A young Lama Norbu, a Buddhist monk, goes to Seattle in search of Jesse Conrad, the boy he believes may be the reincarnation of Lama Norbus previous teacher, Lama Dorje. Lama Norbu finds Jesse and his family, and starts to teach them about Buddhism. Jesse is hesitant at first, but he soon becomes interested in … Read more
What is sacred reality? In Hinduism and Buddhism, sacred reality refers to that which is holy and revered. This may encompass the natural world, deities, or other aspects of the divine. Hindus and Buddhists believe that by engaging with sacred reality, we can connect to the divine and achieve enlightenment. Sacred reality is often seen … Read more
Buddhism was founded in the sixth century BCE, when a single individual named Siddhartha Guatama became known as the Buddha. After attaining enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, the Buddha felt that others might not be able to handle everything he had learnt. He did not want to teach people or pass on his knowledge. However, … Read more
Buddhism is a religion that follows the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism teaches people how to live in harmony with others and to find inner peace. Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and there are many different branches of Buddhism. Buddhism is popular in East Asia, and there are millions of Buddhists … Read more
“This is why I am continuing my travels—not to seek other, better teachings, for I know there are none, but to depart from all teachings and all teachers and to reach my goal by myself or to die” – Hermann Hesse. The teachings of Buddhism have been continuingly traveling all across the world and spreading. … Read more
The civilisation of Ancient China was influenced by a complex mix of beliefs, values and traditions. Some, such as Taoism, were religious; others, such as Confucianism, were more to do with behaviour. Closely tied in with these were many rituals influencing how people were buried, how they arranged their homes, how they drank their tea … Read more
Amalgamation of Shinto and Buddhism Japan, just east of Korea and China, is an island rich in religion and culture. During ancient Japan, the indigenous people of Japan believed in the Shinto religion, and worshipped kami, or spirits that inhabited many parts of nature. However, in the midsixth century, Buddhism started to appear in Japan. … Read more
Rise of Buddhism: The originator of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama. He started out as a prince of the Sakya Republic in the Himalayan foothills. At age 29 he left his life of privileged and began to learn under different paths of Vedic schools. In his journey he experienced a great deal of human suffering and … Read more
Jainism began as a monastic faith but then developed a lay movement. There are no priests in Jainism; monks and nuns are their clerics. Though Jains pray to the Hindu gods for earthly favours, such as long life, the true objects of their devotion are the Tirthankaras, or the Jain saints. The term Tirthanikara means … Read more
Throughout thousands of years in the Hindu religion, a person’s social class was determined immediately after they are born. This organisation was then later known as the Caste System. Caste members lived, married, and worked within their selected group. A person born into one caste was not allowed to change castes or associate with other … Read more
The story of Buddhism might be said to have begun with a loss of innocence. Siddhartha Gautama, a young prince of the Shakhya clan in India, had been raised in a life of royal ease, shielded from the misery and cruelties of the world outside the palace gates, distracted by sensual pleasures and luxurious living. … Read more