January 16, 2024 | Tranquillity {Praśrabhi} | Dharma Lesson The eight spokes of the Dharma Wheel is the symbol of the Noble Eightfold Path and represents the eight elements of the Path. Each spoke represents an area of practice. The round shape of the wheel (the circle) symbolizes the perfection of the Dharma, the Buddha's Teachings. The rim of the wheel represents meditation, concentration, and mindfulness that tie the practice together. The hub (the center) represents Morality Discipline (Good Conduct). It can be seen as the three twirl shapes within a second wheel, or a hollow circle ..read more

January 16, 2024 | Compassion {Karuṇā} | Dharma Lesson ,,The First Noble Truth establishes that Suffering Exists (Dukkha). ,,The Second Noble Truth explores the Cause of Suffering (Sameda Dukkha). The ,,Third Noble Truth illuminates the End of Suffering (Nirodha Dukkha). The Fourth Noble Truth is the Path (Magga) leading to the End of Suffering. This Path is called the Noble Eightfold Path and leads us to attain enlightenment. The Buddha called the Noble Eightfold Path “the Middle Way” that avoids the extremes of sensual pleasures and asceticism. It is the Path of Mod ..read more

January 16, 2024 | Loving-kindness {Metta} | Dharma Lesson Set #6: ,Seven Factors of Enlightenment (Bodhi) Practices, also known as the seven states of awakening - The elimination of evil, the development of virtue, the feeling of joy versus suffering and eventual enlightenment are the four achievements that are the result of practicing the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. Beginning with the first factor of mindfulness, they tend to flow in a progression towards the last factor of equanimity with each factor’s development based on the preceding ones. [23] Mindfulness – the first fac ..read more

January 16, 2024 | Equanimity {Upekṣā} | Dharma Lesson Set #7: The Noble Eightfold Path Note: The Buddha never intended his followers to believe His Teachings blindly, but to practice them and judge for themselves whether they are correct. The Noble Eightfold Path, often represented by the Dharma Wheel, can be divided into three ways of practice: Wisdom or Insight, Morality Discipline or Good Conduct, and Meditation/Concentration or Mental Development. ,,Wisdom or Insight, ,(in Sanskrit, ,Paññā) – The heart of Buddhism is wisdom. In Buddhism, wisdom is the ability to reali ..read more

Ngày xưa, có hai vợ chồng sống với một người cha già và một cậu con trai nhỏ. Một hôm, người vợ nói với chồng: Once upon a time, there was a couple who lived with an elderly father and a young son. One day, the wife said to her husband: Gia Đình ta nghèo khó quá, làm lụng cực nhọc vất vả suốt quanh năm nhưng cũng không đủ ăn. Giờ đây, người cha già không làm được việc gì nữa, và là gánh nặng cho gia đình. Xin hãy đóng một chiếc xe chở cha bỏ vào rừng để gia đình ta vơi bớt đi gánh nặng. Dù sao, cha anh cũng không còn sống được bao lâu nữa. Our family is so poor. We work hard all year round, bu ..read more

Có một đệ tử hỏi Phật rằng: "A disciple asked the Buddha:" "Ngài có thần thông và từ bi, vì sao vẫn còn những kẻ chịu khổ vậy?” "Sir, you have extrasensory abilities and compassion; why are there still people who suffer?" Phật rằng: “Buddha replied:” "Ta tuy có sức thần thông rất lớn; nhưng có bốn điều là vẫn không thể thực hiện được, chính là: "Although, I have great extrasensory abilities, there are four things that still cannot be done, namely:” Điều 1: Article 1: “Nhân quả không thể đổi thay, tự gieo nhân thì tự nhận quả, người khác không thể nhận thay.” "Cause and Effect can't be changed ..read more

June 18, 2020 | Loving-kindness {Metta} | Dharma Lesson In The First Noble Truth, the Buddha taught us that suffering exists and in order to end suffering, we need to end what causes suffering. For this reason, The Second Noble Truth is understanding the Cause of Suffering in order to eliminate it. After years of searching for Truth and attaining Supreme Enlightenment, the Buddha discovered that the causes of suffering are craving (greed, desire, attachment), ignorance (delusion), hatred, and destructive urges. The following are the three forms of Craving: Sensual Craving (Kama Tanha) - crav ..read more

April 11, 2020 | Love {Sneha} | Dharma Lesson Right after the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree, he preached Avatamsaka Sutra (how reality appears to an enlightened being) for 21 days. The Buddha explained about a Buddha-nature that seemed too sublime and incomprehensible to common mortals. Buddha began to deliver his first teachings on the Four Noble Truths in the city of Varanasi at the Deer Park called Sarnath to the five ascetics who had been his former companions: Kondanna, Assaji, Bhaddiya, Vappa, and Mahanama. All five attained nirvana, a stage along the path to enligh ..read more

September 27, 2020 | Equanimity {Upekṣā} Shakyamuni sat in Samadhi for 49 days and nights under the Bodhi tree in a state of complete tranquility and solitude. In those 49 days, he fought with internal enemies such as greed, hatred, ignorance, and suspicion, and external enemies such as Mara (In Buddhist Cosmology, Mara is associated with death, rebirth, and desire). Mara tempted Siddhartha by speaking in a seductive voice, “O good sir! Living, you could perform merit. What will you do with this striving? Hard is the path of striving, difficult, and not easily accomplished.” Siddhartha respon ..read more

May 16, 2020 | Loving-kindness (Metta) The birth of the crown prince, Siddhartha, was celebrated throughout the Shakya kingdom in Kapilavastu around 480 BCE, but tragedy and suffering soon struck the royal family. Queen (Maya) Mahamaya, the wife of King Suddhodana, died seven days after giving birth to the prince. She was said to have been reborn in the Tavatimsa heaven. On her deathbed, she blessed her sister, Mahapajapati, and asked her to promise to take care of the little prince. Mahapajapati, who was also married to King Suddhodana, was the successor to the queen’s throne. She vowed to r ..read more