As Buddhism moves into the western world, the question is asked, ‘Is monasticism necessary? Do we really need monks and nuns? Maybe that old stuff worked in Asia but is no longer profitable?’…
Buddhist
Ceremonial musical instruments from Tibet and Mongolia
More wonderful old (1930s) photographs of ceremonial musical instruments from Tibet and Mongolia. From British Library #endangeredarchives project…
Renunciation and Simplicity, by Corrado Pensa
The virtues (paramis) always work in a relationship of mutual cooperation. There is an organic necessity for these positive energies to work together; they are mutually supportive. There is support between formal practice and the virtues, and among the several virtues.
From a distance we might say that practice seems to be simple, and in a sense it is—it’s the simplest thing in the world. In another sense, however, it is a complex and interacting structure…
Clothes and Moods, by Trevor Leggett
We are asked not to become identified with passing moods, which are to be treated like clothes. Whether we are wearing bright clothes or dark clothes…
The Five Buddha Families, by Francesca Fremantle
The Buddha wisdom, which is beyond imagination, naturally appears in the mandala in the five different kinds of enlightenment, or five wisdoms. This is known as the five Buddha families. These five contain the possibility of both confusion and wisdom, samsara and enlightenment…
Propaganda is not the way things are, by Ajahn Sumedho
Buddhism is not a brainwashing or conditioning type of teaching. One is not being asked to adopt Buddhist ideas, or say all the right Buddhist things, or wear Buddhist clothes (even though I do).
Great Peace of Mind, by Harada Sekkei Roshi
With regard to religion, we tend to think of it as belief in something outside of ourselves. But please understand and accept that in Buddhism, the person who conveys the teaching as well as the person who hears and listens to the teaching are both you…
Photographs of the 1903 Francis Younghusband led mission to invade Tibet
Mission Tibet [1903-1904] Click any photo to view full size gallery. The photographs are of Tibet when the Francis Younghusband led the mission to invade Tibet. In 1903 a substantial army was assembled in Sikkim and camped some 15 miles… Read More ›