Buddhism

Tibetan prayer wheels, called Mani wheels, are used to spread blessings and well-being. They contain multiple copies of mantras (prayers from Medicine Buddha, Vajrasattva, Tara, Padmasambhava and...

The warrior monks of Shaolin have gained a worldwide reputation for their devoted study and impressive displays of traditional kung fu. The feats of athletic prowess and martial arts skill are the...

Mala beads are traditional Buddhist prayer beads, referred to as juzu in the Japanese traditions. Although the number of beads differs between Buddhist traditions, most full mala have 108 beads...

A zafu is a round mediation cushion traditionally found in Japan. It is often used with a zabuton, a large floor pillow that protects the knees. Sewing your own zafu is not only a fun craft...

When Buddhists perform prostrations, they silently and fluidly proclaim central Buddhist beliefs. For Buddhists, prostrating is practicing one of Buddhism's three Jewels. Dharma is the path to...

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a funerary text, intended to orient the deceased through the intermediary stages between death and rebirth in an effort to...

The diet of Zen monks is based on the Buddhist teachings of right living. Zen monks are not allowed to kill living creatures, must live in poverty and practice simple asceticism. These laws...

As a person alive in a stressful world, you’ve heard at various times of a variety of benefits to be gained from the activity (or inactivity really) called meditation. But what is meditation, and...

In Vedic astrology, Arudha (translated as "mountain") describes how we view the world around us, and how the world views us. According to the American College of Vedic Astrology, Vedic astrology...

Tibetan Buddhists believe that spinning a prayer wheel multiplies their prayers and blessings. Tibetans call these devices "mani" wheels. They are found all over Tibet.

The Four Noble Truths are considered essential Buddhist teachings. They teach that happiness and enlightenment can be attained through spiritual practices and meditation.

A prayer wheel is a device used by Buddhists to invoke benevolence and compassion. It is a round container attached to an axle that allows it to rotate.

Quan Yin, also known as Kuan Yin, Kwan Yin, Pinyin, Guanyin, and Kuan Shih Yin, plays an enormous role in Mahayana Buddhism. She appears in hundreds of manifestations across Asia, and millions of...

Tibetan Buddhists raise prayer flags (Dar Cho) outside of homes and monasteries. Tibetan prayer flags are inscribed with Tibetan mantras, symbols and prayers. Decorating prayer flags is a...

Buddhist prayer flags are designed to send compassionate prayers on the wind to all beings. Prayer flags do not have to be Buddhist. Any prayerful intention can accompany construction of a prayer...

Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags are made with sacred symbols and Buddhist texts. Prayer flags are more than pieces of cotton with lovely pictures: Symbols and prayers on a prayer flag make it a...

How to become a Buddha? Its simple! Just follow these instructions and you will be on the spiritual path in no time and you will be the Buddha you were always meant to be. This doesn't have to be...

Buddhist robes represent the heart of simplicity and detachment from material possessions. Buddhist robes are layers of three separate robes, which may be worn separately or coordinated as a...

Meditation has become well known in the western world today, but the number of styles from which to choose can confuse someone first starting to practice. One of the most basic forms is meditation...

Tibetan prayer flags are normally associated with the Buddhist religion. In the past several years, it has grown in popularity due to the beautiful colors and meaning. Normally each flag is...

If any of these Seven become tangled up in the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride), look out! Otherwise, they are simply to be enjoyed, but not to bet the farm...

Buddhist prayer flags have become a popular addition to decor in people's homes, but few people outside of the Tibetan Buddhist religion understand their significance or know when it is...

Too many people try to meditate because they believe it will lead them to enlightenment. It is better to meditate to achieve a goal, such as making a decision about a particular situation or...

When you do good, you get good in return; when you do bad, bad things happen to you. Doing good expands and loosens the heart; doing bad restricts and tightens the heart until the heart shrivels...

Tara is a Buddhist goddess of compassion. There are Taras of various colors, white and green being the most common. White Tara is considered the "Mother of all Buddhas."

Buddhism in Myanmar (Burma) has a highly nuanced and complex history, and this introduction is meant only to describe a few of the more salient features of its development. Since Myanmar has...

Zen yoga is a synthesis of Zen meditation, tai chi, qigong, shanti yoga principles and poses (asanas). Zen yoga exercises incorporate meditation, flow, breath and stretching to renew body, mind...

The word zen conjures up images of Buddhist monks in robes, arranging flowers, gardening, or sitting in meditative states with sublime smiles. But what does the word really mean? The story of zen...

White Tara is a female deity in the Buddhist religion. She is one aspect of a number of Taras, each corresponding to a particular color. These deities, or Bodhisattvas, each have a distinctive set...

Tibetan bells are also known as singing bowls, meditation bowls, chakra bowls, healing bowls or Himalayan bowls. They are part of the Buddhist religion and were originally found in the Himalayas....

Meditation can be a rewarding experience. Used for centuries by Buddhist and yogic priests and lay persons, meditation can ease stress, lift the spirit, and provide personal insight. This...

Worry is simmering fear. In the old days, we would just run like hell when we were scared, but nowadays, we bubble away in our little pots of worry. So, the first thing to do is face what it is...

Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) was an Indian spiritual leader who was born in 1931 and died in 1990. He rose to popularity in the 1960s and became infamously known as the sex guru because of his...

Healing can come in many forms. One of those forms is the Tibetan singing bowl. This is a musical instrument, consisting of a bowl made of a composition of different metals and a wooden mallet. It...

Tibetan tradition dates singing bowls to the time of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. (See References 1) Tibetan Buddhists use different techniques to invite sound from Tibetan singing bowls....

Buddhism is a religion that stresses mindfulness. To be mindful is to be fully aware, fully alive in the present moment. When you are able to be aware in this way, it is easier to feel compassion...

Meditation can be a highly valuable tool to help relieve the stress of your day-to-day life. It is a technique that helps you focus on your breathing and forget all the thoughts, both positive and...

Tum-mo meditation is an advanced yogic practice from Tibet. Although some Tum-mo texts have been translated and at least one book of instruction is available in English, most practitioners feel...

You can make your own incense sticks quickly and easily with simple ingredients. Incense is very personal, and you can't always find the combination of spices to your exact liking. Making your...

Do you want to be a Buddhist, but aren't sure what it's about, or how to do it? Don't know the basics and want to learn? Well read on.

Buddhist prayer beads, also called mala beads, are not jewelry. Rather, they are a way to count prayers or mantras in several Buddhist traditions, much like the Catholic Rosary. Buddhist prayer...

Buddhism, like many religions, is not so much taught as practiced. The Buddhist practices are learning aids in their own right, intended to help a student learn to "think like a Buddhist." By...

Siddhis are obtained through the practice of Sadhana, a highly disciplined meditation practice that is a necessary part of Buddhist tantrism. Sadhana practices are said to result in supernatural...

Zen meditation, known as zazen, is often referred to as 'just sitting'. You don't hold an object in your mind to meditate on or repeat a phrase over and over as you would in other meditation...

These steps can help introduce you to meditation.

Levitation can be described as a supernormal perceptual state attained through many kinds of spiritual practices. When deep meditative states are achieved, obstacles to the perception of...

Tibetan prayer beads, also known as malas or Buddhist rosaries, are strings of beads used by Buddhists to help count meditations, prayers or chants known as mantras. Prayer beads can consist of...

Buddhism is a world religion practiced predominantly in the East. It is based on the teachings of Buddha, or the Enlightened One, rather than the Western religious belief in a supreme being, or...

This article is about how to achieve stream entry. Stream entry is the first step of enlightenment in the classical Theravada Buddhism sense of the word. Opposing ordinary beliefs it's quite...

The statue of Buddha represents the founder of the Buddhist religion. As with many religions, the statue serves as a tangible symbol of the belief system held by Buddhist culture. However, the...