What we see isn’t always what we get. Come to think of it, what we believe isn’t always what’s true, either. The moment you put on your detective hat and start investigating what things are made of, you might be in for a surprise. For interesting finds lie just beneath the surface of other things. Things that might shock and astonish you! Things that will astound and amaze you! [Queue fireworks]
Thailand's conservative Buddhist clergy refuses to acknowledge women who want to become monks. But that hasn't deterred an increasing number of female monks who are striking out on their own.
A study has blamed the sweet, oily treats that worshipers give them for the monks' unhealthy lifestyle. The monks, who beg for food to survive, will now be the subjects of a food education program to keep them healthy.
A medical examination of a 1,000-year-old Buddha statue has revealed a shocking surprise hidden inside.
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Two young students await the chime of the morning school bell.
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Extremely rare and valuable image of the monk Upagupta. Chiang Saen, Lan Na kingdom. Seventeenth century, northern Thailand. Bronze. Green patina. Good state of preservation. Measurements: 61 x 42 x 28 cm. This is a piece of unusual value, given its uniqueness in theme and treatment. It is the representation of the monk Upagupta, belonging to the kingdom of Lan Na. According to some accounts of the Sanskrit text Ashokavadana, this monk was the spiritual master of the emperor Mauryan Ashoka. Seated cross-legged in the lotus posture (symbol of purity), he holds an alms bowl in his hands. It is a bronze of remarkable workmanship and special delicacy, which can be appreciated in the symmetry of the features, in the stylized torso and in the elegance of the hands. He is seated on a throne with the lower part openwork and the upper part chiseled with petals inspired by the lotus flower. Also, we identify on the head several lakshana or specific symbols of the plastic representation of Buddhas and bodhisattvas of sacred significance, such as the eyelids rolled up, symbol of spiritual concentration and also of purity, for its similarity with the petals of the lotus. The serene and symmetrical face is a symbol of balance and serenity of a perfect being. Finally we also see the elongated earlobes, which allude to the large earrings worn by members of the upper classes and represent the concepts of greatness, nobility and wisdom. Legend has it that Upagupta traveled to the kingdom of Mathura and preached the Dharma with great success. This caused the palace of Mãra to tremble, which caused the deity to use his destructive powers against the Dharma. When Upagupta entered samadhi, Mãra approached him and slipped a jade necklace around his neck; but Upagupta reciprocated by transforming the corpses of a man, a dog and a snake into a garland and gifted it to Mara. When Mara discovered the true nature of the gift, she sought Brahma's help to remove it. Brahma informed her that because the necklace was bestowed by an advanced disciple of the Buddha, its effects could only be mitigated by taking refuge in Upagupta. Thus Mãra returned to the human realm where she prostrated before the monk and repented. On Upagupta's recommendation, she vowed never to harm the Dharma and took refuge in the Three Jewels.
A make-up video as a topic for Buddhist reflection? That probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd say give it a watch, or skip right to the
In this article, we will identify the Buddha and early Buddhist as descendants of Hebrew Israelites. It is not the intention of the information presented to encourage or promote the practice of the…
Eating... or food in general; meals seem to contain many of the same elements from region to region. I created this gallery to highlight one of the many the ways that we as humans are alike, culture to culture, continent to continent.
