The Dalai Lama describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. Today he turns 80 and to celebrate, here’s some great quotes to inspire you on a Monday morning… Happy Birthday Tenzin Gyatso! Image: Dalai Lama (Click images to make them larger if you can’t read them ;) )
The Sun of Wisdom is a commentary on one of the classics of Buddhist literature by one of the great Tibetan masters, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso. Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way was written by Nagarjuna in the 2nd century and is a commentary on the Buddha’s teachings on the nature of appearance and emptiness. The… Continue reading The Sun of Wisdom: Teachings of the Noble Nagarjuna – Review
A selection of recommended books about Buddhism for anyone on the path to awakening and self-knowledge. These are some of the books I’ve found particularly helpful over the years, plus links to online texts. There are longer reviews attached via links, and more to come… Karen Armstrong – Buddha This is a fascinating introduction to… Continue reading Buddhism Bookshelf
The Four Immeasurables are four virtues that are cultivated in meditation practice. They’re also called the Brahmavihara, which means the ‘abodes of Brahma,’ and they can be found in various Buddhist texts as well as the Yoga sutras of Patanjali. The four immeasurables are unconditional and so are boundless. They consist of: Loving-kindness, or metta… Continue reading How to Meditate: The Four Immeasurables
Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist practice of meditation. The word means ‘giving and taking’, or sending and receiving. The practice involves taking in the suffering and pain of others, and then breathing out love, compassion and understanding. It’s a powerful practice that uses visualisation to help you develop compassion and unconditional love for all. The… Continue reading How to Meditate: Tonglen
When we think of meditation, it usually conjures an image of Buddha sitting with a serene smile on his face. But meditation doesn’t always have to be practised sitting down. You can practice moving meditations while doing almost anything: running, dancing, doing the gardening or cleaning, and while exercising or walking. The practices of Tai… Continue reading How to Meditate: Zen Walking
Vipassana comes from the Therevada Buddhist tradition and is also known as Insight meditation. It was the form of meditation practised and taught by the Buddha in order to attain enlightenment. It involves looking into the true nature of the mind to overcome suffering and discover who you really are. The word has two parts:… Continue reading How to Meditate: Vipassana
Jessica Davidson 