Ashoka Newmedia

A quick start on Hinduism, its basic scriptures and Gods are included. A Quick Start on Hinduism: What is Sanatana Dharma? Rig Veda says: "Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahudha Vadanti", which means that there is only One God (Truth) and people see Him (It) differently. A lot of Western books with information on Hinduism lack a quick start introduction, which appears very useful in situations like when you want to assemble a computer. If you start reading comprehensive information like what is DDR-RAM or AGP, you may keep “assembling” your PC even for months. But if you a have quick information guide with info like which slot/socket serves which component, you have good prospects to assemble your[..]

The most common pose for a Buddha figurine is meditating in the lotus position. In this pose, Buddha sits with his legs crossed, and his feet on top of his thighs. Sometimes he'll be shown with a lotus flower or a snake. The lotus flower is a symbol of the path a person takes as he grows from the mud of everyday existence toward the beauty of enlightenment. Snakes have a long history in Buddhist tradition, including the idea that snakes have powers similar to those that European traditions assign to dragons. You will also often see Buddha depicted in the Earth Touching Pose. This is a symbol of Buddhism's connection to Nature. Buddhists don't believe that the earth was created for us to[..]

Buddhism is a philosophy based on compassion to achieve enlightenment called "Nirvana." Buddhism explains the fact that the root of sufferings and unhappiness is our own state of mind and the way we perceive things. If we start and continue to purify our mind and soul with the help of Vipassana Meditation, ultimately, the state of evergreen happiness free from sorrow and pain called "Nirvana" can be achieved. Buddha statues with different positions are designed specifically to teach certain lessons of the philosophy.There are different kinds of them like Standing Buddha, sleeping Buddha, laughing Buddha, blessing Buddha, meditating Buddha, teaching Buddha etc. Different positions of the[..]

This article is a brief study on Bananas, the history of the Banana Plant and tips on growing Banana Plant. Banana Facts Banana "Trees" are not actually trees but are herbaceous plants in the genus Musa and of the family Musaceae. Due to their size, shape and structure they are often mistaken for trees. Bananas are largely cultivated for their fruit. But the plant is also used as ornamental plants in gardens. Typically, there are two types of Bananas that are cultivated, mainly in tropical regions. Firstly, there is the sweet dessert fruit that is eaten raw or used in dessert recipes. There are a wide variety of delicious dessert recipes using Bananas in almost every food culture in the[..]

The shawl has existed in India since the ancient times providing protection against the freezing cold. The mention to this fine piece of garment was first found in the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the Atharvaveda. It also finds a mention in the ancient Buddhist texts and literature. Support for the industry by the Mughals: The Kashmiri wraps were popular all over the world. During the Mughal rule, Punjab and the North-West Frontier became the center of shawl making. The Mughal emperor Akbar was completely hooked by the Kashmiri wraps and encouraged weavers to produce new designs. He tried several new ways of wearing one and was instrumental in starting the twin shawl fashion. These[..]

King Bimbisar of the Sisunaga dynasty has been thought to be good looking, well polished and a great statesman. It is mentioned that he had an affair with the great dancer of Vaishali (the tribal union of the Lichhavis; where Buddha delivered his last sermon). Not much is known about her. She is however mentioned in Pali and several Buddhist texts described as one that was found under a mango tree with unknown parentage. She was thought to have first appeared near a mango tree (Amra-mango; Pali-leaves) hence her name. Several tales of Amarpali exists although most seems like remixes, misinterpretations and fairy tales of events. She grew up in the royal household in the company of other[..]

Recently I was approached by someone asking for assistance in designing a pair of tattoos; one of them and one for their partner. They were concerned about using text rather than images. Initially they wanted to simply get a tattoo of each other's names, but through the course of discussion, they began to think about accompanying images that were meaningful to them in various ways. Effectively, they became confused and overwhelmed making their decision. The idea of text compared to images needed to be explained and explored. Text is imagery. Font, point size, kerning, and script all come into play when considering text for a tattoo. The main difference, and even then only in part, is the[..]

There are three elements to a fulfilling life: 1. Inspiration 2. Destination 3. Contribution Inspiration The first thing you need to make your life fulfilling is inspiration. Inspiration makes you get out of bed, into your clothes and out the door. More importantly, inspiration will make you do the best that you can in whatever pursuit you have. Inspiration will let whatever it is you are doing rise above the circumstances and give it a meaning beyond the immediate. Inspired people bring others along, attract people and spread joy in the world. To find inspiration in your life, you have to find out what the sources are that inspire you. The best way to do that, is by having a journal[..]

The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create life. It is related to the myths of Enoch, Thoth, and Hermes Trismegistus, all of whom in various tales are said to have drunk "the white drops" (liquid gold) and thus achieved immortality. It is also associated with the Qur'an's Al Khidr ('The Green Man'), and is mentioned in one of the Nag Hammadi texts. History It is unlikely that any such potion has ever been discovered though alchemists in[..]

Indian sages took the position that human beings, and beings in general, don't live just one life, but cycle in a process of death and rebirth. What does this really unique doctrine means for Buddhist and Hindu people? How does it change the way they live? The process of death and rebirth is called "Samsara" in Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the ancient language of India. Samsara simply means to wander. This etymological meaning gives you a taste of what this doctrine really means for religious people in India. They don't see the process of deaths and rebirths as a pleasurable one. In the Western world, we often think of reincarnation as something positive. We think that it means that we are[..]

When one casts into the fire of supreme reality the five elements, the senses and their objects, the dualistic mind and even vacuity, then there is true offering to the Gods. ~ Vijnanabhairava Tantra, verse 149 Daniel Odier, in the introduction to his presentation of this Tantra, tells us: The Vijnanabhairava Tantra, a text written by the Shaivite School of Kashmir around the first century A.D., represents "the quintessence of all the tantras." It stands first and foremost on the plane of absolute reality, where it touches the deepest roots of the spirit. This "tantra of supreme consciousness" is probably the most extraordinary sum total of yogic methods ever brought together. It offers[..]

Pain exists to promote evolution. Its cumulative effect finally forces us in a new direction, although the mechanism may be very slow. So how many times is it necessary to hit the bottom before a lesson is learnt? Pain and suffering are very distinctive experiences in everyone's development. However there is a very significant difference between pain and suffering which, once understood, will transform your life. Pain Let me explain: Pain is the sensation or signal in the body that some event or experience is not in alignment with one's value system. If, for example, your partner shouts at you and you immediately feel pain in form of hurt, disappointment, sadness or even anger it is a[..]

"This business of hozho. The way I understand it... I'll use an example. Terrible drought, crops dead, sheep dying. Spring dried out. No water. The Hopi, or the Christian, maybe the Moslem, they pray for rain. The Navajo has the proper ceremony done to restore himself to harmony with the drought. You see what I mean. The system is designed to recognize what's beyond human power to change, and then to change the human's attitude to be content with the inevitable." - in 'Sacred Clowns' by Tony Hillerman I want what I don't have; I don't want what I have - attachment and aversion Many spiritual traditions, like Buddhism, tell us pain and suffering - mental, emotional, physical, spiritual[..]

The best part about Leh Ladakh is that the entire land is full of priceless Himalayan heritage. Located amidst the beautiful desert of snow lies the small village of Alchi, which is famous for its isolation. The village is about 67 km from Leh, and seems more beautiful because of being located on the banks of the river Indus. Tourists flock to this popular destination as it is one of the most important cultural sites throughout the Himalayas. Prime Attractions If you wish to experience a typical Ladakhi village, Alchi is the perfect place for your vacations in Leh-Ladakh. Monasteries Alchi monastery not only boasts of being one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh but is also renowned for[..]

I recently visited Vientiane which is the capital city of Laos and I was definitely positively surprised by the charming and somewhat unique destination. There is a heavy French influence in this city and together with the Asian atmosphere it creates a lovely environment. It is a relatively small city and cannot be compared in size to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur but it does have a lot of historic and cultural sights which tourists can visit. Buddha Park The Buddha Park is located just outside of the city and it is filled with Buddhist images and art pieces. Some of the older items date back over five hundred years ago. This attraction is open daily from 09:00 until 16:00. Lao National[..]

We have been hearing about lucky charms since time immemorial. Wind chimes, Swastik on home walls, horse shoe nailed in the entrance, talismans; lucky charms have existed across cultures. Hinduism identifies horse shoes, swastiks, rudraksh, crystals, numeric and zodiac signs bracelets as lucky charms. Similarly we have Laughing Buddha, wind chimes, magic balls, etc among the Feng Shui charms. Other cultures also have their own lucky charms, like Buddhists have sacred tattoos with Buddhist images, called as 'sak yant' which is for spiritual protection. Muslims wear tawiz. But the question that constantly knocked at my heart was- do these lucky charms really work? If yes, how (Though i[..]

Ladakh is an incomparable land of culture and adventure. It showcases the true Buddhist culture in all the aspects of lifestyle and invites travellers from all parts of the world. Fairs and festivals of Ladakh have always been a great medium to reflect the cultural practices and traditions of this divine and splendid land. When it comes to Ladakh festivals, Hemis proves to be a major crowd puller. It boasts of being the biggest festive celebration of the 'Little Tibet'. This two-day festival is celebrated at the Hemis monastery. About The Festival The Hemis festival is celebrated after every 12 years on the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. He was the founder of Tibetan Buddhism,[..]

One of the common criticisms of Buddhism is that it is a pessimistic way of life. The fundamental teaching of the Buddha says that all in life is suffering. Sounds quite pessimistic? But that is only the starting point of his teaching. From that claim, he starts to elaborate and he says he has the solution for that. If you know a Buddhist person, you know that they don't have a negative way of looking their lives. Buddhists live with certain kind of lightness and buoyancy. I'll tell you why they are like that. Real Buddhists, the ones that have understood the core principles, show a way of life that is admirable for Westerners. They look like they don't worry about anything. Take the[..]

After Buddha's death his students decided that to continue the Buddha's work they must gather the teachings and sayings of Buddha into a body of text, which body became called the Pali Canon. This was the first branch of Buddhism, but soon a division occurred about which scriptures in what order were important and how they belonged in the teaching of Buddhism, and from this split several branches emerged. Soon after, another rift occurred - groups of students and teachers who believed that 'The Way' was to meditate - to do as Buddha practiced and not to rely on what he said, separated from the other branches of Buddhism. Meditation, or Dhyana, became the focus of this branch. This school[..]

When I first noticed that I felt more "whole" being alone, I wondered why this was. Was it because I feared the outside world or simply appreciated the silence? I soon realized that this was simply because I was just that: "whole." I was no longer identifying with what I saw and approved or disapproved of - I was outside of it, outside the world of judgements. I was all of it. I was the causer of my actions, the speaker of my words and the thinker of my thoughts. Traditions long past spoke of this "unity consciousness" and our connection with all living things, but how can this be obtained in the hearts and minds of "men today" in a practical way? What is the meaning of this[..]

Who is that fat laughing Buddha we often see depicted sitting in a relaxed posture? Many people gets confused with this image of a fat monk, totally incongruent with the enlightened and meditative Buddha. For a lot of people who come to the study of Buddhism for the first time, this actually is the Buddha, this chubby guy who has a smile on his face sitting in a relaxed posture. In fact, we see that figure around us quite often in this world. Well, here is his story. He is called Budai. It is said, specially in China and Japan, that this image of a chubby monk is that of a real monk who lived and wandered through this world. It is told that he carried a bag full of things which he[..]

Cambodia is a country that is firmly putting its past behind to embrace the 21st century. It is emerging as a vibrant, exciting tourist travel destination, offering an opportunity to step back into ancient history, get off the beaten track into a lush yet unpredictable rural countryside and to immerse in a kind and charming culture. It is a country where crumbling colonial buildings and tuk-tuks (motorized rickshaws) are juxtaposed with 5 star boutique hotels and trendy restaurants and spas. Cambodia is bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and in its turbulent past, was invaded by two of its neighbors several times. It shares the powerful Mekong River with Laos and Vietnam. The river[..]

ROUND The day of July 21, 2497/1954 marked the end of the war between the Viet Minh government and the French, the realization of Vietnamese independence and the split of Vietnam into two halves, North and South Vietnam. By a 2509/1966 estimate, the population of North Vietnam was 18,000,000, while that of South Vietnam was 16,000,000. About 1,662,000 Roman Catholics (three fourths of whom live in the South) formed a minority, while eighty percent of the Vietnamese were Buddhists. Of the 12,000,000 South Vietnamese Buddhists, about 2,000,000 were followers of Theravada Buddhism. The rest practised Mahayana Buddhism, often mixed with Taoism and Confucianism. South Vietnamese Buddhist[..]

kamhaeng’s cordial relations with China secured hi snorthern borders and kept the fragmented but nonetheless power-full Khmer kingdoms perpetually off-balance; Sukhothai’s role as a regional counter-force to the Khmers had full Chinese approval and the Thais’ friendly relations with China undoubtedly inhibited ambitious Khmer commanders from unleashing invasion forces into the Thai heartland. Ramkamhaeng twice visited the Chinese court and in 1300 imported Chinese artisans to produce pottery and porcelain that was exported to neighbouring countries and is now internationally prized as Sawankaloke celadon and handpainted ceramics. Pottery kilns are still prominently[..]

s and Sikhs The approximately20,000 Indians residing in Thailand are almost equally divided between Hindus and Sikhs. Most of the Hindu community is concentrated in Bangkok where it worships at four main Hindu temples. There are also several Brahman shrines at which Hindus and Buddhists alike worship. The Hindus manage their own school whose curriculum is based on the Thai education system, though, in addition to Thai, it teaches Hindi, Sanskrit and English. The Sikhs, too, are concentrated mainly in Bangkok. Divided into two sects, they worship at two different temples. Collectively, the Sikhs run a free school for poor children, regardless of caste, creed or religion, and through[..]

In his book, A New Earth, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle tells a story of someone who brings him the catalogue from a large spiritual center, seeking advice on which course to take. To this Tolle responds, "I don't know. They all look so interesting. But I do know this: be aware of your breathing as often as you are able, whenever you remember. Do that for one year, and it will be more powerfully transformative than attending all of these courses. And it's free." Tolle is right. Each of us has ready access to one of the most transformative tools available-breath awareness. Most of the time we neglect this valuable resource. Instead we look to our careers, families, dream homes,[..]

The earliest kingdom of Thailand was the Sukhothai Kingdom, built around the city of Sukhothai. Sukhothai was the capital of Siam, and is located in north central Thailand. This was the earliest kingdom and it existed between 13th and 14th century. In the 13th century, Sukhothai was a part of Khmer empire. It was recognized as a Thai ruled kingdom when two Thai chieftans, Pho Khun Pha Muang and Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao, declared their individual independent kingdom in Thailand. The first king of Sukhothai was Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao who also called himself Pho Khun Si Indrathit or Intradit. The kingdom of Sukhothai eventually expanded and made alliances with other Thai kingdoms. Their[..]

k may leave the monkhood any time he wishes. The Thai ordination is a public notice of a man’s intention to follow the Buddha’s teaching. He is not obliged to remain a monk for life, nor does any stigma attach should he decide to return to secular life. Although Buddhism flourished during the Ayutthayan period, historically little is known of Ayutthayan Buddhism because of the near total destruction of the Kingdom’s records. The years following 1767 found Buddhism in disarray. The situation improved when the first Chakri king, Rama I, re-established religious as well as social order. A later Chakri king, Mongkut (Rama IV), founded a new Buddhist sect during his monastic[..]

Mindfulness is a practice that anyone can quickly learn and immediately use to benefit one's mental, physical, and emotional health. If you have thought about doing meditation or starting a mindfulness training program but were not sure what it meant then this article will be great at explaining the basics of mindfulness before starting practice. What is Mindfulness? In the West, the field of psychology has developed a therapeutic practice starting in the 1970s called mindfulness. It has roots in the Buddhist meditation practice of awareness. Traditionally, in Theravada Buddhism, people could be taught two forms of meditation which reflect the modern practice of mindfulness. The first is[..]

One of the finest Buddhist temples in South-east Asia, Kek Lok Si temple stands majestically on a hill in Air Itam. Known as "The Temple of Supreme Bliss", it is built in tiers culminating the beautifully crafted ''Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddha's''. It took more than 20 years to build and features gardens, a turtle pond, shrines and beautiful Buddhist sculptures. The temple consist of many prayer halls, pagodas, bell towers and just about every other typical temple structure you can think of, in varying styles from Burmese to Chinese to Thai. It is known that The Kek Lok Si project was inspired by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple of Pitt Street. With the support of the[..]

hird son of Phoh Khun Sriindraditya, Phoh Khun Ramkamhaeng, succeeded to the throne of Thailand in B.E. 1820 (1277 C.E.) and ruled as the third king of Sukhothai. In this reign Sukhothai was at its height of power and prosperity. His kingdom extended in the north to Prae and Nan, in the east to Vientiane, in the south to the extreme end of the Malay Peninsula and in the west as far as Hongsavadi. It was he who invented the Thai alphabet to replace the old Khmer alphabet and who introduced the present form of Theravada Buddhism to the Thai people. By this time Buddhism had disappeared in India and the centre of the religion moved to Ceylon where, under the patronage of King Parakramabahu[..]