The basic approach to life’s problems that Buddha taught is a completely practical and rational one. It entails identifying and acknowledging our problems, uncovering their deepest causes in our minds, completely ridding our minds of those causes, and thereby stopping these problems from ever arising again. When this approach is followed with ethical discipline, concentration and insight, combined with love and compassion for others, it brings lasting happiness and peace of mind.
The spirit of Buddhism is compassion and equality.
What did the Buddha say about vegetarianism? Click here to learn more
Get Inspired! Watch the video mini-series Breaking Broccoli, from Tzu Chi USA
Online Chinese Vegetarian Recipes / Food Photos:
http://buddhagate.org
Abandon negative action;
Create perfect virtue;
Subdue your own mind.
This the teaching of the Buddha.
Relax. Focus. Be Aware. Yes, these are some of the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. But this is just the beginning. Buddhist meditation is not merely sitting, relaxing, blanking, or concentrating. In Buddhism, meditation means building up good habits of the mind -- an active way to transform our thoughts and views to nurture compassion and to see clearly. Buddhist practices such as meditation allow us to leave behind our false projections and uncover the wisdom to be free from negative motivations such as greed, anger, and ignorance. Understanding reality lets us develop our wholesome virtues and attain liberation.
The fundamentals of Buddhism lie rooted in cause and effect (the law of causality). Very briefly, understanding this completely leads to the realization that 1) all conditioned phenomenon are always changing (impermanence); 2) there is unsatisfactoriness (dukkha) and this is rooted in craving and ignorance, the chief afflictions that drive our cyclic existence; 3) all phenomena are interdependent without an intrinsic self (dependent origination & "emptiness"), and 4) all sentient beings are equal in their potential to become awakened (Buddha-nature) and the cessation of suffering (nirvana) is true peace.
But don't just take our word for it. You too can learn the principles and practice meditation! Everything in Buddhism follows the law of causality - everything must have a cause (even if we do not realize it now), not magic or because someone said so. Even the Buddha himself never claimed to be a god, and said not to rely solely on blind faith of his teachings -- in fact, he encouraged free inquiry and personal experience! In Buddhism, we must practice the path ourselves, as we are responsible for our own thoughts and actions. Only through our own cultivation can we generate boundless compassion and deep insight.
RECOMMENDED WEBSITES to learn more about Buddhism
StudyBuddhism, includes great overview and practical advice and guided meditation series
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Deeply insightful commentaries, particularly for those already with some background experience
Buddhist Text Translation Society, Sutras and texts in English, Chinese, and other languages.
Buddhist Global Relief, American charity
Abhayagiri Monastery, Theravada Buddhist Forest Monastery and Retreat Center in northern California with online streaming
Words of Wisdom from Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale
Buddhistsymbols.org for understanding the rich meaning and tradition behind Chinese Buddhist symbols, imagery, and iconoclasty
南無阿彌陀佛! 南無阿彌陀佛! 南無阿彌陀佛! Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! 南无阿弥陀佛! 南无阿弥陀佛! 南无阿弥陀佛! 나무아미타불! 나무아미타불! 나무아미타불! नमोऽमिताभाय! नमोऽमिताभाय! नमोऽमिताभाय! Namo Amitābhāya! Namo Amitābhāya! Namo Amitābhāya! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Namu Amida Butsu! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha! Namo Amitabha Buddha!