Vegetarian Ideal


Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
- Albert Einstein

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Buddhist Blogs

Buddhist Blogs


Religion & Beliefs > Buddhism
If you blog frequently about any aspect of Buddhism (dharma study, practice within a specific tradition, meditation, rituals, or your Buddhist take on current issues and affairs) join this webring so like-minded Bloggers can find and support your site. This webring is limited to blogs/personal journals only... no commercial sites.

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Na roda das fofoqueiras - Olha só que belezinha que achei numa lista de discussões sobre “Dharma” (?) dos EUA. Um membro postou um vídeo em que estou executando o Gomá e um dos participantes, Daniel Arraes, ajudado por dois outros, iniciou esse interessante diálogo a meu respeito: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=3342&sid=f3d38dc2b5b6ab1ea67... - 2012/03/31

It's Earth Hour Tonight - Tonight, at 8:30 p.m., it's Earth Hour. WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple idea that’s quickly turned into a global phenomenon. Hundreds of millions of people turning off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all across the planet. It’s about appreciating the brilliant world we all share – and how we need to protect it. Not just for an ho... - 2012/03/31

Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 3/30/2012 - "Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively." ~His Holiness The Dalai Lama XIV Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma - 2012/03/30DENÚNCIA: Templo "budista" serve carne em seu reu restaurante - O templo de Três Coroas, chamado de "Khadro Ling" tem um restaurante em seu recinto onde serve carne de cordeiro como uma "iguaria" da culinária tibetana. Além disso, passam a imagem de que um templo é um local para se "relaxar" e "curtir" e não para treinar a mente de forma séria e concentrada. Veja aqui: http://g1.globo.com/jornal-h... - 2012/03/30

Para quem quiser entender um pouco mais sobre câncer e não se deixar enganar por baboseiras como as "curas" divulgadas pela mídia - Leiam http://colunas.digi.com.br/meire/eu-descobri-a-cura-do-cancer/ Agradecimentos a Dharmabandhu Upasaka pelo envio. - 2012/03/30

Bharadvaja - Certo dia, ele retornou para o país de Rajagriha. No campo, não longe da cidade, ele se deparou com um brâmane chamado Bharadvaja. Era a estação da colheita, e o brâmane e seus servos estavam celebrando alegremente. Eles estavam rindo e cantando quando o Mestre passou. Ele estendeu a sua tigela de donativos, e aqueles [...] - 2012/03/30

Ajahn Chah

Buddha Space


Ajahn Chah Day 2012

The wonderfully wise Ajahn Chah

The venerable Ajahn Chah (1918-1992) was a great & wise monk who lived most of his life as a forest monk in Ubon Ratchathani in Northeast Thailand. He taught thousands of people, Thai & foreigner alike; monks, nuns, and laity gathered to listen to his insightful talks on the Dharma. Many of these talks have been collected into books, and translated into several different languages (he taught in Thai & Isan, the latter a fusion of Thai & Lao spoken in Northeast Thailand). The excerpts in bold found interspersed with photographs in this article are from one such book called 'No Ajahn Chah;' a link to it in PDF format is at the bottom of this post, along with a link to the gallery from where the photos were obtained (all free).

I did not have the pleasure of meeting Ajahn Chah, but have learned (and unlearned) much from reading translations of his wise Dharma talks. I have also met people who knew him, including Ajahn Sumedho, his most senior foreign (non-Thai) disciple, along with other forest monks. Living in Ubon Ratchthani, I have the opportunity to visit Ajahn Chah's main monastery, Wat Nong Pah Pong, which lies just outside the city in a small forest. There are now monasteries all over the world in the lineage of Ajahn Chah, in countries such as America, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, and Switzerland, as well as many in his native Thailand.

January 16th this year was the twentieth anniversary of Ajahn Chah's death, and, as with every year, there was a gathering of monks, nuns, and laity at Wat Nong Pah Pong to commemorate his life & teachings. It can be a moving experience to share food, chant, meditate, and talk with so many others who felt inspired to one degree or another by this great monk. And yet, reading & reflecting on the book that is quoted below, it's enlightening to recall that ultimately there was no Ajahn Chah, as he once said himself, but rather natural processes arising and falling away in emptiness. And this is true for me and for you, too, dear reader; isn't it?

When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing.
The Buddha told his disciple Ananda to see impermanence, to see death with every breath. We must know death; we must die in order to live. What does this mean? To die is to come to the end of all our doubts, all our questions, and just be here with the present reality. You can never die tomorrow; you must die now. Can you do it? If you can do it, you will know the peace of no more questions.


Ajahn Chah sweeping the monastery grounds
If our body really belonged to us, it would obey our commands. If we say "Don’t get old," or “I forbid you to get sick," does it obey us? No! It’s take no notice, We only rent this "house," not own it. If we think it does belong to us, we will suffer when we have to leave it. But in reality, there is no such thing as a permanent self, nothing un- changing or solid that we can hold on to.
What is Dharma? Nothing isn’t.


Ajahn Chah receiving alms
Regardless of time and place, the whole practice of Dharma comes to completion at the place where there is nothing. It’s the place of surrender, of emptiness, of laying down the burden. This is the finish.
Conditions all go their own natural way. Whether we laugh or cry over them, they just go their own way. And there is no knowledge of science which can prevent this natural course of things. You may get a dentist to look at your teeth, but even if they can fix them, they still finally go their natural way. Eventually even the dentist has the same trouble. Everything fall apart in the end.


Ajahn Chah feeding a fellow inhabitant of the forest
When those who do not understand the Dharma act improperly, they look all around to make sure no one is watching. But our karma is always watching. We never really get away with anything.
We don’t meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.


Ajahn Chah meditating in the forest
Remember you don’t meditate to get anything, but to get rid of things. We do it not with desire but with letting go. If you want anything, you won’t find it.
The real foundation of the teaching is to see the self a being empty. But people come to study the Dharma to increase their self-view, so they don’t want to experience suffering or difficulty. They want everything to be cosy. They may want to transcend suffering, but if there is still a self, how can they ever do so?


Ajahn Chah & some western monks under his guidance
(The famous Ajahn Sumedho is the tall one on the right.)
If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will have complete peace.
Anyone can build a house of wood and bricks, but the Buddha taught us that sort of home is not our real home. It’s a home in the world and it follows the ways of the world. Our real home is inner peace.


 Ajahn Chah became increasingly frail over the years
If you see certainty in that which is uncertain, you are bound to suffer.
You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can’t solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth – inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.


The last decade of his life he couldn't speak or walk
No one and nothing can free you but your own understanding.
Look after your virtue as a gardener takes care of his plants. Do not be attached to big or small, important or unimportant. Some people want shortcuts. They say, "Forget concentration, we’ll go straight to in- sight; forget virtue, we’ll start with concentration." We have so many excuses for our attachments.


Ajahn Sumedho (centre) & other monks at Ajahn Chah's funeral
The Buddha taught to lay down those things that lack a real abiding essence. If you lay everything down you will see the truth. If you don’t, you won’t. That’s the way it is. And when wisdom awakens within you, you will see truth wherever you look. Truth is all you’ll see.
The above quotations are excerpted from the book 'No Ajahn Chah' which is available to view or download at the following link: No Ajahn Chah
The photographs of Ajahn Chah are taken from the following site, where there are many more wonderful images of him: Ajahn Chah Photo Gallery

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Friday, March 30, 2012

♫✿ Zen Garden ♫✿ - YouTube

♫✿ Zen Garden ♫✿ - YouTube




Uploaded by 77svoboda on Aug 29, 2011

"Zen" means "to think about anything" and "arrive at the contemplation of" The purpose of the mini-garden of Zen - give you the "feel the moment", freeing up time from life's troubles and fleeting domestic troubles.

According to Eastern philosophy of Zen Buddhism is quintessence. Garden symbolizes the excitement and serenity that can instill a sense of grandeur to the owner and the balance through the contemplation of stones and sculptures.
It is believed that Zen meditation promotes relaxation and in the modern world is fleeting. Your movements become serene, freeing the mind, giving inspiration and creativity. When contemplating a mini-garden of Zen it is possible to feel a new kind of relaxation that allows you to draw upon the harmony and splendor - and in my heart and in mind.

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Description:

100 Zen garden scenery with music by Gerald Marcos from the album "Zen meditation" - harp, flute, sacred Tibetan crystal bowls, gongs, synthesizers and the sounds of nature. The perfect movie for relaxation, meditation, contemplation, balance and harmony of nature.

Have a nice viewing;)
Category:

Music
Tags:

Zen
Garden
Meditation

License:

Standard YouTube License

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Yoga Vasistha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yoga Vasistha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


An old painting of people talking in houses
A painting from the Yoga Vasistha
manuscript, 1602
 


Yoga Vasistha  (also known as Vasistha's Yoga) is a Hindu spiritual text traditionally attributed to Valmiki. It recounts a discourse of the sage Vasistha to a young Prince Rama, during a period when the latter is in a dejected state. The contents of Vasistha's teaching to Rama is associated with Advaita Vedanta, the illusory nature of the manifest world and the principle of non-duality. The book has been dated between the 11th and 14th century AD) and is generally regarded as one of the longest texts in Sanskrit (after the Mahabharata) and an important text of Yoga. The book consists of about 32,000 shlokas (lines), including numerous short stories and anecdotes used to help illustrate its content. In terms of Hindu mythology, the conversation in the Yoga Vasishta takes place chronologically before the Ramayana.

Other names of this text are Mahā-Rāmāyana, ārsha Rāmāyana, Vasiṣṭha Rāmāyana,[3] Yogavasistha-Ramayana and Jnanavasistha.[1]

Contents [hide]


Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ) (also known as Vasistha's Yoga) is a Hindu spiritual text traditionally attributed to Valmiki. It recounts a discourse of the sage Vasistha to a young Prince Rama, during a period when the latter is in a dejected state. The contents of Vasistha's teaching to Rama is associated with Advaita Vedanta, the illusory nature of the manifest world[1] and the principle of non-duality. The book has been dated between the 11th and 14th century AD)[2] and is generally regarded as one of the longest texts in Sanskrit (after the Mahabharata) and an important text of Yoga. The book consists of about 32,000 shlokas (lines), including numerous short stories and anecdotes used to help illustrate its content. In terms of Hindu mythology, the conversation in the Yoga Vasishta takes place chronologically before the Ramayana.

Other names of this text are Mahā-Rāmāyana, ārsha Rāmāyana, Vasiṣṭha Rāmāyana,[3] Yogavasistha-Ramayana and Jnanavasistha.[1]




Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana

Souirce:   http://www.handloom.org/Yoga_Vasishta.htm

Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana

 “The Yoga Vasishta is 32,000 slokas.  When Rama was eight years old, he asked many questions of his guru Vasishta.  Rama asked his guru 32,000 questions, and the answers are the Yoga Vasishta.”
“Now all Swamiji’s devotees are asking him questions and these questions and answers will also become a book.”
Read about Shivabalayogi and the Yoga Vasishta at the Yoga Vasishta pages of the Shivabalayogi Writer’s Corner website.
You can read Jay Mazo's edit of this translation of the entire Yoga Vasishta online, or download it, over a million words, HERE.

Review a sample COMPARISON of the original Mitra translation and its revision.

Instead of intellectualizing spirituality, Shivabalayogi encouraged people to practice meditation. Instead of giving discourses, he gave actual experiences.  However, he placed a great value on the Yoga Vasishta and over four decades, he often recommended the book to devotees.

“Read the Yoga Vasishta.  Swamiji’s philosophy is fully expounded in that scripture.”
Project Gutenburg made electronic versions of the complete 1891 translation of Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana by V. L. Mitra available to the public.  Mitra’s translation is the only complete English translation of this work which is considered the finest exposition of Advaita (Non-Dual) philosophy. It is long since out of print.

Mitra knew Sanskrit and read the commentaries.  He was also an excellent scholar in Western spiritual poetry and literature.  Those who do not read Sanskrit can only give second hand evaluations, but his translation may reflect the poetical qualities in which the Sanskrit of Yoga Vasishta was written.  Indian scriptures were first meant to be heard and only in later ages to be read.

Some criticize Mitra for taking liberties and paraphrasing and amplifying the text he ought to have been translating, and some of his rendering was simply misleading.  For example, Mitra misleadingly translates samadhi as hypnosis or trance.  Those familar with Sankrit can complain that Mitra’s Bengali background affected his Sanskrit spelling.  English language and style has evolved since 1891 and Mitra’s syle was archaic even for the late 19th Century.  Perhaps Mitra intended to give this scripture the patina of the King James Bible by using archaic forms like “thee” and “thou”.  In any event, it makes for a difficult read of what already is a challenging book.

The original Sanskrit dates back to early medieval Indian history, and its subject matter arguably millennia before that.  Jay Mazo revised the text to delete the Project Gutenberg notes and formatting, Mitra’s obvious gloss (including numerous parallel references to academic and various religious texts) and the archaic second person “thee” and “thou” and attendant verb tenses.  The rest he left alone, but the clean-up work Jay did was considerable and carefully done.


Even after Jay’s edit, Mitra’s English, even his punctuation, was frustratingly opaque and obscured the subject matter.  Tom Palotas did two more rounds of edits to make the original translation more readable and understandable.  This edit is now available for those interested.

Review a sample COMPARISON of the original Mitra translation and its revision.
Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana of Valmiki
is printed in the U.S.A. on demand through Lulu.com
773 pages.  Hard cover bound.
Published in 2012.    ISBN 978-0-9760783-2-6

 
Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana

“Read the Yoga Vasishta,” Swamiji would say.  “Swamiji’s philosophy is fully expounded in that scripture.”  

The Yoga Vasishta, he said, is the only book about the teachings of a yogi in which the original is preserved
Shivabalayogi explained that the Yoga Vasishta was written down by Sage Valmiki.  
The book includes Vasishta’s description of his own life story, everything about himself — experiences and present and past lives, all as recorded by Valmiki.

The book consists of 32,000 slokas (verses of two lines each) spoken by Vasishta.  By comparison, Krishna spoke only eighteen slokas on the occasion that has become memorialized in the Bhagavad Gita.  Mitra’s English translation, almost a million words, is about a third longer than the entire King James Bible.

Swamiji said that everything that humanity needs to know and everything a person could possibly want to know is in the Yoga Vasishta.  It contains everything from politics to gambling to knowing how to deceive.  There is no need to read any other book.  Swamiji advised that we should not try to read it all.  Instead, we should focus on a subject area in which we are interested.  Swamiji has read the entire book in both Sanskrit and Telugu three times and he said that he understands it all.

A devotee once asked whether Swamiji had any special connection with the Yoga Vasishta because he refers to it so often.  Swamiji responded meditate and you will know the answer.  He added that he was around when the events described in the book took place.  Rama was eight years old at the time, explained Swamiji.
Summaries of the Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana

Those interested in the Yoga Vasishta should read the summary in the Yoga Vasishta Maharamayana page of the Shivabalayogi Writer's Corner website.

The summary written by Gen. Hanut Singh in his book, Shri Shri Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj, Life & Spiritual Ministration, originally published in 1981, republished in 1981, is reproduced in full in this website.  For the section on the Yoga Vasishta, click HERE.

Jay Mazo’s edit is available online and for download at The Inner Guide website.