Venerable Thubten Chodron
Venerable Thubten Chodron
San Francisco Zen Center
Cultivating inner enlightenment potential through the Tathāgatagarbha
Within the realm of Buddhist philosophy, the teachings of the Buddha are not confined to esoteric doctrines and spiritual ideals but are, in fact, deeply rooted in profound insights into the nature of existence and the human condition.
One such exploration is found in the Tathāgatagarbha sūtras and the teachings from the book "Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature" derived from it. This book stands as the third volume in The Library of Wisdom and .
The 9 Vehicles of Nyingma Tradition By Alak Zenkar Rinpoche
Our teacher, the fourth guide of this fortunate eon, the incomparable lord of sages, Sakyamuni, gave infinite teachings as means to enter the Dharma of the causal and resultant vehicles, in accordance with the particular temperaments, spiritual faculties, and attitudes of disciples. Nevertheless, they may all be included within the three vehicles, which, in turn, may be further subdivided into nine successive stages.
The General Sutra says:
The ultimate definitive vehicle
Certainly appears as three in number:
The .
All you need to know about Brahmarupa Mahakala
Brahmarupa Mahakala is the outer form of Chaturmukha Mahakala. He is the special protector of the Guhyasamaja Tantra and the 2nd main protector of the Sakya School.
Brahmarupa, a benign form of the wrathful deity Mahakala, is shown as a bearded nomadic ascetic, sitting on a corpse, wearing a bone apron, and holding a thighbone trumpet and a skull cup.
A protector of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, he is credited with introducing the Hevajra .
A Complete Guide to Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal yoga is a style designed for pregnant women to practice, regardless of their due date. The mixture of stretching, controlled breathing, and mental focus offers a variety of benefits to expectant mothers. This form of yoga can also increase strength and flexibility in the muscles used during childbirth.
Prenatal yoga may reduce stress levels and improve sleep patterns during pregnancy. It may also alleviate physical discomforts such as nausea, headaches, and lower back pain. .
Charity and perfection of giving in Buddhism
The spirit of true charity is to offer something without expecting anything reciprocally for the gift. If a person expects some material benefit to arise from his gift, he/she is only performing an act of bartering and not charity.
A charitable person shouldn't make people feel indebted to him or use charity to control over them. He/she should not even expect others to be grateful, for most people are forgetful though not necessarily ungrateful. The .
All you need to know about Singing Bowls
Tibetan singing bowls are a mysterious combination of art, science, spirituality, and sound healing an ancient connection for humanity. This rich mesh of qualities makes for many different paths of enjoyment.
History of Singing Bowls
Singing bowls also known as Himalayan bowls, Tibetan bowls, DhoniPatra(sound, vessel), and suzu gongs are used for meditation, healing purpose, sound yoga, religious purpose, sound yoga, sound meditation with chantings, music which have great medicinal and healing powers used from ancient .
The Lineage Tree – visualization of Refuge Tree
Tibetan Buddhism has such a unifying symbol, known variously as a Refuge assembly, Field of Merit, or Refuge Tree. It is known as a Refuge assembly because it is a visualized gathering of figures representing the three Refuges.
It is known as a Field of Merit because by visualizing a great array of Enlightened figures and then making offerings to them, and by performing other skillful actions, such as committing oneself to the Bodhisattva path .
Avalokitesvara Mahayana Pantheon
Who is Avalokitesvara?
Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is one of the most important and popular Buddhist deities.
Avalokitesvara first appears in Indian Buddhism. He is originally mentioned as one of a number of bodhisattvas.
Avalokitesvara is famous in the Mahayana Pantheon as a Bodhisattva emanating from the Dhyani Buddha, Amitabha, and his Akti, Pandara.
Who is Pandara?
Pandara, Buddhist goddess, is the Shakti of Amitabha, and a feminine bodhisattva. She originated from the Tantric syllable PAM. Her color .
Meditation on Shakya Muni Buddha – How to calm Body and Mind?
“Buddha” is a Sanskrit word that means “fully awakened.” It refers not only to Shakyamuni, or Gautama, the
founder of the teachings that came to be known as Buddhism.
A powerful way to discover our own buddha-nature is to open ourselves to the external Buddha. With continual
practice, our ordinary self-image gradually falls away and We learn instead to identify with our innate wisdom and compassion: our own Buddhahood.
Before starting the meditation place the Thangka/painting of Shakyamuni .
7 Different forms of White Tara The Autumn Moon
White Tara Buddhist Bodhisattva. She is the one form of 21 manifestations of Tara. White Tara is also called as Autumn Moon.
White Tara
Green Tara and White Tara are probably the most popular representations of Tara.
In Hinduism, White Tara is known as Saraswati. She is associated with longevity.
White Tara counteracts illness and thereby helps to bring about a long life. She embodies the motivation that is compassion and is said to be as white and radiant .