The Living Journal - Reflections

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

However many holy words you read, however many holy words you speak, what good will they do, if you do not act upon them ? 
Quoted by the Lord Buddha.

Love yourself and be awake,
Today, tomorrow, always,
Then teach others and so defeat sorrow.
To straighten the crooked, 
You must first do a harder thing - Straighten yourself.
You are only the master. Who else?
Subdue yourself,  and be your master.
Quoted by His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

Reflection, look at ourselves in the mirror and observe what you see. See yourself the way others see you. Sense and feel what you see.

How can we applying the Dharma in our daily life?

How do we recognize that we all have drifted away from the precious Dhama once taught by our Guru?  

How should we respond and react to the self reflections?

REFLECTIONS

Reflection is the art of thinking on one's virtues and faults. It is also the ability to reflect on your feelings and thoughts. This also includes reflecting on the thoughts, emotions and the feelings of others. This can help to improve oneself as you assess and reflect upon the decisions you made in life.

Use our reflections as an opportunity to make profound and positive change in your life. This will depend greatly on the outcome of your reflections, also on the correctness and spontaneous feelings of these reflections.

Seek a place of solitude and silence and to relax yourself you need to be in an unperturbed state of mind in order to reflect or look back through your thoughts on both the positive and negative actions that you had done of the day. 

Feel the sensations strongly and revive these experiences. Understand why you were feeling sad or happy at the time, and contemplate on the reasons behind these feelings. This will help put things in perspective and also clear your mind on future actions and changes you need to make.

Increase your awareness and observation of events around you. This can be easily accomplished by being conscious of the “here and now", living in the moment so to speak.  Reflections are also an ideal way of helping improve on your sensing and feeling skills. You will become better with time but try not to drive yourself into a depression if the realities you encounter become too difficult to bear.

At least once a day, I reflect on my day, on my life, on what I have been doing right, and what isn’t working. I reflect on some aspect of my life, and from this habit of reflection, I am able to improve. One of my favorite times to reflect is during my exercise. Some of my post ideas come during exercise and meditation at the end of the day.

If you post on a website, or a forum that viewable to friends. Your reflections are shared with others, and once people start to read them and expect them, you will feel that positive public pressure to keep it up. Self-reflection is a humbling process. It's essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things. That is what has happened and it’s been a great thing for me.

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.

Beautiful Tibetan Mala Beads

The mala beads are made from a variety of materials, most commonly wood. Preferred woods are sandalwood or sacred wood from the bodhi tree. More expensive rosaries beads are made of precious and semi-precious stones, including pearls, rubies, crystal, amber, coral, or jade, or precious metals such as gold. They can also be made of seeds, animal bone (most commonly yak).

Beautiful Tibetan mala beads with special offers price :-

Tibetan rosary (tijy) 

Buddhist rosary from Tibet

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material : Wood 

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Stone prayer beads (beti)

Dark stone prayer beads

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Tibetan rosaries (uint)

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Budi rosaries (uior)

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Natural stone prayer beads (besn)

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Budi rosaries (uipv)

Budi sacred Buddhist plant rosaries

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material: Wood

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The Living Journal - The Tibetan Mala Beads

The mala bead or the rosary beads in Sanskrit known as the “Japa Malas” are typically made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads. The important of Mala beads it gives you that focus and concentration on the mantras we are reciting, prostrations and meditation.

Mala beads or Buddhist rosary beads is a tool that we used for keeping count while reciting, chanting the number of times, counting the number of prostrations or mentally repeating a mantra of the name or names of a Buddha, Bodhisattva or deity. 

Tibetans also use their mala for blessing others, as it is believed the mala absorbs great power through deity mantra practice. The 108 mala beads is represents the words or the statements of the Buddha. In some other schools of Buddhism it means 108 account for human passions or human mistakes. 

The mala bead used in various methods and purposes depend on the mantras used, and mala beads are made from a variety of materials, most commonly wood. Preferred woods are sandalwood or sacred wood from the bodhi tree.

More expensive rosaries beads are made of precious and semi-precious stones, including pearls, rubies, crystal, amber, coral, or jade, or precious metals such as gold. They can also be made of seeds, animal bone (most commonly yak), and sometime even human skull. 

Mala beads that made of skull have the important principle and function. While the wrathful skull images in Tibetan Buddhism may seem scary, and the skulls are simply reminders of our mortality. Tibetans use skull beads and jewelry to remind them of impermanence. 

Skull mala beads help users contemplate the meaning of life and death during meditation. The Skull is reflects on death and impermanence and know that death is a fact and the closer that we can relate to death and embrace it the sooner we can start living with love and compassion and realizing that in this cyclic existence death will certainly when it is time. Live life  and embrace death. Recognition is the answer to the unavoidable passing of time and body.

In general, the traditional mala beads are used for all kind of purposes and for all kinds of mantras. The string that holds the beads together is usually made of silk, but is sometimes made of human hair. The materials and colors of the beads can relate to a specific practice. 

Mantras and chants are typically repeated hundreds or even thousands of times. The mala bead is used so that one can focus on the meaning or sound of the mantra rather than counting its repetitions.

One repetition is usually said for each bead while turning the thumb clockwise around each bead, when arriving at the Guru bead or the center bead; Tibetan Buddhists traditionally turn the mala around and then go back in the opposing direction. [I don’t cross over the Guru bead as advised by my Guru] but, some emphasize that this is not important. 

This repetition of the beads serves to remind practitioners of the teaching that it is possible to break the cycle of birth and death. Recite a very large number of mantras, Tibetan Buddhist males have bell and dorje counters (a short string of ten beads, usually silver, with a bell or dorje at the bottom). 

These counters are placed at different points on the mala depending on tradition, sometimes at the 10th, 21st or 25th bead from the Guru bead. Traditionally, one begins the mala in the direction of the dorje (skillful means) proceeding on to the bell (wisdom) with each round. 

In the Vajrayana traditions, the Tibetan Buddhists generally used the left hand for reciting or using the mala beads, and as well using a certain fingers, and either pushing or pulling each bead has a specific purpose and characteristic – whether for healing, protection, wealth, etc. 

Prayer beads are the attributes of certain Buddhist deities, an example is the four arms Chenrezig is often depicted holding a lotus and another hand is holding the rosary of 108 mala beads that representing the Bodhisattva's wish to help sentient beings conquer the 108 passions and attain enlightenment.

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.

Spinning The Prayer Wheels With - Om Mani Padme Hum

The prayer wheels was introduced to Tibet by the renowned eight century Indian Buddhist teacher Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava, and later practiced by the great Indian tantric Buddhist masters Tilopa and Naropa. Naropa’s disciple Marpa later renewed the lineage in Tibet and passed it on to Tibet’s most well known yogi, Milarepa. 

In Tibet, Prayer Wheels have been made for many centuries in a wide range of sizes and styles - from hand-held and table-top wheels, all the way up to giant eight or twelve foot Prayer Wheels with diameters of five to six feet and it is very often built around Buddhist Stupas and Monasteries.

There may be long rows of prayer wheels which the Tibetan people will spin as they walk clockwise around the sacred holy places such as; the holy caves,holy lakes, Stupa, and Monasteries. The Tibetans will recite what is believed to be one of the most profound and beneficial mantra of all times the six syllables of Om Mani Padme Hum.

According to the Amitabha Buddha sutra it says - Anyone who recites the six syllables of Om Mani Padme Hum and while spinning the prayer wheels at the same time is equal in fortune to the Thousand Buddhas.  The Shakyamuni Buddha said that – by spinning the prayer wheel once is better than having done one, seven, or nine years of retreat.  The prayer wheel is a very powerful merit field; one accumulates immeasurable of merits and purifies obstructions and obstacles.

In the Vajrayana practice, it's says that the prayer wheel practice is a remarkably swift, easy and profound method for developing compassion and wisdom. Buddhist teachers and the ancient texts explained the benefits of the Prayer Wheel for its ability to quickly harmonize the environment, increase compassion, develop a peaceful state of mind, and help practitioners on their journeys to enlightenment.

It is suggested that when we recite the six-syllable mantra – Om Mani Padme Hum while spinning the prayer wheel and the benefits of merits doing so are immeasurable.  This is the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and it is recited continually by many Tibetans. 

Many of us also find that the six-syllables holy mantra of Om Mani Padme Hum carved on rocks, written on prayer flags, embossed on jewelry, and inside of most prayer wheels.  Among the Tibetans it is commonly known as the mani mantra, and therefore, the prayer wheels are often referred to among Tibetans as mani wheels.

Mantras are strings of syllables empowered by enlightened beings to benefit others. How can a mantra can bring so much benefit to those who recite it? We might as well ask, how  can a simple thoughtless word make you angry, upset and a kind word can make us feel happy? 

So, if spoken words such as these have so much power to create harm or good. Why not mantras that have blessed by the Buddhas? In Buddhism, mantras are sacred sounds that are believed to possess supernatural powers. 

By chanting mantras, we will purify the impurities of our body, speech and mind caused by  ignorance, hatred, lust, desire, attachment, jealousy and so forth, as the wisdom, power or blessings of the Buddha, Bodhisattva, deity exists within the mantra itself. 

Different mantras are said to bring different benefit, with regard to the six-syllable holy mantra of Om Mani Padme Hum, many enlightened beings and high lamas had often mentioned that it is particularly powerful and can be used by one and all to speed their path to enlightenment.  

The six-syllable holy mantra of Om Mani Padme Hum is not just a string of ordinary words.  It contains all the blessings and compassion of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

It is important that the prayer wheels be properly made. We have found that many of the prayer wheels available for sale these days in Asia and the West are rarely filled or made properly. They are usually being sold as tourist items. Often the prayer wheels are filled incorrectly, with mantras printed unclearly, upside down or inside out.

As the Buddhist commentaries explain, the use of such improperly filled wheels is unlikely to bring about the desired effects. Thus, it is important to be sure that your prayer wheel has been verified to be properly filled with the proper mantras, including the earth and sky wheel mantras that go on the top and bottom of all authentic prayer wheels.

Furthermore, there is a tremendous benefit when we recite with our genuine sincere heart, devotion and concentration, accompanied by a visualization of the deity as visualization is an integral part of the Vajrayana practices. There are people who recite mantra without faith, devotions, confidence and concentration, it like a parrot singing a song. If this how one is practice, you will achieve nothing, even in a million years! 

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world. 

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*
I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.

Tibetan Losar New Year Offerings Gifts To The Lamas

Tibetan Losar New year, is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. This year the Tibetan New Year is scheduled on the February 09, 2016 and it will last for 15 days. 

Losar is celebrated by Tibetan people. It is marked with ancient ceremonies that represent the struggle between good and evil. There is chanting and passing of fire torches through the crowds.

Losar Day 1 - During the last two days of the old year, which is called Gutor, people in Tibet begin to prepare for the New Year. The first day of Gutor is spent doing the house cleaning.

Losar Day 2 - During the Gutor, religious ceremonies are held. People go to visit the local monastery to worship and offering gifts to the Rinpoche,Lamas and nuns. As we all knew that one by giving offerings to the monks will receive immeasurable of merits.

We, Tibetan Handicraft Company are very pleased and with a special price for you to offer a new year gifts, a Monk bags to your beloved Rinpoches, Lamas or nuns this coming Losar.

These are the two special deals for Monk bags details and please refer as follows:-

[1] Monk purse of brown color with golden color ethnic Tibetan Buddhism decor.

Ethnic handbag (mlah)

Category: Monk bags

Material: Other

Average Weight: 280 grams

Price $11.00

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[2] Monk handbags with ethnic ornament. Brown color with golden Color decor.

Handbags (mlkc)

Category: Monk bags

Material: Other

Average Weight: 223 grams

Price $11.65

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Thank you for your purchase and and have a happy shopping with us here.

Tibetan Handicrafts

The Living Journal - Having a shrine in your home.

Why have an altar? A proper altar holds images or representations of the Buddha's enlightened body, speech and mind which serve as reminders of the goal of Buddhist practice is to develop these qualities in oneself so as to be able to fully benefit all sentient beings.

The reason for setting up an altar is not for fame, for showing off wealth, or to increase pride, but rather it is to reduce one's mental afflictions and to seek the ability to help all sentient beings.

As you know, every Tibetan family, even if they only have a tent to live in, will always set up a shrine with His Holiness the the 14th Dalai Lama’s photo or something like that. Having a shrine in your home is very good but it is not compulsory.  Lack of space is often a problem, too, for people in big cities where space is scarce and expensive.

If you do have the space and the support of your family or partner, then you should think whether you want to set up a shrine. It doesn’t have to be a separate room but you should choose where you have it carefully. In this case, I have a separate and private shrine room for my daily meditation and other practices.

Where to Place the Altar

The best place for an altar is in a separate shrine room, but if you live in a small place and cannot set aside a separate room for worship, any room can be used. The size of the altar is not important, but it should be in a clean and respectful place, higher than the level of your head as you sit facing it

Traditionally, it is not supposed to be in a bedroom because we normally associate a bedroom with sleep and it is not a very respectful area. If your space is limited, however, your bedroom might be the only available area. It needs to be a place which you can comfortably sit in front of to do your meditation and your recitations. It should be a place where you can do your practice quite easily.

When you have the space, choose the altar. It should not be very high so when you sit it is easy to focus your mind, nor should it be very low, which is considered disrespectful. When you sit on the floor you should be able to focus your eyes on the objects of meditation easily without having to stretch your neck to look at them.

Choosing what goes on the shrine is also important. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, His Holiness the Lama has commented that Buddha should be in the center. If you wish to have one, three or more statues on the altar, Buddha statue should be in the center, on the right of the Buddha statue, you can put a scripture or the prayer book that represents the speech of the enlightened ones. A stupa should put on the left of the Buddha statue; Stupa represents the mind of the enlightened ones.

The Objects and What They Represent - (When we are facing in direction)

(1) On the Right hand - A scripture or a prayer book that represents the speech of the enlightened ones.

(2) In the center - A Buddha or Bodhisattva statue that represents the Body of the enlightened ones.

(3) On the left hand - A stupa that represents the mind of the enlightened ones.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition it is customary to offer the followings:-

On the altar - Eight auspicious offerings and Mandala offerings 

(1)Water for drinking

(2)Water for washing

(3)Flower

(4)Incense

(5)Candle or lamp

(6)Fragrance or perfume

(7)Food

(8)Music

Making Offerings on the altar – The seven limbs practice

It is customary to offer the seven bowls of water offerings, which represent the seven limbs of practice.

Placing Offerings on the Altar

If you have the space, place the offerings a little lower than the objects of refuge on your altar. When you awaken in the morning, it is customary to wash at least your face before approaching the altar to offer prostration and then offerings-this is a sign of respect for the object represented there. One is making offerings as if one is accepting a dignitary or a great being into one's home and it is important to be gracious and respectful.                                         

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the dharma wheels in the world. 

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*
I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.