Basic Teaching of Zen Buddhism

Introduction

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emerged around 6^th century into China by Indian Monk Bodhidhamma and that introduced into Japan around 12 Century. Zen Buddhism is emphasis on sitting meditation for the realizing of truths, no-self, emptiness and mind. The differences between Zen and other Buddhist sects is that Zen Buddhism exists as illogical and anti-intellectual which made students confused about how can Zen Buddhism be illogical and anti-intellectual? Today Zen Buddhist teaching becomes one of the most popular in the west and westerners are more likely to follow Zen teaching.

Prince Shotoku and His contribution towards the spread of Buddhim in Japan

Introduction

It is clear that indigenous religion called Shinto has already existed in Japan before Buddhism. But According to a historical chronicle, Buddhism was officially introduced into Japan by a king of Paekche in 552 A.D during the time of emperor Kinmei. After Buddhism was introduced and sent Buddhist icons and ritual objects to Japanese court by Korean king Paekche, there were some conflict between those acceptors and rejecters of Buddhism in Japan. On other hand, there is some Buddhist believers had already existed before Buddhism was officially introduced; they were Korean and Chinese immigrants, they practiced Buddhism despite they did not claim themselves as Buddhists. The country was not politically stable which divided into many provinces and ruled by different clans. Around third century A.D, Yamato clan emerged as a powerful clan among them and Japan was gradually united but still not fully unified yet. There were three clans (Soga, Mononobe, and Nakatomi) who became powerful but lower rank to Yamato imperial family.

A Study of Dhammakaya in Mahayana Buddhism

    

 According Mahayana Buddhist tradition, the Buddha has three bodies or three aspects of personality, they are; Dhammakaya, Sambhogakaya and Nirmanakaya. If we study Early Buddhism, we cannot find the theory of three bodies or trikaya but we can find Dhammakaya and Rupakaya concept in the early Buddhism, we cannot find sambhogakaya or the body of reward or enjoyment. The three body doctrine indicates that all Buddha were described and combined in three ways. The Buddha appeared in human world in order to give Dhamma which is for the benefit all suffering beings and the teaching guided human beings how to eradicate suffering. By trying to understand the three body of the Buddha, one can realize and perceive the true nature of all Buddha. And in the early Buddhist teaching that we can notice about only two Kaya that the Buddha possessed: 1. Dhammakaya which can be explained as the Buddha had human identity with all types of human weakness such as physical sickness and face with all kinds of challenges. 2 the second one is considered as rupakaya superhuman which possessed of thirty-two marks of a great man and six kinds of supernormal knowledge. In this essay paper, I am going to discuss only one body which is Dhammakaya out of three and I will also describe the characteristic of Dhammakaya according to Mahayana Buddhism.

The Historicity of the First Buddhist Council

One of the most important events in the Buddhist history after the Buddha passed away was the first Buddhist Council or Pathama Sangayana. We can note that today there are different concepts and views on Buddhist Councils between Theravada and Mahayana traditions but both sects had accepted the first Buddhist council without any huge controversial issue concerning this event. 

The Contributions of King Asoka in the 3rd Century B.C. towards the spread of Buddhism

The king Asoka was the third ruler of Maurya Empire who ruled almost entire of Indian continent and it was one of the greatest empires in India of all time. He supported Buddhism in order to spread every part of India and outside of India. He was not a Buddhist but followers of Jainism as following of his family religious belief. According to Buddhist literary sources, he became a Buddhist and follow Buddhism zealously after the end of war. The kind Asoka was main supporter to spread Buddhism throughout of Indian and outside of India in the 3^rd century. It is a clear that Buddhism was the most influential and dominates religion during Asoka ruling. Although he was a pious king of Buddhism and support much amount of money to build monasteries, pagodas, monument and other social activities, he had the power to control to all Sangha community and we can know clearly about that he could managed the Sangha community with his power. So the time of Asoka reign was one of the most glorious times in India histories despite Buddhism was fading and eventually died out from India after he passed away. Although Buddhism disappeared in India, Buddhism was flourished in other parts, particularly in Southeast Asia. 

The importace of giving Dana in Buddhist Practice

Dana or giving is one of the most important parts in Buddha’s teaching and people are practicing this Dana commonly in all Buddhist countries whether they are understanding of the law of karma or not. And Dana has wider definition. There are various kinds of things that a person can give such as material things, food, shelter, clothing, medicine so on. The person can give not only material things but also can offer the knowledge, skill, and effort that can benefit others. One can give sympathetic ear to troubled person, listen to him with compassion and gives comfort to him.  People can also donate something from their physical body such as blood, even kidney.

Buddhist Concept on Anger in Buddhism

Introduction

   There are three poisons in Buddha’s teaching and Dosa or Anger is one of the dangerous poisons out of three which leads to evil and suffering. Dosa also let everyone to be trapped in the wheel of life again and again. As everybody understands the behavior of anger, and what anger looks like. At first we have to observe our own experience of anger ourselves then we can understand more clearly what anger is looks like. When we are angry, our minds, thoughts, and behaviors immediately changed into violent mind or impure mind then leads to violent action.

Buddhist Attitude towards Environment

Environmental crisis is a global problem that we are now experiencing in modern age. We should consider with different aspects on environmental crisis and we should find the way to protect the environment. Environment is the most important issue since the Buddha time and the Buddha encouraged to the people not to destroy the nature but maintain as it is. The Buddha gave advice to his followers the benefits of maintaining environment and follow as the natural way. The Buddha even laid down a rule for monks in vinaya concerning protecting of environment.

Welcome to Rakhine State Myanmar

                         If you visit Myanmar, a stop in Rakhine State is a must do!

Htukkhnthein Temple

My homeland, Rakhine State western part of Myanmar, has adorned with so many amazing things, and attractive places for local and tourists. Rakhinne State is one of the most fascinating state in Myanmar with variety of landscape, plateau, high mountain range, ancient city, historical monuments, beautiful waterfall,  white sandy beaches with crystal clear water, green rain forests,  and unique beautiful of local life. All of those best tourist attractions and other beautiful locations are existed all over the state and which are truly attractive paradise for both local and tourists.

The use of Technology to spread the Buddhist Teaching

In the modern era, technology plays an important role in everyday life. Technology has made our life easier and confortable and it is useful in every sector regardless of race, faiths as well as religions. So modern technology makes things easier to use and save time compared to the previous era. As it is an essential tool for everyday life, people use it to make life easy and to save time. Buddhist monks today use technology to spread Buddhist teaching to every part of the world. I support the idea of using technology to spread of Buddhist teaching.

Buddhism and Social Work: Monks as Social Workers

Social work means different kind of works intended to benefit mankind consist of individual charity, teaching, training as well as political activities in working for a better society. As being Buddhist monks, monks should involve in social actions for the development of society but they should understand the situation in involving social action and what kinds of social works are suitable and appropriate for Buddhist monks and how monks can help to society.

My First Teaching Experience

 

This is just a description of my teaching experience regarding to teaching project as part of Methods of Effective Teaching English Subject. The aim of this paper is to let you know how i felt and experienced about my teaching and just compared the feeling before the teaching and after teaching.

Comparison of Buddhism between Thailand and Myanmar from the Past to the Present

 

Buddhism in Myanmar and Thailand has changed a lot compared to the past, changing about less beliefs, decline slowly, increasing nominal Buddhists, bogus monks and people believe in amulets too much that leading to be fade Buddhism gradually.

Buddhism and Environment

Our Buddhist people believe that if we wish to save the environment, we must first analyze our lives to determine how our self is destroying the world by depleting, overpopulating, and polluting the environment.

Learning from Nature

Trees provide beautiful flowers, green leaves, and peaceful shade, and fruit. They are very helpful. When they are cut by human beings, it means they hurt their best friends. The life of Buddha was mostly spent in the forests. He became enlightened while meditating beneath a great Bodhi Tree. The Buddha stood for one week gazing at the same Bodhi tree. The Buddha demonstrated his gratitude and appreciation to the tree that had sheltered and nurtured him. The Buddha always taught followers to realize the value of nature and live in harmony with nature.

The Buddha’s Guide to Peace and Happiness: The Singalovada Sutta

The Buddha’s Guide to Peace and Happiness is based on the Singalovada Sutta, one of his greatest and most valuable set of teachings. It deals with basic morality, building and preserving wealth, friendships, the reciprocal responsibilities in social relationships and the qualities of successful persons. This teaching benefits both individuals and society as a whole too.

What is Meditation?

        

            

 Our everyday life is too mundane and not so beautiful. Everybody in the world is infatuate, wanted and loves Sukha which mean real happiness and enjoys but dislike mental and physical painful feeling that called in Pali Dukha. And also find the way of avoiding and removing unpleasantness. In order to peace our mind and to drive out our greed, hatred and delusion, we need to control our mind, so the best way to control our wandering mind and spreading mind to anywhere is meditation. So I would like to introduce and franking out about meditation that I learned from meditation practically by myself. And also share my experience to everyone who interested in meditation.

Buddhist Monks

Buddhist Monks observe 227 monastic codes called Patimokkha Rules. They are allowed to possess only eight requisites:  thee robes, an alms bowl, a knife, a needle, a waistband, and a water strainer. They can, however, accept other necessities presented to them by lay followers. The monk’s life and daily duties a little differ each Theravada countries. In this post, describe about Myanmar and Thai monks. 

Myanmar New Year or Thingyan

Times fly so fast, it’s close to New Year again. Water festival or Thingyan is the Myanmar New Year and usually falls around mid-April. It is a Buddhist festival celebrated over a period of four to five days culminating in the New Year.  People from all over the world know New Year as water festival. Since the beginning of March, the weather has been hot, dry and the whole countryside lies parched and barren. As the weather is very hot and every age of Myanmar people including tourists, foreigners come out onto the road and greeted each other by throwing gently water over head and whole body. Water festival is actually the Myanmar New Year and celebrated all over the country.

The Role of Buddhist Monk in Developing Sustainable Society

Abstract

In this paper I described about the role of Buddhist monk in social action, social activities and social work for the development of society. There are many possible ways Buddhist monks can help society and can do in different kinds of social activities to be sustainable development. For all Buddhist monks in all Buddhist countries, we can divide them into to three groups. 1 forest monks who love to meditate and sharing, teaching of meditation practice to others. 2 Pali literature monks who like to study Pali Tipitaka and teach to new generation monks and novice to last long of Buddhism and 3 general monks who mostly like and consider to involve in social activities, and social action for the development of society. So that there are many possible ways that Buddhist monks involve in social activities with only purpose of development society.