The Siberian Express across Russia to Moscow has been described as the best train ride in the world. Maybe not anymore. The Tibetan Railway from Qinghai to Lhasa has thrown its hat in the ring. It will eventually be extended to the Nepalese border, only an hour's drive from Kathmandu. Some things you might want to think about before boarding: Price: Tibetan Railway tickets are CHEAP, ranging from US$49 to $180 depending on how much comfort you require and where you're coming from. A soft sleeper from Beijing, a 48 hour journey, cost only $158 in early 2007. Although a travel agency might charge more than that, the frugal can purchase a ticket directly from the station. Visas: A China visa is of...

What exactly is Buddhism? A religion? A philosophy? Actually, Buddhism is a religion, but then again, it really isn't! Is Buddhism a philosophy? Yes and no! Philosophically, the Buddha explained what we are faced with as human beings - we suffer, (eventually growing old, becoming diseased and dying in addition to all of life's other foibles) He further explains that there is a clear reason for this suffering - that we can end the suffering - and how we can end the suffering. The Buddha also pointed out, very logically, the workings of the universe as a cause and effect, and how karma fits into the entire picture. In contrast to most philosophies that rely on the power of reason and theory, Buddhists...

Buddhism is a teaching which has spread worldwide absorbing the culture of each country it arrived in, which has resulted in many expressions of Buddhism. Each strand, no matter how varied in nature and practice, holds a common emphasis on the impermanence of human life. The worldwide spread of Buddhism means that it is now practiced by over three hundred million people worldwide, and thus, is generally considered to be a world religion. However, its authenticity as a religion has often come under scrutiny by intellectuals in the Western world. To explore whether Buddhism can in fact be counted as a religion we must acknowledge that the main problems arise when looking for a definition of what a...

There are a few things you should consider before taking a trip to Barcelona. There is so much to see and do in this fabulous city that you will want to make the most of every minute. Make sure you have a good camera, with plenty of film, or a good battery and charger. You are sure to take a whole load of photos, to keep and treasure yourself or to send to friends and family as souvenirs. Invest in a good map which shows all the museums and places of interest. Although you may enjoy wandering around the city, and there is certainly plenty to look at, it is easy to get lost which is frustrating if you only have a short time. If you want to visit a lot of museums or galleries, check out the passes...

Coming to Terms with our Primary relationships is something which brings us peace and allows us to move on the path of evolution. We heal these relationships by an Ancient Advanced Synthesis of Effective Meditation Techniques which speeds up the process of strengthening and healing the Heart Centre. This has even more far-reaching effects:- A Blocked Heart centre is selfish. Healing our Relationships is really the Healing of our own Hearts and developing the Higher Emotion of Compassion and Buddhist Meta. This is the First Initiation towards Enlightenment, which ends in Selfless caring for others. The Energy of the Heart is the Energy of Charity, of Giving without any thought of selfishly wanting a...

The Bonsai Tree The bonsai tree is not 'just another house plant' and lovers of Bonsai tradition need to have powers of patience and perseverance because it might take a good many years for a bonsai to really come into its own. One thing is certain, though, given the time and attention, the end result is well worthwhile. History The name 'bonsai' is made up of two Japanese words, the first part, the word 'bon', which translates as 'shallow container', and the word 'sai' which means 'plant' or 'planting' The art of bonsai was actually invented in china, but it is japan that has really devloped the art of bonsai for over a thousand years. There is also some debate as to whether transferring trees to...

The history of Zen meditation has its origins in Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Some believe that it originated from yogic methods. Buddhism entered China centuries ago via a monk called Bodhidharma who visited China to teach Buddhism and blended with Taoism and its principles and practices were adopted. These practices include vegetarianism, avoiding alcohol, emptiness, etc. Gradually 'Chan' or Zen Buddhism became a major part of Chinese Buddhism and also created a huge body of scriptures, in spite of the fact that the transmission of these principles does not involve words. Zen meditation has also spread to the Americas and Europe and is widely practiced. There is hardly anyone who has not heard...

Buddhism, the great eastern religion founded by the Indian Prince Siddhartha Gautama 600 years before the birth of Christ, first appeared in Thailand during the 3rd century B.C. in the area of the present day provincial capital Nakhon Pathom. Once established, it proved such a durable and pervasive force that some ethnic groups who migrated into that area during the Dvaravati period readily adopted it as their state religion. At its inception, Buddhism had been a reaction against Brahmanism, eschewing Brahmanism's emphasis on caste and dogma regarding sacrifice and ritual. At the same time, it modified Brahmanic concepts of karma and rebirth. Briefly, Buddhism teaches that one's life does not begin...

Meditation is a means of awareness. Whatever you undertake with awareness is classed as meditation. Controlling your breathing is meditation, listening to music is meditation. Whatever activity you undertake which is free from other mind distractions, is effective meditation. Meditation has many health benefits. It increases blood flow in the body, lowers the heart rate and lowers blood pressure, making it good practice for women that have cardiovascular problems. Meditation can also decrease virus activity and emotional stress, which in effect helps to keep away colds and flu symptoms and kick start the immune system. Meditation techniques are quite simple. All that is needed is a quiet place...

From the desk of Dr Magne, author of Cancer Free For Life Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates noticed a potential connection between personality traits and health conditions. Since he is considered by many to be the father of modern medicine, is it possible that he was onto something? Current research is indicating that he was. Traditional Chinese medicine has known this for quite awhile, generally looking to the personality of a patient for diagnosis purposes. A variety of illnesses, ranging from chronic fatigue, arthritis, diabetes, asthma and various auto-immune disorders have been shown to be a link between personality traits and health. The main reason for this appears to be the fact that our...

In this Buddhism religion history, I will cover its history in India. In actual fact Buddhism covered almost the whole of Asia - excluding perhaps Russia. But I cannot cover all these details in a short article. The Shakyamuni Buddha founded Buddhism through his enlightenment and teaching. He livd between 563 BC and 483 BC Buddhism gained in popularity in India mainly during the reign of King Asoka (274-236BCE) because of his patronage. Asoka is remembered in countries as far away as Japan because of his efforts to promote and spread Buddhism. Asoka played an important role in Buddhism religion history. The doctrine which arose as a result of the original Buddha's teaching is Theravada Buddhism - or...

Revenge, the desire to hurt others who have hurt us, only bears bitter fruit. It hurts those whom we have inflicted our wrath upon. And it hurts us, because no single act in the universe goes unrewarded. From that singular act, our own consciousness is wounded by the expression of our animalism. Nations pride themselves on the swiftness of their retribution but inevitably collapse in on themselves because the seeds of discontent that they sow, hurts all of life. Rome, the greatest civilization that the world had ever known, built on the finest arts and sciences known to the ancient world, the epitome of legal and architectural order, collapsed from within, destroyed by its own impulse to use...

Ancient spiritual traditions such as Buddhism and Yoga recognize an intimate connection between how we breathe and our overall physical, mental and emotional states. You will discover as you work with your breathing that this connection between mind and body is very real. When we breathe easily, we feel physically relaxed, emotionally peaceful and mentally focused and calm. When our breathing is restricted, we feel physically tense, emotionally irritable, fearful, anxious or angry, and mentally hyperactive (our mind chatters non-stop) or confused. There is a one-to-one correlation between our physical, emotional and mental states. This correlation can be diagrammed as follows: Relaxed Breathing...

Yoga is a generic term for the various spiritual disciplines in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is practiced throughout South Asia. Its prime aim is to pave the way to higher consciousness through liberation from suffering, ignorance and rebirth. Vedic and Buddhist literature is strewn with stories of yogis who attained miraculous prowess by practicing various kinds of meditations and austerities. Today, yoga is usually practiced under the guidance of a guru or a spiritual guide. The word 'Yoga' is derived from Sanskrit where it means 'to unite'. Therefore yoga connotes an exercise in mental and moral cultivation that generates excellent health and contributes to longevity in life. The total and intrinsic...

Buddhism is a teaching which has spread worldwide absorbing the culture of each country it arrived in, which has resulted in many expressions of Buddhism. Each strand, no matter how varied in nature and practice, holds a common emphasis on the impermanence of human life. The worldwide spread of Buddhism means that it is now practiced by over three hundred million people worldwide, and thus, is generally considered to be a world religion. However, its authenticity as a religion has often come under scrutiny by intellectuals in the Western world. To explore whether Buddhism can in fact be counted as a religion we must acknowledge that the main problems arise when looking for a definition of what a...

This article is about one of the key concepts of Buddhism, Impermanence. Vipassana meditation as taught by Mr. S N Goenka stresseson the experience of impermanence within our own bodies toattain Nirvana the state beyond suffering. According to Sayagyi U Ba Khin, Mr. Goenka's Guru The awareness of Aniccais the actual meditational experience of impermanence withinour own bodies. . This is a purification process, which leadsthe meditator to experience the nirvanic peace within himself. Impermanence is central to Buddhism, and in fact can be made thecentral point of anyone's personal philosophy as he or she goesthrough life. If we take the time to think - the world that weknow is impermanent. In fact...

After water, tea is the most popular beverage on earth. It is consumed in large quantities all over the world, but is likely most popular in Asia. Tea was even discovered in Asia, and most of the world's tea is still grown in this part of the world, though India is a close second. Chinese mythology dates the discovery of tea back to 2737 BC, when, supposedly, the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung was drinking boiled water under a tree, when a leaf from this tree dropped into his cup. The Emperor decided to try the concoction and found that he loved it. He ordered a large planting of tea trees and a new crop was born. It's not certain if this story is true, historians have found stories in China about tea...

Wabi Sabi, an ancient Chinese philosophy adapted by the Japanese and practiced by many Westerners today, presents an alternative way of living more than a way of decorating your home. However, you can adapt your interior and landscape design using Wabi Sabi principles for happiness. "Wabi Sabi" (pronounced "wah-bee sah-bee") was formalized as the Zen Buddhism tea ceremony evolved. Zen Buddhism originated in India, traveled through China in the 6th Century, and to Japan in the 12th century. The ancient wisdom of Wabi Sabi practitioners helps today's busy home makers with interesting interior design ideas. Wabi Sabi interior design followers learn to relax, take time appreciate the beauty and...

Tibetan mountain ranges and landscapes are home to an immense diversity of species of rare plants and birds. Tibetan forests are also famous for its tremendous spectrum of herbs for Chinese medicines. But due to the freezing temperatures and geographical altitudes, China's tourist access to Tibet region has been very limited until recently. On July 1, 2006 Qinghai-Tibet Railroad commenced its passenger service, marking a remarkable milestone in China's infrastructure building. This opens up a way for adventurous tourists to travel from Beijing to the remote Tibet by train with a low budget. An estimated 90% of tourists would use the railroad to reach Lhasa, Tibet. It is an unique ground expedition...

If you want to experience a bit from the life of the Buddhism monks, than the first thing you need is an efficient Zen meditation instruction. Zen meditation can be a great alternative to the more classic forms of meditation and even though it might be stricter, it can be fully enjoyed, especially after some weeks of practice. What Does Zen Refer to? In order to fully understand any Zen meditation instruction, you need to understand the basis of this practice. Zen is an actual form of Buddhism which is relying more on experimental facts and wisdom, as well as on the practice of Zen mediation, also known under the name of Zazen. Zen meditation starts from the typical position called lotus which has...

One of the most popular spiritual paths that is in the news today is Buddhism - practiced by everyone from teenagers to celebrities - but just what is Tibetan Buddhism? The answer to "What is Tibetan Buddhism?" is not something that can be explained in a word, or even a paragraph. Buddhism is a very broad spiritual practice, with all branches and types of Buddhism having the same goal - to reach Nirvana. This is the state of being completely free of all obstructions to enlightenment, meaning you are free of all hateful thoughts, desires, worldly obsessions and negativity. At this time, you will enter a state of bliss that is beyond explanation - attaining Nirvana. In Tibetan Buddhism, three types of...

The Siberian Express across Russia to Moscow has been described as the best train ride in the world. Maybe not anymore. The Tibetan Railway from Qinghai to Lhasa has thrown its hat in the ring. It will eventually be extended to the Nepalese border, only an hour's drive from Kathmandu. Some things you might want to think about before boarding: Price: Tibetan Railway tickets are CHEAP, ranging from US$49 to $180 depending on how much comfort you require and where you're coming from. A soft sleeper from Beijing, a 48 hour journey, cost only $158 in early 2007. Although a travel agency might charge more than that, the frugal can purchase a ticket directly from the station. Visas: A China visa is of...

A common symbol of ancient Egyptian art works and amulets is the scarab. It lays its eggs inside a ball of dung which it rolls into a hole under the ground. This is done so the larvae would have food after they hatched. When all the dung was consumed, the young beetles come out. Egyptians considered this as a 'spontaneous creation' and worshiped the beetle as the god Khepera. Khepera was the name of a minor god in Egyptian mythology. It can also be spelled Khepri, Kheper, Khepra or Chepri. The behavior of the beetle, which maintains spherical balls of dung, is a representation of the forces which move the sun. Khepri gained a more important role in the beliefs of the Egyptians, becoming an...

Don't let life pass you by, notice the small things in life and feel alive! Do you remember as a child lying on your back on a beach or in the field and looking at the different shapes of passing clouds? If you do, you will know how enjoyable it can be to focus completely on one thing. To be receptive, you need to allow all your senses to explore the environment. The more sensory pathways you open up, the more extensive and exact your perception will become. This has been acknowledged by scientists in numerous studies. Students can memorize new material twice as well if it is presented in a visual form - for instance, as a film or video - and not just by merely listening to a lecture. This is...

Buddhism is only one of several large religions that are practiced in Asia - the others being Islam and Hinduism - so it is only natural to wonder about Buddha from a Hindu perspective. The idea of Buddha from a Hindu perspective is not as kind as one might think. Buddha is mentioned in the sacred texts of Hinduism, with Buddha being seen as one of the 25 avatars (faces) of Vishnu. Buddha is the 24th of 25 avatars, and closest to a final incarnation of Vishnu (who is the god of gods in Hinduism, or the Supreme Being). Orthodox Hinduism does not agree with any of the teachings of Buddha, however, and Buddhism is considered a nastika (literally, "it is not so") school of religion because Buddhism...

In this Buddhism religion history, I will cover its history in India. In actual fact Buddhism covered almost the whole of Asia - excluding perhaps Russia. But I cannot cover all these details in a short article. The Shakyamuni Buddha founded Buddhism through his enlightenment and teaching. He livd between 563 BC and 483 BC Buddhism gained in popularity in India mainly during the reign of King Asoka (274-236BCE) because of his patronage. Asoka is remembered in countries as far away as Japan because of his efforts to promote and spread Buddhism. Asoka played an important role in Buddhism religion history. The doctrine which arose as a result of the original Buddha's teaching is...

The vast majority of people in the world automatically and unquestioningly inherit their religion from their parents. For something as important as religion, why are we so reluctant to shop around? One Saturday morning I was sipping my coffee and reading the newspaper when the doorbell rang. This was an unusual occurrence as we lived in a somewhat isolated log cabin in the mountains outside Denver. At the door stood two attractive college-age girls who wanted to talk to me about becoming a Jehovah's Witness. Normally I would politely say, "No thanks" and return to my paper, but that morning I decided to engage with them. After hearing their initial pitch, I asked one of them, "Are your parents...

Dish Network: Super Digital Satellite TV Deals Now Availableby: John Richardson With more than 250 channels, Dish Network is the fastest-growing digital satellite television provider in the country. Serving 12 million subscribers, the company offers the best customer service and the sharpest digital satellite television available. Dishnetwork brings discriminating TV viewers the widest variety of programming, including more interactive channels, more high definition selections and more international options than any other digital satellite TV company. Subscribers to Dish Network digital satellite TV service get access to great deals and packages, as well as special upgrades. The company is...

The term 'Kung Fu' does not relate to any specific form of martial art, but rather translates as 'skill' or 'capability'. Scholars believe that the use of Kung Fu to describe the Chinese martial form originated in Hong Kong and Kwangtung province. There are documents of the Jesuit priest, Pere Amiot, writing of the 'remarkable exercises' practised by the Taoist priests of his locality which he called 'Cong Fou'. Wu Shu is traditionally the term readily used to describe the traditional Chinese martial arts, though other descriptions like Kuo-shu, Kuo-chi, Chien-shu and Tao-fa have also been used every now and then. (Wu Shu is the term these days used for Chinese martial arts by the People's Republic...

If you're operating a brick and mortar small business, chances are, you're catering to your town, city or region only. As such, your sales are limited to the market within your area. But with the internet, you can now reach a global market. Furthermore, you can reach this global market, wherever in the world they may be, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Being able to penetrate such a big market can only mean one thing, right? More sales and more profit for your enterprise! How, Exactly, Can Small Businesses Make Use Of An Internet Presence? Small businesses will benefit a lot from establishing a web presence. The demand will always be there, and a web presence will allow them to tap into such a demand...

Don't we all want to be successful? In life? As a person? In your career, job, business? The fundamental law of human achievement is the law of belief. It suggests that you always behave in a manner consistent with your beliefs. If you believe you are a Roman Catholic, then you are. If you believe you are a Buddhist, you are. If you believe you can ride a bicycle, then you can ride a bicycle. Even if you can't ride a bicycle as long as you believe you can, but if not then you will persist in failing until you can actually ride. Unfortunately, once you decide you can't ride a bicycle, then you can't. Even though we are all capable of riding a bicycle, once you believe you can't, you can't. You then...

A common symbol of ancient Egyptian art works and amulets is the scarab. It lays its eggs inside a ball of dung which it rolls into a hole under the ground. This is done so the larvae would have food after they hatched. When all the dung was consumed, the young beetles come out. Egyptians considered this as a 'spontaneous creation' and worshiped the beetle as the god Khepera. Khepera was the name of a minor god in Egyptian mythology. It can also be spelled Khepri, Kheper, Khepra or Chepri. The behavior of the beetle, which maintains spherical balls of dung, is a representation of the forces which move the sun. Khepri gained a more important role in the beliefs of the Egyptians, becoming an...

It does not take a genius for one to realize that tattoos are becoming indelible in our society today. People from all walks of life are getting themselves inked for various reasons. For some, the reasons are merely skin-deep: to increase their "level of sexiness" up a few notches, to identify themselves with a group of tattooed individuals, or to exercise their freedom and be cool. But for some, it involves a deeper, religious meaning. Religious tattoos are quite common nowadays. We see cross tattoos or religious symbols and images being sported by different individuals around. And, in all truthfulness, a few of these individuals do not fit into the bill of what a religious person should be. But...

Reiki is a system that was re-discovered by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese Christian Minister Japan. One day a student hit him with the question "do you believe in miracles" and he said, "Yes I believe in miracles," and the student said, "Well show us a miracle." This threw his life in a tailspin for awhile and he went out on a quest. This quest led him to various monasteries and he went to Tibet and Nepal and this is where Reiki started out, in Tibet and Nepal and Burma and what most people don't understand is that this a shamanism practice. It stills has its symbols thanks to Usui. He wound up fasting and not even drinking any water for like 22 days up on a mountain in Japan and on the last day...

Tibetans have been in exile since 1959; most of them live in India and have Indian papers. Their religion is Tibetan Buddhism, and their traditional system of medicine is rather like traditional Chinese Medicine - but Tibetan of course. It has been practiced for around 2,500 years. The headquarters of their Medical Institute is in Northern India, where their doctors are trained and Tibetan Medicines are made. Doctors of Tibetan Medicine are required to study for a minimum of seven years, where they learn not only the basics of their medicine, bit are required to learn poetry as well! Tibetan Medicine is called "gSoba Rig-pa" (which translates as the science of healing) and virtually all of it is...

Flowers are perhaps the most popular gift all over the world. Flowers appeal to all our senses and brighten up our lives and our hearts. Flowers convey a warm feeling to the recipient. They express the exact sentiment that one might find difficult to convey in words. The main reason for the popularity of flowers is their ability to bring good cheer and convey the right message in their own language. There are many occasions when flowers are sent to loved ones. Wedding, birthday, Mother's Day, Valentines Day, Easter/Passover, Thanksgiving Day are some such occasions when you send flowers to your friends and relatives. Wedding flowers are both decoration and a tradition. Gifting beautiful flowers...

North of the Himalayas, in western China, lies the self-governing land of Tibet. The Tibetan Plateau is the highest populated region on the planet and stands at an average elevation of 16,000 feet. To the north lie the imposing Kunlun Shan mountains, providing a natural border. At one of the last great outposts is the isolated Argin Shan Reserve, the largest nature reserve in China. The large herds of hooved animals present in this wilderness have led to its nickname 'Serengeti of Asia'. The snow leopard is a frequent visitor to the reserve but unfortunately excessive hunting means it is now an endangered species. Such imposing platformed territory offers source to some of the most powerful rivers...