This article is the second in a series of three that explains more about the practice of rains-retreat (vassāvāsa), which is then followed by the Kathina ceremony.
“When the rainy season has come and it is raining, many living beings are originated and many seed just spring up. … Knowing this one
Since the parasol tree was believed to be appealing to the phoenix, the Chinese people venerated it as an auspicious symbol. There are records dating
During last few years, there have been a number of reports of communal violence against Buddhists in Bangladesh. Although such tensions have always existed, recently
There are a number of important Buddhist archeological sites located in what is present-day Bangladesh. Historically, Bangladesh was once part of greater India and known
Legend says that in the 6th century C.E., Bodhidharma, the First Ancestor of Chinese Zen, slipped across the Yangtze River on a blade of grass.
Mountains are ever-present, natural temples. Images of nature have always been associated with Chinese Buddhism throughout history. For example, having been blocked by the storm,
I got the upsetting news on July 7, 2013 at around 8.30 a.m. — Terror struck Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya: a series of blasts
One of the main discussions around Pure Land Buddhism is that of Other Power versus Self Power. Indeed one of the major criticisms of Pure
Wisdom and Means, Emptiness and Compassion: Philosophical Problems In this column’s first segment, we explored how Shantideva’s idea of compassion, noble as it was, led to
In this two-part column series, we will visit the philosophical nuances and tensions in the thought of Shantideva, an important Indo-Tibetan philosopher (circa 8th century CE). To understand
Behind the simple invocation of “Namo Amitabha Buddha” (nianfo) awaits the keys to Amitabha Buddha’s Land of Bliss (Sukhavati). According to Master Shandao (613 – 681),
