Living Buddhism
My purpose here is to introduce you to the concepts of Buddhism and to provide some guidence in it's practice and study. My intention is for you to discover how the Buddhist teachings can positively impact your daily life.
All Buddhists, regardless of denomination, value the Three Treasurers, or Three Jewels of Buddhism. These three include: The Buddha, his teachings known as the Dharma and his community of truth-seekers known as the Sangha.
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Eternal Circle of Zen Calendar 2009
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"Buddha" means the Enlightened One; a Buddha is a person who perceives within his own life the essence, or reality of life.
What is Buddhism
BUDDHISM is the name given to the teachings of the Buddha. In other words, Buddhism refers to all the sutras, which Shakyamuni Buddha expounded. Unlike other religious philosophies or systems of religious thought, Buddhism makes no clear distinction between divinity and humanity. Its teachings enable people to attain enlightenment, to become Buddhas themselves. But specifically, the Lotus Sutra alone makes Buddhahood accessible to all people. The Buddha can in no way be defined as a transcendental or supreme being. "Buddha" means the Enlightened One; a Buddha is a person who perceives within his own life the essence, or reality of life. This ultimate reality supports and nourishes humanity and all other living beings. Those who have perceived this ultimate reality inherent in their own lives truly know themselves; they are Buddhas.The Buddhist philosophy is actually the revelation of a very practical way to bring out the true self, as opposed to the phenomenal self, as one moves toward perfection. It is not metaphysical speculation. Buddhism is basically a practical system of teachings providing a means to realize the ideal state of Buddhahood, which is self-perfection.
Why Study Buddhism?
The purpose and significance of Buddhism lies in overcoming the four basic sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death, as well as in enabling each individual to establish his or her own identity.The starting point for Buddhism is the value and sanctity of life. For example, in one letter to a follower, Nichiren states that the value of a single day of life exceeds all other treasures. Buddhism further views each individual life as a manifestation of a universal life force.
Buddhism aims to awaken people to the limitless potential and value of their own lives, all living beings possess Buddha nature.
Daisaku Ikeda wrote "Everyone has a mission. The universe does nothing without purpose. The fact that we exist means that we have purpose."
The Study of Buddhism
The Buddha in Your Mirror: Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self
If you just buy one book, in my opinion, make it this one. The authors of this book have been practicing Buddhism for many years and are able to explain eastern thought so that we in the west can understand. The basic concepts and teachings are explained in easily understood writing.
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Unlocking the Mysteries of Birth & Death: . . . And Everything in Between, A Buddhist View Life
This is a good follow up book after The Buddha In Your Mirror. Simple explanations about Buddhism and its view on life and death.
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/02/2008)
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
The Dali Lama teaches some very basic concepts of Buddhism.
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Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
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The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
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Wherever You Go, There You Are
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Choose Hope: Your Role in Waging Peace in the Nuclear Age
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Living Wabi Sabi: The True Beauty of Your Life
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Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom (Large Second Volume)
Visit Taro's website and read about his other books.
http://www.tarogold.com/
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Resources
- Wisdom of the East
- Receive Quotes by email--from great eastern thinkers such as Nichern, Shakumuni, Confucius, Gandhi and others.
- Shambhala Sun - Home
- Shambhala Sun is today's leading Buddhist magazine, bringing a contemplative view to all the issues in life. Featuring such prominent figures as the Dalai Lama, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Alice Walker, and Jon Kabat-Zinn, the Shambhala Sun celebrates the spirit of wakefulness wherever it appears
- BuddhaNet - Worldwide Buddhist Information and Education Network
- BuddhaNet - Buddhist Information and Education Network: Buddhist Studies, World Buddhist Directory, BuddhaZine - Online Magazine. Insight Meditation Online, eBooks on Buddhism.
- SGI News January 16, 2004
- SGI
Praying Flags with Annual Calendar, Chiang Mai, Thailand Religion & Philosophy Photographic Poster Print by Gavriel Jecan, 16x12
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You and Buddhism
One does not
throw away gold because the bag that holds it is dirty; one does not ignore the sandalwood trees because of the foul odor of the eranda trees around them; and one does not refuse to gather lotuses because the pond in the valley where they grow is unclean. - Nichiren
The Lotus Sutra
Teaching of the Lotus
"What you are practicing is the bodhisattva way and as you gradually advance in practice and learning you are all certain to attain Buddhahood."- Lotus Sutra Chapter 5
The lotus flower is unique. When its petals unfold, they reveal a fruit, or seedpod, fully developed. The "cause" and "effect" occur simultaneously.
Hence the title "Lotus" Sutra, one of whose main messages is the simultaneity of cause and effect. This principle means that the instant we offer a prayer, the effect registers in the depths of our lives.
As Nichiren Daishonin writes: "Of all the flowers, [the Buddha] selected the lotus blossom to symbolize the Lotus Sutra. There is a reason for this. With regard to the Lotus Sutra, when one's hand takes it up, that hand immediately attains Buddhahood, and when one's mouth chants it, that mouth is itself a Buddha." (The Writings of Nichiren).
One does not throw away gold because the bag that holds it is dirty; one does not ignore the sandalwood trees because of the foul odor of the eranda trees around them; and one does not refuse to gather lotuses because the pond in the valley where they grow is unclean. - Nichiren
The Study of the Lotus Sutra
The Lotus Sutra
Watson's translation of the Lotus Sutra is the most widely read version in English
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The Wisdom Of The Lotus Sutra: A Discussion (Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra)
A practical application for creating a peaceful world. Volume 1 examines the first two chapters of the Buddhist literary masterpiece, the Lotus Sutra.
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Opening the Heart of the Cosmos: Insights on the Lotus Sutra
Commentary by Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, teacher, writer, peace and human rights activist. Thich Nhat Hanh draws upon his more than 30 years of study and experience.
Amazon Price: $17.16 (as of 12/02/2008)
Robert Thurman
The first American Tibetan Buddhist monk
The first American Tibetan Buddhist monk, Thurman currently teaches at Columbia and was chosen by Time as one of the 25 most influential people of 1997. What's more, actress Uma Thurman is his daughter. Here, he argues that we can now complete the inner revolution begun in the East when the West was industrializing.Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Appeared in: Reed Elsevier Inc. (c) Copyright 2006, Cahners Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thurman, author of Essential Tibetan Buddhism (1996), was the first Westerner to be ordained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. He briefly describes his studies in India under the Dalai Lama's direction in the mid-1960s and his subsequent realization that without a Tibetan Buddhist community, he could not be a monk in the U.S. So he chose the next best thing, academia, and became a renowned Buddhist scholar. He is now convinced that we are entering a time of spiritual growth and that Buddhism is integral to this movement toward enlightenment. As he expounds on this observation, he places Buddhist thought firmly within historical and scientific contexts, explaining that Buddhism is not a religion but a scientific "elucidation of causation" and that learning to be free from self-obsession and negative emotions is the first step in a spiritual awakening. Thurman's lucid teachings infuse the concepts of liberty and happiness with cosmic significance and do much to illuminate the reasons for Buddhism's blooming in the West. (Reviewed March 15, 1998)1573220906Donna Seaman Appeared in: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.
Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness
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Worlds of Transformation
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Infinite Life: Awakening to Bliss Within
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Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins
Amazon Price: $19.96 (as of 12/02/2008)
Essential Tibetan Buddhism
Amazon Price: $11.70 (as of 12/02/2008)
Blessings on the Wind: The Mystery & Meaning of Tibetan Prayer Flags
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Liberation upon Hearing in the Between: Living with the Tibetan Book of the Dead
Amazon Price: $22.76 (as of 12/02/2008)
Circling the Sacred Mountain: A Spiritual Adventure Through the Himalayas
Amazon Price: $12.24 (as of 12/02/2008)
Buddhism Calendar
Thich Nhat Hanh: The Energy of Prayer 2009 Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: $11.19 (as of 12/02/2008)
Buddhist Resources
- | Dharma Women |
- The Buddhist Council of the Midwest promotes the spread of the Dharma by fostering the learning and practice of Buddhism in America, inclusive of all three Buddhist traditions. Its mission is to be a vehicle of mutual aid and fellowship for Buddhist organizations thought the Midwest, to celebrate the diversity of Buddhist philosophy and culture, and to represent and advocate for the Buddhist community in the public realm, confronting misunderstandings or misrepresentations of the Dharma and engaging in inter-religious dialogue.
- Welcome to SGI-USA.ORG
- The fundamental purpose of the SGI-USA is the happiness of people and to contribute to peace, culture and education based on the philosophy and ideals of the Buddhism of Nichiren.
Women & Buddhism
- Sakyadhita
- Sakyadhita, the name of the International Association of Buddhist Women, means "Daughters of the Buddha." Find information about Sakyadhita events, projects and membership.
- Women Active in Buddhism
- Women Active in Buddhism
Pema Chodron, Awakening the Heart 2009 Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: $11.19 (as of 12/02/2008)
Reading about Women and Buddhism
Opening the Lotus: A Woman's Guide to Buddhism by Sandy Boucher
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Buddhism Gifts
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Living Buddhism Everyday
"Be as a stone cast upon the water, that the positive influence of your action may extend far beyond the power of a mere pebble in the hand of a man."-- unknown
Buddhism --Aha!
The teacher ponders for a moment looks up and down the river and yells back "My son, you are on the other side" .
The History of Buddhism
- Buddhist Healing
- Buddhism and Healing by Alfred Bloom, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii Buddhism began in India about 5th century BCE and began its spread through Asia from about the 3rd century BCE when King Asoka sent out missionaries to South Asia and to the West. In the course of time, it evolved into
The Teaching of Buddhism
- Diamond Sutra
- A simplified version of the Diamond Sutra (Vajrachchedika; Diamond Cutter) attributed to Gautama Buddha and inscribed in the second century AD by Nagarjuna.
Visit My Other Lenses About Buddhism
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Meditation 101
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There are many forms of meditation and they all provide similiar benefits for achieving health and a clear mind. This lens will introduce several examples.
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Thich Nhat Hanh
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Thich Nhat Hanh is an expatriate Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk. A teacher, author, and peace activist, Nhat Hanh was born in central Vietnam on October 11, 1926. He joined a Zen monastery at the age of 16, studied Buddhism as a novice, and was fully o...
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Mindfullness Bell
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Listening to Thich Nhat Hanh one gradually attunes to the meditation bell which is much a part of his practice path. The mindfulness bell is the voice of our spiritual ancestors, he instructs: "Its sounds call us back to our true home in the pre...
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Kuan Yin
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Therefore should the mind be constantly fixed on her - Lotus Sutra Kuan Yin [Quan Yin, Guanyin], more appropriately known as Kuan-shih-yin, is one of the most revered masters of Asia, the god [goddess] of compassion. The people of Japan kn...
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Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
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All The benefits of the Lotus Sutra can be realized by chanting the six syllables Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo one is able to reveal the state of Buddhahood in one's life, experienced as the natural development of joy, increased...
Please post your thoughts, comments, words of wisdom or favorite quotes here!
spirituality wrote...
This lens is getting better (or I'm getting less critical). ***** - want to take a look at my website on Buddhism for your resources links?
Posted May 15, 2008
PatinKC wrote...
I do not hold the thought that everyone should learn Buddhism. I simply provide information for anyone that should have the desire to learn. I believe that the teachings have great value.
I also believe that truth is truth in whatever tradition one believes in. At the most basic, all human beings desire to be happy. How can we humans find that happiness?
Posted February 15, 2008
RinchenChodron wrote...
Thank you for this lens! My sites are also on all phases of the dharma.
Posted January 24, 2008
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