived in a Buddhist monastic community. Quang Duc was ordained as a full Buddhist monk or Bhikku by the time he was twenty. Thich Quang Duc had practiced extreme ascetic purification for several years, he became was a teacher, and spent many years rebuilding Buddhist temples in Vietnam prior to 1943. He was a member of the Quan the Am temple and Director of rituals for the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation. Thich Quang Duc is now considered to be a bodhisattva, "an enlightened being - one on the path to awakening who vows to forgo complete enlightenment until he or she helps all other beings attain enlightenment."

Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation has accelerated the spread of "engaged Buddhism" which had already begun in Vietnam in the 1930's. This of course led to the overthrow of the Diem regime in South Vietnam in November of 1963, and helped to change the public opinion of the American backed South Vietnamese government and its war against the communist supported Viet Cong.

The social and political impact of Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation has been far reaching. It was reported in the New York Times News paper the day after the immolation. A copy of Quang Duc's document, written in 1963, encouraged the self-immolation of several monks and by the continued activism of the "rebellious monks of Hue" against the communist government in Vietnam for more than three decades.

It has been considered by both Thich Nhat Hnah and Russell McCutcheon that when contextualizing the event in 1963 Vietnam, the self-immolation is seen as a "political act" with the purpose of calling attention to many injustices being perpetrated against the South Vietnamese people by the government of Euro-American imperialism. Thich Nhat Hnah goes on to speak about this particular act of self-immolation as follows: The press spoke then of suicide, but in the essence, it is not. It is not even a protest. What the monks said in the letters they left before burning themselves aimed only at alarming, at moving the hearts of the oppressors, and at calling the attention of the world to the suffering endured then by the Vietnamese. To burn oneself by fire is to prove that what one is saying is of the utmost importance…. The Vietnamese monk, by burning himself, says with all his strength and determination that he can endure the greatest of sufferings to protect his people…. To express will by burning oneself, therefore, is not to commit an act of destruction but to perform an act of construction, that is, to suffer and to die for the sake of one's people. This is not suicide.

Thich Nhat Hanh then explains why Thich Quang Duc's self-immolation was not a suicide, in contrast to Buddhist teachings: Suicide is an act of self-destruction, having as causes the following: (1) lack of courage to live and to cope with difficulties; (2) defeat by life and loss of all hope; (3) desire for nonexistence….. The monk who burns himself has lost neither courage nor hope; nor does he desire nonexistence. On the contrary, he is very courageous and hopeful and aspires for something good in the future. He does not think that he is destroying himself; he believes in the good fruition of his act of self-sacrifice for the sake of others…. I believe with all my heart that the monks who burned themselves did not aim at the death of their oppressors but only at a change in their policy.

The Monks enemies are not of flesh and bone, their enemies are things like intolerance, fanaticism, dictatorship, cupidity, hatred, and discrimination which can be found in the heart of men. On June 11, 1963, Thich Quang Duc showed the world that it is not the right of man to cause suffering for another human being, life is suffering and punishment must be left to the Spirit.

7 Subjects We Must All Master When Discovering our Spiritual Selves

Author: Kevin Michael Kiley

This article briefly describes the 7 areas of life to which we should pay constant attention. Having ideals in these 7 areas and learning to move toward those ideals in a regular and balanced way can provide a powerful sense of meaning and purpose. This article is meant to help you see this more simply and clearly. These 7 areas are outlined below.

Life is actually very simple. The hard part is allowing it to be that way.

QUIET TIME 101
The most basic, essential ingredient in a happy and successful life is the habit of regular quiet time. Yet how many people have made the continued development of this habit a daily priority? People who put this time above the urgency of more mundane needs inevitably develop more peace and love and joy within. How important is the mastery of this subject to you?

EXERCISE 101
A habit of daily exercise supports physical well-being. Is your routine designed to nurture a body that is balanced, flexible, and strong? Is your routine designed to develop a body with outstanding cardiovascular endurance? Is your routine something you can enjoy for a lifetime? Establish the habit of daily exercise because your body truly is your temple.

EATING 101
Eating habits often reflect the family in which we were raised. Did we learn to say grace? Were healthy meals and desserts prepared with lots of love? Or did we learn to gobble cookies in order to ease excessive anxiety? Why we eat, what we eat, and how we eat are intimately related to physical, material, and spiritual well-being.

VOCATION 101
Serve others in a way that is deeply fulfilling. Experiment until discovering work that suits your natural inclinations. From there, continuously develop to be the very best that you can be, and never stop growing in your field of choice. When we marry natural abilities with the discipline of intelligent effort, we do more than earn a living - we learn to practice work as a type of sacred play.

RECREATION 101
Spontaneity is a must! Isn't it rejuvenating to wander in a new place or to engage in conversation with a new face? Isn't it wonderful to allow ourselves to learn something new for no apparent reason? A game of catch can take us away from difficult problems and magically make way for surprise solutions. Have you learned how to make time for recreation in a balanced way?

RELATIONSHIPS 101
Relationships with others are a reflection of relationship with Self. Isn't that an incredibly important subject to constantly explore? Learn to use the language of self-responsibility and make a study of your life. Develop superior communication skills and establish a truly interdependent personality. In relationships, each individual's unique life journey comes alive.

SLEEP 101
Most people sleep 6-8 hours each day. That's a lot of time dedicated to something most of us don't think much about! Deep, regular, and restful sleep can be learned. For some it's natural, but for others it requires practice. Either way, healthy sleeping habits are extremely beneficial and unhealthy ones can be a symptom of illness. What are your sleeping habits saying about you?

The importance of these life "subjects" must be acknowledged. They are foundational. Do you have an ultimate ideal in mind in each of these areas? Are you working toward those ideals in a balanced, consistent, and determined way? Doing so creates deep meaning and purpose that last a lifetime. What are you waiting for?!

About the Author:

Graduating from Dartmouth in 1992, Kevin Michael Kiley helped build three successful businesses. Suddenly faced with severe illness, he engaged in a profound spiritual search in order to realize his own healing. Learn how Kevin, a highly skilled life coach, can help you to also move through obstacles and create constantly increasing success in your own life.

http://www.kevinmichaelkiley.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/7-subjects-we-must-all-master-when-discovering-our-spiritual-selves-217301.html

Focus on Nothingness

Author: C. Om

Look around. Notice everything around you. Now notice where there is nothing or no-thing around you. Notice what is not there. Notice the empty space. Nothingness is all around us. Nothingness is constantly overlooked and under rated. Noticing the nothingness allows you to be in the present moment and realize that it is the nothingness that allows all the "somethings" to exist. This nothingness is not just the space that allows all matter to exist. It is also the complete silence that is the birthplace and graveyard of all sounds. It is the stillness that allows us to detect any and all motion. This nothingness allows reality to exist as a contrast to itself. But it remains part of everything that it enables to exist. Focusing on nothingness helps to still the mind. This is because you must be in tune with the moment to be aware of nothingness. Being in tune gives birth to intuition and inspiration. Zen Buddhists (among other spiritual scriptures and teachings from around the world) often speak of nothingness in various sayings. Here are a few:

"We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want." ~Tao Te Ching

"Knock on the sky and listen to the sound!" ~Zen saying "What is the color of wind?" ~Zen koan

"The purpose of a fishtrap is to catch fish, and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten. The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits. When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten. The purpose of words is to convey ideas. When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words? He is the one I would like to talk to." ~Chuang-Tsu

So why all the riddles and talk of nothingness? It is because paradoxically, in nothing is everything. When you focus on true nothingness, you are focusing on an infinite amount of possibilities. A more vibrant depth and deeper understanding may be gained by examining what is not there. Focus on nothingness.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/spirituality-articles/focus-on-nothingness-707794.html

About the Author:
AUTHOR: Motivational, inspirational, and spiritual; self-help instructor C. Om specializes in teaching real people how to eliminate stress and suffering from their lives. To get instant access to his powerful and yet simple solutions for a great and rewarding life right now, regardless of your life situation, visit: the daily blog What Is Really Good?

The Self-Immolation, Burning Monk

A Buddhist monk from the Linh-Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam, burned himself to death at a busy intersection in downtown Saigon, Vietnam, on June 11, 1963. His name was Thich Quang Duc. Witnesses say that Thich Quang Duc and two fellow monks arrived at the intersection by car, Thich Quang Duc was seen getting out of the car, seating himself in the traditional lotus position and the accompanying monks helped him pour gasoline over himself. He ignited the gasoline by lighting a match and burned to death in a matter of minutes.

David Halberstam, of the New York Times wrote “I was to see that sight again, but once was enough. Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was the smell of burning human flesh; human beings burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering. I was too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think…. As he burned he never moved a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him.”

Thich Quang Duc had been preparing himself for several weeks. Preparations included meditation and explaining his motivation in letters to members of the Buddhist community as well as to the government of South Vietnam. In the letters he described his need to bring attention to the repressive policies of the Catholic Diem regime that controlled the South Vietnamese government at the time.

Before the self-immolation, the South Vietnamese Buddhists had made requests to the Diem regime, asking it to: Lift its ban on flying the traditional Buddhist flag; Grant Buddhism the same rights as Catholicism; Stop detaining Buddhists; Give Buddhist monks and nuns the right to practice and spread their religion; and Pay fair compensations to the victim's families and punish those responsible for their deaths. When these requests were not addressed by the Deim regime, Thich Quang Duc carried out his self-immolation. Unfortunately the self-immolation received little attention from religious scholars.

Following his death, Thich Quang Duc was cremated and legend has it that his heart would not burn. As a result, his heart is considered Holy and is in the custody of the Reserve Bank of Vietnam.

Life Force, Reiki Healing for All Peoples

Author: Margaret Ann Jones

Reiki, denoting 'Divine Life Force' is a secure and preferable manner of coping with a variety of complications. I say preferable because unlike the alleged conventional treatments founded on pills and medical interventions, the Reiki healing comes with no adverse effects.

With Reiki there are no contradications whatsoever.

The intense relaxation you feel with this type of unconventional remedy is like a light moving across your body. Clearing away every sign of ill health that has been troubling you.

You will see the affects for yourself: Reiki can deal with the troubles in life that both the body and the mind encounter, physically, mentally, and emotionally. When Reiki treatment is applied you can see your stress and anxiety melt away. And when you apply it at home after a busy and tiring day, the pressure of your daily life eases, and you truly relax.

Reiki is able to lighten up both your body and spirit by means of constructive and positive thinking. Reiki therapy is undemanding: just by positioning your hands on or near yourself or a patient, the life force runs from (the one who is channelling Reiki) to the recipient. Simple!

Reiki could be said to have its origins in one of the many Asian religions. Reiki is not a religion.

The most common conception is that Reiki developed as a changed structure of Buddhism. Buddhism stands as one of the oldest beliefs in the world. Some correspondence exists between Buddhism and the Reiki unconventional remedy; The most decisive similarity with Reiki and Buddhism is the profound healing principle of both.

Nonetheless, the creators of Reiki were not Buddhist. They had learned about Buddhism, but they had also studied other beliefs, such as Christianity. What is more, while Buddhism is viewed as a religion (albeit one lacking a god) Reiki is a way of coping with your physical, mental and spiritual problems.

Reiki is a particular type of delicate energy transfer. In the process, the healing has effect when the therapist puts his or her hands on or above the body. In this way, a relationship takes place between the patient and an immeasurable spring of life energy.

This energy transfer runs through the Reiki practitioner - he/she is the channel, the energy path. The Reiki Healing force is very strong, yet is incredibly soothing and kind to all. You can lead it towards oneself and towards others with complete understanding and faith that it is doing nothing but good.

The healing light/vibration is drawn from the 'Universal Life-Force' and is therefore multi-level. Reiki will awaken your mind, body and spirit to a more relaxed lifestyle.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/life-force-reiki-healing-for-all-peoples-675422.html

About the Author:
Awaken your Mind, body and Spirit to a more meaningful lifestyle. More relaxation and less stress.
Margaret A Jones http://www.thesimplicityofreiki.com
Click on the link above to find out more Reiki Insights.
Margaret is a Reiki Master/Teacher, and has been using her Reiki for herself and others for many years. And of course the animals we all love.

Symbolism of the Dharmachakra

The Buddha was the first person who “turned the wheel of dharma” and when he did the wheel then became it's own symbol called the Dharmachakra or the “wheel of law”. The Tibetans use the term “the wheel of transformation” The wheel is a representation of the cycle of samsara, or rebirth. The cycle can only be broken by following the Buddha's teachings, and is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols.

Buddhists see the wheel as having three basic parts or "three trainings". The first section is the hub, it symbolizes moral discipline, which is able to stabilize the mind. There are eight spokes that represent wisdom that can be applied to defeat ignorance. Each of the eight spokes symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path set out by the Buddha in his teachings. The rim is a representation of concentration, which holds everything else together.

The wheel's motion is seen as a metaphor for the rapid spiritual change that happens when someone follows the teachings of the Buddha. The first discourse at Deer Park in Sarnath is known as the "first turning of the wheel of dharma." And subsequent discourses at Rajgir and Shravasti are known as the "second and third turnings of the wheel of dharma."

The wheel has been a common symbol in Buddhist art long before the introduction of images. In those days, the Dharmachakra symbolized not only the Buddha's teachings but the Buddha himself. Emperor Ashoka (272-32 BC) built pillars on top of which he placed four carved lions and four wheels, Each one faces the one of four directions to proclaim the Buddhist Dharma throughout India.

Today, the Dharmachakra appears in the art of every Buddhist culture. On images of the Buddha, the wheel appears on the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet. It is often seen in Tibet, flanked by two deer, the whole image is a representation of the Buddha's first sermon in the Deer Park. The wheel is usually central to mandalas, geometric representations of the Buddhist universe. It also appears in the Dharmachakra Mudra, in which the Buddha forms a wheel with the position of his hands.

The Buddhist Lotus Symbol

In Buddhism the lotus flower is one of the most poignant representations of Buddhist teachings and is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. The lotus flower has a strong pleasant odor and is the only water dwelling plant to regularly rise eight to twelve inches above the surface. This flower has inspired many people through out many cultures, it is small, yet strong, carring deep rooted symbolism.

The Lotus is Buddhism's best recognized motif it is used in all kinds of Buddhist art across all Buddhist cultures. Scrolling lotuses often embellish Buddhist textiles, ceramics and architecture. They can also be found as part of the many symbols, where the number of pedals is of great importance.

The growth pattern of a lotus flower signify the progress of the soul. The roots of a lotus flower grow from the primeval mud of materialism, the stem then grows up through the waters of experience, where it lies pristinely above the water, and basks in the bright sunshine of enlightenment.

According to scholars, "in esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the being is like an unopened lotus: when the virtues of the Buddha develop therein, the lotus blossoms; that is why the Buddha sits on a lotus bloom." Almost every important Buddhist deity can be associated in some way with the lotus, either being seated upon a lotus in full bloom or holding one in their hands. Some images of standing Buddhas will go as far as to have each foot rests on a separate lotus.

Finally the color of the lotus is as important to the symbolism associated with it. The white Lotus represents a state of spiritual perfection and total mental purity. It is associated with the White Tara who will proclaim her perfect nature, a quality which is reinforced by the color of her body. Pink is the supreme lotus, mostly reserved for the highest deity. Naturally it is associated with the Great Buddha himself. Red signifies the original nature and purity of the heart. It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion and all other qualities of the heart. It is the flower of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The blue Lotus is a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, and signifies the wisdom of knowledge. It is the preferred flower of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom.

Buddhist Tours – 7 Places You Should Visit on Buddha Trail

Buddhist Tours – 7 Places You Should Visit on Buddha Trail by rohan a

India is the country where the seeds of Buddhism were first sown. It was here that Lord Buddha first propagated the doctrines of this noble religion. There are around 16 Buddhist pilgrimage sites, among which 4 deserve a special mention for their religious importance. Embarking on Buddhist tours will make you have an idea of the origin and growth of the religion in the country.

Some of the renowned pilgrimage sites of Buddhism are located in the Ganges Valley in the northern part of India. It is in these places that Lord Buddha imparted his first teachings on the doctrines of Buddhism. So follow the footsteps of Buddha on these seven places. These places are important sites in the itinerary of Buddhist tours. They are:

1. Bodhgaya: An important seat of Buddhist learning, Bodhgaya is located in the state of Bihar. It is here where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The town is now a well known pilgrimage site and is home to beautiful monasteries and stupas. Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims come here all around the year.

2. Lumbini: This small town is located in the Nepal-India border. It is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. There are a number of monasteries and religious monuments which are known for their lovely carvings.

3. Rajgir: This lovely city is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Known as Rajagriha in the ancient times, this city is surrounded by mountains and greenery. It was one of the important seats of Buddhist religion and Lord Buddha imparted his teachings here. The city is full of Buddhist temples and monasteries.

4. Nalanda: This ancient university is located close to Rajgir. It was one of the important seats of Buddhist learning. Established in the 5th century B.C, the university was visited by scholars and renowned students. Hundreds of tourists now come here to see its ruins. There is also a museum which is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India.

5. Sanchi: Ranking among the well known Buddhist pilgrimage sites, Sanchi is home to plenty of stupas, monasteries, Buddhist temples and other religious monuments. Hundreds of tourists also come here to see the famous Anand Bodhi tree.

6. Varanasi and Sarnath: Other than being a well known pilgrimage center for Hindus, Varanasi is also a renowned religious spot for Buddhists. While on a tour to Varanasi, you can also visit Sarnath. It was here where Lord Buddha first propagated Dharma.

7. Kushinagar: Lord Buddha breathed his last in this small town in Uttar Pradesh. His last sermon was also preached here. There are a number of Buddhist temples and monuments located here which draw hundreds of pilgrims.

Apart from these sites, Buddhist tours also include visit to places like Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Sravasti and Sankasia. All these places have rich historical significance and consist of plenty of temples, stupas and monasteries.


Rohan arora is an author of this article. If Buddha and Buddhist tours are on your mind while planning India travel, look no further. Indianholiday.com with its wide array of services ranging from limousine to hotel booking to flight reservation is at your disposal. Follow the footsteps of Buddha while leave the legwork on us

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Buddhist-Tours-–-7-Places-You-Should-Visit-on-Buddha-Trail/546895

Ten Facts About Buddhism

Buddhism gets its name from a man known by his followers as the Buddha, or the awaken one. He was born in a princely family in a region of Northern India that now lies in Southern Nepal.

There are about 500 million Buddhists worldwide.

Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddharta Gautama, known as the Buddha. His basic teachings are The Four Noble Truths and The Noble Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are:
The Truth of Suffering: All is suffering.
The Arising of Suffering: Suffering arises from desire and delusion.
The Cessation of Suffering: Nirvana is the solution.
The Truth of the Way: How to achieve Nirvana.

The Noble Eightfold Path includes eight concepts that would lead to Nirvana. This path is often divided in three categories:
Sila: moral conduct.
Samadhi: mental concentration (meditation).
Panna: wisdom.
Buddhism has spread through two main schools or branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

Theravada means "Doctrine of the Elders". It's the oldest of the surviving schools of Buddhism. It represents a conservative option and it maintains many of the practices and beliefs of the early followers of the Buddha.

Mahayana means "The Great Vehicle". It's a reform movement that changes the content of Buddhist practice in profound ways. It is the greatest (with more practitioners) surviving school.

Both the Theravada and Mahayana accept the Tripitakas (also known as Pali Canon) as their scriptures.

The Mahayana also have the Mahayana Sutras, which they regard as more important than the Pali Canon. The Theravada finds these Sutras as irrelevant.

To learn more about Buddhism you might be interested in the site by author Pablo Antuna. [http://buddhism-eyes.blogspot.com]Buddhism Through Buddhist Eyes [http://buddhism-eyes.blogspot.com/2008/08/brief-history-of-buddhism.html]History of Buddhism

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pablo_Antuna http://EzineArticles.com/?Ten-Facts-About-Buddhism&id=1616649

Easy Meditation For Beginners

Meditation is an important tool used in most ancient cultures, spiritual practices and new age groups. The purpose of meditation is to relax the body and mind, it is ofter believed that while meditating one can gather information or guidance from beings in other realms. Here I will guide you through the process of preparing for meditation and a simply visualization to open your chakras.

When learning to meditate is is important to be completely at rest with nothing to disturb you, (turn off your phones and send the kids out for a walk with the dog!) To begin prepare the meditation space with colours and lighting that suit your mood, turn off big lamps and light some candle if you like, some soothing music might help you to relax or perhaps it will interfere with your concentration. You be the judge of what best fits your personality, don't get discouraged if the setting you imagine in your head is not what works in reality.

Breath is very important during meditation so find a comfy spot to sit (you will be there for a while) and start by taking big deep breaths. Fill your lungs right down to your abdomen, relax every muscle one at a time. Now take your right thumb and close your right nostril, take a deep breath (this opens the left lobe of your brain) relax, open your right nostril but keep you hand up, put your index finger over your left nostril and breath. Rotate between both nostrils for between 3-5 full breaths to insure both lobes of your brain have adequate oxygen. When you have finished rest your hands on your thighs.

Close your eyes, let all tensions flow out of you like water running off your body in the shower. Visualize in your minds eye you are holding in your left hand eight balloons on strings, each balloon is a different colour on the visual color spectrum plus one pink balloon. Next, visualize the red balloon moving across your field of vision from left to right. Let go of the string and focus on the balloon as it floats up and out of sight. One at a time let each balloon follow the same path, each one being the next colour in the spectrum (ROY G. BIV) visualize the orange balloon floating in the same pattern as red one took. Continue through each colour balloon until only the pink balloon is left, now it too moves across your field of vision and floats away as far as your consciousness will allow. Imagine each balloon goes progressively farther than the one before it. Next envision the balloons in your right hand and repeat the exercise.

By doing this meditation you are balancing the chemistry in your brain, which will open up your chakras, allowing your body to release pent up stress and negative energy. It is a simple meditation that can take as little or as long as you would like. It can be a quick panic reliever or a deep relaxation technique.

The Location of the Chakras

The Seven major chakras of the body each have their own purpose in the body. They are arranged in ascending order from the root close to the earth to the crown at the highest point in the body. Each Chakra is vibrating at it's own frequency which means that each has a specific purpose in the body. No chakra is more important than another they must all work together in order to create balance and harmony in the body.

The Root Chakra or Muladhara is closest to the earth, it is the base support for the 3 main psychic channels, ida, pingala and sushumna. Unless you are born with a “gift” these channels remain dormant in the body until the kundalini shakti, also known as great spiritual potential, is taped into and refined, thus causing an evolution in human psyche. Muladhara draws down spiritual energy and allows that energy to assume a physical existence. The Root Chakra is located at the perineum near the anus, it is closely related to the reproductive process and feelings of fear and guilt. This chakra's symbol is represented on a lotus flower with four petals,by the colour red and the Earth element.

All of the lower chakras govern emotions, which is where you get the term “gut feeling”. The Sacral chakra is located about two finger widths below the belly button where it governs feeling and sexuality. When this chakra is balanced, your feelings will be able to flow freely, and you can express yourself without being over-emotional. The Navel chakra is helpful when asserting yourself in a group, when balanced you feel in control and you have positive self esteem. It is located just below the sternum and can be recognized by it's yellow colour. Naturally the Heart chakra is about love. When it is balanced, you are more freely compassionate and friendly. The heart as you can imagine is located in the chest and is represented by green which is the next colour in the spectrum.

The upper chakras are in charge of logical processes and creativity. The Throat chakra governs self-expression and talking which make sense because it is located in the throat. When it is balanced, you will have no problem expressing yourself, but is it is easy to block this chakra by telling lies and talking too much. The Third Eye is found on the forehead where it governs insight and visualization. The third eye does not help you to see the physical world, but intuition and dreams grow here. Be aware of an over-active third eye where you begin to live in a world of fantasy. The Crown chakra also known as Sahasrara is the center of wisdom and being one with the world. It is located at the top of the head and is the most subtle of all the chakras. The Crown is represented on a violet lotus flower with 1000 petals, arranged in 20 layers each with 50 petals. This chakra is related to pure consciousness, and it is from here that all other chakras emanate.

Each of the Seven major chakras have a distinct purpose in the body. Where they are located, as you have seen, is indicative of the task each Chakra is responsible for. The vibrations tell the body how to act and respond in any given situation. Without our chakras our bodies would be empty shells and they must all work together in order to create balance in our lives.

Chakras: Tradition verses New Age

Traditionally Chinese medicine relies on the model belief that the human body is an energy system, consisting of seven chakras located through the body on a horizontal line from the Root chakra on the genitle area up to the Crown chakra at the top of the head. The New Age movement has created an increased interest in Western cultures including the chakras. Some people in New Age practices claim that there are chakras, besides the seven major ones, for instance, ear chakras. Although it cannot be proven that this is entirely untrue it is certainly up for debate.

People from the East and West who study or tap into the chakras energy system know that there is a correspondence between the position and role of the chakras, and those of the glands in the endocrine system. Each chakra is responsible for different aspects of the body just like each organ is responsible for its own functions.

The chakras are described in the tantric texts as Sat-Cakra-Nirupana, and the Padaka-Pancaka, where they radiate an electrical consciousness, an energy which pours down from the spiritual like the suns rays. They then create these distinct levels of chakras (simular to oil settling on top of water), which eventually settle in the Muladhara (root) chakra. This energy that came into creation, called the Kundalini, will lie coiled and sleeping until it is taped into through tantric yogi, reiki or meditation to arouse the energy, and encourage it to flow back up through the increasingly subtler chakras, until union with god is achieved in the Sahasrara (crown) chakra at the top of the head.

It is believed that the energy of the chakras is continuously flowing (like a stream), if it is not respected and given the proper care then the energy can become blocked (by a dam). For instance when a child gets and ear ache it could be caused by a number of things ranging from physical illness or a damaged ear drum. But physicians tend to over look the chakras energy system which could be blocked causing the tissues in the ear to break down. To ease the discomfort in the child's ear many doctors will mask the pain with medication. But the inflammation can be reduced simply by placing a hand over the ear and concentrating on the corresponding chakra. As the energy pulses through the blockage it will allow the body to heal naturally.

In the end it does not matter which set of beliefs you follow, all that matters is that you treat your energy centers with the same care and respect that you would treat any other part of your body. when you can find balance in your life it becomes much easier to focus less on the negative and more on what is positive.