Six Supernatural Powers in Buddhism When it comes to understanding the Buddha-Dharma, the teaching of supernatural power is seldom the topic mentioned by most Dharma teachers. In fact, for those who value “scientific proof” as a “rational” way of validating the truth, supernatural power is something to be shunned of […]
Fundamentals of Buddhism
49 posts
8 Jhanas from the Pali Canon The jhanas are altered states of consciousness which are produced from periods of strong concentration. Although not enlightenment experiences, they do provide much needed experience into the Path and explain much of the cosmology in an experiential way. For example, each jhana tends to correspond to […]
Buddha’s Teachings in the Pali Canon: Eight Factors that Result in Material and Spiritual Happiness Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings documented in the Pali Canon are exceptionally practical and relevant for lay Buddhist practitioners to lead rewarding and fulfilling lives. In AN 8.54 Dighajanu Sutta: Conditions of Welfare, a wealthy lay Buddhist […]
48 Vows of Amitabha Buddha According to Infinite Life Sutra, or Larger Pure Land Sutra (無量壽經), Sakyamuni Buddha expounded the practice of Bodhisattva Dharmakara in the journey of attaining Buddhahood. Bodhisattva Dharmakara, having witnessed the suffering of sentient beings, spent five eons studying all the Buddha lands. He made forty-eight […]
Tri-Pitaka and Twelve Divisions Tripitaka (or Tipitika) is the collection of the teachings of the Buddha over 45 years. It consists of Sutra (the conventional teaching), Vinaya (Disciplinary code) and Abhidhamma (commentaries). The Tripitaka was compiled and arranged in its present form by the disciples who had immediate contact with […]
Praises to the Twenty-One Taras Praises to the Twenty-One Taras is a traditional prayer in Tibetan Buddhism to the female Bodhisattva Tara, also known as Ārya Tārā, or Jetsun Dolma. It appears in the Derge Kangyur as “Offering Praise to Tara through Twenty-One [verses] of Homage” The prayer is found […]
10 Vows of Bodhisattva Universal Worthy (Bodhisattva Samantabhadra) Bodhisattva Universal Worthy, known in Sanskrit as Samantabhadra, Chinese as Puxian and Japanese as Fugen, is a bodhisattva associated with practice, vows, and meditation in Mahayana Buddhism. He is the protagonist in the closing sutra of the Lotus Sutra, The Sutra of Meditation on Bodhisattva […]
Eternity And Liberation: A Commentary On The Anuruddha Sutta by Jim Wilson Eternity and Liberation On a number of occasions when someone asked the Buddha about the nature of the eternal, or the extent of eternity, or whether eternity existed, the Buddha refused to answer, or responded by saying […]
The Five Aggregates The teaching of The Five Aggregates or The Five Skandhas, is an analysis of personal experiences and a view on cognition from a Buddhist perspective. The teaching also provides a logical and thorough approach to understand the Universal Truth of Not-self. In the last issue’s “Buddhism in […]
3 Reasons Why You Should Practice Mahayana Buddhism instead of Theravada Buddhism First, don’t get me wrong- my intention of writing this blog is not to denigrate Theravada Buddhism in anyway. In fact, I respect and appreciate the wonderful teachings in the Pali canon because there are tonnes of practical […]
