Gautama Buddha

My Visit to Albuquerque Vipassana Sangha I decided to take a trip to the Albuquerque Vipassana Sangha to study Buddhism for my religion experiential essay. On August 4, 2016 I found myself in a setting in which I never would have thought I would see because I was raised a Christian Baptist who was once taught that her religion was the only true and accurate religion. As the time for the meditation and dharma talk approached, I began feeling nervous and excited to try something new. As I exited…

Whether it be chanting for a sacred ritual or eloquent discourse for business relation and even informal chat between two friends, the power of language is indisputable by all cultures in the world. The novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse aimed to change this classic view on the power of words and assert that, although language is invaluable for worldly affairs, when dealing with the forces of divinity and higher spiritual enlightenment, words lead to distortion of concepts. An overwhelming theme…

I have distinct goals of where I desire to be in five years. I comprehend exactly what I want to be achieving in my graphic design career, my fine art career and my general lifestyle five years from now. I always keep these goals in my mind and work on getting one step closer to them every day. To begin with, I desire for my graphic design career to be thriving in five years’ time. By then I should have my Bachelor’s degree from a renowned university. I have not yet concretely decided which…

started a few years after the birth of Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal India. On the other hand, Christianity was formed around the year 33 A.D. Approximately 33years after Christ had died…

used (Pradhan 57). At one time, as he is learning the ways of the Samanas, he questioned the leader that leads to an argument on the different ideas of their ways. On the other hand, he engages in an argument with the leaders of Gotama and even the Buddha. The main objective of his arguments and questions was to identify the truth and the specific issues that have an influence in believing these teachings and applying them in everyday life. Govinda an earnest pilgrim and a close friend to…

Video Essay: Comparing Uncle Boon Mee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and The Reflecting Pool Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives produced and directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul and The Reflecting Pool by Bill Viola are both art films that address on the subject of reincarnation or rebirth. The former is a narrative film whereas the latter is an art video. The Reflecting Pool, a 7-minute art video by Bill Viola, is influenced by his interest in Western and Eastern art,…

Silence is an important aspect of the Hindu tradition. Silence is a preparation, a way of knowing oneself, and also of knowing the world, as is revealed in the tapashyaa(s) (meditation) of the muni(s) (sages). In fact, the word ‘muni’ has its origin in the Sanskrit word ‘mauna’, meaning silence, the maintenance of which is believed to inculcate power and knowledge, as opposed to speech that saps all energy. Silence, as a spiritual entity, is common both in the Buddhist philosophy and in the…

.Yoga Vasistha Yoga Vasistha (Sanskrit: योग-वासिष्ठ, Yoga-Vāsiṣṭha) is a philosophical text attributed to Valmiki, but the real author is unknown. The complete text contains over 29,000 verses. The long version of the text is called Brihat Yoga Vasistha, wherein Brihat means "great or large". The longer version is also referred to simply as Yoga Vasistha and by numerous other names such as Vasiṣṭha Ramayana. The short version of the text is called Laghu Yoga Vasishta, wherein Laghu means "short…

Humans, according to the Buddha, can escape the cycles of reincarnation by renouncing their earthly desires and seeking a life of meditation and self-discipline. The ultimate objective of Buddhism is to attain Nirvana, which is a state of total spiritual bliss – satisfaction (Humanosophy 1). Like Hinduism, Buddhism allows religious divergence. Unlike it, though, Buddhism rejects ritual and the caste system. Buddhism acknowledges the same teachings (doctrine) of Buddha, namely the purification of…

True Devotee Is True God Zingraji passed away at the early age of Gadge Baba.Thereafter, he had to go with mother Sakhubai to his maternal uncle’s village, Dapura.With the passage of time,the feelings of vairagya developed in him slowly and steadily. Though he was involved in the familial responsibilities, the thoughts in his conscience were promoting him to detachment from all the worldly attachments. However, at his young age, he gave up his family along with wife and children,and started a…