The Lotus position (Sanskrit: Padmasanam -- "lotus posture") is a cross-legged sitting posture which originated in representations and meditative practices of Hinduism. It is an established part of the Hindu Yoga tradition, Zen and other meditative disciplines. The position is said to resemble a lotus, encourage "proper" breathing and foster physical stability. It is perhaps the marquee image of the Eastern religious figure. Famous depictions of the lotus-posture include Shiva, the meditating ascetic god of Hindui ...

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Lotus Position: The position that Buddha is depicted in. In meditation, the feet are brought up, and the backs of both feet are pressed against the opposite inner thighs.

 (See also: Lotus Position, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Lotus Position: Padmasana, or Lotus Pose, named so because the position puts the souls of the feet up, reminiscent of a lotus flower. The prime position for meditation, it is the most renowned of all Hatha Yoga postures.

(See also: Lotus Position, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

There are several ways for humans to sit. Sitting - Floor sitting positions. Sitting - Tailor Indian style Crisscross applesauce. To sit in the Tailor style: sit on floor any way bend one knee so that heel moves toward buttocks. bend other knee in same fashion, but place leg over other bent leg. Sitting - Lotus position. To sit in the lotus position: Start in the Tailor style described above

 There are many misconceptions about "meditation." In fact, there are so many that you may not know if and when you are doing it. I point that out because most see meditation as a separate act, like sitting in the lotus position and chanting. Further, how you personally meditate may not be labeled or seen as meditation

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Buddhist Meditation: Meditation in Buddhism

Meditation is something that plays a part in virtually all religions, although some of them don't use the word meditation. And meditation is something that can be done with no religious element at all. Meditation involves both the body and the mind. For Buddhists this is particularly important as they want to avoid what they call "duality", and so their way of meditating must involve the body and the mind as a single entity.

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Each Chakra has a particular number of petals with a Sanskrit alphabet on each petal. The vibration that is produced at each petal is represented by the corresponding Sanskrit letter. Every letter denotes the Mantra of Devi Kundalini. The letters exist in the petals in a latent form. These can be manifested and the vibrations of the Nadis felt during concentration.

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Religion is not meant to create conflict and division, but to promote dialogue and harmony. Buddha Purnima is an appropriate occasion to dwell a little on the Buddhist philosophy I follow, of Nichiren Daishonin, called the Soka Gakkai, which literally means "Value Creating Society".

Daisaku Ikeda, president of Soka Gakkai International, says: "The people and the society of our age might be compared to a ship in the middle of the ocean which has lost its compass. Without an accurate guide to lead them, they sail aimlessly along towards the future''.

(See also: Buddha Purnima, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Simply put, happiness is satisfaction of mind. However, different individuals have different perceptions of how to achieve happiness. For some, happiness lies in wealth; for others, it is in rank and position; yet others find happiness in fame and name. Commonly, happiness is measured by achievement in terms of money, property, other material possessions, power, name, fame, education, lifestyle, position and social status.

(See also: Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

The elephant captured in Chhattisgarh was a victim, not just of an over-eager, insensitive agency that was ironically set up for the specific purpose of protecting endangered pachyderms. The poor animal was first forced to leave the forests of neighbouring states frightened by miners and rendered homeless by human-induced forest degradation. And then, when it tried to survive, looking for food, it was chased, caught, and made to die a slow death. Whatever happened to our tradition of respecting all life forms?

(See also: Life and Death, Life and Beyond, Death and Dying, Body Mind and Soul)

The actual method of awakening the Kundalini Shakti and uniting Her with the Lord in the Sahasrara can only be learnt from a Guru. I give here a general outline of the Yogic practice that will enable the Sadhaka to realise the Chit.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Some Practical Hints on Kundalini Awakening

Mandala, which literally means circle, largely associated with religions and cults of India and Tibet, was also used as a potent symbol by the American Indians, the original inhabitants of Central America, and by the aborigines of Australia.

Across cultures, the universe is represented as a series of concentric circles, maybe as a model of the solar system. In Tantra, the central point represents Mount Meru around which the earth is situated, and the concentric circles represent the cosmic aspects of the universe, like energy fields and atmospheric zones. In Hindu and Buddhist interpretations, the centre of the Mandala is the ultimate divine principle uniting the object and the subject as they spin out of the centre. This may refer to the cosmos or to the human body.

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Sahasrara Ajna Vishuddha Anahata Manipura Swadhisthana Muladhara Bindu Sahasrara is the highest primary chakra according to the Hindu Tantric tradition (Shakta). Sahasrara - Description. Sahasrara is positioned above the head or at the top of it and it has 1000 petals which are arranged in 20 layers each of them with 50 petals. For a discussion about the petal count see also petal (chakra) Often referred as thousand-petaled lotusIncluding:

• Sahasrara - Description
• Sahasrara - Practices
• Sahasrara - Other Associations
• Sahasrara - Alternative names

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Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō (南無妙法蓮華経, also transliterated Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō) is a mantra that is chanted as the central practice of all forms of Nichiren Buddhism. The mantra is referred to as daimoku (題目, "title") and was first "revealed" by the Japanese Buddhist teacher Nichiren on the 28th day of the fourth lunar month of 1253 ce at Kiyosumi-dera (also, Seichōji) near Kominato in current-day Chiba, Japan. The practice ...

Including:

• Nam Myoho Renge Kyo - Meaning

Read more here: » Nam Myoho Renge Kyo: Encyclopedia - Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

Śāriputra (Pāli: Sāriputta; Chinese: 舍利弗 Sheli Fu) was one of two principal disciples of the Buddha. He became an Arhat renowned for his wisdom and is depicted in the Theravada tradition as one of the most important disciples of the Buddha. Śāriputra came from a brahmin family and had already embarked on life as a spiritual ascetic when he encountered the teachings of the Buddha. Śāriputra had a close friend Mahamaudgalyayana, another wandering ascetic. They both renounced the world on the same day and became disciples of the sceptic Sañj ...

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Cosworth is an engine design and manufacture company founded in 1958, specialising in engines for automobile racing. The company was previously a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company, but is now owned by Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven. It supplies engines for a wide range of motorsport series, including Formula One and the World Rally Championship. In 2006, two Formula One teams will use Cosworth engines: the Williams team who will use Cosworth V8 engines, transmissions and associated electronics, and the Scuderia Toro Ros ...

Including:

• Cosworth - Corporate history
• Cosworth - Engines
• Cosworth - Association with Ford
• Cosworth - The DFV Double Four Valve
• Cosworth - The BDA series
• Cosworth - The YB series
• Cosworth - Other Formula One Engines
• Cosworth - Other Indycar Engines
• Cosworth - Road cars
• Cosworth - The Cosworth F1 car
• Cosworth - Summary of F1 engine use

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Jyotisha (jyotiṣa, in Hindi Jyotish) is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga. The Sanskrit word derives from jyótis which means "light, brightness", but in the plural also "the heavenly bodies, planets and stars". Jyotisha t ...

Including:

• Jyotisha - Foundations
• Jyotisha - Hindu and Western astrologies
• Jyotisha - Fundamentals of Jyotisha
• Jyotisha - Partial Bibliography
• Jyotisha - See Also

Read more here: » Jyotisha: Encyclopedia - Jyotisha

Soka Gakkai International (創価学会インターナショナル; also, SGI) is the international umbrella organization for Soka Gakkai-affiliated lay organizations in over 190 countries. SGI has over 12 million members, who practice Soka Gakkai's particular form of Nichiren Buddhism. SGI's Japan-based parent, Soka Gakkai, was formed in 1930 and is closely associated with the New Komeito, an influential Japanese political party. SGI itself was founded in 1975 and characterizes itself and its constituent organizations as a sup ...

Including:

• Soka Gakkai International - History
• Soka Gakkai International - Doctrine
• Soka Gakkai International - Practice
• Soka Gakkai International - SGI Charter
• Soka Gakkai International - Criticism
• Soka Gakkai International - Excommunication
• Soka Gakkai International - Sources

Read more here: » Soka Gakkai International: Encyclopedia - Soka Gakkai International

Zazen is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. Zazen is different from other meditation in that it uses no meditation object or concept to focus on. The aim of Zazen is to first still the mind. Then after years of practice to reach a state of pure thought free wakefulness so that the mind can realize its own Buddha nature. In Zen Buddhism, sitting meditation or zazen (Japanese: 座禅; literally "seated concentration") is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind and experience i ...

Including:

• Zazen - History and Tradition
• Zazen - Misconceptions about Zazen

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Dan Cohn-Sherbok is a rabbi of Reform Judaism, and a prominent author on the subject of his religion. He is currently Professor of Jewish Theology at the University of Wales. Unlike most Jewish leaders, Cohn-Sherbok is sympathetic to Messianic Judaism and Secular Humanistic Judaism, as well as the Order of the Lotus (which purports to be a Jewish-Buddhist synthesis). In his view, Judaism today is pluraform in nature: no longer is there a overarching authority which can determine correct belief and practice. As a consequence, th ...

Including:

• Dan Cohn-Sherbok - Biography
• Dan Cohn-Sherbok - Bibliography

Read more here: » Dan Cohn-Sherbok: Encyclopedia - Dan Cohn-Sherbok