According to ancient Chinese teachings attributed to the Yellow Emperor (Huang Ti) and reintroduced by Lao Tzu, the power of the Way (Tao) is in everything. Man’s task is to return to Tao through the practice of the virtue of the Way (te) that encompasses everything. To achieve this, one must master two ways of … Read more
In the long history of human searching for answers, all philosophies, historical periods, and geographical areas have in common the quest for the answer to the question of whether life has meaning and how to achieve it. Therefore, the question is universal, and there are as many answers as there are philosophies and places in … Read more
Relief of the Greco-Indian king, possibly Menander, with the Buddhist symbol of the three treasures (triratana) on a sword, Bharhut, 2nd century BC. However, this dream was extinguished in 301 BC when the empire was divided among three dynasties: Antigonid (Macedonia), Ptolemaic (Egypt), and Seleucid (Asia). In the northeast of the Seleucid kingdom, at the … Read more
In Buddhism, various branches and schools have emerged over time, but the main division is between Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism. Hinayana Buddhism is also known as Southern Buddhism because it is prevalent in Sri Lanka and Indochina. Hinayana, the small vehicle, is older than Mahayana and is more focused on monastic and ascetic practices. Mahayana, … Read more
In the rich treasury of Asian culture, Buddhism occupies a significant place as a phenomenon that has shaped the thinking, customs, art, philosophy, and religion of various peoples and connected the vast expanses of this continent. By the end of the 6th century BC, it spread throughout India and, by the 7th century, encompassed Turkestan, … Read more
“Who teaches about dying, teaches about living.” – Michel de Montaigne “Where do we come from and where are we going? This question seems to reverberate from the depths of ancient times to our present day, leaving us equally amazed and confused, just as the first humans likely were. Across different regions and throughout different … Read more
One question that is frequently asked about Buddhism is whether it is a religion or a philosophy, and different experts give different answers. According to Indian philosopher Mysore Hiriyanni (Basic Features of Indian Philosophy), Buddhism “started as a religion and was soon forced to become a philosophy as it had to defend itself against the … Read more
“Of all the spiritual teachers of India, Buddha has left the deepest trace. Although Hinduism suppressed Buddhism in India, Buddha’s teachings spread strongly throughout Asia. After his death, numerous schools and canons emerged, all of which, despite their differences, agreed on one thing: Buddha is a great teacher who showed the path to final liberation … Read more
How to achieve happiness – XIV Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso The tradition of the Dalai Lama as the spiritual leader of Tibet and the Tibetan people dates back to the 16th century with the rise of the Gelug school of Buddhism. Tenzin Gyatso was recognized as a tulku, the embodiment of the Buddha of Compassion, … Read more
