Buddhist High Holy Days

May 18th, 2008  ·  No Comments

Vesak is the holiest day in Buddhism and a season of special holy significance to all Buddhists around the world. Vesak Full Moon is the holiest of all the full moon days. On this day we celebrate the birth, the Enlightenment, and the death of the Buddha.

The significance of which lies with the Buddha and his universal peace message to mankind.

Birth:

Temples will display a small image of the baby Buddha in front of the altar in a basin filled with water and decorated with flowers, allowing devotees to pour water over the statue; it is symbolic of…

Human Rights March in Houston

April 29th, 2008  ·  2 Comments

Houston, TX. April 25, 2008

All of us can feel anger. Likewise all of us can feel fear. We fear death. But death is inevitable. What is not inevitable is anger. Anger is the single most definable detriment to living beings everywhere. Anger and violence are branches of the same tree. They are like fire. Engage the anger and violence and you yourself are consumed.

The Buddha spoke of compassion and forgiveness, and how even words can be hurtful. We must ask ourselves what path we take. What are we to do with the emotions, fears, and anger we feel with regards to the people and monks of Tibet and Burma…

Origination of Dharma

January 27th, 2008  ·  1 Comment

The question “what is the origin of Dharma” is an unusual one. Much like asking, “how is the sky blue,” and not “why is it blue. ” But what is the origin of Dharma?

More often we as western practitioners of Buddhism look to the effects of Dharma and not the origin of Dharma. People have commonly used the definition of Dharma as the body of teachings from the Buddha. Dharma is teaching. It is the teachings from texts and classrooms and Dharma teachers. Moreover, Dharma is the events of life [phenomena]. These are the opportunities we can use for…