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Thursday, January 29, 2009

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

Sunday, January 25, 2009

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!
Visit http://www.TheFeelGoodCoach.com & start Feeling Good now!
[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

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

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.

Monday, January 19, 2009

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

Friday, January 16, 2009

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.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

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

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

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.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

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.