17 Dec 09 Find Inner Peace
This day in age, people are turning to religion in droves. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism has embedded it’s ideology in the hearts and minds of millions globally. While all these religions deserve respect and tolerance, few in the west have a grasp on the complicated concept of Buddhism.
The end all and be all of online encyclopedias, Wikipedia grabs the first slot on a Google search for the term Buddhism and the breakdown reads like this: “Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha (Pali/Sanskrit “the awakened one”). The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE.
He is recognized by adherents as an awakened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end suffering, achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. Buddhism is traditionally conceived as a path of liberation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. Two major branches of Buddhism are recognized: Theravada (“The School of the Elders”) and Mahayana (“The Great Vehicle”). Theravada, the oldest surviving branch, has a widespread following in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and Mahayana is found throughout East Asia and includes the traditions of Pure Land, Zen, Nichiren Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon, Tendai and Shinnyo-en. In some classifications, a third branch, Vajrayana, is recognized, although many see this as an offshoot of the Mahayana. While Buddhism remains most popular within Asia, both branches are now found throughout the world.
Various sources put the number of Buddhists in the world at between 230 million and 500 million.” After living abroad in Asia for several years I have found that Buddhist cultures are more tolerant because the focus is on the ’self’ and the meditation on the calming of the mind, concentrating on controlled breathing and the idea that meditation to bring one closer to peace is central to discovering one’s self.
If you have the opportunity to investigate the practice of Buddhism, I would highly recommend it. I’m not saying to take up the path and convert to a religion but the calming affect that is central to this religions concept will bring a peaceful serenity to your life that you may find useful. All in all respect and tolerance for all religious perspectives is something that people are beginning to make a conscious effort to practice and understanding ideas from various religions can teach us an appreciation that can bring us all closer together.
Investor Finder Services, Buddhism FactsBuddhism Factoids the easy way!
Tags: 9 washington squre, buddha, christ, Family, fun, happines, hindu, jamie brown, jesus, love, man vs food, pennsylvania, ruth and jamie, ruth brown, zaga studios
26 Sep 09 Achieving an Idyllic Retreat At Home with a Buddha Garden Statue
Most people regard the interiors of their homes as their haven, others turn to their gardens. These people relax by tending to their gardens and fixing everything that they can. They put a lot of effort by choosing the right decorations – perhaps a Buddha Garden Statue, and plants, deciding where to meticulously place the plants, what goes with this and that, and a handful of other things.
It’s very peaceful to relax in a garden full of plants and flowers if you’re not the actual gardener yourself. Just sitting and enjoying the beauty can be very relaxing.
Green is one of the more calming colors in the color wheel. It’s a color found abundantly in nature and signifies safety. So it’s no wonder that so many look forward to working in their own garden when they return home after a stressful day.
Surely, you want an idyllic garden at home, but how do you incorporate such a Buddha Garden Statue? Here are some sure-fire tips to get that tranquil garden you’ve always wanted.
What type of garden do you have that you want to include your Buddha Garden Statue? Is it Oriental styled, with a pond? You could include some floating flowers in the pond for some added flair.
Situate your statue where you can see it – If you want to clear your mind and meditate sometimes, then its a good idea to put the statue somewhere near a place where you can relax.
Water is calm – Sometimes even just by watching water, you’re able to clear your mind from problems and negative thoughts. Also consider putting even some small fountains or a grass sprinkler around your dream garden.
Buddha is the enlightened one. He was once a prince who abandoned his excessive life to search for the real meaning of life. If you place a Buddha Garden Statue in your garden you’ll have our own quiet area where you can contemplate the meaning of life, and go back to basics. You can create a calm environment where you can relax.
You will be able to meditate and clear your mind, while at the same time your Buddha Garden Statue will provide beauty to your garden. If you already have a rather peaceful garden, it will become even more serene, and turn it into a true retreat.
Tags: bronze buddha, buddha, buddha garden, buddha garden statues, buddha meditation, buddha wall plaques, concrete buddha, garden, garden pond, meditation, meditation statue, Self Improvement, silver buddha, zen garden statue
