O Ye of Little Faith: The Secular American Media and Religion - Big Journalism. Yajna, the Vedic Sacrifice. By Jayaram V Yajna means a sacrifice or sacrificial rite. It is derived from the root word, yaj, meaning to sacrifice, to worship, honor, revere, or offer an oblation to the gods. The tradition of making offerings to God and worshipping them in a sacrifice of food and other materials is not unique to Hinduism. The Zoroastrians also follow a similar practice which they call yasna. Yajnas are not simple methods of worship, which anyone can perform. In ritual sacrifices the use of fire is a must. As per the Vedic beliefs offerings made in a sacrifice are first accepted by fire god, Agni and he distributes the offerings to other gods according to their fixed share.
As stated earlier, some yajnas are performed daily, while some are performed occasionally. A sacrificial ceremony is usually performed a senior priest called Brahman priest. Note: This essay is a work in progress and will be revisted for further elaboration and improvement Suggested Further Reading. Fate, Free Will, and the Laws of Karma. Fate, Free Will, and the Laws of Karma In most people's minds, "free will" has two relatively distinct properties.
The first is the idea that what one does is in some sense "free", that is "not determined by something else". The second is the idea that one can onself control what one does. Greek philosophers The question of free will does not seem to have presented itself very clearly to the early Greek philosophers. Buddhism Buddhism has always presented an empirical psychology that both reveals and rests upon a philosophy of process. 1. that it is unsatisfactory; 2. that craving and misunderstanding cause this suffering; 3. that it can be ended; and 4. that a path of emotional and cognitive realignment leads to such liberation. These truths are less a statement of fact than a call to act. (Note: The Bible teaches each individual is responsible for his own life (Ezekiel 18:4,20; Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Christianity Hinduism Therefore, the future is based on the past. Some characteristics of the Nakshatras and how to use the Nakshatras in Vedic astrology or Jyotish.
The 27 signs of the Vedic Lunar Zodiac are probably the oldest astrological system of mankind. This system is so rich in mythology and meaning that we can say that it provides a system of interpretation of its own. There is no reason why it should be subordinate to the system of the 12 "Sun signs". This article contains of two parts.
In the first part I will look at some characteristics of the Nakshatra system. This will be particularly interesting for the more advanced student. In the second part, I will give some examples of how to interpret charts based on the Nakshatras. I believe that part can also be digested by students who are beginners.If you like you can click here and go straightaway to this more easy to understand part. In this part I will look at the Nakshatras from the point of view of: The relationship to the navamsa, which is the chart of the soul The gunas, which represents qualities of energy. There are 27 Nakshatras. In each Nakshatra there are 4 padas. Sun is Rajas-Sattva. ShivatANDavastotraM with meaning.
॥ सार्थशिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् ॥ ॥ श्रीगणेशाय नमः ॥ जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले matted hair-thick as forest-water-flow-consecrated-area गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । The word-meanings and translation have been kindly provided by Dr. . % Text title : shivataaNDava stotra with meaning % File name : shivTAND_meaning.itx % itxtitle : shivatANDavastotram (sArtham) % engtitle : Shivatandavastotra with meaning % Location : doc_shiva % Sublocation : shiva % Author : Vedic tradition % Language : Sanskrit % Subject : philosophy/hinduism % Transliterated by : Girish Beeharry, SArada kALiSeTTy % Indexextra : (rAvaNa) with meanings and translation % Latest update : June 14, 2013 % Send corrections to : Sanskrit@cheerful.com % Site access : Indian History Sourcebook: King Bhartrihari: One Law There Is, c. 100 CE.
[Tappan Introduction] BHARTRIHARI was a ruler who lived at some time early in the Christian era. He abandoned the luxuries of his throne and made his home in the forest, where he could meditate at his will and be free from the honors and temptations of life in a palace. ONE law there is: no deed perform To others that to thee were harm; And this is all, all laws beside With circumstances alter or abide.
Like as our outworn garments we discard, And other new ones don; So doth the Soul these bodies doff when marred And others new put on. Fire doth not kindle It, nor sword divides, Nor winds nor waters harm; Eternal and unchanged the One abides, And smiles at all alarm. Like as a goldsmith beateth out his gold To other fashions fairer than the old, So may the Spirit, learning ever more, In ever nobler forms his life infold. Source: From: Eva March Tappan, ed., The World's Story: A History of the World in Story, Song and Art, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1914), Vol.
Scanned by Jerome S. I won't think of myself as a misfit: Nandana Sen. How has "Black" changed your life? People ask me why I did a supporting role. I'm baffled by the question. I'm so happy I did "Black". So many people have connected with my character. I'm just thankful to be part of such an exceptional film.
Earlier, I hadn't really made a permanent move to this city. Are you a misfit in Bollywood? It doesn't really matter where I come from. I'm not from a film family, not from Mumbai, didn't know anyone here. You know I did a whole bunch of ads as I waited for my career to take off in Bollywood. Was it also to stay visible? There're various ways of doing films in this country. I say yes only when there's a really good reason to do it. Was "Black" chosen as your launching pad in Bollywood? No, actually I first signed Ram Gopal Varma's "My Wife's Murder". And let's not even go into Goutam Ghose's "Gudiya" which I did years back when I was in Kolkata from Boston for my summer holidays.
I went back to the US and did "Seducing Maria". I'm extremely shy. "No. Pali Chanting in Theravada Buddhist Tradition. Pali Chanting in the Theravada Buddhist Tradition * Basic Pronunciation Vandanâ Namô Tassa Bhagavatô Arahatô Sammâ-Sambuddhassa (3x) Homage to the Triple Gems Homage to Him, the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the Fully Enlightened One. Ti-Sarana Buddham Saranam Gacchâmi. Translation: The Three Refuges I go to the Buddha as my refuge. Panca-sila Pânâtipâtâ Veramani Sikkhâpadam Samâdiyâmi. Imâni Panca Sikkhâpadâni Samâdiyâmi (3x) Translation: The Five Precepts I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.
Buddha Vandana Iti pi so Bhagavâ-Araham Sammâ-sambuddho. Translation - Homage to the Buddha Thus indeed, is that Blessed One: He is the Holy One, fully enlightened, endowed with clear vision and virtuous conduct, sublime, the Knower of the worlds, the incomparable leader of men to be tamed, the teacher of gods and men, enlightened and blessed. Dhamma Vandana Svâkkhato Bhagavatâ Dhammo Sanditthiko Akâliko Ehi-passiko Opanâyiko Paccattam veditabbo viññuhiti. Deities. Deities in Buddhism Many Mahayanists, but especially Vajrayana Buddhists, utilize images of buddhas and bodhisattvas in their practice.
Tibetan Buddhism especially, is famous for a highly developed iconography used to express aspects of the existence of the Buddha and his teachings (known as the Dharma) in scroll paintings called tangkas [sometimes spelled thangkas.] Also, cast metal, wooden, clay, plaster, "resin," and stone images (Skt. rupa, form) are used on personal shrines, in temples and in teaching centres. This article introduces some of these figures, whose origins and qualities are derived from Buddhist scripture and from the legends told about the efficacy of their activity as a means and support for the enlightenment of all sentient beings. There is an introductory page on female deities, one on the wrathful deities, and several pages on individual deities, too. menu of Deities.
Functions of a Deity Maitreyanath explained that ~ quoted by Geshe Palden Dakpo The Kayas Mikyopa (Skt. The 3 Kayas. The 3 Bodies of the Buddha [trikaya] Trikaya is a Sanskrit word used in the Buddhist context to refer to levels of manifestation or activity. Tri means three and trikaya as a concept concerns three levels of buddhahood. Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha who is generally considered one of many buddhas to have come to the help of sentient beings, is understood to be accessible in various ways. These are called the dharmakaya, samboghakaya, and nirmanakya.
A simplified explanation is that the dharmakaya is the Absolute. The sound Aum (Om) evokes the dharmakaya. The 3 components of this syllable, here in a Tibetan form, can also be understood as the kayas, and also as symbolic of the 3 Jewels. The samboghakaya (enjoyment body) is rarely experienced. The nirmanakaya is the third "body. " It may be helpful to think of the three as: abstract, mythic and human realms. In her essay "Some Buddhist Perspectives on the Goddess" in Soaring and Settling (New York: Continuum Press, 1998) Rita M.
H.E. Basic Tenets of Buddhism. Buddhism A. Are you a Buddhist God? In the 5th century BC, a baby was born who became the founder of Buddhism. (Siddhārtha Gautama: 563 BC to 483 BC) He was born with a number birth defects, but his pagan idol worshipping townsfolk viewed him as a god incarnate. The 32 Auspicious signs of a Mahapurusa: (an individual of extraordinary destiny, distinguished by certain physical traits or marks) Webbed fingers and toes joined by a membrane up to the first joint.An odd lump on the top of his skull (cranial protrusion) "like a royal turban". The 80 secondary characteristics of deity: He has beautiful fingers and toes. Basic Tenets of Buddhism B. C. The eight fold path is a way to live one's life. Concluding Thoughts: There are many spiritual practices which alleviate suffering. Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA. Evil Paths in Buddhism. Common Buddhist Misunderstandings. It has been more than one thousand and nine hundred years since Buddhism spread to China.
Thus, the relationship between Buddhism and China is very close. The development of Buddhism influenced, and was influenced by Chinese culture. In fact Buddhism became a religion of the Chinese. Buddhism originated from India, and the special characteristics of the Indian culture were sometimes not easy for the Chinese to understand. The Chinese traditions influenced and modified some of the practices, and these deviated from the teaching of the Buddha.
As a result, there are unfortunately many misunderstandings about Buddhism in China among the Buddhists and non-Buddhists. It is very easy to misunderstand Buddhism if one knows nothing about its origins. 1. The theory of the Buddha’s teaching is very profound. A) Life is suffering The Buddha told us that "Life is Suffering". When we encounter phenomena, and have a feeling of dislike, worry or pain, we say that there is "suffering". B. C. 2. 3. 4. After-Death States - The Tibetan Buddhist and Spiritualist Views. Sacred Books of the East Index. Sacred-texts home Hinduism Taoism Confucianism Buddhism Jainism Islam ZoroastrianismBuy CD-ROM Buy books: Sacred Books of the East Table of ContentsIndex of TranslatorsTransliteration TablesAvailable reprints The Sacred Books of the East (SBE) series, comprising fifty volumes, was issued by the Oxford University Press between 1879 and 1910.
It has translations of key sacred texts of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam. The series was edited by the famous linguist and scholar of comparative religion, Max Müller. He wrote three of the volumes, and collaborated on three others. The SBE has been designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the UNESCO Collection of Representative Works.
This series was the one of the inspirations for the sacred-texts website. NEW: The SBE is complete The difficulties of turning these books into etexts were enormous, and required great care and diligence. Living Like Trees: The Hindu and Buddhist Ideal of Sharing. Fielding Hall, a British official in nineteenth-century Burma, once asked for a bill at what he had taken to be a village restaurant, and found that he had been fed as a guest in a private house. Little did he know that the simple-minded folk were just practicing one of Buddhism's fundamental ethical imperatives - the gesture of unconditioned giving. Indeed, the primary activity which a Buddhist learns to develop is unselfish sharing, which forms a basis for further moral and spiritual development.
If the key to any religion is held in its stories, Buddhist literature, abounding in such narratives, gives ample evidence of the high esteem this particular trait is held in. Dana or generosity is encouraged as an essential attitude, which is the best way of offsetting the human tendency of individual self-centeredness and attachment. It is also regarded as a basic form of renunciation, open to both - the layperson and the monk. Thus says the ancient Buddhist Canon: 1). 2). 3). 4). The Advaita Vedânta Home Page. Before you start, please take a look at the transliteration key. Do not be put off by capital letters in the middle of words.
They are there for a reason. This site is an attempt at providing an easy and structured online introduction to the philosophy of advaita vedAnta, as taught by SankarAcArya and his followers. It is not meant for religious propaganda. SankarAcArya is the most important teacher of the advaita school of vedAnta, and his commentaries to the upanishads, the bhagavad-gItA and the brahmasUtras define the parameters of advaita thought. The philosophy of advaita, literally non-dualism, is the premier and oldest extant among the vedAnta schools of Indian philosophy. This website has been organized into four sections, as given in the index on the left. The main material on advaita vedAnta has been organized into three sections, named History, Philosophers and Philosophy. The swan has a special association with advaita vedAnta. The Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Interpretation. Extract from a Statement by the Tibetan. Suffice it to say, that I am a Tibetan disciple of a certain degree, and this tells you but little, for all are disciples from the humblest aspirant up to, and beyond, the Christ Himself.
I live in a physical body like other men, on the borders of Tibet, and at times (from the exoteric standpoint) preside over a large group of Tibetan lamas, when my other duties permit. It is this fact that has caused it to be reported that I am an abbot of this particular lamasery. Those associated with me in the work of the Hierarchy (and all true disciples are associated in this work) know me by still another name and office. A.A.B. knows who I am and recognises me by two of my names.
I am a brother of yours, who has travelled a little longer upon the Path than has the average student, and has therefore incurred greater responsibilities. The books that I have written are sent out with no claim for their acceptance.