Buddhism Beliefs: Buddhist Vegetarianism

The first lay precept in Buddhism prohibits killing. Many see this as implying that Buddhists should not eat the meat of animals. However, this is not necessarily the case. The Buddha made distinction between killing an animal and consumption of meat, stressing that it is immoral conduct that makes one impure, not the food one eats.

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The main principles of Buddhism: The Three Jewels, The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts, The three marks of conditioned existence and vegetarianism.

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Fasting and Penance Strengthen the Soul

A feature common to most religions, worldwide, is the practice of undertaking periodic fasts. Saum or fasts are an integral part of Islam. For Hindus, fasts are a form and part of prayer and worship and the word upvas means "being near God".

The concept of asan or fasting takes different forms in Jainism. Followers of Buddhism too observe fasts on certain days as do Christians, especially during Lent.

Abstaining from food during Ramadan is a part of the broader programme that Islam prescribes for man to fulfil his moral and spiritual destiny in this world and in the hereafter.

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Each and every person has psychic abilities that vary in terms of intensity and strength. The strength of your abilities will depend on what you are meant to accomplish during your lifetime. If you are meant to be a healer, then you will probably have strong healing ability. If you are meant to give proof to people about the existence of life after death, then you will be able to communicate with loved ones that have passed on. Each person is unique in his or her gifts.

Read more here: » Psychic Abilities: Should You Develop Your Psychic Abilities?

Bhikshu (Sanskrit). In Pali Bihkhu. The name given to the first followers of Sakyamuni Buddha. Lit., "mendicant scholar". The Sanskrit Chinese Dictionary explains the term correctly by dividing Bhikshus into two classes of Sramanas (Buddhist monks and priests), viz., "esoteric mendicants who control their nature by the (religious) law, and exoteric mendicants who control their nature by diet;" and it adds, less correctly: "every true Bhikshu is supposed to work miracles".

(See also: Bhikshu, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

 Modern pantheism is often misunderstood. It has nothing to do with "pantheon" or "polytheism" (belief in many Gods). It is neither theism nor atheism, but transcends both. Its central tenet is that the universe is the ultimate reality, the ultimate object of reverence, while nature is a sacred part of the totality.

Read more here: » Pantheism: Natural Or Scientific Pantheism - A Religious Approach To Nature and the Cosmos

What is Dharma? Dharma is so called, because it holds; Dharma alone holds the people, etc. The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhr - to hold - and its etymological meaning is - that which holds - this world, or the people of the world, or the whole creation from the microcosm to the macrocosm.

Dharma is generally defined as - righteousness - or - duty. - Dharma is the principle of righteousness. It is the principle of holiness. It is also the principle of unity.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: Dharma in Hinduism - The Hindu Dharma

Bodhidharma (Sanskrit). Wisdom-religion; or the wisdom contained in Dharma (ethics). Also the name of a great Arhat Kshatriya (one of the warrior-caste), the son of a king. It was Panyatara, his guru, who "gave him the name Bodhidharma to mark his understanding (bodhi) of the Law (dharma) of Buddha". (Chin. San. Diet.). Bodhidharma, who flourished in the sixth century, travelled to China, whereto he brought a precious relic, namely, the almsbowl of the Lord Buddha.

(See also: Bodhidharma, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )