This is not about religion, this is not about cultism, and this is something entirely different. While you have heard of the Dalai Lama, you might not know that he has a "spiritual advisor" known as the Oracle. The Oracle is touring the US and it's the first time the Oracle has come down from the Himalayas -- at the behest of the Dalai Lama (something that Richard Gere has been wishing to happen for eons) to bring the words of wisdom, peace and love to the people of the world and specifically the US. Who Is the Oracle? The Venerable Thupten Ngodup , or "kutenla" as he is called, is a Buddhist monk/healer and a medium. He is known as the medium of the State Oracle of Tibet. During special events he...

Japanese paintings started off taking their inspiration from the Chinese. Today that still remains the case, but women and landscapes are generally the most popular types of paintings available. When it comes to Japanese interior decorating, paintings do tend to play a big part in it. Usually the paintings which the Japanese use in their homes are Chinese in style and they often can be fairly complex and interesting to look at. It is all about attention to detail and Chinese paintings offer the Japanese exactly what they are looking for, with some Japanese painters even preferring to paint in a Chinese style themselves. Japanese Paintings throughout the Years When you look back at Japanese paintings...

The topic of this article is the concept of Karma, which iscommon to most Eastern Philosophies be it Hinduism or Buddhism. It is said that in the second watch of the night when the Buddha attained enlightenment he gained a different kindof knowledge, which complemented his knowledge of rebirth The Law of Karma. Karma is mistaken in the West as a doctrine of Fate or Predestination. It is not so. The word Karma literally meansaction and the Law of Karma is the infallible law of causeand effect, which governs the Universe. The doctrine of Karma has many implications as to how we maylead our lives. In the first place it means that all our actionswill lead to its natural consequence. We may not know...

Nestled between the waters of Auau Channel towards Lana'I Island and the strong peaks and valleys of Mauna Kahalawai, is the historic town of Lahaina. This town, sometimes known as the jewel in Maui's crown, is one of the most visited spots in the area. In fact, about 83% of Maui's visitor population (2 million people), visit the town of Lahaina annually. Lahaina is known for having quite a history that has led to a diverse cultural population. Over one thousand years ago, Polynesian settlers came to the town of Lahaina to build a home. The area was perfect as it offered numerous freshwater streams, fertile soil, beautiful weather, and pristine valleys. The area is still as beautiful today as it was...

There is a stress toy called Zen Garden that comes with a wooden tray, pure white sand and some rocks, along with a rake. The sand represents water, and the rocks, mountains. You use the rake to make patterns in the sand, resembling swirling pools or swift streams as the seller suggests, and contemplate the mountains rising out of them. This is a great aid to contemplation, reflection and meditation. Meditation has indeed been found to be a good stress reliever, with its effect of calming the mind and slowing down heartbeats. Stress toys come in all shapes and you can even order toys in your own preferred shape. They could provide short-term relief to stress, a widely prevalent problem. Relieving...

Reiki is a very simple and efficient healing system with the imposition of hands.Many people struggled to discover the origins and the age of Reiki. It is not very easy. Much useful information has not been translated into English yet and some even have never been written. The history of traditional Reiki starts in 1800, although it is assumed to be quite older. The information available before the written texts, available only through the canalization, is theoretic, yet amazing and stimulating. Although this information is not proven it is very interested and cannot be neglected. Many people, interested in Reiki, or canalization experts affirm that the human being history started on another planet...

Tea consumption became part of the way of life and culture in America, too. Though North America has only one tea plantation, about 20 miles west of Charleston in South Carolina. In England it is much more fashionable than coffee. All tea comes from the same plant Camellia sinensis an evergreen, tropical plant that originally grows in China and India. Like wine, variations in tastes and characteristics are depend on the type of soil, cultivar selection, altitude, and climate conditions where the plants are grown. Different types processing also affect the taste, as does the addition of essential oils or fragnant herbal additives. Camellia sinensis likes a deep, light, acidic and well-drained soil...

Miniature trees are originally rooted in the mountains of China, where only a specific species of plants and trees grow. Because of its hostile weather conditions, the trees were often stunted and contorted. The strong mountain winds also left these trees twisted in ice and the cold. Essentially, it is nature that has rendered the inspiration for the art of potting trees as students of the art do their best to mimic what nature has created. By training trees through specialized means of pruning and shaping them to a desired height and structure, these students of the art were able to recreate the sample nature has provided. Bonsai, a Japanese term for miniature potted trees, actually originated from...

Eighty-year-old monk Thich Nhat Hanh has been back in his native Vietnam for a month, holding a series of ceremonies aimed at healing the wounds of the Vietnam War. In the 1960's, Hanh was one of the leaders of South Vietnam's Buddhist "struggle movement," which opposed the war and the South Vietnamese government. He was later exiled, and few of today's Vietnamese remember him from that era, but many are attracted by the modernized form of Zen Buddhism he has brought from the West. Matt Steinglass reports from Ho Chi Minh City. Thich Nhat Hanh leads thousands of Vietnamese in prayer rituals at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City. The prayers are dedicated to the dead of both sides in the Vietnam...

The first-ever World Buddhist Forum to take place in China opened with more than 1,000 Buddhist monks, nuns and scholars from around the globe attending. Not present was the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom the Chinese authorities continue to ban. The forum opened with great fanfare in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou and is seen by analysts as China's attempt to show it fosters religious freedom. Among the speakers on the opening day was the Panchen Lama, the 16-year-old boy, seldom seen in public, that the Chinese Communist authorities have chosen to be the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. In remarks contained in an official translation, the Panchen...

Richard Dawkins's controversial book The God Delusion has created quite a stir. Dawkins contends that religion and belief in a supernatural creator qualify as a delusion, which he defines as a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence. "Although the debate [between atheists and believers] is often framed as 'science versus religion,' this is misleading. It isn't even scientists versus theologians. It is more about atheistic scientists expressing their antireligious beliefs openly and stridently, with theistic scientists being just as vocal in defense of their faith," said John Meakin of Vision, a Web publication issued by Vision Media and dedicated to highlighting...

I often meet people who say things like, "I've been working with mindfulness for over twenty years." My response is always this: "Oh, you poor thing! Have you tried *playing* with mindfulness? It's very effective, and much more fun!" They tend to look at me like I'm some kind of kook, and then ask the million-dollar question: "How can you play with mindfulness?" Glad you asked.... We tend to think of mindfulness as something that develops only after years of dedicated meditation. We must sit for hours, contemplate in silence for days, go on retreats for weeks, practice daily for years. Okay, that can work. The unfortunate thing is that it IS work, and consequently, it's about as appealing to most...

West Tibet's Mount Kailash, Asia's Most Sacred Peak by Tom Carter My path to purification began in the home of Shiva the Destroyer - or perhaps it was just his rubbish bin. The shantytown of Darchen at the foot of Mt Kailash in western Tibet is populated with half-naked, red-cheeked children playing in trash heaps. Teahouses running on car battery power, with dirt floors lined with old pillows, serve as bedding for road-weary pilgrims and backpackers before they start on their kora around Asia's most sacred mountain. The word kora means 'pilgrimage circuit', or simply, 'big circle'. It describes the clockwise path followed by devout followers of Buddhism and Hinduism in their effort to attain...

We will discuss the following success models. -Geshe Roach's experiences in a Wall Street diamond company as recounted in the Diamond Cutter. -ezboard.com, a customizable Web-based communities developed in 1998 by Vanchau Nguyen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. -Hewlett-Packard Company. Two of these models were started by Buddhists. Hewlett-Packard, the seed company of Silicon Valley, even though it was not started by Buddhists, has been, in the past, noted for its generous and benevolent treatment of employees, the "Hewlett-Packard Way." All these success models reinforce the concept that the seed of success and must be watered with more generosity along the way. Success Models: Geshe Michael...

There are as many types of meditation techniques as there are wonderful flavors of ice cream. This allow each person to find a flavor that is delicious to them. In this article series I will provide an overview of many of the different meditation techniques that exist and hopefully this will help you find the style that is sweetest to you. Some meditation styles suit those of an intellectual disposition, while others are more attractive to those who prefer the path of love and surrender. Still others, with an active approach to life, may like the meditation techniques involving movement, while those with a strong mind would enjoy the approach of visualization and concentration. Overall, there are...

"...Located in Northern Arizona, NAMTI provides extensive massage and bodywork training to students seeking unique careers in the healing arts. For example, one of the many career-training programs is NAMTI's 840-hour Massage Practitioner Program,* which is all-inclusive when it comes to massage diversity..." Northern Arizona Massage Therapy Institute, better known as NAMTI, is one of the leading educational institutes in massage. As a school for extensive massage and bodywork training, NAMTI boasts accreditations and endorsements from numerous state, national and international organizations like the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and the American Massage...

It's that time again, spring cleaning time that is. Clearing out wardrobes, cupboards, attics, happens now; anything not bolted down is moved, thrown out, donated to charity, cleaned, and dusted. Spring heralds the arrival of warmer weather and with it we become more active. There are so many things to see and do now without the inconvenience of having to rug up before venturing out. Spend some time in your garden and observe its rebirth, with flowers budding, the emergence of butterflies, and other creatures. When you spend a little while in your garden relaxed and open, you might just notice the subtle world of faeries. Spring, I love it! At the beginning of each season spring cleaning happens...

Feng Shui is relevant to any body. You can practice Feng Shui in any situation and living environment. Anyone who is interested in knowing about nature and is interested in improving the quality of life forself and others is sure to be benefited by Feng Shui study. But before you take up the Feng Shui study it is important to know that there are many schools of Feng Shui and there are many variations that exist within each school. What ever school you might consider for your Feng Shui study, remember the basic principles and theories (Feng Shui elements, concept of yin and yang, Feng Shui Colors ) would remain the same but there can be some variation in the tools that are used for analysis and...

The topic of this article is the concept of Karma, which is common to most Eastern Philosophies be it Hinduism or Buddhism. It is said that in the second watch of the night when the Buddha attained enlightenment he gained a different kind of knowledge, which complemented his knowledge of rebirth - The Law of Karma. Karma is mistaken in the West as a doctrine of Fate or Predestination. It is not so. The word Karma literally means action - and the Law of Karma is the infallible law of cause and effect, which governs the Universe. The doctrine of Karma has many implications as to how we may lead our lives. In the first place it means that all our actions will lead to its natural consequence. We may not...

I'm a professional dog trainer. I don't ordinarily believe in the mystical or magical. But I realize that when I do my job well, I'm not being driven by human logic or some textbook knowledge. I realize that my many years of working with dogs has taught me to be able to cast aside my human limitations and for the moments of our human/canine interaction, I can hear and understand and become one with the world inhabited by dogs. Let me try to explain. I've learned the world of dogs is a Zen like place somewhat counter-intuitive to humans. There is no such thing as time but rather a flow of events that predictably cascades through the dog's world. Breakfast is not at 7 am in a dog's world. Breakfast...

One of the impressions I have gained recently in speaking to Zen friends about practice is a certain attitude towards breathing in zazen. For the sake of brevity, and just for fun, I wish to refer to it as "samurai breathing". I think it has its origins in the martial arts. The "samurai breath' goes like this: one must push down hard on the outgoing breath, concentrating on the hara (solar plexus) and in doing so, push aside any thoughts, feelings, sensations, that get in the way, smashing through them like a karate expert would smash their hand through a brick. If you practise like this, it will give you a considerable feeling of power, like winning a contest (with yourself), and also give you a...

We mentioned the benefits of meditation in the article: Finding Clarity & Inner Stillness. If meditation is new to you, this article suggests several ways how you can start today. These suggestions are all based on my personal experience testing out various techniques over the years. I have personally found these to be helpful and hope that they can add value to your wellbeing. 1. Zazen or what swamiji calls "Just Sit". From Zen techniques and also used in transcendental meditation. This is the simplest technique of meditation: 1. Find a comfortable place. Sit with your back straight. It's important that you are not lying down or slouching as you might fall sleep. Make sure you won't be...

Gautama Buddha Born 563 B.C. Died 483 B.C. (Approximate Dates) Buddha was born a privileged prince named Siddhartha Gautama in Nepal. He lived a luxurious life with his wife, Princess Yasodhara, till the age of twenty-nine, when he realized he'd never stepped foot outside the palace gates and might actually like to take a look around. Seeing poverty and death for the first time, he began to wonder not only how the other half lives, but how to attain a state beyond birth, death, or even desire. (If it were me, I would have run back inside to the grand buffet.) Leaving the palace behind, he dabbled for six years in meditation, extreme asceticism, and self-mortification, rejecting them all for...

A land that conjures up images of mountains and temples. A place whos mystique is unmatched by any other around the world. A people who can bring a smile to any visitor`s face. These all can be found in the farthest corner of China, atop the roof of the world-Tibet. Yes, Tibet is one of kind. No other place brings to mind such majestic scenaryor spiritual splendor. This is a land that will expel any doubt to whether or not there is a supreme power. One can`t help but sense that there is something greater that exists, that could only be responsible for creating such a magnificent place. Tibet is a land of incredible points of interest. Besides home to the world`s tallest mountain, it boasts the...

When I think about Japanese gardens, I think about the bonsai trees tiny trees that dot almost every Japanese garden youll find. I personally love them. I also think about Zen Buddhism and the impact it has on these beautiful gardens. Nearly every Japanese garden Ive ever seen has been done with a Zen or Zen-like theme. The Zen theme in Japanese gardens is everywhere and not just in the garden itself. Homes with Japanese gardens often have a Zen theme as well. Its easy to feel like youre in Japan itself when walking through such a garden. I personally became fascinated with Japanese gardens from the moment I saw one. I remember the event very clearly. It was back when my mother was working in an...

The true origins of tea as a beverage are unknown, but it is believed that tea drinking began about 5,000 years ago in China, where the tea plant, "Camellia sinensis," is native. It is perhaps because of this lack of verifiable information on the beginning of tea and tea drinking that a number of legends have sprung up around the creation of tea as a beverage. The World's First Tea Drinker? One of the more popular legends of how tea drinking began center around "Shennong," who was believed to be an ancient Chinese emperor, herbalist and farmer (in fact, his name means the Divine Farmer). Shennong was fairly knowledgeable about science in his day and he believed water should be boiled in order to...

When I think about Japanese gardens, I think about the bonsai trees - tiny trees that dot almost every Japanese garden you'll find. I personally love them. I also think about Zen Buddhism and the impact it has on these beautiful gardens. Nearly every Japanese garden I've ever seen has been done with a Zen or Zen-like theme. The Zen theme in Japanese gardens is everywhere and not just in the garden itself. Homes with Japanese gardens often have a Zen theme as well. It's easy to feel like you're in Japan itself when walking through such a garden. I personally became fascinated with Japanese gardens from the moment I saw one. I remember the event very clearly. It was back when my mother was working in...

Maybe it's time to reconsider how you "live" each day. Here are a few pointers to help you along the way... Wake Up: Energize the start of your day with a massage in the shower. For those who start their day with the ritual of a morning massage under the shower, there is a more than likely chance of seeing it through with a spring in their step and a healthier future. The massage should start at the feet and be worked upwards. A coarse shower glove should be used and the massage carried out in strong circular movements from the feet to the calves and then upwards to the thighs. Hips, buttocks, and the stomach area are to be massaged with large, sweeping, circular movements. To finish, go from the...

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked about the destinations I have been to and the best places to visit, so with this in mind I will endeavour to give a good opinion on those. Here then, are my top suggestions for sites to visit during your holiday in Tibet. It is hard to believe that this beautiful country known as the roof of the world, remained unknown to the rest of that world until the beginning of the 20th century. Once discovered though it has attracted people from near and far ever since. Adventurers have been enchanted by the magical scenery, snow covered mountains and especially the county's alluring religion. Tibetan Buddhism is the...

The world is worried about depleting fuel reserves. Research is on the fast track to find alternative fuel. People need transportation which means increased consumption of fuel. With economy booming in many nations more and more people are buying cars. In 2007 the US car buyer is making fuel efficacy a prime concern when buying a car. Cars are ranked as fuel efficient based on the Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) miles per gallon ratings. The basis is 55 % of city mpg rating and 45% of highway mpg rating. Cars are now available in gas, electric, and hybrid versions apart from petrol or diesel run cars. Here is a look at fuel efficient cars as listed by : 1. Toyota Prius: ratio of 60/51 mpg...

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, I am often asked about the destinations I have been to and the best places to visit, so with this in mind I will endeavour to give a good opinion on those. Here then, are my top suggestions for sites to visit during your holiday in Tibet. It is hard to believe that this beautiful country known as the roof of the world, remained unknown to the rest of that world until the beginning of the 20th century. Once discovered though it has attracted people from near and far ever since. Adventurers have been enchanted by the magical scenery, snow covered mountains and especially the countys alluring religion. Tibetan Buddhism is the...

There are many reasons for meditating, such as meditating for relaxation, stress relief or dealing with an issue. Sometimes you may even meditate for the fun of it because of the high you get coming off a meditation session. However, sometimes you may want to meditate for a purpose or to help reinforce something you want to achieve. If you are an elite athlete you may meditate each day to help you in your mental preparation by meditating on what you will do to win your race or if you are a basketball player you may meditate on shooting a 3 point shot. You can achieve these outcomes by using phrases during your meditation session. The objective of these phrases during a meditation session is to...

There are as many types of meditation techniques as there are wonderful flavors of ice cream. This allow each person to find a flavor that is delicious to them. In this article series I will provide an overview of many of the different meditation techniques that exist and hopefully this will help you find the style that is sweetest to you. Some meditation styles suit those of an intellectual disposition, while others are more attractive to those who prefer the path of love and surrender. Still others, with an active approach to life, may like the meditation techniques involving movement, while those with a strong mind would enjoy the approach of visualization and concentration. Overall, there are...

I. The Three Intuitions IA. Eidetic Intuitions Intuition is supposed to be a form of direct access. Yet, direct access to what? Does it access directly "intuitions" (abstract objects, akin to numbers or properties - see "Bestowed Existence")? Are intuitions the objects of the mental act of Intuition? Perhaps intuition is the mind's way of interacting directly with Platonic ideals or Phenomenological "essences"? By "directly" I mean without the intellectual mediation of a manipulated symbol system, and without the benefits of inference, observation, experience, or reason. Kant thought that both (Euclidean) space and time are intuited. In other words, he thought that the senses interact with our...