Ashoka Newmedia

There are dozens upon dozens of books that take an in depth look at Thai history and culture. I am not going to try to emulate them here. What I am going to do is tell you what you need to know to make a comfortable transition. This is part 2 of a multi-part series. Buddhism- As you likely know, Thailand is a Buddhist country. The average Thai visits the temple on numerous occasions a year to make merit or to ask for assistance or luck in one walk of life or another. The Thais are genuine in their belief in and devotion to Buddhism. But unlike some religions, they will never force their beliefs on you or attempt to convert you. No matter what your faith, the Thais are happy to let you[..]

More and more these days it seems that some of humanity's sharpest and brightest ideas are actually ancient ones. Among the insights that Buddha received during his enlightenment more than 2,600 years ago under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, is the most fundamental teaching of the Buddhist tradition, that of the "Four Noble Truths." In broad terms, these truths relate to the existential human condition of suffering-its nature, its origin, and its end. The Four Noble Truths appear again and again throughout the Pali Canon, a collection of the most ancient and sacred Buddhist texts, thought to be the direct teachings of Buddha himself. However, the Four Noble Truths do not just[..]

f the most important calculations of Indian history has been done on the basis of the lifetime of a certain Indian emperor called Ashoka, considered to be one of the greatest emperors of world history. He was a Buddhist emperor who was responsible for the spread of Buddhism, to distant corners of India and the neighboring countries, by sending large number of Buddhist missionaries to these places. He built thousands of Buddhist stupas and established thousands of Buddhist monasteries all over his empire that stretched from Iran to Bangladesh and from Central Asia (Afghanistan) to South India. A large number of rocks and pillars, present all over his empire, have been inscribed with his[..]

Academic and practical Buddhism making great strides abreast The scholastic character of the early period had much effect on the progress of Buddhism in the subsequent period up to the present. The wealth of Buddhist literature in Western languages makes Buddhism accessible to Western people and facilitates Buddhist study. At the same time Buddhists in Asian countries have begun to take up missionary activity again. From time to time, Buddhist missions have come to Western countries to acquaint these civilized people with the teachings of the Buddha. Above all, social and life conditions have now greatly changed. Amidst material and economic progress in this age of technology, more and[..]

One of the most important calculations of Indian history has been done on the basis of the lifetime of a certain Indian emperor called Ashoka, considered to be one of the greatest emperors of world history. He was a Buddhist emperor who was responsible for the spread of Buddhism, to distant corners of India and the neighboring countries, by sending large number of Buddhist missionaries to these places. He built thousands of Buddhist stupas and established thousands of Buddhist monasteries all over his empire that stretched from Iran to Bangladesh and from Central Asia (Afghanistan) to South India. A large number of rocks and pillars, present all over his empire, have been inscribed with[..]

Buddha means "Awakened One", someone who has awakened and sees things as they really are. According to AboutBuddha.org , a Buddha is a person who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions. Because he has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and has removed all obstructions from his mind, he knows everything of the past, present, and future, directly and simultaneously. Moreover, Buddha has great compassion which is completely impartial, embracing all living beings without discrimination. The person who is generally referred to by the name Buddha was Siddhartha Gautama , a spiritual teacher from ancient India and the founder of Buddhism who lived at around 500 BCE.[..]

There are three religions which have shaped my awareness over my lifetime. The first religion is Christianity, which follows the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially his Sermon on the Mount, also called the Beatitudes. Essentially, Jesus has asked us to lead a life devoted to loving God and other people. The second religion is Hinduism, which follows the teachings of Krishna, who is considered by many Hindus to be the eighth avatar or divine-descent of the Hindu God Vishnu. Krishna has asked us to lead a noble life of virtue and goodness. Finally, I have also grown immensely from the teachings of the Buddha, who taught non-violence and also right action, right thought, right meditation,[..]

ould be noted that there is a great difference as regards the social background of the monks in the traditional Thai society in the past and that of the monks in the modern times. In the past the monkhood was recruited from men of all classes of the society and from all parts of the country regardless of their status. As members of the monkhood, the monks formed an independent society exercising spiritual and intellectual influences on the secular society. Roughly speaking, they played the roles of the intellectuals. But in the modern times, since the monks were retired from educational responsibility on the adoption of the modern system of public education and since the traditional[..]

Buddhism originated in India in 6th century BC as a reaction to the extreme Vedic practices. Vedic religion had been confined to the extravagant yajnas and animal sacrifices at that time. The common man was more disgusted with the exploitative attitude of the Brahmin priests than attaining the blessing of the almighty. Simple and non-violent teachings of Buddha were a great respite for the general people. Buddhism became popular all over northern part of India in a lightening speed. Interestingly, most of the monarchs of the time patronized Buddhism in a way or the other. All major ruling dynasties of early India like Maurya, Sunga, Kushana, Gupta, Pala and Sena dynasties contributed[..]

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines "secret" as: "1 a: kept from knowledge or view : hidden b: marked by the habit of discretion : closemouthed c: working with hidden aims or methods : undercover (a secret agent) d: not acknowledged : unavowed (a secret bride) e: conducted in secret (a secret trial)2: remote from human frequentation or notice : 3: revealed only to the initiated : esoteric 4: designed to elude observation or detection (a secret panel)5: containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could endanger national security". As used in this article, secret means: revealed only to the initiated; kept from knowledge or view; and designed to elude observation or[..]

Metaphysical arguments go nowhere, no different from political or religious ones! What does make a difference, however, is how we treat each other. I may be a Buddhist and you may be a Christian, yet if we both treat each other with respect, how crazy can that be? When a monk asked the Buddha some metaphysical questions one day - "Is the universe eternal or not eternal, is my soul eternal or not eternal, where was I before I was born, etc.," the Buddha maintained the "Noble Silence." He always contended that those kinds of questions would not help the monk progress. Only when the monk set metaphysical questions aside and quieted his mind, and then observed his own greed, hatred and[..]

Thangka painting is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist art form, which has been practised in Tibet for much more than one thousand years. Thangka simply is the Tibetan word for painting. In the paintings of this Tibetan Buddhist art form the many and various deities and venerable teachers such as the historical Lord Buddha Shakyamuni are shown. These images inspire through their beauty, but also, a painted deity is a visual support for those practising meditation. The origins of Thangka painting go back to Lord Buddha Shakyamuni and stretch even further beyond into the past. Lord Buddha lived about 2600 years ago in India, where He taught the Holy Dharma to a large following and also[..]

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[..]

Son of the Shakyas, and a born Kshatriya, around 566BC, at the age of 29 was when he left his family to lead the life of an ascetic, however, a few years later, he had a few followers, and they all dedicated themselves to following the Middle Path of leading a life, a life between that of an ascetic and those of the worldly devoted. However, this was not satisfactory according the Buddha's decree, and so he went on for further Enlightenment, which happened after quite a good amount of introspect and meditation, under a fig tree. Thus, in the regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (both in India), Gautama Buddha, started preaching his practices. According to some records, the Buddha's[..]

ales is pleased to offer collectors and religious practitioners alike a line of exquisitely hand-carved Buddha statues. These Buddha statues are brought to you from village communities all over the countryside of Thailand. These statues are marketed in accordance with the principles and practices of Fair Trade, adding strict quality control and professional organization, using profits to help Thai artisans maintain their traditional skills. Theravada Buddhism has been the predominant religion in Thailand since early recorded history. For over 2500 years the people of Thailand have followed the peaceful and self-reflective teachings of the Buddha, or "Dharma", which evolved directly out[..]

Buddhism gained wide acceptance because its emphasis on tolerance and individual initiative complemented the Thais' cherished inner freedom. Fundamentally, Buddhism is an empirical way of life. Free of dogma, it is a flexible moral, ethical and philosophical framework within which people find room to fashion their own salvations. Sukhothai's King Ramkamhaeng (1275-1317) established Theravada Buddhism as Thailand's dominant religion. The elder of two major Buddhist schools and closest to the Buddha's original teachings, it was practised then much as it is today. Ramkamhaeng's grandson, King Lu Thai (1347-1368) wrote the Tribhumikotha, a treatise on Buddhist cosmology, a spectacular[..]

When visiting Tibet you can't fail to notice the beautiful Thangka paintings that hang from monasteries and home altars across the region. These paintings are full of information about Buddhism and the Tibetan worldview and they unite the opposing passions of religion and analysis in their geometric and rule-governed depictions. In them, icons and characters out of Buddhist lore float against brilliantly coloured backgrounds filled with complex Buddhist symbols, swirling landscapes and geometric patterns. In some you can see the teenage bodhisattva Manjushri swinging a flaming sword, symbolically slicing away the artificial dualities of thought. Others depict the Tibetan Wheel of Life,[..]

Millions of people follow Buddhist studies but there are still many people in the Western culture that are unfamiliar with Buddhism. It is a religion that dates back thousands of years and has helped many people overcome their suffering and has taught countless others how to help end the suffering of their fellow man. This religion can seem difficult to understand when you first begin but if you take the time to learn the basic tenants, then you can find your own happiness and sense of self-fulfillment that many miss in life. There are two main schools of Buddhism. There is the Mahayana and the Theravada. Each of these facets of Buddhist teachings is different but they have many of the[..]

The Tea Garden also was introduced to Japan from the Chinese culture around the sixth century A.D. Because the Buddhism religion incorporated the use of tea in their ceremonies, did it not become popular until the thirteenth century. It is still unclear, but the generally accepted theory is that the tea ceremony celebrated the Zen beliefs of purity, inner peace, and simplicity through meditation. A Japanese tea garden consists of two gardens, one that includes a waiting area where the guests will be called into the more formal, intimate, yet rustic structured inner garden. The outer design of the tea garden usually includes stepping stones leading to a cleansing area. Here the guests[..]

Dharamsala Buddhist Tour Dharamsala is home to His Holiness, 14th Dalai Lama and various Buddhist monasteries. The Tibetan Buddhist monks settled in the Dharamsala and they practice Buddhism. Dharamsala is located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and offer breathtakingly beautiful views of the valley and the Himalayan hills. The Tibetan Buddhist art and culture are kept alive by the monks and at the markets one will see various handicrafts. Dharamsala is sought after by the nature lovers for its snow peaks, meadows, lush green valleys, mountain lakes, temples and monasteries. This hill station of India earns the sobriquet as Scotland of India. Dharamsala Buddhist Tour package will[..]

India, the mystic land can be called a mini world. It is so diverse that you can fulfill every desire your mind holds to explore the exotic Earth. In the same season, you can experience scorching heat at the Thar Desert of Rajasthan and you can feel the chill of snow at Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh. No matter what your interest is, there is always an India holiday package to satisfy your soul. Witness the Indian heritage By being in this diverse land, you can witness the heritage of Indian culture at Ajanta, Illora, Khajuraho, Jaipur etc. and get amazed by the fact that architectural skills and construction science reached such a higher level even thousands of years ago. Feel the[..]

The Om symbol is a very important symbol in Tibetan jewelry and accessories. The word Aum is the primordial symbol, the first sound ever heard, and the sound that the earth was created by. The sound starts with an opening of the lips and ends with a closing. This represents pulling all things into the body while making the sound. The Om sound is similar to the Greek Logos, and in Christianity it could be linked to the Christian Amen. Everything in the world both begins and ends with this sound. The Om symbol is found in both Hinduism and Buddhism, and began in Hinduism, but I will first discuss the sound and its cosmology in the context of Tibetan Buddhism. In Tibetan Buddhism, the most[..]

While most of the world is familiar with the Dalai Lama in regards to his position within Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama and China are also issues that make this man famous. The current Dalai Lama, who is the 14th in succession to hold this position, has been in exile from his home country of Tibet for many years. In 1949, the People's Republic of China invaded the nearby small country of Tibet, and claimed the country for their own. Tibet fought back, and unfortunately, was not able to get rid of the invading Chinese. In 1959, the Dalai Lama, along with 100,000 other Buddhist Tibetans, were forced into exile after a failed attempt to remove Communist power. This community now lives in[..]

Who knew that a Buddhist community would be in Montana? But then why wouldn't an international dignitary want to come to visit the mountains, streams and especially the people of Western Montana? For those of us who live here, this is as close to Heaven as we may ever get. Montana has often been called "The Last Best Place" because of it's natural wonder and the people who are drawn here to share their lives and talents. American Heritage Magazine was one who remarked on the diversity of Missoula when an article declared: "Nourished by by powerful rivers and an equally powerful sense of its past, a town of cowhands and poets and bikers and professors distills the whole history of the[..]

Tibetan prayer flags wereoriginally used as talismans to protect Tibetans during times of war. Originally the Bon people used prayer flags for protection, and put symbols suchas the snow lion, the dragon, or a tiger on each flag. Tibetan prayerflags were eventually adopted into Tibetan Buddhism with prayers or messages ofhope and peace written on each flag. The colors of Tibetan prayerflags are significant because they symbolize each of the five elements. Blue stands for the ether, or wind element. The white flag symbolizes air,and the red flag stands for fire. The green and yellow flags symbolizewater and earth, respectively. The five colors of Tibetan prayer flagsrepresent the five[..]

The New Year's Festival is called losar in the Tibetan Language. Being one of the most important festivals in Tibet, this festival is a feast of thanksgiving, and usually celebrated from mid-February to early March. Different from the Han Chinese people's Spring Festival, the Tibetans' losar has very conspicuously ethnic flavor and characteristics. -Draw Guqia During the Tibetan Losar, the Tibetans would use the Tsam-pa (aka zanba, a Tibetan food, roasted qingke barley flour) to draw the eight auspicious pictures in the Tibetan Buddhism, such as treasured parasols, golden fish, treasured vases, snow lotus, lucky knots, trumpet shells, triumphant tents and golden wheels. The pictures are[..]

While most people have heard of the Dalai Lama, who is an important Tibetan Buddhist figure, it is also important to learn about the succession of reborn Dalai Lamas to understand the office. The Dalai Lama is considered to be the supreme head of Tibetan Buddhism, and he is also known as the "Galwa Rinpoche" (Precious Victor) of the Gelug Buddhist sect. All four sects of Buddhism in Tibet honor the Dalai Lama as the head of the Buddhist religion in their country, and he is often addressed as "His Holiness" (or HH) when he is in residence in Tibet. The Dalai Lama is believed to be one of many reincarnations of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteśvara. This line of reborn[..]

EIGHT AUSPICIOUS SYMBOLS IN BUDDHISM Eight Auspicious Symbols form the most well-known group of Buddhist emblems that are constantly used in Tibetan Jewelry and consist of: a parasol, a pair of golden fish, a treasure vase, a lotus, a white right spiraling conch shell, an endless knot, a banner of victory and a golden wheel. They are eight symbols of great fortune and represent the offerings made by the gods to Shakyamuni Buddha immediately after he attained enlightenment. In Tibetan Buddhism also the ubiquitous prayer Aum Mani Padme Hum (Hail to the jewel in the lotus) which is their most used mantra. In Sanskrit, "OM" is known to Buddhists as a seed syllable, a word of great power. It[..]

You may be surprised to learn that according to some schools of Tibetan Buddhism, perceived reality is considered to be unreal. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching in some Tibetan Buddhist sects. It's considered to be the highest and most definitive path to enlightenment. But even more amazing, not only is reality unreal but that there is essentially no difference between reality and dreams! Because of this, certain Tibetan Yogis practice conscious dreaming, or lucid dreaming to achieve a better understanding of this concept. Dzogchen and Reality Because perceived reality is unreal in Dzogchen, everything perceived during your life through your senses including sight,[..]

While we often do not think of gods and deities when we think about Buddhism, the fact remains there are symbolic gods and goddesses in certain modes of Buddhist practice. This is most evident in Tibetan Buddhism where the Goddess Tara appears frequently in symbols and images. Those interested in the subject of Tibetan Buddhism would certainly benefit from taking a closer look at this particular goddess. Such an exploration would aid in gaining an understanding of what she represents. From this, a clearer understanding of what Tibetan Buddhism represents can also be derived. Tara is considered a 'savior goddess' who impacts Buddhists on many different levels of her life. Such a facet[..]

Most people have a belief that there is something waiting for them in the afterlife, if they lead a good life. It is a hope that there is something beyond death, a place that is a reward for a lifetime of good deeds and being mindful of the rules of that religion. In most religions, there is also a messenger that holds the key to eternity and peace. This messenger for Christians is Jesus Christ, for Muslims it is Muhammad and for Buddhists it is Buddha. If you are unfamiliar with the history of Buddhism, then it is time you become acquainted with this religion. The history of Buddhism started a very long time ago. It all begins with a prince named Siddhartha who decided to do something[..]

Are you planning to take a trip abroad to see lots of wonderful things and explore the amazing beauty of nature? Then Daman Nepal is the right place for you to go. This is a place recommended for people who longs for a peaceful and tranquil vacation abroad. Daman is a village located at the center of Nepal, 80 kilometers south west of the Kathmandu valley. The place is surrounded with scenic mountain views that everyone will surely love to see. Daman is a unique village that is in the heart of Nepal which is mostly visited by many tourists and travelers. It is an isolated place away from the city crowd that is surely what nature lovers are looking for. Daman is a perfect place for people[..]

"Watch a flash of lightning. If you watch it at the moment lightning strikes, you will see it for yourself. If you are imagining in your mind how lightning strikes before or after the event, you may not be regarded as having seen the flash of lightning. Try to know things for yourself by actual observation of things as they happen." -M. Sayadaw My own history of therapy mainly consists of a two-year period when, as a recreation therapist at Agnew State Mental Hospital in San Jose, California, I was sent to Esalen Institute for in-services on how to improve and grow as a therapist. I especially benefited from Gestalt therapy. Important "unfinished" situations would emerge and be dealt[..]

Chenrezig is a form of Avalokiteshvara. Chenrezig is also known as the Buddha of Compassion or 4 armed Avalokiteshvara. Of all the deities in Mahayana Buddhism, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig, is one of the most celebrated. He is the lord endowed with complete illumination, who refrains from entering the blissful state of nirvana to remain here below and save the creatures of the earth. This devotion to the salvation of others emphasizes the profound compassion this bodhisattva represents. In the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon of enlightened beings, Chenrezig, Avalokiteshvara, is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.[..]

Manali is situated in himachal pardesh. Manali is a beautiful hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India. Manali is popularly known as 'Switzerland of India'. Manali is a popular Himalayan tourist destination and accounts for almost a quarter of all tourist arrivals in Himachal Pradesh. Manali's cool environment provides a perfect shelter for the ones afflicted by the hot Indian summers. It is well-known for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. It also offers hot springs, fabulous spiritual shrines and temples, Tibetan Buddhist temples, and trekking in the neighboring mountains. Manali in India is an important[..]