dharma-ratna

Thought of the day.

2008-10-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

The Medicine Buddha

2008-08-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

Bhaisajyaguru is known as Medicine Buddha, also called the Healing Buddha.His full name is "Medicine Buddha Lapis Lazuli Radiance Tathagata". In Mahayana Buddhism, Bhaisajyaguru represents the healing aspect of the historical Shakyamuni Buddha.

He is widely believed to dispense spiritual medicine if properly worshipped. In Tibet, he may be represented either as a Buddha or as a Bodhisattva. The practice of Medicine Buddha(Sangye Menla in Tibetan) is not only a very powerful method for healing and increasing healing powers both for oneself and others, but also for overcoming the inner sickness of attachment,hatred and ignorance, thus meditating on the Medicine Buddha plays a significant role in reducing physical and mental illness and suffering as well as purifying the negative Karma.

What is done to cure the patient?
In simple words, the patient is asked to recite the long Medicine Buddha mantra 108 times over a glass of water. The water is now believed to be blessed by the power of the mantra and the blessing of the Medicine Buddha himself, and the patient is allowed to drink the water. This method/practice is then repeated each day until the illness is cured.

The Mantra:
The long version of the mantra is pronounced like this;
om nah moe bah-ga-va-tay bye-saya-guru vye-dur-yah proba-raja-yah, tata-gata-yah, arh-ha-tay, sam-yak-sam buddha-yah tay-ya-tah om bay-kah-jay bay-ka-jay mah-hah bay-kah-jay bay-ka-jay rah-jah sah-moo-gah-tay, so-hah.

The shorter version of the mantra is pronounced like this;
(tey-yah-tah) oh, beck-ahn-zay beck-ahn-zay, mah-hah beck-ahn-zay, rod-zah sah-moo-gah-tay, so-hah!

Manjushree

2008-08-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

In Buddhism, Manjushri is the Bodhisatva (Buddha-to-be) of Wisdom, doctrine, awareness, eloquence & memory. Manjushree is a sanskrit word which bears the meanings like "wonderfully auspicious" or "gently glorious".

In Tibet, he is known as Jampel-Yang(also Jamyang) which means "gentle friend". Likewise, Monju in Japan, Munsu in Korea and Wen Shu Shi Li in China. Manjushree is believed to be the emanation of the primordial Buddha "Vairochana"(The first among the five meditating Buddhas, who is considered to be omnipresent).Manjushri is said to have the power of discriminating wisdom. He can differentiate between correct and incorrect views and between beneficial and non-beneficial actions that must be taken on one's spiritual path.In Buddhist art, Manjushri is depicted as an attractive 16-year-old prince. He often holds the stem of a blue lotus blossom in his left hand and on the blossom rests one of the Prajnaparamita scriptures, which deal with the realization of Prajna or wisdom.Likewise, with the right hand he holds a sword that conquers ignorance & cuts away delusion, desire & aversion.

Manjushri's Mantra;
"OM AH RA PA TSA NA DHIH" is the mantra of Manjushri which is believed to enhance various wisdoms -- of explaining, debating, writing, reading, memory and so on.

Note:- "Dhih" is the seed syllable of the mantra and is chanted with greater emphasis or it is repeated as many times as possible.

The Goddess Tara

2008-08-19T23:03:00.001-07:00

The beautiful goddess Tara (pronounced Tah' rah) is a female Bodhisattva of compassion & action. It is believed that her compassion for living beings is much more stronger than a mother's love for her children.She is also the most popular figure in the Tibetan Pantheon of deities.In Tibet she is known as Jetsun Dolma, meaning "she who saves."

She is the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Tara was adopted in Buddhism in the 6th century C.E. during the era of the Pala Empire, before that she was worshipped as the manifestation of the goddess Parvati in Hinduism. According to the Buddhist tradition, Tara came in to the existence from the tears of compassion of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. It is believed that he wept as he looked upon the world of suffering beings, and his tears created a lake in which a lotus bloomed. When the lotus was opened, the goddess Tara was revealed. Like Avalokitesvara, she is a compassionate deity who hears the cries of beings experiencing misery in Samsara & helps souls 'cross to the other shore'.

Today, Green Tara and White Tara are probably the most popular representations of Tara. Green Tara/Khadiravani is usually associated with protection from fear and the following eight obscurations Lions = Pride; Wild Elephants = Delusion/Ignorance; Fires = Hatred and Anger; Snakes = Jealousy; Bandits and Thieves = Wrong Views (incl. fanatical views); Bondage = Avarice and Miserliness; Floods = Desire and Attachment; Evil Spirits/Demons = Deluded Doubts. White Tara/Sarasvati is associated with longevity of life (she is one of the three deities of long life). 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 as the moon.

The most widely known Taras are:

Green Tara, known for the activity of compassion, the consort of the Dhyani Buddha Amogasiddhi, and is incarnated in all good women.

White Tara, also known for compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra. As White Tara, she rose from a lotus blooming in the lake that formed from the first tear of compassion of great bodhisattva Avalokiteswara (whose human incarnation is the Dalai Lama), and is considered his consort.

Red Tara, of fierce aspect associated with magnetizing all good things.

Black Tara, associated with power .

Yellow Tara, associated with wealth and prosperity.

Blue Tara, associated with transmutation of anger.

Cittamani Tara, a form of Tara widely practiced in the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, portrayed as green and often confused with Green Tara

The widower & his lost son.

2008-08-15T04:06:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a widower living with his 4 year old son. He was quite attached with his son. One day while he was away for the business purpose, the looters came & burnt the whole village & took his son away. When the widower returned back, he was so shocked & terrified to know what had happened while he was away. He cried a lot & took the burnt corpse of a little boy to be his son & cried uncontrollably. He then organised a cremation ceremony, gathered the ashes and put them in a nice bag which he always kept with him in the memory of his son. After sometime his son managed to run away from the looters & went back to his father's new cottage at the midnight and knocked the door. The father, still in trauma asked:"Who are you?" The boy answered, it's me dad, open the door! but in his troubled state of mind he was convinced that his son was dead, the father thought that some other boy was playing a prank on him. He scolded: "Go away" and continued to cry. After sometime, his son left the place and from that night the father and son never saw each other.

After this story, the Buddha said: "Sometime, somewhere, you take something to be the truth. If you cling to it so much, even when the truth comes in person and knocks on your door, you will not open it."

Bodhisattvas

2008-08-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

Bodhisattva is a sanskrit term which is translated as: Bodhi (enlightenment) and Sattva (being). Bodhisattvas are the beings who are not completely enlightened but are on the verge of being completely enlightened.Bodhisattvas symbolize the various attributes of the Buddha. They originally appear as the attendants of the Buddhas. Bodhisattvas can simply be understood as the beings who postpone their own Nirvana & will undergo any type of suffering to help each & every sentient being & put them on the path to enlightenment. Two modern bodhisattvas of the present time are the 14th Dalai Lama & the Karmapa, both considered as an incarnation of the same bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Chenrezig). Some of the important Bodhisattvas are Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin in Chinese), Manjushree, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, Vajrapani.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama's sayings....

2008-08-12T04:10:00.000-07:00

-Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day.

-Sleep is the best meditation.

-If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

-Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

-When I meet people from other cultures I know that they too want happiness and do not

-want suffering, this allows me to see them as brothers and sisters.

-We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

-Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.

-Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.

-In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.

-Spend some time alone every day.

Padmasambhava

2008-08-11T01:07:00.000-07:00

Padmasambhava ( in sanskrit means "Lotus born") was a renowned as well as highly skilled tantric saint of Northern India. Padmasambhava is also known by the names like Padmakara, Padma Raja, Saroruha Vajra or simply Saroruha. Legend has it, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Uddiyana which now lies in Pakistan. The local king was highly impressed with his supernatural power and married him to one of his daughters named Mandarava. In the middle of the eighth century, the first emperor of Tibet Thi-Sron Detsan(742-797) of the Yarlung dynasty invited Padmasambhava to come to Tibet as his kingdom was troubled a lot by the malignant deities. With the help of his tantric powers all the malignant deities got demolished. He remained 50 years in Tibet founding monasteries and teaching the Tantra doctrine. He founded the first monastery in Tibet, Samye Gompa and initiated the first monks and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism. At the end of fifty years Padmasambhava disappeared miraculously.

Padmasambhava's Mantra: "OM AH HUM VAJRA GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUM". Tibetans say "Om Ah Hung Benza Guru Pema Sidhi Hung" is the mantra for healing, for transformation and for protection in this violent, chaotic age. Last but not the least, in Tibet and Bhutan he is widely known as Guru Rinpoche (The Precious Master) and the followers of the Nyingma school signify him as the second Buddha.

Laughing Budhha

2008-08-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

Laughing Buddha, the celestial Buddha with a largely exposed pot belly stomach & a big bright smile is also known as Hotei or Pu-Tai, a wandering monk who goes around and takes the sadness from people of this world .Legend has it, due to his friendly behaviour, he is believed to be an incarnation of the Bodhisattva who will be Maitreya Buddha (the future Buddha). He is taken as a chinese monk who lived over a thousand years ago & has
become a remarkable part of Shinto(the native religion of Japan) and Buddhist culture.The image of laughing Buddha is always seen carrying a linen sack full of wealth and it never gets empty. He is a true supporter of the poor, weak and children. Laughing Buddha symbolizes happiness and good luck. It is believed that if one rubs the Laughing Buddha's large belly, it brings wealth, fortune and prosperity.

The Buddhist Flag.

2008-08-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

The Buddhist flag is a modern creation, first hoisted in 1885 in Sri Lanka, which was jointly designed by Mr. J.R. De Silva & Colonel Henry S. Olcott(one of the greatest American Buddhist) in order to mark the revival of Buddhism in Ceylon in 1880 & in 1952 it was accepted as the International Buddhist flag by the World Buddhist Congress. It represents the colors of the aura that emitted from the body of the Budhha while he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The flag is also known as a symbol to represent the Buddhist faith. The flags can be seen on top of the houses of Buddhists to protect their houses from evil as well as to represent themselves as the Buddhist.

The six colors include Blue (nila), Yellow (pita), Red (lohita), White (odata), Scarlet (manjestha), and the mixture of these six colors (prabaswara).

The Horizontal Stripes represent the races of the world living in harmony and the Vertical Stripes represent everlasting world peace. The colors symbolize the perfection of Buddhahood and the Dharma(doctrine).

The Blue light that emitted from the Buddha's hair symbolizes the spirit of Universal Compassion for all beings.

The Yellow light that emitted from the Buddha's outer layer of the skin symbolizes the Middle Way which avoids all extremes and brings balance and liberation.

The Red light that emitted from the Buddha's flesh symbolizes the blessings that the practice of the Buddha's Teaching brings.

The White light that emitted from the Buddha's bones and teeth symbolizes the purity of the Buddha's Teaching and the liberation it brings.

The Orange light that emitted from the Buddha's palms, heels and lips symbolizes the unshakable Wisdom of the Buddha's Teaching.

The Combination Color symbolizes the universality of the Truth of the Buddha's Teaching. (The Burmese Buddhist replaced with Pink.)

Therefore, the overall flag represents that:Regardless of race, nationality, division or color, all sentient beings possess the potential of being Buddha.

OM MANI PADME HUM

2008-08-05T04:28:00.000-07:00

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama's definition

"It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast... The first, Om symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha."

"The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method-the altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love."

"The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom."

"Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hum, which indicates indivisibility."

"Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha."

The names of 14 Dalai Lamas

2008-08-04T04:36:00.000-07:00

The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva(aspiring Buddha) of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity. There had been 13 Dalai Lamas(excluding the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso) in the past. Here comes their names;

No.	Name	Birth Place
1.	Gedun Drupa (1391-1474)	Shabtod (U-tsang)
2.	Gedun_Gyatso">Gedun Gyatso (1475-1542)	Tanag Segme (U-tsang)
3.	Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588)	Tolung (U-tsang)
4.	Yonten Gyatso (1589-1617)	Mongolia
5.	Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682)	Chingwar Taktse (U-tsang)
6.	Tsangyang Gyatso (1682-1706)	Mon Tawang
7.	Kelsang Gyatso (1708-1757)	Lithang (Kham)
8.	Jamphel Gyatso(1758-1804)	Thobgyal (U-tsang)
9.	Lungtok Gyatso (1805-1815)	Dan Chokhor (Kham)
10.	Tsultrim Gyatso (1816-1837)	Lithang (Kham
11.	Khedrup Gyatso(1838-1856)	Gathar (Kham)
12.	Trinley Gyatso (1856-1875)	Lhoka (U-tsang)
13.	Thupten Gyatso(1876-1933)	Thakpo Langdun (U-tsang)
14.	Tenzin Gyatso (1935- )	Taktser, Kumbum (Amdo)

The 14th Dalai Lama

2008-08-03T04:58:00.000-07:00

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet. At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso. The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity. Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom. Tibetans normally refer to His Holiness as Yeshin Norbu, the Wish-fulfilling Gem, or simply, Kundun, meaning The Presence. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.

28 Buddhas

2008-07-27T02:05:00.000-07:00

Generally people are familiar only with Shakyamuni Buddha and they don't have a hint about the remaining 27 Buddhas ( the 28th Buddha is Shakyamuni Buddha) which had already existed on earth at different time period (kalpas). For an instance, Deepankara Buddha (who came on earth when the people used to live from 100 years to 100000 years) was the fourth Buddha among the 28 Buddhas, predicted that a hermit-Bodhisattva(aspiring Buddha) named Sumedha would be the Shakyamuni Buddha in the future. So here comes the list of the 28 Buddhas in order;

1. Tanhankara Buddha
2. Medhankara Buddha
3. Saranankar Buddha
4. Deepankara Buddha
5. Koundanya Buddha
6. Mangala Budhha
7. Sumana Buddha
8. Revata Buddha
9. Soveeta Buddha
10. Anumodassi Buddha
11. Paddhuma Buddha
12. Narada Buddha
13. Paddumuttara Buddha
14. Sumedha Buddha
15. Sujat Buddha
16. Piyadassi Buddha
17. Atthadassi Buddha
18. Dhammadassi Buddha
19. Siddattha Buddha
20. Tissa Buddha
21. Phussa Buddha
22. Vipasshi Buddha
23. Seekhi Buddha
24. Wesshabhu Buddha
25. Kakussandha Buddha
26. Konagamana Buddha
27. Kassapa Buddha
28. Gautama Buddha

Pancha Sila (Pali 1 & Pali 2)

2008-07-23T03:49:00.000-07:00

Pancha Sila -Pali 1

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa(3 times)
(Meaning: Homage to Him, the Blessed one, the Worthy one, the Fully Enlightened one.)

1.Buddham Saranam Gachhami.
(I go to the Buddha as my refuge)

Dhammam Saranam Gachhami.
(I go to the Dhamma(doctrine) as my refuge)

Sangham Saranam Gachhami.
(I go to the Sangha as my refuge)

2.Dutiyampi Buddham Saranam Gachhami.
( For the second time I go to the Buddha as my refuge.)

Dutiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gachhami.
( For the second time I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.)

Dutiyampi Sangham Saranam Gachhami.
( For the third time I go to the Sangha as my refuge.)

3.Tatiyampi Buddham Saranam Gachhami.
( For the third time I go to the Buddha as my refuge.)

Tatiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gachhami.
( For the third time I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.)

Tatiyampi Sangham Saranam Gachhami.
( For the third time I go to the Sangha as my refuge.)

Pancha Sila Pali2 (The Five Precepts)

1.Panati-pata Veramani Sikhapadam Samadiyami.
( I take the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.)

2.Adinna-dana Veramani Sikhapadam Samadiyami.
( I take the precept to abstain from taking things not given.)

3.Kamesu michh-chara Veramani Samadiyami.
( I take the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.)

4.Musavada Veramani Sikhapadam Samadiyami.
( I take the precept to abstain from lying or false speech.)]

5.Sura meraya-majja Pamadatthana Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami.
( I take the precept to abstain from taking anything that causes intoxication or heedlessness.)