Tibet overview
Tibet (older spelling Thibet; Tibetan: ??; Wylie: Bod; Lhasa dialect IPA: [p?o`?]; Simplified and Traditional Chinese: ??, Hanyu Pinyin: Xizang; also referred to as ?? (Simplified Chinese), ?? (Traditional Chinese), Zangqu (Hanyu Pinyin), see Name section below) is a plateau region in Central Asia and the indigeneous home to the Tibetan people. With an average elevation of 4,900 m (16,000 ft), it is the highest region on Earth and is commonly referred to as the "Roof of the World". Existing as a seperate nation for centuries, Tibet is today administered mostly under the People's Republic of China. Tibet is also officially claimed by the Republic of China (Taiwan). However in the Tibetan...
Tibet early history
The Tibetan language is generally considered to be a Tibeto-Burman language of the Sino-Tibetan language family, distantly related to Chinese (Sinitic languages). In general, the history of Tibet begins with the reign of Songtsän Gampo (604–650 CE). Tibet continued as a Central Asian empire until the late 9th century. Mongols & Manchus In 1240, the Mongols marched into central Tibet and attacked several monasteries. Köden, younger brother of Mongol ruler Güyük Khan, participated in a ceremony recognizing the Sa-skya lama as temporal ruler of Tibet in 1247. The Mongol khans had ruled northern China since 1215. They were the emperors of the Yuan Dynasty. Kublai Khan was a patron...
What is Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Simplified Chinese: ????) is the body of religious Buddhist doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet, the Himalayan region (including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and Sikkim and Ladakh), Mongolia, Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (Russia), and northeastern China (Manchuria: Heilongjiang, Jilin). It is a multifaceted and integrated teaching, naturally implementing methods for all human-condition levels: Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana (Tantric Path) and Ati Yoga (Dzogchen). In the past, Tibetan Buddhism was referred to by some as "Lamaism" (Teaching of spiritual teachers) but by many this is now considered inappropriate. Certain Buddhist scriptures arrived in southern Tibet from India...
Conflicts Between Spirituality And Religion
As Theologian Eugene Peterson noted, "Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to mankind. The moment a person is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of religion-fueled hate, killing and oppression is staggering." [The Message, NAV Press] There is plenty of evidence in our history books and our newspapers for this belief. And likewise, religious beliefs are a source of much clutter in our lives, even if have we never belonged to any organized religion. A huge amount of emotional baggage, here called clutter, comes along with churches, religion and God. And it is the nature of human beings to collect clutter. I'd...
Searching for Little Known Buddhism Facts Buddhism is a popular religion and philosophy that originated thousands of years ago in Asia. The popularity of Buddhism has spread and followers from many countries are involved in this philosophy. Buddhism has an estimated three hundred million followers, and is something that many individuals are interested in learning about, but they do not necessarily know where to start. The history of and facts about Buddhism are taught in many schools around the world. However, there are additional ways to learn the facts about Buddhism. To research Buddhism, traditional methods should be followed. There is a variety of different locations and resources for obtaining...
Offering jewelry as a spiritual gift
Jewelry is part of our daily lives. When two people get married, they exchange wedding rings, a perfect circle symbolizing unity and continuity. But jewelry can be offered on other occasions as well. And what if you could offer someone a gift bearing some special meaning and be a beautiful piece of jewelry at the same time? David Weitzman's website is a great source for beautiful jewelry endowed with special energies. The spiritual gift section of the website will unveil beautiful designs based on symbols from major religions around the world and mystic concepts, which promote unity, harmony and love. Here are some examples of jewelry and their meanings. The engravings on the ring of Tao are in...
The Last Shih Tzu To Leave Peking
The Japanese occupation of Peking in late 1937 stopped future dog shows. Breeding in Peking continued on a limited scale. There were a few accounts of Shih Tzu in Asia during this period of time.Mrs. Audrey Fowler of England was a great lover of the Shih Tzu and tried diligently to acquire breeding stock without much success. Her interest in the little dogs began in 1935. Mrs. Fowler made many trips to various sections of cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai looking for the golden long-haired dogs. Mrs. Fowler was acqauinted with a man named Dr. Vincent Nesfield who did acquire a gold and white Shih Tzu back in 1904.In 1904, Dr. Vincent Nesfield, a medical officer in the Younghusband Expedition to...
How to Feel Better Naturally: Simple Tips for Meditating Stress Away
Once considered an exotic and exclusively spiritual practice, expert doctors and scientists now credit meditation with alleviating a host of physical and mental ailments such as anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and chronic fatigue.But what comes to mind when you think of meditation? Is it monks wearing enlightenment on their sleeves, drinking super caffeinated green tea, levitating at will, and disappearing into tree-lined monasteries for days, weeks, or years at a time? Is it gym yoga classes complete with $22.95/pair purple pastel blocks and trendy attractive people in the front row? The gazillion ads for guided meditation CDs that pop-up whenever you put "meditation" into a search engine...
Russian Tea drinking - The beginning
It is believed history of Russian tea drinking tradition have began at 1638.That year, Russian Czar, Michael Fedorovich, granddad of Peter the Great, got special, diplomatic gift from Altyun-Khan, ruler of Mongolia. Altyun - Khan means "Golden Khan" and He was known for applying Lamaism at Mongolia.Exactly, Althyn - Khan at 1578 used title "Dalai-Lama", which means "The sea of Wisdom" and later son of Althyn-Han have became Dalai-Lama IV.Czar Michael Fedorovich was known for conquer of Siberia which happened under His rule.At that times Russians was at northern borders of Tibet and Mongolia, approached Kamchatka and Yakutia.That is why that gift happened. Anyway, as a result of that , at 1679...
Destination Freedom
I don't know about you but these days I often hear people using the word 'enlightenment' as if it's a common experience. According to Buddhism enlightenment is the complete cessation of all sufferings and a permanent state of peace and happiness.Not many people there yet then!Everyone wants more freedom. And as you know real freedom comes from within. Our sense of the external reality around us is strongly influenced by our internal 'maps' of reality. From time to time we have certain thoughts that restrict our sense of freedom. These thoughts are sometimes beliefs that were formed earlier in our life and are now out of date! Other times our thoughts are clouded by impaired perception.One...
Two Types Of Spirituality ... Faith And Knowledge
The term spirituality is a confusing term. Usually, when one mentions spirituality, the first thought in many people's minds is that of religion. While religion is an aspect of spirituality, spirituality is not an aspect of religion. Spirituality covers other areas of belief as well. Put simply, spirituality is the all-encompassing arena of belief in something greater. This can be a god, oneself as the greater being, or simply, the life-force or essence that surrounds us all. But, society and religion lead their followers in many different directions replacing the core meanings with moralistic and idealistic terms in hopes of garnering attention by answering those big questions pertaining to life...
Is Buddhism A Religion?
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...
Dalai Lama Short Biography
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and has travelled extensively around the world offering the message of Tibetan Buddhism.The Dalai Lama was born in the small Tibetan village of Takster in Northern Tibet. His original name being Tenzin Gyatso. At the age of 2 Tenzin was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama. Thus from an early age the Dalai Lama spent many years studying Tibetan scriptures and he completed a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy by the age of 25.The Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom...
Prayer to Ganesha: On Religion and Writer's Block
For those who are unfamiliar with the Hindu gods, Ganesha is the elephant-headed god of overcoming obstacles. He also happens to be the patron god of writers. Apparently writer's block has been around for quite some time.I realize that a belief in multiple "gods" is considered sacrilegious by some. Both Christians and Muslims, for example, are quite strict about their belief in the One True God. But these arguments have arisen more from semantics than from any underlying philosophical divide. Even if there is only One God, still there are many aspects of God--truth, justice, honor, integrity, trust, faith, joy, peace... Using the word "god" to depict the Hindu representations of the divine is really...
The Buddhist Way of Meditation
The ultimate aim of a Buddhist is to attain nirvana. The nirvana is a state where one is liberated from all bindings and does not have to go through the cycle of birth and death. Meditation is a set of techniques through which a Buddhist can realize the state of nirvana.But before that, meditation is a way to cultivate the mind. Buddhism teaches meditation as a way to reach the state of mindfulness. Mindfulness is that state of consciousness where the practitioner is fully aware of his states of mind. He is aware of each thought and each reaction passing through his mind. He knows himself much more than an ordinary person.Buddha's teachings centre on the concept of 'Four Noble Truths'. First...
Michael Ricci was weeding the Tea House garden when I arrived for our interview. We sat in front of the little tea "hut" at Buddhist-inspired Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where in just one hour I would scoot through the tiny doorway on my knees to participate in my first Japanese Tea Ceremony along with his students and other newcomers.Michael found the Tea Ceremony (Chado) through Japanese Zen Buddhism. "I started reading about Zen and I kept coming across references to tea. I called up Naropa and they happened to be offering their first class on it through the extended studies program. There was one position left. I came and immediately fell in love with it." He adds, "It seemed like the...
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous boredom; Or to take arms against a sea of Twinkles, And by opposing end them? When Shinichi Suzuki introduced his method of instructing students in the art of playing the violin it was somewhat controversial.It was, he said, a more natural way of learning. The idea was to learn to play the violin the same way that a person would learn to speak their native language, the so-called "mother tongue approach" to music education.Suzuki also explored an area which became known as "talent education." The word "saino" in Japanese can be translated ability or talent. But it can also be used to mean the development of an ability or...
All in 1 Natural Medicinal Herb: Shilajit
Shilajit is one the important Ayurvedic compounds that rejuvenates the body...
Creative Zen Vision - Shall We Take A Look At An Award Winner
The Creative Zen Vision is Creative Labs' newest addition to their successful line of portable media players. A 30GB video player it plays songs, displays photos, along with video collections. Creative Labs is the well-known C.E.S. award-wining family who, in May of 2006, won the "Red Dot Design Award" for Zen Vision's superior design quality, lightweight pocket-size, and innovation from Essen Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, in Germany. Also, in November of 2005, it was the winner of the "100 Best Gadgets of 2005" for the personal video player from Gadget Magazine, Indonesia.The Zen Vision has won awards for many reasons, with the main one its ability to enjoy 120 hours of movie screenings...
Choosing the Best Dating Site for You
Choosing the right dating site can be daunting. For one, there are thousands of dating and matchmaking sites on the web. Two, each including popular dating sites, is tailored to meet specific needs or objectives. Three, what's good for one person is not necessarily good (or right) for another.So, how do you find the best dating site for you? Here are some pointers to help narrow the field and make it easier for you to make the right choice.1. Know what you are looking for. Are you seeking a serious or casual relationship? If seeking a serious relationship, go to a site that caters to that. If seeking encounters or casual relationships, you'll be wasting time if you sign up with serious relationship...
Learning Buddhist Beliefs - An Elegant Introduction
In The Heart of Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of the Buddha. Namely, he outlines The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eight-fold Path and several other basic buddhist teachings. Hanh also works into the text well translated ancient buddhist texts as well as several parables from the Buddha himself as well as general buddhist tradition. Hanh references his own life as a monk in Vietnam on occasion, both in times of war and peace.This is the first book I've read on Buddhism, and Hanh, with elegant prose opened my eyes to a new world of spiritual belief. I've read quite a bit of Western Philosophy and although I've found it both interesting and well grounded, there...
Tibetan Monastic Life in the Past and Present
Although numerous books have been written on the teachings and philosophy of the Buddha, little is known about the manner in which that philosophy is put into practice, that is to say, how Buddhist monks live and work and how the monastic system functions. The Tibetan monastic life, in particular, deserves special attention within a study of the religious life of human history. The entire social, political and cultural history of Tibet and other central Asian countries was greatly influenced by the monasteries...
The Tibetan Terrier: A Nomad's Dog
There are three breeds of dogs that stem from the high mountain regions of Tibet. The Tibetan Terrier, the Tibetan Spaniel and the Tibetan Mastiff. All three are indigenous to the region and were known to be in existence as long as 1000 years ago. The Himalayan regions of Tibet encompass high cold mountains and hot deserts and grassy flat plateaus. The dogs that developed are hardy and adaptable because of the harsh regions in which they originated. The people of Tibet are wanderers and nomadic in nature. they did not purposely breed dogs. Thus the Tibetan Terrier, known for being of compact size, possessing double coat and great agility and large flat feet, suitable for crossing the rugged...
What is the Color of the Wind?
"What is the color of the wind?""Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.""When I eat, I eat. When I sleep, I sleep.""What is your original face, before your mother and father were born?"These are all Zen sayings. Zen is a branch of Buddhism that teaches about mastering the mind, and releasing a distorted sense of reality. Instead of attempting to grasp reality, but Zen philosophy teaches people to observe, accept, and acknowledge reality. Zen also teaches practitioners about realizing or acknowledging the enlightened nature already within themselves.Now in the new book A Collection of Wisdom, author Rodney Ohebsion shares some of the best of Zen, all in a clear...
Learning Buddhist Beliefs - An Elegant Introduction
In The Heart of Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of the Buddha. Namely, he outlines The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eight-fold Path and several other basic buddhist teachings. Hanh also works into the text well translated ancient buddhist texts as well as several parables from the Buddha himself as well as general buddhist tradition. Hanh references his own life as a monk in Vietnam on occasion, both in times of war and peace.This is the first book I've read on Buddhism, and Hanh, with elegant prose opened my eyes to a new world of spiritual belief. I've read quite a bit of Western Philosophy and although I've found it both interesting and well grounded, there...
Bonsai Trees - Our Own Little Forest
Bonsai trees have been grown in China and Japan for centuries. Buddhist priests were the ones that created them and, in some centuries time, everyone could enjoy the little trees. And, by little we mean little: a bonsai tree can live up to hundreds of years without being more than 1m high. By regularly cutting down the branches and by shortening the roots, the growing is stopped. More, by not providing the full required elements to grow, the trees remain little. Those really interested in Bonsai trees should know that this is a hobby that requires a lot of responsibility and time, because they are living trees, not some dead wood.Everyone should consider the fact that, especially during the growing...
Home Decorating with Asian Decor and Asian Furniture
One of the recent trends in home decorating is the influence of the Far East. With its simplicity and attention to space, this lends itself well to our hectic Western lifestyle. A lot of the elements of Asian home decorating can be trace back to two schools of thought, one originating from China and the other from Japan.Feng Shui is a Chinese concept of space and object placement. Feng Shui associates the home with both health and prosperity. There are various rooms in which Feng Shui is more prevalent. The kitchen is one of them. Couple this perspective with the role of the kitchen as "the heart of the home," and you can see that any feng shui in this room can have a significant impact on your...
Celtic Designs Symbolism in Jewelry
The Triquetra:It's a triangular Celtic knot design which symbolizes all trinities, in Latin stands for "three cornered". The symbol has been found on 5000 year old Indian religious sites. In Europe the symbol itself dates as early as the eighth century on carved stones.It has different meanings in each of those cultures but commonly represents eternity. For some it symbolizes life, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature: earth, air, and water. It may symbolize the Celtic beliefs that everything has three distinct yet interlocked levels - physical, mental and spiritual.Christianity re-invented the symbolism of three to mean the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.It symbolizes that the Holy...
The Top 5 Holiday Destinations
The heap of anguish caused by the claustrophobic city life can only be eradicated when you take a stride down the blue beaches of Australia or relax at the foot of Christ De Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. When life demands too much and you want to escape from this mundane world, take a flight to one of your desired destinations and spend the holiday there with your loved ones. Give yourself a chance to enjoy the gorgeous Greek Island, scintillating Cuba or the magical Thailand. The unparalleled exquisiteness of the five top destinations below is alluring visitors to feast on the amazing beauty. 1. Australia - Whitsunday Islands The spectacular scene of Australia has made it the suitable holiday...
India: Next Leader of the World
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country and the largest democracy in the world. India has a coastline of over seven thousand kilometres, and borders Pakistan to the west, Nepal, the People's Republic of China and Bhutan to the north-east, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, it is adjacent to the island nations of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia.Home to the Indus Valley Civilization, a centre of important trade routes and vast empires, India has long played a major role in human history. Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism, all have their origins in...
Native American Astrology: The Hawk (March 21 - April 19)
The Hawk is the first sign of the Native American astrology, it heralds spring and the end of winter. If you are born under this sign, you were born at the "Time of Awakening".Hawks have many of their own peculiarities and distinctions. For instance, if you're a hawk, the direction that best suits you is north east. The East wind carries good tidings for you and your traditional totem animal is the falcon (or more popularly now, the raven).The element that you're most closely connected to is fire. Hawks often possess a powerful and intense personality marked by a recurrent habit of spontaneous activity. This spills over into their love lives, where hawks are firey, passionate and spontaneous...
Creating Superfolk III
"Our lives are gifts from God. What we do with our lives is our gift to God." I have seen this expression on wall hangings and I think it a very useful and positive sentiment to hold. If this sounds right to us, it then stands to reason that our children are also gifts from God and what we do with them is our gift to God. Our mission and purpose in the parental role would seem to be to maximize the value of our gifts. If we would tell ourselves each day how blessed we are to have the children we do, or may have some day, we see our duty to them quite clearly and we live this core belief.When we love our children, all children in this way, we increase their value far beyond gold, silver and precious...
Meridia Lawyer: Meridia Diet Pill Side Effects
Following the recall of Fen-Phen and Redux in 1999 (two diet drugs that cause heart valve diseases) Meridia was released. Meridia is a diet drug similar to the ones that were recalled...
All Major Religions Believe in a God
It is said that all major religions believe in God or a God. Some major religions believe in multiple gods in one entity or many gods with different attributes. But this does not mean that a god or gods exist at all. Just because billions of people in the planet have been brainwashed from the time they were very young into a religious following or organized cult does not mean it is real or that there even is a God.It is similar to the innate characteristic of human beings to follow others rather than think for themselves. After all it is easier to follow than to lead. Many people believe that the reason that humans believe in a God is it allows them to communicate with a higher source than self...
Learning Buddhist Beliefs - An Elegant Introduction
In The Heart of Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of the Buddha. Namely, he outlines The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eight-fold Path and several other basic buddhist teachings. Hanh also works into the text well translated ancient buddhist texts as well as several parables from the Buddha himself as well as general buddhist tradition. Hanh references his own life as a monk in Vietnam on occasion, both in times of war and peace.This is the first book I've read on Buddhism, and Hanh, with elegant prose opened my eyes to a new world of spiritual belief. I've read quite a bit of Western Philosophy and although I've found it both interesting and well grounded, there...
The Royal Prince of Buddha's Realm
Millions of years ago, there was a wise teacher called Amala-Surya-Tathagata. The king who rules the kingdom had a daughter named Da Hui. One day Princess Da Hui knelt down before Amalas-Surya-Tathagata and asked him to transform her into a man, so that she could achieve to Bodhisattvahood.The teacher replied, "So long as you aspire to be the mind of supreme benevolence and accomplish wholesome merits, you will be able to turn into a man."Upon hearing this, Da Hui instantly became a man. He thus renounced the world and began his practice. After a long time, he became Manjusri Bodhisattva.Who is Manjusri?Gautama Buddha had two close assistants - Samanthabhadra on His right and Manjusri on His left...
Dalai Lama Short Biography
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and has travelled extensively around the world offering the message of Tibetan Buddhism.The Dalai Lama was born in the small Tibetan village of Takster in Northern Tibet. His original name being Tenzin Gyatso. At the age of 2 Tenzin was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama. Thus from an early age the Dalai Lama spent many years studying Tibetan scriptures and he completed a doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy by the age of 25.The Dalai Lama means Ocean of Wisdom...
Deity Passes Over Kansas and Nebraska This Year - New Religion on How to Avoid Smiting Breaks Out
Well, the people of Nebraska and Kansas must finally be towing the line...and we are all going to see the benefits!LINCOLN, Neb. -- Meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in Hastings are feeling lucky this year.The 30-county area they serve in central Nebraska and north-central Kansas hasn't had a confirmed tornado for the first six months of this year. That hasn't happened since 1950"It's quite unusual," said Steve Kisner, warning coordination meteorologist in the Hastings office. "We're glad Mother Nature is keeping everybody safe -- again showing the unpredictability of the weather."Between five and 10 tornadoes usually hit the office's coverage area between Jan. 1 and June 30...
Masochism
I have stated throughout all of my works that there is one undying principle that I will abide by. This principle is freedom. When I can go to a library or book store, and pick up any book that captures my imagination, and delve through the pages as I begin to think -- to know that I can do this, is freedom. When I can walk into any business or public building, without being told that I have to leave because of my race or social class -- to know that I can do this, is freedom. Knowing that I can believe any religion that I judge to be accurate, knowing that I can make my own decisions in what my creed is, knowing that I can associate with whomever I desire, knowing that it is not a crime to love...
Breaking Our Addiction To World Religion; Is It Possible?
The World has a Supply and Demand issue with World Religion and it is time that the human species break her addiction to foreign World Religions to head off the coming Global Heated Disaster of future conflicts, chaos and controversies leading to international terrorist attacks, genocide and World War Three.We need a Kutoff Treaty to stop this insanity and all nations must sign it as soon as possible. Each nation must work to control and terminate its toxic religious condemnation of other cultures and religions and control its emissions of radical fundamentalist beliefs.The World must break her addiction to World Religions so that the future of the human race can be realized. If we fail to fix this...
All in 1 Natural Medicinal Herb: Shilajit
Shilajit is one the important Ayurvedic compounds that rejuvenates the body...
All About Japanese Lacquer and Exquisite Sprinkled Pictures
Before I describe these unique and beautiful works of art, exclusively Japanese, I feel that you need to know more about lacquer, the extraordinary medium that was used. Only then will you fully appreciate these brilliant creations.For readers who are unfamiliar with old Japanese lacquer, I suspect you will be thinking of the typical modern lacquer trays and bowls that are mass-produced. These items are very decorative, but completely fail to compare with the magnificent earlier hand made works.FROM CHINA TO JAPANLacquer is really the sap from a tree known as 'Rhus Vernicifera'. The Chinese were the first to discover and use it, at least a century before Christ, when it was used as a paint, and more...
The Place Which is Easy to Find and Hard to Leave
When I look from different apartments in Kiev I always convince myself that it is one of the most picturesque cities in Eastern Europe. It is one of the most beautiful and charming ones as well, and, undoubtedly one of the most important political centers. But how many people know that this city with its apartments, streets, and boulevards is one of the most ancient cities in the world?How old is Kiev?! It is not very easy to answer this question. There is not any definite resource that can indicate the precise age of this ancient city, reliable information is also missing.Many archeologists however hold the opinion that the first settlement in Kiev can be dated back more than 15000 years ago...
Getting the Best Out of Xanax
Human psychology has already accepted the co-existence of good and evil right from the moment Adam and Eve ate the apple of knowledge. There is happiness with sorrow, pleasure with pain, truth with lie, beauty with ugliness and so forth. You have seen the happy moments of your life as well as the moments of sorrow. Sometimes the memory and fear of the bad time keeps on haunting you and you are so much overwhelmed that you forget to smile. Are you depressed and full of anxiety all the time? Are you in a situation which can be called a disorder?Do not underestimate your depression and anxiety, they are real life enemies and you should never underestimate your enemies. Let me tell you the symptoms of...
Michael Ricci was weeding the Tea House garden when I arrived for our interview. We sat in front of the little tea "hut" at Buddhist-inspired Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where in just one hour I would scoot through the tiny doorway on my knees to participate in my first Japanese Tea Ceremony along with his students and other newcomers.Michael found the Tea Ceremony (Chado) through Japanese Zen Buddhism. "I started reading about Zen and I kept coming across references to tea. I called up Naropa and they happened to be offering their first class on it through the extended studies program. There was one position left. I came and immediately fell in love with it." He adds, "It seemed like the...
The Last Shih Tzu To Leave Peking
The Japanese occupation of Peking in late 1937 stopped future dog shows. Breeding in Peking continued on a limited scale. There were a few accounts of Shih Tzu in Asia during this period of time.Mrs. Audrey Fowler of England was a great lover of the Shih Tzu and tried diligently to acquire breeding stock without much success. Her interest in the little dogs began in 1935. Mrs. Fowler made many trips to various sections of cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai looking for the golden long-haired dogs. Mrs. Fowler was acqauinted with a man named Dr. Vincent Nesfield who did acquire a gold and white Shih Tzu back in 1904.In 1904, Dr. Vincent Nesfield, a medical officer in the Younghusband Expedition to...
The Emerald Buddha
The Emerald Buddha is a figurine of a sitting Budha, that is the is the palladium of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Buddha is made of green jade, suprisingly not of emerald, clothed in gold is approximately 45 cm tall. The Buddha is kept in the Chapel of the Emerald Buddha, which is located on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.Legend tells that that the Emerald Buddha was created in Pataliputra, India, which is now the city of Patna in 43 BCE by Nagasena. Other great historians beleive that it belongs to the Chiang Saen Style of the 15th century. The legend says that, it remained in Pataliputra for 300 hundred years, until it was taken to Sri Lanka to save it from a civil war. It was then in...
Meditations in Mongolia: Promoting Peace Compassion & Tolerance with the Kalachakra, Wheel of Time
In Mongolia as in other regions of Central Asia a diverse set of Buddhist traditions have been cultivated by the Buddhist faithful. Among these traditions, perhaps some of the most important customs are those associated with Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, and more specifically, a particular symbol known as the "Kalachakra, Wheel of Time". The "Kalachakra" "Wheel of Time" is a "Mandala"; a Buddhist symbol that has a round, perfectly shaped symmetrical form. It is divided into four separate sections; each of them contributing to a single unitary shape.Recognized in many regions throughout much of the world today, the "Mandala", first appeared as a religious representation of Hindu, and afterward Buddhist...
Spiritual Retreat
What is a spiritual retreat? Basically, a spiritual retreat is a moment that is spent apart from our ordinary life, to leave the noise and distractions of the city and focus on our soul...a time of rest and reflection.Commonly, when someone refers to a spiritual retreat, a physical place to settle down comes in our mind and people from all over the world go there for one purpose: to attain full spiritual awakening, to relax and return to an awareness of the spiritual life.Spiritual retreats goal is, primarily, to place an opportunity for spiritual people and new spiritual seekers where they can interact with a guru or spiritual teacher in a space containing strong energies. Nevertheless, each...
Visit Exotic Bhutan
Bhutan is one of the to the highest degree isolated nations in the world, extraneous determines & tourism are heavily governed by the government to preserve its traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture. most Bhutanese adopt either the Drukpa Kagyu or the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. The official language is Dzongkha (lit. "the oral communication of the dzong").Bhutan is frequently described as the last surviving refuge of traditional Himalayan Buddhist culture. Non-Buddhists complain of man rights offences approximately 100,000 ethnic Nepali (who are generally Hindu) left the country in the 1980s as they were unhappy with new government insurances planned to bring down the growing...
Review - Sony PSP
I'm fairly certain there are folks at Nintendo feeling some serious self-loathing right about now. You see, back in the mid-90's Nintendo contracted Sony to develop a CD-ROM drive for the Super Nintendo. As the project progressed, a number of factors (one of them being the spectacular failure of the Sega CD and its' followup the 32X) led Nintendo to can the project. Sony was left holding the bag, with a CD-based gaming system but no one to sell it to.Making proverbial lemonade from lemons, Sony turned around and produced what is perhaps the most successful game console in history, the Sony Playstation. The result? For the first time in history, Nintendo took second place in the video game console...