There is no doubt that we are living unsettling times with the coronavirus pandemic. Its effect is expanding to every area of life, we’re all having to cope with the stress. Actually, fear, panic, and anxiety seem to spread more rapidly than the virus itself. Whether you are a Buddhist or not, the teachings of the Buddha offer an encouraging message to all of us during this challenging time – learning to live with awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Let’s examine how Buddhism can help us deal with fear and anxiety caused by the coronavirus outbreak that is going on around the world right now. A ..read more

The Buddha lived in the 6th century BCE, but Buddhist-inspired art appeared in India more than three centuries later. The Buddha was never considered as a god or deity, and the symbols that arose after his death were ways to represent his teachings through art. The Buddha himself was using many images and symbols in his teachings to make his message understood for everyone. There are numerous Buddhist symbols, and each is unique and carry a different teaching, a different message. Among the earliest and most well-known symbols of Buddhism are the Dharma Wheel and the Lotus Flower. As Buddhism ..read more

If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, it may be worth trying meditation. Mindful breathing meditation is a deep relaxation technique that will not only make it easier to fall and stay asleep but will also improve the quality and duration of your sleep. In this article, I will teach you a meditation method that finds its origin in Buddhism, and that can help you find the peace you deserve at night. By understanding the source of your insomnia, and with the help of a simple yet effective technique, you’ll soon be in control of your sleep again. Read this blog post from Harvard Medical Scho ..read more

Bodhidharma, also known as Daruma in Japan, was an Indian Buddhist Master, considered as the founder of Chan Buddhism in China – later known as Zen in Japan. Bodhidharma is believed to be born in the Kanchipuram city of India, located near the famous Madras city during the early 450-500 A.D.  He was the 3rd son of the famous king of Kanchipuram city and grew up in the Warriors cast.  Bodhidharma was not interested in becoming the king of Kanchipuram and was interested in the teachings of the Buddha. He began to show great wisdom at the young age of seven.  He trained under his m ..read more

Zen & martial arts Zen have had a strong influence on the development of martial arts in Japan. Essentially, Zen and the martial arts have the same spirit, the same essence. Centuries ago in Japan, Zen had profoundly influenced the development of martial arts like Kendo (Kenjutsu), Kyudo (Kyujutsu), Judo (Jujutsu), Karate, and Aikido. In ancient Japan, Zen had a major impact on Samurai warriors, and it was widely adopted as their official religion. The Samurai achieved perfection in martial arts such as kenjutsu, kyujutsu, and jujutsu through the practice of Zazen. The practice of Zen was ..read more

Satori or Awakening, as opposed to what many people think, is not a special state of mind. It is simply a return to the original and natural condition of the human mind. Spiritual Awakening is not something that can be understood by using the brain. Satori is an experience; it is a state of mind. The posture of Zazen itself is Satori, and only through the harmony of body and mind can one discover the nature of Satori. Awakening exists in us long before we were born. Animals are Enlightened, constantly in their original condition, totally immersed in the present, and connected to the Cosmos. On ..read more

In Buddhism, the Sanskrit word karma means “action” and is defined as the intention manifested in the action of thought, body, and speech – it is the intention that produces Karma, not the act itself. In this world, everyone is subject to the great chain of causes and consequences, successions of rebirth and death, called karmic law. The cause is generally compared to the seed and the consequences of the fruit. The fruits of Karma are collected in the form of happiness or misery, depending on the nature of the acts committed. Every thought, every action, every word leaves “vibratory” imprints ..read more

The essence of the Buddha’s teaching can be summed up in the Four Noble Truths, and within it, a valuable and practical guide aimed at ending suffering: the Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path (called Hasshodo in Japanese) is the “prescription” the Buddha formulated for us so that all sentient beings (like you and me) can liberate themselves from their suffering (Dukkha) caused by their delusions, desires, and attachments. The teachings of the Eightfold Path initially appeared in the first Four Noble Truths sermon of the Buddha, which he delivered after his Awakening where he described in ..read more

People don’t really know who Buddha was, and contrary to what most people in the Western world think, he was neither a God nor a legend. He was a real man that lived 2500 years ago in India. The Buddha was born in the Lumbini woods, near the town of Kapilavastu (in modern-day Nepal, near the Indian border). His birth name was Siddhārtha Gautama (Shakyamuni Gotama in Japanese). Even though he lived for about eighty years, the dates of his birth and death are not established with certainty. Most historians say he was born in 563 BC and died in 486 BC. Gautama’s father, Suddhodana Gautama, he was ..read more

The Four Noble Truths represents the essence of the Buddha’s teachings, the core of Buddhism. It was these four laws that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the Bodhi tree. After his Awakening, the Buddha gave a sermon at the deer park in Benares called the Four Noble Truths. These Truths contain the entire Dharma because all of the Buddha’s teachings are connected to these Truths. He laid down his teachings in easily understandable language for the common man and woman could understand it. The Four Noble Truths provide a thorough explanation of human suffering, as well ..read more