The Origins and History of Tibetan Singing Bowls
Where it all started The knowledge of singing bowl production would have spread throughout Asia along established trade routes. Many believe that the Buddha, Padmasambhava, crossed the Himalaya mountains from India into Tibet. He bought the teachings of the Buddha into the country and also the knowledge of singing bowls. Contrary to popular belief, singing bowls were not used during any religious practices but were used instead as begging bowls and for food. During this period monasteries only used the singing bowl as a chalice. Why were they produced? If the singing bowl was not produced for religious practice then the obvious question is: what were they used for? There are accounts[..]
The Origins, History and Production of the Singing Bowl
The knowledge of singing bowl production would have spread throughout Asia along established trade routes. Many believe that the Buddha, Padmasambhava, crossed the Himalaya mountains from India into Tibet. He bought the teachings of the Buddha into the country and also the knowledge of singing bowls. Contrary to popular belief, singing bowls were not used during any religious practices but were used instead as begging bowls and for food. During this period monasteries only used the singing bowl as a chalice. If the singing bowl was not produced for religious practice then the obvious question is: what were they used for? There are accounts of travelling smiths who would make the bowls[..]
Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival - Zhong Yuan Jie (中元节)
By now you should probably be aware of the 2008 Summer Olympics to be held in Beijing, China, this coming August. However, there is at least another event going on in (and beneath) China during August. Every year, during the seventh month of the Chinese Calendar, it is believed that the Gates of Hell will be opened and all Hell beings (well, not nearly all, only those well-behaved ones) will be set to roam freely on Earth for a month. In this month, many spirits roamed the world in search of their past memories to fulfil their unforgotten attachments. As such, these are called the “hungry ghosts” and the festival is also called the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Hungry Ghosts[..]
The Bible on Narrow-Mindedness
Evangelical Christians usually figure at the top of the list of people who have such a narrow mind that they are seen as barriers to religious harmony. Every religion has some set of instructions, usually in written form known as its Bible or sacred writings. The follower of the religion must know what things he is to do or not to do in order to please the deity or deities he chooses to serve. If he doesn't obey his religion's teachings, it can be justifiably said that he's not true to the doctrine, whatever it may be. This vital truth is often forgotten when one hastily accuses Christians of being narrow-minded. The accuser is usually someone who has virtually no knowledge of the Holy[..]
During Classic Holiday’s Buddhist Trail India tour you will visit Buddha's place of birth in Lumbini plus follow the main travels and the essential stations of Buddha’s life. You’ll visit Bodh Gaya (where he was enlightened), deer park of Samath (where he first preached), the Gridkutta mountain (vulture's peak) of Rajgir, and Kushinagar (where be passed over his monk life into the Nirvana). At each of these places, Buddhist communities erected temples and Stupas so that the teachings of the Buddha remain omnipresent and the opportunity to worship and to meditate spreads everywhere. Classic Holiday’s Buddhist Trail India tour is a ten-day, eleven-night spiritual journey. You will[..]
How Hinduism Influenced Buddhism
The Buddha was born in a religiously rich environment: India. India is still considered today one of the most religious places in the world. We must understand that Buddhism was originally an Indian religion. The Buddha tried to solve problems that were present in Indian religious thought at the time. He wasn't isolated trying to achieve enlightenment as we might want to think. He was really influenced by his environment. To really understand the teachings of the Buddha, we must know his background, we must understand the problems he was attempting to solve. To understand the religious history of India, we must return first to a body of texts known as the Vedas. The Vedas are a[..]
Speaking the Lost Language of God
I started out my spiritual path reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran and the teachings of the Buddha and sometime after that got diverted into a religion where I muddled about for a few years. During my stay in that organized religion, I learned many things of spirit and the bible and came to understand these things in a new light - but that was only the beginning. That was over 30 years ago. Western civilization has lost the esoteric teachings of spirit when we were stripped of some of the oldest teachings on the subject. The first loss occurred in about 48 A.D. when the great Library of Alexandria burned down in a civil unrest. The second event was also tragic, but was done on[..]
The Four Noble Truths in Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhism. In many ways, they are a summary of the overall teachings of the Buddha. (1) The Truth of Suffering – Mental and physical sufferings are woven into the fabric of our daily existences. Experiences of happiness are conditioned and are not permanent; (2) The Truth of the Cause of Suffering – Craving is the cause of suffering. These include craving for items such as material gains, pleasant experiences and eternal lives. The underlying cause of craving is ignorance. The ignorance of the self as real; (3) The Truth of Cessation of Suffering – The cessation of suffering as taught by the Buddha has a broader perspective. This[..]
Apply Buddhist Philosophy in Your Life
Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world, but it also could be considered a practical philosophy. You don't need to convert to a new religion or make promises of any kind, you only need to learn the core teachings of the Buddha, you will be amazed at how practical they are. The Buddha is the very picture of calm and contemplation. And is this image of a calm and contemplative human being that has drawn many people to the Buddha, for centuries in Asia, and of course, in our own environment today. Do you want peace and calmness in your life? Then read further. The Buddha attempted to solve a problem that affect all human beings, the problem of suffering. Why do we suffer? How[..]
Buddha Statues - How To Buy The Right Ones? - 8 Critical Factors
1. Understand why you need to buy buddha statues. It will help you to choose the right one among the hundreds of different kinds of buddha statues. More than listening to anyone else or any other belief you should listen to your soul. Basic reason to buy buddha is to help yourself achieve your inner peace. Worshiping the buddha statues will help us remember, understand and practice Buddha's teachings. Ultimately by breaking out of never ending cycle of life after death, the state of Nirvana can be achieved by practicing buddhism with the help of Vipassana meditation. It depends on your choice of taking the path to achieving what you desire. If you want to experience a joy of life, happy[..]
The Buddha - All is Suffering
Some people say that all the teachings of the Buddha are contained in the seemingly simple claim that All is Suffering. When people come to Buddhism for the first time, this simple claim seems to be a real barrier to understanding. It seems to me that the Buddha was pessimistic about the possibility of pleasure or happiness in human life. The most important intellectual challenge is to understand how this simple statement doesn't lead to pessimism but to a sense of liberation and peace. The best way to do this is to explore some of the more sophisticated accounts of suffering in Buddhist literature. We see that suffering is interpreted not just in one way, but in three ways. The first[..]
Buddha statues illustrate 'Buddharupas' which represent the teachings of the Buddha. The path of enlightenment to achieve Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. Buddha is the one who has learned from the truth of nature and got enlightened. Buddha is simply a human who has undergone a thoughtful spiritual alteration. A Buddha statue itself is the symbol of sacred learning, that are represented in almost every portion of the figure. Unknown to many each physical element of the Buddha rupa symbolizes the Buddha's teaching. Different positions of Buddha statues and their meanings. There are various Buddha rupas in different positions; mainly in sitting, standing and in a reclining[..]
The Break-up of Cambodia and Cambodian Buddhism
dia has also shared the same Buddhist tradition with Thailand and Laos, since the beginning of her modern history. According to the statistics of a year during the 1960s, there were 2,750 monasteries with about 70,000 to 80,000 monks and novices in residence.1 There monks and novices might be either temporary or permanent as they enjoyed the practice of freely entering and leaving the monkhood under the ordination-for-learning tradition which was characteristic also of Thailand and Laos. As in Thailand, there were two denominations or Sub-Orders of the Cambodian Sangha. One was the original order which was later called Mahanikaya to distinguish it from the newly-founded denomination of[..]
On Lord Buddha's Trail in Andhra Pradesh
Buddhism was a dominant religion in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Actually, Andhra Pradesh provided a rich and fertile ground for the rise and progress of Buddhism in the distant past. So much so that the religion not only took deep roots in the state but also spread to the Far East from here. Andhra Pradesh's close links with Buddhism is borne out of the fact that the state has several Buddhist sites which are rich with Buddhist monasteries, chaityas, viharas, mahachaityas, and sculptures. Among the many Buddhist spots of the state, these are the leading ones: Nagarjunakonda Nagarjunakonda gets its name from the renowned Buddhist scholar and monk Acharya Nagarajuna--the[..]
The Middle Way of the Buddha
Beneath the Bodhi tree the future-buddha entered four subsequent states of meditation, and from these, he remembered his previous lives and gained understanding of the processes of samsara that all forms of life are subject to. He saw that the cause of rebirth was ignorance which would only cease when the need for sense-pleasures were quenched. As his ignorance of the truth was dispelled he was set free, and seeing things as they truly are, he became an enlightened being. A Buddha. After the Buddha had singlehandedly found the path that leads to freedom, he returned to his former ascetic companions and shared with them the truth (Dharma/Damma) of his discovery, at the deer park in[..]
Thai Buddhism - Thailand Buddhism in Present Day Part 2
nfluences of Buddhism can be seen in all aspects of the Thai life and culture. In the home, people keep for worship the Buddha images of various sizes on small altar-tables. While travelling, they wear small Buddha images around their necks as objects of veneration and recollection or as amulets for adornment and protection. When passing sacred places like the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha, devout Buddhists never fail to pay respect to them. Many times during the year they hold and attend festivals at a monastery. Occasionally they go on a pilgrimage to some favourite shrines located in a remote place. Monastery buildings such as the Uposatha hall and the repository of Buddha images[..]
Beautiful Boulder
Boulder is a beautiful city surrounded by recreational open space and nature preserves. There are many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed here including hiking, rock climbing and biking. The City of Boulder is very serious about protecting the surrounding natural environment and created an Urban Wildlife Management Plan. They set up stringent policies for protecting urban wildlife and have teams that monitor parks to protect ecosystems. Boulder is also home to some very unique universities. The only Buddhist University in the US, The Naropa Institute, is located here. It was founded in 1974 and would be the first university that combined contemplative studies with traditional Western[..]
Nalanda - The Ancient Buddhist Pilgrimage Place
Nalanda is a place in central Bihar, India 72 km south-east of the state capital of Patna and is part of the Buddhist Circuit that includes Bodhgaya and Rajgir. Nalanda is one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient times. It is important to the history of India, and Buddhism. Nalanda is one of the places distinguished as having been blessed by the presence of the Buddha, it later became particularly renowned as the site of the great monastic university of the same name, which was to become the crown jewel of the development of Buddhism in India. The name may derive from one of Shakyamuni's former births, when he was a king whose capital was here. The ancient Buddhist[..]
Weight Loss and Spirituality
Some turn to their spiritual side when undertaking weight loss. There are many of these diets including the Buddhist Diet, the Hallelujah Diet, and the Bible Diet, just to name a few. Though these are all different in that they deal with different religious beliefs, they are all the same in some key ways. These spiritual diets use the mind and the spirit to stay on track and transform all parts of existence, not just the way the body looks and feels. Some spiritual diets guide a dieter to focus on the benefits of the foods they should be eating rather than the ones they should not. In some religious diets, each food has a specific benefit to the mental health and well-being of a person[..]
The Healing Power Of Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness is that quality of conscious awareness of whatever arises in our present experience in which there is an attitude of engaged-presence. Mindfulness is both very simple and very profound, and to really benefit from its remarkable powers you have to approach the subject with a complete openness of mind and heart – but, of course, that is what mindfulness, or sati in the Pali Sanskrit dialect in which the Buddha's teachings were first recorded over 2000 years ago, is all about. Indeed, this gives us an insight into one of the many dimensions of mindfulness: the quality of openness that goes beyond our usual attitude of tolerance to a level of intense interest and delight in[..]
Shaolin Temple: Dawn of Zen and Kung Fu
Shaolin Temple in Henan province, China is famous worldwide for its peaceful-looking monks who perform incredible kung fu stunts. For a long time, I have been fascinated by the martial arts skills of Shaolin monks. How are these monks able to achieve such amazing feats? The answer lies in Zen. Zen is the wisdom behind Shaolin and it is what makes Shaolin Kung Fu unique and powerful. In fact, the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple is the cradle of Zen and Kung Fu. Zen is short for Zen Buddhism and is the Japanese translation of the Chinese word Chan. Chan itself is adapted from the Sanskrit word Dhyana which means "meditation". So, how did Chan Buddhism and Kung Fu come about at Shaolin[..]
Review of 50 Self-Help Classics by Tom Butler-Bowdon
This book, heralded as the first and only 'bite-sized' introduction to the classic works of 'life transformation,' is long overdue. Samuel Smiles wrote "Self- Help" in 1859, but the term only became widely used in the twentieth century. The idea of self-help, however, has been around for centuries. From religious works dating from thousands of years before Christ, such as the The Bhagavad-Gita, to modern American books such as Martin Seligman's "Learned Optimism," Butler-Bowdon covers what he calls the theme of 'refusal to accept common unhappiness.' Butler-Bowdon reveals the popularity of the self-help book: he claims his selection of 50 classics has sold over 150 million copies, and[..]
Leh Ladakh Tourism Begins With a Leh Tour
Numerous Buddhist monuments, monasteries and study centers - Leh, the land of lamas (Buddhist monks), serves as the capital of the snow desert Ladakh. The city is picturesquely nestled by the Karakoram and the Himalayan ranges. Leh valley is that it draws tourists from all over the world to the amazing scenery alongside the Indus river. The city, at 3505 m from sea level, is dotted with a number of ancient Buddhist monuments, which still retain the age old Buddhist traditions and practices.Major Attractions Apart from the fascinating Himalayan landscapes, Leh is visited for various monuments and culturally rich sites. Shanti Stupa is the prominent one. It holds a major importance for the[..]
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Located in the island of Java in Indonesia, this is a place of plenty, where palaces and temples meet verdant mountains and paddy fields. It is one of the oldest towns in Indonesia, and offers a step back in time, to traditional values. It's a centre of Javanese fine art, offering samples of batik, ballet, drama, music and poetry, and is easily traversed by bike, pedicab and horse and cart. Street performers entertain visitors on every corner, and there is a sense of peace and ambience when you are here. It's a great place to partake in classes; whether you wish to learn the ancient art of Batik or make jewellery in the style of the locals, all classes can be taken up while on the[..]
A True Story of Lust and Seduction - With a Twist!
Twenty-six hundred years ago, Subbha the Buddhist nun was walking through a mango grove when a lustful young man blocked her path. Subbha the Nun: "What wrong have I done you that you stand in my way? It's not proper my friend that a man should touch a woman gone forth (Buddhist nun who has dedicated her life to finding enlightenment). I respect the (Buddha's) message, the training pointed out by the one well gone, I am pure, without blemish; why do you stand in my way? You - your mind agitated, impassioned; and I, with a mind entirely freed. Why do you stand in my way?" Young man: "You are young and not bad looking, what need do you have for going forth? (becoming a nun). Throw off your[..]
The Buddhist Way of Meditation
The ultimate aim of a Buddhist is to attain nirvana. The nirvana is a state where one is liberated from all bindings and does not have to go through the cycle of birth and death. Meditation is a set of techniques through which a Buddhist can realize the state of nirvana. But before that, meditation is a way to cultivate the mind. Buddhism teaches meditation as a way to reach the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness is that state of consciousness where the practitioner is fully aware of his states of mind. He is aware of each thought and each reaction passing through his mind. He knows himself much more than an ordinary person. Buddha's teachings centre on the concept of 'Four Noble[..]
Buddhism, Marxism and the Dalai Lama
Yesterday, the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha, May 20th, 2010, the Dalai Lama began a 4 day teaching engagement at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. During a press conference just minutes before the first session, His Holiness said that he is still a Marxist in spirit and that Marxism was "the only economy system expressing concern of equal distribution (of wealth); that is moral ethics," He condemned capitalism as an economic system whose main goal is "how to make profit" but also pointed out that Capitalism "brought a lot of positive to China. Millions of people's living standards improved." With those brief comments from the financial capital of the world, I felt that the Dalai[..]
History of Meditation
Perhaps as ancient as the Bible itself, the history of meditation has been recorded going back thousands of years. While no accurate data exists on its origination, many speculate on its roots. The Buddha has been long recognized as an icon in the history of meditation; dating back to 500 B.C. After living a luxurious life in his early years with his father, Siddhartha became familiar with the realities of life outside of his upbringing. He determined that life was mired with sorrow and suffering, and declared abstinence from worldly pleasures to pursue more spiritual goals. Upon discovering that the opposite end of the scale he chose was not the answer to end life's suffering, he[..]
The Great Teachings are the Same
When I was living in Korea studying Hapkido in 1996 and 1997, the ethnic-religious riot in Indonesia between the Muslims and Christians reminded me of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, who said, "We do not want churches because they will teach us to quarrel about God, as the Catholics and Protestants do. We do not want that. We may quarrel with men sometimes about things on this earth. But we never quarrel about God. We do not want that." I still think of these words as I see the religious based fighting going on throughout the world. It seems as though mankind has fought and quarreled over who's beliefs about a set doctrine of religious teachings are actually the "truth" for as long as[..]
Buddhism - A 2,500 Year Old Discovery
More than 2,500 years ago, a man in India made a discovery. He discovered the cause of unhappiness and its cure. The man was named Siddhartha Gautama, but he is much better known as the Buddha, which means "the wise one" or "the enlightened one." The Buddha's teachings are the basis for one of the world's great religions, Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama was born about 563 B.C. His father ruled a small state in northern India near the Himalayas. Strangely enough, the man who discovered the cause of unhappiness knew little about it when he was young. His father tried to protect him from all knowledge of sickness, pain, suffering, and death. Siddhartha spent his early years within palaces and[..]
Buddhism - Best Things for You
Buddhism is a variety of teachings described as a religion or way of life. One point of view says it is a body of philosophies influenced by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha. Another point of view says it is teachings to guide one to directly experiencing reality. Many scholars regard it as a plurality rather than a single entity. Buddhism is also known as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means roughly the ""teachings of the Awakened One"" in Sanskrit and Pali, languages of ancient Buddhist texts. Buddhism began around the 5th century BCE with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly referred to as ""the Buddha"". At the time Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)[..]
Gautam Buddha - The Enlightened One
Gautam Buddha is said to be the ninth incarnation of Vishnu. However, many do not agree. They feel that the theory of his being an incarnation of Vishnu was advanced to create misunderstanding amongst people. We cannot, however, overlook the fact that Gautam Buddha was born in India, where he attained Nirvana and went on to influence Hindu religious thought. Despite originating in India, Buddhism did not continue to attract adherents in India as it did in other countries. In 1193, marauders led by Bakhtiyar Khalji sacked the great Buddhist in India. However, it thrived mightily in in South-East Asia. There are almost 350 million Buddhist around the world. Siddharth was born in a garden[..]
Buddha Statues - 8 Critical Factors - To Choose the Right Ones
1. Understand why you need to buy buddha statues. It will help you to choose the right one among the hundreds of different kinds of buddha statues. More than listening to anyone else or any other belief you should listen to your soul. Basic reason to buy buddha is to help yourself achieve your inner peace. Worshiping the buddha statues will help us remember, understand and practice Buddha's teachings. Ultimately by breaking out of never ending cycle of life after death, the state of Nirvana can be achieved by practicing buddhism with the help of Vipassana meditation. It depends on your choice of taking the path to achieving what you desire. If you want to experience a joy of life, happy[..]
Dharamsala India
We left Delhi Wednesday night & took an overnight trip to the Dharamsala area on a 'deluxe' bus w/o air-conditioning (fine at night), no washroom & a crazed driver. The bus broke down 2/3 of the way through the trip. Luckily they put us on another bus, part of our entourage of four heading for Dharamsala. McLeod Ganj, 10 km north of Dharamsala, is the home of the Dalai Llama & the Tibetan government in exile; it's in the foothills of the Himalayas. It's a very gentle, mellow-feeling place. The air is very clean, although 'thin' as they say; you have to be careful walking too far at first. Although there are still beggars, they're a bit less intrusive than Delhi & the only[..]
Going to Our Center
"How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you?...A place of women to help you find and trust the ancient flow already there within yourself...waiting to be released..." - Judith Duerk Lately I have been thinking about centering a lot. The maze of midlife can be very challenging to navigate as so much is transforming within us. The circuitry rewiring that's taking place affects every system in our bodies. It doesn't stop at changes in menstrual cycles, low energy, energy surges, passionate, strong emotions, or changes in sleep patterns. Our very spirit is affected. I've written often about my philosophy of midlife - that it is the internal journey that is the[..]
Kickboxing for Weightloss-Cardio-and Fitness
Kickboxing has seen an explosion in popularity over the past two decades thanks to the exposure provided by Hollywood (e.g. The Karate Kid) and late night infomercials (Mr. Billy Blanks and the Tae Bo programs). Generally the kickboxer is defined by an image of cut abs, the fitness of a marathon runner, and the balance of mind similar to a Budhist monk. Who wouldn't want the body of a model and the strength and confidence to defend yourself in any situation? It's easy to see why the sport has become so popularity. Given the fact that a kickboxing classcan be found in about every major gym, its popularity will only continue to increase over the next coming years. Weight Loss Like it or[..]
Walking Barefoot on Glass
y"> You have heard the expression--walking on egg shells--which is a metaphor to explain how one feels in a temperamental relationship. Walking on glass is an exercise in developing the mind/body connection and can prove to be a rewarding and unforgettable experience in your journey to a higher consciousness. One seldom wakes up one morning thinking--"I am going to walk barefoot on some glass today to develop the mind/body connection." It is something we are introduced to, taught how to accomplish and encouraged to achieve this unusual feat to expand our preconceived perceptions of what we can or cannot accomplish. The first step in accomplishing this feat is to change our perception[..]
Vacation to Yogyakarta, City of Culture in Indonesia
Have you ever went to Yogyakarta, or have you hear Yogyakarta City. If you don't know, let we see a moment. Yogyakarta is located about 500 km east side from capital city of Indonesia. Yogyakarta known as student city since it have many university and also know as 2nd Indonesia tourism city after Bali. Average temperature is tropical temperature, so it will be good if we visit to Yogyakarta at dry season from February until September. Yogyakarta have many interesting place to be visit. For you who like past inheritence, there are many buddhist temple. The biggest temple is Borobudur temple. For you who like to go to beach, there are many good beach. Let we see the vacation place and[..]
Yoga And The Medical Science
Modern medical science and Yoga are rational, scientific and universal in outlook and hence are natural allies. Their combination has the potential to provide us with a holistic health science that will be a boon for the psychosomatic health of our masses. Yoga involves a holistic approach to healing and integrates healing with the culture, diet, environment, and tradition. Modern allopathic medicine that originated from Greco-Roman Medicine and Northern European traditions is built on the science of anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry and the structure-function relationship between cells, tissues, and organs. Allopathic medicine focuses on diagnosis, treatment, and cure for acute[..]
Temple Boys Of Thailand
In the country-side of Thailand one will find many boys working in the temples as temple boys. These boys help monks in their alms collecting as they go from village to village. A temple has the responsibility of the monks alms bowl and food career. The temple boy accompanies the monk when they are their daily rounds of alms collection. If a temple has many monks and novices, then the alms collection is normally divided into several routes. On certain routes only one temple boys assists the monks while on others there can be two or more. This usually depends on the quantity and amount of food offered by lay people. On return to the temple, temple boys prepares food for the monks and[..]
Tranquil Vesak in Bangkok
Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant capital is a multi-faceted paradise for visitors from around the world, renowned for its imposing buildings, temples and shopping opportunities as well as its famous nightlife. Bangkok is also well-known for its cultural and religious traditions. In Thailand, as a Buddhist country following the Theravada school of Buddhism, Vesak, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and demise of the Buddha holds pride of place on the religious calendar. The day of Vesak falls on the full moon day of the fifth or sixth month of the lunar Buddhist calendar. In the Western Gregorian calendar Vesak day falls in April or May. According to Buddhist tradition, the birth,[..]
Why Nondenominational Weddings?
According to the Washington Post (July 2, 2006) "While clergy still perform most weddings, the ceremonies are straying ever farther from tradition, reflecting a "do-it-yourself" attitude toward religious nuptials". How true, how true. When I first started officiating at weddings seven years ago, non-denominational weddings were starting to proliferate. Now they seem to be exploding. Why do you think that is? I have done my best to find information and statistics and all that dull kind of stuff on the internet and I come up with zip to none. But I have my opinions and ideas about why this is happening. I'm going to share them with you and if you don't like what I say, that's o.k. It's[..]
Punjab - The Land Of Five Rivers
Punjab---the heart of Pakistan. The land of five waters, and five seasons, known for its fertility, colorful panorama and exquisitely serene and clean atmosphere. Its waters have seen life being quenched since centuries. Its trees have embraced the wind that was fragrant by the immortal stories like Heer Ranjha, Sohni Mahiwal and Mirza Sahiban. The soil which, nurtured sufi poets like Baba Farid, Ali Hajveri, Bulhe Shah, Shah Hussain, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh and Waris Shah. Punjab has seen the starving of Budha and the wandering of Guru Nanak in search of truth. Its terrain has kept the secrets of Indus Valley civilizations along the River Indus at Harappa and many more un-discovered[..]
Ayutthayan Economy and Lifestyle
h became synonymous with land ownership after 1454, when King Trailoknat (1448-1488) bestowed titular and land ownership favours on civil and military officials. The quantity of land granted was based on each official’s rank. Although this land legally remained the king’s, the titled beneficiary had the right, and the duty, to levy taxes on all produce in his fief. Part of the revenue went to the royal treasury and the remainder went to support the official’s household. Additionally, external trade was con-ducted under royal authority or under li-cence, the Crown again levying taxes. In this fashion the kings establish widespread levy systems to finance the royal court,[..]
Prayers Over Borobudur, Indonesia
With all of its fascination, Borobudur Temple was witnessing a great celebration of a million of Buddhists’ prayers and lights, along with the other seven offerings placed around the temple – red cloth in the west, green in the north, white in the east and yellow in the south side of the temple. At the time of living, Buddha Siddhartha Gautama – or named as the Great Holy Shakyamuni Buddha in Buddhism – dedicated an offering and a prayer of aspirations to gain enlightenment, through a bowl of soup. Though it was very simple and meaningless, but it was delivered virtuously and truthfully, at the end, a blessing was bestowed upon all beings. Buddha Shakyamuni, in “Brahma Sutra[..]
Meditation: The Secrets of Buddhist Meditation
A common misconception regarding Buddhist meditation is that it is the same as practicing Buddhism, probably because of the nature of the practice and its origins. However Buddhist meditation is based on the doctrines of the religion Buddhism and revolves around mind control and concentration. Buddhism in itself really is a way of life which is based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. Because of the high level of concentration that is required in Buddhist meditation, it is often misunderstood or is mistaken to be a kind of hypnotic trance. Lord Buddha preached about the "eight noble truth's" which formed the crux of Buddhism. He spoke about how desire and cravings were the cause of most[..]
Sri Lanka is a natural naval link between west Asia and south East Asia. This small island country is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts and rubber. Natural beauty of the country lies in its tropical forest, beaches and landscape as well as its rich cultural heritage. It was also remained colonized by Portugal, Netherlands and British Empire consequently. During Second World War, it was the base for allied forces. A nationalist political movement began here in early 20th century and eventually obtained freedom from the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948. Sunny clean beaches, ancient cities, warm friendly people and beautiful landscapes and wonderful[..]
Zen Garden Design
Zen gardens are very unique landscaping designs that are also known as "Japanese Rock Gardens." . The word "Zen" means "dry" and the Japanese word for this type of garden is karesansui, meaning dry landscape. Consisting almost exclusively of stones and sand, this type of garden became very popular in Japan during the Shogun era (1185-1573AD), when feudal lords sought to landscape their estates in emulation of Buddhist temples. Monks frequently used such gardens to represent complex Universal truths in simple forms, and they frequently used them as places of meditation to calm and clear their minds. Although American popular culture commonly refers to anything that looks Japanese or[..]
Shih Tzu Puppies for Sale - A 2008 Legend of the Saddle Marking
The origin of the Shih Tzu is most likely Tibet, however, it has always been categorized as a Chinese breed. Tibet is a remote area full of mountains on the Indian-Chinese border. The relationship between these two areas has had a long time reputation of being quite stormy. Buddhism is the religion of Tibet. Buddhism originated in India. One of the main beliefs of Buddhism is that souls are reborn into another body (not necessarily human). It is a learning process toward the soul leading a perfect, spiritual, Buddhist life. As a result the soul achieves nirvana, leaving nothing else for it to learn on earth. The early Tibetans believed holy Buddhist monks who transgressed were[..]
The Buddhist Sutra
A Buddhist sutra, 'Book of the Great Decease' preserves for us several tellings of the historical Buddha's life and death. Often, Buddha was referred to as Tathagata – One Who Has Arrived – from the root "tatha" – just coming, just going. It was Cunda the Smith who delivered to Buddha his final meal, his "…just going" approximately five hundred years before the birth of Jesus the Christ. We do not know how much truth or which version of the story concerning Cunda is true. However, more important than a specific mundane accounting, is the philosophical and spiritual concepts that the fundamental story demonstrates about Buddhist tours, the man and his teachings. The schools of[..]
Buddha spent the majority time of his life in the present north India. Therefore, the country is dotted with a large number of Buddhist sites. Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha between the 5th and the 6th centuries B.C. It is one of the three most widespread religions in the world. There is a wide range of opportunity for Buddhist Tours, places to see and places to stay in India. Earlier, Indian kings and wealthy merchants frequented the Buddhist monasteries, which are today crowded by tourists from India and abroad. Today, Buddhism is the fifth largest religious group in India. In the 13th century, the ancient city of Nalanda in Bihar was the seat of Buddhist philosophy and[..]