Change is an integral part of life, yet so often we fear it. When we resist change—sometimes even necessary and beneficial change—we undermine our confidence in ourselves and our world.
That's why the Shambhala Sun and the Omega Institute are collaborating to present Embracing Change in Your Life: What the Buddhists Teach, a weekend course about practical Buddhist tools for dealing with all sorts of change. Led by Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Joan Sutherland, and Narayan Liebenson Grady—great teachers from the Tibetan, Zen and Theravada traditions—the workshop uses presentations, meditation and discussion to help participants open themselves to change, and develop new ways of working with painful changes.
The workshop runs from August 3 – 5 at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, and is open to both longtime practitioners and those new to Buddhism. Tuition is $ 395; more information and online registration are available here.
Our journey on the legendary Ayeyarwady River travels from Mandalay to Bagan. In the heart of Myanmar is the city of Mandalay that has a population of around a million and is the centre of Burmese artistry. The teaching of Buddhism was given the utmost priority thus, Mandalay was designed according to Buddhist tradition and the Mahamuni Pagoda is now one of Myanmar's main pilgrimage destinations. Mingun's Hsinbyume Pagoda became the architectural model for a number of further pagodas that were built at the beginning of the 19th century at the time of King Bagyidaw. The legendary Mingun bell, that weighs around a hundred tons and is the heaviest bell in the world, dates back to his predecessor, King Bodwapaya. At the beginning of the 20th century, the River Ayeyarwady boasted the largest fleet of steam boats in the world and even today, a good number of them still remain. The importance of this river is highlighted by the many small temple buildings and sanctuaries that are situated along its river bank. Bagan has become well known for its overwhelming number of magnificent temple buildings that reflect the importance of the former kingdom. The most comfortable way to experience the wide spread sanctuaries of this first major Burmese city is to travel by ox carriage. Close to Nyaung U, the largest town on the Bagan Plains, the Shwezigon Pagoda once served as the inspiration of Burmese pagoda architecture. Temples, monasteries and a wonderful river, the journey from ...Video Rating: 0 / 5
Photo: Florence Delahaye Sister Chan Khong is best known as Thich Nhat Hanh's closest collaborator, but she's also a dedicated activist and gifted teacher in her own right. Andrea Miller profiled her in the May 2012 Shambhala Sun magazine, and the entire piece is now online here . "People think that engaged Buddhism is only social work, only stopping the war," Chan Khong says. "But, in fact, at the same time you stop the war outside, you have to stop the war inside yourself." Over her lifetime, Sister Chan Khong has learned the importance of not making peace, but rather being peace, being understanding, being love—and to embody this way of being twenty four hours a day. The key, she tells the Shambhala Sun, is to practice mindfulness. "When your body and mind are not one, you do not see deeply," she says. Read the rest of "Path of Peace: The Life and Teachings of Sister Chan Khong" here . And browse our entire May 2012 issue o...
Homepage » News » His Holiness the Dalai Lama Concludes Teachings to Taiwanese Devotees » October 5th 2012 Dharamsala, India, 4 October 2012 (Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post International) - Concluding His teachings on Atisha's "Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" given at the request Taiwanese disciples, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet culminated the fourth day (October 4th 2012) with a series of vows, blessings and future guidance to the gathering of devotees. The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, by Atisha Dipam karashrijnana (982-1054), was further examined and translated by one of the greatest spiritual leaders of our time. Drawing upon the central and final verses of the text, His Holiness cross-examined and explained key points during the teaching, which was held in the main temple in Dharamshala, India. During the teaching, the Dalai Lama re-iterated that the cultivation of Bodhisattva (enlightened existence) should be done gradually, over ti...
Craving for Sense Pleasure always causes Suffering! The Blessed Buddha once said: Truly, due to craving for sense pleasure, conditioned by sensuous craving, compelled by craving for sense pleasure, entirely pushed by craving for sense pleasure, does kings fight with kings, princes fight with princes, priests with priests, citizens with citizens; mother quarrels with son, son with mother; father with son, son with father; brother with brother, brother with sister, sister with brother, a good friend fights even with his best friend. Thus, lost in conflict, quarrelling, and hostilities, they attack one another with fists, sticks, or weapons. And thereby they suffer death or deadly pain. And further, due to this craving for sense pleasure, people break into houses, rob, plunder, pillage whole villages, commit highway robbery, and hot-headed seduce the wives of others. Then the rulers have such people caught and inflict on them various forms of punishment. And thereby they mee...
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