Sublime Buddhist States: What is loving kindness (Metta)?
One of the consequences of reaching Nirvana is the ability to experience the four sublime attitudes or states. These states govern our lives, decisions, guide our thoughts and reign in on our relationship with others. Loving kindness is one of those states, followed by compassion, empathetic joy and…
Much more than a chant: What is a mantra in Buddhism?
“If you wish to understand the Universe, think of energy, frequency and vibration. “ Nikola Tesla Many Buddhist mantras don’t have concrete meaning because they were created in a language no longer known. Therefore they carry some incomprehensible syllables. These oral teachings allow the mind to achieve a…
What do Tibetan Buddhists practice?
Tibetan Buddhism is the branch of Buddhism characterized by a more mystical nature. It is also known as Vajrayana or Lamaism (The name Lama means master, since this branch focuses a lot on lamas and disciples). Tibetan Buddhism is a western term. In the eastern cultures, believers don’t…
A comprehensive breakdown of the Theravada tradition
Buddhism was not originally created as a religion, rather it was developed as a philosophy. Today, in the west the general perception is that Buddhism is a religion. Matthieu Riccard is the one that reminds us that this doubt only fits in the western world, for in the…
Japanese Zazen: What is Zen Buddhism?
Zen Buddhism is a school derived from the Mahayana Tradition. It follows the same basic teachings of the Buddha, and it has found a very fertile soil in Japan and later in the western world. It has incorporated some of the Japanese traditional arts into its practices as…
The wandering prince: What did the Buddha teach?
When we talk about the Buddha, we talk about prince Siddhartha, who left a life of luxury and comfort to seek a way to end human suffering. After a long and arduous journey, Siddhartha accomplished his goal, and became known as Buddha (the awakened one). He decided then…
What happens to a Buddhist when they die?
Many of our world’s most famous philosophies have been built with this question in mind. Others did not give much thought or attention to it. Buddhism has touched briefly on the topic, in an esoteric style though. Quantum Physics and Buddhism Quantum physics is a modern branch of…
Stay with me: A Buddhist view on Suicide
I’ve always seen suicide as an act of great courage. But I respect those who consider it an act of great cowardice. I believe it takes courage to leave life, to know the pain we will cause to those left behind. Most of all, it takes courage to…
Buddhism in the 21st century: A philosophy that embraces change
We’re well into the 21st century, and a multiplicity of ancient religions and philosophies are still accepted around the world. Though some are still subject to discussion and disagreement. Some of them have had to make adjustments to retain their believers. But what about a 2500 year old…
The lifestyle of a Buddhist: What do Buddhists do?
Buddhists are normal ordinary people, and since showing off is not something they like to do, you might be close to one and won’t even know that they’re a Buddhist. There won’t be rituals or prayers, pictures or outfits. Those people in special outfits are the monks and…