Buddha-nature (originally in Sanskrit, "Buddha-dhatu" - "Buddha Element", "Buddha-Principle") is a doctrine important for many schools of Mahayana Buddhism. The Buddha-nature ("Buddha-dhatu") is taught to be a truly real eternal potential or principle, present in all sentient beings, for awakening and becoming Enlightened. The Buddha-nature doctrine relates to the possession by sentient beings of the innate buddha-mind or buddha-element ("Buddha-dhatu"), which is, prior to the full attainment of buddhahood, not fully actualized, or at ...

Including:

• Buddha-nature - Development of Buddha-nature
• Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

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Including:

Buddha-nature - Development of Buddha-nature Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

Read more here: » Buddha-nature: Encyclopedia - Buddha-nature

Unlike the Western concept of "soul" or some interpretations of the Indian "atman", Buddha-nature is not considered an isolated essence of a particular individual, but rather a single unified essence shared by all beings with Buddha-nature. (Though such an essence would still be in violation of some interpretations of anatta, as for example that of Nagarjuna, which attacks all essences; similarly, a trans-personal self shared by multiple beings exists already within the Hindu context in some monistic and/or pantheistic interpretations of the atman, and such concept ...

See also:

Buddha-nature, Buddha-nature - Development of Buddha-nature, Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

Read more here: » Buddha-nature: Encyclopedia II - Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan, situated 230 km northwest of Kabul at an altitude of 2500 meters. Most likely built in the fifth or sixth centuries, the statues represented a classic blending of Greek and Buddhist art. The main bodies were hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs, but details were modelled in mud mixed with straw, coated with stucco. This coating, practically all of which was worn away long ago, w ...

Including:

• Buddhas of Bamiyan - History
• Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding
• Buddhas of Bamiyan - Recent developments

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The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan, situated 230 km northwest of Kabul at an altitude of 2500 meters. Most likely built in the fifth or sixth centuries, the statues represented a classic blending of Greek and Buddhist art. The main bodies were hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs, but details were modelled in mud mixed with straw, coated with stucco. This coating, practically all of which was worn away long ago, w ...

Including:

Buddhas of Bamiyan - History Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding Buddhas of Bamiyan - Recent developments

Read more here: » Buddhas of Bamiyan: Encyclopedia - Buddhas of Bamiyan

Dharma (Sanskrit, roughly law or way) is the way of the higher Truths. Dharma forms the basis for philosophies, beliefs and practices originating in India. The oldest of these, widely known as Hinduism, is Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Dharma. Buddhism, Ayyavazhi, Jainism and Sikhism also retain the centrality of Dharma. In these traditions, beings that live in harmony with Dharma proceed more quickly towards moksha, nirvana, or personal liberation. Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of t ...

Including:

• Dharma - Meanings and origins of the word Dharma
• Dharma - Dharma in Hinduism
• Dharma - Proto-dharma: rta in the Vedas
• Dharma - Developing conceptions
• Dharma - Dharma as a Purushartha
• Dharma - Kane's view
• Dharma - In Jainism
• Dharma - The two Dharmas
• Dharma - In Buddhism
• Dharma - The teachings of the Buddha
• Dharma - Qualities of Buddha Dharma
• Dharma - Dharmas in Buddhist phenomenology
• Dharma - Dharma as righteousness

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With technology and the Internet, it might just be possible to witness a lot more Buddhas and Sankaras taking shape. Recent scientific evidence suggests that human beings are wired to think about spiritual matters once their basic needs are met. Technology allows us to take care of our basic needs so that a large number of people can focus on higher, spiritual matters. It also allows rapid information dissemination and generates debate and discussion, thus facilitating communion with higher thought.

Technological progress also unravels a lot of hidden areas and shows how nature performs its miracles. In doing this, technology helps us understand the power and greatness of nature. For instance, we thought we'd invented and developed fibre optics. Scientists, however, find that the root systems of plants are excellent optical fibres - and they've existed in nature for millions of years.

(See also: Spirituality and technology  , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Spirituality and technology  : The Hi-tech Route To Reach Nirvana  

Buddhism: Buddhist Customs

Buddhist tradition has developed many different customs and practices in different parts of the world. However, two customs are basic to all traditions: Venerating the Buddha and The exchange of gifts.

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When Mahmud of Ghazni conquered Afghanistan in the 12th century, the Buddhas and frescoes were spared from destruction. Still, over the years Muslim iconoclasts hacked away at some of the statues' details, mostly the facial features and hands. Aurangzeb, the last Mughal emperor, employed heavy artillery in an attempt to destroy the statues since orthodox Islam considers any form of idol to be the highest sin ("shirk"). In July 1999, Mullah Mohammed Omar issued a decree issuing the preservation of the Bamiyan Buddhas. Although Afghanis ...

See also:

Buddhas of Bamiyan, Buddhas of Bamiyan - History, Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding, Buddhas of Bamiyan - Recent developments

Read more here: » Buddhas of Bamiyan: Encyclopedia II - Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding

New Global Order and Oneness Principle

Thirty years ago the historian Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda, head of the Japanese Buddhist Soka Gokkai International, discussed at length various pertinent issues, trying to discern the future direction that our world must take if it is to survive these "times of the end".

Toynbee remarks, "...The question of mankind's future religion arises because all the current religions have proved unsatisfactory... A future religion that is to bring into being, and to keep in being, a new civilisation will have to be one that will enable mankind to contend with, and to overcome, the evils that are serious present threats to human survival."

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Atheism is a Truly Divine Science

In 'The Song Divine', Krishna classifies nature as material nature and supernature. He says that supernature is incomprehensible to people who are not in tune with the subtlety of infinity. We think we choose to live, but the fact is we have no independent will to be born. Beyond food, sex and territory, animals are not aware of any other reality; they also do not have any aspirations towards immortality. Since there is no fear or idea of death in their lives, they have no concept of God or codified system of philosophy. They live by instinct and die without seeking to prolong their lives.

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Buddhist religious architecture developed in the South Asia in the third century BCE. Two types of structures are associated with early Buddhism: stupas and viharas. The initial function of a stupa was the veneration and safe-guarding of the relics of the Buddha. The earliest existing example of a stupa is in Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh). In accordance with changes in religious practice, stupas were gradually incorporated into chaitya-grihas (stupa halls). These reached their highpoint in the first century BCE, exemplified by the ca ...

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Tai Chi movements have a ballet-like quality; yet there is an underlying strength. Tai Chi is the most highly evolved art, science and philosophy of mind and body development, which gives you the - strength of a bull; the serenity of a Buddha.

The Tai Chi movements were originated and refined by those who were highly knowledgeable about the principles of movement, action, physiology and health. It is usual for people unacquainted with Tai Chi to remark: - It looks just like ballet�.

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Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC). Buddhist philosophy deals extensively with problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology. Buddhist philosophy - Introduction. Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jai ...

Including:

• Buddhist philosophy - Introduction
• Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism
• Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology
• Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology
• Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration
• Buddhist philosophy - Ethics
• Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhist philosophy - Early development
• Buddhist philosophy - Later developments
• Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies
• Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

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Relevance of Buddhism In the New Century

In the 20th century great changes took place as a result of experiments and developments in a broad range of human activities, in economics, politics, and science. The past hundred years' experiences have made us appreciate the importance of freedom, and the significant contributions of individual and private enterprise in improving the economy. We also began to recognise the importance of putting a stop to the production and proliferation of weapons of tremendous destructive power.

By The Dalai Lama

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Bamiyan lies on the Silk Road, a caravan route linking China and India. It was the site of several Buddhist monasteries, and a thriving center for religion, philosophy, and Greco-Buddhist art. It was a Buddhist religious site from the second century up to the time of the Islamic invasion in the ninth century. Monks at the monasteries lived as hermits in small caves carved into the side of the Bamiyan cliffs. Many of these monks embellished their caves with religious stat ...

See also:

Buddhas of Bamiyan, Buddhas of Bamiyan - History, Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding, Buddhas of Bamiyan - Recent developments

Read more here: » Buddhas of Bamiyan: Encyclopedia II - Buddhas of Bamiyan - History

The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddharta Gautama. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. Throughout this period, the religion evolved as it encountered various countries and cultures, adding to its original Indian foundation Hellenistic as well as Central Asian, East Asian, and Southeast Asian cultural elements. In the process, its geographical extent became considerable so as to affect at one time or another most of the Asian continent. The history of Buddhism is also characterized by the development of numerous movements and schisms, foremost among them the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, punctuated by contrasting periods of expansion and retreat.

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Dharma (Sanskrit, roughly law or way) is the way of the higher Truths. Beings that live in harmony with Dharma proceed more quickly towards moksha, nirvana, or personal liberation. Dharma forms the basis for philosophies, beliefs and practices originating in India. The oldest of these, widely known as Hinduism, is Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Dharma. Buddhism, Ayyavazhi, Jainism and Sikhism also retain the centrality of Dharma. For the followers of these traditions, Dharma also refers to the teachings ...

Including:

Dharma - Meanings and origins of the word Dharma Dharma - Dharma in Hinduism
Dharma - Origin and development in Hinduism Dharma - Proto-dharma: rta in the Vedas Dharma - Developing conceptions Dharma - Dharma as a Purushartha Dharma - Kane's view
Dharma - In Jainism
Dharma - The two Dharmas
Dharma - In Buddhism
Dharma - The teachings of the Buddha Dharma - Qualities of Buddha Dharma Dharma - Dharmas in Buddhist phenomenology Dharma - Dharma as righteousness

Read more here: » Dharma: Encyclopedia - Dharma

Amitābha or Amida (阿彌陀佛 Ch. Āmítuó fó (=Amida Buddha), 阿弥陀佛 Kr. Amita Bul (Amida Buddha), 阿弥陀如来 Jp. Amida Nyorai (=Amida Tathagata), the Buddha of Limitless Light (無量光佛), also Amitāyus, the Buddha of Limitless Life (無量壽佛), is the primary Buddha of the Pure Land school of Buddhism which developed and spread in China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan and has grown to become the largest sect in Buddhism. Amitābha is believed to be a Buddha who possesses infinite ...

Including:

Amitabha - Doctrine Amitabha - Iconography Amitabha - Mantras Amitabha - Origins

Read more here: » Amitabha: Encyclopedia - Amitabha

The Noble Eightfold Path (Pali: ariya atthangika magga), according to Buddhism and as taught by Siddhartha Buddha, is the way to the cessation of suffering, the fourth part of the Four Noble Truths. It is summarized into three important categories: wisdom (pañña), virtue (sila), and concentration (samadhi). The following is An Analysis of the Path, a sutra or discourse delivered by Siddhartha Buddha from the Tipitaka, explaining this Noble Eightfold Path in detail. In all these, the word "ri ...

Including:

Noble Eightfold Path - Wisdom Noble Eightfold Path - Virtue Ethical Conduct Noble Eightfold Path - Concentration Mental Development Noble Eightfold Path - The ninth and tenth elements

Read more here: » Noble Eightfold Path: Encyclopedia - Noble Eightfold Path