Articles on Buddhism: Teachings, Practices & Philosophy

The young prince Gautama Siddhartha was born into the ancient Sakya clan...he learned in a few days the sciences suitable to his race...Intrigued by his first encounter with old age...Four weeks after he began meditating under the Bodhi tree...on the night of a full moon, Sakyamuni attained enlightenment…" Gautam Buddha's life and teachings offer valuable insights into the human condition and the pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment. His legacy continues to inspire and influence people around the world, and his teachings remain relevant and meaningful today.

This blog explores the mandala as Buddhism’s most iconic symbol, tracing its Vedic origins, meanings as “container of essence,” and symbolic geometry. It explains mandala creation, the training of monks, rituals, and worship practices. Readers learn its architectural design, deities, wrathful and sexual imagery, color symbolism, sacred offerings, and psychological-spiritual purpose, enlightenment, transformation, and realization of divinity within.

What are Tibetan ritual implements? In Vajrayana Buddhism, objects like the vajra, bell, phurpa, skull cup, and chopper are used in rituals to balance wisdom and compassion. Each carries symbolic meaning, from indestructibility to impermanence, and helps practitioners conquer inner obstacles. These implements are not weapons but spiritual tools, guiding transformation and enlightenment through meditation, offerings, and protective practices. Explore Tibetan ritual implements like the vajra, bell, phurpa, skull cup & chopper. Discover their symbolism, origins, and role in Vajrayana practice.

Mudras are a non-verbal mode of communication and self-expression, consisting of hand gestures and finger-postures. They are symbolic sign based finger patterns taking the place, but retaining the efficacy of the spoken word, and are used to evoke in the mind ideas symbolizing divine powers or the deities themselves. The composition of a mudra is based on certain movements of the fingers; in other words, they constitute a highly stylized form of gestureal communication. It is an external expression of 'inner resolve', suggesting that such non-verbal communications are more powerful than the spoken word. Overall, mudras are an important aspect of Indian culture and spirituality, used in dance, yoga, and meditation practices to convey meanings and facilitate the flow of prana in the body. Their symbolism and therapeutic benefits make them a valuable tool in the practice of Indian art forms and spiritual practices.

"A bodhisattva wishes to help all beings attain nirvana. He must therefore refuse to enter nirvana himself, as he cannot apparently render any services...after his own nirvana... A bodhisattva can never love the body for its own sake... he cherishes it...because he will...save someone sometime somewhere... in the moment of tribulation."

This article on the Medicine Buddha identifies him as the ideal healer and it also stresses that the utmost powers of healing lie within our own selves. Embrace the transformative power of Medicine Buddha. "Each of Us a Healer" explores the karma of healing, guiding you to inner balance, health, and spiritual growth. Learn how the karma of healing intersects with Medicine Buddha's wisdom. Delves into Buddhist philosophy for personal growth and karmic transformation. Explores the deep connection between karma and the transformative art of healing. This is a symbolic gesture aimed at the realization that as the sacred syllables making up the mantra grant the medicine its capacity to heal, likewise, by consciously following the path of righteous karma, we are able to soak our lives with the nectar which flows from the virtues gained through such action.

"The Buddha's journey to spiritual awakening or 'Nirvana,'... perfectly mirrors the ... progressive development of a hero... Not at ease with his immediate environment... a constant unease gnaws at his heart, prompting him to question the very nature of his existence. This inner strife is the first inkling that a greater destiny lies ahead of the potential hero... Buddha was born an ordinary mortal. His path to fulfillment... was a journey full of exciting experiences and mistakes made. He learned from each of his mistakes, making it a springboard for all future, and finally the ultimate success... each of us... is capable and deserving of Nirvana, having a potential Buddha hidden in us..."

"The five Dhyani Buddhas represent the five basic types of human personality and demonstrate the absolutely perfected form of these personality types... It is an ample demonstration of the genius of Vajrayana Buddhism that... weaknesses are not denied or suppressed... hope lies in the belief that the human mind holds within itself the potential to metamorphose these negative traits into positive attributes... All the five Dhyani Buddhas are said to have originated from Vajrasattva himself... Color is logically... one of the significant means through which Buddhist art gives a tangible form to human emotions and nowhere is this more explicitly displayed than in the typical iconography of the five Dhyani Buddhas..." Overall, the concept of Dhyanibuddhas is an important aspect of Vajrayana Buddhism and represents a state of pure consciousness and meditation. The five Dhyanibuddhas are associated with different directions, colors, elements, emotions, and symbols. They are often depicted in mandalas and meditating on them is believed to help overcome negative emotions and attain a state of pure consciousness.

"Christ and Buddha, two manifestations of divinity, showed us that true salvation lies only on the path of humanity and compassion towards all. Indeed, through their humanity they are both related to us, and through their divinity, to god... 'Buddha and Christ are but local inflections of a universal archetype: the Cosmic Person imaging wholeness.'... Just as Buddha gained enlightenment by conquering the five senses, Christ, pinned in five places... nails down the five senses... Since they both embodied universal human aspirations and their ultimate realization... the art they inspired too would develop motifs which would elaborate similar principles, though the metaphors deployed would vary, being dependent upon local contexts."

Explore the intricate art of Thangka paintings. "The Buddha’s Life Unfolded" reveals how Buddhist storytelling through art inspires reflection, wisdom, and spiritual growth. "In its characteristic unique way, Buddhist thought divides the eventful life of its founder into twelve glorious "events." These defining incidents of his life are given visual form in densely packed sequences narrated in a special genre of paintings... Step into the world of Thangka paintings, where the Buddha’s life is vividly told. Each piece is a guide to inner peace, spiritual insight, and the path to enlightenment. Uncover the profound narratives of the Buddha’s life through Thangka paintings. These works of art offer a deep emotional and intellectual journey toward spiritual awakening.

Discover how the Buddha's image evolved through centuries. A fascinating exploration of how art, culture, and spirituality shaped the iconic visual representations of Buddha. The Buddha image, which completely revolutionalised, by its great dynamism, unimaginably diversified iconography, massive scale and unique spiritualism, the art scenario in ancient India, seems to have evolved upon human mind during the lifetime of the Buddha himself, although this image of mind took some six hundred years to emerge into stone or clay like mediums. As the Buddhist tradition has it, even during Buddha's lifetime, the idea of making his images persisted in his devotees' minds. Study the evolution of the Buddha image across cultures and time. This guide offers an academic look at how Buddhist art transformed and its cultural significance throughout history.

"Each of the three forms of Mahakala has some distinctly different qualities and aspects.... The continuous counting of the rosary is a symbol of perpetual activity, which Mahakala achieves on a cosmic scale.... An elephant-headed entity lying crushed under his legs represents our instinctive, primary animal force and urge... The blazing fire surrounding him demonstrates his powerful energy out to consume all neurotic states of minds.... Mahakala's typical blackness symbolizes his all-embracing, comprehensive nature, because it is the hue into which all other colors merge; it absorbs and dissolves them. Just as all colors disappear in black, so do all names and forms melt into that of Mahakala. Black is also the total absence of color, again signifying the nature of Mahakala as ultimate reality.... He is the transcendent-time (maha-kala), absolute, eternal, measureless, and ever present." Discusses the deity Mahakala, an important figure in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Tibetan culture.

"The Buddhist art, which... revolutionized the art scenario of the entire ancient Indian sub-continent, was essentially a narrative art.... In that age with little literacy... oral and visual narration... was the traditional tool of... stimulating a mind to know; and, the Buddhist art seems to have best exploited it... Narration... was thus the prime or perhaps the only mode of communication in the entire ancient world, not India alone...Buddhist art was conceived thus more or less as a visual alternative of its scriptures, and narration was the essence of both...The legend of Buddha's life, in this birth as also in previous births, is the main subject-matter of Buddhist narratives...The events emerging...might belong to more than one story. This Buddhist model of narrative visual art...is the proto-model of India's visual narrative art."

"Coleridge is not known to have ever seen Ajanta, but in his words reverberates the same mystique as one experiences when visiting Ajanta....imagery at times was closer to flesh rather than spirit....Even the figure of the monk Mahajanaka has been modeled much on sensuous lines. Ajanta sculptures reveal a conscious attempt at capturing the grace, sublimity, and spirituality....Ajanta sculptures are mostly reliefs. The Mahayana variation of Buddhism promoted polytheism in Buddhism, and with it, the cult of worshipping Bodhisattvas emerged with an irresistible appeal. Endowed with humanistic qualities and the spirit of self-sacrifice, Bodhisattvas comprised a more popular theme of Ajanta sculptures. As significant is the presence of the child-eating, evil spirited-goddess Hariti with a child in her lap. Most magnificent and glaring aspect of Ajanta is its mural art, which has been the fountain-head of the entire painting tradition in India."

Discover how the life of Buddha inspired millions. "The Light That Enlightened Millions" reveals his path to enlightenment, offering hope, peace, and spiritual transformation. This middle path lies in between extreme asceticism on one side, and extreme indulgence on the other…. When standing under a Ashok tree, tired and exhausted, she raised her right hand for seeking support of a branch of the tree…. What makes Buddha’s life so enduring? "The Light That Enlightened Millions" uncovers how his story continues to captivate hearts and minds, lighting the way to peace. Examine the profound impact of Buddha’s life on cultures worldwide. "The Light That Enlightened Millions" explores the historical, spiritual, and cultural influence of his teachings.

Thangka is known as a scroll painting. Roughly translating to “recorded message” in Tibetan, it is an ancient form of Buddhist art that originated within Tibet around the 11th century. These are densely illustrative, painstakingly detailed, and serve as a striking centrepiece that can be appreciated by all admirers of Asian art. Buddhist thangka paintings are visually captivating and impressive, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Thangkas often focus on a specific deity and scene, and their form and surrounding details are often rich with symbolism, turning them into a medium for religious storytelling. Because of this, extracting all the intricacies and meanings from the paintings requires training. Tibetan thangkas were created for the purpose of helping the viewer or Buddhist practitioner on their journey to enlightenment. A thangka's characteristics, like organization and juxtaposition of figures, repetition of figures, and size, contribute to the storytelling of the painting.

The Seven Buddhas of the Past, including Kakusandha, Koṇāgamana, and Kassapa, are Enlightened Ones from ancient aeons who upheld the Dharma before Gautama Buddha. Revered in both Theravāda and Mahāyāna traditions, their lives reflect timeless virtues, renunciation, wisdom, and compassion. Each Buddha’s story offers insight into the karmic lineage of enlightenment, inspiring devotees across generations. These Buddhas are also honored at sacred sites like Myanmar’s Shwedagon Pagoda, which enshrines their relics.

The most recognized of sacred narratives in Buddhism is the life story of Gautama Siddhartha, who became the Buddha. Many of the teachings of Buddhism are implicit within the story of his life, and carvings and paintings of scenes from his life story were often placed in or around temples and on stupas. Equally recognized in the Buddhist world are the Jataka Tales, which tell of the Buddha's past lives. Another type of sacred narrative that has been vitally important to Buddhism is stories from the Buddha's sermons. Both the early sutras and the later Mahayana sutras are often presented as long narratives. They often begin with the words, "This is what I heard," and they include descriptions of scenes, a cast of characters, and dialogue. Within these long narratives, there are many specific stories said to have been told by the Buddha to illustrate the dharma, or Buddhist teachings.

Forget what you’ve heard—this is the Buddha’s real message. Clear, powerful, and transformative, his teachings still speak directly to the modern world’s deepest needs. Siddhartha Gautama was the prince of the Sakiya clan, who ruled a prosperous republican community belonging to Kosala kingdom situated at the foot of Himalayan ranges. His father was Suddhodana, a Sakyan Chieftain; and his mother was Maya. Siddhartha was born under a Saal tree in the Lumbibi garden (along the Indo-Nepal border), while his mother was travelling to her parent’s home. Go beyond tradition and explore the core of the Buddha’s wisdom. A gentle yet profound guide to understanding life, suffering, and the path to inner liberation.

Experience the inspiring journey of Shakyamuni Buddha. From royal life to profound awakening, discover a story of hope, courage, and the quest for true freedom. Explore the life and teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. "The Beginning" reveals the foundations of Buddhism for scholars, students, and seekers of ancient wisdom. The legends that grew up around him hold that both his conception and birth were miraculous. His mother, Maya, conceived him when she dreamed that a white elephant entered her right side. Journey through the origins of Shakyamuni Buddha. Discover the path of awakening, compassion, and timeless spiritual truths that continue to inspire the soul.

Most of the iconographical descriptions in commentaries always seem to be non-cooperative with the “Praises to the Twenty-one Taras.” The reason is simply that three main iconographic traditions formed in Tibet, each one of which describes the Goddess Tara according to their beliefs:

From the earliest artistic depictions of Bharhut, Sanchi, Amaravati, Nagajunkonda, and the marvelous statues of Gandhara and Mathura, Buddhist art has translated the wisdom of the Buddha into stone and metal. Condensing his immeasurable virtues and venerable life in art, sculptures of the Buddha offer a chance to the followers of Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, to witness the aura of the Enlightened One, and be guarded by his light to the supreme brilliance of Bodhi.

Traditionally the wheel of life is called Bhavacakra, it is a symbolic representation of Samsara and is deeply rooted in Buddhist teachings, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism. The Bhavacakra is derived from bhava, which means “being, worldly existence, becoming, birth, being, production, origin,” means “wheel” or “circle.” These delicate artworks contain profound philosophical concepts within their detailed visuals, offering practitioners a visual roadmap for spiritual growth and self-awareness. Wheel of life thangkas are commonly found outside the Indo-Tibetan region's Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries. Wheel of Life thangka serves as a visual aid for understanding the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth along with the causes of suffering, and the path to enlightenment.

For the longest time the high altitudes of the Tibetan plateau guarded a well kept secret until it came to be known by the world, the science of Tibetan healing and traditional Tibetan medicines. It is called Sowa Rigpa in Tibetan language which means the science of healing. It is an ancient medical science which is almost 2500 years old and has survived the test of time. Apart from Ayurvedic medicine, it is one of the few medical sciences that aim to harness the power of natural medicine.