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Fun Facts About the Hindu Deities
Who is Bhairav? Bhairav is the wrathful, tantric aspect of Shiva, portrayed as naked, black or blue, with long, unruly flaming hair and holding a sword in one hand and a wand with 3 skulls or a noose in the other. He often has a string of skulls round his neck and stands on a recumbent figure. Sometimes shown embraced by his consort, Kali (Bhairav Shakti). Who is BRAHMA? the lord of creation and the god of wisdom has four faces, representing four qualities of the earth, directed in four ...Read more »•
Prayer Beads, A Summary
Prayer beads were first used in Hinduism, and they are known in Hinduism as japa mala. Prayer beads are also used in Christianity, both by Catholics to say the rosary, and also by Eastern Christians. Bahai's also sometimes use prayer beads to recite 95 times per day. In Buddhism prayer beads are often used, often called the Buddhist rosary, and the number of prayer beads varies with different forms of Buddhism. A strand of prayer beads is called a mala, and the word mala literally means garland ...Read more »•
Ancient Tantra – The Sadhana of Tantric Awareness
Tantra is a strong word for many, and tends to conjure up at least three different images for different people ' sex, harnessing dark forces or the notorious lounge in the United States. The reason for the first is easy to understand ' sex is a universal buzzword, and New Age bookstores use Tantra as an attention-grabbing keyword. Authors, too, find sex to be the easiest tool to sell their name and their works. In fact, a majority of people relate Tantra to the sexual act, and most books ...Read more »•
Actions Give Rise To Results In Accordance With The Four Kammas
One whose behaviour is in accordance with the Dhamma has the nature of a human being or a deva. He may be said to be free from vice in the present life and he need have no fear of going towards misfortune for he is sure to attain a state of good fortune. For one who abstains from evil, the teachings of Buddhism do not say that one will never again do wrong things, but the good actions which one has done give one a good basis of security for the future. As for one who abstains from evil by ...Read more »•
Actions Give Rise to Results in Accordance With the Four Kammas Part 3
One whose behaviour is in accordance with the Dhamma has the nature of a human being or a deva. He may be said to be free from vice in the present life and he need have no fear of going towards misfortune for he is sure to attain a state of good fortune. For one who abstains from evil, the teachings of Buddhism do not say that one will never again do wrong things, but the good actions which one has done give one a good basis of security for the future. As for one who abstains from evil by ...Read more »•
Distribution of the Three Realms of Existence and the Four States of Mind
One who practices Buddhism should know which are the Realms of Becoming, and of Mind, in order that he may act in the right way in this Dhamma to attain the state which he desires. There are four Realms-of-Mind (Bhumi), including: 1.The Sensual-Realm-of-Mind (Kamavacara-Bhumi). 2.The Form-Realm-of-Mind(Rupavacara-Bhumi). 3.The Formless-Realm-of-Mind(Arupavacara-Bhumi). 4.The Transcendental-Realm(Lokuttara-Bhumi). These are the Realms-of-Mind of Beings, whereas the following are the ...Read more »•
The Main Types of Behaviour to Avoid
One who follows the Dhamma in this Realm of Sense Desires ought to be on guard against the "Road to Ruin", which, people have been warned against since ancient times. This "Road to Ruin" includes those allurements which lead to downfall. They are of six types, as follows: 1. Running after women. 2. Habitual drunkenness. 3. Habitual gambling. 4. Having bad friends. 5. Being lazy and dissatisfied in one's work. 6. Wandering abroad at night. These six are the "Road to Ruin" of the pleasures of ...Read more »•
The Main Types of Behaviour to Avoid Part 3
Section 4. In which he does not look for merit outside the Buddhist systems; because merit attained by methods outside those taught in Buddhism may not be true merit and searching for untrue may deceive one. Section 5. In which he looks for merit, only within the systems of Buddhism (Sasana). The merit in Buddhism is certainly of a good and true nature. It includes: - 1) The Good-Sensual-Realm(Kamavacara-Kusala). 2) The Good-Form-Realm(Rupavacara-Kusala). 3) The ...Read more »•
Objects of the Citta at the Time of Death
Because beings may have innumerable different sorts of objects one cannot be sure which of them will arise. If one has the recollection of one's generosity and morality, of the Buddha, the Dhamma, or the Sangha as the object, and one is not entangled with this world, having broken attachment for it, and if one wishes to gain the satisfaction of the Heaven realms, then one will certainly be able to attain this goal. If one is satisfied with the human realm, one may certainly attain this realm ...Read more »•
The Council of Thai Bhikkhus in U.S.A.
In June 2519/1976, chief monks and representatives from the five Thai Buddhist temples in the United States came to Denver and held a general meeting at Wat Buddhawararam, having the intention to set up the means of effectively maintaining the unity and uniformity of monastic life and practices of Thai Buddhist monks amidst different environments in different parts of the United Sates; to exchange knowledge and ideas; and to achieve cooperation among themselves in the performance of Buddhist ...Read more »•
Wat Dhammaram Part 3
The Temple of Chicago has much in common with the Temple of New York. Located in a big crowded city with a large number of Thai people, it is frequented by devotees and visitors, busy with day-to-day ceremonies, and large numbers gather for religious and cultural celebrations. Although younger in years, the Temple is mature in its program initiatives. Several programs of creative Buddhist activities have been conceived and only time and ecclesiastical personnel are needed to bring them to ...Read more »•
Wat Thai of Washington D.C.
Wat Thai of Washington, D.C. is viewed as having been founded, informally, when two monks who were invited from Thailand arrived and took residence on July 5, 2517/1974, at a suburban house at 705 Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring. This house was rented by the Buddhist Association in Washington, D.C. for monks' residence and for use as a seat of Buddhist activities of the Association. The Buddhist Association in Washington, D.C., the owner of the house, is in turn the outgrowth of a Buddhist group ...Read more »•
Vajiradhammapadip Temple Part 2
Overnight, a new temple called "Vajiradhammapadip Temple" was established at 179th Street in West Bronx. The site is a house on a 4, 121.5 square-foot plot of land purchased with donated funds of $43,000. The two monks moved in to residence on July 21, 2518/1975. The following day the Temple was granted legal status and its official establishment marked. Since then it is this new temple that has been known to the public and has been serving Thai people and Buddhists of other nationalities in ...Read more »•