Understanding Tibetan Buddhism (Part 4) Four schools in Tibetan Buddhism Nyingma Literally, Nyingma means “the ancient ones” thus it represents the traditional school in the ancient transmission period. It is originated from the collaboration between King Trison Detsen and the Indian masters, Shantarakshita and Padmasambhava. As the origin of the […]
Jataka Tale: King Banyan Deer Once upon a time, an unusual and beautiful deer was born in the forests near Benares, in northern India. Although he was as big as a young colt, it was easy for his mother to give birth to him. When he opened his eyes, […]
Understanding Pure Land Sect (Part 4) The Basic Goal of Pure Land Buddhism If one seeks to learn and understand Buddha Dharma, one may follow the customary approach to practice the Three Studies, namely, disciplines or percepts, meditation and wisdom. One is expected to relinquish delusory thought patterns otherwise one cannot […]
10 Inspirational Quotes about Compassion in the Lotus Sutra The term “compassion” is the one of the most frequently mentioned key words in the Lotus Sutra. It appears in the Lotus Sutra for more than a hundred times. This shows that the Lotus Sutra is a teaching of profound compassion […]
Understanding Tien Tai Sect (Part 4) The Practice in Tien Tai Sect The Tien-tai sect emphasized the contemplative insight into mind [觀心]. Contemplation and wisdom are just like legs and eyes respectively. One cannot reach the destination without one of them. There are two aspects in contemplative insight into mind, […]
Real-life Experiences of Accidental Time Travellers by Stephen Wagner Time machines might only be available in the movies, yet many people have experienced unexplained events that seem to be temporary but very real slips into the past and the future. What date would you go if you could travel through time? […]
Understanding Chan Buddhism (Part 3) Chan and Dhyana Though Chan is the Chinese transliteration of Dhyana in Sanskrit, it is not of the same context as Dhyana in its own sense. Dhyana in Sanskrit means high bliss states (or called Samadhi) achieved through the processes of meditation (known as Samatha […]
10 Inspirational Quotes from Nikola Tesla Nikola Tesla is one of the most creative and talented inventors in the history of mankind. Had it not for his ingenuity, we wouldn’t have many of the modern lifestyle conveniences – AC electricity, radio, television, Tesla coil, fluorescent lighting, neon lighting, radio control […]
Understanding Tibetan Buddhism (Part 3) Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana In Buddhism, it can be classified into Esoteric Buddhism [密教] and Exoteric Buddhism [顯教]. In Buddhist doctrines, the latter, also known as Vyukta–upadesa in Sanskrit, emphasizes on phenomenological perception, while the former, also known as Guhya–upadesa in Sanskrit, emphasizes on ontological perception. Amongst the ten great sects of Chinese […]
The Buddha’s Past Life: A King Who Practiced the Shurangama Samadhi Meditation The Buddha said: “Long ago in the past there was another Buddha by the name of Satyanama, a Tathagata, an Arhat, and a Perfectly Awakened One. At that time there was a monk by the name of Varuna. […]
