Kagyu Nl

What Is Religion? Religion has existed for thousand years, but still there is no concise and even accurate definition of religion, which would reflect the nature of this phenomenon. Every person has his own understanding of religion interpreting things in a peculiar way. In the world, there are dozens contemporary religions exist, and there were dozens of "dead" religions which disappeared. Nevertheless, it does not diminish their role in general formation process. Taking into account the nature of religion, it is possible to say that religion is a strict, unwritten code of essential rules (including morals and traditions) established by humans in order to control social life of the society. Unity...

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 make it...

Why does it matter the name that we give the Creator of ther universe? The difficult but unvarnished answer is because every religion thinks that ALL other religions are heretical and false. And since each religion has it's own name for this Creator, to even verbalize the name of another religion's God is tantamount to anathema. In other words, you will be run out of your church, denomination, or religion on a fast rail. Why are so sensitive, biased, prejudiced, judgmental, and intolerant? That's a lot of adjectives! One of the most well know religious historians is Huston Smith. Huston Cummings Smith was born in 1919 and is among the preeminent religious scholars in the United States. His work, The...

It's easy to calm down quickly. No matter what is happening around us, we never have to become trapped in stress or anxiety. It's important to learn how to calm down quickly this as negative emotions can easily become addictive. The longer we hold onto them, the harder it can be to let go. Zen offers many pathways to becoming free of negativity. This article is based upon Zen principles and value-centered counseling. It offers enjoyable and effective steps to calming down, feeling good about yourself and finding that peaceful place in the storm. Open The Treasure House Within In Zen students are told: "Open the treasure house within." This is a reminder that we are all are endowed with many...

If there is a core message (and there are many) in the second creation story which according to experts was written around 1,000BCE whereas the creation story in Genesis 1 was written 500 years later (500BCE). For me, and this is a personal position that I take (and far more people down through history than you can imagine as well), the so-called FALL of man is summed up in three words or concepts: separation, belief in two powers, and limitation. Let's review it. We are to be ONE! That's the message behind the message in Genesis 2 and 3. In the New Testament the message that Jesus brought is that we are ONE with God. Body and soul work together as ONE unit. My body cannot do what my soul (mind...

Religion for me has been a bewildering and reluctant adversary. For the longest time religion meant belief in some strangers prescription for salvation. As one matures and questions their life and the role of religion in it, certain sticking points become clear. Why so many different perceptions of religion? Why so many different versions of religion? Why so much mutual exclusivity of the various religion doctrines? Belief in one religion shouldn't automatically exclude an individual from believing or practicing in another. That's ridiculous. The different and varying threads in the spirituality of religion have far more in common then their proponents would care to admit to. It's almost as...

Nike, which takes the first place in American sport shoes market and shares the market of 40%, has absolute advantages. However, its overlord status is challenged frequently by Adidas, Puma, Newbalance in recent years. Nike, which takes the first place in American sport shoes market and shares the market of 40%, has absolute advantages. Nike is good at advertising and technological innovation, like to invite sport stars to be its spokesman, and nike dunks, jordan shoes, nike air force one of Nike are particularly favored by customers.. Nike has a strong ability of Research and Development, its new style is always fashionable in appearance and professional in function, such as nike dunks, jordan...

Reincarnation means that the soul is changing bodies. This change of bodies occurs not only at death, but throughout life; from boyhood to youth to old age, then to a baby's body. These moment by moment changes are too small for the person to be aware of, but when we consider greater amounts of time, then the change of bodies is obvious. The change of body known as death is the most apparent. The Bhagavad-gita compares the change of body at the time of death to a person discarding old and useless clothes, and putting on new garments. Regardless of whatever plans and adjustments we make, our body eventually wears out, and we are obliged to accept a new one. Although everyone must die, still we are...

If you wanted to redesign your home interior in the Zen style, what would it look like and where would you start? You might imagine scenes of peace and tranquillity, perhaps a link with nature, for some it might conjure up images of a minimalist Japanese style. There certainly wouldn't be any clutter or loud colours and complex patterns to distract the eye, or extra bits of furniture, or lots of ornaments and paraphernalia. Zen is anything but tangible so how can we best describe it? What is Zen? Even though the Zen style is becoming increasingly popular in interior design, it is possibly one of the most difficult styles to define because in a way, it isn't really a style at all, neither is it just...

The Sultanate of Brunei is a small but thanks to natural gas and petroleum resources very rich country located in Southeast Asia. It is surrounded by Malaysia and has two parts physically separated by Malaysia, almost being an enclave. Strategically located on the South China Sea, close to vital sea lanes linking Indian and Pacific Oceans, it has an exclusive economic fishing zone that extends as far as Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands although it makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs. The tiny, but thriving, Islamic Sultanate of Brunei perches on the north western coast of Borneo, completely encircled by the East Malaysian state of Sarawak which divides it in two. It...

India, though with a very small percentage of Buddhist population, is still a hotspot when it comes to selecting a destination for Buddhist holiday. The sheer number of Buddhist sites here is wonderful. Also, India, being the land where Buddhism originated makes it one of the top most destination for a vacation. So, what are the sites that a Buddhist, or for that matter anyone interested in Buddhism, should visit in India? The top ten of these sites are Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Ladakh, Ajanta Ellora Caves, Dharamsala, Sanchi, Nalanda, Sikkim an Arunachal Pradesh. The first three of these - Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar - are amongst the four sacred sites in Buddhism. Bodhgaya is the place...

A huge locomotive has rushed on over the line and a small worm that was creeping upon one of the rails saved its life by crawling out of the path of the locomotive. Yet this little worm, so insignificant that it can be crushed in a moment, is a living something, while this locomotive,so huge,so immense,is only an engine, a machine. You say the one has life and the other is only dead matter and all its powers and strength and speed are only those of a dead machine,a mechanical contrivance. Yet the poor little worm which moved upon the rail and which the least touch of the engine would have deprived of its life is a majestic being compared to that huge locomotive. It is a small part of the Infinite...

Whether you follow the evolution of the ancient Indian alphabet or take pleasure in the elaborate decoration of the palace buildings, Thai culture is one you'll never tire of experiencing. From the sweet and spicy balance of Thai cuisine to the nature-based city tours, you will encounter the sense of an overall embrace of spirituality when exploring Thailand culture. The Art of Expression From the everyday essence of their arts, it is clear that Thai cultural expression is heavily influenced by the religion of the land. To truly appreciate the beauty of Thai art, a traveler to the land should pay visits to an assortment of temples, palaces, architectural sites, as well as displays of paintings...

Although they are commonly referred to as bowls, they are technically a standing bell. They are not hung upside down or put on a handle, but stand alone on the bottom side. By tapping with a wooden mallet, or rubbing the rim with a leather covered piece of wood, a Tibetan singing bowl can be made to sound. They have been used for centuries by Buddhists and others as an aid to meditation, health care, relaxation and certain religious practices. They are also more correctly known as Himalayan Singing Bowls, for their traditional ranges of occurrence are Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, India, China, Tibet, and Afghanistan. Although they are associated Buddhism, they date before Buddhism. Some scholars believe...

Buddhism is becoming a widespread way of thinking in the world. Once limited to the regions of Asia where it was first begun, Buddhism is now one of the fastest growing belief systems in the world. Founded by Gautama Buddha, around the fifth century BCE, Buddhism began when this man decided to leave all of his possessions behind and try to find his meaning in the world. He went through many phases of starving himself, working with teachers, and long periods of meditation. At one point, when he has been meditating for a much longer time, Buddha is said to have become enlightened while sitting under a tree, losing his ignorance of the world. In this enlightened state, Buddha is known for founding the...

"The 'Losar' festival is associated or connected with the tribes of 'Monpas' and 'Sherdukpens' and it is accounted as the new year festival by the people following the 'Mahayana' sect of Buddhism. 'Losar' festival is celebrated continuously for seven days annually amidst great enthusiasm and with pomp and gaiety by the Monpas and Sherdukpens. Generally, the 'Losar' is celebrated during the last part January and in the first part of February.about LOSAR : The 'Losar' festival being with the performance of 'Tongchin' worship in the village monasteries (Gompas). According to the existing belief, after Tongchin, this two tribes performs 'Marme' worship to have a good and beautiful life in the next...

You visit India not only for its heritage or cultural wealth. For the quest of psychological peace, you come to India also. India temple tour package is availed each year by a massive number of visitors. And the disciples of Lord Buddha rush to India for enjoying the Buddha temple travel packages obtainable in India. You arrive to Delhi. After breakfast, trip the historic city of old Delhi to include the superb Red Fort, Jama Masjid, biggest mosque in Asia, both built by Shahjahan, Rajghat-memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, the "Father of the Nation". Afternoon, tour of New Delhi to include Humanyun Tomb, Qutab Minar, India Gate, Birla Mandir, Bahai shrine. Leave for airport for early morning flight to...

Meditation has become a contemporary, trendy topic in today's society. Most people have a definite view on meditation. For Buddhists, meditation is a system of delving into the true spiritual meaning on life a way of keeping oneself pure in mind and spirit. According to their teachings and beliefs, meditation is a way of achieving the status of enlightenment and nirvana. At the core of Buddhist practice is meditation. Buddhist meditation is a system where the practitioner subjects themselves to mental concentration for liberating the mind while associating importance to the virtue of knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. The final goal of Buddhist meditation is to achieve the highest level of nirvana...

The Iittala Company has developed a wide ranging number of designs giftware in various innovative materials and finishes of fashionable man made jewelries, home decor, crafts, leather goods, handbags, wallets and more, this help turn your life from ordinary into the extraordinary. In many Asian cultures the carp is a simple of good fortune. With this in mind Artel has designed the carp vase, a striking glass vase with a shape inspired by ancient Asian vessels and featuring a colorful carp motif of green and gold. The carp vase makes use of multiple artistic techniques to create the finished piece. The glass is first hand blown, then sand blasted to give the pearl finish, the waves and carp are then...

In the early 1850s, the English traveler, Francis Egerton, visited Nepal and described the city of Kathmandu as he saw it then: "A picturesque and quaint looking temple and a cluster of wide-eaved houses, profusely adorned with carved woodwork, form a pretty foreground. In the plain below is a broad river, on the opposite bank of which stands the town, with its numberless Chinese-looking temples, the brass work with which they are ornamented glittering in the sun." Kathmandu has been "off limits" to most foreigners for many years since then, and it was only in 1951 that tourists were permitted to visit Nepal. Set in the small Kathmandu Valley and surrounded by high mountains, Kathmandu is a medieval...

Shrouded in mystery and somewhat secret, is the Faerie Tradition of Wicca. It was integral part of worship in ancient times and was practiced through the ages by Celtic and European Witches, African Shamans, Indian American Medicine Men and Hawaiian Ka-hunas, amongst others. The modern Faerie Tradition was established in the 1940s under the leadership of Victor Anderson and was developed by him, his wife Cora, and several important Faerie or Feri (as Victor spelt it) teachers during the years that followed. So, what are the elements of the Faerie tradition and what are the principles? 1. Energy The Faerie tradition is more an ecstatic than a fertility tradition. Strong emphasis is placed on sensual...

Witchcraft / Wicca is a positive, earthy religion dedicated to the Goddess and the God. Witches lead a spiritual and magickal life in harmony with Nature and recognize that all Life is an expression of the Divine. Witchcraft is also called the Craft of the Wise. For the Witch, Wisdom is about interacting with everything and everyone around you in a respectful and considerate manner, it is about being humble - allowing your deeds to speak and not your words, it is about kindness, compassion and tolerance, it is about self-discipline, honor and responsibility, it is about healing, it is about thinking before you act, it is about balance, and ultimately it is about Love. "In these eight words the...

Sony is dusting off the name "Walkman" to compete with Apple's iPod. The Japanese are building on their own music experience to capitalize on the popularity of the smaller MP3 player. In the eighties and nineties the Sony Walkmans and Discmans were a part of everyday life. But these days the MP3 player has market dominance and the Japanese company has faded. Apple and its iPod is now number one. Just last week both companies introduced new MP3 players which will be in direct competition with each other. Sony introduced two players under the name "The New Walkman", while Apple released the iPod Nano. Sony is using the name "Walkman" in the hope that 26 years after the first introduction of the famous...

Of all the times to have a flare up in Tibet, a few months ahead of the Summer Olympics is not a good pieace of public relations strategy. And as riots break out in this mountainous nation, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge poured cold water Saturday on calls for a boycott of the Summer Games in Beijing over China's crackdown in Tibet, saying it would only hurt athletes. Demonstrations against Chinese rule in Tibet on Friday-the most violent riots there in nearly two decades-left at least 30 protesters dead, according to a Tibetan exile group. China ordered tourists out of Tibet's capital and troops patrolled the streets on Saturday. Police used tear gas to disperse...

"Whichever mantra one recites, the recitation should be divorced of the faults such as reciting it too quickly, to clearly, too unclearly, reversing the long and short accents, being interrupted by other conversations, and the mind being distracted."-Yamantaka Tantra In Vajrayana Tantrism mantras are the substratum of all kinds of tantrik yoga sadhana. Deity yoga is none other than mantra yoga. Mantras are said to be deities itself. Generally mantra is considered as a sutra in which potential of a deity is hidden. Mantras are arrangements of specific syllables which form a body of a sound and considered to be indescribable. Some mantras are of the nature of statements in which some secret meanings...

In these over-publicized times of China's new railroad to Tibet, one might be better off avoiding the tourist circus than rnning away with it. Indeed, unless the reader has a certain fondness for overbooked hotels and intrusive, red hat-wearing tour groups, Lhasa is hardly the Tibetan delight that travel agencies continue to bill it as. Fortunately, lesser-traveled Gansu province in northwest China offers the cultural charm of Tibet without the crowds. Sharing borders with six other provinces except Tibet, it is physically unobvious that Gansu would be home to any kind of Tibetan population. This, coupled with the great shadows cast by the ever-popular neighboring Sichuan and Shaanxi, results in...

Are you thinking of volunteering in China ? To volunteer in China is one of the top volunteering destinations in the world. The economic boom combined with the ancient Chinese culture is a great pull for volunteers from around the world. Chinese civilization is one of the worlds oldest continuous civilizations. It has the world's longest continuously used written language system, and the source of such major inventions as what the British scholar and biochemist Joseph Needham called the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China: paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing. Most languages in China belong to the Sino-Tibetan language family, spoken by 29 ethnicities. There are also several major dialects...

All the seeds of all the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today. An Indian Buddhist saying. I love this saying. For me it carries within it the fundamental message of dependent arising. No single flower or seed is independent of itself. It carries within it the past and the future. All the flowers of yesterday and all the flowers of tomorrow. In this meditation I am coupling this with the Buddhist approach of guardians of the sense doors and for me, this is the essence of the Dharma. In Buddhism, we have the concept of the 5 usual senses, plus the 6th which is the mind itself. Through our senses we open ourselves up to the world and experience it. If we apply mindfulness to these senses we...

Copyright (c) 2007 Stephen Lau Buddhism is more than an Eastern religion: it is a healthy longevity promoter. Buddhism focuses on the balanced interaction between the mind and the body as a prerequisite for healthy longevity; disease is a result of their imbalance and disharmony. The Buddhist approach to health and wellness is its emphasis on spiritual strength of the mind to overcome illness and disease. Concurring with Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who believed in the innate healing power in humans, Buddha also believed that you could seek cure through a drastic change in lifestyle and healthy attitudes towards the real meaning of life and existence. Healing begins with the mind first, not...

"Lapis" is a Latin word means stone but the etymology of the word ;Lazuli is somewhat complicated that has its origin within an ancient Persian word for the area where that stone was mined. Lazuli basically represents something in the deep blue hue and that is the reason that Lapis Lazuli is considered the Stone of Azure or the Stone of the sky. There is more than one kind of mineral in it that is why Lapis Lazuli is a rock than a mineral. The stones that spots or strips of gold colored pyrite mixed are considered the best in quality. These pots and strips can also found in white but whiteness decreases the value of stones and the whiter the stone has, the lesser its value. Lapis Lazuli has been...

Only the TRUTH, and nothing but the TRUTH shall set you free For thousands of years, all the world's greatest spiritual teachers: Buddha, Mahavira, Lao Tzu, Bodhidarma, Socrates, Plato, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Osho Rajneesh (and others) have been preaching the same thing to humanity. We can summarize all of their teachings in just 2 words "Know Yourself". What do they mean by that? Why is "Knowing Yourself" the Foundation of WISDOM? How do you know yourself? Who are You? And who is this "Yourself"? You're are "God" or "Consciousness" or "Infinity". But at the moment, you don't know it, because you're living in a body with unawareness and allowing your mind to run your life. So for now, you've not...

A pair of Mandarin Ducks symbolize happiness in love and suggestive of romance, devotion, affection, conjugal fidelity, togetherness and enduring love. Mandarin ducks live in couples and mourn the loss of their mates, which is why the bird has long been regarded as the most traditional and the most potent symbol of love and married bliss in Feng Shui practice. When placed in pair nearby their owners, Mandarin Ducks becomes a powerful cure to attract or enhance love and relationships. For singles, the pair of Mandarin Ducks will enhance your chances of finding love partners; for lovers, it will bring you marriage opportunities; and for married couples, a pair of Mandarin Ducks will hold out the...

Earlier, I was asked via email, if I've ever meditated? This question, albeit very simple and answerable by either yes or no, had me thinking. I literally had to stop for a few moments and ponder about it. A part of me said "Yes, everyday I meditate through my Catholic prayers." But then another part of me said, "Not really... since I'm not Buddhist or Hindu." Admittedly, the initial image that comes to my mind when I hear the word meditation is a person doing the half-lotus position, with eyes closed, chanting or humming the word "Om." Either that or a person isolated in the middle of a cherry blossom garden, again with eyes closed and zoning out of the world. The better part of me knows that...