Wear simple clothes. Help other beings as much as you can. In everything you do, simply work at developing love and compassion until they have become a fundamental part of you. - Patrul Rinpoche
Modern Chinese Buddhist master Hsing Yun expresses this caution about Buddhist practice. "I feel sorry when I see talented young people exchange a life of compassion and vow for a life of ritual. After mastering Buddhist teachings, they prefer to confine themselves to a small cell where they chant the name of the Buddha, or meditate in the mountains to avoid a busy life, or build temples merely to recruit disciples and solicit offerings."
Hsing Yun favors the practice of an engaged Buddhism reminding people that this was the practice of the Buddha himself. "Let's look at the Buddha. After becoming enlightened, he traveled throughout India to spread his teachings. Even at eighty, he continued to exhaust himself to spread the teachings to both banks of the Ganges." One of the strangest things I discovered about meditation practice is that while it looks like maybe the most solitary activity imaginable ... what it actually produces is a profound sense of connection, not only to yourself but to others. - Sharon Salzberg
TINA TURNER ANSWERS THIS QUESTION: "WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF BUDDHISM FOR PEOPLE TODAY?"11/5/2020
Buddhism teaches equality—the empowering principle that everyone has the potential to attain enlightenment and become absolutely, indestructibly happy. When we come to see this potential in ourselves, we can see and respect it in everyone else, too.
A spiritual “flight to nowhere” is part of Thai Airways’ “Magical Flying Experience” campaign to help the tourism industry in Thailand, which has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The plane will fly over 99 sacred Buddhist sites on Nov. 30, according to the Bangkok Post. The 3-hour flight will take off from and land at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Passengers will reportedly chant mantras while they fly over the sites in Bangkok and in 31 of Thailand’s provinces, the newspaper reported.
People will be able to buy tickets until Nov. 25, according to the newspaper. Business-class seats cost about 10,000 baht (about $322.16), while economy seats cost about 6,000 baht (about $193.30). According to The Independent, passengers will also receive “sacred souvenirs, including a prayer book and a Buddha amulet.” Impatience seldom makes things happen faster or better and usually only causes us grief. It's like an inner blaze that burns us up without giving off any warmth. - Alan Morinis
Jesus famously said: "It is better to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35). Commenting upon that teaching, Glenn H. Mullin, suggests testing it this way: "Try begging for a day and then practicing generosity for a day and see which of the two you prefer."
Wealth is a diamond with many facets. One facet of wealth is money, but it is not the only one. A happy family that enjoys each other, that is a great wealth. Another great wealth is living within your income. Even multi-millionaires are poor if they do not live within their income and always worry about debts, payments and responsibilities. - Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
One does not become a respectable person by birth. One does not become a disgraceful person by birth, either. One becomes a respectable person by action. One becomes a disgraceful person by action. - Buddha
All beings fear death and they all fear the pain of a club. Think how do they make you feel? Then do not kill and do not club; live peacefully with all beings and do not add to the violence of this world. Harm no one. - Dhammapada
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Victor M. Parachin ...is aVedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Archives
May 2024
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